Looking Ahead

LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis


Passing my neighborhood barbershop, I noticed that there was no wait for a haircut, and walked in. As soon as I sat down, the barber at the only other busy chair, whom I know as a taciturn émigré from Samarkand, uncharacteristically opened the conversation with his client, a gray-haired gent: “So, did you watch the debates?” “Yes, and McCain scored some points, but Obama won.” “Why you like Obama?” “I mostly dislike his predecessors, who lied and got us into a war (pause). Obama’s medical single source pay program will not materialize, but McCain’s annual medical fund does not make sense.” I was going to interject with a correction, that Obama had shifted to an insurance approach, but my haircutter, who was intently listening, raised his hand to wave me off. “Big professor,” he whispered.

“Obama also has a good tax policy, giving relief to the middle class, but you rich barbers who make $250 thousand a year will suffer.” “Yeah, yeah, we rich people, but American medicine is the worst, too expensive, and giving $5,000 fund for medical expenses is stupid and Socialist. Why not make it easy, same for everybody, like in other countries? And what about the war? ” “You don’t like withdrawal from Iraq in 16 months, right? (nod) Well, now he will have Colin Powell as his military advisor, and the General will help Obama decide whether and when to leave Iraq. Besides, don’t forget that Obama is the most brilliant speaker of the century {enthusiastic nod), and may talk the opponents into peace. He looks like them and talks like them and is young like them, and may even persuade Ahmadinejad to give up nuclear arms. That’s why Zbigniew Brzezinski supported him to begin with, that his pictures and smiles in Teheran papers will buy us six months of calm.”

“Yeah, but what about the black people?” “Aha, so you are uneasy, just like that Joe the plumber. You think he will give them too much power and welfare? (nod, nod) Yes, and pride and self-respect? That’s good, right? (assent) Consider this, that Obama in June was talking in churches about black fathers having to assume parenting responsibilities, and got Jesse Jackson so mad that he wanted to physically mutilate Obama. The Rev’s own son denounced him, and Jackson had to apologize and keep quiet and stop being a spoiler. If you are worrying, believe me, Obama, if anyone, will be the man to persuade black men to assume more responsibilities, go to school and get jobs. He may be the best role model to get them out of the hopeless and helpless “the white world is against me” positions (doubtful look). Let me tell you a story… there was a black person in a major corporation in a public job, who was meticulous about work but haughty and challenging with people, not ugly but borderline unpleasant. Nobody liked this person but no one would tackle the job of correcting, for fear of not being PC. But then the boss of the department retired, and a black manager was hired. Within a year he moved the unpleasant person out, and everybody breathed easier. Don’t you think that Obama would be able to tackle the controversial borderline race-related problems that would stymie a white president?”

There was a pause, and then the speaker picked up the thread: “Let me tell you another story. If Obama does not make it, we are not going to have bad race riots, as some fear, but there will be long-term consequences of racial conflict. Riots come only after acts of violence, such as the assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968, and the Rodney King beating in LA where 50 people died. The Crown Heights riot was caused by an accident, when a boy died after being injured by a car during the Rabbi Schneerson funeral.

“I don’t want to leave you feeling bad and unbalanced, suspicious of Obama. Just consider that big Republicans like Powell and Kenneth Adelman, both Reagan veterans, will vote for Obama, the latter because he mistrusts McCain’s judgment and rash decisions, and thinks that choosing Sarah Palin for Vice President, just a heartbeat from Presidency, was downright mindless.

His haircut being finished, we had some silence and reflection time. Just before leaving, the Professor gave us his last bit: “To make you feel better, the economic crisis we are having means that there cannot be a Great World War, ever again. We are too interdependent, and the Middle Easterners who want to advance a doomsday scenario will have to be controlled by the rest of us, Europe, China and Russia as well, or else the world is at risk of perishing. Obama will be a great spokesperson for this world-wide concern.”

After the Professor left I asked his barber: “So what do you think?” He shrugged his shoulders; “I don’t know, Obama is still a Socialist.” Go figure.

LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis



This writer is thrilled to note the appointment of Gov. William Richardson as Secretary of Commerce. Some of you might remember being shocked by my column of January 18, 2007, way early in the campaigns involving a dozen candidates, proposingt Barack Obama and Richardson as the Dream Team, one to head the ticket and the other to be the negotiator. Yes, the Dream Team has arrived.

This campaign was surely different . Whatever happened to the feared Bradley Effect, the the high in polls low at the ballot box phenomenon, famous for the 1982 California gubernatorial election. It has plagued other black candidates before, including our own David Dinkins.

Actually, there may have been more of a Dr. Huxtable or a Colin Powell effect, the evolutionary process that started through show business, with the gradual morphing of the hapless black comic Amos and Andy characters into the socially striving Jeffersons, on to the “just like us” pediatrician, as portrayed by Bill Cosby, a UMass grad who personally never hesitated to criticize the ghetto forces that keep the black population from reaching the mainstream. Gen. Colin Powell and Dr. Condoleeza Rice strengthened the evolution process, as consequently proven on Election Day 2008. Even Lewittown, the 98% white Archie Bunker community voted for Obama, proving that the Long Island hooligans who beat up on minorities are a sporadic phenomenon.

As proven by the emerging choices for the Obama cabinet, the names are middle of the road. Hillary Clinton for State Department is meant to cure the intra-party breach and steer the Palestinians into statehood, a dicy appointment. David Axelrod the ex-reporter turned political consultant 25 years ago who has been the Karl Rowe or James Carville of the Obama campaign, will continue in the White House, Rahm Emanuel the once Clinton health credit pundit will be the Chief of Staff. Tom Daschle the former Senate Leader and friend of Ted Kennedy as Secretary of Health and Human Services is a sure bet to reform health insurance without resorting to Single Pay or credits. As to Obama’s promise to keep lobbyists out of government, it was untenable from the getgo. Axelrod and Emmanuel, both essential to the campaign, have lobbying in their genes.

Back to the actual campaigning. The campaign in New York City was based on call centers, and the volunteers proved their dedication by bringing their own cell phones, a considerable sacrifice of minutes expense during daytime – after 9 PM calling in campaign lore is, or was, considered impolite, also counter-productive. Speaking of the most expensive campaign in US history, the statisticians should add the cellphone minutes to the lot.

There were no empty pizza csrtons at the 52 Broadway call center, people were practicing BYOB(bread) – and children, and dogs. The shifts were for two hours (not enforced), to allow people with jobs and set habits come and go without feeling guilty.
As for souvenirs, the tin campaign buttons – I must have 12 different ones for Kerry - there was one, for sale as a campaign contribution, ditto for tee shirts and car posters and lawn signs (not big in NYC). We ended up with peel-off Obama-Biden stickers, one apiece. Not much sentiment there, all for victory and monies for expensive TV commercials . We did settlle for having our pictures take with a life-size Obama cardboard figure.

A topic among us callers, between messages, was the future Secretary of Treasury – obviously the election of Barack Obama was a given.. My neighbors were in finance,
and liked Lawrence Summers, Clinton’s ex-SoT, as an economist not connected with Goldman Sachs . Summers left Harward under the gun for remarks about women as mathematicians, but the NOW president is wisely refraining from expressing her feminist perspective, national interests outweigh all others. Amazing, bravo.

Summers, per Harvard’s Greg Mankiv’s charts, had only a 25% chance. As to who had the top hand, is seemed to be Warren Buffet, the Democratic mega-tycoon, Mankiv wisely abstained from guessing. As it turned out, Summers’ appointee and understudy Timothy F. Geithner, 47, President of the NY Fed Bank, a compromise builder with expwrience under three Presidents, took the Treasury post, while Summers was appointed to head the the President’s Economnic Advisors. Paul Wolcker and Warren Buffet, both in their 80s, will advise from the sidelines. One thing for sure, even if Buffet were to sacrifice his billions to try curing the economy’s ill, it would not help. Perhaps, if he could persuade Kuwait’s or Abu Dhabi’s rulers to start buying because the bottom is near…? There are people with, perhaps a trillion and more of US dollars in the Middle East, sitting and waiting for the low point of the market.

