Baltimore Jewish Home 1-16-25

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Dear Readers,

In the aftermath of Chanukah, a time when we celebrated the miraculous flames of the menorah, we are faced with a stark and devastating contrast: the raging wildfires that have swept through California. While the flames of Chanukah illuminate our homes with warmth and hope, these fires are a force of destruction, leaving behind charred landscapes and broken lives. Yet, even in such tragedy, the Torah teaches us that everything we witness carries a message, and the timing of these fires, so close to Chanukah, calls for reflection.

The menorah’s flames remind us of a miracle: oil meant to last one day burned for eight. It was not the quantity of oil that sustained the light but something far deeper—Hashem’s divine will, a message that even when nature seems to dictate otherwise, Hashem ensures that His light endures. This is the very lesson of the burning bush from this week’s parsha: “The bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.” At a time when Klal Yisroel in Mitzrayim had reached the depths of suffering, when it seemed that no hope remained, Hashem revealed to Moshe Rabbeinu that the Jewish people, like the bush, are eternal. No matter how much the flames of adversity seem to engulf us, we are never consumed.

The wildfires in California, coming so soon after Chanukah, are a stark reminder of the power of fire. Fire can destroy, but it can also illuminate. It can

burn everything in its path, but it can also represent the eternal light of the Jewish people, a light that remains undiminished even in the darkest of times. These flames remind us to reflect on the miraculous nature of our own existence as a people.

The timing of these events is not coincidental. Chanukah teaches us that no matter how bleak things appear, the light of Torah and emunah will never be extinguished. And so, when we see flames in the physical world, we must ask ourselves: What are these fires telling us? Perhaps they are urging us to take the lessons of Chanukah’s light and carry them forward, to ensure that the spiritual flames within us—the flames of Torah, mitzvos, and achdus—burn ever stronger.

The fires of destruction serve as a reminder of the enduring flame of hope, and may the lessons of Chanukah inspire us to strengthen the light of Torah, mitzvos, and achdus. At the same time, our hearts are with those affected by the wildfires, and we daven that they find comfort and strength to rebuild quickly and easily. May the physical destruction give way to renewal, and may we all merit to see the ultimate light of the geulah sheleimah.

Wishing everyone a peaceful Shabbos

Aaron Menachem

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Around the Community

Bais Yaakov Middle School Robotics Team Does It Again!

For the fourth consecutive year, Bais Yaakov Middle School’s 8th-grade students have secured their spot at the top!

This year’s competition, hosted at Bnos Aliyah in Manhattan, brought together fierce competition, featuring 9 schools and 43 robots. Yet, even with new team members and fresh challenges, our talented students dominated the event, winning both first and second place.

Traveling by Amtrak and bus to the competition, our students arrived ready to compete with creativity, determination, and teamwork. While the competition was tough, the Bais Yaakov teams

Rochelle Goldberg and Miss Chana Grier, high school assistant

coaches Shana Gross and Aidee Moss, and under the supervision of Mrs. Gitti Horowitz, the teams worked tirelessly to perfect their robots and strategies. Thank you to Mrs. Sossie Ansbacher, middle school faculty, for chaperoning the trip.

CIJE, or the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing education in Jewish day schools across the United States. It focuses on promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education by providing cutting-edge programs, professional development for teachers, and access to advanced technology and resources. Both Bais Yaakov High School and Middle School work closely with CIJE in their respective Stem programs. CIJE Robotics has a profound impact on middle school girls, empowering them to develop critical STEM skills while building confidence and resilience. Through hands-on learning, the program challenges students to design, build, and program robots, fostering creativity, problem-solving,

to real-world engineering concepts and ignites a passion for technology, often inspiring them to pursue STEM fields in the future. CIJE also creates a supportive environment where girls can tackle challenges, learn from setbacks, and celebrate their successes, helping them realize their potential in areas traditionally underrepresented by women. By participating in CIJE Robotics, these young girls gain not only technical skills but also the belief that they can excel in any career they choose. Bais Yaakov is particularly grateful to our CIJE liaison, Dr. Joey Saltzman who advises and works closely with the coaches and teams. This year’s victorious teams included:

First Place: Shani Rothschild, Leah Shnaidman, and Chaya Yasyni

Second Place: Aviva Golburgh, Esther Luxenberg, and Kayla Zuckerbrod

Their hard work, innovation, and collaborative spirit were on full display, earning them

the admiration of judges and competitors alike.

This year’s victory continues the proud tradition of Bais Yaakov excellence in robotics.

The students’ achievements are a testament to their dedication, the support of their families, and the guidance of their devoted coaches and mentors.

Mazel tov to our winning teams— you’ve made us all proud!

Our 8th Grade Robotics Girls: Miriam Ansbacher

Esterli Bushwick

Ahuva Feldman

Emuna Felps

Aviva Golburgh

Shira Haber

Miki Herman

Perri Klein

Tehilla Levin

Malkie Lipnitsky

Esther Luxenberg

Huvie Passe

Hila Roth

Shani Rothschild

Shira Safren

Leah Shnaidman

Chaya Yasnyi

Huvie Zalesch

Kayla Zuckerbrod

Try one week of our in-person classes for free! Contact our office for more details.

Winter Semester 5785

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 - THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2025

VIA ZOOM

10:00-11:00 am

Lessons from Deeper in the Desert

SUN MON

MRS. RUHAMA WELCHER

This class will not meet Sunday, March 23rd.

Sponsored by Devorah Urszuy as an aliyas neshama for her sister Shoshke Genendle bas Aaaron Leib and her father Aaron Leib ben Moshe.

10:00-11:00 am Pirkei Avos

REBBETZIN BRACHA GOLDBERGER

Sponsored by Marcy Steingroot for the safe return of all the hostages, the safety of the chayalim, a refuah shelaimah for all who need one and a nechama to Klal Yisroel.

9:30-10:25 am

Topics in Sefer Bereishis

TUES

MRS. MINDI HAUER

This class will not meet Tuesday, February 18th.

