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Rescued Holocaust Sefer Torah Scroll Finds New Home at Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center

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The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC), a nonprofit organization that offers education programs in partnership with local schools to enhance the teaching and learning of the lessons of the Holocaust, has received a Rescued Holocaust Sefer Torah from the Yorktown Jewish Center.

The HHREC will safeguard it at their library and education center in White Plains, New York. The Yorktown Jewish Center recently closed after 68 years in operation serving their congregation in the greater Yorktown Heights, New York area. 

L to R: Marvin Medow,  co-president, Yorktown Jewish Center; HHREC Executive Director Millie Jasper; and Michael Mirsky, co-president, Yorktown Jewish Center. 

”We are incredibly honored and humbled by the generosity of our dear friends at the Yorktown Jewish Center to become caretakers for this Torah.” said Millie Jasper, Executive Director, HHREC. “And while we are saddened to learn of the closing of the synagogue, we will work very hard to help them achieve their mission in sharing this unique artifact with teachers, students, and the public at large, as a living document to help us educate and inform.”

 “It’s both gratifying and heartening to know that this precious item, our Torah, will continue to be used as intended, to educate and elevate the spirituality of all who partake of it.“ said Marvin Medow, one of the Co-Presidents of the Yorktown Jewish Center. “Our Torah has found a new home and the gift of its teachings will continue.”

About The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center 

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center is a not-for-profit organization based in White Plains New York that serves Westchester, Fairfield, and neighboring counties. Their Mission is to enhance the teaching and learning of the lessons of the Holocaust and the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. We encourage students to speak up and act against all forms of bigotry and prejudice. Their work with students and teachers helps schools fulfill the New York State mandate that the Holocaust and other human rights abuses be included in their curriculum. Since 1994, they have brought the lessons of the Holocaust, genocide, and human rights crimes to more than 1,500 teachers, and through them to thousands of middle and high school students. Through their volunteer Educators Program Committee, the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center gives teachers the unique opportunity to develop programs for themselves and others. These programs not only enrich teachers’ knowledge about the Holocaust and related issues, but they also provide the lens through which to view all other human rights violations. For more information call 914.696.0738 email info@hhrecny.org  

 

 

HHREC Announces 2022 Summer Educators Tour Plans and Registration Opening

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The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) has announced their 2022 Study Tour of Germany and Poland. This HHREC educational mission offers teachers  a unique opportunity to visit the sites of the Holocaust in Germany and Poland and speak with experts in the field. The guided tour and trip will run from July 2nd to 17th and will be offered to educators from the Lower Hudson Valley of New York and from other parts of the U.S.

” We are very excited to resume offering our Educators Study Tour in 2022” said Steven Goldberg, Co-Director of Education at HHREC. “And while we have enjoyed offering this unique biennial program to teachers here in Lower Hudson since 2012, is it gratifying to hear from many others around the country who are planning to join us.  The is designed to expand teacher comprehension of this monumental event in human history and inspire and motivate them as they prepare to teach the lessons of the Holocaust and promote protection of Human Rights to their students.  He added “It is very important to us and our mission to pass on the lessons we have learned for the future.” 

Trip highlights for the 2022 HHREC Summer Tour include:

  • Sightseeing Coach Tour of Berlin, including Berlin Wall Memorial, Brandenburg Gate, Bebelplatz
  • Holocaust Memorials in Berlin (Murdered Jews of Europe, Memorial in the Bavarian Quarter, Memorial Track 17 – Berlin Grunewald, Homosexuals, Sinti and Roma, “T4” Memorial, Stolpersteine)
  • Educational programs at the House of the Wannsee Conference, Murdered Jews of Europe Memorial Museum, Jewish Museum (Berlin), Stasi Museum Marienfelder Refugee Center, Documentation Center Nazi Party Parade Grounds in Nürnberg, Nürnberg Courthouse, Polin (Museum of the History of Polish Jews)
  • Tour and educational program at Sachsenhausen and Auschwitz-Birkenau
  • Tour of Kasimierz historic Jewish section of Krakow
  • Panel discussion on Jewish life and antisemitism in Germany today and visit to a synagogue in Berlin
  • Panel discussion on Migrant Settlement in Germany: Education, Housing, Employment, Legal Issues
  • Program on tolerance education and civil society in Germany: 7xjung – training ground for solidarity and respect

