Happy Chanuka to FHC

I have not posted in quite some time due to technical difficulties and being overwhelmed with things on my plate.

Let me wish everyone a Happy Chanuka and a wonderful secular new year.

I am hopeful that the best is yet to come....

Shalom. Jeremy

SPECIAL PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON BLOG ENTRY

I have been asked to post some pictures of our family's special visit with President Bill Clinton. While these pictures have next to nothing to do with FHC, I do have a nexus with FHC to discuss. On July 1, 2008 our family met President Bill Clinton at his office in Harlem which fulfilled Noah's make a wish request to the Make a Wish Foundation. At the meeting we brought to President Clinton some presents. My lovely wife brought President Clinton baseball caps for the TS Alliance (which is the organization doing research to cure Noah's disease), and a baseball cap from the Make a Wish Foundation. Our family also brought him a personalized Buffalo Bills cap.

Having read several books about President Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton, I was aware of their affinity for Eleanor Roosevelt. As some of you may be aware, back in the 1950's Eleanor Roosevelt spoke at FHC downtown and gave a private speech/lecture about world affairs at that time. Someone with great foresight recorded her speech and during our recent cleanup of FHC, several copies of the recorded speech were found. I made President Clinton and Senator Clinton a copy and at our meeting told President Clinton about FHC and that special private speech given by Eleanor Roosevelt. As Masoud was able to get the FHC Uptown 1957 event on You Tube, I would like to be able to get the Eleanor Roosevelt speech accessible to FHC. If anyone has any ideas (possibly a You Tube audio posting with pictures of Eleanor Rooevelt) let me know.

If anyone knows the date and/or year the speech was made, let me know. If anyone knows who recorded the speech let me know.

Anyway, the visit with President Clinton was, as Mastercard would say, "Priceless".

Shalom to all and have a great July 4th Weekend. Jeremy

6-1-08 BBQ

Table tennis is coming to FHC (looks like a half court game is already in the works)
Our beautiful display case (sorry for the "sideways" appearance.... I guess a glass of wine would do now...
the front check in for our very successful penny social
just some of the people who enjoyed the penny social

A FHC press release sent last week regarding antisemitism at Mohegan Park Jewish Center

First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill stands in solidarity with the members of The Mohegan Park Jewish Center in Lake Mohegan as well as sympathetic Christians, Jews, Muslims and individuals of all races, religions and nationalities who abhor racism, discrimination, anti-Semitism, bias crimes and violence in our country.

First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill firmly supports the rights of all individuals to worship in peace without fear of harm and the desecration of their respective houses of worship. It is a sad commentary that racism continually rears its ugly head. As fellow Jews in Northern Westchester we denounce all acts of anti-Semitism as well as bias crimes against all people.

Let us work and stand together as a unified voice for all people who believe in religious freedom and the right as American citizens to pray and worship in peace without fear from elements of society that disrespect this truly American ideal. First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill calls upon all religious organizations in our community to voice their opposition to such insidious conduct and to call for our elected officials and law enforcement to work together to fight this criminal and un-American blight in our community.

Jeremy Krantz, President
First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill

Blood Drive a huge success

The New York Blood Center has thanked First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill for sponsoring a successful blood drive. Hudson Valley Blood Services advised FHC that it was grateful for the opportunity to have worked with First Hebrew to produce over 40 pints of blood, which have since been separated into their components and distributed to patients in hospitals throughout the area.

"It is from the community efforts and commitment of our friends and neighbors that enable us to meet the daily demand for blood products. There is no substitute for caring people who take the time to donate blood so that others may live. First Hebrew has greatly helped toward this goal."

On behalf of FHC, thanks to all who worked and donated blood for this event.... Shalom Jeremy

megillah reading pictures 3-20-08 FHC