Written and Produced by Betty Astrizky, Corresponding Secretary
All chapter presidents or their representatives and all National Shomrim board members are requested to attend, as we need a quorum for an official meeting. Associate members are invited to attend as well and we welcome your input to help us coordinate the activities of the organization. This meeting will take place immediately after the NYPD Shomrim Breakfast (see below under Chapter Information). Please submit items you wish to be discussed and placed on the agenda to the Corresponding Secretary. There will also be discussion on elections for the next National Shomrim board, so if you are interested and would like to serve, please submit your name for consideration. There is currently one vacancy, the position of Mid-Atlantic Region Vice President, which was held by Bob Clearfield, of blessed memory, up until his death in September. That position is voted upon by the chapters in that region.
Any chapter that has not paid its 2018 National Shomrim dues will not be able to vote on any upcoming matters at this meeting, so please make sure your chapter is up to date. 2019 dues are also coming up, so please send them in as well. If you are unsure if your chapter is paid up for 2018 please contact the National Shomrim Treasurer Marty Turetzky at rmturetzky@aol.com.
Our National Shomrim convention coordinators are beginning to finalize plans for the upcoming convention in February 2019 on board the Celebrity Silhouette cruise ship. If you haven’t made your plans yet to join us, please contact our official National Shomrim cruise coordinator, Tony Lostumbo, at cruiseexpo@gmail.com. Although the date has passed for final payment and the guaranteed price for our members is no longer valid, anyone interested in attending can still book a cabin at the price Celebrity is advertising. Please be aware, however, that if you book your cruise independently you will be charged a registration fee to attend National Shomrim events. Tony has set up private events that are exclusive to National Shomrim so if you want to join us please go thru our official cruise planner directly.
We are also looking for speakers who would be willing to give a short lecture on a topic of interest to our members who will be attending the convention. Topics could include health, history, law, current events, Judaism, Israel, anything relevant to our group and our mission. We already have one great speaker lined up and are hoping several of our attendees will step up to talk about any topic that our group would be interested in learning about. If you have a subject that you think might be interesting, please email our cruise coordinator Marty Turetzky at rmturetzky@aol.com, and let him know that you’d like to share your expertise at the upcoming convention.
CHAPTER NEWS AND INFORMATION
On Thursday, October 25, 2018, the members of Nassau Shomrim and the Nassau County Police Dept. will be honoring past National Shomrim President and past Nassau Shomrim President, Inspector Gary Shapiro, as he retires after 32 years of service. The Ceremonial Walkout will take place at 12:00 noon at the 1st Precinct, 900 Merrick Road, Baldwin, NY, and a celebration will be held at 6:00 p.m. at The Green Turtle Restaurant, 1740 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY. For additional information and to attend the ceremonial walkout and the party please email nassaushomrim@gmail.com.
The NYPD Shomrim Society will be holding its 94th Annual Lou Weiser Memorial Service, Scholarship and Awards Breakfast on Sunday, October 28, 2018, at 8:15 a.m. at Congregation Emanu-El, Fifth Avenue and 65th Street, New York City. Tickets are $35.00 in advance, $40.00 at the door. Please contact breakfast chairpersons Murray Ellman at (718) 543-4825 or Marty Turetzky at (917) 774-7809 for reservations. As mentioned above, there will be a National Shomrim meeting immediately after the breakfast, so chapter presidents or their designees, and associate members, are asked to remain after this event to attend the meeting.
