SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

Kings Bay Y teens light candles in honor of the Holocaust’s victims. (Photo by Erica Sherman)

Approximately 100 community leaders, clergy, neighbors and Holocaust survivors gathered on Sunday, April 14, for the Annual Holocaust Commemoration Program held at the Kings Bay YM-YWHA, located at 3495 Nostrand Avenue.

The annual event, which organizers describe as “solemn yet uplifting,” honors the memory of the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust and to rally around the notion of “Never Again.”

Rabbi Melvin I. Burg of the Ocean Avenue Jewish Center led a touching presentation recognizing Jewish heroes from the tragic event. The event also included a candle-lighting ceremony and special performances by the Kings Bay Y Tween Knafayim and the Madison Jewish Center Junior Choir.

View photos from the touching event.

If you are a business owner or homeowner still struggling to get back on your feet after Superstorm Sandy, there is help available to you to ease the recovery process.

Asian Americans for Equality and the Kings Bay YM-YWHA will present a “Post-Sandy Recovery Resource Seminar” for business and homeowners, April 18, 7:00 p.m. at the Kings Bay Y’s Sheepshead Bay location, 2801 Emmons Avenue.

The seminar — sponsored by the Brooklyn Community Foundation — will address such topics as emergency repair loans for homeowners, financial assistance for small businesses, rehab cost consultation and how to qualify for a post-Sandy recovery grant of up to $15,000.

The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

To learn more, call (718) 648-7703 extension 239 or email info@kingsbayy.org.

Jewish and Turkish-Muslim teenagers come together to share experiences through the Peace Builders program. (Source: youngpeacebuilders.org)

In New York, people of all races, religions and opinions are crammed together in a vibrant democracy that has forged a unique situation never seen before in world history. Still, even in a place as diverse as New York, we can still find ourselves divided by color, ethnicity or religious beliefs, a painful reinforcement of centuries old barriers of intolerance. That’s what makes the Young Peace Builders (YPB) of Southern Brooklyn so special. The Young Peace Builders is an organization that consists of teenage Muslims and Jews working together to improve their community.

The Young Peace Builders program was launched three years ago as a cooperative effort by the Kings Bay Y (3495 Nostrand Avenue), a Jewish Community Center, and the Amity School (3867 Shore Parkway), a K-12 school that predominantly serves a Turkish-Muslim student body. The program, recently covered by the Jewish Week, so far for girls only, primarily serves as a symbol for an increased linking between Muslim and Jewish groups in the area as well as a training ground for future leaders in the area of interfaith cooperation.

“This can serve as a template for Jewish-Muslim relationships,” said Leonard Petlakh, executive director of the Kings Bay Y. Rabbi Robert Kaplan, who coordinates the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York City’s outreach to various religious and ethnic groups, calls the Y and Amity School “mainstream organizations … within their [respective] communities,” with the ability to influence their own communities. “There is no reason there should not be more and more” Jewish-Muslim programs like those in southern Brooklyn.

The Jewish Week also described how a large amount of credit for the group’s existence belongs to Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz:

The two religious groups, who were neighbors but virtual strangers to each other, were brought together by State Assembly member Steven Cymbrowitz, whose district includes Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach and part of Brighton Beach; his constituents are Jews and Turkish Muslims. After participating in a legislators’ mission to Turkey a few years ago, he brought leaders of his neighborhood’s Jewish and Turkish communities together.

“It’s through education that we can get to understand each other,” Cymbrowitz told The Jewish Week.

Through the YPB, Jewish and Muslim teens have gone on trips to Israel, Turkey, Boston and Washington DC. On these trips, the teenagers have shared hotel rooms, prepared each other’s meals and celebrated religious holidays together. Teenager Hayrunnisa Kalac expressed the hope that the founders of the program hoped to instill in all its participants.

“We’re planting the seeds of something that can be very big” — an example of tolerance, Kalac told the Jewish Week.

Inspiring stuff and a great read. Check out the full article by clicking here and read more about the Young Peace Builders and their mission by clicking here.

Correction (1:47 p.m.): The original version of this article erroneously referred to the name of the organization as Young Peace Keepers instead of their actual name, Young Peace Builders. We regret the mistake, and any confusion it may have caused.

Photo by Joe Comperiati

 Nearly 2,000 kids and their caretakers swarmed the Kings Bay YM-YWHA (3495 Nostrand Avenue) on Sunday, celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim with costumes and other revelry.

