Jenna  Ashkenazie

Keeping up with new technology can be a real challenge for parents. However,  it is important for parents to understand all the new technology and policies being integrated into their child’s day-to-day learning. Schools use websites or apps, and make these accessible to parents to facilitate tracking students’ attendance, grades, disciplinary actions, and more.

The good news is that following what is going on in your child’s school life has never been easier.. Having information as to how your student is doing in school is as easy as knowing the school website password. Since  most websites require a password, it makes sense to have passwords saved together in a logical place. Keep a small notebook near the device you use most often. Even  easier, have a list of passwords in the notes app on your phone. You can easily lock a specific note in the app to keep it more private and secure.

Some elementary schools require students to use laptops or tablets, so create a device charging routine early. As devices are being integrated into learning more and more, a student not having a charged device could prevent them from participating in lessons. Every night before kids go to bed, have them charge their device, and make sure they put it in their knapsack the next morning.

Online Safety

Technology is becoming more integrated into daily life, so it is important to teach children about online safety. The National Cybersecurity Alliance is a non-profit organization that promotes cyber safety, data privacy, and digital education. According to the NCA, some of the most basic ways to stay safe online include using strong passwords, keeping all software up to date, and most importantly, being very aware of scams. Scams can come  through emails, phone calls, text messages, or even social media messages.

“Phishing remains the most common online threat. Criminals send fake emails, texts, or social media messages to trick you into revealing sensitive information or clicking malicious links. These messages aim to get you to click before you think by playing your emotions. Be highly skeptical of unexpected messages, especially those urging immediate action or asking for personal details. Phishing emails can light up positive emotions (“You’ve won our sweepstakes!”) or negative ones (“You’ve been hacked!”).

“Don’t click suspicious links or download unexpected attachments. Report phishing attempts to your email provider, social media platform, or IT department. If you’re unsure if a message is legit, ask a friend, coworker, or family member. A second set of eyes can be invaluable in spotting scams.” If an email or text message seems like a scam, block the number or email address immediately. Do not engage or click on any links. If you receive a call from an unknown number, it can often be  a scam. Do not answer. If it is someone who is legitimately trying to get in touch with you, they will leave a voicemail or message you.

Teach children not to click on any unknown links, and not to engage with anyone unfamiliar.

Using AI Responsibly

It is important that we teach our children how to use AI responsibly. Most importantly,  AI should be treated as a tool, not as a cheat code, or a way to get out of actually doing work that was assigned. According to the NYC Public School’s Guidance on Artificial Intelligence, it is important to remember that “AI is not a replacement for your child’s teacher, counselor, or school leader.” AI lacks human judgment, empathy, and consciousness. Know that AI is also not always accurate. Every teacher will have different rules regarding the use of AI. Students should adhere to those guidelines. It is becoming nearly impossible to completely avoid AI. It exists in nearly all the technology that we use. However, it is up to parents and educators to teach students how to use AI properly, without becoming solely reliant on it, as so many already are.

The National Education Association (the largest labor union in the US, which represents public school teachers and faculty and staff at colleges and universities) notes that it is up to the educators to ensure that AI is used without compromising ethics (such as data privacy or transparency), while always ensuring that human interactions and human education is the first priority. However, it is not solely up to teachers to show students how to properly use AI. It is also  the parents’ responsibility. Parents need to  ensure their children are not using any forms of AI to do their assignments. It is reasonable to use AI as a tool to study, such as having AI make flashcards. However, parents should make sure that their children recognize that while AI can be an incredibly useful tool, it should be used as a tool and not as a crutch to do their work for them.

