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HERALD Birch celebrates STEAM Day
Vol. 29 No. 20
Page 3 MAY 14 - 20, 2026
$1.00
Jewish Centre to host author Sarah Hurwitz
sonal journey of Jewish discovery, including her experiences confronting antisemitism and The Merrick Jewish Centre re-engaging with Jewish tradiwill welcome author and for- tion and learning. Joanne Skop, co-chair of the mer White House speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz on May 19 for a Merrick Jewish Centre’s Lifecommunity conversation cen- long Learning Committee and tered on her latest book explor- one of the event organizers, ing Jewish identity, history and said the program comes at a time of heightened concern in modern antisemitism. Jewish communiThe event, schedties nationwide. uled for 7:30 p.m., at “In this time, 225 Fox Blvd. in when so much of Merrick, will feathe Jewish commuture Hurwitz’s disnity is in fear — cussion of her synagogues are book, entitled “As a spending so much Jew : Re cl a i m i n g of their budgets on Our Story from security due to fear Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to RABBi CHARlES of being attacked — Erase Us.” The prothat’s one of the KlEiN gram is presented re a s o n s why we Merrick Jewish Centre, brought her in,” by the Rabbi Charles and Betty Rabbi emeritus Skop said. Klein Legacy ComShe also pointed mittee. to concerns among The book, a New Jewish college stuYork Times Bestseller, traces dents navigating campus enviJewish history, identity and the ronments amid rising antiseroots of antisemitism while mitic incidents. also examining contemporary Skop said the book offers a debates surrounding Zionism balanced historical perspective and anti-Jewish hatred. Hur- on Jewish identity and the witz, who served as a speech- development of the State of writer in the White House Israel while also addressing u n d e r P r e s i d e n t B a r a c k questions around modern antiObama, reflects on her own per-
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
H
er words illuminate the challenges of the present.
Courtesy Danny Goodman
Danny Goodman, a sophomore at Clark University, balances his time as a student-athlete on the team’s baseball team while studying studio art.
Balancing the mound and the canvas Catching up with JFK alum Danny Goodman By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
While many college students struggle to balance academics and extracurricular activities, Merrick native Danny Goodman has found a way to successfully manage life as both a collegiate baseball player and an award-winning artist. The 2024 graduate of John F. Kennedy High School is completing his sophomore year at Clark University, where he balances classes, practices, games and studio assignments while continuing to grow as both a pitcher and an artist. Growing up in Merrick, Goodman said the close-knit nature of the community helped shape him into the person he is today.
“My class for elementary school was like 60 kids,” Goodman said. “So being with the same group of people basically your whole life, you build really close-knit relationships with everyone.” Even while attending school in Worcester, Massachusetts, Goodman said he still keeps in touch with many of his longtime friends during breaks. Baseball has been part of Goodman’s life since he was 3 years old, but he said his competitive drive truly developed during high school. “I don’t think I really got serious about baseball until my junior year of high school,” he said. “Playing more competitively really showed me how competitive I am as ContinUeD on paGe 7
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