BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

By DAVID ROSEN It’s time for New York Governor David Paterson to sign the Safe Harbor Act for Exploited Children. The enabling bills have already passed both the state Assembly (A.5258-c) and Senate (S.3175-c), and now it is on the governor’s proverbial desk for passage. The act will end the widespread practice of arresting, prosecuting and incarcerating those 15-years and younger charged with prostitution. In addition, the Act requires the state to establish a variety of community-based services to help young people. These services include: “housing, diagnostic assessment, individual case management, medical services including substance abuse services, counseling and therapeutic services, educational services including life skills services and planning services to successfully transition residents back to the community.” This support is critical so that these children can reclaim their young lives. Traditionally, zealous police and prosecutors have used the fear of jail to not onl...

Friday Night Shabbat Service Rosemary Cunningham Spiritual explorer Rosemary Cunningham first learned about shabbat (the sabbath) by observing it with the children at the Jewish preschool where she was the only staff member who was not Jewish. Then her friend Rochelle invited her to the Friday services at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, which often fill a nearby Methodist church as well. Since that night three years ago, says Rosemary, Friday night services have become “a vital part of the patchwork quilt of practices, Christian and Jewish, which connect me with God.” After a recent service, she filed this report. The security guard at the door inspects my handbag, then smiles and wishes me shabbat shalom (a peaceful Sabbath). I walk through the narrow lobby to the sanctuary, where I exchange ”shabbat shalom” with an usher as he hands me a flyer. I take a seat in one of the comfortable blue metal chairs that fill the ground floor in a semicircle broken by several aisles. I save a seat for...