The Summer Tour Trip cost includes intercontinental roundtrip flights New York (JFK) – Berlin (BER), public transportation including local coach or taxi, local and long-distance trains, Intra-European trains and flights, and accommodations include breakfast in 3- and 4-star hotels (14 nights) in Berlin, Nürnberg, Warsaw, Krakow, lunches and dinners, an English- speaking guide, lectures, discussions, and local guided tours in English or with English translation, and museum entrance fees. Lower Hudson Valley New York educators will receive a $2100 honorarium, and all participants will receive 90 CTLE hours at the conclusion of the program.

For more information, and to register, visit hhrecny.org/educators-study-tours or contact Steven Goldberg at sgoldberg@hhrecny.org

About The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center is a not-for-profit organization based in White Plains New York that serves Westchester, Fairfield and neighboring counties. Their Mission is to enhance the teaching and learning of the lessons of the Holocaust and the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. We encourage students to speak up and act against all forms of bigotry and prejudice. Their work with students and teachers helps schools fulfill the New York State mandate that the Holocaust and other human rights abuses be included in their curriculum. Since 1994, they have brought the lessons of the Holocaust, genocide and human rights crimes to more than 1500 teachers, and through them to thousands of middle and high school students. Through their volunteer Educators Program Committee, the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center gives teachers the unique opportunity to develop programs for themselves and others. These programs not only enrich teachers’ knowledge about the Holocaust and related issues, but they   also provide the lens through which to view all other human rights violations. For more information call 914.696.0738 email info@hhrecny.org 

Hundreds of Westchester Residents Benefit from WJCS Covid Relief Hub

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The Covid pandemic has presented people with some of the greatest challenges of their lives. Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) launched the WJCS Covid Relief Hub, in partnership with UJA-Federation of NY, in November 2020 to deliver critically needed short-term mental health counseling and career services to Westchester residents at no cost.

To date, WJCS’s Covid Relief Hub has served over 200 clients and conducted close to 100 group workshops and dozens of individual sessions. Our clients have been placed in legal, accounting, graphic design, sales, marketing, teaching, public relations, project management, and other jobs, thanks to the career guidance offered by the Covid Relief Hub.

The Hub also offers parenting coaching sessions, a particularly urgent need at a time when students and parents are facing many uncertainties in the school year ahead. “At this challenging time for so many Westchester residents, we are proud that UJA-Federation of New York has allowed us to offer these vitally important services at no cost,” said WJCS CEO Seth Diamond. 
 
“It’s hard to know what the future brings and this presents many emotional challenges to people of all ages and stages of life, whether you’re a parent, teacher, adult child of a homebound senior, or someone who has suffered great loss,” said Ellen Weisberg, Program Coordinator of Mental Health Services for the WJCS Covid Relief Hub. “Our program is dedicated to helping people address difficult feelings, situations, and decisions due to the far reaching impact of the pandemic.”
 
While the job market has improved, many young and mid-life professionals need help preparing for remote interviews and using Linkedin and other platforms. “There is great anxiety among those searching for a job,” said Lisa Morris, Program Coordinator of Employment Services for the WJCS Covid Relief Hub. “At the Covid Relief Hub, we provide both emotional support and practical guidance  to the unemployed, at no cost.” 
 
Services offered through the WJCS Covid Relief Hub are:

  • up to 4 individual mental health support sessions
  • up to 4 individual parent coaching sessions
  • mental health support groups for Jewish day schools and synagogues, tailored to specific needs
  • individual career coaching
  • weekly workshops (over Zoom) that incude topics such as resume writing, LinkedIn profiles, preparation for interviews, and job resources 
  • community mental health, and financial counseling referrals

 
The following upcoming workshops are free but must be registered for at least 24 hours in advance. Please RSVP at the email addresses listed below.

