The Touro College community gathered at Yeshivas Ohr HaChaim this past Motza’ei Shabbos to commemorate the sixth yahrzeit of Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander, founder and first president of the Touro College and University System.
Rabbi Doniel Lander, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr HaChaim, and Dr. Lander’s son, was emotional as he spoke of his father. Invariably, he said, whenever the he attends a simchah, someone he does not know tells him about a kindness Dr. Lander once did for him.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” he said. “My father had an open-door policy, both literally and figuratively.”
He recounted a story in which Dr. Lander, who dreamed of opening up a medical school for Touro, kept a prominent group of medical professionals waiting for hours while he met with an individual who had recently come upon hard times. The man was shocked to learn that the doctors were sitting outside the office, and asked why Dr. Lander had pushed off one of his greatest ambitions for the sake of helping him. He answered that once, when Dr. Lander was nine years old, the man’s father took him by the hand and walked him to Pirchei, a Shabbos youth group.
“The reason the hakaras ha’tov was so strong in my father was because he was able to connect the past to the future,” Rabbi Lander said. “He never forgot a favor.”
Rabbi Mordechai Jofen shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Yosef and a longtime friend of the Lander family, served as the featured speaker. He described Dr. Lander as a “renaissance man.”
“Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, the Ponevezh Rav, said ‘I may be dreaming, but I am not sleeping,’” Rabbi Jofen said. “That was Dr. Lander – he dreamt, but he never slept.”
At the start of the evening, Rabbi Lander’s son, Yosef, was m’sayeim Maseches Megillah as a tribute to his grandfather.
At the time of his passing in 2010, Dr. Lander had achieved more in one lifetime than most could in ten. While advocating for and working on behalf of klal Yisrael, he was able to impact so many diverse communities, cultures, and causes across New York and the country. He helped Touro evolve from a tiny school with 35 students in the first graduating class to a flourishing international institution serving over 18,000 students and in five countries.
“Dr. Lander was a remarkable scholar and community leader whose great strides and foresight in the arena of education allowed Touro to become the venerable and successful institution it is today,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, President and CEO of Touro College. “For the better part of seven decades, Dr. Lander met and advised mayors, governors, and presidents. Of his countless accomplishments, he was most proud that not only did he provide opportunities for those who lacked, but that he was able to create mosdos that strengthened limud haTorah.”
Touro
Rabbi Dror Moshe Cassouto Speaks For Chazaq
The Chazaq organization and Eshel Avraham presented Rabbi Dror Moshe Cassouto, who spoke in Queens on Monday night February 1. The event took place at Congregation Shaare Tova in Kew Gardens. The rabbi has built such a following in the United States that guests came from as far as Monsey and Boro Park specifically for this event.
The topic, “Why Does Hashem Need Me?” proclaimed that Hashem loves each and every one of us as His children, and that G-d, as the source of all wealth, wisdom, good, and kindness, is ready to bestow all these blessings upon us, provided that we properly prepare ourselves to receive them. One of the keys is to build ourselves up so that we are immune to being taken down by negativity, either from outsiders or from our inner yeitzer ha’ra. Another important area for growth is to have emunah always, even (especially) during times of darkness. Finally, Rabbi Cassouto stressed the importance of doing t’shuvah now, before Mashiach arrives, so that no Jew will be left behind on Judgment Day.
For more information about upcoming Chazaq events and programs, please call 718-285-9132 or visit www.chazaq.org.
Casssouto
At the Yarchei Kallah – Legal Holiday Shiur at K’hal Adas Yereim of Kew Gardens
(L-R) Rav Shlomo Teitelbaum (rav), Rav Yehuda Shmidman (magid shiur) and R’ Aron Cyperstein
cyperstein
Running 13.1 Miles For Inclusion: A Paradigm For Success
By Eric Pollak, PsyD
It was off in the distance, approximately half of a mile away, and all I could do was stare with bewilderment. With each step I took I was only getting closer and the sense of dread I felt was becoming ever more palpable. How was I going to do this? Why do I put myself through the pain of running a half-marathon? This is not what I was expecting. These were a few of the thoughts that were floating through my mind as I rapidly approached the steep incline of the MacArthur Causeway in downtown Miami.
I was running my third half-marathon for Team Yachad, an organization that promotes the inclusion of individuals with disabilities through vocational, summer, and Shabbos programs, but represents much more. This was not my first rodeo, but unbeknownst to me, Life Time, the organizing body of the Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon, had switched the race course from previous years and included at the tenth mile a bridge whose incline at that point in the race appeared like Mount Everest. Thankfully, I was able to refocus my thoughts, persevere, and make it through that bridge and the final three miles, finishing the 13.1 miles at a personal best time of 1:52:25.
