“SBH Jersey Shore want to be a one-stop-shop for seniors and their families for recreational, educational, and health-related purposes.”

Frieda Schweky

The SBH Tawil Family Jersey Shore branch is thrilled to announce the addition of the Lorraine & Louis Shamie Senior Division.  Group activities, informational events for both seniors and caretakers, as well as cultural and educational programs are just a few of the innovative programs the new Senior Division will be offering.

Sarah Azar Named Seniors Coordinator

Sarah Azar was recently named Seniors Coordinator at the Jersey Shore branch of SBH. Sarah began working at the mental health clinic in Brooklyn in 2013. She has since worked as a therapist in the clinic from 2014-2017.

After serving as a therapist, Sarah held various positions including child therapist, case manager, and social worker for seniors. Sarah holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling and has years of community-based experience. She is enthusiastic about her work and has a fresh outlook on how to expand and grow the Senior Division at the Jersey Shore branch.

“Sarah brings energy, enthusiasm, and clinical experience to the team here at the SBH Jersey Shore branch,” said Victoria Sutton, MPA, Director of Senior Division for Brooklyn and Jersey Shore SBH. “She always has new and creative ways to engage. We are so excited to have her on board at our Jersey Shore branch!”

Brooklyn and Jersey Shore Branches Partner in Serving Seniors

The SBH Senior Division is a vital part of community senior living,  and the Jersey Branch is proud to offer referrals for the following: medical services, mental health services, food services, home health aide agencies, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities.

In the upcoming months, the goal is to have identical  programming and services available at both branches of SBH, in the Jersey Shore and in Brooklyn. Already steps have been taken to make this a reality, and soon the programs should be identical to one another. One of the first steps taken to reach this goal is special programming. Many recent events for the Senior Divisions have taken place at the same time and date in both Brooklyn and the Jersey Shore branches.

SBH Honors Veterans

On Veterans Day, SBH teamed up with Hillel Yeshiva High School to honor nine community veterans. The event was a great success. Attendees included the veterans, community seniors, Hillel 9th and 10th graders as well as the families of the veterans. Some veterans had the opportunity to address the crowd of students and each of them received a certificate of appreciation. Isadore Shammah, who can be quoted on several occasions saying “Could you believe I never got a high school diploma…”  was (finally) awarded a high school diploma on that special day.

Sunshine Girls

Sunshine Girls is a fairly new initiative that was launched in the spring of 2019 and relaunched after the summer. This invaluable program assures that the seniors in the Jersey Shore are visited at least once a week. About 60 community women are on rotation visiting about 20 seniors. The ratio of volunteers to seniors is high to assure that no senior goes for a week without a visit. If one volunteer can’t make it that week, another will fill in. The Jersey community has never had such a large and organized visiting program before, and this no doubt is aiding the Jersey seniors tremendously.

SBH Fills the Void

Some social programs that SBH Jersey Shore has to offer are Young at Heart and Arts and Leisure Club. Young at Heart takes place every Tuesday. Seniors come in to socialize, have lunch, and enjoy live entertainment. Short Story Book Club, a part of the Arts and Leisure Club, is held on Wednesdays. Each member comes in having already read the assigned short story at home, and when they come in they  discuss the short story with a facilitator. About once a month the group takes a field trip. The group has ventured out to the Jewish Heritage Museum in Freehold, NJ, The Ocean Township Historical Museum, cake decorating with Alexis Cohen, and more! The experiences are always educational, cultural, and, best of all, enjoyable for all who attend.

Some other amazing  programs at the SBH Jersey Shore branch are: Challah Delivery, which is an initiative whereby local high school students deliver challot to about 30 seniors each Friday, and also Shabbat meals are cooked and delivered by volunteers  to elderly participants who can’t cook and/or don’t have close family nearby to host them for Shabbat. Another resource through SBH Jersey Shore is a medical gemach in which equipment is loaned out, such as wheelchairs, canes, crutches, bed rails, etc. This is a volunteer-run program, which happily accepts medical equipment donations. The newest initiative for seniors that SBH of the Jersey Shore has started is Lunch n’ Learn. This program is for community men aged 60 and up. They join Hillel High School students for a monthly class and lunch. Each class features a different community rabbi.

Some recent successful events at SBH Jersey Shore include: Medicare 2019: Get the Facts;

Fall Prevention: How to Stay Safe This Winter; and The Five Documents Your Parents Must Have.

“We are trying to create a lot of programming because we see such a profound need for these courses for both seniors and caregivers,” said new Senior Coordinator Sarah Azar. “SBH Jersey Shore want to be a one-stop-shop for seniors and their families for recreational, educational, and health-related purposes.”

