Written and Produced by Betty Astrizky, Corresponding Secretary
National Conference of Shomrim Societies
HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR 2019
FROM THE BOARD OF NATIONAL SHOMRIM!
Countdown to our convention!!! In less than one month Shomrim chapters and members, our National Shomrim associate members, families and friends will meet up for what we expect to be another fantastic convention. Our group will be converging on the cruise ship Celebrity Silhouette beginning February 1, 2019 for 9 days of activities, lectures, private parties and Shabbat services. We have a great lineup of speakers and there is nothing better than conducting our National Shomrim business in the warm Caribbean sun. There have been some last minute reservations by a few Shomrim members so, while there is no guarantee, our official National Shomrim Cruise Coordinator, Tony Lostumbo, will try to find space for anyone that wants to join us at the eleventh hour. Please contact him directly at cruiseexpo@gmail.com or call him at (954) 384-7245.
As outlined in the previous newsletter, the current slate of officers for the National Shomrim Board have all expressed a desire to continue in their positions for another year. There will be a meeting at the convention to vote on these candidates, and if anyone would like to present their credentials for any of these positions either prior to or at the convention, please notify the Corresponding Secretary in writing ASAP to BAstrizky@aol.com. The current office holders up for reelection are:
President – Scot Pomerantz (Port Authority Shomrim Society)
Executive Vice President. – David Rosenzweig (FDNY Ner Tamid Society)
First Vice President – Ari Bleifeld (Shomrim of Georgia)
Second Vice President – Jason Kalan (Shomrim of Northern California)
Treasurer – Marty Turetzky (NYPD Shomrim Society)
Recording Secretary – Murray Ellman (NYPD Shomrim Society)
Corresponding Secretary. – Betty Astrizky (Port Authority Shomrim Society)
Sergeant-at-Arms – Henri Portner (Port Authority Shomrim Society)
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms – Jeff Grossman (Associate Member)
Marshall – David Appel (Shomrim of Illinois)
Once again, chapters who have not paid their 2018 dues will not be permitted to vote at the convention on the candidates or any other National Shomrim business. Chapters who are unsure if you are paid up for 2018 should contact National Shomrim Treasurer Marty Turetzky ASAP at rmturetzky@aol.com. Shomrim chapters – if your chapter president is not attending the convention you must advise who will be representing and voting at the meetings. Please email the Corresponding Secretary at BAstrizky@aol.com with this information so we can be sure to have proper representation.
CHAPTER NEWS AND INFORMATION
The Chanukah Menorah Lighting held by the NYPD Shomrim on Monday, December 3rd was especially poignant, as they welcomed David Shifren, a member of the Pittsburgh Police Dept., to their celebration. Dave was a responder to the Tree of Life shooting and was understandably reluctant to discuss what he saw and experienced. Nevertheless, he was given a warm and classic Shomrim welcome and we hope that he joins National Shomrim soon as an associate member.
It was great to see National Shomrim Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Jeff Grossman at the Port Authority Shomrim Society Menorah Lighting at the Oculus in the WTC. Jeff flew in from San Antonio and, in addition to visiting family and friends, gets his fill of real NY pizza when he comes back home.
Shomrim of Maryland Chaplain Rabbi Chesky Tennenbaum invites all to a Monthly Shabbat Service and Kiddush, beginning this Shabbat, January 5, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., at the JUSA Center, 2316 Sugarcone Road. Rabbi Tennenbaum plans on having this special service the first Shabbat of each month service and is open to all Shomrim members. If you are visiting Maryland and would like to attend the service, which will be spiritually uplifting and followed by a traditional Kiddush, please contact Rabbi Tennenbaum at rabbict@jewishusamd.org or call (301) 541-8770.
On Tuesdaym January 8th, Shomrim of Illinois will be having a membership meeting at the Bernard Horwich JCC, 3003 W. Touhy Avenue in Chicago. There’s plenty of free parking and light refreshments will be served. Please contact Bruce Rottner at bruce3431@aol.com if you’d like to attend.
Nassau Shomrim invites all to attend a retirement dinner for past National Shomrim President and past Nassau Shomrim President Gary Shapiro on Wednesday, January 16, 2019, at the Chateau Briand, 440 Old County Road, Carle Place, NY. The reception and cocktails begin at 6:00 p.m. and dinner follows at 7:00 p.m. The cost is $75.00 per person and must be made in advance, payable to Community Affairs Sunshine Fund. Sorry, no tickets will be sold at the door. Please RSVP by January 4, 2019, to LEsqierdo@pdcn.org, or contact Nassau Shomrim directly at NassauShomrim@gmail.com.
FDNY Ner Tamid will have a membership meeting on Wednesday, February 6, 2019, time and place to be determined. FDNY Commissioner Nigro will be there to speak about matters relevant to the fire service. If you would like to attend please email them directly at fdnyertamid@gmail.com.
