WISHING ALL OUR MEMBERS,THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SWEET NEW YEAR 5785, AN EASY FAST AND THE FULFILLMENT OF OUR PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN ISRAEL.
L’SHANA TOVAH U’METUKAH
NATIONAL SHOMRIM NEWS
Another summer has come and gone and we hope everyone enjoyed themselves, even on the days with liquid sunshine. National Shomim and our chapters are getting back to business and we’ve got lots to talk about.
The deadline is quickly approaching to make a reservation for the National Shomrim 2025 Convention at Sea. October 1, 2024 is when all payments are due. Do not hesitate to join us at one of our most popular events of the year. National Shomrim will be sailing on the beautiful Celebrity Ascent on Sunday, January 12, 2025, from Ft. Lauderdale to the beautiful Caribbean islands of Nassau, Jamaica and Grand Cayman. We are planning several incredible events for our group that will be different from previous conventions. As in past conventions, we’re looking for speakers to talk about a topic of interest to our attendees – health, criminal justice, history – any topic that can be interesting, informative and fun. Please contact the Convention Coordinators Marty Turetzky at rmturetzky@aol.com or Betty Astrizky at BAstrizky@aol.com to put yourself into the schedule. And please make your reservation to join us at our Convention at Sea. Contact our official National Shomrim Cruise planner Tony Lostumbo at 954.384.7245before the deadline comes and goes and you will have to pay Celebrity’s full published higher price. There’s no better way to beat the winter blues than with the beautiful blue waters of the Caribbean.
Great news! A new chapter has formed over the summer, the San Francisco Fire Ner Tamid Society. They are in the process of forming an executive board and getting members and are looking for guidance from our Shomrim chapters. They were helped by FDNY Ner Tamid, and we couldn’t be happier that we have another new chapter. We hope to welcome them to a future event.
23 years ago a horror unfolded before our eyes – our nation was attacked and 2,996 innocent people were murdered. Those people went to work, took a flight, served our country and had no idea that they were seeing their families, friends and loved ones for the last time. They included citizens from the USA and countries around the world. NYPD, FDNY, PAPD, EMTs, and other agencies lost heroes who went into the smoldering ruins at the WTC, the Pentagon and in Shanksville, PA. Many others have since been diagnosed and have died from illnesses related to the toxic air from the WTC. We are now fighting the same enemy in Israel. They want to do to the Jewish people what they did to the American people. They tried and failed the first time. They will fail again. May the memories of all the souls lost on 9/11/2001 rest in perfect peace, and may their memories be a blessing to their families, friends and all of us. Never forgive. Never forget.
CHAPTER NEWS AND EVENTS
Several chapters have been nonstop busy over the summer, so here’s a recap of their events and activities!
Nassau Shomrim members partied with their fellow fraternal organizations on Long Island on June 24th, enjoying the Nassau County Police Dept. Pipes and Drums and great dance music. Past President Gary Koffsky won a big basket of cheer and a gift card to a local restaurant.
Shomrim of Illinois had an absolutely beautiful day for their annual picnic on Sunday, July 22, 2024, at the JCC Camp Apachi in Northbrook. 200 members attended and feasted on Romanian hot dogs, burgers, corn and plenty of other treats. Some guests cooled down in the huge swimming pool and the kids had a great time in the giant police bouncy house. There were raffles and prizes and everyone had a great time. Special thanks to Shomrim of Illinois First Vice President Justin Homer and his wife Amy, a Board member, for their leadership in managing this event, as well as the many volunteers who helped out.
FDNY New Tamid has been nonstop! In July they acquired 100 sets of used but serviceable firefighting gear for Israeli firefighters. They were shipped to Israel to help out the Israel Fire Service. On July 23rd they had a visit by the Fire Chief of Jerusalem as port of the Emergency Volunteers Project (@evpisraelusa; @evp_israel). They continued that mission in August by sending more used bunker gear to Israel that will be distributed to the firefighters there. One of their members met the Fire Chief of Jerusalem while working together to extinguish fires and responding to many emergencies volunteering with the Israel Fire Service. In July, Recording Secretary Paul Demell ran into NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a great supporter of the NYPD and the FDNY as well as an outspoken champion of Israel. On August 12th, their chaplain Rabbi Joseph Potasnik spoke at the ceremony when the newest FDNY Fire Commissioner, Robert Tucker (grandson of the famous Jewish opera singer Richard Tucker) was sworn into his position. FDNY Ner Tamid held their first annual bbq at a members home, with lots of food, music, and friends.
