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gun violence

In The Aftermath of the Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting

December 2, 2018 by Stacey Pfeffer

My Perspective on Elisha Wiesel’s Speech at the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center Annual Benefit and a Community-wide Interfaith Candelight Vigil at Temple Beth El

HHREC Keynote Speaker Elisha Wiesel
PHOTO COURTESY OF HHREC

On Thursday evening October 25th, Elisha Wiesel, the only child of the deceased Nobel Prize winning author, humanitarian and Holocaust educator Elie Wiesel was the keynote speaker at the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center’s (HHREC’s) annual benefit. It was a packed house of more than 250 attendees including 16 Holocaust survivors and one liberator. Honorees for the evening included Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D., the President of Iona College and Mitchell Wm. Ostrove, the CEO of The Ostrove Group, a comprehensive planning organization for businesses, families and high net worth individuals. Additionally Valerie O’Keeffe received a special award recognizing her years of volunteer work as a former chairperson at the HHREC.

Elisha Wiesel currently serves as the Chief Information Officer at Goldman Sachs and occasionally speaks about human rights issues and his upbringing. Wiesel described his father as a “relentless optimist” despite all he experienced as a Holocaust survivor. He questioned the audience and asked what his father would think of this country today and lamented the state of extremism on both the left and alt-right and how these perspectives contribute to anti-Semitism.

Less than 48 hours later on Saturday morning October 27th, 11 Jews at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, PA, were murdered by an anti-Semitic gunman and several others were injured including first responders during the massacre. It was one of the deadliest attacks on American Jewry in recent decades. To think that this event took place during services when joyous life cycle events such as Bar Mitzvahs and baby namings were taking place in the synagogue should make everyone of us shudder, no matter what faith one practices.

When this magazine’s publisher Grace Bennett asked if I would cover the HHREC event this year, I unequivocally said yes. Bennett is deeply involved with the organization. As many of our readers know, her father is a Holocaust survivor and she is passionate about Holocaust education.

I have been fortunate enough to cover the HHREC and attend their Human Rights Institute event in which local high students are encouraged to become “upstanders” when they see hate or bigotry. From time to time, Grace and I have discussed whether or not our magazine is too saturated with Holocaust news. As a third-generation survivor of the Holocaust (my maternal grandparents were survivors), I am admittedly biased when it comes to Holocaust news as well. I always believe we should cover topics about the Holocaust so that future generations can learn the lessons that history has taught us.

Little did I know when I covered October’s HHREC event that the tragedy in Pittsburgh would unfold in less than two days. I know that anti-Semitism is on the rise (the Anti-Defamation League reported the largest single-year increase–a 57 percent increase) in anti-Semitic incidents last year) and that xenophobia is plaguing this nation but I didn’t realize that these feelings of hate could actually propel someone to commit such a heinous crime on American soil in the year 2018.

Perhaps I was in denial. One of the organizations that the murderer vilified in his hateful rhetoric on www.gab.com was the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), an organization that assists refugees of all faiths and backgrounds. My grandparents and mother came to America in 1950 with the help of HIAS who was resettling Holocaust survivors from the deportation (DP) camps in Germany. To be honest, I had never really given much thought about how crucial this organization was and still is for so many refugees seeking a new life in America.

Interfaith candlelight vigil at Temple Beth El
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEMPLE BETH EL

Wiesel also participated in a Q&A session following his speech at the HHREC event and one audience member asked him what he thought his father would say if he had the opportunity to meet the President today. Wiesel first asked “Do you think my father could have gotten a word in?” resulting in several laughs from the audience. He then continued to tell a story about his father who was hit by a taxi in New York City during the 1950s while on a journalist visa and was forced to wear a full body cast for several months. When he nervously went to the Customs Office to renew his expired visa, the officer said to him “You know you can become a citizen.” Wiesel paused and asked the audience, “Imagine that.” Growing up he said his father would always get misty eyed whenever they landed at JFK and were welcomed by US Customs.

Wiesel described his father as “patriotic and someone who loved this country deeply.” When Elisha was a liberal arts student in college he recalls there was a large debate underway about burning the American flag. His father told him, “If you knew what the flag meant to me when we saw it when we were liberated by the US army, you would never burn it.” Wiesel said he believes that his father would want to talk to President Trump about “how we treat people coming to our shores because it is something he felt so personally as a beneficiary. My father could never forgive FDR for closing the doors to Jews in the 1930s and he would very much take up this issue with our President if he met him today.”