Time is running out to RSVP for two upcoming events:
* South Florida Shomrim Society’s 2018 Annual Dinner Dance will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. at the Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center, 20400 NE 30th Avenue, Aventura, Florida. Ticket information is as follows:
- Individual tickets $90.00 in advance, $100 at the door, $95.00 credit card/PayPal
- Gold: $3,600.00 includes 30 tickets, name on 3 tables, Shomrim website & events 2017/18 and slide show
- Silver: $1,800.00 includes 20 tickets, name on table, and any dinner dance advertising/publications and slide show
- Bronze: $850.00 includes 10 tickets, name on table
- White: $36.00 includes individual business card in sponsorship slide show
- Blue: $18.00 includes name in sponsorship slide show listing
All other donation amounts over $125 includes 1 ticket and name listed in the sponsorship slide show listing
Please contact South Florida Shomrim Society President Harvey Meshel at (954) 445-8143 or harvey@hsmconsulting.net to purchase tickets. South Florida Shomrim is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Additionally, tickets can be purchased on line at http://buytickets.at/southfloridashomrimsociety/205911
* Shomrim of Illinois will be holding their 2018 Award Reception at the Larry and Lillian Goodman Conference Center located at the Jewish United Fund, 30 South Wells Street, Chicago, IL. The Awards Reception will be recognizing the Jewish United Fund with its “Organization of the Year” Award, and will recognize their longtime member Charles Halpern as the “Person of the Year.” The event will take place on Thursday, November 15, 2018, and tickets are $100.00 per person. Please make checks payable to Shomrim Society of Illinois Endowment Fund, which is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization, or contact their Event Chairman, David Appel, at dapple9029@hotmail.com. You can also visit their website, shomrimillinois.org, for more information.
The Port Authority Shomrim Society’s Annual Chanukah Menorah Lighting will be held on Monday, December 3, 2018, the second night of Chanukah, at the Oculus in the World Trade Center. Food and entertainment will be provided. Details will be published in a future newsletter.
Nassau Shomrim is asking everyone to save these two dates for their upcoming events:
- Chanukah meeting and Scholarship night, Monday, December 3, 2018
- Annual Breakfast, Sunday, May 19, 2019
Shomrim of Illinois and NYPD Shomrim are in the planning stages of their annual trip to Israel. The dates are set for April 1 to 11, 2019. For details and prices please contact Elliot Cohen at (847) 778-7272, Sam Miller at (347) 723-6708, or Joe Cohen at (914) 316-6279.
NYPD Shomrim Society Chief Chaplain Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass was recently inducted into the Brooklyn Jewish Historical Society’s Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Rabbi Kass, another accolade!
NYPD Shomrim Society also remembered fallen officer Joe Galapo on the thirtieth anniversary of his passing in the line of duty on August 16.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the members of the Macabee Society and all the members of the New York City Dept. of Corrections on the recent murder of a member of their service, Jonathan Narain, who was shot and killed while on his way to work the midnight tour at Rikers Island. CO Narain was 27 years old and has a brother who is a member of the FDNY. He was also on the list to become a New York City Police Officer. A suspect was arrested and is facing charges that include second degree murder. The Corrections Officers Benevolent Association are asking that the suspect be given the harshest punishment available.
On October 3rd, the Philadelphia Police Dept., along with members of Shomrim of Philadelphia, elected officials and FOP representatives, remembered fallen officer and Shomrim member Alan H. Lewin. Officer Lewin succumbed to his injuries after being struck by a hit and run driver on April 10, 1975. He was 33 years old at the time of his death and his sons were then 7 and 9. He issued a ticket to the driver, who later followed him into a store. The driver then followed him out and ran over his leg, resulting in fatal injuries. The driver later served time for his crime. Officer Lewin served in the Army and the Navy and was a Philadelphia Police Officer for nine years at the time of his death. Now, 43 years after his death, a plaque was dedicated to this brave public servant that will stand in memorial at the Philadelphia Police Training Center. Officer Lewin’s plaque was the 120th to be dedicated by the Philadelphia Police Dept. to honor officers killed in the line of duty. May Officer Lewin’s memory be a continual blessing for his family.
Our friends in the Joods Politie Netwerk, the Jewish Police Association in the Netherlands, post on Facebook of their organization’s attempts to continually educate the greater population about the dangers of BDS and the rising antisemitism in certain parts of their country. Although their posts are generally in Dutch, if you hit Translate it will change the post to English. These are must reads to understand what is really happening in the Netherlands and in Europe in general to the long established Jewish communities.
MEMBER NEWS AND INFORMATION
Congratulations to Associate Member Marc Fleisher who recently retired, after 33 years of service, from the New York City Dept. of Probation. He was given a great sendoff by his co-workers, and among the attendees were the SPO Union Probation Association President and Board members. Marc also received a proclamation from New York State Assemblyman David Weprin, honoring him for his years of service. He was gifted a beautiful watch by his coworkers, but no setting the alarm clock anymore because everyday is Saturday and Sunday now! Mazal tov Marc!
