come after two for-mer Department of Public Safety chaplains, Jeremy Reichberg and Jona Rechnitz, became embroiled in an in-fluence peddling scandal last year.

In a corruption trial, Rechnitz testi-fied that neither he nor Reichberg were rabbis or priests, nor were Westches-ter residents. Rech-nitz was appointed chaplain in 2013 after a company he owned donated

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July 2018 -- Tammuz-Av 5778, Volume 24, Issue 7

Almog Elijis Featured Speaker at AJC Westchester/Fairfield Annual General Meeting

BY STEPHEN E. LIPKEN

Almog Elijis, Spokesper-son and Consul for Media Af-fairs New York gave the Key-note Presentation, “Israel in the NY Media: A View from the Front Lines of Israel’s PR Battle” at the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Westches-ter Fairfield Annual General Meeting on Monday, June 25 at Congregation Kol Ami, White Plains, followed by a discus-sion moderated by AJC West-chester/Fairfield Regional Di-rector Scott Richman.

An estimated 75 citizens attended. Elijis sent a strong message for people to use So-cial Media to talk up Israel and to read both sides of an issue, to get out of their “bubble,” “not just Fox—listen to the

other side. Don’t just read what you believe in—fol-low the opposition.”

Elijis also stressed that a good illustration is worth 1,000 words; e.g., show-ing skeptical Millennials a Hamas Mickey Mouse video giving instructions how to kill Jews. A psychoanalyst in the audience asked how he could help counter some Jews demonizing Israel. “Let them speak,” Almog replied. “Just say, ‘Let me share my opinion.’ Israel is not perfect—we have is-sues. Come from a relaxed approach.”

Richman mentioned AJC’s Project Interchange, bringing over 6,000 influen-tial leaders to visit Israel since 1982. Elijis noted the fact that

the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes delegations who do not have diplomatic

relations with the country.

Born and raised in Vienna, Elijis served in the Social M e d i a - E c o n o m i c Department for the Organization for Eco-nomic Development in Paris and worked at the Australian Insti-tute for International Affairs in Canberra.

Shortly before Elijis spoke, Sheryl Sachs, Nominating Committee chair pre-sented the Slate of Officers, Executive Committee Members and AJC Westchester Board of Directors: President, Richard W. Cohen (re-elected); Vice Presidents:

Mona Abramson; Liz Schon-feld; Ann Tourk; Clifford Wolf.

Treasurer: Bruce Rubin. Sec-retary: Susan Rose.

By a 16-0 vote June 18, the Westchester County Board of Legislators ap-proved a measure requiring that Westchester County po-lice and public safety chap-lains be active members of the clergy either residing in or presiding over congrega-tions in Westchester.

The measure will codify as law requirements enacted as an executive order in Jan-uary by County Executive George Latimer.

“It should go without saying that anyone serving as a public safety chaplain here should be a member of the clergy and a member

Board Passes Accountability Requirements for Police Chaplainsof the community,” said bill sponsor Legislator Terry Clements (D- New Rochelle, Pelham, Pelham Manor). “Unfortunately, this has not always been the case.”

Clements added, “I’m happy that the Board has built on what the County Executive has done to make this a matter of law.”

Board Chair Ben Boykin said, “The people of West-chester deserve an open, re-sponsible government, not one that operates by reward-ing cronies, and that’s just what the Board intends to deliver. By backing County Executive Latimer’s actions

with a law, we will make it harder for future administra-tions to take West-chester back to the way things were.”

The law also requires that any chaplain be ap-proved by the Com-missioner of Public Safety and be in-cluded on a public list of such appoin-tees provided twice yearly to the County Executive, County Attorney and Board of Legislators.

The measures

$15,000 to the campaign of then-County Executive Rob Astorino.

The Board on Monday night also backed another Latimer Administration executive order with legis-lation to ban the use of the name or the likeness of a sitting County Executive on promotional and infor-mational signs on County property or property leased by the County, which Cle-ments called an “irrespon-sible” use of taxpayer funds for political promotion. That measure passed by a 16-1 vote.

Almog Elijis AJC Westchester/Fairfield President Richard W. Cohen; Regional Director Scott Richman

Westchester County Executive George Latimer

2 • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 • Westchester Jewish Life www.westchesterjewishlife.com

June 4 - AJC CEO David HarrisJune 18 - Impressions of the Global Forum in Israel

Stephens Applauds Movement of American Embassyfrom Tel Aviv to Jerusalem at JNF Reception

BY STEPHEN E. LIPKEN

The Second Annual Posi-tively Israel Reception, hosted by Temple Israel Center White Plains (TIC) and Jewish Na-tional Fund (JNF) on Thurs-day, May 31st featured Guest Speaker New York Times op-ed columnist Bret Stephens, his topic “Israel@70: What Does the Future Hold for Israel and the Middle East?” Approxi-mately 310 citizens attended.

“Two years ago, I was a participant on a JNF Young

Professionals singles trip to Israel and fell in love—with the work and mission of JNF,” TIC Rabbi Ari Isenberg remarked. “Yes, planting trees is still im-portant and blue tzedakah (charity) boxes serve a key role, but that just scratches the sur-face...

“Travel the country and you will find hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, parks, playgrounds, bomb shelters, and career development cen-ters…JNF partnered with Nefesh b’nefesh (facilitating

aliyahs (immigration) to Is-rael), finding that olim (new Is-raeli citizens) were choosing to live in the center of the coun-try. Only by equally populating the north and south will Israel remain strong.”

Introduced by Event Co-Chair Jessica Levinson, Ste-phens stated that although he has not shrunk from criticiz-ing the Trump administra-tion, “I think that was the right thing to do, legally, historically and morally to move its Em-bassy from Tel Aviv, where it

never belonged, to Jerusalem where it always belonged.”

“The second thing I call this administration for, is the clarity showed who is aggres-sor on the Gaza border, saying that Israel is within its rights to defend itself against mi-sogynists who put women and children in harm’s way.”

Third, Stephens com-mended the Administration for leaving the Iran deal, saying that Iran was not coming clean about their nuclear capability.

Stephens called for a

two-State solution but emphasized that the Palestinians must demonstrate why they deserve a State, “and not have Mahmoud Ab-bas make anti-Semitic speeches denying the Holocaust.”

Stephanie Risa Balkin, Direc-tor, Westchester County and Southern Connecticut Jewish National Fund; New York Times op-ed columnist Bret Stephens.

Thousands View The 54th Annual Celebrate Israel Parade in New York City

On June 3, Grand Mar-shals Dina and Jonathan Leader and Honorary Grand Marshals, including actor, childhood icon and Birth-right Israel alum Jonathan Lipnicki, TV personality Siggy Flicker, world-renowned and autodidact Chef Eyal Shani, singer and entertainer Lipa Schmeltzer, and host of the Unorthodox Podcast, Liel Lei-bovitz, and several other lo-cal and international officials joined 40,000 marchers from more than 250 organizations, thousands of spectators, 15 world-class marching bands and more than 30 floats at the 2018 Celebrate Israel Parade on Sunday along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, from 57th Street to 74th Street.

Special guests included Governor Andrew Cuomo;

Mayor Bill de Blasio; New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli; New York City Pub-lic Advocate Letitia James; City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Members of the City Council; Queens Borough President Melinda Katz; Bronx

District Attorney Darcel Clark; U.S. Representatives, Carolyn Maloney and Dan Donovan; Senators Joseph Addabbo, Phil Boyle, Leroy Comrie, Brad Hoylman, and Liz Krueger; Assembly Members Ed Braun-stein, Steven Cymbrowitz,

Jeffrey Dinow-itz, Anthony D’Urso, Wal-ter Mosley, Helene Wein-stein, and Da-vid Weprin; Consul Gen-eral of Israel in New York Amb. Dani Dayan; Minis-ter of Culture and Sport of Israel Miri Regev (Likud); Minister of Science, Tech-

nology, and Space of Israel Ofir Akunis (Likuh); Israeli Knesset Members Shuli Mualem (Bait Yehudi), MK Oded Furer (Is-rael Beitenu), MK Yoel Hasson (Zion Camp), and MK Nurit Ko-ren (Likud); Director General of the Ministry of Culture of Israel Yossi Sharabi; Adviser to the Director General of Knes-set Vadim Braverman; and Knesset Staff Member Yuval Raz.

The 2018 Celebrate Is-rael Parade, the world’s largest public gathering in celebra-tion of Israel, celebrated its 54th anniversary with a host of new musical acts, children-friendly entertainment, and musical talent including Ninet Tayeb, Omri Anghel, Kosha Dillz, Yarden Klayman, Six13, SOULFARM, and Milk & Hon-eys.

This year’s creative theme for marching groups and floats was “70 and Sababa (70 & Awe-

some)!” in honor of the 70th Anniversary of Israel.

Ambassador Dani Day-an, Consul General of Israel in New York said, “Today we celebrate 70 years of Israel’s independence, our essential friendship with the United States, and the very basis of be-ing Jewish. Every community

in New York has their day to express their identity, and it is no coincidence that the Jewish community makes today about Israel, even over lox and bagels. I thank the Jewish community of New York for their endur-ing commitment to Israel; I am honored and humbled by the depth of their support.”

www.shorelinepub.com Westchester Jewish Life • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 • 3

AJC CEO David Harris

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AJC Comparative Surveys of Israeli, U.S. Jews Show Some Serious Divisions

On June 11, The American Jewish Committee (AJC) re-leased its groundbreaking sur-veys of the attitudes of Ameri-can and Israeli Jews, concluded ahead of the opening of the AJC Global Forum in Jerusalem. Many of the identical questions are used in both surveys, allow-ing a basis for comparison.

