A Prayer for the New Year 5782 By Rabbi Jonathan Blake
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A Prayer for the New Year 5782 written by Rabbi Jonathan Blake of Westchester Reform Temple
The Hebrew word for Hope is tikvah.
We know it from Hatikvah,
The anthem of the Jewish State:
"Let not perish the hope of 2,000 years,
To be a free people in our land."
Tikvah is a profound and mysterious word.
It could come from the Hebrew m'kaveh,
Which means to wait.
Sometimes we just have to wait it out,
Patient and persevering until the pain passes.
Tikvah could come from the Hebrew word kav,
Which means a line,
Like you use in fishing,
Or that which connects two points.
We can't have hope without connection.
Or maybe it's a cousin of mikveh,
The immersive pool that purifies and restores,
A warm bath that, womblike, surrounds us
And out of which we are reborn to new possibilities.
Hope can definitely feel like that.
I don't know about you,
But amid all the talk of vaccines and boosters,
I've also been longing for an injection of tikvah,
A spiritual shot in the arm,
An inoculation against despair and isolation.
Rabbi Jonathan BlakeUntil some spiritual genius comes up
With a miracle cure for all that ails us,
We'll have to wait it out.
We'll have to be each other's lifelines.
We'll have to be for one another an ocean of hope and healing.
L'Shanah Tovah
Retailers Report an Uptick in Business in Scarsdale Village
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Now for some good news from Scarsdale merchants: Though the Village has lost some retailers this past year, it’s not all doom and gloom downtown. Initiatives like the construction of the outdoor dining tent, outdoor dining permits for restaurants and a lively four day Sidewalk Sale seem to be bearing fruit.
A few retailers we spoke to in the past few weeks are reporting an uptick in their businesses, due to a combination of factors including the COVID outbreak.
It seems that the closing of offices in New York City has turned residents focus to their local assets, including retailers in Scarsdale Village. Jay Rosen, owner of the Eye Gallery was pleased to report that locals are frequenting his shop. He surmises that people who formerly commuted to work and took care of business at city shops during their lunch hours, are now turning to Village retailers to fill their needs.
The shop is located directly next to the dining tent, which has increased foot traffic in the Village and the visibility of the store. People are scheduling lunches or coffees in the tent, and walking by his shop in the process.
He seemed genuinely surprised and pleased to find that the COVID outbreak had a silver lining for downtown Scarsdale.
Marcy Berman Goldstein, who heads the Scarsdale Business Alliance and is the proprietor of I Am More, a boutique in the Village, had this to say about business downtown:
“There has been a significant increase in foot traffic in the Village center since the Spring. I think the availability of vaccinations and a genuine shift in community members shopping and supporting our local merchants have been the catalyst for this shift.
After the shut down and such a long winter dealing with Covid, I Am More’s customers were very excited about spring and summer fashion and were so happy to be out and about. Merchandise sold much faster than anticipated, and this trend has continued with our new fall arrivals.
We are seeing more and more of our loyal customers, who were previously hesitant to come in resurface, as well as many new faces! In addition, our e-commerce site, which contains all of our merchandise, has also trended with increased sales locally and all over the country! “
Ken Levinsohn and Ellen Strauss, who own the children’s toy store Learning Express are also noted a shift. They said, “We are very pleased to see how the community has come out to support village businesses after what had been a disastrous year due to the pandemic. Fueled by pent up demand, hot product trends, and a renewed emphasis to shop local, we are seeing a robust and much needed recovery in our village.”
Recycle Books, Eyeglasses and Cork at the Scarsdale Recycling Center
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Not sure what to do with unwanted books, glasses and cork? The Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council has implemented three new recycling programs to recycle these items and you can bring yours to the Recycling Center at 110 Secor Road.
Book Reuse and Recycling
You can now recycle books by placing them in the book recycling bin at the Recycling Center, 110 Secor Road. The books are collected by a company that either sells, donates or recycles them. This program is a great way to get rid of unwanted hard and softcover books, especially those that are either damaged or unusable. Because books cannot be recycled with standard paper products due to the glue on the spine, the CAC is pleased to now offer this service promoting reuse and recycling.
Cork Recycling
Residents may now deposit corks into the cork recycling bin at the Recycling Center. The corks are recycled by a company that turns them into cork flooring and foot beds.
Eyeglasses Recycling
Not sure what to do with your old glasses? Deposit them in the eyeglass recycling bin at the Recycling Center. The CAC has partnered with the Lions Club in Westchester County, which collects the eyeglasses, cleans and determines their prescription strength and then distributes them to persons in need.
Reduce, reuse, and then recycle. For more information, about these programs or other recycling opportunities, please visit the Sanitation Department web page or call them at 914.722.1294.