My apologies to to Dr. Thomas Pike for a missing paragraph in my recount of his lecture last week. The full article is on my website, open file dobelisfile.blogger.com, or google for Dobelis & Looking Ahead. Hapy Thanksgiving from the staff of T&V!

Labels: dream team, Obama and Richardson

LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
Arlene Harrison, the "Mayor of Gramercy Park," has been sending warning announcements following a tree fall. One cannot blame her, it could have been disastrous.

On June 24th, around 6 00 pm, Kate Ballinger, secretary to the Trustees of Gramercy Park, was sitting on a bench, with her two children, one a baby, under a large Norway Maple , west of the center. She heard a loud crackling overhead, and realized that a branch was about to break off... Fortunately, they got out of the way just before a huge limb of the maple fell down, demolishing the bench. Examination by Bartlett'a Tree Service showed that both the limb and the trunk of the tree were entirely hollow, caused by squirrels, and the limb was weakened by the recent heavy rainfalls. The tree was removed, and a part of the trunk and the limb were left, along with the bench, for public examination, to establish cause. This precaution was evidently caused by the private park's history a decade ago, when a major brouhaha, with lawsuits, was caused by the removal of several old trees that was deemed unnecessary by some locals.

Trees do get feeble with age, as recently exhibited by a limb falling of a huge healthy looking old oak in Stuyvesant Square Park East, causing an injury, and prompting the removal of the entire 140 year old patriarch, and the cutting of other damaged but seemingly healthy ones, a precaution all parks should follow. Gramercy Park is also doing deep root fertilization of certain trees, to provide extra nourishment and stimulation. After this process, a five-foot area around such tree remains unplanted, to give the roots a chance to breathe. Gramercy has planted 15 butterfly bushes in north and west parts, now blooming purple. They are truly butterfly attracting but fragile; only two of mine survived this last severe upstate winter. Gramercy’s yellow and green Eonymous bushes will also do well, mine get eaten by deer. What else do we have in common? Well, my hydrangeas are also doing fine, and my Cleome flowers ditto – Gramercy might consider pairing them with Cosmos, a top combination. The park is also planting blue fescue grass, dianthus flowers, and tall ferns around the Ruggles fountain.

For the newcomers, herewith a brief introduction to the Founder, Samuel B. Ruggles, who graduated from Yale in 1814, at the age of 14, seemingly destined to read law at his father’s accounting office in Poughkeepsie. But the young tall man had other ideas. After qualifying to plead before the courts, he opened a law office in New York, married a wealthy girl and started buying and developing land in 1825, the year Erie Canal commenced bringing boom times to the city. By 1830 he owned some 500 lots north of 15th Street. A hilly farm with a creek running through it, called Crommersie Vly, or Cedar Creek, caught his eye. The 1811 Commissioners’ Plan, that ordered the development of Manhattan streets in fixed rectangles, made for difficulties in dividing the property. Originally part of Peter Stuyvesant’s farm, it was briefly held by Francisco Bastianense, a freed slave. The surrounding areas were owned by James Delancey, sometime Lieutenant Governor, John Watts , developer of Rose Hill further north, and James Duane, a future Mayor (1786), who eventually bought the Bastianense property, as well as six acres from the heirs of the Tory Watts.. His daughter sold it to the grandmother of James Renwick, the architect of Calvary Church, and Ruggles bought her out, in 1830. With this base he assembled 60 (sometimes called 66) building and 42 park lots, to be developed on a grand plan modeled after the private squares of London. A million cart loads of earth and stone had to be moved, streets around parks planned (he was also material in prompting legislature for Madison Square, Washington Square and Central Park), and most importantly, tax-free status obtained for “ornamental squares…unoccupied by buildings.” In anticipation, he deeded the 42 park squares to trustees. The plan succeeded, and mowing fast-forward we find the private structure intact, with some 900 families in 39 buildings off the private park, enjoying the grass and the trees, and paying $350 a year for the use of park keys, only available to residents in lot owners’ buildings.

