By Emily Rosen

ERosen424@aol.com

www.emilyrosen424.com

I begin this column again. I have started it four times, ditching each “start” as “unfocused,” which is a major writing no-no. I did not want to do that. But–know what? Today, I’m gonna! And if I call this Random Thoughts, then voila! I don’t HAVE to be focused!

I am a political junkie, and I really love writing about politics. But I “got the word” from the powers that be, that “politics” is out for me. Thing is, that I am always pulled to the middle in political debates. But the fact that I am pulled from the left seems to be somewhat disturbing. And probably that’s what brings on my “writer’s block.” I’m just saying . I’m okay with it. I just need to vent every 10 years or so.

But I guess it’s okay for me to comment on all the media folks who spring into mindless action and verbiage in order to get a scoop and espouse an opinion.

Here again, it pains me when people “opine” ( I stole that from Bill O’Reilly) about stuff they don’t know, the Boston Marathon tragedy being only one case-in-point. Yes, we all want transparency in government and, yes, we all want maximum security. But what if – what if – they were mutually exclusive. What if we had to make the choice of one over the other ? Talk about a Sophie’s Choice. And therein lies so much of our discontent. There is so much – so very much — that we don’t know (A) because it is unknowable and (B) because we are concentrating on our daily lives and are not prone to checking out archives and documents. And even relying on those who do those things for a living, we are left with questions of interpretation and bias and we still don’t know! There is so much we don’t know.

But randomly speaking and changing the focus, I landed at the new Deerfield pier Saturday night, first time since its renovation. I am a northern neighbor (Boca) and don’t get here often enough. Infused with the local vigor and the feeling of being part of an endless “feelgood place,” we strolled the sidewalks and the beach and the pier itself, anticipating the completion of its yet unfinished eatery. We could have been on the French Riviera and would not have felt as energized. And how lucky we are to be living on the fringe of a non- stop happening. And then, we had a special treat! On the beach in front of the Wyndham Hotel, we witnessed a real LIVE wedding, complete with gorgeous white-gowned bride, handsome groom and guests who shed their shoes (the ladies, that is) as they walked down the carpeted aisle covering the sand. Debbie and Tommy –whoever they are, exchanged vows as people have been doing for thousands of years, witnessed by a covey of strangers and passersby. In view of all the world’s angst and our racer-pace of innovation, it is heartening to think that some things never change.

And finally … mothers … past, present and future – you are the glue of the world. Have a good SPECIAL one!

DEERFIELD BEACH

April 25 A man was arrested and charged with a narcotics felony at 200 SW 1 Terr. He was found in possession of cannabis and cocaine.

April 26 A man reported that $3,000 was stolen from his room at the Doubletree Hotel at 100 Fairway Dr.

April 26 A woman reported her residence entered at 199 SE 7 St. While stealing an iPad, the thief helped himself to ice cream from her freezer.

April 27 A woman reported that while she was shopping at Publix at 3740 W. Hillsboro Blvd. someone Remember, if you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately. stole her Florida driver’s license and a check card from her purse. The woman’s bank called her and told her that the card had been used to make purchases at Publix and Walgreens.

April 27 Two women were eating at Tijuana Flats at 278 S. Federal Hwy. While they were eating, a man walked in and stole each woman’s cell phone.

April 28 A man reported that his backpack was stolen from him while he was at the beach at 2100 E. Hillsboro Blvd. The backpack contained a cell phone, a wallet with $200 in cash, a Florida driver’s license and miscellaneous items.

DEERFIELD—Dist. 4

April 14 Residential burglary was reported in Deer Creek, at 574 Emerald Way E. Victim stated that the unknown subject broke the rear slider door lock and entered the residence. Subject then removed items from a freestanding jewelry box. Loss is unknown at this time. The victim indicated he did not notice the broken lock until 10 p.m., when he went to lock the door. He did, however, leave the residence. . Subject then removed items from a freestanding jewelry box. Loss is unknown at this time. The victim indicated he did not notice the broken lock until 10 p.m., when he went to lock the door. He did, however, leave the residence during the listed hours (9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) but was home the rest of the day.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

April 15 The manager of CVS Pharmacy at 3580 N. Federal Hwy. reported that a woman stole more than 100 items of deodorant and body wash from the store. Total loss was estimated at about $1,000. A woman was seen on video surveillance taking the items.

April 18 Someone broke into a house at 2714 NE 31 St. and stole jewelry and a television. The house was ransacked.

What’s Deerfield becoming?

Dear Editor:

In the aftermath of the Boston terrorist attack, I was lowering my flag at half mast and noticed someone had stolen my plants right out of the ground.

Then, I heard that my neighbor had reported all of his solar lights stolen.

Is this what Deerfield has become?

Coincidentally, after all [of this], in the middle of the night, I stopped two grown women from trying to catch our neighbor’s bunny with a big fishing net.

When I commented that I had lived here for over 30 years, they proudly said that they were born here, and claimed they were with the Humane Society and were catching the bunny to prevent production of more.

I did call the Humane Society in the morning, as this occurred in the middle of the night. I was told that they do not catch bunnies. And FYI, the police said it is theft to catch someone else’s pet.

So I repeat: What is becoming of Deerfield Beach?

Maybe we should be more aware of our own local people!