Scarsdale Swimmers Raise Another $170,000 for Cancer Research
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As they have done for almost 20 years, a group of Scarsdale residents will be participating in Swim Across America's Long Island Sound Swim Saturday July 31 in Larchmont. Meeting and developing friendships and common bonds at the Scarsdale Town Pool during Early Bird Swim over the past 20 years, this group has raised more than $1,000,000 for cancer research and treatment. The Long Island Sound Swim features 2, 5, and 10 kilometer distances for swimmers and fundraisers of all ages and abilities. Funds raised go to research at the Swim Across America Lab at Sloan Kettering, Children's Hospital at NY Presbyterian, and to the Cancer Support Team
This year, they are swimming as Team Dase. A close friend of Team Captain Joe Kaufman, Dase Kim passed away at the age of 44 from pancreatic cancer on Sunday, May 23, 2021 after a valiant fight. Dase, a talented lawyer at KKR & Co., was a person of tremendous humanity, good humor, and kindness. He was a great colleague and a friend to many. Dase is survived by his two children (aged nine and six years old), wife, parents and brother. Already this year, Team Dase has raised more than $170,000!
Team members include Joe Kaufman, Joel Talish, Julia Talish, Abigail Talish, Eldad Blaustein, Peter Doyle, Doug Rachlin, Patrick Bates, Trisanne Berger, Diane Calderon, Josh Glantz, Noah Glantz, Julian Glantz, Robert Goodman, Carole Wolfe, Michael Zeller, Razy Hirschberg, Jeffrey Malsch, John Needham, Jeannine Palermo, Miles Rubin, Charlie Rubin, Tod Cooperman, Noonie Thomspon, Tony Sibio, Elissa Elkowitz, Jarek Szurlej, Ellie Tate, and Yossi Taubenfield.
To find out more about the event and/or show your support for cancer research, you can contribute to Team Dase or any individual on the team by clicking here:
Community Says Thanks and Goodbyes to School Board Members Fuehrer and Singer
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As the school year draws to a close, two leaders of the Board of Education completed their service. At the June 21, 2020 meeting, there were many thanks and goodbyes to Board President Pamela Fuehrer and Board Vice President Alison Singer. Here are remarks from the PT Council, the League of Women Voters, the Superintendent and the two departing Board members themselves:
Dalya Kahn, President of the Scarsdale PT Council
On behalf of PT Council, I extend a sincere thank you to all the retirees who were recognized earlier this evening. They are what make Scarsdale Schools the special place we treasure. We appreciate all the talent, time and energy they have given to the Scarsdale schools, and wish them well in their next adventures.
And to mark the final board meeting of the school year, I also wish to thank Board President Pam Fuehrer, Vice President Alison Singer, our Board liaison to the PTC, Amber Yusuf and all members of the Board of Education, Dr. Thomas Hagerman, and the entire cabinet for your dedicated service and commitment to our children’s education. The PTC looks forward to continued collaboration with you all next year.
This Board, working with the administration, has been challenged perhaps more than any other. We acknowledge the tremendous and almost impossible job you had this year, and thank you for leading us through these difficult times. You’ve had to oversee the District during a once in a lifetime pandemic, a move to remote schooling, and a racial reckoning. These were issues no Board had faced, and solutions were often not readily apparent. You all devoted enormous amounts of time, energy and care to working with the administration to arrive at the best possible outcomes. We know this hasn’t been easy. But we also know that you’ve always done what you believed was best for the District.
I have the honor tonight of also recognizing the two outgoing members of the Board of Education, Pam Fuehrer and Alison Singer, as they complete their board service.
Pam and Alison - We salute your willingness to contribute your time and expertise to our District over the past years. You are two of the hardest working volunteers in our District. We realize that Board work has often taken you away from your own families, which, during this past year, has been especially challenging, as our own kids needed us more than ever. We also recognize that the time we see you in Board meetings is just a fraction of the hours you have devoted to this District. And we know you have worked so hard because you care. You care about our children’s education, about our schools being the best they can possibly be, and about the future of the community. Both of you have worked to guarantee that Scarsdale schools maintain their standard of excellence and continue to grow and innovate towards an even brighter future.
Alison, thank you for your 3 years of service on the Board, during the last of which you led as vice president. From the start, we knew you were committed to ensuring that all our students’ needs and concerns were met and addressed. Throughout your tenure and especially this past year, we have benefited from your experience representing people with disabilities. But we also know that you have always worked hard to represent all students in our District. You have taken the time to attend workshops, research best practices, and share your knowledge with the Board. You have also listened thoughtfully at Board meetings, applied your keen intellect to the issues facing the District, and have been unafraid to state your opinion. We appreciate your service and will miss your voice.