Wednesday, September 1 10:00 – 11:30 am 
LinkedIn: Up Your Networking Game 
hubs@wjcs.com

Monday, September 13  3:00 – 4:00 pm 
Resume 101: Rethink and Reinvent Your Resume 
hubs@wjcs.com
 
Wednesday, September 15  10:00 – 11:30 am 
Preparing for an Interview 
hubs@wjcs.com
 
Monday, September 20 9:30 – 10:30 am
Parent Support Group
eweisberg@wjcs.com
 
Tuesday, September 21 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Feeling Connected During the Pandemic
jschmelkin@wjcs.com
 
Wednesday, September 22   9:00 – 10:30 am 
Interview Like a Pro
hubs@wjcs.com
 
Thursday, September 23 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Life Lessons from the Jewish Calendar 
pwax@wjcs.com
 
Thursday, September 30 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Parents of College Students: Preparing to be an “Empty-Nester”
jschmelkin@wjcs.com
 
For more information about individual mental health sessions or community workshop programming, please contact the COVID Relief Hub Mental Health Services Coordinator, Ellen Weisberg: eweisberg@wjcs.com
 
For more information about career services and programs, please contact the WJCS COVID Relief Hub Career Services Coordinator, Lisa Morris, at lmorris@wjcs.com.

ABOUT WJCS
WJCS is one of the largest non-profit, non-sectarian human services agencies in Westchester, serving 20,000 people annually at 70 clinic, school, community, and home-based locations throughout the county. WJCS is a trauma-informed agency. Its  integrated network of services includes: mental health treatment and counseling, child and youth development programs, residential and non-residential programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and geriatric services. The highest level of professional development and training is offered through the WJCS Educational Institute. For more information on WJCS, go to www.wjcs.com.

News Courtesy of Westchester Jewish Community Services

A Memorial Garden Dedication

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Mid-Westchester Elks Lodge #535 and Cerebral Palsy of Westchester dedicate a Memorial Garden at the Bridge School at Cerebral Palsy of Westchester

July 16, 2021, Rye Brook, NY–The BRIDGE School at Cerebral Palsy of Westchester (CPW) and The Mid-Westchester Elks Lodge # 535 celebrated the grand opening of the Memorial Garden at The BRIDGE School today with a dedication ceremony followed by a BBQ for students, administrators, Lodge members, families and friends. CPW’s adaptive Scouts opened the ceremony by leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Speakers included President Jay Singer and past-president Bob Sollazzo of the Mid-Westchester Elks Lodge #535 along with CPW Executive Director Linda Kuck and BRIDGE School Principal Barry Wasser.

The Mid-Westchester Elks Lodge #535 created the Memorial Garden to remember those BRIDGE School students who passed away before they could graduate from the program. Past president Bob Sollazzo, who initiated the garden project said, “After seeing similar memorial gardens in Florida, I wanted to create a “Living Memorial” to those students attending The BRIDGE School. Our Boy and Girl Scout Troops at CPW will plant, water and maintain the Garden as a living tribute to all the students here who passed away much too soon. In this way, their friends and loved ones will know that they are not forgotten but live on as part of our community.”

Mid-Westchester Elks President Jay Singer, CPW Executive Director Linda Kuck, and Bob Solazzo, Mid-Westchester Elks past president. Photos by Amelia Kligman.

Elks Lodge Members built four planter boxes, filled them with top-soil, and installed the Memorial Garden sign. Together with the students and staff, Elks members helped with the selection of plants, and the preparation and planting of the boxes. They planted one garden box of perennials, two boxes of annuals, and one large vegetable garden. Since late spring, the students have been watering and weeding the gardens and looking forward to harvesting the vegetables and enjoying gardening for years to come.

The Mid-Westchester Elks Lodge #535 was organized in 2009 and meets at the American Legion Post No. 1097 in Armonk, NY. For over a decade, Lodge #535 has adopted CPW as their major community project. This includes playing a formative and leadership role in CPW’s Adaptive Scouts: Cub Scout Pack 535 and Girl Scout Troop 1902. Since 1966, the NYS Elks have embraced the Cerebral Palsy Associations of NYS as their Major Project. Throughout the world, Elks’ lodges promote neighbors coming together, families sharing meals, and helping children grow. Their motto is: Elks Care, Elks Share.