The park is sparsely populated, but that is not much different from most of the city’s parks, thinly used by mothers’ helpers and transients during the day, while residents are at work. It is only in the tourist rich areas that parks are crowded, such as Union Square with its Greenmarket and Central Park with its facilities, lakes and restaurants. The current Trustees are James M. Clark, Jr. (Chair), Arthur H. Barnes, Arlene S. Harrison, Steven U. Leitner and Rev. Dr Thomas S. Pike. Arlene, who looks after the management of the Park, is also President of the Gramercy Park Block Association. Her organization plants and maintains the trees in the Park’s periphery, under the guidance of the Trustees.

LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis


On Wednesday, November 12, Dr Thomas F. Pike, Rector-Emeritus of the Calvary-St. George’s Parish came to the Brotherhood Synagogue, on the occasion of the Sixth Annual Rabbi Irving J Block Memorial lecture, to remind a joint Jewish-Christian audience of how religious collaboration and cooperation grew in this neighborhood. The Rabbi and Minister met and formed an instant spiritual link when in 1975 Brotherhood moved into the former Quaker Meeting House at 28 Gramercy East, then a sometime theatre building at risk to be demolished for an apartment block. The Rabbi was simultaneously rebuilding his wandering congregation, rehabilitating the building, and forming relationships with a largely Christian community and it was not always easy, but the link helped.

Dr. Pike was also a newcomer, albeit a few years senior in the area, having arrived from a position of senior minister in Yonkers, where he also served at Commissioner of Social Services. He was no stranger to ecumenical spirituality, having heard the charismatic theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel at the Protestant Union Theological Seminary, who would quote John Donne, the 17th Century Dean of London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, “no man is an island of itself, [we are all] part of the main.”

The Jews and Christians have made peace, although Christian speakers often still address Jewish audiences with apologies for past sins, before urging joint actions of humanitarian interest. Dr Pike, while in Yonkers, had formed an alliance with Father Daniel Berrigan the chaplain from Cornell, who wanted to form a civil rights group within the confines of the old Episcopal church (it did succeed) and he once heard the fiery Jesuit and anti-Vietnam war activist address a synagogue audience, reminding them that once such a group would make a Catholic think of blood. Things had certainly changed, and the same priest, when the great theologian Heschel died on a Sabbath and no rabbis could come for reasons of religious prohibitions, rushed over to the home to offer prayers and comfort the family.

There was another quote about St. Paul’s, in a description of Rabbi Block’s inspired rejuvenation of the Quaker Meeting House as a synagogue. The Minister and the Rabbi shared a common interest in the rehabilitation of sacred structures, as members of a preservationist group. The magnificent Episcopal Cathedral in London was built by Sir Christopher Wren, whose gravestone within the church premises asks the visitor seeking great architecture just to look around, particularly apt when discussing Rabbi Block’s preservationist work at Brotherhood.

It was Rabbi Block’s spirituality that brought the synagogue and the churches together, that and his “can do” attitude. Dr. Pike has remained close to the Block family, and knows the work of their son Herbert, who meets with East European political leaders in rehabilitating relationships with the Jewish world.

As to the future of such relationships, all is not smooth, the problems have to do with the world’s attitudes towards Israel, and much work on all sides is needed to preserve peace. Among Christians the attitude towards Israel involves the entire range of emotions and ideals. Both Jews and Christians will be surprised to hear that some right-wing Christian sects seriously want to rebuild the Temple, the holiest Center of Judaism that was first destroyed 2600 years ago by Nebuchadnezzar (Verdi’s Nabucco), leading to the Babylonian Captivity, then rebuilt by Cyrus of Persia, then destroyed 2000 years ago by Romans. The Temple Mound has since 1200 years ago served as the third holiest Moslem site, Al Aqsa, which does not stop the Apocalypse-minded sectarians.

At the other end of the spectrum are the Christian left-wing liberals, including such as former President Jimmy Carter, who see the civil rights of the Palestinians being violated, and would want to restore the 1947 boundaries, with full rights, including Muslim access to Jerusalem. In between, the rest of humanity struggles with such concepts as two states, sharing of Jerusalem, complete or partial abandonment of the Jewish settlements, and The Fence. Dr Pike noted that the problem between the various Christian and Jewish interpretations of the solution that might disturb the friendly balance, has also a third ingredient, the Moslem religious leaders with a cause, who often can make both Jews and Christians uneasy. There are confrontations on the Palestinian question with Jews, and also those with Christians, where the Crusades are brought up. The new Democratic government will be put to a severe test.

