PhotoLuminations - Seeing the story, making a difference

ARC Concert at Leather Commons

Jerry Halberstadt — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 14:19:52 +0000

ARC Concert at Leather Commons Jerry Halberstadt Sun, 08/29/2021 - 14:19

Do We Really Need A New Peak Demand Plant?

administrator — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 01:06:25 +0000

Do We Really Need A New Peak Demand Plant? administrator Sat, 04/17/2021 - 01:06

People at Mass Democratic Convention

Jerry Halberstadt — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 02:29:23 +0000

People at Mass Democratic Convention Jerry Halberstadt Mon, 09/16/2019 - 02:29

This land was made for you and me

Jerry Halberstadt — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 01:32:52 +0000

This land was made for you and me Jerry Halberstadt Tue, 06/11/2019 - 01:32

Peabody MA

peace

Community

Peabody student chorus performs Woody Guthrie's "This land was made for you and me."

What brought the Peabody community together on the afternoon of June 5, 2019? The leaders of Peabody were determined to stand in solidarity against hate and for love and inclusion. And they did so in shock and anger that on May 24, the Jewish Sabbath, two rabbis were harassed for walking while Jewish. Rabbi Nechamia Schusterman (Chabad of Peabody) and Rabbi Sruli Baron (Tobin Bridge Chabad) were confronted and harassed by a driver when they walked along Lowell Street.

Leaders respond to "This land was made for you and me."

Children and parents respond to singing

Mayor Ted Bettencourt addresses audience

Rabbi Nechamia Schusterman speaks

Rabbi Nechamia Schusterman (Chabad) spoke:

Thank you Mr. Mayor & Debbie Coltin of the Lappin Foundation, the soul behind this rally, the PCMA and specifically Joel Aderle and Richard Perlman, David Kudan for the great work you do for the community and the faith communities and all those from the various houses of worship in town. Thank to the Peabody Police and State police … your visits with your cruisers at the local Synagogues and my home is very comforting.

It means the world to myself, and my family personally, and to the entire Jewish community that so many organizations came out, including the CJP, ADL, Deputy Consul General of the State of Israel and more…

However, more specifically, I want to thank the residents of the city of Peabody and the surrounding communities. Thank you for showing up today and being counted, and standing by the local Jewish community, as I know you’d do for any faith that was attacked or maligned. This is a rally against anti-semitism, against intolerance, but it is not about me.

So hiding your identity doesn’t fix anything. In fact, I think we need to do the opposite. We need to reinforce our individuality, stand louder and prouder in who we are.

The real solution however is to root out hate.

We need to turn darkness into light. Sadness into happiness. Negative into positive.

Mr. Mayor, you’ll forgive me for renaming this rally. It is not a rally against hate, but A RALLY FOR GOOD!

Full text of Rabbi Schusterman's talk

Shepard Remis, board member of Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Rhonda Gilberg, Chair of the ADL’s North Shore Advisory Committee

Rabbi Sruli Baron (Tobin Bridge Chabad) speaks

Father John MacInnis, St. John the Baptist Church, Peabody; he is the leader of the interfaith Peabody ministerial group.

Daniel Agranov, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of Israel to New England

Jeff Cohen displays banner of Salem "No Place for Hate" in support of rally

Major ___, State Police, Chief Thomas Griffin, Christoper Ryder, Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor

Citizens of Peabody

Deborah Coltin, Executive Director of Lappin Foundation, and Daniel Agranov, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of Israel to New England

Rabbi Nechamia Shusterman & Senator Joan Lovely

Daniel Agranov, Deputy Consul General, Consulate General of Israel to New England & Senator Joan Lovely

Imam Fawaz Abusharkh, Islamic Society of the North Shore and Rabbi Alison Adler of Temple B'nai Avraham, Beverly

Senator Joan Lovely & Father John MacInnis, St. John the Baptist Church, Peabody

Thank you sign displayed by many at the event

Working press

From Sea to Shining Sea

Jerry Halberstadt — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 20:41:32 +0000

From Sea to Shining Sea Jerry Halberstadt Thu, 10/04/2018 - 20:41

Keren, my Canaani Sunburst

Jerry Halberstadt — Sat, 23 May 2015 00:57:27 +0000

Keren, my Canaani Sunburst Jerry Halberstadt Sat, 05/23/2015 - 00:57

Animal Companions

Canaan Dog

Keren

Today, 20 May 2015/2nd of Sivan, 5775, Keren—"Cherrysh Sunburst"—has become a blessed memory. Keren was bred by Cheryl & Jerry Hennings at Cherrysh Canaan Dogs, and whelped 30 Jan 2003/27th of Sh'vat, 5763.