VIA ZOOM

9:30-10:30 am

Living Tehillim

WED

No Charge for 5785 Mesorah Members

Non Members $80 per course

Mesorah Baltimore Members will receive exclusive access to class recordings.

8:00-9:00 pm

Sefer Shmuel

REBBETZIN ETTIE ROSENBAUM

Sponsored by Sally Wygoda as a zechus for Yaffa Yehudis bas Tziporah and Yitzchok Simcha ben Esther as well as for a z’chus for a refuah shelaimah for Yaakov Shmuel ben Rus Rivka and in memory of Mindel bas Yaakov.

12:00-1:00 pm

Parsha HaShavua

MRS. SARA BREJT

MRS. RIVKA SEGAL

Sponsored by Linda Wagschal in memory of her parents Yosef Aharon ben Yitzchok Mechel and Leah bas Menachem Mendel as well as her sister Gittel bas Yosef Aharon.

9:30-10:25 am

Ohr Gedalyahu: The Eye Opening

This class will not meet Wednesday, February 26th.

Sponsored by Herschel and Risa Miller in loving memory of their parents, Avraham Yitzchok ben Herschel HaLevi z”l, Aidel bas Avraham a’h, Meir Chaim Alter ben Shammai z”l and Slova bas Mordechai a’h as well as Dr. Yechiel Naiman, Yechiel Simcha ben Moshe Tzvi.

12:00-1:00 pm

THURS

THURS

Works of HaRav Gedalia Schorr, zt”l

RABBI MENACHEM GOLDBERGER

Self Acceptance & Personal Redemption in the Thought of Rav Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin RABBI YONAH SKLARE

Classes take place at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion - 6602 Park Heights Avenue unless listed as a Zoom class. Zoom information for the classes being given via Zoom will be sent to Mesorah Baltimore Members and pre-registered participants before each class.

For more information, membership and registration: email mesorah@mesorahbaltimore.org call 410.358.2545 online www.mesorahbaltimore.org

To OCA 2nd Graders

The 2nd grade students at Ohr Chadash Academy (OCA) reached an incredible milestone: receiving their Chumashim! The celebration included a heartfelt bracha from Rabbi Goldberger, Rav of Tiferes Yisroel, beautiful songs about their learning, and reflections from each student about why they love studying Torah.

The program concluded with a family activity, where the students proudly demonstrated their skills in breaking down words into prefixes, suffixes, and root words—a testament to their hard work and growth. Yasher Koach!

Ohr Chadash Academy Middle School Robotics Club

OCA’s robotics club is gearing up for an exciting spring! Boys’ and girls’ teams are building robots for a nationwide tournament in New

York in March, and are also participating in local skirmishes with other schools. New to OCA this year, and led by OCA’s expert IT Director, Ms. Yehudit Taffel, the Robotics Club is

an incredible opportunity for students to develop skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and STEM concepts.

Students are very dedicated

and have been working hard while building and programming their robots, and of course, having fun in the process. They’re hoping to bring home the gold!

Mazel Tov

Greater

Washington: Around the Community

Yeshiva of Greater Washington Launches Capital Campaign to Expand and Strengthen Torah in the Community

The Yeshiva of Greater Washington (YGW) kicked off its highly anticipated capital building campaign with a special event at its current Arcola campus. The gathering, which drew a large turnout of community members, marked the beginning of an ambitious project that will not only transform the school’s physical space but also enhance its role as a Torah center for the entire Silver Spring community.

The evening began with a Tehillim led by Rav Reingold, Rosh Kollel Zichron Amram . Mr. Adam Herman, a long-time Board member and parent of children who attend YGW, shared opening remarks. In his speech, Mr. Herman emphasized the importance of this project and the goal of educating the community about the steps YGW plans to take.

Following Mr. Herman, the President of the Board, Mr. Abe Zwany, took the stage to provide an overview of the campaign’s vision. Mr. Zwany introduced the project’s key plans, explaining how the new building would not only expand the campus but also enhance the school’s ability to serve its growing student body and its broader mission to strengthen Torah learning throughout the community.

Rabbi Aron Lopiansky, Rosh Yeshiva of YGW, delivered a powerful message about the significance of the yeshiva beyond its walls. He shared that YGW is not just a school—it is a “spring of Torah” that spills over into every facet of community life. Rabbi Lopiansky noted that every local synagogue has alumni of YGW who are actively involved, further emphasizing the integral role the Yeshiva plays in shaping the spiritual fabric of the area.

The event continued with remarks from Mr. Kevin Berman, a key figure in the development process, and architect Mr. Michael Blake, who shared insights into the vision behind the new building. Both speakers highlighted the collaborative effort that has gone into planning the project, underscoring how important it is for the community to come together to make the vision a reality.

Mr. Zwany took the opportunity to dive deeper into the specifics of the interior design, discussing how the new building will not only accommodate the expanding number of students but also create spaces that will foster learning, growth, and community engagement. The expanded facilities, he explained, would include state-of-theart classrooms, a larger Beis Midrash, and communal spaces designed to meet the diverse needs of the Yeshiva’s ever-growing student body.

As the evening drew to a close, Rabbi Yitzchak Merkin, Headmaster, delivered a compelling message about the importance of local support for this transformative project. Rabbi Merkin emphasized that for the success of the campaign, it is crucial for the community to fully embrace the project and get involved in making it happen. He reminded everyone that this building is not just for the yeshiva’s students; it is an investment in the future of the entire community.

The event concluded with an overwhelming sense of excitement and anticipation. Community members left the evening with a renewed sense of belonging and a shared vision for the future. As YGW embarks on this new chapter of growth, the expansion of the yeshiva is not just seen as an opportunity for the students, but as an investment in the Torah center of Silver Spring at large.

With the support of the local

community, the capital campaign promises to be a defining moment in the continued flourishing of YGW,

helping

to come.

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Greater Washington: Around the Community

Chabad Of Silver Spring Hosts An Evening Of Inspiration With Orit Mark Ettinger

Orit is a media professional, panelist on Israel’s Channel 13’s Morning Show, and an inspirational speaker who delivers riveting lectures sharing her life story interwoven with impactful lessons on overcoming adversity, personal growth, and resilience.