Pam, thank you for your 6 years of service on the Board, including your year and a half as Board president. Your leadership, organization, and confidence have been great assets to our community. You have always approached your role with extraordinary grace, respect, and seriousness. Even this past year, when Board meetings were often emotional and heated and went late into the night, your consistently calm demeanor helped the Board navigate through difficult situations. We have benefited from your commitment to community engagement and your willingness to respond to virtually each and every community member who has reached out to the Board. In addition, your extensive knowledge of management has allowed this group to be productive and advance numerous goals and initiatives throughout these years. Thank you for your dedication to our children and all you have given to our District.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you for giving so selflessly of your time and working so hard to make sure our schools are the best place to learn and teach in the country.
Alissa Baum, President of the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale
The League Board wishes to thank outgoing Board of Education members, Pam Fuehrer and Alison Tepper Singer for their dedicated service to the Scarsdale School District.
Pam, you served as Board President at an extraordinarily difficult time. There was virtually no precedent for the situation you and your fellow Board members encountered this past year. Not just this year, but throughout your tenure as a school leader-- as a community volunteer and a Board member--you have enhanced the education available to our children through your focus on improving curriculum and programming and through your efforts to broaden outreach to the public. We appreciate your gentle touch and sensitivity as you discussed the issues facing the District as well as your moderate tone during public comment. You truly have been a workhorse dedicated to your role.
Alison, you have been an incredible advocate for special education and student mental health and wellbeing. Your personal and professional experience, reflected in your thoughtful questions and comments, informed Board discussion on the importance of understanding diverse student needs and ensured the inclusion of all children, no matter how they learn. Your great breadth of knowledge, from budgeting and finance to facilities and school safety, contributed to sound Board decisions. In calm as well as in fraught moments, you listened to everyone and remained fair and level-headed.
You both have demonstrated a commitment to maintain and enhance the quality of the Scarsdale school system. You both should be proud of the legacy you leave behind as Scarsdale Board of Education members. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Dr. Thomas Hagerman
When it came time for Dr. Hagerman to say goodbye to Pam and Alison he said, “This agenda item brings me no joy. Saying goodbye to two experienced board members is a profound loss for the district.” He called the duo, “thoughtful, deliberative and informed” and said both have “significant interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence” and have “been adept at building consensus and moving forward on a positive trajectory.”
He said, “Pam and Alison, you have both been exemplars of best practices. You have been committed to the growth and development of yourselves and other board members.”
Turning to Pam he said, “I have known you almost my entire time in the district. To say that we have been through a lot is an understatement. … There has been a tremendous transformation in the district over the past seven years and your leadership has been involved at every level….I will miss that connection and support. There is lore about the people who have shaped our district. Certainly Thomas Sobol, Eric Rothschild, and Judy Fox come to mind. I am certain that history will also remember you as one of those icons. You have dedicated your life to our schools and the lasting impact of your work will be your legacy.”
To Alison he said, “Your reputation preceded your seat at the board table. Your prior positions were distinguished by your deep commitment to special needs students and mental health issues… The skills you cultivated in your professional and volunteer activities translated into your leadership on the board. You have been a clear communicator, an effective problem solver and a trusted partner. Your advocacy of all children was omnipresent and you served as a reminder of our responsibilities around wellness and well-being for all families. You reminded us of the essential partnership between the Board and the staff to our district’s success. Most important, you always took the high road with honesty, integrity and humility…. The only solace is that we know you will remain connected to our work moving forward.”
“I want to thank you both for your accomplishments over the past years. What we will remember the most is the deep bonds you have formed with so many district staff members. It is these relationships that are the hallmark of a Scarsdale education and it is also those enduring relationships that will be your legacy here, so thank you.”
The Superintendent’s remarks were followed by thanks from Board members Carl Finger, Amber Yusuf and Ron Schulhof. You can watch them here.
Alison Singer said she was “Grateful to have the opportunity to serve and want to thank you and the former board member with whom I served….Pam has been an inspiring leader – you keep your cool through the most challenging situations.” She called Fuehrer, an “effective and devoted public servant,” and thanked the administration and the cabinet for their “poise, grace and compassion.” She said, “I am so grateful to all of you for your heroic efforts. I have never met a more dedicated group of educators … I am even more in awe now that I have had an inside view … I have learned so much by talking and listening to you our students and wish all of our students good health and great joy.”
Pam Fuehrer explained, “My husband grew up here and graduated in the class of 1986. He insisted we raise our children here….He was right…. The focus of everyone was the best way to use their passions to make the best impression on student lives. Our children thrive within this culture. Thanks so much to each of you for giving me this gift.”
She continued, “Alison, my latest and greatest co-chair. You brought oversight and governance into perfect focus….I will treasure this phase of my life… Serving has been an honor.
The Board will hold their reorganization meeting where they will elect new leaders on July 7, 2021 at 3:30 pm.
