Broward County Commissioners want to save the Broward County postmark, prevent hundreds of lay-offs and insure that mail is processed locally.

Today, Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution opposing the closure of the Pembroke Pines and Fort Lauderdale U.S. Postal Processing Centers.

The Postal Service is studying the closures and consolidations of 252 post offices nationwide in an effort save $3-billion a year.  The Fort Lauderdale and Pembroke Pines facilities are among those on the chopping block.

“This means that mail sent from Broward County to a local address could take up to three or more days to arrive.  Legal documents, such as tax documents facing postmark deadlines will be jeopardized and the delivery and processing of absentee ballots and voter information could face lengthy delays as mail volume increases during these periods,” said Commissioner Barbara Sharief, the sponsor of the commission resolution.

“Mail service will be slow, people will lose their jobs adding to unemployment and the Broward postmark will be history, literally,” said Broward County Mayor Sue Gunzburger, co-sponsor of the resolution which will be delivered to the Broward Congressional Delegation, the U.S. Postal Service and posted to the County’s website at www.broward.org

The annual Dunn’s Run is almost here. It will be held Oct. 2 bright and early in the morning. The 5K Walk & 5-mile Run benefits Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.

Pick up your registration packets for this year’s Dunn’s Run on Sept. 24 at Two Georges at the Cove, 1755 SE 3 Court, Deerfield Beach, on Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Panera Bread, 2101 N. Federal Hwy., Pompano Beach, or online at www.Dunns Run.com.

Fundraisers also can earn prizes, everything from a T-Shirt to a Garmin Forerunner 610. For more information, visit www.dunnsrun.com.

A friend of mine called to ask a question about Tisha B’Av, which fell this year on the 9th of August. It is a very sad day in the history of the Jewish People. It is a day on which many calamities have occurred. It seems my friend went to two Synagogues on Tisha B’Av. In one, the people were fasting and observing many of the customs that made it appear that they were in the midst of mourning. But in the other Temple, there were people who were dancing and singing; two different groups … each observing a very special day of the year in very different ways.

One would hope that they would permit each other to observe in their own way in peace and harmony, but alas, that is not the reality in which we live.

And so it was that a member of one Temple ran into a member from the other, and, sure enough, they got into an argument. One argued that the day should be marked by weeping and sorrow, and the other argued that it should be a day to dance in joy.

Before long, the two men … two brothers of the same faith … began to exchange more than words with one another. I doubt that anyone could have convinced either one of them that there might be more than one way to observe the day. But, what they were doing was exactly why the Sages say the Temple was destroyed in the first place. It was destroyed by senseless hatred between brothers and sisters of faith.

As I recall from my youth, there is a tale of two great Sages who, upon looking at the destruction of the Temple, one began to weep and the other to dance. Each was confused as to how the other could react so differently to the very same thing.

One wept because he felt the immediate pain of the destruction. The other danced because he saw the destruction as a sign of fulfillment of Biblical Prophecy and as assurance that the day would soon come when the Temple would be rebuilt and there would be peace throughout the world.

When I am called on to go to a family who has just experienced the loss of a loved one, it is not unusual to find that each member of the family is experiencing the passing of their loved one differently.

One may be weeping at the pain of loss. Another might be feeling relief and, dare I say it, a form of joy in the fact that their loved one is no longer in pain, that they are at peace.

I don’t know that either way of dealing with the loss is superior to the other. I only know that both are ways that we deal with loss and, as friends … as neighbors … as brethren … our job is to be there to comfort the mourner however their psychological makeup brings them to deal with their loss.

May we come to honor each other’s way of dealing with the loss of a loved one. Just as we would want others to respect the way we choose to grieve, may we be wise enough to honor another’s way.

Shalom My Friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is a Hospice Chaplain and Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. He also provides Professional Pastoral Care Services to a number of health centers in Broward County. 

Thanks to an alert neighbor who called police, one suspect is in custody for an attempted burglary in the 200 block of SW 3 Court. Deputies were quickly on scene, established a perimeter, and apprehended one suspect. Two suspects are still at large as detectives continue the investigation. If you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood call 911 immediately.

Not too long ago, I did a tongue in cheek column about health insurance. While the piece was supposed to focus on the outrageous prices and the difficulties of getting coverage, especially if you have a pre-existing condition, many people focused, instead, on my jokingly stated verbage about seeking a young bride to lower the cost of my insurance premiums.

Well, for many, my tongue in cheek style was more like a foot in the mouth piece. While I know that a large portion of readers out there understood what I was trying to do, there were many who simply did not get it. I was accused of being immoral, of being willing to break the law, of being a dirty old man and of hating America. To those naysayers, all I can say is: What happened to your sense of humor?

Once this story appeared in The Observer, it took off and went rather viral. First, it was picked up by one of my favorite columnist, Frank Cerabino of the Palm Beach Post. Next, it went to Kaiser Health and, from there, National Public Radio picked it up. Then, the local Fox and NBC affiliate TV Stations … and, I have been told that it even made an Israeli Paper.