The spring and summer editions of the Chicago Jewish Historical Society’s newspaper featured several Shomrim of Illinois members. Their editor wanted to do a series on Jewish law enforcement and reached out to their organization. The spring edition featured Elliot Cohen, Mark Buslik and founding member Sonny Lukatsky. The summer edition featured Bruce Rottner. The fall edition will feature other Shomrim of Illinois members. Google the Chicago Jewish Historical Society to read these articles.
The 99th Annual Louis Weiser Memorial Service, Scholarship and Awards Presentation will take place on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at 0800 at Congregation Emanuel, Fifth Avenue and 65th Street in New York City. Breakfast will follow after the ceremony. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. You can send a check to NYPD Shomrim, PO Box 918, Planetarium Station, NY, NY 10024, or purchase a ticket on Tickets/Sponsorship:TheTicketing.co/E/Shomrim99.
Get your tuxes ready and your dancing shoes shined because we have three dinner dances coming up in November, so plan to attend as many as you can.
- South Florida Shomrim’s 2024 Annual Dinner Dance will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at Temple Solel, 5100 Sheridan Street, Holllywood, Florida. There will be numerous honorees, including retired Miami Dade Police Assistant Director Irv Heller, who will be presented with their Lifetime Achievement Award. Over 200 guests and supporters have attended this event in the past. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $145 in advance/$155 at the door. Please email Randi Meshel at Treasurersouthfloridashomrim@gmail.com for ticket purchases.
- Shomrim of Illinois will have their Annual Reception and Dinner Dance on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Doubletree in Skokie, where they will be honoring Magen David Adom. Keynote speaker will be Alderwoman Debra Silverstein, who is the only Jewish member of the Aldermens Council in the city of Chicago. Tickets are $140 per person and includes an open bar, full kosher dinner and free parking. Please contact Shomrim of Illinois president David Appel at dapple9029@hotmail.com or Bruce Rottner at bruce.rottner@gmail.com. As Shomrim of Illinois is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization, your ticket price and any donations to their chapter are tax deductible.
- A historic milestone will be celebrated on Thursday, November 21, 2024, as NYPD Shomrim will be commemorating 100 years of the formation of their organization. This important event, the Centennial Guardians Gala: 100 Years of NYPD Shomrim Society, will be held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, Battery Park City, NYC. Please email president@nypdshomrim.org for ticket information.
All chapters are registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, so your payments and donations are tax deductible.
MEMBER NEWS
Congratulations to South Florida Shomrim Chapter President and Treasurer Harvey and Randi Meshel as their son Jordan was sworn in on June 26th as a Broward Country Deputy Sheriff. Stay safe Jordan! Harvey and Randi were also thrilled to announce the engagement of their daughter Alexis to Jason Kelsenheimer. All good news!
On June 30th, for the first time ever, over 350 influencers from all over the world gathered together to unite against antisemitism at the Voices for Truth Influencer Summit held in NYC. Port Authority Shomrim Sergeant-at-Arms PO Jacob Shrybman was honored to present the Combat Antisemitism Impactful Activism Award to Montana Tucker for her groundbreaking work since October 7th.
Jacob Shrybman and other members of the PA Shomrim Society also marched with the Dominican Officers Societies in the annual Dominican Day Parade in NYC.
The NYPD recently recognized a recruit at their graduation ceremony, Allan Pearlman, a trained EMT for his quick actions to treat two fellow trainees suffering serious medical episodes during training at the Academy.
Big mazal tov to NorCal Shomrim Secretary Saul Jaeger on retiring from the Mountain View Police Department after a 22 year career. Saul will be busy now, devoting his time to family, friends, Nor Cal Shomrim and apparently a new career move down the road.
Port Authority Shomrim President Deputy Inspector Scot Pomerantz graudated from the prestigious FBI National Academy on Thursday, September 12th, after a rigorous 10 week course that tested his physical capabilities and where he learned with the finest instructors in the country. The ceremony was live streamed and many of his friends watched. His wife Sharon and children Carly and Chad attended the ceremony in Arlington, Virginia.
With sadness, we said goodbye to the following individuals:
Port Authority Shomrim recently learned of the passing of longtime member Rhoda Steifel on December 5, 2023. Condolences are sent to her family.
With a heavy heart, Port Authority Shomrim Secretary Sean Pomerantz and member Erez Ojalvo mourned the death of their mother-in-law, Donna Fleishmann. The funeral took place on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.
Shomrim of Illinois was very sad to report the passing of Irma Levy, with wife of founding member and past president Leroy Levy. Irma and Leroy were married for an extraordinary 67 years and during the early years of Shomrim of Illinois, Irma was very involved in planning many events, including their dinner dance. They attended many Shomrim functions together. Shomrim of Illinois chaplain Rabbi Moshe Wolf officiated the funeral, which was held on August 28, 2024 in Skokie. Leroy is currently in Resurrection Hospital, recuperating after suffering a stroke. We wish him a complete and immediate refeuah shelemah.