Within five days of hearing Wiesel speak, I found myself in the crowded pews at Temple Beth El in Chappaqua with my ten-year-old son for an interfaith candlelight vigil for the victims of the Tree of Life shooting. In attendance were: Reverend Martha Jacobs, First Congregational Church of Chappaqua; Reverend Tenku Ruff, Soto Zen Buddhist Association; Friar Hugh Burns, Holy Innocents Catholic Church; Reverend Merle McJunkin, Antioch Baptist Church; Reverend Alan Dennis, Saint Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church; Kristina Szibinga, Chappaqua Friends Society; Dilkash Ashraf, Upper Westchester Muslim Society; and Robert Greenstein, Town Supervisor of New Castle. The service led by Temple Beth El’s Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe included communal singing led by Cantor Elizabeth Sternlieb and a speech from Rabbi Maura Linzer, who has strong ties to the Squirrel Hill tightknit Jewish community having grown up in Pittsburgh not that far from a Tree of Life synagogue.

Admittedly I was a bit wary of attending the service with my ten-year-old son but I am not one to shy away from tough topics with my kids especially as they relate to anti-Semitism and/or the Holocaust. My five-year old daughter knows who Hitler is and that he hated Jews. I don’t go into vivid details yet but I use it as a discussion point with my kids to talk about bigotry. I see the world through a Jewish lens as a third-generation survivor so I see it as my obligation to start telling my children about their family’s legacy in basic terms they can understand.

Wiesel concluded his HHREC speech with a question he posed to the audience. “My father lived with despair and managed to see the light. What of us who live in the light like few generations ever have in this country in this time of plenty? Can we squint in the light and can we see the darkness among us? Can we see the saddest among us and once we see that darkness, can we look past it and see the good in everyone’s soul to champion them in their time of need?”

I’d like to say that we are living in the light, as Wiesel suggests. My grandmother’s favorite saying was “this too shall pass” whenever I encountered a difficult circumstance. Now I’m not so sure.

Filed Under: Armonk Cover Stories Tagged With: community, Elie Wiesel, Elisha Wisel, gun violence, HHREC Annual Benefit, Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center, Holocaust education, Interfaith Service, service, Tree of Life Synagogue

New Castle Town Board Pushes for Action on Gun Violence Prevention

August 29, 2018 by Kiran Sheth

In the aftermath of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which left 17 people dead, New Castle Town Board members sent two separate letters to New York State Senator, Terrence Murphy (R-NY, District 40) seeking his support on a slate of gun control measures. The letters dated February 16, 2018 and March 28, 2018 make specific references to proposed bills currently under consideration in the New York State Senate.

In the letter dated February 16, the Town Board cited three examples of how gun violence has impacted the Chappaqua community over a span of approximately 20 years. The letter went on to request Senator Murphy’s support for certain measures, such as legislation that keeps firearms out of the hands of those who have been convicted of domestic violence charges and the surrender of shotguns and rifles when an order of protection is issued in a domestic violence case.

In a follow-up letter dated March 28, the Town Board sought Senator Murphy’s support of nine proposed bills that would strengthen the SAFE Act (New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013). The SAFE Act prevents criminals and the mentally ill from purchasing firearms, requires a universal background check on gun purchases and imposes the toughest assault weapons ban in the country. Some examples of the proposed bills to bolster the SAFE Act include a ban of bump stocks, stronger background checks and allowing the state government to access mental health record from the home state of non-resident gun license applicants. New Castle Town Supervisor, Robert Greenstein stated: “We are firmly committed to advocating for stronger and more effective gun control laws.  This requires the assistance and cooperation of our state representatives, which is why we wrote the letter.”

According to a February, 2018 NBC News poll, 66% of people favor stricter gun laws in the country, with nine out of 10 Americans agreeing for universal background checks. As cited by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, from 2012-2016, an average of 116,255 people are shot every year due to guns, while 96 fatalities result from gun violence every day.

New Castle Council Member Ivy Pool noted that at least three public meetings addressing gun violence have been held since February and that the town has also held events to raise awareness. For example, on March 3rd, Mom’s Demand Action gathered at Chappaqua Station to discuss opportunities for local area residents to get involved in the efforts to end gun violence on the local, State, and Federal level. Over 50 people attended.

When asked to comment about his stance on combatting gun violence, Senator Murphy’s Director of Communication, Michael Jefferson stated: “Senator Murphy will continue building productive partnerships with schools, community organizations, and his fellow legislators to ensure every child who enters the doors of a school can do so with the peace of mind that they are and will remain safe.” Jefferson outlined a multitude of bills that Murphy is sponsoring in order to combat gun violence.