The surveys reveal sharp differences of opinion between the world’s two largest Jew-ish communities on President Trump, U.S.-Israel relations, and Israel’s security and peace process policies. On Jewish communal issues, such as Jew-ish religious equality in Israel, the surveys confirm fissures between American Jews and Israelis, though, at the same time, the data show a degree of commonality in opinions about the vitality of both the Diaspora and the State of Israel and their significance for the future of the Jewish people.

“Our surveys are impor-

tant barometers of the perceptions and views affecting current and long-term relations be-tween American Jews and Israelis, the two largest Jewish popula-tions in the world,” said AJC CEO David Harris.

“Significantly, for both communities, the main factor predicting how people will respond is how they identify reli-giously. The more obser-vant they are on the de-nominational spectrum, their Jewish identity and attachment to Is-rael is stronger; skepti-cism about prospects for peace with the Palestinians higher; and support for religious plural-ism in Israel weaker,” said Har-ris. “In the survey of American Jews, political affiliation also plays a major role. The major-ity who identify with the Demo-cratic Party and voted for Hill-

ary Clinton are less attached to Israel, more weakly identified with the Jewish people, and more favorable to religious plu-ralism than the minority who are Republicans and report that they voted for Donald Trump.”

U.S.-Israel RelationsThe gap between Ameri-

can Jews and Israelis regarding

President Trump’s approach to Israel is profound. While 77% of Israeli Jews approve of how the president is handling U.S.-Israel relations, only 34% of American Jews do. A majority, 57%, of U.S. Jews disapprove, while only 10% of Israelis do.

On the U.S. decision to rec-ognize Jerusalem as Israel’s cap-ital and move its embassy there, 85% of Israeli Jews, compared with 46% of U.S. Jews, support the decision, while 7% of Israelis and 47% of U.S. Jews oppose it.

Peace ProcessMore than two-thirds of

Israeli Jews, 68%, say it is not appropriate for American Jews to attempt to influence Israeli policy on such issues as national security and peace negotiations with the Palestinians, and 25% say it is appropriate. A majority of U.S. Jews, 53%, say it is appro-priate and 43% say it is not.

Looking ahead to pros-pects for peaceful coexistence

between Israel and a Palestinian state, 42% of Israelis think the chances will decline over the next five years, 37% say they will stay the same, and 13% say they will improve. Among U.S. Jews, 56% of U.S. Jews say the chances will stay the same, 22% decline, and 18% improve.

Asked if in the current situation respondents favor or oppose a two-state solution through the establishment of a demilitarized Palestinian state in the West Bank, 51% of U.S. Jews favor and 30% oppose, while 44% of Israelis favor and 48% oppose.

Israelis and American Jews also differ on what to do with settlements in the context of a peace agreement with the Palestinians. 15% of American Jews and 4% of Israelis say that Israel should be willing to dis-mantle all the settlements, 44% of U.S. Jews and 35% of Israelis say Israel should be willing to dismantle some of the settle-

ments, and 35% of U.S. Jews and 54% of Israelis say Israel should not be willing to dismantle any of the settlements.

Israeli-American Jewish Relations

American and Israeli Jews hold rather similar views re-garding the importance of the U.S. Jewish community and the State of Israel for the future of the Jewish people.

• 78% of Israelis and 69% of U.S. Jews agree that a thriv-ing Diaspora is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people, while 15% of Israelis and 17% of American Jews disagree.

• 79% of U.S. Jews and 87% of Israelis agree that a thriv-ing State of Israel is vital for the long-term future of the Jewish people, while 17% of US. Jews and 6% of Israelis say it is not vital.

On the basic relationship between Israel and the largest

continued on page 4

4 • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 www.westchesterjewishlife.com

Diaspora community, 20% of American Jews and 30% Israelis think the ties will be stronger in five years, while 15% of U.S. Jews and 19%of Israelis think they will be weaker. The view that the ties will be the same as today is held by 60% of American Jews and 40% of Israeli Jews.

American and Israeli Jews were asked how they view one another in the context of “fam-ily.”

• 40% of Israeli and 39% of American Jews view each other as extended family.

• 28% of Israeli and 12% of U.S. Jews view one another as siblings.

• 10% of Israeli and 15% of U.S. Jews consider each other as first cousins.

• And 22% of Israelis and 31% of American Jews consider the other as not part of their family.

On the question of fam-ily, the breakdown by religious affiliation is profound. Among the Israelis, 59% of Haredi, 44% of Religious-Zionist, 38% of Re-ligious-Traditional, 24% of More than Religious-Traditional, and 15% of Secular consider Ameri-can Jews as siblings, while 13% of Haredi, 9% of Religious-Zion-ist, 16% of Religious-Traditional, 19% of More than Religious-Traditional, and 31% of secular do not view U.S. Jews as part of the family.

For American Jews, 47% of Haredi, 22% of Modern Ortho-dox, 17% of Conservative, 6% of Reform, 4% of Reconstruction-ist, and 9% of Secular view Israe-lis as siblings, and those that see Israelis as not part of the family are 5% of Haredi, 10% of Modern Orthodox, 23% of Conservative, 34% of Reform, 21% of Recon-structionist, and 34% of Secular.

Jewish Religious Pluralism Issues

The fact that Israel recog-

nizes only Orthodox Judaism as the official form of Judaism elicits different reactions from Israeli and American Jews. A majority of American Jews, 53%, and 40% of Israelis say that the current system weakens the ties between them, while 14% of Israelis and 7% of Ameri-cans say it strengthens ties. Those who say the recognition has no effect on ties constitute 35% of American Jews and 29% of Israelis.

Views of the status of non-Orthodox streams of Judaism diverge widely.

• 43% of the Americans be-lieve that the growth of non-Or-thodox streams in Israel could improve the quality of Jewish life there, as compared to just 26% of Israelis who think so.

• 30% of Israelis feel that the non-Orthodox denomina-tions strengthen Diaspora Jew-ish life but are irrelevant to Is-rael, and 10% of U.S. Jews agree.

• 17% of Israeli Jews think those denominations are des-tined to disappear, as compared to just 7% of American Jews.

Far more American than Israeli Jews want to break the Orthodox monopoly in Israel on the performance of Jewish weddings, divorces, and conver-sions. Fully 80% of American Jews want Israel to open those functions to non-Orthodox rab-bis as compared to 49% of Israe-lis, while 17% of U.S. Jews and 45% of Israelis favor the status quo.

A majority of Israelis – 55% – support the introduction of civil marriage and divorce in their country while 40% oppose the change, but American Jews are even more supportive, with 81% saying they want the change and 13% against it.

A strong majority of Amer-ican Jews—73%--favor provid-ing a space near the Western Wall for mixed-gender prayer,

with just 21% opposed. Israeli Jews, in contrast, are deeply di-vided over the issue, with 42% in favor and 48% opposed.

Questions for American Jews Only

The survey of Ameri-can Jews only has additional questions regarding President Trump’s performance, the sta-tus of Jews in the United States, how Jews may vote in Novem-ber’s midterm congressional elections, and other political and communal issues.

For example, on President Trump’s job performance, 26% found it favorable and 71% unfa-vorable.

55% report that the status of Jews in the U.S. is less secure than a year ago, while 18% say it is more secure and 24% about the same. On this question, the political divide is striking, as 70% of those who voted for Clinton, and 24% for Trump, say Jews are less secure, and those who say Jews are more secure are 8% of Clinton and 41% of Trump supporters. For 20% of Clinton and 32% of Trump supporters, the status is the same.

And, if elections for Con-gress were held today, 20% would vote for the Republican candidate, 67% for the Demo-crat, and 3% for another party.

AJC’s 2018 Survey of Is-raeli Jewish Opinion, conducted by Geocartography, is based on telephone interviews car-ried out in May with a national sample of 1,000 Jews over age 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1%.

AJC’s 2018 Survey of Amer-ican Jewish Opinion, conducted by SSRS, is based on telephone interviews carried out April 18-May 10 with a national sample of 1,001 Jews over age 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.9%.

AJC Comparative Surveys of Israeli, U.S. Jews Show Some Serious Divisionscontinued from page 3

New Study on Redefining Job of Synagogue Executive Directors

A new study by UJA-Federation of New York finds that the executive director/administrator (ED/A) role is increasingly critical to helping synagogues manage mounting challenges to fiscal and opera-tional stability. Yet, less than half of the nearly 2,000 syna-gogues nationwide have one in place.

The Synagogue Execu-tive Director: A Chang-ing Role for Chang-ing Times, https://bit.ly/2LCN4gt is believed to be the first study of its kind to look at the role of the synagogue ED/A nationwide and across movements, in-cluding Conservative, Reconstructionist, Re-form, Orthodox, and unaffiliated congrega-tions. Overall, as of October 2017, just 950 individuals serve in paid ED/A roles which are often poorly defined and hampered by competing demands and a lack of clarity around function, governance, management, and leadership authority. In addition, ED/As are pressed to manage many of the key functions in the syna-gogue, including technology, facilities management, gener-al operations, and administra-tive tasks. For many of these functions, the ED/A have not been adequately trained or lack experience.

