Jonathan Winderman

standing up for what your believe

This was originally contained in a blog post on the website for Young Judea's Camp Sprout Lake.

“After Saturday’s tragedy in Pittsburgh, my daughter Michelle expected to have a moment of silence or some kind of recognition at her school Monday morning. She came home Monday night distraught that there was no mention of it at all. Upset, she sat down and wrote a letter to her principal expressing her thoughts on the lack of acknowledgment. She went in the next morning to hand deliver it and was only allowed to leave it with his secretary. She figured that would be the end of it.

On Wednesday, my wife finds out from a friend who teaches at the school that the District Superintendent sent a letter to all staff in grades 3-8 mentioning my daughter’s letter and saying that she made them realize that they missed an opportunity for a teachable moment. She included a copy of Michelle’s letter (minus her name) and instructed every teacher to work age-appropriate discussion about intolerance and combating hate into their curriculum. What merely started out as asking for a moment, may lead to a curriculum change.

The reason for this long story is that standing up for what you believe in and being a force for change in your community is something she learned through MADIMOW at Camp Sprout Lake. The lessons these young people learn here and in Young Judaea give me hope in a deeply troubled world.”

Brandon Melendez

a time to celebrate for all

Sunday, September 30, 2018 Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David in Rockville Centre held a special celebration called a Siyum to culminate the Torah Repair Project that started back in March. All congregants and donors who participated in the fundraiser fulfilled the 613^th mitzvah of writing a Torah.

An enormous effort was mounted by the congregation’s Fundraising Committee. Dr. Laurence Mack, President of the Temple said, “It really took a great effort from Rabbi Howard Diamond, Dr. Martin Greenberg, and Nancy Hochhauser and her Fundraising Committee, including Samantha Berman-Melendez, Judy Greenberg, Lisa Mack, Elisa Matas-Skolnick, Caryn Morgenbesser, Nanci Moskowitz and Ethel Oppenheimer, to make this fundraiser and event successful.”

Following a short afternoon prayer service, members were all invited to participate in the Siyum (celebration), offering food, Klezmer music, and the company of their community, friends, and family. “The Siyum was an absolute success,” said Board of Trustees and Fundraising Committee Member Samantha Berman-Melendez, “and the Klezmer music added a fun yet traditional element to the festivities.”

The music was provided by clarinetist Ray Musiker and his son, pianist Lee Musiker, along with our cantor, Daniel Mendelson. The musicians had performed for the congregation years ago. Rabbi Howard Diamond said, “It’s a great honor to have Mr. Musiker back, and this time with his son.”

“The last time we had done this was back in 1997,” said Dr. Greenberg “and it was a big success. Really, you’re supposed to have all your Torahs’ sections and mezuzah scrolls checked every seven years, so we were due. It’s really amazing, because you don’t realize how long the Torah is until you have it all opened.” As part of the celebration, donors who gave to the fundraiser helped hold the Torah out as it was completely unrolled around the sanctuary.

“It’s a precious moment when children have the opportunity to fulfill a mitzvah that they learn about so often in the Hebrew School,” said Jewish Learning Center Director and Principal Dan Seid “From the moment that the scribe came to teach the children how letters and words are written in the Torah to the moment of our Torah being fully prepared has been a tremendous learning process for our children.”

Rabbi Diamond told the gathering “It isn’t every day that we can celebrate such a mitzvah. It’s a special thing we’ve done here.”