For example, Bill S7811, would establish a School Resource Officer (SRO) education program to reimburse school districts outside of New York City and $50,000 for the hiring of a SRO. In addition, Senator Murphy also proposed Bill S7813 which makes school shootings an act of domestic terrorism and Bill S7790 that provides state education aid for school district that expend resources to improve security and safety technology. However, Council Member Pool stated that while Senator Murphy’s office acknowledged receipt of the February 16th letter, there were no specific responses to the Town Board’s requests. “It was unclear whether Senator Murphy supported the gun violence prevention legislation for which we were advocating,” Pool stated.

As well as seeking support from the New York State Senate for the slate of gun control bills, the Town Board has been working on local measures to strengthen gun control in New Castle. Pool has presented her fellow Council Members with a package of local legislative proposals and laws that they can pass to promote gun safety within the community. “We are currently researching these ideas, and determining their legality and applicability for our town. The first proposal we are tackling is the regulation of gun shops, which might include both the location of FFL (Federal Firearms License) dealers as well as local licensing.”

Greenstein stated, “The Town Board firmly believes that gun control, and making sure our schools remain safe, are local issues… we will continue to lobby for legislative changes on the state level that will make New Castle safer.”

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Brady Campaign, gun violence, Gun Violence Prevention, Ivy Pool, legislation, Robert Greenstein, safety, Terrence Murphy, The SAFE Act, Town of New Castle

Why I Walked Out

March 14, 2018 by Inside Press

Before the walkout, 17 desks had been placed around the parking lot in honor of those who were killed in the Parkland shooting.  

Story by Ari Silver  Photos by Hannah Rosenberg
 
Chappaqua, NY, March 14, 2018 — My decision to walk out today was a simple one. I chose to speak and stand up for those who unfortunately no longer have the ability to. Though the walkout drew criticism from a handful of students who claimed that the event was a call to push a “liberal agenda,” this had no effect on my decision, or the choice to participate for the majority of Greeley students.

This issue of gun violence is much larger than politics, and it is not an issue that belongs to Democrats or Republicans. We all need to find a solution to the epidemic of gun massacres that are taking place far too frequently in our nation’s schools.

The walkout began promptly at 10 a.m., as directed by the student organizers. Students calmly filled the visitors parking lot and very quickly began to quiet down.

Before the walkout, 17 desks had been placed around the parking lot in honor of those who were killed in the Parkland shooting.  

The event began with a few brief speeches from a class president and two siblings who had recently moved from Parkland.

Hannah Fenlon (right), the student-body president, along with Sasha and Brandon Litwin, freshmen who moved from Parkland, Florida in 2015, shared stories from a victim of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and discussed what this walkout signified. Photo by Hannah Rosenberg

‘The students spoke of positivity, the call to action and the remembrance of the lives that were lost on February 14th. The students then walked a planned route, with some students shouting, “What do we want, Action, When do we want it, Now!” Several students held hand-made signs that had different political and non-political messages.

Photo by Hannah Rosenberg

Administrators and teachers surrounded the school to witness the march and to ensure students were safe. Since the event had drawn some security concerns, the district had assigned increased security personnel and members of the New Castle Police Department to the site. The walkout concluded inside the cafeteria, where students wrote messages on pieces of paper, each assigned containing the name of a victim of the Parkland shooting.

Overall, this was a very meaningful experience for Horace Greeley students. For myself and many others, emotions ran high. For me, the walkout comes two weeks after I had the opportunity to meet with Representative Nita Lowey and law enforcement officials in White Plains to discuss school safety. I feel that this walkout shows that my generation is beginning to become more involved, and my peers are starting to understand the powers that they possess to create change.

Ari Silver is a junior at Horace Greeley High School and a new writing intern for the Inside Press. Ari’s article about a Temple Beth El/Antioch Baptist Church civil rights trip for students appears in the current edition.

Hannah Rosenberg, also a junior at Greeley, is a Photo Intern for The Inside Press. Hannah photographed the ‘A New Beginning’ cover story of the current edition.

 

Filed Under: New Castle News Tagged With: Chappaqua, Gun Control Reform, gun violence, Horace Greeley High School, National Student Walkout, NY, Parkland shooting, Student Activist, Student Organizers, Walkout

Bell School Student Explains Why the Youngest Voices Must Also be Heard

March 12, 2018 by Inside Press

By Isabelle Good-Ricardo

“When I first heard about the walkout movement,* I wondered why our school wasn’t showing more effort to do something meaningful like the other schools who were going to walkout,” eighth-grade student Isabelle Good-Ricardo said.

