COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

Community Highlights Column for November 2024

By Daniel Keren

The Torah World Mourns the Petirah Of Rav Shlomo Halioua, Zt”l

The Brooklyn Torah community was saddened by the unexpected and sudden petirah of Rav Shlomo Halioua, zt”l, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin during the last days of Yom Tov as a result of an infection. Coming on the petirah of his father-in-law, Rav Aharon Schechter, zt”l, the long-time Rosh Yeshiva just 14 months ago, the entire Yeshiva Chaim Berlin is in a state of shock. Renowned throughout the yeshiva world for his brilliance as a Torah scholar and masmid. He learned at the Yeshiva of Brooklyn through Mesivta and later learned at Brisk in Yerushalayim under Rav Avrohom Yehoshua and later under Rav Yonasan David, the son-in-law of Rav Yitzchak Hutner, zt”l.

Kelly Park Opens Up in Flatbush to The Delight of Children of All Abilities

State Senator Simcha Felder, a grandfather of a child with Down syndrome long had a dream of helping to create a playground that would give children of all abilities an opportunity to enjoy such pleasures as music and color stations, slides, fossil-filled sandbox, climbing walls, ramps, tree house, adventure trail. With the help of a $10 million grant that Senator Felder obtained, the largest ever won by a single elected official, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation was able to transform Kelly Park on Avenue S and East 15th Street, which has attracted families from all over Brooklyn.

Yeshiva of Flatbush Community Saddened By the Petirah of Rabbi Dr. Raymond Harari

The recent petirah of Rabbi Dr. Raymond Harari, former Head of the Yeshiva of Flatbush High School has saddened the entire Yeshiva of Flatbush community. An alumnus of the Yeshiva of Flatbush who graduated in 1972, he returned to teach Judaic Studies and became Chairman of the Halakhah Department, before being named the first Head of School of the Yeshiva of Flatbush’s Joel Braverman High School. While enrollment increased significantly during his reign of director of the high school, his focus was always on empowering the students under his direction.

Six Orthodox Yalmukah Wearers Elected to State Legislature in Albany

Kalman Yeger will soon leave the New York City Council to take over the State Assembly seat that will soon be vacated by Assemblywoman Helen Weinstein who represented the 41st District [in Brooklyn] for 40 years. After winning the primary race for the assembly seat in June, Yeger ran unopposed in the November general election. He will be heading to Albany in January with fellow Jewish assemblymen Simcha Eichenstein, Sam Berger, Ari Berger and newly elected Rockland County assemblyman Aron Wieder; along with State Senator Simcha Felder. As one observer noted, the group is now just four men short of an official minyan of elected legislators in Albany.

Rabbi Yisroel Reisman to be Honored For 36 Years of Service to Our Community

A special Dinner honoring Rabbi & Rebbetzin Yisroel Reisman will be held at the Ateres Matel Leah Hall on Sunday, December 22nd to give the community an opportunity to offer Hakoras Hatov for 36 Years of selfless service to the Flatbush community as a Rosh Yeshiva in Torah Vodaath and inspiring Jews with his Motzei Shabbos Navi Shiur, the Thursday Night Mishmar, his battle for defending the integrity of Torah education and attending to the various needs of both the yachid and the klal.

Flatbush Hatzolah Community Mourns The Petirah of Reb Dovid Pitterman, zal

For almost a half century, Reb Dovid Pitterman was a dedicated member of Flatbush Hatzolah, having been one of the first five founding members. Over the years until a few years ago, he devoted countless hours to responding to Hatzolah calls and helped save thousands of lives. In addition, he was always there to volunteer his help to others in the community with various needs. A musmach of the Mirrer Yeshivah, he always maintained a strong kesher with the Roshei Yeshiva and Rebbeim of the Yeshivah.

Rabbi Joey Haber to be Honored at the Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem Dinner

The 118th Anniversary of Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem and Yeshiva of Staten Island will be held at The Palace on December 8th. Rabbi & Mrs. Joey Haber, prominent leaders in the Flatbush Syrian community will be honored with the Rabbeinu Moshe Feinstein Award. Other honorees will be Mayer & Nurit Berkovits (the Rabbeinu Dovid Feinstein Award,) Mrs. Marcia Friedman (Rebbetzin Shima Feinstein Award) and Akiva & Leah Homnic, Parents of the Year Award. A Special Memorial Tribute will be given to Rabbi Moshe Machlis, zt”l.

