Back Row L-R: Roberto Estrugo, unknown, Amir Matityahu, Itzhak Nidam, Brian Kagan, Robert Chera, Abe Dwek, Arthur Braslow, Lily Zach, Mrs. Manasseh. Front Row, Seated L-R: Rafael Abada, Hakham and Rabbanith Menashe, Deborah Estrugo, Marilyn Abada. Not pictured, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Sassoon and Mrs. Bertha Sofair.
The Scarsdale Sephardic community’s effort to strengthen its knowledge and observance of Torah has begun.
The members of the Sephardic Minyan of the Young Israel of Scarsdale have begun to study with Hakham Ya’aqob Menashe, of Midrash Ben Ish Hai, on a weekly basis.
The majority of sessions were held at the home of Ralph and Marilyn Abada as well as Mr. And Mrs. Itzhak Nidam, both of Scarsdale. The laws of tefillah and the reading of Torah were the main items on the agenda but included many areas of interest to the members.
The community’s excitement is evident with a strong turnout from the membership for which we are all grateful. Discussions have already begun to commence training three bar miswahs due within the next year and a half. The community is eagerly waiting to hear the children reading according to the traditions of their forefathers under the guidance of Midrash Ben Ish Hai.
The effects of the visits have already been felt during the Shabbath services. The community feels blessed by these events and hopes that we merit the blessing of being allowed to keep the traditions of our forefathers.
Congratulations to: the Aboudi and Ibraghimov families on the marriage of Nalini and Reuben. Hakham & Mrs. Y. Hillel on the marriage of their son. Mr. & Mrs. Hanry Akhavan on the occasion of their marriage. Robert & Bianca Aizer on the arrival of their son Noah. Mr. & Mrs. Ariel Yakubov on the birth of their daughter. Oliver & Nora Iny on Aaron’s Bar-Miswah. Dr. & Dr. Shaoul Debi on Eytan’s Bar Miswah. Our heartfelt condolences: to the Abda family on the loss of Samir. The Shohet family on the loss of Lily Shohet and the Heardoon family on the loss of their mother.
If you would like a letter to be considered for publication, please address it to: Newsletter, Midrash BEN ISH HAI, P.O.Box 221033, Great Neck, NY 11022, or submit it by e-mail to: newsletter@midrash.org. We reserve the right to make editorial changes. We regret that submitted material can not be returned.
A couple of years ago, a good friend of mine gave me a tape of the Selihoth at Midrash BEN ISH HAI. I was immediately taken by the beautiful tape that has come to inspire me during the month of Elul and throughout the entire year.
I recently met up with this old friend, and she gave me a gift of another beautiful tape: Simhoo Na.
I would like to thank you for producing the tapes. I would also like to be included on your mailing list so that I can purchase more tapes—they make great gifts—and learn more about the Midrash.
Miss C.M. , Milwaukee, WI. (Via e-mail)
Thank you for the Newsletter of Midrash BEN ISH HAI. Your report on the Farhud is informative and describes well those sad days of June 1 & 2, ‘41 in Baghdad. ...Prof. Shemuel Moreh of the Hebrew University in Los Angeles gave a lecture on this subject on May 31, ‘87...I summarized this lecture and added the following notes suggesting why the Jews did not defend themselves:
1. The Iraqi Jews were not organized defensively. They were not trained to stand up, resist and fight back.
2. They did not possess arms.
3. Being a small minority who had to learn to survive amid hatred and antagonism, the Jews were brought up with a complex that during a hostility they learn to escape and not to fight back. This complex gave them ...passive attitude not to react when confronted by a danger from the Moslem populace.
4. Jews were considered by the Moslem people as second class citizens, as non-moslems are called infidels by the Arabs. Thus, the Jews lived for a long time under constant oppression and discrimination.
5. The attack of the Farhud was made by well trained soldiers and Arab youths, and well organised by Nazi elements and Nationalistic leaders in a society antagonistic to the Jews.
6. The houses in Baghdad were built next door to each other with a roof used as a sleeping area in the hot summers. Thus the attackers easily jumped from roof to roof rather than waste time demolishing the front doors.
Victor Ozair, Encino, California.