Vol. 36 #46 December 21, 2007 • 12 Tevet 5768 One Dollar Two Dollars Outside of Metropolitan N.Y.C.

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LauderRevives East

EuropeanJewryPage 16

SilversteinHebrew Academy

CelebratesHanukkah

Page 17

By JERRY CIMISI

Guests at the Chabad of GreatNeck Annual Dinner lastweek filled Temple Israel of

Great Neck to pay tribute to dedicat-ed individuals and to benefit theFriendship Circle, an outreach pro-gram for children with special needs.

WABC talk show host Bob Grantreceived The Friendship CirclePartnership Award and New YorkState Comptroller Tom DiNapoli,

former New York State assembly-man representing Great Neck,received the Community ServiceAward.

Last month, when DiNapoli washonored by the Holocaust Memorialand Tolerance Center of NassauCounty, he announced the beginningof the divestiture of New York Stateretirement funds from companiesthat deal with Iran.

In response to recent intelligencereports (which have been chal-lenged) that Iran abandoned itsnuclear weapons program a fewyears ago, DiNapoli said, “Of courseI have no way of knowing if thosereports are true. But the reasons forconcern are not eliminated by thereports. Our concerns have been cre-ated by what the president of Iranhas said [about Israel]. He is stillthere and he has not taken back hiswords. So our point of view has notchanged.”

Before Grant was honored theguests viewed a video about the

Friendship Circle, which provideschildren with special needs withafter-school companionship andactivities. In the video, Chabad ofGreat Neck’s Rabbi YosephGeisinsky noted that though thesechildren are usually able to attendschools that are designed for theirspecific needs, filling the after-schoolhours can be difficult.

In a phone interview following thedinner Geisinsky said, “When they

come home they often are isolated,not able to play with friends likeother children do.”

The Friendship Circle, created twoyears ago, now serves 110 children,the rabbi said, adding, “These are notjust Jewish children. We try to helpany child in the community whoneeds what we can provide.”

One mother of a special-needschild, who was filmed on the video,commented, “The fact that there areother people who are not familymembers who come to play withthese children is a wonderful thing.”

The Friendship Circle relies onteenage volunteers to visit the chil-dren in need. (Interested teens mayapply at www.chabadgn.com.)

Geisinsky added, “Not only arethese children being helped, but thevolunteers as well. They learn how tohelp others and also how fortunatethey themselves are not to have suchdifficult problems.”

While the volunteers are the life-line of the Friendship Circle, there

are concrete expenses that need to bemet, such as paying for people whotrain the volunteers and organize theprogram.

“The Chabad bears the cost,”said Geisinsky. “We are also con-sidering what these children willrequire when they grow up. Andconsider that the number of chil-

dren we will be helping will grow.” Toward that end, Chabad is

already raising funds — about $10million — for a building situatedon nine acres in the Kings Pointsection of Great Neck.

“We have the plans and havesecured the necessary approval,”said Geisinsky. “We hope to bebreaking ground in the spring of2008 and opening in the spring of2009 or at the latest, that fall.”

Upon accepting his award Grantsaid that he felt that “the great

experience I have had since Iarrived in New York” had much todo with his “relationship with theJewish community.”

On his show two nights after thedinner, Grant commented on “thewonderful time” he had “at theChabad in Great Neck.”

Barry Farber, another longtime

talk show host in the metropolitanarea who introduced Grant at the din-ner, remarked on how one communi-ty helps another. “We know who ourenemies have been, but we oftendon’t know much about our friends.

“The greatest friends the Jewishpeople have had have been theAmerican Christians. If not for themthere would have been no Israel,”said Farber, adding that “97 percentof the U.S. forces in WWII werenon-Jewish — because 97 percent ofthe U.S. population was non-Jewish.

They saved the entire Jewish world.” Also recognized at the dinner for

their commitment to the communitywere Raine and Stanley Silverstein,benefactors of the Sonia and MaxSilverstein Hebrew Academy inGreat Neck.

The evening’s emcee, JoelHerskowitz, who kept the lively pro-

gram moving, introduced Silversteinand his grandchildren, who enthusi-astically sang to their grandparentsand the audience. Additional musicalentertainment was provided by stu-dents from the Silverstein HebrewAcademy who performed Hanukkahsongs.

Other community members hon-ored by Chabad during the eveningincluded: Sharon and DavidOhebshalom, recipients of theSilverstein Hebrew AcademyParents of the Year Award; Khanaand Mansour Zar, who received theKeter Shem Tov — Crown of GoodName Award; Liliane and DavidBenrimon, honored with theLeadership Award; Mahin andManoutcher Kashanian, whoreceived the Pillar of Light Award;Yardena and John Torkian, whoreceived the Chesed (Kindness)Award; and Edna Guilor and NoamSegal, recipients of the Etz Chaim —Tree of Life Award.

Upon receiving the ChesedAward, John Torkian said, “It isimportant to always help needy chil-dren. Helping a child today willresult in a community membertomorrow.”

JEWISH WORLD • DECEMBER 21, 2007 17

Chabad of Great Neck Helps ChildrenSilverstein Hebrew Academy honored for its dedication

‘It is important to always help needy children. Helping a child today will result in a communitymember tomorrow.’

A Hanukkah Celebration with Chabad of Great Neck and the Silverstein HebrewAcademy. Pictured at the Annual Dinner are (above): Tom DiNapoli (center), NewYork State comptroller, accepting the Chabad Community Service Award from RabbiYoseph Geisinsky (left), dean of the Silverstein Hebrew Academy, and Joel Herskowitz,the evening’s emcee. (Above right): Geisinsky (far left) assists as Raine and StanleySilverstein light the menorah. The Silversteins’ grandson Michael Leventhal (second fromleft) and their great-grandchildren join in singing the blessings. (Below right): Children fromthe Silverstein Hebrew Academy choir entertain the crowd with lively Hanukkah songs.