”The synagogue ED/A typically comes to the role with experience and a deep commitment to the Jewish community,” says Adina Fryd-man, executive director, UJA-Federation of New York. “Most ED/As love what they do, but are often overwhelmed by the amount of work, competing demands, and complicated

relationships with senior lead-ership as a result of confusion over their functional roles and authority.”

As a result of these chal-lenges, many synagogues ex-perience rapid and disruptive turnovers of ED/As that impact daily operations. Also, when facing tough economic times, many synagogues try to save money by downgrading the

senior administrator position, hiring candidates with limited skills and experience at signifi-cantly lower salaries and limit-ed benefits. As a result of these trends, many synagogues have significant operational and program needs that are not be-ing addressed.

The report recommends several proactive, cost-effi-cient steps that congregations can take to come to a more unified understanding of the evolving role of the ED/A. These include creating job de-scriptions that accurately re-flect core functions and com-petencies and getting buy-in from all key players in advance. Also, investing in relevant pro-fessional training and sup-port for the ED/A individuals should be a priority.

“By its very existence,

this study honors the signifi-cance of our profession. At the same time it identifies areas in which our professional organi-zations can focus their work, where we can do better, and where we clearly already excel. This study is another step to-wards helping our synagogues flourish and better support Jewish communities,” said Su-san Z. Kasper, executive direc-

tor, Tiferet Bet Israel.“The challenges to

the ED/A were consis-tent and clear. So, too, are strategies for ad-dressing the problems and gaps, including re-alistic and transparent parameters for the ED/A role and professional development training and support. We hope the Jewish community will benefit from this assessment and the findings can help build stronger, thriving syna-gogues across North

America,” said Frydman.For more than 100 years,

UJA-Federation has brought New Yorkers together to solve some of the most pressing problems facing the commu-nity. Through UJA-Federation, more than 50,000 donors im-pact the issues that matter most to them, pooling their resources to care for Jews ev-erywhere and New Yorkers of all backgrounds, respond to crises close to home and far away, and shape a Jewish fu-ture. Working with a network of hundreds of nonprofits, UJA-Federation extends its reach from New York to Israel to nearly 70 other countries around the world, touching 4.5 million people each year. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, visit www.ujafedny.org.

Adina Frydman

Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools and Secure Community Network Announce PartnershipOn June 5, Prizmah: Cen-

ter for Jewish Day Schools, the association of Jewish day schools in North America and the Secure Community Net-work (SCN), the official home-land security and safety initia-tive of the organized Jewish community in North America, and the recognized initiative of The Jewish Federations of North America and the Con-ference of Presidents of Major

American Jewish Organiza-tions, announced their official partnership on safety and se-curity matters.

Prizmah and SCN will be working together closely to best ensure the safety and se-curity of Jewish day schools, providing and supporting pre-paredness and response initia-tives, to include assessment, awareness, education, and training efforts.

The United States ex-periences an average of 10 school shootings per year, with schools in at least 36 states having faced a shooting. In 2018 alone, there have been 10 school shootings. Moreover, the American Jewish commu-nity faces a disproportionate amount of targeted violence, with more than double the threats of the next closest mi-nority group.

Paul Bernstein of New Rochelle and Prizmah Chief Executive Officer said, ”Ensur-ing the safety and security of students in Jewish day schools is essential, which enables the amazing teams of teachers and administrators in our schools to deliver a first class Jewish education. Working in close partnership with SCN brings vital expertise and resources to all our schools.”

“The sanctity of our schools is of critical impor-tance, and the safety and wel-fare of our community mem-bers is the highest priority for both Prizmah and SCN,” noted Michael Masters, National Di-rector and CEO of SCN, “and one of our foremost obliga-tions as organizations.”

In developing this part-nership, Prizmah and SCN are Paul Bernstein continued on page 5

www.shorelinepub.com Westchester Jewish Life • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 • 5

continued on page 8

working to ensure the health, welfare and vitality of the Jewish community by prioritizing the safety and security of our Jewish day schools.

Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools is transforming the North American Jewish day school landscape. Their pioneering approach provides day schools with tools to foster the educational ex-cellence, financial vitality and community support that will make a day school education the first choice for Jewish families.

Established in 2004 as the first national non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to homeland security initiatives on behalf of the American Jewish community, the Secure Commu-nity Network (SCN) serves as the central address for law enforcement, homeland security and com-munity organizations focusing on the safety and security of Jewish institutions and communities across the United States. Through information sharing, security awareness, training and security consultation, SCN strives to empower individuals and organizations in establishing a culture of se-curity awareness, preparedness and resiliency throughout our communities.

NCSY’s Summer Program Celebrates its 20th AnniversaryNCSY, the international

youth movement of the Or-thodox Union (OU), is dedi-cated to connecting, inspir-ing and empowering Jewish teens and encouraging pas-sionate Judaism through To-rah and tradition. The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey (or TJJ as it is commonly known), one of NCSY’s most popular summer programs, is celebrating its 20th an-niversary in the summer of 2018..For two decades, TJJ has been bringing public-school students to Israel for a fun, educational and in-spirational four-week trip to explore their homeland and connect to their Jewish identity.

“We are extremely

proud of the fantastic work that TJJ does, inspiring thousands of teens to con-nect with Judaism and our homeland,” said Moishe Bane, OU President. “The impact of TJJ summer trips is incalculable and will surely bear fruit for many generations to come.”

To mark this landmark year, NCSY is establishing the TJJ Founders Scholar-ship in honor of Rabbi Bar-ry Goldfischer, the beloved TJJ educator known for his warm and engaging per-sonality. Rabbi Goldfischer is the current director of TJJ and has been involved with the program since its inception.

“Rabbi Goldfischer has

been an enormous role model for me,” said Adele Lerner, a 2012 alumna of TJJ Ambassadors. “He is a giant in Torah and educa-tion, and yet carries him-self with complete humil-ity and gives endlessly to anyone he meets. He has inspired me to go above and beyond as an NCSY advisor and a teacher.”

On June 25, there was a one-time crowd-funding campaign to raise $20,000, which will provide a full scholar-ship for one TJJ partici-pant for each of the next 5 years.

A festive celebra-tion to mark TJJ’s 20th year will take place in Is-

rael on July 25 at Yom NCSY, a highlight of the summer when 3,000 people from all of NCSY’s summer programs gather for a concert and fun-filled night of music and in-spiration. TJJ staff, advisors and alumni from throughout the program’s history will be invited to join the celebra-tion where TJJ’s leadership

will be honored for their work. A website highlight-ing the impact of TJJ, TJ-Jat20.ncsy.org, has been launched in the lead up to Yom NCSY.

“NCSY, and TJJ in par-ticular, has been so suc-cessful at educating the next generation of Jewish leaders, and we look for-ward to celebrating this milestone,” added Rabbi Micah Greenland, interna-tional director of NCSY.

In 1999, TJJ recruited 35 teens for its inaugural summer. Twenty years lat-er, it has served more than 4,000 teenagers. The pro-gram’s growth and success has been partly attributed to its affordability as is it heavily subsidized by the

Orthodox Union, NCSY’s par-ent organization; charitable foundations and individual donors. In 2014, The Jeru-salem Journey was renamed The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey.

“Lee Samson’s vision, and generous philanthropy in memory of his beloved wife Anne, has enabled thou-

sands of unaffiliated public-school students to connect with their Jewish heritage through an incomparable Is-rael experience,” said Allen Fagin, executive vice presi-dent of the Orthodox Union.

TJJ also runs a separate TJJ Ambassadors trip that combines touring, leader-ship training, and Israel ad-vocacy, as well as TJJ Ambas-sadors Poland, which allows TJJ alumni to discover Jew-ish history in Poland before touring Israel through the lens of Jewish leadership and social action.

To learn more about The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey and the 20th anni-versary, visit TJJat20.ncsy.org.

NCSY provides innova-tive, informal Jewish educa-tion, leadership training, re-treats and summer programs that foster positive Jewish identity and connection to Israel, preparing the next generation of committed Jewish communal leaders. For more information, visit https://ncsy.org.

Rabbi Barry Goldfischer

Brandeis Center Applauds Congress for Introducing the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act

Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools and Secure Community Network Announce Partnershipcontinued from page 4

The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Un-der Law (LDB) applauded the introduction of bipartisan legislation to help tackle the rising anti-Semitism plagu-ing U.S. schools. While anti-Semitism is on the rise across the U.S., the problem is par-ticularly rampant on college campuses.

“The spike in anti-Semitic incidents in schools has forced Jewish students to face preju-dice on their campuses, swas-tikas in their dorms and dan-ger on their school grounds. No student should ever be singled-out or harassed due to their religious beliefs,” stated Alyza Lewin, LDB’s chief op-erating officer and director of policy. “However, while educators, legislators, and civil rights advocates all recognize the problem and are deeply alarmed, those tasked with investigating incidents have

been left without the tools to properly address it. This bill provides the Department of Education with the guidance it needs to properly iden-tify today’s manifestations of anti-Semitism, particularly those incidents that cross the line from protected anti-Israel expression to blatant anti-Semitic acts.”