We welcome our newest Associate Member, Curtis Posner, a retired captain from the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, Toledo, Ohio. Hope to meet you at one of our upcoming events soon!
We checked in with two Associate Members who recently battled Hurricane Florence – Leah Smith Kates, from Columbia, South Carolina, and Rebecca Smith (no relation), from Manns Harbor, North Carolina. Both members reported that they were not impacted by the hurricane. Glad that they are safe!
NYPD Shomrim member and our resident expert on terrorism, retired NYPD Detective Mordecai Dzikanzky, was featured on JBS Television on Mark Golub’s show “L’Chaim” on September 14, 2018, discussing his book, Terrorist Cop. If you haven’t read it get a copy, it’s thrilling and a great explanation of the real situation in Israel.
Shomrim of D.C. member Sheldon Levi had a whirlwind summer! After listening to his wife Deby (smart man!), they made the decision to sell their house in Virginia and move to the endless summers of Florida. They hit a few bumps along the way, however, as Sheldon had an emergency appendectomy, had basal cell carcinoma removed from his forehead, and sold, moved and closed on their new home all within a two month period! Let’s all hope that Sheldon and Deby have a nice, smooth retirement and will enjoy their new home in The Villages for many years to come in good health!
We were heartbroken to report the recent passing of our long time friend and Shomrim of Philadelphia member Bob Clearfield in September. Several National Shomrim members attended his funeral and, along with his family and many friends, paid tribute to a truly terrific guy who was taken too soon by the beast that is cancer. Shomrim of Philadephia dedicated their dinner meeting on September 16, 2018, to Bob and to past President Judith Buch, who also passed away in August from metastatic breast cancer. May their memories be for a blessing to their families, friends and all members of Shomrim.
We send condolences to past National Shomrim President and past NYPD Shomrim President Sam Miller and his wife Michelle on the passing of Michelle’s mother, Opal Lumetta. Opal was an incredible woman who started one of the first programs on Staten Island, NY, for children with developmental disabilities. She was given many tributes for her life’s work, but her greatest accomplishment were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Shomrim of Maryland regretfully announced the death of Arthur Rosen on August 21, 2018, the father of their member Jeffrey Rosen. Mr. Rosen was a paratrooper in WW II, a member of the greatest generation and died just three days before his 96th Birthday. Services were held in New York.
Job Opportunities!
- the FBI Police Bureau is hiring for their Security Division in locations including Washington, D.C., Quantico, VA, New York and Clarksburg, WV. The closing date to apply is October 18, 2018,and the test will be given on January 5, 2019. Please check the FBI website for more information, fbi.gov.
- the Cherry Hill, New Jersey Police Dept. is currently accepting applications for the position of Police Officer. Interested applicants can send their names and valid email address to CHPDjobs@cherryhillpolice.com. Applications must be received no later than January 18, 2019. You can also obtain an application in person, please call (856) 488-7822 for information.
- the Greenville-Spartanberg International Airport, located in Greer, South Carolina, is seeking an Airport Fire Chief. Candidates must be trained in Airport Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) response and have working knowledge of airport rules and regulations as outlined in FAR 139. Please visit their website, www.gspairport.com/careers, for information and how to apply.
- the Savannah (Georgia) Airport Commission is seeking an Emergency Manager that is qualified in all areas of emergency response. They are also accepting applications for Certified Public Safety Officers. Please check their website, www.savannahairport.com, for requirements for both these positions and how to apply.
- the Port of Bellingham, Washington, is seeking candidates for Airport Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) duties at its transportation facilities. Their website, www.portofbellingham.com, provides information on the position and the requirements.
Gentle reminder to all chapter presidents! Please forward the newsletter to your membership. We occasionally hear from members of different chapters who were unaware of National Shomrim and chapter activities. It’s important to have all members informed, you never know when you’ll get people inspired to participate in Shomrim! Feel free to post the newsletter on your chapter’s Facebook pages and websites.