The BRIDGE SCHOOL at Rye Brook, a division of Cerebral Palsy of Westchester, is a special education center serving students with multiple disabilities. It offers a comprehensive program that connects families, students, and educational professionals to help each student reach their academic potential and discover what the possibilities are for them beyond the school setting.

About Cerebral Palsy of Westchester: With a main campus located in Rye Brook and now in its 72nd year, CPW’s mission is to advance the independence, productivity, and full citizenship of people with all developmental disabilities including autism, neurological impairments, intellectual disabilities, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy. Through a comprehensive network of educational programs, day services, residential sites, therapeutic services, employment training, recreation programs and advocacy, the agency helps thousands of children and adults in Westchester and Fairfield Counties live more productive and satisfying lives. The organization’s motto is: Realizing Tomorrow’s Potential . . . Today!

For information about the Mid-Westchester Elks, contact Jay Singer at jaysinger@pgaimpress.com.

News courtesy of Mid-Westchester Elks and Cerebral Palsy of Westchester.

Photos of the planting in early spring by Jay Singer and Angela Licht

Northern Westchester Hospital Reaccredited as Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by Surgical Review Corporation

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Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH) has been reaccredited as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), an independent, internationally recognized patient safety organization. The Robotics Program at NWH has held the designation since 2017. This year, several surgeons from various specialties were also designated as Surgeons of Excellence. 

P Surgeons in Northern Westchester Hospital’s Robotics Program (L-R): Warren D. Bromberg, MD, FACS, urology, director of the Institute of Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery; Michael Shaw, MD, obstetrics and gynecology; Maud Lemercier, MD, general surgery; Amanda Messina, MD, general surgery; Darren I. Rohan, MD, thoracic surgery; Doreen Sicotte, FNP, Supervisor, Advanced Clinical Providers; Bruce Molinelli, MD, general surgery; Sue Zhou, MD, urogynecology; Navid Mootabar, MD, obstetrics and gynecology.                Photo By: John Vecchiolla

To qualify for accreditation, the NWH robotics program and its physicians underwent a rigorous, top-to-bottom review by SRC, which evaluated all aspects of care, from pre-op evaluation, surgery, post-anesthesia, discharge, post-operative care and patient outcomes. The review looked at surgical floors, intensive care units, and emergency rooms, as well as robotics education for staff and patients. According to SRC, its requirements for accreditation have been shown to improve outcomes and reduce the time patients spend in the hospital.

            “Research indicates that there are better outcomes for patients when physicians perform more surgeries, and these designations reflect Northern Westchester Hospital’s excellence as a high-volume center,” says Dr. Bromberg.  “Our COERS designation would not exist without our multidisciplinary team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and surgical technicians.  The leadership within our robotics program creates a systemic culture of excellence that is committed to improving the safety and quality of patient care.” He added, “NWH’s robotic surgery capabilities enable our surgeons to perform less invasive surgery with a greater level of precision. Our patients benefit from: lower risk of infection, decreased blood loss, earlier discharge from hospital, faster recovery times, less postoperative pain and minimal scarring.”

            “We’re proud to recognize Northern Westchester Hospital for its commitment to advancing and providing quality care for all patients,” said Gary M. Pratt, CEO of SRC. “This accreditation signals that this hospital is among the best in this specialty and is dedicated to delivering the highest level of care possible.”

Northwell Health was the first health system to receive the Network of Excellence in Robotic Surgery designation from Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). Northwell’s designation came on the heels of SRC recognizing four of its hospitals for their robotic surgery expertise: Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center in New Hyde Park, Huntington Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt. Kisco, and South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore. Currently, Northwell Health’s accredited hospitals include: Lenox Hill Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Long Island Jewish Valley Stream, Marzano Center at Huntington Hospital/Northwell, North Shore University Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital and South Shore University Hospital.

For more information on the NWH Robotics Program, visit https://nwh.northwell.edu/robotic-surgery. To learn more about SRC and the accreditation process, visit www.surgicalreview.org.

News courtesy of Northern Westchester Hospital and Northwell Health.