 Proposal
Council for the Sephardic Community
Series of Letters Mailed to Our Community's Rabbis and Leaders.
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SEPHARDIC RABBIS OF MID-EASTERN ORIGIN IN THE NORTH EAST OF THE UNITED STATES.
Dear Rabbi's:
I, a citizen of the Near Eastern Sephardic Community in New York, after 30 years of sojourning here I am coming to the conclusion that we are in a real danger of fragmenting ; Contrary to the saying that we are a stronger community and in a much better position than in the past. In the past our Community was small in numbers and well served by You Our Rabbi's on a one to one basis, We all knew each other to a certain degree . That was fine then, considering the few families that comprised the community However.....Today Our Community has grown to include Syrians, Egyptians, Lebanese, Israelis, Moroccans...... The community can no longer be administrated with the same archaic foundation laid by our forefathers .Our members have multiplied to fill a small city, their daily needs are no longer achievable by the modest and antiquated infrastructure we have inherited .
Our daily communal requirements outstrips our present foundation set forth by them due to the increasing pressure exerted on us from the outside world. Our needs are considerably greater, and enormously more acute. Can we guarantee future generations an adequate Jewish life, if we keep ignoring to establish an infrastructure to lead them on ?.
Many times it happened, that some members were pressed for special needs this community could not and is not able to meet due to its lack of organization and poor planning.
What we need is a unification of all our resources under one single organization to draw plans and blue prints to better serve our community.
We are familiar with many other Countries with a large Jewish population that are very well served by a Rabbinate that provide the necessary essential Judaic services, and caring for their constituents. I bring in mind Egypt, France, England, South Africa, Italy, and many others We have no such Organization
We are a community of close to 60,000 if 1/5 of the population are children of elementary age, that means we should have 12,000 in our elementary schools, Where are they ...??? We can not account for more than 3,500 that are attending Yeshivoth.
C. What do we do for the elderly that have no one to turn to and have no finances to carry on ? Do we say they always have a kin around ?
D. What provisions do we have if a woman lost her husband and can not provide immediate help to her family? Would or Should she turn as the goyim do to illicit means to be able to provide for her family till she receives government assistance? G'D forbid !
Do we Shun away and say that we don't know? We haven't heard? Things like that don't happen by us? It is not our responsibility ?!
Therefore ,I propose to establish ,a "COUNCIL" made up of all our synagogues to serve our community by developing an infrastructure that will provide the community a continuous guidance in religious and humanitarian services
This institution would
Direct all Halachic decision
Run and manage all available schools
Provide necessary guidance to any one requiring it
Provide financial help to any one exhibiting positive hardships.
Create special funds for unforeseen emergency situation
Create specialized committees to help family matters
Keep genealogical records pertaining to our members.
· It is a well known fact since the beginning of time, We People of the Book ,have always kept records of our genealogy. In Our Torah that we cherish so dear, G'D instructed Moses to keep records of each person and of each family every time they moved from one place to the next, Every Community in the world have such records ...We Don't How can we ignore such a mitzvah ?· Our Rabbinical Council has instituted a law that we would not accept any Guerim in our Community , however how can we know; who in our own midst is, if we do not have records of each one.? I know, you will argue that you do know the families, but have you thought of future generations when our numbers will increase by ten folds, How would they know ?8 Create a political lobby to represent our community in the ever changing milieu
A political lobby of 50-60,000 with the right presentation can move mountains in this country. Some may argue that this is an enormous project requiring an immense amount of money to run such an institution. however I guarantee you that if the suggestion is for a social club moneys would be found overnight.
We have proven our abilities many times to raise funds so we can build "exceptional buildings"· We have proven our abilities to raise emergency funds for other institutions.· We have proven our abilities to forgot and ignore our very own special needs. We can't wait much longer , the longer we wait the more difficult it will be for our children and fellow brethren's in the future.In comparison to other communities ,We are lagging behind most, We did not accomplish as much as most did in the last eighty years .
We can not remain at status-quo saying that the future hold no hardships Now is the time ,to mobilize and unite. together we can make things happen. We do have the tools and know how .
Who will run the Council and their functions
From each synagogue one designated Rabbi a committee member and a laymen. which we would refer to here as the "Council". None should be a recipient of a salary or commissions from said institution.
All the Council's Rabbi's would lead the community in their religious affairs and their decisions should be held final regarding Customs and Halacha.
The Council at Large
Would direct all projects and hold all finances on escrow for the community.
The said Council at Large would charge each family and all males over Eighteen Years of age a minimal contribution every year. We pay so much for our health insurance have cars in every garage maids in our houses and splurge lavishly on vacations many times a year what's wrong with paying another $1,000 per family a year as a donation for the well being of the community and in the long run their own kids may not have to pay for schooling as much as they do now... All grooms must pay their past dues contribution before marriage
No Rabbi should assist in a matrimony that the groom did not meet his contributions.