Torah World Mourns the Petirah of Rav Meir Chaim Gutfreund, zt”l

The Brooklyn Torah world mourns the recent petirah of Rav Meir Chaim Gutfreund, zt”l who was the founder and menahel of The Cheder in Brooklyn. He studied in both Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud and later in Beis Medrash Elyon. He became a very successful businessman who gave it up to open The Cheder, a highly successful boys’ yeshiva that received a Torah Umesorah award for its excellence. Today more than 800 students study in The Cheder that now has three beautiful buildings. Rav Gutfreund was also served as mora d’asra of Agudas Yisroel of Flatbush. He also helped revitalize Bais Reuven Kaminetz in Lakewood and served as Menahel of the Cheder Moshe Raya Mehamina for the Bukharian community in Queens.

Young Israel Talmud Torah of Flatbush To Honor Rabbi Kenneth Auman

The 103rd Young Israel Talmud Torah of Flatbush Annual Dinner will honor Rabbi Kenneth and Rebbetzin Joanne Auman for 40 years of service to the Flatbush community. Having grown up in Boro Park, Rabbi Auman received semicha and a master’s degree in Jewish history from Yeshiva University. Following the retirement of Rabbi Solomon J. Sharfman, zal, the longtime rav of the Young Israel of Flatbush, Rabbi Auman assumed the pulpit. In 2021 the Young Israel of Flatbush merged with the Talmud Torah of Flatbush. A former president of the Vaad Harabanim of Flatbush, Rabbi Auman was a founder of Kehila Kashrus. He has also served as president of the Rabbinical Council of America.

The Mirrer Yeshiva Annual Dinner to 

Pay Tribute to the Memory of Rabbi 

Mendel Tessler & Mr. William Wealcatch

The Annual Mirrer Yeshiva Dinner to be held at The Palace on December 15th, will be dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Mendel Tessler and include a memorial tribute to Mr. William Wealcatch. Those to be honored at the Dinner included Rav Chanoch Schulgasser (Harbotzas Torah Award,) Rabbi Hanania Abisror (Harov Shraga Moshe Kalmanowitz Award,) and Rabbi & Mrs. Ariel Boiangiu (Parents of the Year Award.)

Jessica Tisch Appointed to Head NYPD

With the last two Commissioners of the NYPD (New York Police Department) having to resign after becoming targets of federal corruption probes, Mayor Eric Adams has appointed Jessica Tisch, a 43 year-old Jewish mother of two boys to become the new Police Commissioner. She previously served for 12 years with the NYPD as a civilian and prior to her appointment was serving the Adams administration as Commissioner of the Sanitation Department. Tisch declared that she aims to improve safety an order on every street in addition to restoring dignity and respect to the nation’s large police department that has problems recruiting new members to the force.

UJA-Federation Opens Social Service Hub  

A new $12.5 million Social Service Hub has opened in Brooklyn, located at 1271 60th Street, between Boro Park and Bensonhurst—areas with the highest concentration of Jewish poverty in New York City. Spanning 13,600 square feet across two stories, the facility is operated by the Met Council on Jewish Poverty, following the Jack & Shirley Silver Hub model in Queens. The Brooklyn Hub will feature a customizable food pantry and social services such as government benefits enrollment, emergency cash assistance, legal and financial counseling, and career readiness and skills training programs.

Flatbush One-Week Kollel

The Thirty-Sixth Annual Flatbush One-Week Kollel Yarchei Kallah was held at Congregation Tomchei Torah from December 25 to January 1. This year’s Kollel will focused on the topic of mezuzah, as discussed in Maseches Yoma, Daf Yud, Amud Beis. The program centers around two daily sedarim of chavrusa learning, complemented by inspiring shiurim. The Kollel is led by Rabbi Pesachya Fried, the Rosh Kollel; Rabbi Moshe Twersky, who delivers the daily blatt shiur; and Rabbi Sholom Plutchok, the Mara d’Asra, who provides powerful words of encouragement. 

JCC Happenings

Too cold to play outside? We got you covered! Stop by  the JCCMP Library and join the Kids Club where our calendar is full of exciting events to keep you and your family entertained on these long wintery afternoons. 