Kids’ Mental Health

Beyond all the digital readiness that is required for the new year, parents need to be on the lookout for signs of their child struggling with mental health issues. In the new age of social media, and media in general, it is easy for children to begin to compare themselves to what they see online, or to see or hear things that could negatively affect their mental health. Mental Health America is a leading community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health, preventing mental health conditions, and advocating for those living with mental illness. MHA has compiled a list of signs to look out for, including problems with concentration, changes in appetite, changes in sleep, angry outbursts, and more. It is often difficult for children to express how they are feeling. They may be led to believe that these changes are simply due to growing pains, and parents may believe that as well. Although this might be true for some, it is not true for all. Keeping an eye on your child’s mental health, and getting help when needed are necessary steps to allow children to thrive. Beyond spotting the signs, children need to know that they are not alone, and that their feelings are valid. Sweeping mental health issues under the rug and not taking advantage of the many resources available is, in a way, setting up a child who needs help to fail.

While all of this information may seem overwhelming at first, these are all ways for parents to not only keep on top of their child and their child’s education, but these are also ways to help parents help their children thrive. Afterall, isn’t that every parent’s goal?

Ellen Geller Kamaras

A recent study titled, “More stressful than a wedding: first time buyers share the shocks of homeownership” was released by Nationwide, an insurance and financial services company.  1,009 adults were surveyed who purchased their first home within the last year. While eight in ten respondents still value homeownership, more than 50 percent reported that they now view success differently. For them, success means living within their means, growing retirement savings, and maintaining freedom and flexibility rather than focusing purely on ownership and real estate size.

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions one can make, both financially and emotionally. It is one of life’s most stressful events, along with landing one’s first job, planning a wedding, or finding one’s life partner. Buying a home can trigger both anxiety and excitement because it combines a significant financial investment with a major life transition.

Guidelines

The first step is determining how much you can afford. 1) How much do you have available for a down payment and closing costs? 2) How much can you afford to borrow? and 3) How much can you comfortably pay monthly for other costs, such as property taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and repairs?

Next, research the type of home and location you desire. Tour open houses and search online to determine what is available within your price range. Make a list of “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves,” then decide where you can compromise and what are your dealbreakers. Visit the neighborhood at different times – during the week, rush hour, and on weekends – to get a realistic feel for what it is like.

Consider whether you will need more space in the future and whether the neighborhood has good schools. Also determine whether there are restrictions regarding future renovations or additions.

Young Buyers

Today’s younger buyers, particularly young families, often prioritize kid-friendly features. Open-concept floor plans make it easier to supervise children while working or cooking. Large backyards with clear sightlines, safe and walkable streets with sidewalks, and flat lots that are easier for children to bike on are all appealing. Many young parents also want multipurpose rooms where they can keep an eye on toddlers, as well as a dedicated space for remote work.

Young home buyers frequently prefer move-in-ready houses that do not require major and expensive repairs. Energy-efficient heating and lower utility costs are also important. Some may prefer a smaller house in a desirable neighborhood rather than a larger home farther away.

Prices are higher and inventory remains low, so today’s young home buyers increasingly look for their “forever homes,” rather than viewing their first purchase as a steppingstone. More than 60 percent reportedly view their first house as their “forever home.” They want homes they can “grow into” over the next ten to fifteen years.

Today’s buyers also emphasize proximity over commuting. Nearby daycare centers, good school districts, playgrounds, shopping, fitness centers, and other amenities may be more important than being close to downtown or the workplace.

The Challenge for Young Jewish Couples

Unfortunately, many young couples are having difficulty affording the communities where their parents or grandparents were able to buy homes and put down roots.

When considering a neighborhood, young Jewish couples may ask: Will we make friends here? Are there families similar to us in observance and at the same stage of life? Can we afford the tuition? Are there schools, shuls, kosher options, and other Jewish resources nearby? Can we build a community and raise our family here for the next 10 to 20 years?

Young couples may consider newer or growing Jewish communities, nearby towns and suburbs with lower purchase prices, or smaller homes that allow them to remain within a community that meets their religious and family needs.

For today’s Jewish home buyer, the American Dream may no longer be defined simply by owning the biggest or most expensive home. Increasingly, it means finding a home and community that provide financial security, family stability, meaningful relationships, and the opportunity to put down roots while living within one’s means.