The bipartisan bill was introduced by Representa-tives Peter Roskam (R-IL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Jerrold

Nadler (D-NY) and Doug Collins (R-GA) in the U.S. House of Rep-resentatives, and Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Bob Casey (D-PA) in the U.S. Senate. A similar bill was unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate in 2016.

According to the FBI’s Hate Crime Report, Jewish hate crime victims, outnumber vic-tims of all other religious groups combined. And the problem is most serious in U.S. schools. A Brandeis Center/Trinity College study found that 54% of Jew-ish college students reported experiencing or witnessing anti-Semitism in 2014. And a February ADL report found that anti-Semitic incidents in K-12 schools and on college campuses nearly doubled between 2016 and 2017.

In addition, a U.S. Depart-ment of Education report, re-leased in April, which at the urging of the Brandeis Center,

Alyza Lewin

continued on page 12

Calendar of Events6 • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 www.westchesterjewishlife.com

PepsiCo’s Donald M. Kendall Sculp-ture Gardens, Anderson Hill Road, at the Purchase headquarters is now open to the public on weekends from 10am to 4pm through October 31. A new app from the Apple Store will give visitors an interactive expe-rience. For more, visit pepsico.com/sculpture-gardens

On August 3, join Art Sandwiched-In at the Neuberger Museum of Art, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase for a tour of the new exhibition, Andy Warhol: Subject and Seriality. Call 251-6100 for details.

UPCOMING EVENTSAugust 19 – Jewish Heritage Festival from noon to 6pm at Kensico Dam Plaza. Call West-chester Jewish Council at 328-7001 for details.

Join HIAS for National Refugee Shabbat this Fall from October 19-20 as the American Jewish community will dedicate sa-cred time and space to refugees and asylum seekers. Participate as an individual or as part of a congregation or organization. Learn more and sign up at hias.org/national-refugee-shabbat.

On July 13 and August 10, Com-munity Synagogue of Rye will celebrate Shabbat on Oakland Beach, Rye starting at 5:15pm for Young Family Service. For more information contact 967-6262.

The Small Town Theatre Com-pany presents Free Summer Evening Concerts at Wampus Brook Park in Armonk as fol-lows: July 14 – 3D Rhythm of Life; July 28 – Charlie Lagond; August 11 – 1 Stop Pony Band; and August 25 – New Rochelle Opera. All concerts begin at 8pm.Beascakes Bakery in Ar-monk will be serving free bev-erage and pastries during in-termission. To learn more, visit smalltowntheatre.com

Isabelle Freeman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, Connect-icut will hold Torah Yoga: Ac-quiring Garments of Light, July

23 through July 29. In addition, the Hazon Food Conference will take place August 1 – 5 and feast on Kosher, organic farm to table cuisine and hear from food experts. To attend contact regis-trar@hazon.org or call 860-824-5991, x 0.

Five hundred Jewish educators will gather at the ninth annual NewCAJE conference taking place July 29 through August 1 at the University of Hartford, CT. Scholarships are available. For complete details, visit newcaje.org or email info@newcaje.org.

Yorktown Jewish Center, 2966 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights will host Bingo on July 8 and 15. Call for details 245-2324.

JULY12From 7 to 9pm, JCC Manhattan screens the film, Mr. Gaga with Ohad Naharin, co-presented with American Friends of Batsheva Dance Company at Marlene Mey-erson JCC Manhattan, 334 Amster-dam Avenue at 76th Street, NYC. RSVP to 646-505-5708.

14At 8pm, Caramour presents Ber-nstein’s Broadway featuring Ted Sperling, Musical Director in the Venetian Theater, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd, Katonah. Visit caramoor.org for details.

18At 6pm, join the Jewish Climate

Action Network in Riverside Park, NYC for a Potluck Picnic. RSVP to info@JCAN-NYC.org to learn more.

20From 4:30 to 7pm, the JCC of Mid-Westchester, 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale will host a Family Fri-day Night event featuring dinner, wine, snacks, a toddler play space and free babysitting for children under 5. Call 472-3300 to attend.

AUGUST2From 10am to 4pm – UJA Fed-eration holds UJA Women Hamptons Trunk Show at Bridgehampton Historical So-ciety, 2368 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton. Early Bird Ticket includes access to the VIP Express Entrance, $36 through July 30th. Email uja-trunkshow@ujafedny.org or call 212-836-1845.

5UJA Federation New York is looking for volunteers and do-nors to sponsor and assemble back-to-school backpacks for schoolchildren in grades K-12 at 10:30am, at Congrega-tion B’nai Yisrael, 2 Banks-ville Road, Armonk. The event will support the Annual Back to School drive run by West-chester Jewish Community Services. Call Donna Divon at 385-2130 or email divond@ujafedny.org with questions.

Westchester Sandbox Theatre pres-ents, RENT, July 13 through 15 and HAIR, July 27 through 29 – Friday and Saturday shows at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm. Performances take place at the Bendheim Center of Performing Arts, JCC of Mid-West-chester, 999 Wilmot Road, Scars-dale. Tickets may be purchased at wstshows.com or call 630-0804.

On August 1, the UJA Federation of New York in Westchester will host a screening of Supreme RGB about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the JCC of Mid-Westchester for Westchester donors of $500 or more to the 2018 Annual Campaign. Call 385-2100 for details.

On July 11 at 7pm, UJA Federation of New York will hold a Summer Soiree – Tacos, Tequila and Tikkun Olam with the sounds of Twist of Fate at Larchmont Temple, 75 Larchmont Avenue. For more information, contact Hedy Levy at levyh@ujafedny.org or call 385-2109.

Joel Grey to Direct U.S. Premiere of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (NYTF), the longest consecutively producing the-atre in the United States and the world’s oldest continuous-ly operating Yiddish theatre company, has announced that legendary stage and screen actor Joel Grey will direct the United States’ premiere of Fid-dler on the Roof in Yiddish this summer.

“For me, it feels like Fid-dler is coming home,” Joel Grey said. “This will be a bold and rich re-imagination, with a highly acclaimed group of theater artists from Broadway that will respectfully re-envi-sion this classic theater touch-stone in fresh ways.”

“We are proud to an-nounce that Joel Grey, one of

the most respected artists of our time, will be directing the first Yiddish language ver-sion of Fiddler on the Roof in U.S. history,” said National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene Chief Executive Officer Chris-topher Massimine. “When NYTF presented Joel Grey with a Lifetime Achievement Award five years ago, we laud-ed his accomplishments on stage, in film, and on televi-sion, and at the heart of all of this work has been a commit-ment to providing audiences with captivating performanc-es. We are excited that he will bring this same inspiration and creativity to this unprec-edented presentation of Fid-dler on the Roof.”

Fiddler on the Roof in

Yiddish, based on the Tevye the Dairyman vignettes by renowned Yiddish author Sholem Aleichem and trans-lated by Shraga Friedman, has not been staged professionally since its world premiere pro-duction in Israel more than 50 years ago. The Off-Broadway production will take place at the Museum of Jewish Heri-tage, Edmond J. Safra Plaza, 36 Battery Place, NYC, from July 4 through August 26—presented in Yiddish with English and Russian supertitles.

Fiddler on The Roof per-formances will run through August 26. For tickets, visit www.NYTF.org or call 866-811-4111. For group sales and mem-berships, call 212-213-2120 Ext. 204.

Rosie Jo Neddy, Stephanie Lynne Mason, Samantha Hahn, Joel Grey, Steven Skybell, Raquel Nobile, Jackie Hoffman, and Rachel Zatcoff

www.shorelinepub.com Westchester Jewish Life • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 • 7

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www.shorelinepub.com Westchester Jewish Life • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 • 9

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10 • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 • Westchester Jewish Life www.westchesterjewishlife.com

Local Students Selected for The Bronfman FellowshipThe Bronfman Fellowship

has selected its 32nd cohort of eleventh grade high school stu-dents, among them from New York, a Senate page who ran for mayor of Ardsley and a young woman that has performed re-search at the Neuroscience and Education Lab at NYU.

The 26 Fellows, chosen from over two hundred and twenty ap-plicants across North America, will participate in a transformative five-week program of study and travel in Israel, followed by a rigor-ous year of programming centered around pluralism, social responsi-bility and Jewish texts. They also interact with a group of Israeli peers who were chosen through a parallel selection process as part of the Israeli Fellowship, Amitei Bronfman. The new class of Fel-lows will join a vibrant alumni network that includes some of to-day’s most exciting Jewish writers, thinkers and leaders.

The program was founded by Edgar M. Bronfman, z”l, for-merly CEO of the Seagram Com-pany Ltd. and a visionary Jewish philanthropist. Mr. Bronfman passed away in December 2013.

“Edgar Bronfman would have relished the opportunity to get to know this year’s Fellows,” said Becky Voorwinde, Executive Director of The Bronfman Fel-lowship. “They are a passionate, inquisitive, talented and incred-ibly bright bunch. I look forward to seeing them challenge and in-spire one another and their com-munities throughout their lives.”

Two students from West-chester have been chosen for this prestigious honor. Ardsley resi-dent David Oks, is a junior at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry. Oks has studied at both Jewish and secular schools and pro-grams. Interested in history and literature, he has received a multi-tude of awards for his knowledge of history, along with several writ-

ing awards. A student of politics, he ran for mayor of Ardsley in 2017 and served as a Senate page in Washington, D.C. He interned in the office of Congressman Eliot Engel. A longtime Boy Scout, Oks is active in his school’s Model UN program and student newspaper, as well as its literary magazine.