Keren's sire was Multi Ch. Barak me Shaar Hagai, AKC —P340-789. Her dam was AKC Ch. Bay Path's Sufat Hol—P247-217. Keren was registered with AKC—DN04086503 and with UKC—P418-795.

Awards

She was shown several times and received ribbons, but she was never bred. She did, however, link her human with many other dogs and their humans, who offered companionship, support, and advice over the years. And she has received a number of prestigious lifetime awards bestowed by the Canaani Protection Society. A few of them include:

The UnConditional Love Award—She bestowed her love on people who had done something for: ear scratch, belly rub, ride to someplace new. She loved many, but very few people earned unconditional love.
The Entrepreneurial Dog Award—Her determination to solve problems was dogged. Her legacy is one of playfulness, knowing how to find expert help, and never giving up.
The Gustav Holt (the Planets) Jupiter Jollity Giver Award—She brought joy and happiness to everyone that appreciated her.
The Gross Dog Award—Rolling in mud and smelly organic matter was her avocation.
The Swimming Dog—As a desert dog, Keren's love of water was exceptional.
The Tolerant Dog Award—Exceptional tolerance for the foibles and weaknesses of her human; the award was granted despite Keren's intolerance of smaller and non-Canaani dogs.
The Artistic Dog Award—Known for her unique sculptural assemblages constructed from bone, these priceless works have been exhibited in numerous galleries.

Published author

She was the author of "Dogged Flight," an illustrated fable for children, distributed as an ebook. Although written for children, it serves as an instructional and motivational text for human entrepreneurs.

As Keren relates in Dogged Flight, she succeeded in bringing great joy and pleasure to her human companion, who otherwise would have remained stuck in the mud. She made sure that he took long walks along the beach, in the woods, and in the apple orchard. While Keren sniffed, rolled in mud or foul things, or swam, her human took in the sand, sea, sky, and woods.

She also wrote a handbook for Canaani puppies, providing instruction on the training, care, and feeding of humans, but at her request, this was unpublished during her lifetime.

Exceptional services

In addition to a precise internal GPS mapping and travel competence, Keren was endowed with a highly accurate internal clock app, coupled with an internal daybook/calender app, enabling her to herd her human in the daily tasks essential to survival, like getting away from a computer in order to prepare food, and to go for walks at the appointed hour, and to find her way back to the car even while the human was lost.

Although Keren did not always play well with her peers, she sought to befriend nearly every human she saw, most of whom knew her name even as they ignored her human companion.

Right until her last hours, Keren was on guard to protect her human and his neighbors from possible harm from nasty humans, squirrels, and small dogs.

She will be missed and remembered.

In Memory of Keren (z"l)

When it is easier to be among the animals
who have chosen to live with us,
who see us as we are and do not mind,
who are patient and wait
till our eye’s meet and blink,
and it is love happening.
And they come to our laps
and our beds, curled and trusting,
and we know we are safe,
and whisper to them their names
that follow us always.

"But ask now the animals, and they shall teach you; and the birds of the sky, they will tell you.
Or speak to the earth and it will teach you; and the fishes of the sea shall inform you."
—Job 12:7-8

In memory

Keren's person, Jerry Halberstadt, suggests that donations be made in Keren's memory to Myrna Shiboleth at Shaar Hagai in Israel. Myrna has dedicated decades to the breeding and preservation of the Canaan breed.