For information on the mentioned programs and more please contact Sarah at (732) 531-1117 x114.

ELLEN GELLER KAMARAS

Safe Travels, sound familiar?

I use this phrase every time I wish my friends, family, and colleagues a good trip.

Of all days to share travel tips with you, I am writing this article on December 1^st, the last day of the Thanksgiving weekend, and what was expected to be the busiest travel day for the U.S. airline industry.  Over three million passengers were estimated to be flying today!

And that only includes travelers going on planes.  What about those using cars, buses, and trains?

As I watched the news, I recognized that safe travels was at the top of everyone’s wish list and was the #1 priority.

Let’s talk about integrating safe travels into our planning for winter break and have a safe, healthy, and fun vacation for the entire family.

Before we dive into tips and tools, I want to emphasize the importance of academic breaks.

We all need time off to decompress including time to do nothing.  That’s right, nothing.  Nothing or “down” time means pausing to take a breath, relax, and smell the roses.  In our fast-paced world, we are constantly busy.  Unfortunately, doing nothing or taking a break in today’s hypermodern society, is often viewed as negative and is associated with nonproductivity. Studies, however, have shown that it is vital for our mental and physical health to take time to unplug, sit still, and do nothing. Doing nothing can also spur new insights and creativity.  Our children are overmanaged and overscheduled much more than we were in the sixties, seventies, and eighties.

Be mindful about not cutting short their childhood years by continuously pressuring them to get the best grades and be accepted to the most prominent schools and/or excel in  extra-curriculars.

Popular Safe Travel Procedures

Doing your research, making copies of important documents, notifying the flight attendant of any medical issues, being aware of your surroundings, keeping your valuables in a hotel safe, updating your family back home, and being wary of public Wi-Fi.

Traveling with small children can be particularly stressful and can trigger anxiety in both adults and small children.

Therefore, it’s crucial to plan, prepare, and manage expectations before setting off on your trip. Family meetings help strengthen the family bond, improve communication, and reduce the unease and that feeling of not being in control. They can be used as a vehicle to get everyone on the same page and manage everyone’s expectations, including the parents.

Engage Your Children

Carve out time for a family meeting (no phones allowed but do serve refreshments).

Ask your sons and daughters to assist in whatever planning remains to be done.  They can do research and talk to friends and classmates. Allowing children to participate in the decision-making process gives them skin in the game and builds their confidence and self-esteem.  It can also help to ensure an enjoyable vacation.

Inquire about concerns and expectations for the upcoming vacation. Address any concerns and anxieties that your children may have about traveling. Identify their triggers. Is it going through security, that sets them off? Or is it boarding the plane, take-off, or landing? Depending on the severity, you may want to talk to a professional about how to deal with these issues.  Your children may be worried about unforeseen events and might have what-if questions for you.  For example, what happens if I get separated from the family, or if the weather is bad? It’s important to reassure your children with remedies for these what-if scenarios before you head out.

Ask them what their favorite or positive distractions are that they would like to bring with them. They may like video games, coloring books, or crossword puzzles.

You might want to assign an older child to a younger sibling as a travel buddy.  These tools will help your kids move away from negative thoughts to positive ones.

Find out what everyone’s expectations are about the trip.  Parents and kids who have performed research can contribute brochures and information about the vacation destination.  You can create a wish list by brainstorming, and please remember that Mom and Dad get a vote.  Parents stay in control by setting realistic and affordable guidelines.

Communicate 

 Information is power and access to the right information will reduce anxieties and facilitate safe travels. The night before your trip have another family meeting, presenting your children with a detailed overview of your travels. For example, on Sunday morning at 7:00am, Uncle David will drive us to JFK airport. We will check our luggage, go through security, board the plane, and the flight will take four hours.  After we land and retrieve our luggage, a bus will pick up us up to take us to the hotel.

Teachable Moments

Teachable moments, those times when your children have an opportunity to learn something new, don’t only occur in a classroom.  An airport, and a new destination can offer many teachable moments.  Bring along some small notebooks, pencils, and crayons. A notebook can be used as a travel journal (younger children can draw in them). Some of your kids may enjoy writing about their trip and the journal will keep them busy on the flights and during the vacation. It will also provide them with material for their “what I did on winter break” essays.

Let your kids know if they will be in a different time zone when they arrive. You can also educate them about the history and culture of your vacation destination if you are visiting a new state or country. Or your older children can do that particular research and share it with the family. More information and preparation lowers anxiety and leads to learning and a successful vacation.  Keep it short and simple for younger children.

Set guidelines in advance regarding cell phone use, taking pictures and videos, and limits on eating junk food and buying souvenirs and gifts. We don’t want our kids to miss beautiful views and other experiences by spending too much time taking pictures or on their phones. Encourage them to learn more about their surroundings while you are taking in the sights.