A Nerve-Wracking Experience

A recent Nationwide survey found that 71 percent of first-time home buyers find the process of buying a home more stressful than landing their first job. Almost 60 percent rate that it is worse than planning a wedding, and 56 percent find it more anxiety-inducing than dating.

Ellen Geller Kamaras 

“I am privileged in helping build the school I always dreamed of – a place where academic excellence, joyful Judaism, creativity, and meaningful relationships all exist together. What means the most to me is hearing a child tell her parents they can’t wait to go back to school tomorrow. That’s the culture we’re trying to build.” –  Rachel                                           

Please meet Rachel Harari, a warm and passionate Jewish educator who serves as Head of School at The Stanley I. Chera SAM School. Founded by Rabbi Elie Abadie as Sephardic Academy of Manhattan, the school remains deeply rooted in Sephardic tradition while welcoming a diverse community of Sephardic and Ashkenazi families.

Origins                                                         

Rachel, born to Joyce Hanan Salame Frommer and Robert Salame, a”h, is the youngest of eight, with five older sisters and two brothers. Both of her parents are first-generation Americans of Sephardic descent. Her father had an all-American upbringing, while her mother was raised in Brooklyn’s Syrian Jewish community.

Rachel’s older siblings were born in Florida, where her father’s businesses were based. Although the family had built a good life there, Joyce longed to return to Brooklyn and its close-knit Jewish community. When her oldest daughter was eighteen, she convinced her husband to make the move. Rachel was the only Salame child born in Brooklyn.

Because most of her siblings were already married, Rachel sometimes felt like an only child and grew up alongside nieces her own age. “Being part of such a large family, I was on the quieter side, absorbing everything, but I also learned the importance of speaking up and having my voice heard.”

Rachel attended Yeshivah of Flatbush from kindergarten through twelfth grade. She then enrolled in New York University for a bachelor’s degree in English education. She attended Brooklyn College for her master’s degree in special education, and then earned her PhD from Columbia University in Educational Leadership.

At NYU, Rachel participated in an honors program that included a research trip to Ireland. During her senior year, she began working with Dr. Rose Vukovic, who was studying math disabilities in young children. Rachel proposed exploring math anxiety, and together they published three studies, with Rachel named as the first author. Recognizing her talent for research, Dr. Vukovic encouraged Rachel to pursue a PhD, and later served on her dissertation committee.

Enter Albert

Rachel met her naseeb, Albert Harari, at a mutual friend’s engagement party. The bride-to-be was also named Rachel and married a Harary! The two couples still occasionally receive one another’s messages. Albert is president of G & A Services, a company that manages back-office operations for wholesale businesses.

Rachel and Albert settled in Brooklyn and have five children.  David, 16, and  Shelley, 14, are students at the Yeshiva of Flatbush High School, while Bobby, 11, and Joy, 6, are at The SAM School. The baby, Lila Rose, is three months old and has not yet embarked on her studies. 

Rachel’s Core and Her Mentors

Rachel’s family and friends describe her as curious, determined, compassionate, and optimistic – someone who sees possibilities where others see obstacles. That outlook shapes her passion for Jewish and Sephardic education. “Children remember how school made them feel. Academic excellence and joyful Judaism aren’t opposites – they belong together. When children feel known, challenged, and loved, extraordinary learning follows.”

Rachel is also especially interested in our community’s young women.  She advocates the “having it all” model, where  our young women do not have to choose between building a beautiful family and pursuing meaningful professional goals.  They can do both.

“I was fortunate to marry young, have children young, and continue my education and career. I’ve learned that with a supportive family, community, and a lot of hard work, those dreams don’t have to compete with one another.”

Rachel recognizes that her mother has been an extraordinary role model in every sense of the word. When Rachel was eight, her father’s business burned down, prompting her mother to return to college in her fifties after raising eight children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education and became a fourth-grade teacher, often trying out projects on Rachel before bringing them into her classroom. “Watching my mom begin a new career in her fifties and genuinely enjoy it taught me how capable women are – and how quickly life can change.”

