Hadassah: An Advocate for Accessibility
BY DEE-DEE
GOIDEL
All Ha-dassah
m e m -
bers receive
the Hadassah Magazine every two
months. It is a well-written publi-cation
with a great many topics of
interest. Recently, I read an article
which made me think about the true
meaning of “accessible.” Webster’s
Dictionary defines accessible as “ca-pable
of being reached; obtainable.”
Just think, due to the current pan-demic,
our own accessibility as we
once knew has been compromised.
In fact our day to day existence feels
like we are living in a Rod Serling
twilight zone, stranded in a fifth
dimension space capsule waiting
to be opened when the safety hatch
is loosened.
Technology has been our only
accessibility tool, and although
we are lucky to have it, without a
doubt it does not adequately meet
all of our needs. The presence of
human contact is missing. Skyping,
Zooming have replaced the less
complicated technology of the
common telephone. Now you are
invited to a Zoom Passover Seder,
wedding, birthday meeting, etc.
(and unless otherwise suggested,
you can wear anything you wish).
We hope by Rosh Hashanah,
the synagogue will be accessible
to us and we will be freed from
the twilight zone existence to take
part in services sitting with other
congregants. However, if one thinks
about it, unless religious houses of
worship update to accommodate
wheelchair confined congregants
young and old, there will always
be a lack of true accessibility for
someone.
The January/February edition of
Hadassah Magazine reported that
the world’s largest maker of syna-gogue
furnishings, Lavi Furniture
Industries in Israel, has introduced
a new line of accessible pieces.
According to the article, the fur-nishings
are “designed to permit full
participation for worshippers who
use wheelchairs as well as custom
arks which feature shelves that slide
forward, allowing a seated person
to grasp and lift the Torah without
assistance. The lectern (shtender)
and Torah-reading table lower and
tilt mechanically, enabling someone
who cannot stand to lead prayers
or read from the scroll.”
In addition, other products
include “partitions that are retract-able
which are useful in Orthodox
synagogues (mechitzahs) that
separate men and women. Raised
platforms such as the bimah feature
built-in ramps and pews that are
widely spaced for easy access.”
With an aging population who
do not wish to become shut-ins,
accessibility is more of an issue
now. Micha Oberman, CEO of
the 80-employee Kibbutz Lavi
Company, has recently furnished
totally accessible synagogues in
Jerusalem and the Young Israel
of Century City in Southern
California.
For years, houses of worship have
filed exemptions instead of trying to
upgrade to the requirements of the
PL94-142 and American Disability
Act (ADA) which outlines the
guidelines for inclusion of the dis-abled
young and old. Some have
made meager adaptations such as
grab bars in some bathroom stalls
that are still too small for people
who need assistance with their dai-ly
needs. There is also a need for
improved acoustics for the hearing
impaired, sign language for the deaf
and large print and Braille prayer
books for the legally blind.
Recently we have all felt isolated
even without a physical disability,
and it has been frustrating. These
wishful congregants are always feel-ing
isolated and frustrated. If we are
looking for causes, advocating for
complete accessibility in all houses
of worship is a worthy mission.
A Reminder from Migdal: Purim
Non-Event Appeal Extended!
Thanks again to those who
have donated to the recent
Purim Non-Event Appeal.
Since the Purim Non-Event
coincided with our need to
distance and shelter ourselves,
many have not been able to leave
their apartments to drop off a
check with their concierge, and
so we are extending the appeal.
Please remember that it is
especially meaningful now as
Hadassah researchers are active-ly
working to find a vaccine to
combat the coronavirus and will
need even more funds as they
continue this critically important
work.
You can hold your check, pay-able
to Hadassah, until such time
that you can bring it to your con-cierge.
Address the envelope to:
Building 1: Zona Schreiber,
Apt. 12A
Building 2: Phyllis Gottlieb,
Apt. 7H
Building 3: Marcia Jacobson,
Apt. 25L
Questions? Call Eva Kessner
at (718) 631-7637
Snowbirds Are Coming Back To North Shore Towers
BY BUD BANK, NST INVESTMENT CLUB
I spent five months in Florida, a month longer than usual, because
of the virus. My flight was canceled four times and I took a 7am
flight from Fort Lauderdale to Atlanta and then from Atlanta to
LaGuardia Airport. I must say that the Delta people were wonderful.
I opened the door to my apartment and it felt very strange; five
months away is a very long time. The first thing I did was to go to
our produce store and then our Superette. No lines, and I was in and
out in just a few minutes.
I enjoy walking the arcade late at night and always look forward to
seeing Darlene and Paul, our two wonderful and dedicated security
guards.
I am looking forward to our next North Shore Towers Investment
Club meeting. I miss the wonderful people. I’ve been watching our
stocks and we are holding our own.Some people say I look better
with my mask. Is that a compliment?
Bud Before Bud Now
16 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ June 2020