“Middle school is such a weird time in your life. You’re growing up, making friends, and you’re trying to figure out who you are. You have to do all this while juggling school work. That doesn’t leave much time for politics,” Good-Ricardo explained.

“What some people don’t understand is that we are the next generation of voters,” she emphasized. “In a few years, we will be the people who decide the fate of our country. It is so important that we establish a foundation of beliefs when we are young.”

Good-Ricardo said the walkout isn’t to force anyone to participate. “It is to make sure we know that we are people whose voices can and will be heard. We are living history in the making and we’re missing it! It’s time that we stop watching and start doing.”

“I urged the school and my peers to join and follow the national movement by planning a walkout for (Robert E.) Bell (Middle School in Chappaqua) on March 14th at 10 a.m. and started by reaching out to some of the eighth graders,” she said. (When) it became clear students from other grades decided to join, “I emailed the teachers and principal to let them know what will happen so that they are aware of what will take place on that day.”

Good-Ricardo then met with school Principal Dr. Martin Fitzgerald.

“He is concerned about safety and liability and urged me to think about possibly pursuing a different, ‘safer,” more passive action,” she said. “I think it’s so important to be honest with my peers, so after the meeting I consulted them and told them everything he said. They responded by saying that they still want to do it.

After getting feedback from other students, the group decided to continue with its plans.

“We feel that it is our responsibility to take part in a nonviolent civic action such as this one,” Good-Ricardo maintained. “I have gotten such a positive response from this, and I hope that this sparks a fire in people to let them know that they are important and their actions do make a difference.”

She hopes the momentum from this movement “will be enough to leave a memorable mark, and that the country will begin to understand that we will no longer watch history go by. We will make our own.”

* Editor’s Note:  This story of Isabelle’s statements to the Inside Press was edited by Janie Rosman. For additional background, see Rosman’s related story: https://www.theinsidepress.com/here-at-home-area-students-plan-to-support-their-peers-in-parkland/

 

Filed Under: New Castle News Tagged With: Bell School, gun violence, Middle School, Parkland, Student Activist, Student Voices

“Let there be Peace on Earth”: A Key Message during Chappaqua’s Concert to End Gun Violence

October 21, 2016 by Francesca Hagadus

db_concert-kids

Gun violence has been on our minds for quite some time. On Sunday, September 25, the opportunity to come together as a nation, on the same day, to express frustration with America’s gun violence epidemic and “to rally support for policies that reduce death and injury from gunfire” was realized by The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence.

Hosted by the First Congregational Church in Chappaqua, the Concert mirrored several others which took place all over the United States. The Concert was in partnership with Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, the Town of New Castle, the Chappaqua Interfaith Council, the Upper Westchester Muslim Society, Chappaqua Cares, the Million Mom March Northern Westchester Chapter and with Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester.

Chappaqua celebrity Dave Bickler, from the band Survivor, known for hits such as “Eye of the Tiger,” moved the audience with his renditions of “For What It’s Worth” and “Give Peace a Chance.”
Chappaqua celebrity Dave Bickler, from the band Survivor, known for hits such as “Eye of the Tiger,” moved the audience with his renditions of “For What It’s Worth” and “Give Peace a Chance.”

Local musicians of all ages performed moving instrumental and vocal pieces to underscore this theme. They included the HGHS Madrigal Choir, a trio from the Chappaqua Chamber Orchestra, the Chancel Choir, James Blasdell, Sam Blasdell, Alex Forni, Cantor Star Trompeter and Keith Robellard.

Musical performances were interspersed with secular and faith-based quotes and poems delivered by local dignitaries including Congresswoman Nita Lowey, State Assemblyman David Buchwald , Supervisor Robert Greenstein, Police Chief Charles Ferry and Poetess Shobha Vanchiswar.

Reverend Dr. Martha R. Jacobs led the audience in singing “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” The Concert echoed both sadness for all of us impacted by gun violence and hopefulness for change as the Town of New Castle came together to engage in this national movement.

Francesca Hagadus retired in 2015  after teaching French and Spanish in the Chappaqua Central School District for 32 years. She lives in Pleasantville with her two sons.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Chappaqua Interfaith Council, Concert to End Gun Violence, Dave Bickler, first congregational church, gun violence, peace

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