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4th Annual NYC / 5766-2006
UAlbany / Shabbos House Alumni Reunion
Sunday, July 23rd 1-3pm at the Chabad Loft - 182 Fifth Ave (bet 22nd & 23rd) 10010

See Reunions of other years...

No one date will work for everyone, many alumni regretted that this date would not work for them due to Simchas, vacations and other reasons. This is why we look forward to having reunions each year - so that there will be opportunities for as many of us to get together as possible. Due to numerous requests we moved the reunion-time up to early afternoon, and the new location at the Chabad Loft is due to scheduling conflicts at Midtown Chabad. We appreciate their hosting previous reunions.

Group Photo following the program.
The Manhattan Block - 5th between 22nd and 23rd where The Chabad Loft is located. Directly opposite the Flatiron Building, known for its unique triangular shape and history as an early NYC skyscraper. Moshe enjoys the Manhattan view. How often is he up on a 2nd story in a Loft building?
Shabbos House Class Pictures were displayed along the windows.
Shmoozing alongside brightly colored Jewish artwork. Jason Kersch ('05) converses with Arie Lipnick ('03) Shaun Zeitlin ('01) and Jason Spitzer ('98)
L-R: Ed Levin ('01) now lives in Fort Lee NJ and runs International POS Systems, Mike Lowenstein ('02) going into 2nd year of Medical School and just returned from volunteering in Israel's Magen David Adom, Gabe Duci ('04) works at Data Conversion company, Andrew Genger ('04) works at ClearChannel Radio returned from Mayanot Birthright Israel, Brian Levine ('02,'04) works for NYS State and was just elected as a trustee of the Albany Public Library, Scott Weber ('02) getting another masters at Baruch College and working for the Department of Transportation, Simmy Rubin helped out with the event.
Rimma ('02) with newlyweds Marc ('02) and Dawn Wolensky One of the Spitzer Twins, now 4 years old. Raizy, Bassie and Jodi (Goodman) ('98) Spitzer
L-R: Ally Newman ('07) and Adam Kofinas (Dec '06) helped with the event, Saul Maslansky ('05) now entering his 2nd year at Cardozo Law School, Sam Gilman ('06) returning from a semester abroad in Haifa University, Ayal Cohn ('05) wearing the paw-print Albany t-shirt in Hebrew, Corrie Borgner ('04)
Jeff Wertheim ('99) thinking back to his leadership days. Behind are Fred Lotwin ('01) Matt Freedman ('02) & Hirshel (Steve) Forst ('97). Jeff ('96) and Josh Tepper. Jeff recalled the first Hillel Boat-Cruise of '93, as the slide-show said Boat-Crusies are no more. Nechama Dina (Galperin) with her husband Sholom Hendel.
Look closely at the Yankee motif in the foreground worn by Aaron Blum ('99) contrasted by the Met hat worn by Adam Kofinas directly behind him. On right is Zalmy Schapiro (Dec '06) and Harriet Roffe ('04, '06). Many attendees were interested in the unique artwork on the walls. For more info on these interesting mystical art pieces visit www.museumofpsalms.com.
Shaun Hindes ('04) (foreground) teaches 7th & 8th grade American History with Dara Stofenberg ('04) now working in DC, and Michele Ginsburg ('06) on the couch. Mitch Greene ('99) made a big point of this coming Simchat Torah (on Sat Night) being our 10th year (with the Rubins)... Sam and Adam (along with Saul, Eyal and others) stayed to help clean-up. Adam has a good laugh, with Sam in the trashcan.
The program opened with recital of Psalms 20, as a prayer for the safety of the IDF soldiers and citizens in Northern Israel. Sam Gilman ('06) led the recital as he just recently returned from a semester of study in Haifa and knows the neighborhoods where many Hizbulla rockets fell.

Program Highlights
  • Psalms 20 recited for the safety and security of the IDF and people of Northern Israel in this time of danger and crisis.
  • Powerpoint Presentation titled: "Changed, Unchanged" with photos of new buildings and developments on the UAlbany campus, updates on Shabbos House and the UAlbany Jewish community over the past nine years. There was a lot of laughter, surprise, interaction and feedback varying, of course, according to the graduation year of the participants.
  • We then went around the room with each participant introducing him/herself and year of graduation, along with something that changed since their years in UAlbany and something which remained the same since their times at SUNY Albany. It was informative, interactive and humorous, thanks to all for participating.

The Purple Folder had an assortment of colorful update materials including:

  • The latest "What's Cooking?" update newsletter, also a purple color.
  • Psalms 20 (on green paper) in Hebrew, translated and transliterated along with suggestions of physical and spiritual assistance to our people in Israel in this time of crisis. Also included info on the new www.UnityTorah.com a new Torah written for Israel by students, alumni and their families, at the nominal cost of $1 per letter.
  • Zoning update (on a yellow sheet) on our approval process for the new, bigger and better Shabbos House building.
  • Offer (on blue paper) for interested alumni to receive Rabbi Mendel's Torah Tuesday materials via email in PDF format, approx 6-8x per semester. To sign up for it email mail@shabboshouse.com
  • Shabbos House Cookbook update (on orange paper). To date 370 books sold, at a profit of nearly $6,000 for Shabbos House, plus it has become the yearly gift (along with letter) to graduating seniors.
  • Brochure introducing "The Chai Club" of monthly recurring credit card donations to Shabbos House.
  • "Tzedakah - a prospectus" from Torah Tuesdays in 2003, classic Jewish texts on Tzedakah presented in the format of a financial prospectus.

Special Thanks to...

  • Rabbi Yaakov Bankhalter of Chabad of Washington Square which operates The Chabad Loft, for allowing us use of their beautiful facility in trendy Flatiron/Chelsea.
  • Ally Newman ('07) and Adam Kofinas (Dec '06) for helping with set-up and with entertaining the Rubin Kids while we got the place ready.
  • Simmy Rubin for helping with set-up and clean-up, in Manhattan we can't park in the driveway as in Albany. Getting everything from the car was a production!
  • Devorah Leah and Efraim Rubin (Mendel's siblings) for staying up late on Saturday Night packing the purple folders with all the papers inside.

 

 
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