Prepare a Travel and Packing Checklist

To-do lists and checklists have helped me manage my personal and work life since I was taught to prepare one at my first job.

Have you ever forgotten your child’s antibiotic when you were already halfway to the airport? I have.

Review your checklist and tick off items as you complete them before you head off on your trip (see sidebar).

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Give each child their own carry-on or small backpack and pack their favorite snacks, if permitted, their “positive distractions,” special comfort objects (please don’t forget the blankie) and a few games and activities to keep them engaged on the plane, train, or in the car.  Mom, please put some extra small toys, paper, pens and crayons, snacks, band-aids, and Tylenol (remember, if you are flying, liquid Tylenol must be placed in a small Zip lock) in your carry-on.  Dad, please carry copies of important documents in yours.

Relax

Please be mindful when you book tours and excursions.  Be sure to allot time for pure relaxation, e.g. sitting by the pool or playing a board game. We all need a break from the stress associated with school routines and responsibilities and our jobs. If you overdo the touring and wake up at dawn every morning, you may need another vacation when you come home!

Remember that vacation is a good thing and a blessing.  Keep that positive mindset and enjoy!  Safe travels!

Recommended Checklist Items

• Review baggage restrictions and other significant information, e.g. arrival times at airport, bus, or train, and transfer arrangements upon landing. If you are a visual person, print out a map of your destination or email yourself the links to maps and all other details.
• Arrange for cell phone use overseas.
• Buy foreign currency in advance if needed.
• Notify your credit card company that you will be traveling abroad.
• Consider bringing hard copies of travel documents (including passport #’s, flights, hotels, and tour reservations) in the event your phone or laptop crashes, gets lost, or you don’t have Wi-Fi.
• Check in for your flights online the day before to avoid long waits at the airport. Consider applying for TSA pre-check (shorter security lines, no removal of shoes, belts, laptops).
• Are all medications and medical devices packed in your respective carry-ons? What if your luggage doesn’t make it to your destination upon landing?  Pack anything you might need soon after you arrive in your carry-on luggage.

Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach.  Her coaching specialties include life, career, and dating coaching. Ellen works part-time as an entitlement specialist at Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services. She can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com (www.lifecoachellen.com).

Machla Abramovitz

Decades after the Holocaust, anti-Semitic sentiments are, once again, openly expressed throughout Western democracies.  Within the UN and other corridors of power, the world’s only Jewish country – Israel – is under attack, while threats of genocide by Iran are ignored.  On the streets of Europe, violence against Jews has escalated.  These attacks are at times rationalized as anger directed against Israeli policies. Britain’s Labour Party is beset by accusations of antisemitism, while its leader finds it hard to publicly apologize to Jews for their justified concerns.

Dr. Manfred Gerstenfeld, a noted authority on contemporary anti-Semitism, has carefully analyzed this escalating phenomenon since his retirement in 2000. Dr. Gerstenfeld, 82, was born in Vienna, educated in the Netherlands, and made Aliyah in 1968, where he pursued a career as an international strategic business consultant.  An esteemed scholar, Dr. Gerstenfeld authored 16 books on contemporary anti-Semitism, including breaking studies on European anti-Semitism. His myriad of articles has appeared in the Jerusalem Post, The Begin Sadat Center for Strategic Studies publications, and the news site Arutz Sheva (Israel National News).  On December 1, Dr. Gerstenfeld gave the keynote address at the 31^st annual gala of the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research (CIJR) in Montreal.  He presented an overview of contemporary anti-Semitism with a specific focus on right and left wing, progressive, Muslim, and Christian anti-Semitism.  He also spoke about the priorities necessary to effectively combat the world’s “oldest hatred.”

Dr. Gerstenfeld was kind enough to take the time to answer the following questions  for Community Magazine.

CM: According to an ADL global study, over one billion people, covering 89% of the world’s population, are classic anti-Semites. This figure does not include those who consider themselves to be anti-Israel. Classic anti-Semitism (religious and ethnic/nationalist) targets the Jewish religion as well as Jews as a people. Moreover, studies conducted in 100 countries indicate that of the 75% of people who have never met a Jew, 25% of them harbor anti-Semitic attitudes.  After the Holocaust, how do you explain these shocking percentages?

MG: Due to the intensity of the propaganda waged against Jews over the centuries, anti-Semitism became profoundly interwoven with Western culture. Historian David Niremberg details this interweaving in his book  Anti-Judaism: The Western Tradition.