With a broken heart, the family of Theodore “Ted” Newman announced his passing on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, after a brief illness. Ted is the father of past National Shomrim and Nassau Shomrim First Lady Bonnie Newman Bresalier (wife of Scott Bresalier). Ted was a retired Detective Sergeant in the Missing Persons Unit and worked on the most famous cases that gripped NYC to this day, the disappearance of Etan Patz. Ted was a veteran of the Korean War and upon his discharge joined the NYPD. He was one of the oldest living members of NYPD Shomrim, and a Life Member of their organization. Ted was laid to rest besides his late beloved wife Doris in NYPD Shomrim Field, New Montefiore Cemetery in NY.
May the Steifel, Fleishmann, Pomerantz, Ojalvo, Levy, Newman and Bresalier families no know more sorrows, and may they be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Israel.
SHOMRIM HISTORY
Appointed to the FDNY on July 1, 1942 and retired on June 14, 1963, Sid Klein was a firefighter with Engine 236. You’re probably thinking, who’s Sid Klein? Well you might not know him but you definitely know his daughter, the Grammy award winning legendary singer and songwriter Carole King (originally Klein), who currently has a show on Broadway. Sid was a founding member of Lake Waubeeka, a summer colony in Connecticut established by FDNY Ner Tamid for their members in 1951. One of the eight roads in the colony was named Carol Street, (the original spelling of her name) in honor of Sid’s daughter. Sid was at the famous Luna Park fire in Coney Island in July 1944. Carole King posted a beautiful tribute to her father on Father’s Day on her Facebook page, “the west is burning again…as a fireman’s daughter, I want to thank the firefighters, smoke jumpers, and all the men and women fighting to save people’s lives…” Sid lived til the age of 81, passing away on November 10, 1998 and is buried in the United Jewish Cemetery in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Port Authority Shomrim and the Port Authority Police Department remembered fallen member Police Officer Scott Parker, EOW 9.5.1983. PO Parker was fatally shot during an attempted carjacking in Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY. He was shot in the neck but managed to return fire, striking one of the suspects. That suspect was arrested a block away and the others were apprehended a week later. A woman and two of the male suspects were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 17 years to life in jail. The woman was paroled in 2006 and one of the males was paroled in 2010. PO Parker was 25 years old and served with the Port Authority Police for three years. He was transported to Kings County Hospital and remained on life support until his death. He was survived by his mother, wife and sister. A moment of silence was held at each Port Authority Police Command on September 5th to honor and remember PO Parker.
CHAPTER PRESIDENTS! We are still waiting for a few chapters to pay their 2024 National Shomrim dues, so please get in touch with National Shomrim Treasurer Marty Turetzky at rmturetzky@aol.com. You can send your chapter dues of $100 to him directly at 1503 S. Ocean Blvd., Unit W-4, Boca Raton, FL, 33432. Chapter members, please send your dues directly to your chapters. And we’ve said this over and over again, you need to have a social media presence. No chapter or fraternal organization sends out paper anything anymore. Everything is done via emails, Facebook, Instagram or X. You are depriving your members of learning about your chapter’s events as well as National Shomrim events. Your members should also be joining the National Shomrim Facebook page.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS! We also still have a few associate members who haven’t paid their 2024 dues. Please send them in as soon as possible to National Shomrim Treasurer Marty Turetzky, his address is in the paragraph above. Dues remain at $18 a year and we want you to attend any Shomrim events in your areas as well as all National Shomrim events. We’re waiting for the date of the 2025 Celebrate Israel Parade and as soon as we know it we’ll publish it and want all of you attending. And don’t forget, when you’re out and about, if you meet a Jewish police officer, fire fighter, EMT, court/corrections officers or anyone in the field of public service, please get their names and contact info and send it to us. We want our organization to keep growing.
As you’ve read, we welcomed a new Ner Tamid chapter in San Francisco. That’s significant because, as you might remember, we lost three chapters in the past several years. We need to restart chapters in Southern California, Massachusetts and Maryland and are counting on our current chapters and associate members to organize and assist the local Jewish officers and firefighters and others to form new chapters. This is not the time to let Shomrim fade away. We need to show the haters in our country that we are here, we’re not going away and that we’re standing strong against their death chants and violence.
Don’t forget that there’s always a Coffee with a Cop event or something similar in cities and communities across the country. Members should try to attend them to look out for Jewish members of these departments, especially since they might be the lone officer in that department. We want them to know there’s an organization that is just for them, aligned with their values and beliefs.