Dr. Pike was introduced by Robert Wolf, President of the Brotherhood congregation, and by Rabbi Daniel Alder, who has continued the work of Rabbi Block, particularly in continuing exchange of lectures on common Biblical topics (David, last year), alternately held in the synagogue and the church.

Phillip Rothman, Executive Director of the synagogue, discussed the lessons learned from Rabbi Block – the art of getting one involved, the doing what needs to be done, if at all possible, the need to say no and doing it right, knowing who you are yourself, taking some actions against one’s will and finding that it was the right thing to do, and above all, finding a way. A social togetherness closed the event.

Labels: Nabucco, Phillip Rothman, Rabbi Daniel Alder, Rabbi Irving I. Block, Robert Wolf, Thomas F. Pike

Guardian Life Insurance Company of America announces that it needs no Treasury support from the Capital Purchase Program

Today , November 14, 2008, is the cut-off date for qualifying financial institutions to apply to participate in the Treasury Department’s recently created Capital Purchase Program through which the U.S. government would acquire stakes in participating financial institutions to provide them needed capital. I continue to hear speculation about which insurance sector players may or may not opt into this program and wanted to let you know that Guardian will not participate.
Guardian qualifies to apply for this Federal initiative through our Guardian Trust Company subsidiary. However, after carefully evaluating what, if any, strategic benefits the company would gain by joining this program, I and the Guardian executive management team have recommended to our Board that we decline participation.
Given Guardian’s substantial capitalization, more-than-adequate surplus and the strength of our investment portfolio, the company was not in need of the funds this program would provide. We also evaluated the public relations consequences that participation in the government program could bring and did not want to create misperception in the marketplace that Guardian was anything but the strong, thriving enterprise it is.
The financial services sector has certainly changed and by most accounts will continue to face stiff challenges over the near term. This is evidenced by the number of well-known institutions that have so far chosen to take advantage of this government program. Guardian's financial stability, however, remains a constant. And we will continue to manage the company with the careful, long term view that has proven so successful over the years.
This email may be used with the public.
Dennis J. Manning
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
212 598-8230

Labels: Dennis J. Manning, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

GUARDIAN ANNOUNCES $723 MILLION DIVIDEND
TO POLICYHOLDERS IN 2009


NEW YORK, November 13, 2008 — The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian) today announced that its Board of Directors has approved payment of $723 million in dividends to the company’s individual life policyholders in 2009. The 2009 payout, which is $60 million more than Guardian’s 2008 dividend allocation, is the largest-ever distribution to the company’s participating policyholders and reflects a dividend interest rate of 7.30%.

“Guardian is pleased to reward our participating policyholders with this record dividend payout,” said Dennis J. Manning, Guardian’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our ability to pay record dividends in this period of economic volatility is quite a significant accomplishment – one that confirms Guardian’s firm commitment to policyholders and validates the sound business fundamentals we follow in managing the company. These sound fundamentals translated into improved mortality experience and strong investment performance, two factors that contributed to our ability to pay a record dividend at this time.”

As a mutual company, Guardian is organized and maintained for the benefit of its participating member policyholders who share in the company’s profits. Annual dividends are one of the most important ways that Guardian’s policyholders receive value from the company’s success. Guardian has consistently benefited its participating policyholders with strong dividend performance throughout its 148 year history.

“Guardian’s value proposition is to provide high quality, low net-cost insurance while maintaining the greatest degree of financial strength,” commented Deanna M. Mulligan, Executive Vice President in charge of Guardian’s Individual Life and Disability business. “We’re proud to continue our track record of consistently delivering on our promises to policyholders.”