According to the organizers, the annual Purim Carnival is the largest Purim celebration in the area, and this year’s appeared to have an even better turnout that years prior.

Kids of all ages gathered to sing, dance and celebrate the holiday, which commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the ancient Persian empire. To kids, it’s primarily known as “Jewish Halloween,” when revelers of all ages don masks and costumes, attend parties, and treat themselves to sweets.

The party also featured rides, sand art, face painting and Purim-themed arts and crafts, pairs with free hamentashen cookies and entertainment. It was attended by Manhattan borough president and candidate for the comptroller’s office, Scott Stringer, along with Assemblyman Alan Maisel and Councilman Lew Fidler.

Check out the photos after the jump.

The Megillat (scroll of) Esther, which is read aloud every Purim. Source: Wikipedia

This weekend, our area will play host to two Purim celebrations for the entire community. Purim, oftentimes (and erroneously) referred to as the “Jewish Halloween,” tells the story of Esther, the Jewish Queen of Persian, who heroically foiled the plans of the wicked royal henchman, Haman — after whom the delicious hamantashen cookie is named — to murder all of the Jews of ancient Persia.

Congregation Israel of Kings Bay

Congregation Israel of Kings Bay invites area residents to hear a reading of Megillat Esther — the biblical “Book of Esther” (also known as “The Megillah,” the Hebrew word for scroll, upon which the Megillah is printed), immediately following Shabbat on Saturday night, February 23 at 6:45 p.m. (Shabbat ends at 6:20 p.m.)

Following the Megillah reading, there will be a Purim costume party for all ages at 7:30 p.m. There will be Hamantashen, groggers (noise-makers), Purim bags, prizes, a raffle and more. The following morning, on Purim Day, February 24, there will be a second Megillah reading at the synagogue at 8:30 a.m.

Congregation Israel of Kings Bay is located at 3903 Nostrand Avenue on the corner of Voorhies Avenue. For more information, call the synagogue at (718) 934-5176 or email Rabbi Winner at rabbiyw@yahoo.com.

The Kings Bay YM-YWHA

The Kings Bay YM-YWHA invites the entire community to its Annual Purim Carnival on Sunday, February 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The entire day will be filled with festivities for all ages, as the community gathers to sing, dance and celebrate this joyous day.

The celebration will feature exciting activities for the entire family. Children will enjoy rides, sand art, face painting, Purim-themed arts and crafts, carnival games and a costume contest. Free hamentashen cookies and raffle prizes will be awarded.

This Purim celebration is anticipated to be the largest in Sheepshead Bay.

The Kings Bay Y is located at 3495 Nostrand Avenue between Avenues U and V. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Alina Plotkina at (718) 648-7703 extension 224, email info@kingsbayy.org or go to www.kingsbayy.org.

State legislators returned to Albany today, and Southern Brooklyn’s pols went with a message: when it comes to casinos, location matters.

Several legislators joined the newly-formed Stop the Coney Island Casino organization on Monday to say that Coney Island is off limits as a casino venue, and that any attempt to change the state constitution to expand gambling will be opposed unless it includes specific locations.

“[The proposed legislation to expand gambling] must include specifically where the casinos are being planned,” said Assemblyman William Colton during the press conference. “Then we will know whether we can support or oppose such legislation. Because if we do not include that in what is going to be passed … we will be leaving the decision of whether Coney Island gets a casino not to the people of Coney Island, and not the people of Brooklyn, but to special interests.”

The press conference at the Kings Bay Y (3495 Nostrand Avenue) was the formal debut of Stop the Coney Island Casino, and featured Assemblymembers Colton and Steven Cymbrowitz, State Senator Eric Adams, Councilman David Greenfield and 45th Assembly District Leader Ari Kagan. The bi-lingual press conference drew Russian-language media outlets and about 40 attendees from Russian-American and Russian-Jewish organizations. The organizations and elected officials said they stand united in opposing a Coney Island casino, claiming it will increase crime rates, depress the community’s economy and obliterate quality of life.

“If you want to see crime go up, if you want to see traffic go up, if you want to see small businesses go out of business, then support the casino,” said Councilman Greenfield. “But if you care about the community, join together with us and stop the Coney Island casino.”