Sarah Bock of Scarsdale, is a junior at Scarsdale High School and a member of Westchester Reform Temple. At SHS, Sarah is a member of Signifer, which functions as Scarsdale’s Honor Society, as well as a peer tutoring program. She is on the schools’ cross country and track teams and is a member of the Pratham club, which raises money to fund women’s education in India. She also participates in the Empower Club which helps cook meals for local women’s shelters. Bock is part of SHS’s science research program in which students se-lect an area of science in which they are interested, find a men-tor in that field, and conduct an independent research project with the eventual goal of enter-ing research competitions and potentially being published in a peer-reviewed journal. She is currently conducting research at NYU exploring the effects of pre-natal cortisol exposure on chil-

dren’s neurological and cognitive development.

Bock also volunteers weekly at Reading Buddies, a program in which students mentor el-ementary school students from underprivileged communities to help them with their school work and cultivate their educational development. She is excited for the opportunity this summer to nurture her Jewish learning in a way that she has not been able to before with a group of people holding a diverse range of beliefs and opinions.

Adam R. Bronfman, presi-dent of The Samuel Bronfman Foundation, said he was “im-pressed and heartened” by the

new cohort. “My father treasured the Fellowship as an investment in the Jewish future, and I am proud to continue his work. It brings me joy to witness the mag-ic that happens when people from different levels of observance come together to access Jew-ish wisdom and have important conversations. I look forward to getting to know the 2018 Fellows personally, and to joining some of those conversations myself.”

The Bronfman Fellow-ship, the flagship program for outstanding young Jews, taps 26 North American teenagers at a formative point in their lives, the year before college, when an in-tense, immersive experience will have the most impact.

Sarah Bock

David Oks

Scarsdale’s Caring Community Pays Tribute to its Area Chair, Irene Steinberg and her Family

More than 100 guests came together to cel-ebrate UJA-Federation of New York’s Scarsdale com-munity and pay tribute to the Steinberg family of Scarsdale on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at a private home in Scarsdale.

The community was devastated by the cata-strophic loss of the Steinberg family in December. Irene Steinberg was serving as a UJA Scarsdale Area Chair when she and her family — including hus-band, Bruce, and their three sons, Zachary, William, and Matthew — were killed in a plane crash in Costa Rica.

“As we come together to celebrate another suc-cessful year of making a difference in our commu-nity, our hearts are full. We have fed those who are hungry, supported those struggling to make ends meet, aided and comforted those who have been vic-timized, and spent priceless time and energy with the elderly in our community,” said event chair Viv-ian Sklar of Scarsdale.

“Our hearts are full, too, as we know there are those with whom we did this sacred work who are no longer with us,” she continued. “We are still reeling from the tragic passing of Irene Steinberg and her beautiful family. There are no words that can adequately communicate the loss of our friend.”

Rabbi Jonathan Blake of Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale also addressed the group. Funds raised through the event were directed toward Hillel International, an organization that was meaningful to the Steinberg family and which UJA supports. Irene Steinberg had just joined the board of the Johns Hopkins Hillel in Baltimore before her death. Tizmoret, Queens College Hillel’s professional Jewish a cappella group, served as special guests.

In addition to Sklar, Beth Altschuler, Sarah Kayle, and Ilona Pokoik, all of Scarsdale, served as event chairs.

(From left) Scarsdale leaders Nicky Ziman, Mauri Chotin Zemachson, and Allison Friedland, all of Scarsdale

Dobbs Ferry Seniors Arrange Bar Mitzvah Celebration for Boy in Unique Situation

Soon to be 13-year-old Joshua was able to cel-ebrate his Bar Mitzvah with the help of a group of retirees. Resid-ing at Children’s Village, a juvenile justice facility in Dobbs Ferry, the young boy, whose full name is being withheld because he is a juvenile, has faced count-less hardships most people never will encounter. Living a trying life, completely isolated from family and friends, he never imagined having any cel-ebration in his honor, let alone a Bar Mitzvah.

Amidst preparations for a weekly Torah discussion group for retirees held at the High-point Condos in Hartsdale, Rabbi Benjy Silverman of Chabad of the Rivertowns, received a call from Joshua’s grandmother, Sandra. She enlisted his help in arranging a Bar Mitzvah for her grandson and gladly agreeing, Rabbi Silverman eagerly began preparations. Later that day at a discussion group, known as “The Shmooze,” the Rabbi passingly mentioned Joshua’s difficult situation and plans for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah to some of the attend-ees. Stepping up, the class of some 30 seniors, all of whom never met Joshua or his family, offered to sponsor his Bar Mitzvah and help turn a dream into a reality.

On Thursday, June 7, Joshua, joined by “The Shmooze” discussion group, as well as students his age from a local Jewish day-school, donned tefillin, a sacred pair of black leather boxes containing Hebrew parchment scrolls, and was called up to the Torah at his very own Bar Mitzvah celebration held at Chabad of the Rivertowns, 303 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry.

Rabbi Silverman said, “The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught us that when two Jews meet, they should make something good happen for a third person. This is the perfect example.”

www.shorelinepub.com Westchester Jewish Life • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 • 11

Maccabi USA Seeks Jewish Athletes, Coaches and Volunteers for 2019 Regional Games

Maccabi USA is seeking Jewish athletes, coaches, and volunteers to repre-sent the United States at the 14th Pan American Maccabi Games in Mexico City, Mex-ico, July 5-15, and the 15th European Maccabi Games in Budapest, Hungary, July 29-August 7, 2019. To see the 25 sports offered and eligibility guidelines, visit www.maccabiusa.com.

The Games are hosted by the European Maccabi Confederation and the Con-federacion Latinoameri-cana Maccabi (CLAM) re-spectively. Both Games are conducted in cooperation with Maccabi World Union and are held every four

years, two years after the Maccabiah is held. The Pan American and European Games are a high-level ath-letic competition for Jewish athletes all over the world aimed at connecting Jews from the Diaspora.

Tonja Magerman, Team USA Chair, 2019 Pan Ameri-can Maccabi Games Orga-nizing Committee, and Deb-bie Adams, Team USA Chair, 2019 European Maccabi Games Organizing Commit-tee, recruiting volunteers for to serve as Sports Chair on their respective commit-tees and help recruit quali-fied athletes and coaches. The Organizing Committee will field two individual

USA Teams of approximate-ly 700 participants strong.

“The 2019 Regional Games provide individu-als a unique opportunity to represent Team USA,” said Program Director Shane Carr. “There is an inde-scribable feeling of pride as you march in with the del-egation wearing red, white, and blue. Together we will make life-long memories alongside our Jewish coun-terparts from around the world, who share a common love for sports.”

For more information, contact Maccabi USA Pro-gram Director Shane Carr at 215.561.6900 or by email at scarr@maccabiusa.com.

White Plains Student Makes an Impact in IsraelMost students who go to

Israel to study in yeshiva, semi-nary or other gap-year pro-grams, are interested in learn-ing and enjoying their Israel experience. They are not look-ing for additional responsi-bilities. But, there are always a few unique individuals seeking more, for a way to give of them-selves and make their time in Israel more meaningful.

Volunteering at Shalva, the largest and most advanced center for inclusion and dis-ability care in Israel, offers the kind of experience that makes giving so rewarding. Rain or shine, once a week for the entire year, these dedicated volunteers leave the comfort of their English-speaking en-vironments to dedicate their time to making a difference in the lives of children with dis-abilities. What they don’t ex-pect, is how much the experi-ence will make a difference in their own lives.

“Volunteering at Shalva has been one of the highlights of my year here in Israel,” pro-claims White Plains resident Danielle Kinches, a recent participant of Shalva’s Ambas-sador Program.

Since 2016, Shalva’s new volunteer Ambassadors Pro-gram has become a critical component of the organization. More than 130 young adults from abroad volunteer through the program, offering back-bone support to Shalva’s lead-ing programs and providing much needed, personal atten-tion to Shalva’s children. Their genuine care, friendship and positivity are an immense con-tribution to the organization.

Over the course of one year, they become integral members of the Shalva fam-ily and form close bonds with Shalva’s children and staff. While it’s not always easy, these dedicated volunteers

extend them-selves much beyond their comfort zones to connect with children of various dis-abilities and to overcome the language barri-er. As Kinches and most vol-unteers will admit, the re-wards far outweigh the chal-lenges. Volunteers are often surprised to discover how much they look forward to spending time with Shalva’s special children.

“Since the first moment I walked in, I felt the warmth of Shalva throughout the build-ing,” she says.

“In addition to the direct impact these volunteers make in the lives of Shalva’s children, the Ambassadors Program of-fers students an opportunity to become influential leaders of their respective student bod-ies,” explains Sammy Schech-ter, Shalva’s Overseas Volunteer Coordinator. Shalva Ambassa-dors impact their social circles by spreading awareness of Shalva’s core message of inclu-sion, the importance of culti-vating love, hope and human dignity, and by engaging their peers in fundraising efforts for Shalva’s advocacy initiatives. Participating Ambassadors re-cruit their friends to run with Team Shalva in the annual Je-rusalem Marathon and to get involved with other seasonal events throughout the year.