Rachel also gives credit to her professional mentors, Dr. Rose Vukovic, Sabrina Maleh, Ilissa Cappell, Nicole Nash, and her colleagues at the Prizmah Day School Leadership Training Institute.

Career Path – Why Teaching?

Even as a student, Rachel loved teaching others. She helped her nieces and nephews with schoolwork and often learned with friends by explaining the material to them. Watching her mother become a creative and beloved fourth-grade teacher further showed Rachel the lasting impact an educator could have. “People would stop us in the street and tell us about the difference she [her mom] had made in their children’s lives.” Education felt like a natural calling.

After graduating from NYU, Rachel began teaching English at Magen David Yeshivah High School. Her first class of teenagers, not much younger than she was, felt intimidating. But she learned to combine strong classroom management with meaningful relationships. Within a few years, she became English Department Chair and built a strong team.

In 2016, Rachel received the Covenant Foundation’s Pomegranate Prize, designed to recognize emerging leaders (with less than 10 years of experience) in the field of Jewish education, awarding a $15,000 prize to encourage them in their pursuits. This introduced her to the broader world of Jewish education. Through the experience, she connected with inspiring educators, participated in transformative professional development, and felt seen and valued for her work.

After ten years at Magen David, Rachel began pursuing her PhD in Educational Leadership and she moved to Yeshivah of Flatbush to teach middle school English. After completing her PhD, Rachel learned that The SAM School was looking to grow and immediately felt that it was the right match. She joined SAM in 2023 as Co-Head of Elementary School and became Head of School in 2025.

Roses and Thorns

Rachel considers her family her greatest personal achievement. “Each of my children is unique, and nothing brings me more joy than watching them grow into kind, thoughtful people.” Rachel is equally proud of her marriage. Albert believed in her from the beginning, even when she doubted herself, and his encouragement has been one of the greatest gifts of her life.

Professionally, Rachel is proud that she persisted in pursuing her dream of becoming an educational leader. Some doors closed, and opportunities did not come as easily as she had expected, even after earning her PhD. Ultimately, those disappointments led her to SAM and the opportunity to help build the school she had always envisioned.

Together with Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Shlomo Farhi, SAM’s leadership team, and its faculty, Rachel has helped create distinctive experiences that include individual piano lessons beginning in kindergarten, public speaking through acting, innovative STEM programming, and social-emotional learning woven throughout the curriculum. At the heart of it all is a learning environment in which every child feels known, loved, challenged, and excited to come to school. Looking ahead, Rachel hopes to see The SAM School continue growing through high school.

Parenting and Balance

Rachel shares a close relationship with her children, and they talk about anything and everything. At the same time, she believes strongly in boundaries, routines, and discipline. While always supporting her children, Rachel encourages responsibility and independence. Her teenagers, for example, schedule their own appointments, and although she is available when her children need help, she does not do their homework with them.

Her children are also among her greatest supporters. “They’ve watched me work hard, celebrate successes, navigate disappointments, and continue growing. I hope they’ve learned that meaningful work, resilience, and family can all exist together.”

How Rachel Does It All

Rachel is quick to clarify that she doesn’t do it all: “We do it all. I have an incredible husband, family, friends, colleagues, mentors, and people who step in to help. Community makes everything possible. Some days my family needs more of me, and other days my school does. What matters to me is that, over time, both know they are deeply loved and prioritized.”

Relaxation

Rachel recharges by reading, writing, taking a long bath, or enjoying dinner and meaningful conversation with family and friends.

Community

Rachel serves on the board of The SAFE Foundation, where she helps provide parents with tools to raise children who can cope with anxiety and pressure.

Connect with Rachel at [email protected].Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach. Her coaching specialties include life, career, and dating coaching. She can be contacted at [email protected].