Crossing the finish line at a better time than I could have ever imagined was indescribable. As a clinical psychologist, I started wondering how one brings oneself towards achieving personal accomplishments, or “personal best times.” What were the factors involved that enabled me to achieve my success? Reflecting on my experience allowed me to gain a better understanding of how one can attain any personal goal in life.
Setting a SMART Goal:
Specific – Set goals that are well-defined and precise. This includes the who, what, where, when, etc. Since the last marathon, I knew I wanted to break the two-hour mark. This goal was clear to me from the beginning of my training and inspired me to train diligently.
Measurable – Be specific when your goal will be accomplished. Be clear how you will measure progress.
Attainable – Ensure your goals are within your capabilities to achieve. It is wonderful to dream big, but it is essential that your ambition is within your capacity to complete.
Realistic – Make sure that it is something that you are able and willing to work towards.
Timely – Determine a target date for realizing your goal.
Routine/Consistency – Scheduling regular activities into your day can significantly contribute to your productivity and accomplishing of goals. Humans tend to be creatures of habit, and having set times on a constant basis significantly increases the likelihood of participating in behaviors that will lead towards accomplishing your goal. Routine was something that was crucial in my training. Creating a schedule of running three times a week and sticking to it, rain or shine, regardless of whether I was in the mood or not, was fundamental to my success. Running became so much of a part of my week that since the race I have been feeling like something is missing. Implementing routine and consistency is vital to attaining sustained success.
Staying present in the moment – Approaching the bridge at the tenth mile was initially particularly intimidating for me. I was tired, in pain, and caught off-guard that the course had changed. My mind began to wander and I began to think the worst. Fortunately, I was able to readjust my thoughts by focusing on the present moment. Utilizing my five senses by looking at the path directly in front of me, feeling the pounding each time one of my sneakers hit the pavement, listening to the sound of hundreds of runners around me, and smelling the cool morning air (it was 48 degrees), I was able to be mindful of each moment by concentrating on one step at a time. This enabled me to navigate the bridge, and the rest of the race for that matter, while maintaining my pace. We all face adversity at various points in our lives, but by using our senses to stay centered in the moment, we can often preserve a level of calmness required to persevere.
By utilizing SMART goals, instituting a routine, and staying present in the moment, I was able to accomplish my goal of running a half-marathon in under two hours. Employing these strategies in your life can not only lead to great running times, but lead you to achieving goals and realizing success. I look forward to beginning my training for Team Yachad 2017 and completing the race in 1:45:00!
Dr. Eric Pollak of Kew Gardens Hills is the Coordinator of Drug and Alcohol Services at the Yeshiva University Counseling Center. Dr. Pollak maintains a thriving private practice in Queens, NY, specializing in the treatment of anxiety, sleep, trauma, and addictions. Dr. Pollak recently completed his third Miami Half-Marathon with Team Yachad. He can be reached at DrEricPollak@gmail.com.
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What New in School
Walkathon Wednesday at Bnos Malka
Bnos Malka Academy held its annual walkathon this past week. The entire school enthusiastically participated, from the youngest students in kindergarten to the oldest in 8th grade – everyone had a spectacular time. The walkathon, a Parents’ Association fundraiser, is used to bring in money that is earmarked for improvements that will directly affect the students. Mrs. Nechama Strauss, co-president of the PA, explained: “Money has been raised for our playground, to improve the science lab, and to purchase classroom equipment. We have been very busy.” The walkathon not only promotes being physically active, it allows the girls to be directly involved in the process of raising money for their own school. The gym was filled with smiles and lots of cheering, as the girls encouraged their friends during the walkathon.
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Twenty-Four Years of YESS!
“My child is intelligent, but he’s failing in school.”
“Why is my child struggling with reading?”
“My child has no friends. How can I help her?”
For children with learning differences, school can be a place of anxiety, frustration, and failure.
YESS! provides boys and girls (grades K-8) diagnosed with learning differences, language processing issues, and/or ADHD with the perfect alternative: a warm, professional yeshivah where they can learn the skills they need to become productive, contributing, and confident members of the community.
Located in Kew Gardens Hills within a mainstream yeshiva, YESS! is a warm and nurturing environment in which trained, experienced professionals create an individualized program for every student, encompassing all areas of the child’s development. The program strives to provide each student with the tools necessary for learning, as well as healthy self-esteem, strong social skills, and a commitment to Torah and the Jewish community. The academic component of the program includes a full curriculum in both Limudei Kodesh and General Studies, with a strong emphasis on the skills necessary to become independent students.