For Kinches, becoming a Shalva Ambassador was a life-changing experience that has profoundly impacted her per-spective on life. “Every child is celebrated for who they are at Shalva and I am constantly impressed with how invested the staff are in each and every

individual’s success and hap-piness.”

For Kinches and other volunteers, their pivotal expe-rience at Shalva helped them realize their personal respon-sibility as leaders in the Jew-ish community, and that is something that extends much beyond one year in Israel, it’s a life-long mission.

Shalva, Israel’s Association for the Care and Inclusion of Per-sons with Disabilities, provides support services for thousands of individuals from infancy to adulthood and their families. Non-denominational and free of charge, Shalva’s programs of-fer a comprehensive range of therapies, inclusive educational frameworks, recreational activi-ties, respite and family support. Shalva empowers and enables families to raise their children with disabilities within the fam-ily framework; and partners with communities worldwide as well as government, academic, and cultural institutions to cre-ate a more inclusive society. Lo-cated in Jerusalem, the Shalva National Center is the largest and most advanced center for inclusion and disability care in Israel, changing the standard of disability services and impact-ing the lives of people with dis-abilities in Israel and around the world.

For more information vis-it: www.shalva.org: Inspiring Hope. Changing Lives.

Danielle Kinches

Rep. Engel, Former Senator Joe Lieberman, Assemblyman Dinowitz Attend Riverdale Jewish Center Annual Dinner

Recently, Congressman Eliot Engel (NY-16), former Senator Joseph Lieberman, and Assemblyman Jeffrey Di-nowitz attended the annual Riverdale Jewish Center (RJC) Dinner. The RJC is located at 3700 Independence Avenue in Riverdale.

12 • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 www.westchesterjewishlife.com

for the first time, included sta-tistics on religiously-motivated bullying and harassment in K-12 schools, found an alarm-ing 10,848 incidents based on religion in 2015-2016. Recent incidents motivated by anti-Semitism include: a Jewish boy in Florida who was pinned down while a swastika and a fake concentration camp num-ber were drawn on his arm; in New York, a Jewish boy who was verbally harassed and had hot wax poured on his skin; and in Maryland, two Jewish students who were followed by two suspects shouting, “F*** the Jews” and then punched in the face.

Until a dozen years ago, the Department of Education declined jurisdiction in cases involving claims of anti-Sem-itism since statues only cov-ered such traits as race, color, national origin, sex, age and disability. In 2004, then head of the U.S. Department of Edu-cation’s Office for Civil Rights and now president of LDB, Kenneth L. Marcus, drafted a policy ensuring that Jewish, Sikh and Muslim students were protected from ethnic and ancestral discrimina-tion under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. However, unlike in policies under which federal authorities investigate civil rights claims such as sex-ual harassment, this policy did not include a definition of anti-Semitism, leaving authorities ill-equipped to properly recog-nize anti-Semitism.

The Brandeis Center has been advocating for many years to have Congress address this obstacle, and the legisla-tion, introduced May 23, aims to do just that. It provides federal authorizes with a clear and uniform definition to rec-ognize anti-Jewish bigotry. The definition included in the bill is the global “gold stan-dard” used to define anti-Sem-itism, and is used by the U.S. federal government to assess incidents that occur abroad. It

is substantially similar to the definition that has been sup-ported by the 31 governments that are members of the Inter-national Holocaust Remem-brance Alliance; all 50 coun-tries, except for Russia, that make up the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; and the governments of the United Kingdom, Roma-nia, Austria, Germany and Bul-garia. It has also been adopted by the United Kingdom to use in colleges and universities.

Contrary to misunder-standings about the bill, the legislation does nothing to infringe on First Amendment rights. The bill will not regu-late or restrict free speech or academic freedom by any means. It simply provides federal authorities with a defi-nition of anti-Semitism to be used to investigate behaviors that are not protected by the First Amendment, including assault, battery and vandal-ism.

The Brandeis Center helped pass a similar law re-cently in South Carolina, and is working with other states to pass legislation to combat rising anti-Semitism in U.S. schools.

The bill is also support-ed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Simon Wiesen-thal Center and the American Jewish Committee (AJC.)

The Louis D. Brandeis Center, Inc., or LDB, is an inde-pendent, nonprofit organiza-tion established to advance the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and promote justice for all. The Brandeis Center conducts research, education, and advocacy to combat the resurgence of anti-Semitism on college and university campuses. It is not affiliated with the Massachu-setts university, the Kentucky law school, or any of the other institutions that share the name and honor the memory of the late U.S. Supreme Court justice.

Brandeis Center Applauds Congress for Introducing the Anti-Semitism Awareness Actcontinued from page 5

Kitchen & Bath Insider© - #212: Aging in Place or If You’re Not Moving…Consider Improving

BY PAUL BOOKBINDER, M.I.D., C.R.

By the time you read this month’s article, I’ll have been aging in place for several days. In my case, the place is at my desk, and I’m certain that I can feel the keyboard getting further and further away as my bone density decreases. Now, just what does the catch phrase “aging in place” really mean? It refers to the choice that many homeowners are making to stay in their existing homes as they get older, rather than packing up and moving to a new location. Whether it be an emotional decision or a fi-nancial one, it brings us to our second phrase of the month, “if you can’t move…improve”.

Fortunately, both these concepts go hand in hand, and so can be combined into one article. (Which will leave me scrambling for a new topic next month). However, whether you chose to age in place be-cause you want to, or can’t af-ford not to, is of no concern to me. The point is you’re staying put. Now, the trick is making your existing kitchen or bath-room more beautiful and more

user-friendly at the same time. While the clock is ticking!

Both The National Associ-ation of Home Builders and the Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence, (yes, there really is such a organi-zation), have noted increased consumer interest in Universal Design. This is a philosophy that encompasses all aspects of a home; designing for the young, the old, and people with disabilities, while recognizing that the aesthesis of the envi-ronment and its contents are equally important. Basically, designing with comfort for all, easy maintenance and visual attractiveness.

Open floor plans, with wider interior doors and coun-tertops at different heights are some of the structural consid-erations when doing a com-plete renovation, however, even if you are just refacing your kitchen you can incorporate ac-cessories to make your life eas-ier. Installing roll-out trays in cabinets, or changing cabinets with doors to drawers, makes it much easier to reach whatever you’re reaching for.

Just as it gets more un-

comfortable to bend over these days, so does it get harder to see with poor lighting. Additional ceiling lighting and task light-ing over the countertops is usu-ally a relatively inexpensive way to make our lives a little bet-ter. Remember, every little bit helps, and it all adds up. Con-sider also, easy to grab knobs for your cabinets and decora-tive grab bars for you bath and shower. And, while we’re in the bathroom, how about a taller toilet, with a softer seat, that doesn’t slam when you put it down?

Not only do these design elements improve the quality of your life, they will also help you to retain your independence as abilities recede. Even if you’re a Millennial (youngster), it pays to plan ahead, so that when it’s your turn to be old, (and trust me, its inevitable), your home will be more comfortable. And in the mean time, it will be eas-ier on your parents when they come to visit, so maybe you can get them to pay for the improve-ments.

Whether you’re consid-ering incorporating Universal Design in your home because

you are a senior, or planning to be one someday, it’s best to do it sooner than later. (Do you realize that you are a little older now than when you started reading my column today?) The moral of this month’s article is “today is the first day of the rest what’s left of your life”. And there’s no reason that we all shouldn’t be as comfortable as possible for the rest of our lives.

Paul Bookbinder, M.I.D., C.R., is president of DreamWork Kitchens, Inc. located in Ma-maroneck, New York. A Master of Design (Pratt Institute), and E.P.A. Certified Remodeler, he serves on the Advisory Panel of Remodeling Magazine. A mem-ber of the National Kitchen & Bath Assoc., he is also a contrib-utor to eZine and Do It Yourself magazine. He can be reached for questions at 914-777-0437 or www.dreamworkkitchens.com.

Infertility – A Story of Silent SorrowBY GILLIAN RITTMASTER

Sarah and David are a young, married couple. Just two years ago they stood un-der the chuppah with their parents, repeated their vows. and broke the glass. At the wedding reception Sarah’s fa-ther made a toast to the new bride and groom and wished them a long life filled with good health, happiness, and, of course, grandchildren. Sar-ah and David danced the hora that night with their friends. They were held up high in the chairs, holding a napkin be-tween them symbolizing their new union.

Today, Sarah and David are in the waiting room of an infertility specialist. They have been trying to get preg-nant since they came back from their honeymoon. They have endured two years of trying to have a baby with no success. Sarah and David have not told their friends or family what they are going through. They know everyone is won-dering and worrying. David’s mother asks him what they

are waiting for. She says she is anxious to be a grandmother and is not getting any younger. Sarah’s mother points out cute baby clothes every time they go shopping together. David’s sister, who was married after them, is expecting her first child. No one knows their se-cret and they suffer in silence.

This is just one example of what individuals and cou-ples go through as they face infertility. We are command-ed in the Bible to “go forth and multiply.” When that is not realized, feelings of pro-found sadness, guilt, shame,

and isolation can be overwhelming. Like Sarah and David, many in their situation, ex-perience a deep sense of loss, anxiety, depres-sion, and anger, all the while keeping this silent sorrow to them-selves. Some may share their journey with others, but many do not. They often retreat into a private world of their own; broken and

wounded after years of trying, going to doctor appointments, and taking countless medical tests.