In 2016, Orit’s father, Michael Mark, was killed in a terror attack

near their home in Otniel, Israel, and her mother was severely injured. Two years later, her eldest brother, Shlomi Mark, was killed while working for the Mossad, Israel’s Institute for intelligence and Special Assignments.

On October 8, 2023 when the Israel-Hamas war began, her cousin, Elchanan Kalmanson, was killed by terrorists after he saved over 100 people from Kibbutz Be’eri. And on October 31, 2023, Orit’s younger brother, Pedayah Mark, was killed while fighting in Gaza.

Through unending pain and grief, Orit founded an organization called “Or Michael” which organizes thousands of volunteers to spread light at hospitals and around Israel. Orit is the author of “Broken Ray of Light,” a bestselling book about turning tragedy into hope, soon to be released in English.

Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide

6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M-F

6:25 am Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F

6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation M-F

Beit Halevi (Sfardi) M, T

Chabad of Silver Spring M-F

Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY M-F

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S YGW M, Th

6:35 am Ohr Hatorah M, Th

6:40 am YGW S, T, W, F

Magen David Sephardic Congregation M-Th

6:45 am Beit Halevi (Sfardi) S, T, W, F

Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th

Ohr Hatorah T, W, F

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M, Th

6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah M, Th Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F

Chabad of Upper Montgomery County M-F

6:55 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah T, W, F

7:00 am Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Silver Spring Jewish Center S

Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah T, W, F

Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac T, W, F

7:05 am Kesher Israel M, Th

7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th Kesher Israel T, W, F

Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue M-F

Ohr Hatorah S

7:30 am Chabad of DC M-F

Chabad of Potomac M-F JROC M-F

Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) M-F

7:45 am YGW (Yeshiva Session Only) S-F

8:00 am Beth Sholom Congregation S

Kemp Mill Synagogue S Kesher Israel S

Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY S

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Chabad of Upper Montgomery County S Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah S

8:00 am YGW (High School; School-Contingent) S-F

Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac S Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) S

8:05 am Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville M, Th

8:15 am Ohr Hatorah S Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville S, T, W, F

Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy S-F

Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F

8:30 am Chabad of DC S Chabad of Potomac S JROC S Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue S

Silver Spring Jewish Center S YGW (Summer Only) S-F

8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S-F

9:00 am Chabad of Silver Spring S Kemp Mill Synagogue S

mincha

12:30 pm YGW Sunday

1:00 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F

1:10 pm YGW M-Th

3:00 pm YGW Middle School School Days

mincha/maariv

Before Shkiah (15-18 minutes), S-TH

Beit Halevi (Sfardi)

Beth Sholom Congregation

Chabad of Potomac

Chabad of Silver Spring

Chabad of Upper Montgomery County

Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville (20 min before, S-F)

JROC

Kemp Mill Synagogue

Kesher Israel

Magen David Sephardic Congregation

Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue

Ohr Hatorah

Silver Spring Jewish Center

Southeast Hebrew Congregation, Knesset Yehoshua Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah

Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Asheknaz) Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sefarhadi) maariv

6:00 pm YGW School Days

7:30

8:15

8:45

shacharis

- Yael S., OCA Parent

613 Seconds with Rabbi Fuchs of JEWELS

BJH: Rabbi Fuchs, please tell us about JEWELS School and what’s new since we last spoke.

Rabbi Fuchs: Thank you for the opportunity. JEWELS School is an incredible place. It’s the only Jewish school in Maryland for children with special needs. These children receive expert special education, therapy, and lots of love!

BJH: That sounds wonderful. It’s such an important resource for our community. How is all of this funded? It must be quite expensive for each student.

Rabbi Fuchs: It is costly. We have a dedicated board of directors who believe finances should never prevent a child from being accepted to JEWELS. To provide scholarships, we fundraise around $1.5 million annually.

BJH: How many students are currently enrolled?

Rabbi Fuchs: We have 87 students across 12 classes.

BJH: Are they all at the 31 Walker campus?

Rabbi Fuchs: No, we have 8 classes at the main building, 2 satellite classes at Bais Yaakov, and 2 at TA/Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim. These schools truly care about the community and graciously welcome JEWELS. We are grateful for their acceptance and support.

BJH: I see your annual campaign is coming up on January 20th. Can you share the campaign theme?

Rabbi Fuchs: Our theme is “Hold My Hand / Change My World.” At JEWELS, we work together: the community holds our hands, the teachers and therapists hold the children’s hands, and we hold the parents’ hands. Together, we change the world.

BJH: How many staff members work at JEWELS?

Rabbi Fuchs: There are 140 staff members in total. They are truly amazing—talented and compassionate. Our staff give their hearts and souls to JEWELS. We invite the community to come in and see them

in action. The creativity and passion are inspiring. Even the office staff and administrators are involved—it’s one big family. Everyone cares about each other, and the positive energy is contagious. Despite the challenges we face, there is so much happiness in the air.

BJH: How do you create such an atmosphere?

Rabbi Fuchs: It starts with Mrs. Bamberger, who views every child and staff member as family. The directors and administrators follow her lead. The theme is always the same: strive for the best possible outcome for each child.

BJH: Your campaigns seem to energize so many people. What’s your secret?

Rabbi Fuchs : The secret is our JEWELS. Anyone who knows them can see how inspiring they are. They are pure and precious neshamos who motivate us all. They need us, and we need to be there for them.

BJH: Have other cities adopted the JEWELS model?

Rabbi Fuchs: Yes, we are proud to have inspired similar programs in

Miami, Chicago, and Passaic. Our team works closely with the directors of these schools, offering guidance and support. We would love to see more Jewish communities adopt the JEWELS model, and we’re happy to assist them.

BJH: What about your future plans?

Rabbi Fuchs: Our oldest students are 15 and 16 years old, so we’re now focusing on expanding our life skills programs to help students transition successfully into adulthood. We’re also planning to expand our current building. We’ve outgrown the space, and we’re starting construction on a 10,500-squarefoot addition.

BJH: Will this addition have a pool?

Rabbi Fuchs: Yes, it will include a therapy pool, along with additional classrooms, office space, therapy rooms, and a gym.

