A troubling incident in Brooklyn that occurred last month has once again highlighted the importance of standing up to hate – and the power of community action. A Jewish man was assaulted and called a hateful slur at a Dunkin’ Donuts on Flatbush Avenue and Avenue L. The attack, believed to be fueled by anti-Semitism, is a harsh reminder that acts of hate still happen far too often, even in diverse neighborhoods like Flatbush.
The attacker lashed out without warning or reason, showing just how dangerous unchecked hatred can be. But what happened next shows the strength and unity of the community in the face of hate.
The Flatbush Shomrim acted fast. As soon as they were alerted to the assault, they mobilized to help track down the suspect. Thanks to their quick thinking and teamwork, the person responsible was identified and turned over to the NYPD.
The Shomrim’s response wasn’t just impressive – it was essential. Their presence sends a powerful message: hate has no place here, and the community looks out for each other. In situations where every second counts, the Flatbush Shomrim are often the first to respond, working closely with law enforcement to keep our neighborhoods safe.
MDY Kindergarten Students Celebrate Yom Ha’asmaut
Last month, the Kindergarten students of Magen David Yeshivah were busy learning about Medinat Yisrael and preparing for Yom Ha’asmaut.
On that day, the students visited various parts of Israel in each classroom. Of course, before any of them can visit Israel, they need passports. The students filled out their own passports, including first and last names, hair color, eye color, and age. They wrote their place of origin (U.S.A.) and their destination (Israel), and drew their own passport pictures.
Additionally, they have been reading a special book about Israel called My Special Flag by Barbara Berl. Each student received his/her own copy without illustrations. As each page was read, they discussed what the illustrations should include, and then they colored away.
Illustrations are such an important part of books, and what better way to hone in on the details of a story than to illustrate those details. It was a great literacy activity that was tied into our celebration of Israel’s birthday!
Renewal Reaches Next Plateau of 1,300 Kidney Transplants
Is this really possible?
For those of us on the Renewal email list, it seems like we are getting an email almost every day about another kidney or liver transplant being done. Many times it’s more than one a day!
Last year, they did 158 transplants, which was a new record for them. And this year they’re already on pace to break that record. They perform close to 70 percent of transplants done in New York, which is the hub of all transplant centers. Where are all these people coming from and a better question is, before Renewal – where did they all go?
As Renewal reaches the next plateau of 1,300 transplants, we can only stand back and be in awe of what they have been fortunate to do.
Our rabbis tell us that if you save a life it’s as if you saved a world. Renewal is saving galaxies.
For info on how to test to be a potential kidney donor go to www.renewal.org.