NYPD Shomrim is planning their annual dinner dance for Thursday, March 28, 2019, at Da Mikele Illago in Queens, NY. Once details, including time and prices, are finalized information will be sent out. The incoming National Shomrim Board and the NYPD Shomrim Board will be sworn in at this elegant evening.
The NYPD Shomrim Trip to Israel is filling up fast! From April 1 to 11, 2019, the organization will have an organized tour, including most meals and experiences exclusive to Shomrim. Please contact the following Shomrim members for details: in Chicago – Elliot Cohen (847) 778-7272; in New York – Sam Miller (347) 723-6708, or Joe Cohen (914) 316-6279. You can also email the tour organizer, Aviatours, at david@aviatour.net for prices and requirements.
Nassau Shomrim asks everyone to save the date for their upcoming breakfast, scheduled for May 5, 2019. All the information will be in a future newsletter.
Congratulations to Tamara Margolis as she assumes the leadership of Shomrim of Illinois. Tamara has an impressive resume. Currently at Lieutenant in the 2nd District, 3rd Watch, she joined the Chicago Police Dept. after graduating from Michigan State University with a dual major – Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (with honors and with a specialization in Law Enforcement and Administration) and a Bachelor of Arts in German. Raised in Chambersburg, PA and Red Wing, MN, she is the first police officer in her family. Working her way up the ranks, and with 20 years of experience, including 14 years as a supervisor, Tamara served in various capacities in Shomrim of Illinois and will be sworn in as President, along with the incoming Board, on Sunday, January 20, 2019, at the Slice of Life Restaurant, 4120 W. Dempster Street, Skokie, IL, beginning at 11:00 a.m. The cost is $10.00 per person and if you would like to attend please contact Bruce Rottner at bruce3431@aol.com. We look forward to welcoming Tamara at upcoming events and wish her much success as she takes on the leadership of Shomrim of Illinois!
MEMBER NEWS
Cleveland Police Officer and National Shomrim Associate Member Brian Fixler, the son of former Shomrim of Ohio President Gene Fixler, helped to make the holidays extra festive when he participated in a holiday singalong with the members of the Cleveland Police Dept. Brian, who is assigned to the 5th District, can be seen in a video posted on Youtube. Just google “Cleveland Police Holiday Video 2018,” and you’ll see Brian right at the beginning of the video and at the end of the video. He’s the one with the menorah!
Welcome to our newest associate member, Scott Frager, a member of the Leawood, Kansas, Police Dept. Scott and another recent addition to our National Shomrim Associate Membership, Rich Cutler, of the Overland Park (Kansas) Police Dept., were featured in an article in a Jewish publication in the midwest. There’s a very interesting article attached about these two guys. Scott and Rich, we hope we can meet you at an upcoming National Shomrim event, or any of our chapter events. Maybe you’ll march up Fifth Avenue with us in the Celebrate Israel Parade on Sunday, June 2, 2019. We’ll give details about this amazing experience in a future newsletter.
We also welcome Bruce Jainchill as an associate member too! Bruce is retired from Essex County, NJ, where he served as a deputy constable. He currently has a private investigation business. Come join us at our events, Bruce! You’ll have a great time!
OOPS! In the last newsletter Shomrim of Maryland President Jeremy Silbert’s blushing bride was incorrectly identified. The lovely Mrs. Silbert’s name is Jill.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES!
The Suffolk County (NY) Police Dept. will be holding an exam for police officers on June 15, 2019. The last day to file for the exam in April 3, 2019. Please check their website, suffolk pd.org, for information on how to apply as well as salary and benefits.
The Florida Highway Patrol is hiring state troopers. Please check their website, www.beatrooper.com, for details on how to apply.
We always get questions about National Shomrim and our chapters from Jewish members in law enforcement, the fire service or in civil service that we meet at events or just in the course of our every day activities. It’s always great to meet them and explain the many benefits of being a Shomrim member. However, we sometimes get one person who asks, “what’s in it for me?” That’s a hard question to answer, because everyone has different needs and requirements. The one thing that everyone can get out of Shomrim membership, whether it’s in a chapter or as an Associate Member, is the knowledge that there are people exactly like you and understand our experiences, our successes, our common struggles and the moments that make us Jewish and public servants. Additionally, many of our chapters, as well as National Shomrim, are registered 501 (3)(c) charities, so your dues go towards mitzvah based events. To borrow the sentiment from Nassau Shomrim – this is your Society! Participate! Get Involved! Be informed! There’s strength in numbers. And please, if you meet a Jewish police officer, fire fighter, or any Jewish member in public service that never heard of National Shomrim, get their contact information so we can reach out and welcome them to a great organization!
As we begin the new year, please remember to pay your National Shomrim chapter dues and your National Shomrim Associate Member dues. All checks should be made out to National Conference of Shomrim Societies and mailed to our Treasurer Marty Turetzky at 264 East Broadway, C1905, New York, NY, 10002. Don’t let your membership lapse!