Maureen Kenny

Deerfield Beach

From 2 storm drains

Dear Editor:

I understand that you were present at the recent Deerfield Beach commission meeting [April 16].

Following discussion of the pier restaurant, the next topic was pollution and maintenance issues affecting the Kingfisher waterway in The Cove section of east Deerfield. My neighbors and I have been invited to the May 7 commission meeting for further discussion.

Our concern is based on the obvious pollutants and debris that are visible on a day-to-day basis.

In 1998, a very thorough, 30-day analysis of the Kingfisher waterway was done by the then Broward County Dept. of Resource Protection. A copy of their action plan was forwarded to the city manager at that time. The letter outlined the actions the city was instructed to perform, the little they did do and what remains to be done. (I can also provide you with the full analytical report that addresses the extremely high levels of fecal coliform, oil and petroleum, and chemical pollutants that enter via two storm drains.)

Although the report is old, I believe the findings may still be factual since there has not been a meaningful effort by the city to contain and eliminate the pollutants.

With the growth in the city’s population, I can only guess [whether] conditions in the Kingfisher have more than likely worsened.

Those of us living along the waterway would like to see a follow-up, in-depth analysis based on the 1998 report done to determine the current level of water quality. And, of course, installation of filtering devices, regular maintenance programs and dredging.

John Gerbino

Deerfield Beach

Sushi & Stroll Summer Walks BEGIN

Friday, May 3, 5:30 to 8:30p.m.

Morikami Park 4000 Morikami Park Rd. Delray Beach, FL 33446

Taiko drumming, delicious tidbits, garden stroll. $8 for adults (ages 18+), $6 for kids (ages 4-17), FREE for members and kids 3 & under.

SAVE THE DATES: June 7, July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 6.

561-495-0233 or www.morikami.org.

Third Annual Derby Day Fun

Horse Show & Fair

Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sand & Spurs Equestrian Park 1600 NE 5 Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

$1 for ages 10 years and older; children under age 10 FREE. Pony rides, face painting, food, carnival games, bounce house and more! Proceeds benefit Bit-By-Bit Therapeutic Riding Center and Horses for Heroes Veteran Rehabilitation Program.

GPS/Tech for Boaters Course

Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m.

Dixon Ahl Recreation Center 2200 NE 38 St. Lighthouse Point, FL 33064.

$40, includes materials/lunch. 954-324-7084

Pompano Beach Elks Craft & Yard Sale

Saturday May, 4 & Sunday, May 5 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Elks Lodge #1898 700 NE 10 St. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Open to the public. Refreshments available. 954-644-9900.

BOCA Green Market–encore 2 weeks!

Saturday, May 4, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Royal Palm Place

Boca Raton, FL 33432

Market extended until May 11.

I miss my momma. I was blessed with a true Yiddishe momma. She kept the house so clean you could eat off the floor. Today, I am going to let you in on a little secret; I was not the easiest child to rear and, to this day, I have times when I wish I could cling to my momma’s apron strings again.

Since Momma was a Balabusta, she wasn’t just the Queen of Clean. She was the Queen of the Sabbath Day. She was an Eshet Chayil, a woman of valor, and she was Queen of the Kitchen. And, no matter how long I live, I will never understand how she put up with me.

But as difficult as I was to raise, before my mother of blessed memory passed away, she let me know how proud she was of my brothers and of me. She let me know how much she loved us and that we should always remember to be at peace with one another.

Shalom Bayit, peace in the house … One of the most peaceful moments in my memory banks from the days of my childhood had to do with the eve of the Holy Sabbath day when my mom would put a kerchief on her head and stand in front of the Shabbat candles. She would strike a match and kindle the candles, and she would close her eyes, saying a prayer as she gently waved her hands over the flames of those holy lights.

Those lights were meant to increase the Shalom Bayit. And, at that special moment, I felt the glow and the warmth of the candles and the love of my momma for everyone in the house.

But how does one fulfill this beautiful mitzvah when they have a child who is much more difficult than even I might have been; for instance, what does a momma do when she has a child who is autistic?

If one of the reasons we kindle the Shabbat candles is to usher light and peace into the house, then, lighting them around a child with autism just might be problematic. The truth of the matter is that an autistic child will probably be more prone to blow the candles out. After all, isn’t that what we do when we have a birthday and light the candles?

Sometimes, out of love for that child, and for the safety and peace of the house, the tradition needs to be changed just a tad. And that concept brought Frances Victory to do a study on this very subject for her dissertation and as she wrote “One mother of a child with autism said: ‘We do light Shabbat candles and she (her daughter) takes great pleasure in blowing them out. We do let her do that. She walks away when we light the candles but she comes back down when we sing Shalom Alecheim (Peace Be Unto You).”

I know there are those who will see such an act as sinful, but, blowing out the dangerous flame still allows the mother to recite the appropriate blessings and keep her child safe to enjoy the peace of Shabbat.

As one of the mothers interviewed so lovingly said, “Some people make their kid fit to their world. We fit into our daughter’s world.” Now, that’s what I call a momma!

Wishing you all the most beautiful and joyous of Mother’s Days.

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is the Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach. He is a Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and of the Association of Professional Chaplains and serves in this capacity as part of the Pastoral Care Department in several healthcare settings throughout North Broward County.