Founded 24 years ago by a group of parents to meet the needs of their children with special needs, YESS! has grown into a leading voice in the field of Jewish special education. With the latest technology and groundbreaking educational techniques, YESS! offers its students a comprehensive program. Under the expert leadership of Rabbi Yaakov Lustig, MS, the YESS! model is founded on a team approach, including in-house occupational therapists, speech therapists, physical therapist, and social worker. YESS! maintains a computer lab, where students work on specialized programs in math and reading, in addition to laptops and tablets, which are used in the classrooms. A unique skills-based arts program teaches students to apply cognitive strategies in a broad range of modalities, while an innovative social skills program helps children develop social awareness and proficiency. YESS! students are also able to participate in mainstream classes and activities at the Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) when they are ready for it.
With the strategies and skills they learn at YESS!, students go on to high schools, yeshivos, seminaries, and colleges. YESS! graduates have families and careers, and they are active members of the Jewish community.
This year marks YESS!’s 24th year of providing an excellent, individualized Jewish education to those students who need it. The school’s upcoming fundraising dinner, taking place on Sunday, February 28, at Beth Sholom of Roslyn, honors three outstanding couples whose commitment to the children of YESS! has been exceptional, and marks the establishment of a scholarship fund.
Dr. Ari & Alyson Walfish of Kew Gardens Hills, recipients of the Kesser Shem Tov Award, exemplify the values of community service and chesed. Ari, a gastroenterologist at Mt. Sinai Medical Center at Elmhurst Hospital, also serves as the Fellowship Director of Gastroenterology and Clinical Instructor at Mt. Sinai Medical School, while Alyson, a talented and creative special education teacher, currently teaches at YESS! Ari and Alyson, in their quiet, modest way, epitomize a commitment to Torah values and compassion for others.
Jacob & Esther Gutnicki are the recipients of this year’s Ahavas Chesed Award. Jacob works in the field of Instructional Technology, where he authors and manages award-winning grants in a variety of schools. Esther, a talented artist with degrees in Textile Surface Design and Illustration, works as a Special Education Itinerant Teacher. Jacob and Esther, both passionate supporters of Jewish Education, are constantly involved in giving back to the community, and especially in furthering the cause of children with special needs.
Eliahou & Rachel Kriheli, this year’s Parents of the Year, reside in Forest Hills. Exceptionally devoted parents, Eliahou & Rachel are both immigrants to the United States. Together they own Eli’s Painting and Renovations, a home improvement business serving all of New York City. Eliahou & Rachel have built their lives on a basis of strong faith, unwavering bitachon, and an overwhelming commitment to their children.
The YESS! dinner will mark the establishment of a scholarship fund in memory of Abe & Ruth Naymark, OB”M. Abe, a Holocaust survivor and self-made millionaire, believed in helping others. Modest and unassuming, Abe and his wife, Ruth, left a powerful legacy that will carry their values forward into the future: their compassion, their generosity, and their commitment to the Jewish community and to education. The Abe and Ruth Naymark Scholarship Fund will allow a greater number of children with special needs to access the excellent, individualized education offered by YESS!
For further information about YESS! or about the upcoming dinner, please contact the school office at yessyeshiva@gmail.com or 718-268-5976, or visit the school’s website: yessyeshiva.org.
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Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe Hosts Annual Grand Raffle M’laveh Malkah
Parents of Tiferes Moshe students were invited to a gala m’laveh malkah on Motza’ei Shabbos, February 6. The elegant affair, which was held in the Shaare Tova ballroom, featured a sushi bar by Sushi Tokyo and a lavish dairy buffet by Simcha’s Gourmet. Adding elegance to the affair was a wine-tasting table arranged by Hakerem.
The ambience was casual yet sophisticated and set the tone for parents to relax and enjoy some good food and company together. Everyone enjoyed the Extreme Magic of Eric Wilzig and all of his amazing magic and illusions. The event concluded with a Mini-Chinese Auction, with ten exciting prizes, as well as the Grand Raffle of $10,000.
The evening wrapped up with the drawing of the Grand Raffle and Chinese Auction prizes. Winners included YTM alumni as well as families of current students. The Yeshiva thanks Mrs. Tzivia Deitsch, Mrs. Rachel Kaminetzky, Mrs. Rivky May, and Muttie & Mati Kaminetzky for assisting in making the m’laveh malkah a huge success. Most of all, Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe thanks everyone for participating in the Raffle Campaign and m’laveh malkah and values and appreciates the relationship and support shown by the Yeshiva’s parent body and friends.
ytm
Yeshiva Ketana of Queens
Last week, the junior high school held Yeshiva Ketana of Queens’ first science fairs, or to be more accurate, an eighth grade Technology Fair and a seventh grade Animal Fair.