Menucha  Fuchs

Everyone knows that before Yom Kippur we must ask forgiveness from our friends and family members we have hurt. Our prayers to Gd do not help to fix our wrongdoings to our fellow man. But how do we get the courage to ask forgiveness? I messed up with my spouse or friends so much, how can I even ask?

Asking forgiveness is not pleasant, but when you do ask, it shows the other party you wronged that you admit you made a mistake, and you show him you are not proud of your actions, and you regret them. So, although it is difficult, you will feel cleansed after asking forgiveness. Knowing this will help you to garner the courage you need. When asking forgiveness, you demonstrate that you did not maliciously cause harm on purpose, but rather, you were not thinking properly or were not paying attention when you wronged your friend or family member, especially your spouse.

Living with a spouse that is incapable of saying sorry is difficult. The conclusion one draws from such refusal is: “He/she wanted to hurt me and doesn’t care.” As soon as you say you are sorry you clarify that you actually do love them, you had no intention of hurting them, and that what you did or said that was taken as hurtful was by mistake. When you apologize you take a great load off of both of you.

Asking forgiveness from a 10-year-old boy whose foot you stepped on is pretty easy. But asking forgiveness from the same child for speaking meanly about him, either behind his back or to his face, is much harder. Some “sorrys” are easy and spontaneous, and some cause you to approach with trepidation.

There are those who cannot get the word “sorry” out of their mouths, but on the other hand, they do a lot of good deeds. If such a person needs your forgiveness, accept it even if that person attempts to gain forgiveness only through deeds and not through words.

Saying sorry can repair broken relationships. Where two people have kept a distance from each other because of something that happened, saying sorry can help them to get back on track.

When someone asks you for forgiveness, be open to accept it. If you close the door on your friend he may never come back and ask for forgiveness again and you may lose a friend. How can you refuse him? He went the distance, overcoming his internal opposition and discomfort, and came to ask forgiveness. Let’s remember we could be in his shoes. How can  we be so brazen to ask forgiveness if we won’t give it ourselves?

My father, zt’l, who passed away two years ago, used to always ask us siblings to forgive each other. Invariably, one child would say: “But Dad, I didn’t do anything hurt to him!” And my father would answer, “It’s sufficient that he even thought that you did something wrong to him that you should ask his forgiveness. Now, think that maybe you actually did do something to him that you just forgot. So just go ask forgiveness…”

It can be  difficult to say, “I’m sorry.” But when we do, we can come to the synagogue on Yom Kippur feeling purified in all our limbs. We succeeded and we overcame the obstacles in our way, and we did what we were supposed to do. Now we are clean and pure.

Morris Schweky

When I made aliyah to Tzfat (Safed) six and a half years ago, I could not have imagined the life that awaited me. 

I grew up in Brooklyn’s SY community, surrounded by family and tradition, where everyone knows how to show up for one another. When I was eighteen, my mother and I started Stitches, a needlepoint business that became a familiar part of the Syrian community. We ran it together for fifteen years, getting to know our customers and helping them turn their ideas into one-of-a-kind pieces. Moving to Israel meant stepping away from work I loved and had put my heart and soul into, to begin again in the Holy Land. 

My Israel Experience

Three and a half years after making aliyah, I met my wife. We settled in northern Israel and were married one month before October 7th. We have since been blessed with a beautiful baby girl, and much of our family life has unfolded against the background of war. 

Like so many communities up north, Tzfat changed dramatically after October 7th. Tourism disappeared, businesses struggled, and daily life revolved around uncertainty, sirens, and bomb shelters. After working from home for so long, my wife and I agreed that I needed a change of atmosphere and a renewed sense of purpose. 

That was when I was introduced to Mordechai Kaplan, who was managing Beit Binyamin. At first, I thought I had found a job. Over time, I realized Hashem had opened a door I never expected. 

Enter Beit Binyamin

Beit Binyamin was created by Jen and Rob Airley of Beit Shemesh (originally from NY and the UK, respectively) after the loss of their beloved son, Sergeant Binyamin Meir Airley, H’yd, who fell in Gaza on November 18, 2023 (5 Kislev 5784), at just 21 years old, only a little more than a month after the war began.  