There were a lot of nasty comments. Some were so bad that they were removed from various websites because they crossed the line of protocol … anti-Semitic comments, anti-Clergy comments.

Some accused me of being to the left and some accused me of being to the right. The truth of the matter is I have usually tried to stay clear of politics and politicians. But, I have often said that if you put the Congress and the Senate and their families onto an HMO plan for just six months, then we would see just how quickly major changes will be made in our healthcare.

Thank G-d there were those who focused on the issue at hand. There were those who shared touching stories … stories of single mothers who are not sure if the money they earn should go to pay the mortgage or their health insurance.

Many suggested to me that I look into the pre-existing condition plans, but you must be without insurance for six months before you can even apply and who knows how long it takes for the application to go through. If, G-d forbid, something happens during that time, you could be cleaned out and in debt for life.

My cardiologist, Dr. Lawrence Weinstein, read the story and called to tell me that, if the time comes that I have to drop my insurance, not to worry, he will continue to care for me and he will do so at no charge. That’s right, a heart doctor with a heart!

Of all the comments that I read, one from a woman named Trena, who I do not know, summed it up so well. She said, “He’s joking people. This is humor, not a serious quest for a wife. He’s making a statement about the health insurance insanity.”

Trena gets it, and I hope you are smart enough to get it, too.

Shalom My Friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is a Hospice Chaplain and Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. He also provides Professional Pastoral Care Services to a number of health centers in Broward County. 

According to the United States Department of Labor, “the first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union, which held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later on Sept. 5, 1883.

In 1884, the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and, in 1885, Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Through the years, the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them, developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York Legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on Feb. 21, 1887. During the year, four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade, Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and, on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

Labor Day … a great time to sit, relax, enjoy family and friends, and rest. In John 11:38-42, we have the story of Mary and Martha, who are often contrasted, as though each believer must make a choice: be a worker like Martha or a worshiper like Mary. We all have special gifts and talents and should use those talents to glorify God. It would seem from this story that, while labor is important, we need to have balance between work and time for worshiping God.

Consider Martha’s situation. She received Jesus into her home and then neglected Him as she prepared an elaborate meal that He did not need! It’s hard to believe that a seasoned hostess like Martha did not have everything in order in preparation for the Lord’s visit. What Martha did not realize is it is far more important what we do with Christ than it is what we do for Christ. Mary seemed to understand this balance and put this into practice when, after finishing her work, she had gone to sit at the feet of Jesus to learn from Him. Martha, feeling neglected, complains to the Lord, expecting Him to scold Mary for neglecting her work, as though she could care less about her responsibilities.

There are few things in the Christian life that are as damaging as trying to work for Christ without taking the time to commune with Christ. “For without Me, ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Mary chose the better part, the part that could not be taken from her. She knew that she could not live “by bread alone” (Matt. 4:4).

Instead of criticizing others and feeling self-pity for ourselves, maybe we should take time to examine our lives and see if, in all our busy schedules, we have neglected the Lord. The problem was not that Martha had too much work to do, but that all her work distracted her from what was really important in her life.

The key is to have the right priorities. Unless we spend time each day with Christ, we will soon end up like Martha, too busy and not blessed. If you are struggling, then let me ask you a question, how is your devotional life? The usual response is, “I can’t remember the last time I had a good quiet time or prayed.” And then, we wonder why we have problems! Don’t forget that just a few short verses earlier Christ said this, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you,” He said, “for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matt. 11:28-29).

Have a wonderful Labor Day!

Deron Peterson is is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Deerfield Beach.

Crabby Jacks, at 1015 S.  Federal, in Deerfield Beach,  is the second restaurant this month in Rivertowne Square shopping center at SW 10th and Federal to have a fire.

People cruising by Sunday morning watched as it was burning down between 6:40 and 7:00 a.m. before someone finally called the fire in. Deerfield started rolling on the call at 7 a.m. and quickly called for back up from Pompano and Ft. Lauderdale.

There was a rumor going around town that maybe there was a “firebug” in the area because of a fire at Peking Tokyo Buffet on Aug. 12, which is still closed, less than a 1000 feet from Crabby Jack’s. That fire was a result of grease build up on and around the grill so when the employee fired it up there was a flash fire.

Quitoni from Deerfield fire said it took about 30 minutes to whack down the initial blaze.  BSO cleared out Denny’s next door because it was so hot.  Onlookers were coming by all day. The state Fire Marshall is investigating the fire and we should have an answer soon.

We will have the complete story in our Sept 1 issue of the Observer. To watch video of the Peking Tokyo Buffet fire on Aug 12 and the Crabby Jack’s fire go to ObserverTV and click on” latest videos”

PHOTO BY JEFF GRAVES