BJH: That’s so exciting! Keep up the amazing work, and best of luck with the upcoming campaign. Can you share the campaign link?

Rabbi Fuchs: HoldMyHandJewels.com

The Week In News

The Week In News

The World’s Best Passport

According to a list compiled by Henley & Partners, a migration consultancy, Singapore boasts the most superior passport in the world, as per the 2025 Henley Passport Index.

Citizens from Singapore can travel to 195 out of 227 world locations without needing a visa. Right behind Singa-

pore was Japan in second place, whose citizens could travel to 193 global destinations without a visa. In third place was Finland and South Korea, with access to 192 locations.

In the organization’s 2024 ranking, Singapore tied with Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France for the top spot. This year, most countries in the top twenty are in Europe.

The index considers “visa-free” access to be where visas aren’t needed to travel to a particular country or travelers are instead offered other entrance documents that are easier to obtain, including visas on arrival, visitor’s permits, or electronic travel authorities.

The United States, falling from the number two spot in 2015, was in the ninth spot this year, offering visa-free access to 186 destinations. Right behind the U.S. was the United Arab Emirates, with 185, up from 72 a decade ago.

In this year’s ranking, the United Kingdom and Canada also dropped to lower positions. China, offering visa-free access to 58 destinations, which is nearly double last year, jumped to the 60th spot in 2025.

Lowest on the list is once again Afghanistan, with a passport that allows citizens to travel visa-free to just 26 locations, including Cambodia, Maldives, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, and Haiti. Also low on the list are Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Nepal, Libya, and Bangladesh. Above them is North Korea, which offers 41 visa-free destinations.

Lebanon Elects President

Joseph Aoun, a military commander backed by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and other countries, was elected last week as president of Lebanon by the country’s parliament.

With 60-year-old Aoun becoming president, a position specifically for Ma-

ronite Christians, he fills a post that has been empty since October 2022, when former president Michel Aoun left office at the conclusion of his term. Until now, Lebanon’s 128-seat parliament hasn’t been successful in electing a new president, as no candidate was able to secure the 86 votes required for victory.

It took two rounds of voting for the new president to win enough votes. In the second round of voting, Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, a Shi’ite ally of the terror group, supported Joseph Aoun, leaving him with 99 votes.

Mohammed Raad, a lawmaker from Hezbollah, claimed his party’s decision to drag on the vote “sent a message that we [Hezbollah] are the guardians of national consensus.”

In his first speech as president, Aoun addressed the chamber, declaring that his inauguration marks “a new phase in the history of Lebanon.” He promised to rebuild south Lebanon, stop Israel from launching attacks on his country, and prevent any parties other than the Lebanese army from carrying arms.

Aoun became the likely victor on Wednesday after Suleiman Frang-

The Week In News

ieh, a candidate backed by Hezbollah, dropped out of the race and endorsed Aoun. Before the election, diplomats from the U.S., France, and Saudi Arabia met with Lebanese officials in an effort to convince them to vote for Aoun. According to reports, American, French, and Saudi officials told Nabih Berri, the parliament speaker and Hezbollah ally, that foreign aid to Lebanon was contingent on Aoun winning the presidency.

“There is a very clear message from the international community that they are ready to support Lebanon, but that it needs a president, a government,” said Michel Mouawad, a Christian member of parliament who is against Hezbollah. “We did get a message from Saudi of support.”

Lisa Johnson, an ambassador for the U.S., said Aoun’s victory made her “very happy.” The king and crown prince of Saudi Arabia congratulated the new Lebanese president. Gideon Saar, the foreign minister of Israel, commended Aoun on his win and expressed his hopes that the Jewish state’s relationship with Lebanon would improve now that Beirut has a new president.

Melhem Riachi, another Christian

lawmaker, declared that Aoun’s election would bring about the end of Iran’s influence in Lebanon, ushering in “an era of Lebanon’s harmony with the international community.”

“This election must now be followed by the appointment of a strong government” able to carry “out the reforms necessary for Lebanon’s economic recovery, stability, security and sovereignty,” said Christophe Lemoine, a foreign ministry spokesman for France.

Since the new president’s predecessor left, Lebanon hasn’t had a president or a functional cabinet. Now, Aoun will need to consult with members of parliament to nominate a Sunni Muslim as prime minister, who will be tasked with forming a new cabinet.

Iran Tries to Sell its Oil

In late 2018, Iran shipped around 25 million barrels of oil to China, fearing U.S. sanctions from then-President Donald Trump.

Now, Iran has reportedly transport-

L CHAIM

ed three million barrels from a storage area in China, as Tehran desperately tries to find the money to support Hamas and Hezbollah, its Gazan and Lebanese proxies reeling from their ongoing wars with Israel. Iran is also grappling with high inflation, slow growth, and less regional influence now that Syria’s Assad regime is no more, thus restricting Tehran’s ability to transport weapons and money to Hezbollah via Syria.

According to reports, China approved the shipment after discussing the matter with Iran in late November and December. This is the first time Beijing has permitted Iran to sell the oil it stores in China.

According to people with knowledge of the matter, Iran stored its oil in two Chinese ports: Dalian, which is

WEEKLY CALENDAR

east of Beijing, and Zhoushan, which is south of Shanghai. Recently, Madestar and CH Billion, two ships, went to the Dalian port. Early this month, Madestar left the port with 2 million barrels, while the CH Billion, which is expected to bring back 700,000 barrels, is still stationed at the port as of last week.

Madestar reportedly sailed near South Korea, and the oil was moved to another vessel.

By selling all of its barrels of oil held in China, Iran could make $2 billion, half of which would have to be paid to China to cover storage fees.

Iran has reportedly designated earnings for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which provides funding and weapons to Tehran’s proxies.