Would instruct all participating Rabbi's in any function to collect a certain percentage of the expenses incurred by the Host, and deposit these collection in the Council's fund..
Any Rabbi that doesn't follow the Council's resolve would be put into a restricted standing Publicly, in all Synagogues and prohibited from holding any religious function
All synagogues should contribute a certain percentage of their income to the Council Funds.
All Rabbi's would contribute a certain percentage of their income in any affairs to Council Funds
All Mahasi Ha Shekel contribution would go directly to the Council funds.
At the injunction of the Council all drives would be conducted
Would create special committees to oversee all schools and make them available to any pupil of the community no matter what his/her parents financial ability
· The present system of drives for the yeshivas is a farce since it does not guarantee each child an education if his peers can not afford the staggering tuitions charged. Our schools are becoming nothing but clubs for the privileged. Would create special committees to help any one that has special needs.
To have a foresight to lay the foundation ,create and manage new projects necessary for the community's future needs.
All members of participating synagogues would be eligible for all benefits of the council , any synagogue withholding any funds its members would lose all privileges.
I ask each and everyone of You Our Rabbi's to give thought to this project, to bring pressure unto your synagogues, committee members, to UNITE in this endeavor ,so we can secure a future for our children. Our Conscience can not remain silent .Please Only You will be able to bring such a project to fruition. We look up to You for guidance and know that you wish the best for this community ,
Planting a tree is very difficult the ground may be very hard, sturdy and dry however once the seeds are placed by man The Almighty takes over and the seeds flourish into a tree that many benefit from its shades and fruits..
I am looking forward for your replies, feed back, and suggestions, on how we may be able to carry on this project. A stamped self addressed envelop is enclosed. A copy of this letter and your replies would be mailed and made available to all households in the community and through the synagogues,
I will appreciate if you post this letter in a prominent place in your synagogue so every one will be able to read it.
Desire Sakkal
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMITTEES OF THE SEPHARDIC SYNAGOGUES AND ORGANIZATIONS OF MID-EASTERN ORIGIN IN THE NORTH EAST OF THE UNITED STATES
Dear Mr. President, Committee Members
Attached please find copy of a letter sent the first week of June to our community's Rabbis. Following conversations with the Rabbis personally and over the phone each and everyone not knowing what the other said, I found the consensus most favorable by a wide margin for the establishment of a "COUNCIL" a centralized authority to run all our community's affairs.
Please note in my letter to the rabbis I should have included "Committee Members." as being the addressee also. As co-leaders of this community your constituents have given you special tasks to perform and certain functions to fulfill. The power is in your hands to change and adopt a new course that will benefit our children and grand children. Our Rabbis can not do it all. Both of you share the responsibility. No one can hide and try to find excuses, Our problems are here to confront.
For the sake of not being monotonous I would not repeat here what I detailed in the Rabbis letter. I know very well the burdens are many and difficult due to lack of time and energy. The present situation has evolved because we have no central authority that will categorize and delegate projects to special committees. Through planning and "Acting" instead of Reacting we can achieve a secure future. The rewards of centralization will be too numerous to mention here. Passivism brings anarchy, anarchy brings fragmentation and divisiveness, which in turn brings downfall. I am not trying to criticize the past but with your help We can build a new foundation to secure a future for the community and our children and grand children.
At the moment each synagogue has its own agenda being it social or communal. No communication is undertaken among them. This produces nothing more than waste of time energy, and resources. Case in point... To collect this mailing list of our synagogues and organizations I asked Shaare Zion, Ahaba ve Ahva, Bikur Holim , Magen David Yeshiva , the Center... none could provide a listing. This did not surprise me at all, it only strengthened my view clearly and unmistakably, we are really in trouble if a simple request as this could not be fulfilled. G'D forbid if it was for an emergency. We simply do not communicate
Friends, We face a critical situation, so decisive as to affect the future of our community with serious consequences if we continue to be passive. I will never forget the NY Times reporting on the distribution of condoms in the public schools, showing on the first page a large photograph showing someone from our community in a nearby high school. Was it by chance, or is it an awakening call to be on the alert and take preventive actions, for our children and grand children sake
I am presenting a solution that has been proven to perform for other communities around the world. I am not proposing anything here of my own intellect, on the contrary this concept has been around for centuries. Let us be the first in the New World to readopt our old values.
Awaiting your expeditious response, a self addressed envelope is enclosed.
If you do agree and are of the same opinion, for the sake of proceeding further It would be beneficial now to elect and appoint a member from your committee to represent your organization in an upcoming convention hopefully before ROSH HASHANAH.
Please send a list of your committee members and addresses so I may be able to mail them an invitation for our first convention. Please advise if I missed any congregation or organization in my listing.