About Guardian
Founded in 1860, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY (Guardian) is one of the largest mutual life insurance companies in the United States. As of December 31, 2007, Guardian and its subsidiaries had $41.3 billion in assets (on a consolidated statutory basis). With close to 3,000 financial representatives and 80 agencies nationwide, Guardian and its subsidiaries protect individuals, small business owners, and their employees with life, disability, health, long-term care, and dental insurance products, and offer 401(k), annuities, and other financial products and trust services. Specializing in the small to mid-size business market, Guardian's Group business unit serves more than 120,000 employers, 6 million employees, and their families. More information about Guardian can be obtained at: www.GuardianLife.com.



###

LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis


On Wednesday, November 12, Dr Thomas F. Pike, Rector-Emeritus of the Calvary-St. George’s Parish came to the Brotherhood Synagogue, on the occasion of the Sixth Annual Rabbi Irving J Block Memorial lecture, to remind a joint Jewish-Christian audience of how religious collaboration and cooperation grew in this neighborhood. The Rabbi and Minister met and formed an instant spiritual link when in 1975 Brotherhood moved into the former Quaker Meeting House at 28 Gramercy East, then a sometime theatre building at risk to be demolished for an apartment block. The Rabbi was simultaneously rebuilding his wandering congregation, rehabilitating the building, and forming relationships with a largely Christian community and it was not always easy, but the link helped.

Dr. Pike was also a newcomer, albeit a few years senior in the area, having arrived from a position of senior minister in Yonkers, where he also served at Commissioner of Social Services. He was no stranger to ecumenical spirituality, having heard the charismatic theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel at the Protestant Union Theological Seminary, who would quote John Donne, the 17th Century Dean of London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, “no man is an island of itself, [we are all] part of the main.”

The Jews and Christians have made peace, although Christian speakers often still address Jewish audiences with apologies for past sins, before urging joint actions of humanitarian interest. Dr Pike, while in Yonkers, had formed an alliance with Father Daniel Berrigan the chaplain from Cornell, who wanted to form a civil rights group within the confines of the old Episcopal church (it did succeed) and he once heard the fiery Jesuit and anti-Vietnam war activist address a synagogue audience, reminding them that once such a group would make a Catholic think of blood. Things had certainly changed, and the same priest, when the great theologian Heschel died on a Sabbath and no rabbis could come for reasons of religious prohibitions, rushed over to the home to offer prayers and comfort the family.

There was another quote about St. Paul’s, in a description of Rabbi Block’s inspired rejuvenation of the Quaker Meeting House as a synagogue... The Minister and the Rabbi shared a common interest in the rehabilitation of sacred structures, as members of a preservationist group, and Dr Pike is still chairman of the construction committee of St. John’s Cathedral in Morningside Heights, the famous unfinished work of art. The magnificent Episcopal Cathedral in London was built by Sir Christopher Wren, whose gravestone within the church premises asks the visitor seeking great architecture just to look around, particularly apt when discussing Rabbi Block’s preservationist work at Brotherhood.

It was Rabbi Block’s spirituality that brought the synagogue and the churches together, that and his “can do ‘attitude. Dr. Pike has remained close to the Block family, and knows the work of their son Herbert, who meets with East European political leaders in rehabilitating relationships with the Jewish world.

As to the future of such relationships, all is not smooth, the problems have to do with the world’s attitudes towards Israel, and much work on all sides is needed to preserve peace. Among Christians the attitude towards Israel involves the entire range of emotions and ideals. Both Jews and Christians will be surprised to hear that some right-wing Christian sects seriously want to rebuild the Temple, the holiest Center of Judaism that was first destroyed 2600 years ago by Nebuchadnezzar (Verdi’s Nabucco), leading to the Babylonian Captivity, then rebuilt by Cyrus of Persia, then destroyed 2000 years ago by Romans. The Temple Mound has since 1200 years ago served as the third holiest Moslem site, Al Aqsa, which does not stop the Apocalypse-minded Christians.