Chess Checkmate

Back from popular demand, we introduced our new chess club class for boys last month. The boys love coming to each session where they get to hone in on their chess moves like castling, pawn promotion, and checkmate. This complex game is not only fun, but educational as it builds on  abstract reasoning, pattern recognition, and strategic thinking. The boys, ages eight and up, get a chance to practice and hone their

skills and pick up new moves thanks to their instructor Bryon Miller from Chess Chevra. We are so excited to watch them grow into grandmasters and compete in our final end of semester tournament!

Stitching Our way Into Fun

Every week a group of girls meet at the JCCMP Library with instructor Penina Schwartzman to learn sewing techniques like cutting fabric,  sewing on a button,  threading a needle, and sewing a straight line.  The girls have a great time socializing with other girls that share their same passion for sewing and embroidery.  By the end of the class, each girl will learn how to make their own quilt.  

Sunday Funday 

Every Sunday the JCCMP hall is blasting with the sounds of music, laughter, and dance as girls meet up for Zumba classes with Penina Schwartz and beginners sewing classes. In Zumba, the girls are having a blast enjoying the latest tunes while learning new dance moves each week. They are also getting in some much needed exercise with stretches and aerobics. In sewing class, the girls are learning the fundamentals of basic sewing skills.  The girls are treated to soda and pizza at the end of each session.

Motzoei Shabbos Girls Program

A community favorite, these events get filled up practically as soon as we post about them! The girls love coming to the JCCMP to fill the Motzoei Shabbos void and engaging in interactive fun as they get to meet up with their friends and even make new friends.  We kicked off the season with an amazing  drumming and dancing activity followed by a glassology class and a painting class with Margalit where the girls got to learn about the art of glass fusing and crafting. They each got to make their own mezuzah case or personalized name sign. The following week, girls engaged in a paint pour session where they had a blast blending and mixing paint to create their customized masterpieces.  Cake wars with Rivky Sobel was a sweet evening of cake decorating finishing off with a cake competition. Our metal works class was a huge hit and the girls loved making their own bracelets. We concluded the month with the girls making acrylic Judaica art and the final session is always a favorite with dance party with DJ Shruch! 

Kids Club Events

Last month, the JCCMP Kids Club hosted a create your own kaleidoscope event where kids ages five and up got to customize and design their own sparkly kaleidoscope using  various materials from glitter, mirrors,  and multi-colored beads. The project really sparked their creativity and they got to take home a psychedelic keepsake. The event was free and open to the public. 

The JCCMP Library had a book sale last month where we were able to retire used books and provide them with good homes. With the $300 earned, we are now able to purchase more newly released books. Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars because on December 22nd, we have story time with the one and only Malky Weinstock, author of the popular Yael and Dovi book series.  Not only will participants get a chance to meet the famous author,  buy her books and have her sign them, but they will also get the opportunity to take a picture with her and her life-size cut outs of her book characters.  The following day, December 23rd, we are having another open to the community events where kids can come in and decorate their own donuts for Chanukah! For $3 you can choose your own icing, sprinkles, or cereal toppings to make your donut fancy and delicious. 

JCCMP 7th Annual Challah Bake 

Nearly 300 women and girls gathered on November 14 at Kingsway Jewish Center for the JCCMP’s highly anticipated 7th Annual Challah Bake, a memorable evening of chizuk, music, and challah braiding. The Ahava Girls Choir opened the event, led by Maayan Davis, who sang their trademark song “Ahava,” followed by “Acheinu.”  The event was hosted by author and motivational speaker Raizy Fried who lead the hafrashah, as the women and girls joined hands for spirited dancing led by Maayan Davis and accompanied by live music. Raizy concluded the evening with an easy-to-follow braiding demonstration.  Councilmember Inna Vernikov joined the festivities, mingling with the girls and taking photos.  The event was sponsored by Glatt Mart,  Eisenberg-Taavar Orthodontics, and Junee.

Baby Bag Giveaway

Volunteers arrived at the JCCMP early this month to help pack 100 new mommy baby bags. The baby bags were filled with infant essentials such as:  bibs, bottles, blankets, nasal aspirators,  baby finger and gum massager and toothbrush, socks, a stretchy outfit, hat, organic tea, lactation support products, and literature on maternal additional resources. The bags were sponsored by Dr. Eli Wagshall, Oh Baby!, and Dr.  Yitzchok Narowitz of Integrated Medical Health. Challenge was also generous and supplied toys for the bags. If you are a new mommy and wish to get a bag, please reach out to mpmoms@jccmp,org.