Desire Sakkal
July 15, 1993
Dear Community Member
Knowing you as a prominent member of our community I am forwarding you copies of a proposition I mailed to our Rabbis and each committee in our community. The Rabbi's letter was mailed the last week in May. The support conveyed by the Rabbis nurtured me to mail the same to every committee and organization in our community. The committee's letter was mailed the last week of June. I am waiting for their reply.
I know you may perceive this project as being complex and difficult to attain, however; our choices are limited;
A) to continue with the status quo and risk dissemination due to lack of unity as other communities around us
B) to readopt an old proven communal model that provides all the necessary needs to the community it serves.
I would like to quote from a recent letter I have received from the National Jewish Outreach Program Organization· Consider these alarming facts. Of America's 6 million Jews· 2 million no longer identify themselves as Jews· 2 million identify themselves as Jews, but are not affiliated with any synagogue, Jewish organization or charity.· 600,000 have been lost to other religions.!· America's Jews are intermarrying at an extraordinary rate of 52%I would like to add an ever disturbing recent historical fact; what ever happened to the Jewish families that came to the Americas to escape the Spanish Inquisition? They came to find religious freedom. They found a government that advocated religious tolerance and equality in the eyes of the law. They have found freedom unattainable anywhere else in the world. Their freedom was limitless.
Consequently, They have built splendorous synagogues and grandiose buildings according to their traditions. They practiced their religion and acquired new customs from the land's inhabitant. They strived by accomplishing much of their inspiration. They found no need to reestablish what was then known as the Jewish nation; a government within a government as it was known throughout the world. They elected not to plan an infrastructure that their descendants would identify with, saying this is a new world the old values will not serve us here, and so they succumbed to their surrounding milieu and fell prey to their new acquired ideals.
Their empty buildings with all their splendor and elegance are still standing for everyone to enjoy and admire, artifacts of the New World ...Sadly to say in memorium to their legacy. According to the historians only a few ...very few families are known to exist today. They are no more as a community, they are not to be found but for a trickle of them that still remain.
Sorrowfully we are following in their footsteps, imitating them by not acknowledging the past.
If we stop and contemplate the consequences, we find we have no alternative but to implement the second option by forming a centralized authority to coordinate our community's matters.
We posses no specific immunization as some may tend to believe and say
It is not us we are different...
We have different values...
Our upbringing is not the same as the others
We are a strong community
Things like that will never happen by us
Others tend to divert their comments blaming others saying
The synagogues committees will never want to answer to another authority
Each Yeshiva has its own agenda
The Rabbis will never agree with each other
The Rabbis would not do anything to jeopardize their authority
Why should we a prominent synagogue come to the aid of another in trouble.
We do have some organizations that provide certain services
Yet others express their opinion sarcastically
It will never work
They take a vote and do not uphold to it
Look some of us don't even read English
Too much to handle
No one will want to get involved
The community is doing fine and it will continue as is
These are the corresponding words that will cast us into a vulnerable array and succumb us to the surrounding compulsions meeting the same fate as others did.
· These are the arrogant words of shortsighted fools, blinded by their material possessions and egoistic aspiration.· People that prefer to remain aloof and not be involved in any matter that will not benefit them directly and immediately· People that refuse to acknowledge their surroundings,
To that Intoxicated Chieftain, Inwardly Leader, and Tenacious Fellow, I will say
YOU noticed but YOU preferred to disregard
YOU heard but YOU did not listen attentively
YOU understood but YOU refused to concede your egoism
YOU were informed but YOU refused to acknowledge factuality
YOU were addressed but YOU hastened to dispute fallaciously
These are the ones that will awake with a turbulent event in their days and say WO! BUT...BUT .WHY? .. .HOW COME? IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED THIS WAY.
I DID. ..and ...SHE DID...WE DID......I will say what You, She and He DO?
.But THEN IS NOW !
NOW IS NOW !
and NOW is TOO LATE,
Things should have been done THEN! and THEN is none other than NOW!
Our objective is to avoid the same predicament as others have befallen them. It is not by their own choice that they have stumbled and dwindled, but UNFORTUNATELY because their LEADERS did not envision the future, refused to acknowledge that it does hold uncertainties beyond their control, and have not accommodated their communities with the required element of unity and resolve to shield and preserve their descendants, through an appreciative association
Our community is at a junction through time and place. We must always remember that history tends to repeat itself. If we consider the above statistics, we may be shocked to observe that in fact history is repeating itself at this very moment, and We are the victims.
Through unity under one major umbrellas' organization sharing our resources under our domain we can build a foundation that our scions may identify with.
I hope that you as a member of our community will apply and exert pressure by deliberating the proposal with your colleagues and friends. If you feel there is no need for it now, then do it for your own children and grand children that they may benefit from it in the future.
As I requested from the committee members, hopefully G'D willing our first meeting will be held before Rosh Hashanah,
Sincerely
Desire Sakkal
This is a crude organizational chart as I envision the Council, of course once you all agree for the establishment of the council you may change and adjust this chart as you wish.
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