Photo Opps: Challah Make, Greenacres Memories and Cub Scouts

In a spirited show of community, more than 200 Westchester residents came together at the JCC of Mid-Westchester in Scarsdale for the Great Big Challah Make, kicking off The Shabbat Project. The event took place on Thursday, October 22, 2015. The Shabbat Project is an international initiative through which Jews of all walks of life — religious, secular, and traditional; young and old; from all corners of the globe — unite to experience Shabbat.

"Today, we are 'Keeping it Together' — the tagline of the Shabbat Project — as we bake challah with thousands of Jewish people worldwide," said Nicky Ziman of Scarsdale, a native of Johannesburg, South Africa. "Connections are being made between Jewish people, not only in Westchester, but throughout the Jewish world."

Scarsdale was one of 550 cities worldwide to participate in this initiative, which was launched in South Africa in 2013 with remarkable success. Nearly 70 percent of the country's 75,000 Jews kept Shabbat in full, most for the first time in their lives.

"The JCC was privileged to host the Great Big Challah Make and to add Westchester to this unifying global movement," said Liat Altman, the JCC of Mid-Westchester's director of adult programs. "In times of global uncertainty, we must keep our focus on celebrating our communal strengths and reinforcing what inspires us as Jews."

All participants — from first-timers to experienced challah bakers — received a bowl with ingredients for the traditional Jewish bread. Live screens placed around the room displayed instructions about kneading and braiding by Rebbetzin Faygie Bienenfeld of Young Israel of Harrison, who spoke about the mystical, time-honored, and important role that challah plays in the Jewish tradition.

"There was definitely a sense of connection this morning," said Pam Goldstein, associate director of the Westchester Jewish Council. "There was a connection as we learned about our heritage, a connection to the importance of ritual, and a connection to each other. We felt we had succeeded in our goal of building bridges of all kinds."

Upon braiding their challah, a lively horah was played and participants, hand in hand, danced throughout the room.

Greenacres Centennial:

In preparation for the celebration surrounding the school's 100th anniversary, alumni of Greenacres Elementary have been invited to contribute photos, artifacts, and memories. Susan Olswang Strumer, SHS '55, shared photos and mementos with the PTA. She is pictured here with Scarsdale Superintendent Thomas Hagerman and Greenacres Principal Sharon Hill. The culmination of the yearlong celebration is the Greenacres Centennial Diamond Jubilee on November 20th at Mulino's at Lake Isle. This will be followed by a scavenger hunt for families and friends of all ages, to be held at the school on November 29th, the school's actual birthday. More information can be found at greenacrespta.com.

Cub Scouts Practice Camping:

Earlier this month (Oct. 3rd) Scarsdale Cub Scouts Pack 440 offered its members and others in the community the opportunity to learn the basics of camping. Among the activities were how to pitch a tent, cook over a fire, and what to pack when camping. The demonstration was held at Chase Park. Over the course of the year the pack will do tent camping, cabin camping, and even camping out on the Intrepid. So making sure scouts (and families) are comfortable with camping is important in a boy's journey with the pack. More information about Pack 440 can be found here.