Before Binyamin’s passing, the Airley’s purchased a beautiful property in Tzfat with plans to make an Airbnb. Their overwhelming grief transformed that vision into a retreat home for soldiers and their families, a place where people carrying the weight of war could rest, reconnect, and begin to heal. In the process, it also became a source of livelihood for local tradespeople, artists, caterers, cleaners, and small businesses throughout Tzfat.  

The house, with its ancient stone walls and beautiful pergola overlooking Meron, has a peace that is difficult to describe. It feels both like an escape and like home.

The Story Unfolds  

As I became more involved, I met parents mourning children who had fallen defending Am Yisrael and soldiers arriving straight from the Lebanon front, grateful for a few days of rest, music, conversation, and good food.  

Standing among them, I realized I had been invited into a much bigger story. 

For the first time, Israel’s war was no longer something I was watching. It had become something that allowed me the privilege to serve Am Yisrael in my own way. 

Before Passover, after a major cleanup of the property, I was offered the role of House Manager. My job was to prepare the house for each event and welcome every soldier and family. The position connected naturally with my background, but at Beit Binyamin those practical skills came to serve something far more meaningful. 

A few days before Lag BaOmer, a group of soldiers arrived for an intensive three-day retreat. We filled those days with shiurim, music, spa treatments, meals, and an atmosphere of genuine unity.

Precious Pages Turned into Song

After the retreat, Mordechai asked me to dispose of papers left behind from one of the shiurim. When I brought them to the genizah, I noticed handwritten notes on the back.  

The question at the top read: “Why do we fight?”

Three soldiers had poured out their hearts. I could not throw those pages away. 

For nearly two hours I stood beside the genizah, reading and rereading their words. I realized there was a song hidden in those pages. I began writing, building the lyrics from their reflections, and “Soldiers of Truth” took shape. 

When I shared it with Mordechai and the Airleys, they immediately understood these words deserved to be heard. Binyamin’s longtime counselor, mentor, and friend, Shlomo Lipman, himself a soldier, graciously agreed to sing and produce the song. 

As I grew closer to Jen and Rob, I also felt I was getting to know Binyamin. I heard about his mischievousness, his aspirations, and his determination to become a better person. One soul changed the course of an entire family, and through that family he continues to inspire a nation.

Then another part of the story unfolded. 

A Painting Takes Flight

While scrolling through a WhatsApp art group, I came across a heartfelt video from an artist asking for help. One of her paintings, Kiddush HaShem, had been copied and reposted on X by a vicious anti-Semite who hoped to mock the work, the artist, and the message behind it. Instead, the post introduced the painting to more than 2.7 million people. Rather than hide, she encouraged people to keep sharing it, believing that truth would travel farther than hatred. 

When the painting was revealed, my heart stopped. It showed an Israeli soldier making kiddush over a cup of wine. I immediately knew it belonged at Beit Binyamin. 

The artist was Jordana Hanono, a talented member of the SY community from New York. Since October 7th, she had devoted herself to painting Israeli soldiers and donated her first year’s collection to support Israel’s war effort.  

Learning that Jordana was also from the SY community made the connection even more meaningful. Here was someone from our own community using her gifts to stand up for Am Yisrael through art. 

Once Jen understood the story behind the painting, she immediately saw what I saw. This was more than an image of a soldier. It was an image of Jewish identity, sacrifice, faith, and the longing to return home for Shabbat. 

It felt only natural that kiddush Hashem would become the cover artwork for Soldiers of Truth. A painting inspired by Israeli soldiers now embraces a song born from the reflections of Israeli soldiers. Though they have never met, they are telling the same story.  

Today, kiddush Hashem hangs at Beit Binyamin, greeting the very soldiers and families whose experiences inspired both the painting and the song.  

The soldiers, the song, and Jordana’s artwork all tell the same story: each is fighting for Am Yisrael in its own way. 

