Letters to the Editor

Issue of May 29, 2009 / 6 Sivan 5769

Adoption

To the Editor:

OHEL welcomes your publication of the wonderful Ganz adoption story (Mommy, am I adopted now?; May 22, 2009).

It is an especially inspiring story that reflects the collective good of so many. The endless giving of Jewish foster and adoptive parents, an exceptional judge, and the dedication of OHEL staff.

When a Jewish foster child enters the doors of OHEL, he or she enters a world of care and devotion. While it is often relentless work, dealing with multiple parties, complicated family and legal dynamics, and raw emotions, the best interests of the child are always sought.

The road is sometimes arduous which can at times bare a tear on a child's face, but it is now tears of joy that Meira shares with all.

Many in the Jewish world are not aware of the need for Jewish foster parents. They understandably believe that every child has a home. Tragically this is not the case, and OHEL welcomes inquiries from prospective foster parents.

In changing a life, as Azriel and Sara Ganz have so remarkably shown, you can enrich yours.

We wish Meira, her parents and siblings only the best.

David Mandel

The writer is chief executive officer of OHEL Children's Home & Family Services.

Visiting Sderot kids from AMIT school

To the Editor:

We would like to congratulate The Jewish Star on its front page coverage of the upcoming visit to HAFTR by 33 ninth graders from Sderot (Sderot mission to NY, for a change; May 15, 2009). Rabbi Yotav Eliach and the entire HAFTR community are to be commended for bringing these youngsters to the United States for a two-week visit beginning Monday, May 25.

The one factor missing from your article, however, is that all the students arriving from Sderot attend the AMIT Religious Junior and Senior High School in Sderot. AMIT is the sole provider of high school education in Sderot and has invested considerable resources in ensuring that, despite the constant threat of Kassam rocket attacks, every junior and senior high school student is receiving an excellent education and all the extra help he or she needs to succeed academically.

Our president, Dr. Francine Stein, will be visiting with the Sderot students at HAFTR on Tuesday, May 26, and presenting HAFTR and Rabbi Eliach with an award from AMIT in appreciation for their solidarity with our students in Sderot.

Barbara Goldberg

Communications, AMIT

Election reaction

To the Editor:

With the school board elections now mercifully behind us, it would behoove us if someone would not briefly recapitulate the aims, goals and aspirations that went into the public's participation in this vital civic effort.

Hopefully, as a result of last Tuesday's vote, we will continue to see a further sharp reduction in our property taxes as a reflection of the continued drop in public school enrollments and the diminishment in unneeded school facilities.

In addition, this drop should be reflected in an immediate rebate to all taxpayers on a pro-rated basis upon all taxes paid. Fiscal sanity by the new board will surely help ensure that this will happen and that promises made will now result in promises fulfilled.

We cannot be satisfied upon past achievements. That past is just prologue to further tax cuts and deep cuts in waste at all levels of school governance.

In addition, this board and each individual member must keep the public informed on a regular basis as to all that is happening. We expect to hear from you guys at all times, not just at election time.

Nothing less will be acceptable.

Alan Jay Gerber

Cedarhurst

The writer was a member of Community School Board District 20 in Brooklyn, NY from 1973 to 1989.

Razor thin victory

To the Editor:

I would like to give a hearty Yasher Koach (congratulations) to all those who assisted in the recent school board election victory. In addition to Uri Kaufman, I personally cannot think of a more astute, hardworking, and deserving board member than Abel Feldhamer.

That said, Uri Kaufman's margin of victory over Barry Ringelheim was miniscule –– 135 out of 6,981 voters –– while the private school voter turnout was feeble and deplorable.

Looking back to the 2007 school board vote where three fiercely contested swing seats were won –– especially against public school incumbent Pam Greenbaum –– there were 2,900 more voters, of which a whopping 1,500 were likely Orthodox Jews.

If the public school parents would have not been so discombobulated and incompetent (Exhibit A: they could not figure out how to get John Kinder onto the proper ballot) we could have easily lost.

My question is, how do we shame or spur these 1,500 plus unconscionably apathetic and cavalier non-voters into voting the next time around?

Do we need to “strike while the iron is hot” and publish/publicize a list of turnout percentages by shul –– so as to force rabbonim to admonish their congregants out of humiliation and embarrassment?

Moreover, in our present situation (a precarious macro-economy, double digit unemployment, impending Obama tax hikes, loophole-fills, etc.), these elections carry with them an increasing significance to our Five Towns tzibbur (community) ... that make failing to vote an outrageous and immoral malfeasance.

Unfortunately, razor thin margins like this give vociferous troublemakers like Barry Ringelheim hope and incentive to continue wreaking havoc, and another "hava amina" (thought) to run again.

We surely cannot afford to be complacent or to underestimate the ability of public school voters to eventually run a competent campaign, next time around.

Daniel M. Gelbtuch

Woodmere

Toy Drive for hospitalized children in Israel

To the Editor:

The 2009 Miles of Smiles Toy Drive is underway to distribute stuffed animals to children in Jerusalem hospitals. Over the past few years hospitals visited include Hadassah Ein Kerem, Bikur Cholim, and Shaare Tzedek. Funds collected also go towards supplying Bikur Cholim's pediatric playroom with games, crafts, toys, and art supplies. Last year 250 stuffed animals were given out to young children in Israel. Your readers can participate by donating brand new stuffed animals (sorry, only brand new are accepted due to infection control policies set by hospitals) or by contributing monetary donations. Checks can be made out to 'Miles of Smiles.' Funds collected will go directly towards purchasing stuffed animals from wholesale distributors and purchasing items for Bikur Cholim's playroom. Donations can be sent to 379 Arbuckle Ave, Cedarhurst, NY 11516. A blue/green drop-off bin for stuffed animals is located on the back porch. Thank you and tizku l'mitzvos!

Devorah Gerber, Shayna Leshem and Chava Adler