According to Kpler, a commodities research firm, in 2022, China, a major purchaser of Iranian oil, stopped buying from Iran to avoid sanctions from the United States. However, Iran still indirectly sells oil to China by using other countries as a middleman. According to the nonprofit organization United Against Nuclear Iran, Tehran exported 587 million barrels of oil last year. Of

JANUARY 20TH- JANUARY 24TH

Stimulating Activities For Adults - Delicious Kosher Meals

Tuesday January 21st Monday January 20th Wednesday January 22nd

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:00 am

Baking with Ms. Hirschman

11:00 am

L'Chaim Trip to the Bais Yaakov Exhibit

1:00 pm

Arts & Crafts with Shifra

2:00 pm

Music with Mr. Fried

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:15 am

Anagrams with Malka Zweig

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi KarpWine in Jewish History

1:00 pm BINGO

1:45 pm

Guitar with Yossi K

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:15 am

Anagrams with Malka Zweig

10:30 am

Bais Yaakov Middle School Visit

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp- Halachos of fish with meat and dairy

1:00 pm

Arts & Crafts with Shifra

1:45 pm

Guitar with Yossi K

Thursday January 23rd

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:15 am

Anagrams with Malka Zweig

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp - Hilchos Brachos

1:00 pm

Arts & Crafts with Shifra

1:45 pm

Guitar with Yossi K

Friday January 24th

10:00 am

Baking with Ms. Hirschman

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi KarpParsha Overview

1:00 pm

Music with Aharon Grayson

The Week In News

Iran’s total exports, 91% is imported to China, according to the group.

On December 3, 35 entities and vessels involved in illegally exporting Iranian petroleum were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department. More entities and vessels, including a Chinese-owned company, were sanctioned by the department on December 19 “to stem the flow of revenue that the Iranian regime uses to support terrorism abroad, as well as to oppress its own people.”

Syrian Jew Dies

Last week, Hadiya Sittah, 92, died in Damascus, Syria, leaving just eight Jewish people left living in Syria.

Sittah did not have any children. The Chief Rabbinate for Syrian Jewry announced her death.

All the Jews living in Syria are elderly.

In a special statement, the Chief Rabbinate expressed condolences to Sittah’s sister, Rosa Sittah, a resident of Damascus, and the rest of the family. “May

G-d comfort you, and may you know no more sorrow,” the statement read.

The rabbinate also issued a call to Syrian Jews in Israel and around the world to honor her memory. “We ask all those of Syrian origin to learn and pray for the elevation of the soul of Hadiya, daughter of Fahima, of blessed memory.”

At the beginning of the 20th century, Syria’s Jewish community numbered approximately 100,000 people. During the prosperous periods of Jewish life in Syria, Jewish communities in cities like Aleppo and Damascus thrived as centers of learning, trade, and culture, contributing significantly to local economies and intellectual life. However, following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the community faced increas-

The Week In News

ing restrictions and tensions, leading to mass emigration to Israel, the United States and other countries.

Now, only eight elderly Jews remain in Syria, with predictions suggesting the country will have no Jewish population within a few years.

Brazil Bans Cellphones in Schools

On Monday, a bill that bans students from using cellphones in schools was signed into law in Brazil, the latest example of lawmakers limiting young people’s use of personal technology in the classroom, amid growing concern about its effect on education and well-being.

Brazil’s Education Ministry said in a statement that the law “aims to safeguard

the mental, physical and psychological health of children and adolescents.”

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called it an example of “working together for the safety and better learning of our children and young people.”

Students in public and private elementary and secondary schools are now banned from using portable electronic devices throughout the school day, the ministry said, though it allows for their educational use and some other exceptions.

Several other countries have enacted similar bans, including the Netherlands, Italy for students up to the third year of middle school, and France for those under 15.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommended in 2023 that smartphones only be allowed during class time for learning activities. “Even just having a mobile phone nearby with notifications coming through is enough to result in students losing their attention from the task at hand,” it said in a statement.

“The presence of a phone, we know all too well from our daily lives, can be a big distraction,” Manos Antoninis, the organization’s Global Education Monitoring Report director, said Rules in the United States regulating

phones in schools vary by state and district, and differ as to whether phone use is banned altogether or only during class time.

In 2023, Florida became the first state to enact a law ordering all public schools to ban cellphone use during class. South Carolina schools must ban personal cellphone use during school hours to receive certain funding. California is requiring every school district, charter school and county office of education to develop a policy limiting cellphone use during school hours by July 2026.

Karmiel, 20, from Gedera; Staff Sgt. Yoav Feffer, 19, from Herzliya; and Staff Sgt. Aviel Wiseman, 20, from Poria.

They were all serving with the Nahal Brigade’s Reconnaissance Unit.

The team was inside a building preparing to use explosives for engineering activity when the explosives detonated. The building the troops were in collapsed, killing the five soldiers.

So Much Pain

Five young men lost their lives this week in an explosion in northern Gaza, raising the death toll of soldiers in the fighting over the past 15 months to a heart-wrenching number of 407.

The five heroes were named as Cpt. Yair Yakov Shushan, 23, from Ma’alot-Tarshiha; Staff Sgt. Yahav Hadar, 20, from Kfar Tavor; Staff Sgt. Guy

Much of the heaviest fighting over the past several months has been in northern Gaza, where the IDF launched a fresh offensive in October to keep Hamas terrorists from regrouping.

Herzliya Mayor Yariv Fisher said that Yoan Feffer was a “principled, modest young man who was full of dreams. A role model, a model of leadership, courage and friendship.”

Last summer, Yair Yakov Shushan received a certificate of excellence from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

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and IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi at his officers’ training course graduation.

Aviel Yosef Wiseman was the son of Meira and Mordechai Wiseman.

Yahav Hadar “loved the community [of Kfar Tavor, where he was raised] and the wide, open spaces, where he often rode his mountain bike,” the head of the local council, Oded Halperin, said.

the Young Maccabi youth movement and a graduate of Darca Ramon high school.

In the past week, 15 soldiers were killed in Beit Hanoun, 11 of them from the Nahal Brigade.

Four soldiers from the Brigade were killed on Saturday by an explosive device during combat operations.

They were identified as Sgt. Maj. (res.)

di’in and Sgt. Eliav Astuker, 19, of Ashdod. Fedorenko was a heavy-equipment driver in the 14th Armored Brigade’s 79th Battalion; Diakov, Maayan and Astiker served in the 931st Battalion.

