April 2025
Benjamin Gelber
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I hope that everyone had a great and safe Purim holiday. I spent it with my daughter Bella and we hit up all the great Purim parties. She was my designated walker. We have so much nosh leftover that if anyone wants some, I will gladly share. In fact I will even throw in a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. This will surely make Mrs. Gelber, Pediatric DDS a very happy mother knowing we will be limiting the potential cavities at the Gelber residence this year.
In March, we had 2 SOLD-OUT dates for the Anne Frank house. I didn’t think we would fill up one roster let alone a second. Thank you to everyone who came out and made both of these dates successful. The Anne Frank House exhibit is in New York until end of the year. If anyone didn’t get a chance to see this amazing re-creation, I highly recommend it. For those who have been to Amsterdam, and been to the original Anne Frank House, this exhibit really shows the history from start to finish of both World War 2 and the beginning and end of the short lived life of Anne Frank, and her family. I learned so much about Anne Frank and her family, that was not taught in my history class or from touring the original Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. So it’s definitely worth the visit. Don’t miss it. See it before the exhibit leaves New York City. Special thanks to Michael Glickman for hosting us not once but twice.
April has some great events, and I am hoping to see everyone there. First, we have the Rabbi Jack M. Sable – Passover Packaging and Distribution. We need all the help that we can get. Please come out and support the society and do a great mitzvah in helping people for the Pesach holiday who could really use some help. We will need help to unload the truck Thursday afternoon April 3rd, and packaging the food Friday morning, April 4th and distributing the food Sunday morning, April 6th. The location is 477 FDR Drive in Manhattan. U.M.of Service who are attending on Sunday for the distribution, please come in dress uniform.
The private screening of the documentary “Screams Before Silence”, by Sheryl Sandberg has been postponed. A new date and location will be announced.
If anyone is interested in coming down to Washington D.C. for Police Week, National Shomrim will be hosting the Annual Kaddish Service, Tuesday, May 13th, 2025 at 0930 AM, Judiciary Square, Washington D.C.
We have a date for our annual dinner dance. Thursday May 5th, at 6 PM. Da Mikelle Palazzo. 69-02 Garfield Ave, Queens NY 11377. Tickets are $165 in advance and $175 at the door. Please get your tickets early so that we make sure that we have plenty of space and can give the caterers a proper number of guests attending. If you are part of a large number of guests who show up without advance reservations you may find yourself eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich left over from Central Booking. Please, make a reservation and attend, you’ll be glad you did.
Please join us for the annual Celebrate Israel Parade, Sunday May 18th. We will start at Temple Emanuel for early coalition. We will then march up 5th Ave. and proudly show our support for Israel. Please join us and come in dress uniform. Last year we had a good turnout for being the first parade after October 7th. Lets show everyone that we will not be silent, nor will we be scared to march and support our brothers and sisters in Israel. Lets show up in droves. Active MOS, please wear dress uniforms.
Shomrim will be doing an Israel Mission, September 9-18, 2025. The itinerary looks fabulous, and I am certain it will be a rewarding experience. If you have never been to Israel, this is the time to go and show support to our brothers and sisters who are going thru some tough times, but as always, we will be victorious by G-ds grace. Please show support and consider attending this trip if you are able to. Am Yisroel Chai!!!
If there is an event you would be interested in running for the Shomrim Society, please let me know, I would love to hear your ideas. I am always interested in new events that we can try. Getting together more often is definitely a positive direction for the society.
Please stay safe and always watch out for one another.
Fraternally,
Benjamin Gelber
President