In eighth grade, the boys are asked to prepare an APA report on a technological invention, where they are asked to trace a history of a technological instrument and be able to explain to an audience of students in younger grades how the technology works. They also are asked to prepare graphs that compare various qualities or histories of their technological devices. For example, Ari Barth and Aaron Boehm prepared a long spiel of the history and technology of music where they hearkened back to Tuval Kayin, the first musician mentioned in Chumash B’reishis, and continued through the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary periods of music. Students were judged on their understanding of the device they had chosen, the sophistication of their reports and showboards, and their ability to bring in or create the technology they described.
The first place winners were Yaakov Robinson and Moshe Hayamzadegan with their Magnets report. They created an electromagnet and did an excellent study of the myriad uses of all kinds of different magnets. In second place were Sholom Simcha Bochner’s Prosthetics and Shragie Harris, Yaakov Twersky, and Arieh Sperling’s 3D printing. Especially impressive was the plastic airplane model on display that Shragie produced. Self-Driving Cars by Avi Ismach, Yehuda Greenberg, Yonatan Hematian, and Aaron Enayatian won third place for their enthusiastic presentation.
The Animal Fair also provided a window into the talents of our seventh graders as they produced beautiful showboards and reports on their animal families. The winners in the Animal Fair were:
First place: Dolphins by Aron Munk, Bentzion Margulies, and Tuvia Kleinkaufman; and Lizards by Chaim Winter, Moshe Tuvia Ailyarov, and Aharon Steinberg
Second place: Primates by Chezky Shulman, Ahron Yosef Cohen, and Raphael Rahmanim; and Wildcats by Yitzchok Bondi, Zevi Kopelowitz, and Shalom Perlman
Third Place: Birds of Prey by Yosef Bahary, Yaakov Markov, and Eliyahu Imani; and Menachem Bilitzky’s Monkeys as well as Parrots by Yitzi Shapiro, Aharon Levy, Mishael Yusupov, and Efraim Israelian.
We look forward to our next fairs in March and June when the scientific method thrives as the sixth and seventh grades create experiments to prove their hypotheses.
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Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky At HALB
Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky spoke to the Junior High School students at HALB last week about the work that he does to represent our district, District 20, in Albany. Mr. Kaminsky stressed the point that not only does he represent the district as a whole but also puts major efforts into making sure that our yeshivos and shuls are fairly represented within the state budget. The students were captivated by his speech and were especially interested in Mr. Kaminsky’s previous role in the Justice Department; they couldn’t believe that they were speaking to someone who held such a unique job.
Mr. Kaminsky was involved in helping the town and people of Long Beach after Superstorm Sandy hit in 2012. Mr. Kaminsky considers Superstorm Sandy one of the reasons for his decision to run for Assemblyman. As we know, Sandy hit the South Shore of Long Island particularly hard, destroying thousands of homes and other property. While Mr. Kaminsky told the students about his efforts to help rebuild and reshape the lives of many residents, the students understood the magnitude and importance of his role. One particularly special initiative that Mr. Kaminsky took ownership of was that upon hearing that National Grid was going to reinstate fees for disconnecting and reconnecting gas lines, fees that had been eliminated after Sandy to provide some relief to homeowners affected, Assemblyman Kaminsky wrote a letter to National Grid urging them to reverse the decision. After weeks of talks, National Grid announced that it would continue its post-Sandy policy of not charging those fees, in a major victory for Sandy victims.
Mr. Kaminsky recently came back from a solidarity mission to Israel and spoke about his involvement with the anti-BDS legislation and his stance against companies who boycott Israeli products. The students appreciated Mr. Kaminsky’s dedication and devotion towards our homeland, Israel, and hope that many more politicians follow in his footsteps.
It was a pleasure and an honor to have Mr. Kaminsky speak to our students, and we wish him the best of luck in all of his endeavors!
todd
Even More Simchah At YSZ
The 5th-8th grade YSZ girls were treated to a sumptuous brunch this past Sunday, together with their families. It was not only a culinary delight, it was pleasing to the eye and palate. The brunch was accompanied by an exciting program of entertainment, prepared and performed by the girls themselves. There were clever skits, expressive and keenly coordinated dances, and a melodious choir more delicious than any dessert. The elaborate décor and the ambiance it provided could only be matched by the way the girls were dressed and how elegantly they presented themselves. The students also surprised the staff with gifts as a token of appreciation for all their hard work and dedication.
The morning was topped off with an engaging game where parents were invited to answer questions about what goes on throughout their child’s day. It provided a cute and informative window into a day in the life of a YSZ girl.
The theme of the event was Simchah, and the biggest by-product of the day was simchah. Mrs. Raizel Nissim, Assistant Principal, gave many practical tips on how to achieve and attain simchah in any situation. The brunch certainly gave everyone a good taste of an appetite for even more simchah!
ysz
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