Debbie and Howard Jonas. |
SHALVA
Gotham
Party People Help
The
Disabled of Jerusalem
Story and Photos by Tim Boxer
 VERYONE,
it seemed, had reason to be proud at the annual dinner for Shalva, a
home for children with disabilities in Jerusalem and its satellite
facility in Gush Etzion. Founding/director Kalman Samuels,
elated at the record attendance of 450 supporters at New York’s
Pierre Hotel, honored Debbie and Howard Jonas of
Riverdale, NY.
Jonas is the founder and chairman of IDT, a
pioneering provider of low-cost long distance service.
In addition there was Sharon Koppel
representing the New York Police Department for a special tribute.
Deputy Commissioner
Stephen Hammerman and
Police
Officer Sharon Koppel. |
She’s been a cop for 11 years, following in
her dad’s footsteps, the late Capt. Stanley Stone.
Her husband Michael is an Emergency Medical Service
supervisor at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
Koppel is raising her seven-year-old niece, Amber
Stone, who is developmentally challenged. The child’s parents
are both deceased.
Stephen Hammerman was proud to make the
presentation to Koppel on behalf of Shalva. He is the newly
appointed Deputy Police Commissioner for legal affairs. His
son-in-law is a police lieutenant.
“To be a police officer in New York,”
Hammerman told me, “takes unusual courage. Since 9/11, the police
have an added responsibility of anti-terrorism.”
To take on his new post, Hammerman retired as
vice chairman of Merrill Lynch after 35 years. “They’re still
making retirement parties for me,” he chuckled.
Then there’s Esther Wachsman.
Shalva’s Jerusalem center is named Beit Nachshon, in memory of her
son. The world will never forget what happened to him.
Rabbi Haskell Lookstein and
Uncle Sam. |
Nachshon was a 19-year-old member of the
elite Golani Brigade when Hamas terrorists took him hostage and
murdered him in cold blood.
His brother Raphael has Down’s
syndrome, and Nachshon spent endless hours shepherding him to Shalva
for therapy and recreation.
Event coordinator Renee Erreich proudly
produced a patriotic party pattern. The kosher food stations
represented various culinary parts of the country: Tex Mex,
Louisiana Cajun, Chicago meat market (deli) and New England seafood
(Boston scrod, poached salmon).
The center pieces reflected the flags and
products of the various states: New York grapes, Montana log wagon,
Pennsylvania Hershey bars, Vermont maple syrup, Indiana model racing
cars, and the like. The kids took them home.
Statue of Liberty – live!
|
Uncle Sam on stilts and a live Statue of
Liberty also delighted the younger set.
This being Shalva’s 12th
anniversary, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, last year’s honoree,
recognized three bat mitzvah girls for community service: Pasha
Gol, Rebecca Krevat and Sheva Odzer.
Grandma Frieda Odzer beamed with pride.
“Grandchildren is my reward for not killing my children when they
deserved it.”
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