Looking further, at the other end of the spectrum are the Christian left-wing liberals, including such as former President Jimmy Carter, who see the civil rights of the Palestinians being violated, and would want to restore the 1947 boundaries, with full rights, including Muslim access to Jerusalem. In between, the rest of humanity struggles with such concepts as two states, sharing of Jerusalem, complete or partial abandonment of the Jewish settlements, and The Fence. Dr Pike noted that the problem between the various Christian and Jewish interpretations of the solution that might disturb the friendly balance, has also a third ingredient, the Moslem religious leaders with a cause, who often can make both Jews and Christians uneasy. There are confrontations on the Palestinian question with Jews, and also those with Christians, where the Crusades are brought up. The new Democratic government will be put to a severe test.

Dr. Pike was introduced by Robert Wolf, President of the Brotherhood congregation, and by Rabbi Daniel Alder, who has continued the work of Rabbi Block, particularly in continuing exchange of lectures on common Biblical topics (David, last year), alternately held in the synagogue and the church.

Philip Rothman, Executive Director of the synagogue, discussed the lessons learned from Rabbi Block – the art of getting one involved, the doing what needs to be done, if at all possible, the need to say no and doing it right, knowing who you are yourself, taking some actions against one’s will and finding that it was the right thing to do, and above all, finding a way. A social togetherness closed the event.

LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis


This campaign is surely different. Having decided to do our bit during the last 48 hours, we came to that conclusion after I spent some time on the Internet trying to find a local Obama Campaign Headquarters. The searches for phone numbers, using the above words in various combinations, just came up with Republican addresses in NY and none in Pennsylvania.

To explain the PA quest, in 2004 we went to Allentown for the last days, to help in the Kerry campaign, doing door-to-door and phone calls. Pennsylvania was equally crucial then, and Allentown was the nearest town that called for help, with a recruiter right in the concourse of the 42nd Street and Lexington Ave subway station. There was a cheap hotel room available, a nice crowd and banks of land phones, organized lists of people to see, set up by street. After a feet- wearying day we sat at the phones with local names and hit the lone phone book, eventually turning to the 411 service.

When we drove home, next day, to vote, we felt we had done our bit, and .Kerry did win PA.



This time my Obama headquarters search produced no results, until I started calling Allentown hotels, figuring that they would know. On the third call, to the Holiday Inn, the operator produced results - the Obama HQ was right across Harrison Street, in a store. After a little flattering, begging and cajoling she actually found someone with a phone number, and the man at the other end answered "Obama." Research initiative and a little luck helps.



Turned out I had reached a cell phone, one of a dozen issued to volunteers to call voters. That explained the first puzzle, why no directory service responses – the campaigns did not use land phones. The cheerful volunteer explained that they were calling all day, but some relief people would be welcome, and there were plenty of doorbells to ring.



Storing the information for tomorrow - ringing doorbells in PA was all right when we were younger -, I now turned to easier tasks. There were rumors that NYC could use help, so back to creative thinking. Moving On had been bombarding me every day and more, and an e-mail from one of their ops, Justin Rubin, called for volunteers. After a nosy sign on, they led me to a very effective automatic system, that feeds you one name at a time, and you follow the script. Each name is in an embattled state and lists an Obama office needing help. If the callee is willing to work, you supply the name, address and record the date/time the volunteer will come. No messages, absent and busy calls are fed back into the pool. Any time you feel insecure, you can go back to the practice script .After affirming that I will not abuse the privilege of being a campaigner, I went to work. The first two callees were actual volunteers, one in Florida calling hundreds of Creoles (that would be Haitians) and Cubans, all citizens, with surprisingly good results. I called on, until tiredness set in.



Next morning, Monday, produced surprising results – a Brit volunteer on 14th Street distributing flyers with addresses of call centers. That was the secret search phrase I should have used on Sunday. The main, 52 Broadway office, still offered no phone number, looking for e-mail sign-ons and walk-ins, but a call to the knowledgeable – in this case Louise Dankberg of the Tilden Democratic Club - got results. Another British volunteer voice told us to bring cell phones and come any time.