According to a preliminary investigation, the four were killed when a remote-controlled explosive device was detonated near one of the vehicles in the convoy of open jeeps they were riding in. A combat soldier and a reservist officer were severely wounded in the incident.

Palestinians Honor Jimmy Carter

On Monday, Palestinians planted a grove of 250 olive trees in Judea and Samaria to honor the memory of late U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

HIRINGHIRING

Carter, who died last week at the age of 100, has a legacy that is “rooted” among Palestinians and across the globe, said Abbas Melhem, executive manager of the Palestinian Farmers Union. He was one of the few world leaders who “stood firmly supporting the struggle of the Palestinians for independence and for freedom,” according to Melhem.

The 10-dunam (2.5-acre) grove in the city of Tulkarem, titled “Freedom Farm,” will be fenced in to protect it from wildlife or “extremist Jewish settlers,” who the Palestinians accuse of attacking Palestinian olive trees in the past.

The advocacy group for farmers in the area launched the project in collaboration with U.S.-based nonprofit Treedom for Palestine, which plants trees to empower Palestinian farmers.

Carter brokered the Camp David peace accords between Israel and Egypt in 1978, marking the first peace treaty between Israel and any of its Arab neighbors. In his later years, he was a staunch advocate for the Palestinians, cozying up to leaders like Yasser Arafat and Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas. He also compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to apartheid, an allegation Israel soundly rejects, noting that Arab citizens in the

Jewish state enjoy equal rights.

“I think planting olive trees that live at least 100 years old like him is a very suitable way to honor his life and his legacy,” said George Zeidan, the Carter Center’s Director in Israel and Palestine.

2 Arab-Israeli Hostage Deaths Confirmed

The Israeli army last week recovered the bodies of two hostages from a tunnel in Rafah. The two abductees were identified as father and son Youssef and Hamza Ziyadne, two Arab-Israelis kidnapped alive on October 7 and held in Gaza ever since.

Hamza, 22, was a father of two. Youssef, 53, was married to two women and had 19 children. The Ziyadne family resides in Rahat, a Bedouin city in Israel, in the Ziyadne neighborhood, which was named after their family.

Hamza, his father Youssef, and two of his siblings—his 18-year-old brother Bilal and 17-year-old sister Aisha—were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 while working at Kibbutz Holit. After over fifty days in Gaza, Bilal and Aisha, along with 103 others, were released as part of a short-lived ceasefire agreement in November 2023.

After being freed from captivity, Bilal said Hamas knew he and his family were Arabs when the terrorists kidnapped them. While in Gaza, the four family members were held together.

Israeli officials have yet to confirm when Youssef and Hamza passed away, although the Walla news website reported that authorities suspect Hamas murdered them around a year ago.

“Four members of a family were kidnapped and only two of them returned alive. Youssef and Hamza, who survived a period of [torture] in captivity in Gaza, could have been saved by an agreement made earlier,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum stated in response to the news.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement, “We hoped and worked for the safe return of the four members of the family from Hamas captivity… We

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returned the children Bilal and Aisha on November 23, and we wanted to return Youssef and Hamza in the same way.”

On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, murdering more than 1,200 people, kidnapping 251 others, and maiming thousands more. Since then, Israel has rescued eight hostages, recovered the remains of 34 others, and freed 105 civilians through a weeklong November ceasefire. Now, Israel suspects that 94 hostages remain in Gaza, at least 34 of whom have perished while in captivity.

Tamar Edri, Hy”d

On November 25, 2024, Tamar Edri was wounded when a rocket from Hezbollah hit her home in Nahariya just a day before the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon went into effect. On Sunday, it was announced that Tamar, 75, died of her wounds.

Another elderly person and a soldier were also seriously injured in Hezbollah barrages that day, while dozens of others were lightly hurt.

Nahum Rosenberg, Tamar’s son-in-law, said that she had remained unconscious and in intensive care since being injured.

“We knew that her injury was not simple, but we expected that she would recover, and we did not lose hope, but to our regret, it didn’t happen,” Rosenberg said.

“She had many friends and was known and loved in the city,” he added. “The kind of person that it is fun to be around.”

Tamar was concerned that as an elderly person she would not be able to get to a shelter in time after a rocket warning siren.

“But in the end, it found them in the most protected place,” he said noting that Tamar and her husband Yossi had spent most of the duration of the war at home and in their home’s safe room. The late-night rocket attack apparently caught them while they were in their bedroom. Yossi, who had left the room but did not make it to the couple’s safe room, was unhurt, though others in the building were injured.

Tamar leaves behind her husband,

four daughters, and nine grandchildren. She was the 46th civilian victim of the war that commenced after the October 7 massacre.

U.S. House Votes to Sanction ICC

In a 243 to 140 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to penalize the International Criminal Court with sanctions. The “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act,” which will now be voted upon in the Senate, aims to condemn the court for issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former Defense Minister. The Hague accuses Netanyahu and Gallant of committing war crimes in Gaza, a charge that Israel fervently denies.

If passed by the Senate and signed into law by soon-to-be President Donald Trump, the legislation would press for sanctions, including the potential revocation or blocking of U.S. visas and a ban on U.S. property transactions, on any officials or entities affiliated with the Hague who promote “any effort to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute any protected person of the United States and its allies.”

The Hague does not have jurisdiction over the United States and Israel, since the two countries were not signatories to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the 124-member International Criminal Court.

All Republicans voted in favor of the bill, except for Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who said the House “should not get involved in disputes between other countries.” Additionally, 45 Democrats voted to sanction the ICC.

“America is passing this law because a kangaroo court is seeking to arrest the prime minister of our great ally, Israel,” said Brian Mast, a Florida Republican and the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, prior to the vote.

In June, the House passed a similar bill, which was shot down by the then-Democrat-controlled Senate. Although the Republicans now hold a slim majority in the Senate, they would need seven Democrats to side with them in order to pass the legislation.

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The relief – known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) – applies to people who would face extreme hardship if forced to return to homelands devastated by armed conflict or natural disasters.

