Gural JCC hosts multigenerational pre-Rosh Hashana celebration in Cedarhurst

A multigenerational melting pot kicked off the High Holiday season with a pre-Rosh Hashana celebration at the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC in Cedarhurst.

The Sept. 19 get together had more than 100 Holocaust survivors with friends and family. They were joined by 10 members of the nonprofit organization Brothers for Life. Founded in 2007 after the second Lebanese War, when 1,244 IDF soldiers were wounded and 121 killed. It helps disabled IDF soldiers with medical, financial and psychological needs. 

Brothers for Life member and IDF soldier, Maor Elkobi, said the goal is to help disabled soldiers reach “their dream and purpose in life.” “I’m very happy and it’s very emotional for me to be here with you all right now,” Elkobi said, as he held back tears. “We appreciate our history and were aiming to continue to educate the future generation.”

Cathy Byrne, the JCC’s associate director for older adults and special needs, highlighted the event’s importance. “Healing has been a continuous process over the years,” she said, noting the Holocaust survivors’s lives. “We’re all still healing. But we are helping each other heal by being together today.”

Eighth-graders from The Brandeis School in Lawrence attended the event. State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat who represents the Five Towns, said the younger generation should take the time to chat with the Holocaust survivors and IDF soldiers. “The young people in the community should soak up every minute they can of their love, company and stories,” he said, speaking of the survivors. “I thank the JCC for continuing to honor these heroes lives.” 

There are roughly 350 Holocaust survivors involved with the JCC, case management and entitlement assistance to home visits, holiday celebrations and one-on-one counseling for the survivors. There is also a second-generation Holocaust group for the children of those survivors.

JCC’s Chief Executive Officer Aaron Rosenfeld belongs to that second-generation. Taking part, he blew the ceremonial shofar. A shofar is a horn traditionally blown every weekday morning in the month of Elul, the 12th month of the Jewish calendar.

“When I see this group, this is where I feel most at home and feel the most proud,” Rosenfeld said. “We usually blow the shofar on Rosh Hashana to awaken our souls. But another time we blow the horn is when were welcoming our heroes home.” Rosh Hashana will begin on Sept. 29 and end on Oct. 1. 

His family’s connection to the Israel Defense Forces has fostered Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence Rabbi Kenneth Hain’s appreciation of the soldiers. “As the grandfather of three grandchildren serving in the IDF, I love you and I’m proud of you,” Hain said, as he faced the soldiers. “It’s because of your efforts that we as Jewish people will live on forever.”