Are you kidding? Do you think I can recognize you after all these years.
That was my refrain as I returned to my hometown of Montreal for my Grade 7 (that' s the way they say it in Canada) Jewish Peoples School reunion.
We were 45 students who graduated.6 are no longer with us. One died of cervical cancer;one from breast cancer;one from MS;one from Legionnaires Disease;one committeed siucide at 19;and one was killed in an accident while attending med school in Mexico.
Of the 39, 26 attended the reunion. It was amazing how easily we reconnected after ahem, 45 years.
We reminisced about the teachers who seemed ancient, the empty cardboard milk cartons we used as pucks in the school yard, those ropes we could not climb in the gym.
We looked at the class pictures taken every year around Chanukah or Purim, all decked out in costumes that were refective of the holiday. I also discovered that I was the valedictorian of my Grade 7 class...thanks to the graduation program that someone had saved. And we laughed at the report cards...G for good, VG for very good and comments on our behavior.
Needless to say it was a wonderful weekend.Who knew that after so many years, our bonds of friendship would be reconnected.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Community needs your support
Ok…I understand.
We all expect everything to be there when we need it…JCC, synagogues, Birthright Israel, cemeteries, schools, emergency assistance, community advocacy, senior adult services, preschool support.
Yes, I know.
Thanks to those who came before us, we have a community infrastructure that is able to meet those needs.
But, I also know.
Those services do not exist in a vacuum or independently. All community services count on the support of its members.
So, I am confused.
Why are there so many in the community unwilling to help support the community. Services have already been reduced and will continue to be reduced if continuing support is withheld.
You are angry.
Why? Reach out to the right party…express your concerns…will you always be satisfied…maybe not, but don't let your anger fester..after all who are you hurting?
You don't agree.
No one agrees with everything…does that mean we should stop supporting community…we can always find a reason why not to do something. The trick is to look at the positive…and figure out a way how to do something.
Yes, here we go again.
The Federation has allocated funds to community agencies, programs and projects for FY2011. In order to meet all those commitments we are currently $33,000 short of the mark. Your pledge to the 2010 annual campaign will help us meet our objective…if not we will need to reduce the funds that the Worcester JCC, JFS, Federation, Temple Emanuel, Temple Sinai, Beth Israel, B'nai Shalom, Beth Tikvah, the Yeshiva, the Boroughs JCC, the young emissary program, immigrant resettlement programs in Israel, support of elderly Holocaust survivors in Eastern Europe, the PJ Library project, and outreach efforts receive.
We should all understand.
We are a community that deserves the best! With everyone's help and support we will have the best!
Please make your pledge to the 2010 Annual Federation campaign by clicking here.
Click here to find out about the campaign.
And please respond now. The campaign officially closes on June 30, 2010. Make sure you are among those of us who value and support the totality of our community.
We all expect everything to be there when we need it…JCC, synagogues, Birthright Israel, cemeteries, schools, emergency assistance, community advocacy, senior adult services, preschool support.
Yes, I know.
Thanks to those who came before us, we have a community infrastructure that is able to meet those needs.
But, I also know.
Those services do not exist in a vacuum or independently. All community services count on the support of its members.
So, I am confused.
Why are there so many in the community unwilling to help support the community. Services have already been reduced and will continue to be reduced if continuing support is withheld.
You are angry.
Why? Reach out to the right party…express your concerns…will you always be satisfied…maybe not, but don't let your anger fester..after all who are you hurting?
You don't agree.
No one agrees with everything…does that mean we should stop supporting community…we can always find a reason why not to do something. The trick is to look at the positive…and figure out a way how to do something.
Yes, here we go again.
The Federation has allocated funds to community agencies, programs and projects for FY2011. In order to meet all those commitments we are currently $33,000 short of the mark. Your pledge to the 2010 annual campaign will help us meet our objective…if not we will need to reduce the funds that the Worcester JCC, JFS, Federation, Temple Emanuel, Temple Sinai, Beth Israel, B'nai Shalom, Beth Tikvah, the Yeshiva, the Boroughs JCC, the young emissary program, immigrant resettlement programs in Israel, support of elderly Holocaust survivors in Eastern Europe, the PJ Library project, and outreach efforts receive.
We should all understand.
We are a community that deserves the best! With everyone's help and support we will have the best!
Please make your pledge to the 2010 Annual Federation campaign by clicking here.
Click here to find out about the campaign.
And please respond now. The campaign officially closes on June 30, 2010. Make sure you are among those of us who value and support the totality of our community.
Friday, June 4, 2010
So, What Else is New
Imagine a flotilla of "activists" sailing towards Miami with illegal immigrants aboard with the intention of allowing them to disembark in Florida.
I wonder what the reaction would be if the US Coast Guard asked the "activists" to turn back which they refused to do and kept sailing to the Port of Miami
And what would happen if the Coast Guard had no choice but to board the ship and were attacked by some of the "activists".....Would the world be focusing their attention on this incident. Would the United Nations Security Council be convening with the intention of censuring the US. Would our allies like Turkey be threatening to sever diplomatic relations. Would the responsibility of the US to safeguard its borders and protect its citizens be subject to world condemnation and scorn.
Israel made it clear to the flotilla "activists" that they were free to arrive at the Port Of Ashdod, where their cargo would be inspected and all humanitarian aid would then be transferred to Gaza through the normal channels that Israel uses regularly to transport humanitarian aid. It would obviously confiscate materials that it has banned.
The "activists" answer was given loudly and clearly.
Yes, I am sure there were many well intentioned and peace loving "crew" aboard the ships bound for Gaza, but there were also those whose sole intention was to create chaos and violence to bring attention to their cause.
Let us not forget-Given the opportunity, Hamas who rules Gaza illegally, would destroy Israel in a heartbeat...
I wonder what the reaction would be if the US Coast Guard asked the "activists" to turn back which they refused to do and kept sailing to the Port of Miami
And what would happen if the Coast Guard had no choice but to board the ship and were attacked by some of the "activists".....Would the world be focusing their attention on this incident. Would the United Nations Security Council be convening with the intention of censuring the US. Would our allies like Turkey be threatening to sever diplomatic relations. Would the responsibility of the US to safeguard its borders and protect its citizens be subject to world condemnation and scorn.
Israel made it clear to the flotilla "activists" that they were free to arrive at the Port Of Ashdod, where their cargo would be inspected and all humanitarian aid would then be transferred to Gaza through the normal channels that Israel uses regularly to transport humanitarian aid. It would obviously confiscate materials that it has banned.
The "activists" answer was given loudly and clearly.
Yes, I am sure there were many well intentioned and peace loving "crew" aboard the ships bound for Gaza, but there were also those whose sole intention was to create chaos and violence to bring attention to their cause.
Let us not forget-Given the opportunity, Hamas who rules Gaza illegally, would destroy Israel in a heartbeat...