Biden Extends TPS Protections

On Friday, just days before leaving office, Biden extended temporary deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants living in the United States.

Friday’s announcement applies to people from El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine and Venezuela – shielding them from deportation for another 18 months, starting from the expiration of the current protection and allowing them to remain in the U.S. with work permits.

In his first term in office, President Trump tried to end TPS for El

Salvador, among other countries, but faced legal challenges.

Immigrant advocates and Democratic lawmakers have been urging the Biden White House to do more to protect immigrants in the United States who fear a Trump presidency as he is expected to crack down on illegal immigration.

Temporary protections for El Salvador, Ukraine, Venezuela and Sudan were set to expire in the spring.

The decision grants relief to roughly 232,000 Salvadorans; 1,900 Sudanese; 104,000 Ukrainians; and 600,000 Venezuelans, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Fatal, FastMoving Fire Hits L.A.

At least 24 people have lost their lives in the raging, wind-driven fires that have decimated the Los Angeles area landscape. Now, investigators are starting to turn their attention to the rocky bluffs high above Los Angeles with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean as the ignition point of the Palisades Fire.

At least 5,000 homes were destroyed in the Palisades Fire.

Some say that the fires were started by visitors to a hiking trail near Skull Rock on New Year’s Day. The area is devoid of color now, the ground reduced to ash.

The fire tore through the steep hillsides on either side of the Temescal Ridge Trail, which runs north-south, roughly the same direction as the fierce winds that propelled the Palisades Fire soon after it ignited on Tuesday, January 7, just before 10:30 a.m.

The New Year’s fire was reported just after midnight and burned eight acres before fire crews got it fully contained. Some crew members stayed to monitor for flare-ups.

On the morning the January 7 fire ignited, a witness said he saw what resembled smoke or dust wafting in the area.

Some of the deadliest wildfires of the past century were blazes that firefighters believed they had extinguished, only to have the remnants flare up into an inferno.

When the latest fire began to spread on January 7, nearby residents watched in horror as it took hold in the parched grassland and then jumped down the hillside, stoked by rising winds. They called 911 and packed evacuation supplies in case they needed to flee. By then — around 10:30 a.m. — flames were towering over the landscape. Just half an hour later, the fire had already sped down much of the hillside toward houses below.

Fire crews rushed to the scene by ground and air, and one firefighter reported to dispatchers that the blaze had started “just below the old burn scar” — from the New Year’s blaze — and might reach nearby houses within minutes.

“It is pushing directly toward Palisades,” he said on the radio. “This thing is going to make a good run.”

For now, authorities say that 24 people have died in the fires, but there are dozens who are still missing. More than 92,000 Los Angeles County residents are under evacuation orders and some 89,000 are under evacuation warnings, according to authorities.

The Eaton and Palisades Fires are likely the second and fourth most destructive in California history. The total area burned by the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires is about 60 square miles, an area larger than Paris.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday issued an executive order to speed up the rebuild efforts after the Los Angeles County wildfires.

“This unprecedented natural disaster warrants an unprecedented response that will expedite the rebuilding of homes, businesses and communities,” Mayor Bass said in a statement provided by her office.

A task force will be created to remove debris from impacted areas and mitigate for risk from storms. It will help residents rebuild homes as they were and will issue permits in all impacted areas. The City of Los Angeles will provide 1,400 units of housing to those who have lost their homes and will direct the Department of Building and Safety to expedite temporary certificates of occupancy for those units.

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As of Monday, the Palisades Fire was 14% contained, although it had seen “very little” growth in the last 36 hours. The Eaton Fire was 33% contained; the Hurst Fire was at 95% containment.

Drink Coffee in the Morning

New research suggests that drinking coffee exclusively in the morning could lower the risk of premature death. According to the study, drinking coffee later in the day isn’t linked with prolonged life.

The study, released last week in the European Heart Journal, was headed by Dr. Lu Qi, HCA Regents Distinguished Chair and professor at Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans.

“This is the first study testing coffee drinking timing patterns and health outcomes,” the lead author said. “We don’t typically give advice about timing in our dietary guidance, but perhaps we should

adults conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2018. Much of the data includes the times they consumed coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated.

The study authors grouped coffee drinking times into three categories: morning (4 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.), afternoon (12 p.m. to 4:59 p.m.), and evening (5 p.m. to 3:59 a.m.). Two patterns emerged in the data: drinking coffee in the morning and drinking coffee all day.

According to the data, those who drink coffee in the morning were 16% less likely to die prematurely from any cause and 31% less likely to die specifically from cardiovascular disease. But those who drink coffee all day aren’t any less likely to pass away prematurely.

The authors also considered other factors, such as sleep, age, race, ethnicity, gender, family income, education, physical activity levels, diet, and preexisting health conditions. Even when taking those factors into account, the authors still found that drinking coffee in the morning was linked to lower odds of dying early.

shows an association between morning coffee drinking and a decreased chance of early death but not a causal relationship. Still, Vanessa King, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’s spokesperson, maintains that the research results are “meaningful, as the leading cause of death in America is cardiovascular diseases.”

“Highlights include using a machine learning-style method to categorize coffee drinking patterns, and validation of findings in (more than one) external data source which are distinct from the primary source, which greatly reduces the likelihood of an accidental/false positive finding,” said Dr. David Kao, the Jacqueline Marie Schauble Leaffer Endowed Chair in Women’s Heart Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz, who was not involved in the study, but called the research “fascinating.”

There are some issues with the study, however. For instance, there might be other factors that the study authors didn’t consider, and there might be inaccuracies in the data itself. Also, the data didn’t include genetic information.

The researchers “could not exclude the possibility that the morning-type coffee drinking pattern is a marker for an over-

all healthy lifestyle,” the authors stated. “For example, morning-type coffee drinkers may be more willing to exercise and eat non-ultra-processed foods.” In other words, it may not be that drinking coffee in the morning lowers the risk of premature death. Rather, it might be that those who drink coffee in the morning are more likely to engage in habits that lengthen their lives.

