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Here’s how New York City is celebrating Yom Haatzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day
(New York Jewish Week) — Happy birthday to the state of Israel, which celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding this week. Despite the tension surrounding the Israeli government’s proposed judicial overhaul, a host of New York Jewish institutions are feteing this major milestone.
Beginning Monday evening, Israeli and Jewish communities around the world will mourn and honor fallen IDF soldiers as part of Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s memorial day. After a transitional ceremony in the evening, where the mood shifts from somber to celebratory, communities will begin to celebrate Yom Haatzmaut, or Israeli Independence Day.
(These holidays both follow the Hebrew calendar, and are marked each year on the 4th and 5th of Iyar. This year, Yom Hazikaron begins tonight, followed by Yom Haaztmaut on Tuesday night. In 1948, the day of Israel’s founding corresponded with May 14.)
From nightclubs to comedy shows to prayer services, read on for the ways in which New Yorkers are honoring these special days.
April 24
Yom Hazikaron Memorial at the Streicker Center
The Streicker Center at Temple Emanu-El and The Consulate General of Israel are holding a Yom Hazikaron memorial service on Monday that will honor “the soldiers who gave their lives in defense of the State of Israel and the victims of terrorist attacks.” The free, public service will take place at the Streicker Center (1 East 65th St.) at 6:00 p.m. Registration required.
April 25
A Conversation with Olympian AJ Edelman at Temple Shaaray Tefila
The captain of the Israeli bobsled team and a member of the Israeli Olympic team in 2018, AJ Edelman will join Rabbi Jill Ruben for an evening of conversation at 6:30 p.m. at Shaaray Tefila (250 East 79th St.). The bobsled that’s used by the team will be on display. The in-person event is free and open to the public. RSVP here.
Panel Discussion: A Celebration of Israeli Movies & Television
Congregation Rodeph Sholom and Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan are partnering to host an evening of snacks and discussion. The panel discussion will include Israeli actors Hani Furstenberg (“Campfire,” “Asylum City” and “The Golem”) and Alon Aboutboul (“Beaufort,” “Ricochet” and “The Dark Night”). Isaac Zablocki, senior director of the Carole Zabar Center for Film at the JCC Manhattan, will host. Schmooze begins at 6:15 p.m., and the discussion begins at 7:00 p.m. at Congregation Rodeph Sholom (7 West 83rd St.). Tickets start at $18; register here.
Israel Independence Program with Manhattan Jewish Experience
To mark both Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut, the Manhattan Jewish Experience (131 West 86th St.) will begin the evening commemorating fallen Israel Defense Forces soldiers with speeches from IDF soldiers and Rabbi Mark Wildes. After a Tekes Maavar, or transition, ceremony with songs and prayers, the night will turn into an “Israeli Shuk Party” with live music, falafel, dessert and cocktails. The evening begins at 7:00 p.m., tickets from $10. Register here.
April 26
Israeli Folk Dance at 92NY
Join 92NY and Ruth Goodman, director of the Israeli Dance Institute, for an open session of Israeli folk dancing and fun at the Upper East Side community center (1395 Lexington Ave.). The dancing sessions take place every Wednesday at 8:15. p.m. Tickets are $15 per session. Find more information and buy tickets here.
Yom Haatzmaut at Nebula
On Wednesday night, join nightlife events company J-Vibe at the NYC nightclub Nebula (135 West 41st St.) for a night of Israeli DJs, house music and dancing to celebrate Yom Haatzmaut. Doors open at 10 p.m., tickets start at $18. Find more information here.
April 27
Yom Haatzmaut Comedy Night: Israel 75 Live with Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt
On Thursday, join Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (3 West 68th St.) for a night of lighthearted comedy about Israel featuring Israeli-American comedians Joel Chasnoff and Benji Lovitt, co-authors of “Israel 201.” The two-hour comedy show begins at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $5 for college students and $18 general admission. Find more information here.
April 30
Israel at 75 Birthday Party on the Upper East Side
On Sunday, Park Avenue Synagogue, Central Synagogue and 92NY will co-host a birthday party for Israel featuring games, music and food from Israeli restaurants. The event, open to all and ideal for families with young children, will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Park Avenue Synagogue (50 E 87th St.). Tickets from $18, register here.
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Phyllis Pollock died at home Sunday September 3, 2023 in Winnipeg, after a courageous lifetime battle with cancer.
Phyllis was a mother of four: Gary (Laura), daughter Randi, Steven (deceased in 2010) (Karen), and Robert. Phyllis also had two grandchildren: Lauren and Quinn.
Born in Fort Frances, Ontario on February 7, 1939, Phyllis was an only child to Ruby and Alex Lerman. After graduating high school, Phyllis moved to Winnipeg where she married and later divorced Danny Pollock, the father of her children. She moved to Beverly Hills in 1971, where she raised her children.