The Essence of Beit Binyamin

To me, that connection captures everything Beit Binyamin represents: grieving parents who transformed unimaginable loss into purpose, soldiers who continue to inspire through their courage, an artist from our SY community using her talent to fight anti-Semitism, and a fellow member of the SY community from Brooklyn who somehow found himself helping bring their stories together.  

Every time I open the doors of Beit Binyamin, I meet another soldier, another grieving parent, or another family searching for strength. I see how Binyamin’s life continues through every retreat, every meal, every conversation, every song, and every work of art.  

I am deeply grateful to Hashem for bringing me here. What I thought was simply a new job became an opportunity to witness courage, kindness, sacrifice, and faith in ways that continue to shape me every day. 

To my fellow members of the SY community, I hope you’ll visit Beit Binyamin and experience this remarkable place for yourselves. I would be honored to welcome you and share some of the extraordinary stories that continue to unfold within its walls. Whether by visiting, supporting our mission, making a donation, or simply sending words of encouragement to the soldiers and families who pass through our doors, you can become part of their story as well.  

I came looking for a job. Instead, Hashem brought me to a place where stories meet. 

For that, I am forever grateful. 

Contact Beit Binyamin at [email protected].

Frieda Schweky

Every summer, our community shows up and shows out. This summer’s events included private simhas,  fundraisers, and gatherings for programs that quietly do so much good.  I asked a few friends to share the events that stood out for them most this year, and their answers reminded me all over again why this community is so special.

The Lev Organization Gala

One of this summer’s most stunning events was put on by the Lev Organization, a non-profit group that helps individuals and families navigate the Jewish divorce process. The evening was Lev Organization’s Fourth Annual Awareness Event: Surrender and Soar. It was held on July 9th, at the home of Barbara Fallas Klause and Jordan and Shirly Granger. The setup alone was breathtaking – a huge, magnificent tent stretched over the pool, twinkling with light, with a photobooth for guests to capture the night and a Chinese auction table piled with prizes. Dinner was catered by AkiMori, and it did not disappoint.

The planned keynote speakers were Rabbi Ali Cohen, a marriage counselor and motivational speaker, and Gedale Fenster, a motivational speaker. Unfortunately, due to weather-related disruptions and logistical challenges, Gedale Fenster had to cancel at the last minute. But the evening was saved when Rabbi Joey Haber and Adina Eden Kamkhatchi (founder of the jewelry brand Adina Eden) stepped up to the mic. Despite the short notice they delivered speeches so powerful and moving that most guests probably did not even realize there had been a change of speakers. It was a beautiful reminder that in our community when something doesn’t go as planned, someone always steps up.

Paint with Jill

Not every meaningful “event” of the summer is a big formal affair, and Paint with Jill, run by the talented Jill Levy, is proof of that. Twice a month throughout the summer, Jill hosts intimate parent (or grandparent)-child watercolor classes, sometimes mother and child, sometimes father and child, and sometimes grandmother and grandchild. Many kids count down the days until it’s their turn to attend with a parent or grandparent.

There’s something so lovely about sitting side by side with your child or grandchild, music playing softly in the background, with no phones or distractions, just paint, conversation, and each other. Jill always teaches something new, whether it’s a blending technique or a new way to look at color. Many see their painting abilities improve over the years thanks to Jill. Paint with Jill offers the kind of quiet, connective summer tradition that doesn’t make headlines but makes beautiful memories.

Leah Setton on Shirah Elementary’s Chinese Auction

Shirah Elementary (Bnot Shirah) really outdid themselves this year with a stunning Chinese auction hosted at the beautiful home of Charles and Ariella Ben Dayan. The evening had it all: garden photoshoots by Shelly Shmool, a lively Mahjong tournament, and guest speaker Jackie Bitton, who left a lasting impression on everyone.