Myrna is facing a suit by the Israel Lands Authority to evict her and the dogs from Shaar Hagai. This could mean the end of the Shaar Hagai breeding program. Donations to help with legal expenses and care of the dogs is welcome. Donations can be made to her PayPal account, myrnash@netvision.net.il

Stop Bullying Coalition Now Online

Jerry Halberstadt — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:48:00 +0000

Stop Bullying Coalition Now Online Jerry Halberstadt Wed, 08/13/2014 - 21:48

bullying

I am pleased to announce the new website and blog of the Stop Bullying Coalition from August, 2014. For earlier posts, see the blogs on Stop Bullying here at PhotoLuminations.com. CURRENT UPDATES & NEWSLETTER AT StopBullyingCoalition.org I regret that a number of posts have been withdrawn due to privacy considerations.

Obama confronts reality at last

Jerry Halberstadt — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 13:20:15 +0000

Obama confronts reality at last Jerry Halberstadt Thu, 01/22/2015 - 13:20

environmental

In last year's State of the Union, President Obama stated that political opposition to dealing with climate change made it impossible to discuss. This year, he finally brought up the subject. And while the administration has been taking steps on greenhouse emissions, and has begun to make international agreements, we need a much more intensive national effort.

Creating an economy based on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources will create good jobs. But we need to mobilize in a serious national effort if we are to preserve a planet that supports life for nature, for people, and for civilization

The President had this to say in his State of the Union 2015:

"2014 was the planet’s warmest year on record. Now, one year doesn’t make a trend, but this does—14 of the 15 warmest years on record have all fallen in the first 15 years of this century."

"I’ve heard some folks try to dodge the evidence by saying they’re not scientists; that we don’t have enough information to act. Well, I’m not a scientist, either. But you know what—I know a lot of really good scientists at NASA, and NOAA, and at our major universities. The best scientists in the world are all telling us that our activities are changing the climate, and if we do not act forcefully, we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, dangerous droughts and floods, and massive disruptions that can trigger greater migration, conflict, and hunger around the globe. The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it."

"That’s why, over the past six years, we’ve done more than ever before to combat climate change, from the way we produce energy, to the way we use it. That’s why we’ve set aside more public lands and waters than any administration in history. And that’s why I will not let this Congress endanger the health of our children by turning back the clock on our efforts. I am determined to make sure American leadership drives international action. In Beijing, we made an historic announcement—the United States will double the pace at which we cut carbon pollution, and China committed, for the first time, to limiting their emissions. And because the world’s two largest economies came together, other nations are now stepping up, and offering hope that, this year, the world will finally reach an agreement to protect the one planet we’ve got."

Source: https://medium.com/@WhiteHouse/president-obamas-state-of-the-union-addr…

Senator Ed Markey and North Shore Democratic Activists Rally for Seth Moulton

Jerry Halberstadt — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 22:11:00 +0000

Senator Ed Markey and North Shore Democratic Activists Rally for Seth Moulton Jerry Halberstadt Tue, 10/14/2014 - 22:11

Rain could not deter Democratic activists, led by Senator Ed Markey, from holding signs and rallying for their candidates, especially Seth Moulton, candidate for the Massachusetts 6th district Congressional seat. Photos

Stop Bullying Today, Help Pass S2329

Jerry Halberstadt — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 14:13:24 +0000

Stop Bullying Today, Help Pass S2329 Jerry Halberstadt Thu, 07/31/2014 - 14:13

bullying

legislation

Your phone call now can help to establish a commission to stop bullying in Massachusetts, urge lawmakers to pass S2329. UPDATES & NEWSLETTER AT StopBullyingCoalition.org

This commission will be another first in the nation for the Commonwealth in strengthening the rights of citizens, leading the way to eliminating bullying, and thus assuring safety, respect, and dignity to elderly persons and people living with disability in public and multi-family subsidized housing.

Please call your Massachusetts state senator and representative today to urge passage of S2329, the "resolve creating a commission to study ways to prevent bullying of tenants in public and subsidized multi-family housing" that was approved by the Joint Committee on Housing on June 18. Please help getting it passed today, July 31 before the end of the formal session at midnight. (If not passed today, we hope it will be passed early during the informal sessions.)

Find contact information for your legislators at: https://malegislature.gov/People/Search

This bill, which has bipartisan support, would create a well-balanced legislative study commission including representatives of key administrative offices, representatives of important joint legislative committees, and advocates of elderly and disabled citizens living in subsidized housing.

Thank you for your help and support.