However, after the Holocaust, the promotion of Nazi ideology or genocide became considered taboo.  Antisemitism was, therefore, forced to mutate to remain integral to Western culture. This mutated anti-Semitism – often referred to as the “new anti-Semitism” – focused on the Jewish state.  It integrates the core beliefs of classic anti-Semitism, that see Jews and Judaism as inherently evil. Studies indicate that at least 38% of European adults believe that Israel intends to commit genocide on the Palestinians or that Israel behaves toward the Palestinians as the Nazis did toward the Jews.

The most significant source of verbal anti-Israelism in Western society comes from left-wing liberalism. As far as violence is concerned, Muslims and right-wingers play a substantive role in promoting anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism. They, however, play a minor role in public discourse.

The anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli incitement of the left is not new.  These views are part of a tradition that can best be called “progressive perversity,” and which began in the early 16^th century with the “Prince of Humanism,” Erasmus of Rotterdam, who demonstrated extreme antisemitic behavior, even for his time. This ideology manifests itself not only against Jews but against other progressives, as well. Progressive perverts should not be confused with a sub-category, the humanitarian racists. These racists may single out Israel for blame and sometimes may even make valid claims, but they do not blame other states for far more egregious behaviors. The human rights movement, for instance, is replete with anti-Israeli NGOs; its highest organ, the United Nation’s Human Rights Council (UNHRC), is a morally corrupt body permeated by antisemitism. The United Nations can be called a hate-Israel world gathering.

CM: On Sept. 23, 2019, a report by UN Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed titled Elimination of All Forms of Religious Intolerance was released.  Many Jewish organizations praised the Rapporteur’s report, a first for the UN, for tackling the issue of anti-Semitism. What did you think of it?

MG: The report noted several facts: that anti-Semitism is global, and that perpetrators of the hatred of Jews include white supremacists, neo-Nazis, members of radical Islamist groups, as well as leftists. It also exposed antisemitic tropes. Unfortunately, it artificially distinguished Islamists from other Muslims. Had it been more daring, it would have said “many Muslims” rather than “radical Islamist groups.”  The report also substantially referenced the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, which includes anti-Israelism, and noted the significance of anti-Semitic crimes against Jews among all hate crimes in the United States and Canada. Even though it discussed the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement, it did not take a position against BDS.

Missing from the report were the following five taboos that the Rapporteur could not mention:  1) The UN itself promotes antisemitism of the anti-Israel variety.  2) Antisemitism is linked significantly to parts of the Muslim world.  3) Anti-Semitism is integral to Western culture.  4) Anti-Semitism is inherent in many Western socialist or social democratic parties, and the frequent use in Europe of the word “Jew” as synonymous with evil.  5)  It did not note any quantitative data from ADL studies, even though this data is readily available.

CM: Why is it important to acknowledge this interweaving of anti-Semitism and Western culture?

MG: Doing so makes it easier to point out the arrogance and hypocrisy of countries, such as Germany, as regards to Israel.  This awareness, combined with the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism, can be used effectively to combat Europe’s anti-Israel attitudes. For instance, according to this definition, the singling out of Israeli settlements for specific labeling by the European Union (not done for any other country) is an antisemitic act.

CM: Given the fundamental link between the two, can anti-Semitism be effectively combatted within Western societies?

MG: I believe it can.  I’ve prioritized three objectives. 1) Politicians and high-profile figures must be persuaded to acknowledge this link publicly.  2) The Israeli Government must be convinced to set up an anti-propaganda organization. Among its many functions, the agency must publicly expose the plagiarism and weak scholarship of many pro-BDS academics. 3) “Jewish masochists” must be countered.  These Jews criticize Israel for not being perfect, while ignoring significant deficiencies in Western democracies. U.S. Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is a Jewish masochist. He calls Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “racist,” but remains silent about Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who publicly stated that no Israelis or Jews would live in a Judenrein Palestinian state. Another disgusting example of Jewish masochists is a group of 240 Jewish academics.  When the German Parliament voted to outlaw BDS, they urged the government not to do that, in support of free speech.

I’ve elaborated on these suggestions and others in my book titled The War of a Million Cuts:  The Struggle Against the Delegitimization of Israel and the Jews, and the Growth of New Antisemitism, which can be downloaded free of charge.

CM: With the rise of anti-Semitism, are European Jewry’s days numbered?

MG: I don’t believe European Jewry will disappear, but will, instead, be subjected to more anti-Semitic aggression. If Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn becomes prime minister, which I don’t believe will happen, 40% of British Jews say they will consider leaving. I doubt that even 4% of them will go. Matters will have to get much more dangerous for Jews to leave.  It’s not easy to move.  There are family and business considerations. Even in those countries where anti-Semitism is most potent, Jews haven’t departed en masse.