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Source: Bryan Lee

Source: Bryan Lee

Last week we reported on Councilman Lew Fidler, the 41st Assembly Democrats, and Toy Drive founder Bryan Lee’s 12th annual ‘Toys For Tots’ toy drive. The annual drive is holding satellite drives all month long, and the Teen-Driven Toy Drive Kick-Off held last week set a wonderful example as teens from all different cultural backgrounds banded together for a good cause.

The Teen-Driven Toy Drive Kick-Off was held at the Kings Bay Y last week. The teens and participants are from the Kings Bay Y, Hebrew Educational Society, Turkish Cultural Center, Brooklyn Amity School, 41st Assembly District Democrats Club and Councilman Fidler’s staff, a diverse coalition representing the best of our local youth doing their part to help those in need. One such selfless volunteer is Kings Bay Y teen Paula (pictured above), who was participating for the first time this year.

The toy drive is still currently accepting donations, and if you wish to give in person, you can bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Toys for Tots box at the Y, located at 3495 Nostrand Ave, or by bringing it to the Grand Finale Party at the Democrats Club at 2952 Ave. R, on Thursday night, December 20 between 7 and 9 p.m. Donations are also accepted by mailing a check payable to Community First Toy Drive- 41st A.D. Dems Club c/o Bryan Lee, Executive Director 2664 Dorothy Street Bellmore, NY 11710. You can also reach out to Toy Drive founder Bryan Lee by calling (917) 846-1944.

If you are in need of some pro-bono legal aid for issues resulting from the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, head down to the Kings Bay Y on 3495 Nostrand Avenue today between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

A team of lawyers will be on hand to answer questions and offer advice on unemployment insurance, FEMA, and repairs and any other Superstorm Sandy legal questions you could think of.

The event is being put together by the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, State Senator David Storobin, Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, and the Kings Bay Y.

Appointments can be made over the phone with Lora at (718) 648-7703, ext. 227. Walk-ins are also encouraged. Make sure to come prepared with any and all relevant documents you may have questions on as well.

The following is a press release from our friends at the Kings Bay Y:

The Kings Bay YM-YWHA will hold its annual Chanukah Extravaganza on Sunday, December 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at its main building at 3495 Nostrand Avenue (between Avenues U and V).

The celebration is always the largest Chanukah event in Sheepshead Bay and will feature a fun-filled array of activities for the entire family, in addition to a symbolic menorah-lighting ceremony.

The event is free and open to the public. Community leaders and local businesses will be participating.

This year’s celebration will recognize the commitment and dedication of the community in responding to the challenges of Hurricane Sandy – and the spirit of hope and courage that is as relevant in our lives today as it was when the Maccabees emerged victorious.

“As our community rallies to recover from the darkness that enveloped us after Hurricane Sandy, we look to the light of Chanukah as a beacon of hope in our lives,” said Leonard Petlakh, executive director of the Kings Bay Y. “Our Chanukah extravaganza is one way of spreading this light throughout the community we all share.”

2011 Chanukah Extravaganza coverage on Sheepshead Bites
2010 Chanukah Extravaganza coverage on Sheepshead Bites

City Councilman Lew Fidler. Photo by Erica Sherman

Residents in the 46^th Councilmanic District and beyond, who suffered property loss or damage from Hurricane Sandy, are invited to attend a public meeting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be participating in.

Citizens affected by the superstorm can gain more information and have their questions answered during the session organized by Councilman Fidler in cooperation with Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein and State Senator John Sampson, at the Kings Bay Y, Wednesday evening, November 14, at 7:00 p.m. The Kings Bay Y is located at 3495 Nostrand Avenue between Avenue U and Avenue V, across the street from Perry’s Diner.

Fidler stated:

“We live in a coastal area so our community was directly wounded by the recent storm. Therefore, I am absolutely dedicated to bringing in every resource possible to help our community fully heal. Since the storm, I’ve secured generators, clothing, trucks of food and needed supplies and continue to work hard to see the restoration of basic services. But information on available aid is also needed, which is why these meetings are so important.”

Another meeting, also organized by Fidler, will be held outside of our area tomorrow night, November 13 at 7:00 p.m., in cooperation with Assemblyman Alan Maisel and State Senator John Sampson at the Canarsie HES, 9502 Seaview Avenue, at the corner of East 95th Street, near St. Jude’s Church.

For additional information, contact Fidler’s office at (718) 241-9330. The councilman noted that, due to high call volume, busy signals may be encountered, but he and his staff remain available to help.