Phyllis had a busy social life and lucrative real estate career that spanned over 50 years, including new home sales with CoastCo. Phyllis was the original sales agent for three buildings in Santa Monica, oceanfront: Sea Colony I, Sea Colony II, and Sea Colony. She was known as the Sea Colony Queen. She worked side by side with her daughter Randi for about 25 years – handling over 600 transactions, including sales and leases within the three phases of Sea Colony alone.
Phyllis had more energy than most people half her age. She loved entertaining, working in the real estate field, meeting new and interesting people everyday no matter where she went, and thrived on making new lifelong friends. Phyllis eventually moved to the Sea Colony in Santa Monica where she lived for many years before moving to Palm Desert, then Winnipeg.
After battling breast cancer four times in approximately 20 years, she developed metastatic Stage 4 lung cancer. Her long-time domestic partner of 27 years, Joseph Wilder, K.C., was the love of her life. They were never far apart. They traveled the world and went on many adventures during their relationship. During her treatment, Phyllis would say how much she missed work and seeing her clients. Joey demonstrated amazing strength, love, care, and compassion for Phyllis as her condition progressed. He was her rock and was by her side 24/7, making sure she had the best possible care. Joey’s son David was always there to support Phyllis and to make her smile. Joey’s other children, Sheri, Kenny, Joshua and wife Davina, were also a part of her life. His kids would Facetime Phyllis and include her during any of their important functions. Phyllis loved Joey’s children as if they were her own.
Thank you to all of her friends and family who were there to support her during these difficult times. Phyllis is now, finally, pain free and in a better place. She was loved dearly and will be greatly missed. Interment took place in Los Angeles.
By BERNIE BELLAN Over 100 individuals gathered at the Gwen Secter Centre on Tuesday evening, July 18 – under the big top that serves as the venue for the summer series of outdoor concerts that is now in its third year at the centre.
The occasion was the celebration of the Gwen Secter Centre’s 35th anniversary. It was also an opportunity to honour the memory of Sophie Shinewald, who passed away at the age of 106 in 2019, but who, as recently as 2018, was still a regular attendee at the Gwen Secter Centre.
As Gwen Secter Executive Director Becky Chisick noted in her remarks to the audience, Sophie had been volunteering at the Gwen Secter Centre for years – answering the phone among other duties. Becky remarked that Sophie’s son, Ed Shinewald, had the phone number for the Gwen Secter Centre stored in his phone as “Mum’s work.”
Remarks were also delivered by Raquel Dancho, Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul, who was the only representative of any level of government in attendance. (How times have changed: I remember well the steadfast support the former Member of the Legislature for St. John’s, Gord Mackintosh, showed the Gwen Secter Centre when it was perilously close to being closed down. And, of course, for years, the area in which the Gwen Secter Centre is situated was represented by the late Saul Cherniack.)
Sophie Shinewald’s granddaughter, Alix (who flew in from Chicago), represented the Shinewald family at the event. (Her brother, Benjamin, who lives in Ottawa, wasn’t able to attend, but he sent a pre-recorded audio message that was played for the audience.)
Musical entertainment for the evening was provided by a group of talented singers, led by Julia Kroft. Following the concert, attendees headed inside to partake of a sumptuous assortment of pastries, all prepared by the Gwen Secter culinary staff. (And, despite my asking whether I could take a doggy bag home, I was turned down.)
This is a developing story.
(JTA) — Palestinian gunmen killed four people and wounded four in a terror attack at a gas station near the West Bank settlement of Eli, the Israeli army reported.
An Israeli civilian returning fire at the scene of the attack on Tuesday killed one of the attackers, who emerged from a vehicle, and two others fled.
Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, said one of those wounded was in serious condition. The gunmen, while in the vehicle, shot at a guard post at the entry to the settlement, and then continued to the gas station which is also the site of a snack bar. A nearby yeshiva went into lockdown.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced plans to convene a briefing with top security officials within hours of the attack. Kan reported that there were celebrations of the killing in major West Bank cities and in the Gaza Strip, initiated by terrorist groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Hamas said the shooting attack Tuesday was triggered by the Jenin raid.
The shooting comes as tensions intensify in the West Bank. A day earlier, Israeli troops raiding the city of Jenin to arrest accused terrorists killed five people.
The Biden administration spoke out over the weekend against Israel’s plans to build 4,000 new housing units for Jewish settlers in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also finalized plans to transfer West Bank building decisions to Bezalel Smotrich, the extremist who is the finance minister. Smotrich has said he wants to limit Palestinian building and expand settlement building.
Kan reported that the dead terrorist was a resident of a village, Urif, close to Huwara, the Palestinian town where terrorists killed two Israeli brothers driving through in February. Settlers retaliated by raiding the village and burning cars and buildings.
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