In order to help address and reduce the stigma and shame surrounding infertil-ity, Westchester Jewish Com-munity Services (WJCS) and the Harold and Elaine Shames JCC on the Hudson created a partnership under a grant from UJA, to support indi-viduals and families grappling with infertility in Westches-ter County. This past March, the Shames JCC presented TRYmester, a performance that highlighted the fertil-

ity challenges of those in the Jewish community. As the program notes for the event said, “TRYmester was born from dreams of people travel-ing alongside those trying to have a child….Bearing witness to personal narrative through the arts can create deep em-pathy for anyone on a fertil-ity journey. Our collective responsibility at this perfor-mance is to learn more about their struggles and be moved in new ways, as we honor their journey to help break their isolation.”

The goal of this initiative is to provide our community with opportunities to engage with each other through sup-port groups and educational programs that allow for a dialogue and a sense of caring and belonging.

For more information, call Sherry Birnbaum, Director of Jewish Programs, WJCS 914-761-0600 ext. 140.

Gillian Rittmaster, LMSW, is the Coordinator of the Pathways to Care Program and Bereavement Services at WJCS.

Gillian Rittmaster

Westchester Jewish LifeLocal news for

county residents.westchesterjewishlife.com

Bernard A. Krooks, Esq., is a founding partner of Lit-tman Krooks LLP and has been honored as one of the “Best Lawyers” in America for each of the last seven years. He is past President of the National Academy of El-der Law Attorneys (NAELA) and past President of the New York Chapter of NAELA. Mr. Krooks has also served as chair of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. He has been selected as a “New York Su-per Lawyer” since 2006. Mr. Krooks may be reached at (914-684-2100) or by visiting the firm’s website at www.el-derlawnewyork.com.

www.shorelinepub.com Westchester Jewish Life • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 • 13

number of reasons, includ-ing the trustee’s inability or failure to act. Without this power, it might be neces-sary to commence a time-consuming and expensive court proceeding. The pow-er to remove a trustee and replace with a new one can be especially important in special needs trusts where the beneficiary of the trust may not have the ability to monitor the actions of the trustee.

The foregoing trust protector powers are not required, they are simply ex-amples of the broad range of powers you may give a trust protector. And, that is the real message here. You, as the creator of the trust, can decide just how much or how little power the trust protector should have. Or, whether your trust should have a protector at all.

You may name anyone you want as trust protector, including a friend, relative, lawyer, accountant or other professional. You may also

Who is Protecting Your Trust?BY BERNARD A. KROOKS, CERTIFIED

ELDER LAW ATTORNEY

We have written often about the benefits of using trusts in your estate plan-ning. Trusts can help you avoid probate, provide for orderly and efficient man-agement of your assets, and protect assets from credi-tors, divorced spouses, and the catastrophic costs of long-term care, to name a few reasons. When setting up a trust, there are basi-cally three parties involved in the trust document: (1) the person who creates the trust (you, otherwise known as the “settlor”), (2), the per-son or entity responsible for administering the trust (the “trustee”), and (3) the people who benefit from the existence of the trust (the “beneficiaries”). Well, as the Eagles used to say: There’s a New Kid in Town, and he is called the “trust protector.”

Trust protectors, while more common in offshore trusts, are a relatively new

concept in trusts created in the United States. Generally speaking, a trust protector is like an enforcer, some-one who makes sure oth-ers are doing what they are supposed to be doing. The duties of the trust protec-tor may vary, depending on state law and the language of the trust agreement. New York currently does not have a trust protector statute. This does not mean that you cannot use trust protectors in New York, but rather, that the trust instrument will de-fine the powers, duties and responsibilities of the trust protector.

So, what can a trust protector do and why should you consider including one in your trust? Let’s take a look at some scenarios. If circumstances change after the execution of the trust, the trust protector may be able to make changes to the trust even if it is an irrevo-cable trust. These potential changes often benefit the

beneficiaries of the trust in furtherance of your intent as creator of the trust. This power can be especially im-portant if there are changes to the law that may cause some of the trust provisions to be problematic. Alterna-tively, it might make sense to change the governing law of the trust from one state to another if the latter state’s laws are more accommodat-ing to carrying out the pur-poses of the trust, includ-ing reducing the amount of taxes imposed on the trust. This could happen if one state changes is laws after the signing of the trust. The trust protector may also be able to modify the terms of trust distributions. This could be extremely ben-eficial if one of the benefi-ciaries of the trust is going through a divorce or a law-suit. Another power that may be given to the trust protector is the power to remove or replace the trust-ee. This can happen for a

give them whatever pow-ers you want. However, it is important to consider all issues when deciding upon the power of the trust pro-tector. For example, what compensation, if any, should the trust protector receive? Generally speaking, if you want someone to do a good job, they typically expect to get paid. If you pay them, how much? A percentage of trust assets, an hourly fee? What responsibilities should the trust protector have? Should the trust pro-tector be obligated to review all actions of the trustee or should he simply be re-quired to act when called upon? If the trust protector fails to act, what remedies are available?

Under the proper cir-cumstances, a trust protec-tor can serve a vital role in your trust and overall estate plan. The key is getting the right person to serve and clearly defining the scope of the powers and responsibili-ties.

Hundreds of Jewish Organizations Urge theAdministration to End “Zero Tolerance” Family Separation Policy

On June 21, 350 national, state, and local Jewish organiza-tions—including the Reform, Re-constructionist, Conservative and Orthodox movements—sent a joint letter urging the Administra-tion to immediately rescind the “zero tolerance” policy of crimi-nally prosecuting all adults who cross the border. This practice forces authorities to separate chil-dren from their migrant parents because there are laws protecting immigrant children against pro-longed detention.

Organized by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Reform Movement, and HIAS, the letter urges the Administration to uphold the values of family unity and justice on which our na-tion was built by ending the “zero tolerance” policy. Unfortunately, the executive order signed June 20 essentially seeks to replace family separation with indefinite family detention.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, thousands of children have already been torn from their parents since the policy was implemented. Mounting evidence suggests that many children have been threatened, treated poorly, and held in dangerous conditions. JCPA strongly urg-es the Administration to end this cruel practice and ensure that all separated children are reunited with their parents as soon as possible.

“The only solution to this manufactured crisis is to rescind the inhuman “zero tolerance” poli-cy. Instead, the Administration is actually looking to overturn existing protections against indefinite detention of children so that authorities can jail whole families and expedite deportations, even for asylum seekers, which raises serious due process concerns,” said David Bernstein, President and CEO of JCPA. “There are proven alternatives to the incarceration of families fleeing violence that don’t permanently traumatize young children or make people suffer unnecessarily.”

Originally issued earlier in June, with 26 national groups, the organizers reopened the letter to include the many organizations around the country that wanted to collectively voice their outrage in response to such inhumane policy.

14 • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 • Westchester Jewish Life www.westchesterjewishlife.com

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Real Estate Matters: Helping Seniors Take the “Oy!” Out of MovingBY JOHN BAER, SRES, SRS

For over 30 years I have spe-cialized in working with seniors. As a Seniors Real Estate Special-ist (SRES) I am very sensitive to the fact that it can be extremely emotional for a senior consider-ing leaving the family home with all that it represents. –

Many seniors would prefer to continue living in their home, or aging in place, but, sometimes circumstances work against those preferences: home main-tenance becomes a burden, a major life event forces consid-ering a move, an aging parent wants to live closer to adult chil-dren or other caretakers, finan-cial concerns make it difficult to keep the home, or support services are needed that are not available at home.

Whatever the reason, there may come a time when seniors along with their adult children, consider selling and moving on. And yet, just thinking about all the work associated with mov-ing can be overwhelming. When representing a senior home seller, I love working with pro-fessionals known as Senior Move Managers. A Senior Move Man-ager, simply put, takes the “oy” or “oy vey” out of moving. They are disposers of “stuff”, packers, movers, decorators, and counsel-ors plus much, much more.

When a senior establishes a relationship with a Senior Move Manager, the manager helps the senior determine which belong-ings to take, they work with home seller to sort through closets, at-tics and garages, help dispose of unneeded items through sales,

auction or charitable donation, and can create a floor plan of the new residence to determine which pieces of furniture will fit.

They provide all the pack-ing material, boxes and bubble wrap. Whether it is a $2.00 thirty year-old wedding cake ornament or a valuable Jackson Pollock, experienced staff pack each item with care. They then manage the entire moving process. They can arrange for a mover or work with a mover of your choice. They can oversee the mover on “Move Day”. While the mover is load-ing the truck, they clean your old residence so that it is ready for sale or moving in by the new owner. They empty your refrig-erator and freezer and transport your perishables to their new location. They arrange for ship-ping your belongings to family

members. And they arrange for shipment of your car.

Senior Move Managers also help get the home you are leaving ready for sale. They sort through your household items and fur-niture and empty the residence according to your wishes. They clean, update and/or fix your home to get it ready for sale. They refer painters, electricians, contractors, professional clean-ing services, and attorneys who specialize in working with se-niors. They supervise and direct the work.

They are also involved in getting your new home ready. They can help you decorate your new home. They can shop for you for needed items. Whether it is painting, new blinds, electrical or plumbing work, they can ar-range and supervise it all.

They handle all the admin-istrative tasks related to relocat-ing. They forward your mail and magazine subscriptions. They notify the utility companies and make the required changes to

service. They cancel or change your newspaper subscription.