At 52 Broadway, rooms and rooms of the 5th Floor of AFT offices were set with collapsible tables and chairs, full of hundreds of volunteers with their personal cells. After sign-in an instructor gave us scripts and phone lists of names sorted by phone number, all in Florida, and explained – ask for votes, supply the address of voting place, offer car ride to polls (an 866 number) and ask for volunteering on Tuesday, leave full messages, record results on call sheet. I slipped in at a table with two young callers, busy leaving messages. Turned out my first sheets were to a poor area, mostly black, the second set to retiree villages around Bradenton. T the table we exchanged tips and results – about a third were “no answer,” another third of messages and or the rest, a few hang-ups, say 4% of the whole, 30% listeners, mostly willing, many thanking back when I thanked them, including those who had voted early. Old-timers are grateful for the moments of company, and black people are polite. One learns not to ask for whom the callee voted, the tone reveals enough. As for truly hostiles – between the three of us at the table we only had one, an “I don’t vote for no N-word.” A gratifying event – more anon.

The rev. Dr. Thomas F. Pike will speak of the Future of Jewish-Christian Relations at the Sixth Annual Rabbi Irving J. Block Memorial Lecture at the Brotherhood Synagogue on Wednesday, November 13, at 7:00 PM.

The late Rabbi Block founded the synagogue after WWII in Greenwich Village as a memorial of peace between religions and nations, sharing the sanctuary with a Presbyterian Church, whose minister , Dr. Jesse Stitt, traveled with Dr Block to Germany and Israel and appeared on television, preaching brotherhood of all men.

Dr. Pike had a similar strong bond with Rabbi Block.When the synagogue moved to Gramercy Park, a sdimilar alliance formed between the Rabbi and Dr. Ptke, Rector of the Episcopal Partish of Calvary/St. George's, now retired, and Msgt Harry Byrne of the Roman Catholic Church of Epiphany, also retired. The men of cloth spoke on each other's relkigious events and the congregations joined in observing Thanksgiving and visited on other major holy days.

In these days of militant religious groups attacking each other's beliefs and ruining lives, there may be doubts about the future of unity between major faiths. Dr Block attacked the problem directly by inviting the late Moslem Imam Seif Ashmawi to participate, speak at the Synagogue and having his congregation visit the mosque, a tradition at Brotherhood that has continued to this day. Dr. Pike's look into the future is sure to be both enlightening and inspiring.

The Synagogue is at 28 Gramercy park South, west of 3rd Avenue (212/674-5750) A reception to follow . All are invited.

Dr. Thomas Pike to speak at Rabbi Irving Block Memorial

The Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Pike will speak of the Future of Jewish-Christian Relations at the Sixth Annual Rabbi Irving J. Block Memorial Lecture at the Brotherhood Synagogue on Wednesday, November 13, 2008, at 7:00 PM.

The late Rabbi Block founded the synagogue in Greenwich Village, in 1954, with the objectives of strengthening faith and fostering peace between religions and nations. He was able to share a sanctuary with the Village Presbyterian Church, whose minister, Dr. Jesse Stitt, held the same principles and traveled with Dr Block to Germany and Israel, preaching brotherhood of all men.

Dr. Ptke, Rector of the Episcopal Parish of Calvary/St. George's, retired since June 2008, came to the Gramercy area in 1971. With a lifelong interest in art and architecture, he has been a member of the NYC Landmarks Commission and the NY Landmarks Conservancy, with particular attention to the conservation of sacred sites. Dr. Pike and Rabbi Block had a common interest in ecumenical alliances, and when Brotherhood Synagogue moved to Gramercy in 1975, they, together with Msgr. Harry Byrne of the Roman Catholic Church of Epiphany (now. ret.), formed a bond, speaking at each other's religious events, and the congregations would join in observing Thanksgiving .

In these days of militant religious groups sabotaging each other's beliefs and ruining lives, there may be doubts about the future of unity between major faiths. Dr Block attacked the problem directly by inviting the late Moslem Imam Seif Ashmawi to participate, speak at the Synagogue and having his congregation visit the mosque, a tradition at Brotherhood that has continued. There is a similar initiative at Calvary, and Dr. Pike and Rabbi Daniel Alder exchange lecture series Dr. Pike's look into the future of faiths is sure to be both enlightening and inspiring.

The Synagogue is at 28 Gramercy Park South, west of 3rd Avenue (212/674-5750) . All are invited.