Jackie’s message stuck with me long after the event ended. She told the story of how, right at the start of the school year, her son’s school announced there would be no school bus and every family would need to arrange carpool themselves. For Jackie, this felt like a genuine burden, another 40 minutes lost each day to Brooklyn traffic on top of everything else on her plate. Then, one day she got a call from a friend who was seriously ill in the hospital. Her friend told her that if she could be anywhere in the world at that moment, she’d choose to be driving carpool, because that would mean her life was back to normal. It would mean she didn’t have to rely on the kindness of others just to get her kids where they needed to go or to feed her family dinner. It would mean she had the privilege of doing those small, everyday tasks herself.

That phone call changed everything for Jackie. She never complained about carpool again. She shared a teaching from Rabbi Nachman of Breslov about always choosing simha and gratitude toward Hashem. She also told an inspirational story about noticing an African American woman in a store who, after accidentally knocking something over, laughed it off and said, “I’m too blessed to be stressed.” Jackie’s takeaway was simple but powerful: we all have the ability to brighten someone else’s day and be a light to the people around us, something her own daughter reminded her of before heading off to speak at a Shabbaton.

The line that’s stayed with me most is this: “I don’t have to, I get to.” The next time you’re tempted to complain about something mundane, like carpool, or laundry, or the school run, it’s worth remembering that somewhere, someone would give anything to be doing that very thing. A small shift in how we talk about our everyday tasks can entirely change how we feel about them.

Sari Shamah on the Morris Franco Cancer Center Spa Day

There’s no shortage of incredible programming in our community every summer. Sari could easily point to the Hatzalah Carnival or Yaakov Shweky’s electric concert for the Children’s Center, both of which were fantastic. But she wanted to shine a light on something a little more under the radar: the Morris Franco Cancer Center spa day, hosted at Dr. Gayle Krost’s home.

It’s a day built entirely around celebrating life together, volunteers and clients, side by side. There are massages, art projects, and wonderful food, but the real heart of the day is hearing directly from the clients and volunteers about how the program has touched their lives. It’s the kind of event that puts everything into perspective and reminds you exactly what this community stands for: when someone is struggling, there is an entire tribe ready to step in and help. Sari felt it was important to give credit to these unsung heroes who don’t always get the spotlight but absolutely deserve it.

Suzy Haber on Serenity by the Shore

Suzy’s favorite event of the summer was Serenity by the Shore, hosted by Magen Abot Yeshivah at Kassin Beach on July 13^th. The day began with a workout overlooking the ocean, followed by a beachside meditation led by Nomi Simhon. From there, guests took a “roots and remedies” class, learning about which herbs and roots can be used for different ailments. Attendees got to make and take home their own tinctures. The Hut set up a jewelry-making station with beads and charms. Breakfast and lunch, catered by Nicole’s Kitchen, were absolutely delicious.

What struck Suzy most was how thoughtfully the entire day was planned. It wasn’t just about putting on a nice event or raising awareness for the school. It was about giving the school moms a relaxing, joyful day surrounded by wonderful company. There was a coffee bar, an acai bar, and even childcare so moms could actually unwind. The school principal gave a parenting class that Suzy and her friends found incredibly helpful. By the time the day ended, she and her friends didn’t want to leave.

A Summer to Remember

The common thread our community members picked up on this summer was the theme of connection. Whether it was a black-tie gala under a tent, a quiet watercolor class with a child or grandchild, a spa day for cancer patients and their families, or a sunrise workout on the sand, all of these moments was really about showing up for each other.

That’s what our community does best. We celebrate together, we support each other through hard times, and we find small ways to make ordinary days feel a little more special. As the summer winds down and we start thinking about the school year ahead, I hope we carry a little of that spirit with us: the gratitude, the willingness to step up when someone else can’t, and the reminder that even the mundane tasks of daily life are something to feel very fortunate about. Here’s to another summer of memories, and here’s to next summer already being something to look forward to.

Until next time, 

Frieda Schweky

Frieda Schweky is a community photographer, videographer, and writer. For photography & video inquiries or article topic suggestions, email her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @friedaschwekyphoto.