And, believe it or not, that’s not all, they make moving into your new home incredibly easy. They unpack every box and or-ganize your entire residence…..everything – furniture, personal items, clothes, dishes, linens and food –is put in its place. They plug in the phones and set the clocks, they set up your comput-er system, and even make your bed! And then they dispose of all boxes and packing materials.

How much do Senior Move Management services cost? It’s virtually impossible to calculate what a specific move might cost, as the fee can vary considerably by geographic region and the services requested. Addition-ally, some Senior Move Man-agers charge their fees on an hourly basis, while others prefer to package the cost of the entire job at one price. National Asso-ciation of Senior Move Managers members will generally outline the cost of a job through a writ-

ten estimate before you engage their services.

Perhaps the biggest reason to have a Senior Move Manager is that it takes the stress out of moving. And, many times, the cost can be counteracted by a big tax deduction from the objects donated to charity or sold online or at an estate sale or auction.

John E. Baer, SRES, DPA is a NYS licensed real estate salesper-son associated with Berkshire Ha-thaway HomeServices Westches-ter Properties of Scarsdale and Larchmont. He can be reached for questions at 914/600-6086 or at 914/844-2059. His website is www.WestchesterHomes.info.

www.shorelinepub.com Westchester Jewish Life • July 2018 • Tammuz-Av 5778 • 15

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Cteen Award CeremonyRecently, a special

evening was held honor-ing local teens from Larch-mont and Mamaroneck for their commitment to community service.

CTeen boasts a membership of close to 50 Jewish teenagers who get together weekly during the school year to do a vari-ety of programs benefiting people in need – both lo-cally as well as nationally and internationally.

In recognition of their great work, Chabad of Larchmont and Mamaroneck, who sponsors this program, held an evening for the teens and their parents where the teens received certificates of honor and awards for their devotion to helping those less fortunate.

The evening began with words by Jessie Rosenblatt, Co-President of Cteen, a sophomore at Mamaroneck High School {MHS}, who spoke of the great sense of meaning and purpose she gets every week through the Cteen projects. A video was also shown recapping the many community service projects done this year. Then the group heard words of inspiration from Rabbi Mendel Silberstein, director of the program, who encouraged the teens to keep up their spirit and enthusiasm for volunteering during the summer. He also addressed those graduating and spoke of the importance to continue their great work in college as well.

Katie Solomon, a freshman at MHS, spoke of her experience joining Cteen this year and highlighted her fa-vorite project, which was running a full blown carnival for the children living at the Coachman Family Homeless Shelter in White Plains. Then Andrea Danziger of Mamaroneck, a parent of both past and present Cteen volun-teers, spoke on behalf of all the grateful parents and shared her own thoughts and appreciation for the program.

Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Tom Murphy imparted a few touching words and handed out Certificates of Merit from the Office of the Westchester County Executive, signed by County Executive George Latimer. The teens also received a beautiful menorah as a token for their volunteering.

A special award went to the graduating teens who were involved in C-teen throughout their four years of high school. They were represented by senior Jeremy Hoffner who shared how Cteen helped shape his experi-ence as a high school student keeping him and his friends focused and involved in the community.

The teens left with a great feeling of accomplishment and commitment to continue with Cteen when school resumes in the fall.

Among the programs the teens did this year were: Prepared hundreds of sandwiches for the homeless at HOPE Community Services, Inc.; Played basketball with young adults from Southeast Consortium; Baked chal-lah with developmentally challenged adults from Chai House & Beach House; Played games and did crafts with the residents of Sarah Neuman;. Created beautiful floral arrangements for local seniors; Ran a clothing drive for Shalom Center of Brooklyn; Heard from Holocaust survivor Judith Altman; Packed Passover packages for U.S. Troops; Ran a carnival at the Coachman Family Homeless Shelter; Recorded audio books for the blind at Bach to Rock; and Shark Tank - Israel Edition!

The Cteen board members for the year 2017-18 include: Jordana Miller & Jessie Rosenblatt, Co-Presidents; Alix Master, Vice President ; Rachel Barry, Secretary; Jonny Reich, Treasurer; and Board members: Andrew Dan-ziger, Ari Miller, Lauren Raved and Rebecca Super.

Hadassah Names Ron Aloni, Chief Financial and Operations Officer

Ron Aloni of Harrison has been appointed Chief Financial and Operations Officer of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HW-ZOA), announced Janice Weinman, HWZOA Executive Director and CEO. Aloni, who most recently was Chief Financial Officer for the Friends of the Israeli De-fense Forces (FIDF), will be responsible for all financial and operational aspects of the nation’s largest women’s Zionist organization.

Aloni has more than 17 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector. Pri-or to FIDF, Aloni served as Vice President for Finance and Controller of Pace Uni-versity (2008-2014) for both the New York City and Westchester campuses. As Senior Manager at Ernst & Young (2005-2008), Aloni specialized in the firm’s non-profit market sector with clients that included the New York Public Library, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the National Kidney Foundation and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, among others.

Previously, Aloni was Senior Manager at KPMG in Israel and New York City (1997-2005), where he over-saw such non-profit clients as: Yeshiva University, the American Committee for the Weizman Institute, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the Open Society Institute, the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the Association for Computing Machinery, among others. Aloni served 3 years in the Israeli army intelligence forces.

A CPA in both the U.S. and Israel, Aloni received his BA in Accounting and Psychology from the Univer-sity of Tel Aviv and his MBA in Strategic Management from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University. He is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs Non-For-Profit Committee.

Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA) is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With 330,000 members, associates and supporters Hadassah brings Jew-ish women together to effect change and advocate on critical issues such as medical care and research and women's empowerment. For more information, visit www.hadassah.org.

Ron Aloni

Sinai Free Synagogue Welcomes Cantor Amy GoldsteinSinai Free Synagogue has announced the selection of Cantorial

Soloist Amy Goldstein as the new Sinai Free Synagogue Cantor and Re-ligious School Director. “We welcome Cantor Amy’s engaging spirit and commitment to Jewish values along with her beautiful voice to the Sinai Free family,” says Rabbi Morris Barzilai. “Her energy and enthusiasm is the perfect fit for us.”

Cantor Goldstein most recently served as the cantorial soloist at Temple Beth Jacob in Newburgh. She has also served congregations in Westchester and New York City. She is bringing a broad range of talent to the Temple including cantorial chanting, opera, oratorio, Broadway, Yiddish, folk, and contemporary music. The Cantor has received criti-cal acclaim for her Naxos recordings for the Milken Archive of Ameri-can Jewish Music. She also taught voice for season ten of America’s Got Talent and the 2016 Olympics Official Coca Cola commercial.

Along with her musical capabilities she is also a Certified Nursing Assistant and Patient Care Technician and served as visiting Jewish Chaplain Volunteer at Phelps Memorial Hospital. Can-tor Goldstein lives in Scarsdale with her two sons, who will attend Sinai Free Synagogue Religious School this fall.

The Cantor is, “excited about joining Sinai Free Synagogue and getting to know the congregants and students and sharing many events and occasions with them.”

Sinai Free Synagogue, located at 550 North Columbus Avenue, Mt. Vernon, is a progressive Re-form Jewish synagogue located in Southern Westchester.

Cantor Amy Goldstein

Purchase Student Creates Nonprofit Helping Fellow Teens Give Back

A few years ago, Purchase teen, Helena Zimmerman was busy prepar-ing for her bat mitzvah, when she stopped to take a look at her peers and their projects. Concerned that teenagers lacked meaningful and impactful ways to give back to their communities, Zimmerman co-founded TeensGive.org, a non-profit created for teens by teens that provides in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities for youth in under-served communities. Through TeensGive, she is enacting real change ina her community. She is addressing the crucial need for access to educational resources for youth who may not have the necessary means to receive help at their current academic institution. She has recently partnered with Learn To Be, a nonprofit that matchs tutors and recipients.

Since the implementation of TeensGive in 2014 and with the help from a $120,000 grant from Google, to date there are 4,000 high school members across the United States and 200 volunteer tutors that provide their services through the virtual volunteer platform.

Going back to the roots of her original service project, she coordinated a bake sale for a public school in Har-lem. Zimmerman is currently putting her efforts towards expanding the Counting Cupcakes program, a project-based workshop that teaches entrepreneurial and life skills to middle schoolers. It is a workshop that is helping teen volunteers to lead a team in creating a real-life bakery, while learning business and life skills they can teach to others..Counting Cupcakes is the latest initiative launched by TeensGive, which is seeking to expand its outreach to a new audience and is the title of a book she is writing about entrepreneurship. Zimmerman, 17 has also received grants from The E.E. Ford Foundation and was honored with The Prudential Spirit of Community Award.

In June, for her inspiring work, the Rye Country Day School student was announced as a recipient of the 2018 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards, a $36,000 award that recognizes 15 Jewish teens for their leadership and commitment to social good to make the world a better place. Now in its twelfth year, the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards have given more than $4 million to 114 teens Jewish teens who are tackling global issues and creat-ing lasting change “to repair the world,” or Tikkun Olam. The Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards was the creation of Philanthropist Helen Diller, namesake of The Helen Diller Family Foundation. Zimmerman plans to use the $36,000 to expand the virtual volunteer portion of TeensGive.org to more state, schools and community centers.