But if the study is accurate, a possible explanation for coffee consumption’s link to a lower risk of premature death could be “that consuming coffee in the afternoon or evening may disrupt circadian rhythms and levels of hormones such as melatonin,” according to Qi. Lower melatonin levels are associated with higher blood pressure levels and increased oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease risk. Additionally, coffee has antioxidants that eliminate free radicals that boost one’s risk of cardiovascular disease, thus reducing inflammation in the body.

“The anti-inflammatory effect of a pattern of coffee consumption concentrated in the morning may be more beneficial than that of a pattern … spread across morning, afternoon and evening,” the study said.

Torah Thought Digging Deep

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

Aperiod of eighty years transpires before Moshe is summoned to redeem his people. Moshe’s earliest appearance on the scene as an active adult was possibly at the age of twelve, or according to others, twenty or forty. Only two incidents are reported in the Torah regarding that time.

After going out and observing his brethren’s ‘burdens’, he reacts to an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Hebrew man, by striking him down and burying the evidence. The very next day Moshe takes to task a fellow Jew who is about to strike another Jew, who derogatorily tells Moshe to mind his own business, referring to his knowledge of Moshe having killed the Egyptian a day earlier. Moshe discovers the authorities are on the lookout for him, as his cover has now been exposed, and flees to Midyan to escape death at the hands of the Egyptians.

In the next depiction of the ‘life and times’ of Moshe, after settling in Midyan, he situates himself at the well and once again observes a troubling scene. The daughters of Yisro are attempting to water their sheep when other male shepherds interfere by taking advantage of them, preventing them from drawing the water, and seeking to drive them away. Moshe comes to their rescue and saves them.

Their father Yisro seeks Moshe out and gratefully offers his daughter Tzipporah as a wife. She mothers a child, and Moshe loyally tends to the sheep of Yisro. While pasturing the sheep, G-d appears to Moshe, at age of eighty, instructing him to go back to Egypt to begin the process of redemption.

This is all we know of that period — two thirds of Moshe’s life.

Clearly, the trait of Moshe ‘bearing the burden of his people’ — evident in these three episodes, is the hallmark of his persona, that earned him the role of ‘savior’.

Is it just a ‘chazakah’ of incidents, or is there a message and progression in these events?

Can the entire possibly sixty years of Moshe’s life in Midyan be encapsulated within one story?

The verse reports how after settling in Midyan, he ‘sat at the ראב — well’

Why did he ‘sit at the well’?

The Midrash says that in the tradition of the patriarchs, Yitzchok and Yaakov, who met their spouses at the well, Moshe followed suit.

Was the well the local ‘meet the singles’ spot?

Certainly, the proximity to the well is there to teach us something profound.

Moshe’s first encounter reflected his sensitivity toward the pain of his fellow men, compelling him to react almost instinctively.

The verse describes how ‘he turned this way and that way and saw that there was no שיא — man’. There is an ancient Midrash that interprets the verse to be stating Moshe’s utter shock that no one reacted. He ‘looked around’ and saw no one was ‘man enough’ to intervene and stand up to the Egyptian and save the Jew.

(ןמית שרדמ טוקלי)

Moshe observed a world of apathy. He decided to take up the role to change society for the better by acting decisively.

Clearly though he wasn’t too convincing since the very next day, not only are his brethren oblivious to one another’s plight, but they are physically assaulting each other!

So, he decides to tackle one issue at a time seeking to admonish the perpetrators, hoping he will make his point. All Moshe accomplishes is to stoke even greater resentment towards him.

This tale echoes the famous words of the father of the Mussar movement, Reb Yisroel Salanter, “I wanted to change the world, but found it too hard, so I tried to change my city. I couldn’t do that, so I tried to change my family. I finally realized I could only change myself.”

Moshe is forced to escape to Midyan, where he must undergo a long period of self-perfection, honing and forging his character to perfection.

In his final portrayal of ‘bearing the burden of others’ the Torah goes through a very detailed and confusing record of events.

Now the chief of Midyan had seven daughters, and they came and drew [water], and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flocks.

But the shepherds came, םושרגיו — and drove them away; so, Moshe arose ןעישויו — and rescued them and watered

— their flocks.

They came to their father Reuel, and he said, “Why have you come so quickly today?”

They replied, “An Egyptian man rescued us from the hand[s] of the shepherds, and he also drew [water] for us and watered the flocks.”

The verse states clearly that the daughters filled the troughs prior to the shepherds’ arrival. Moshe succeeds in warding off the shepherds. It then states that he ‘watered’ their sheep. Why? Weren’t the troughs already full.

An additional issue is the use of the male gender when describing the shepherds driving away ‘them’ [the daughters] — םושרגיו, rather than the more accurate ןושרגיו, connoting ‘them’ in the female gender.

Similarly, when describing Moshe watering their [the daughters], flocks, once again it reverts to םנאצ, their (masculine) sheep, rather than the correct ןנאצ, their (feminine) sheep.

When discussing Moshe having saved ‘them’ [the daughters], it finally uses the correct grammar form of ןעישויו — and rescued them (feminine).

Rav Zev Wolf Tenenbaum, who served in Verpelet, was a 19th century Hungarian rabbinic figure about whom the saintly Rav Zvi Hirsh of Liska, the famed author of Ach Pri Tevuah, attested had Torah revealed to him from Heaven, offers a brilliant solution to understanding these verses.

Moshe observed that the daughters had already filled the troughs. When the shepherds attempted to drive the daughters’ sheep away from the troughs, Moshe calmly confronted the shepherds convincing them to allow the young

women to utilize what they had already exerted themselves to fill, promising the shepherds that after the ladies are done, he will gladly draw fresh water into the troughs for their sheep’s use. Instead of castigating them, he reasoned with them. They softened and readily agreed.

The verse can now be readily understood and grammatically correct.

But the shepherds came, [Moshe intervened by reasoning with them, offering to assist them with filling the troughs after the women finished] םושרגיו — and drove them away [Moshe succeeded in directing the ‘shepherds’ (masculine) away from the young ladies]; so Moshe arose ןעישויו — and rescued them [the daughters (feminine)] and [subsequently] watered םנאצ — their flocks, [the sheep of the shepherds (masculine)] (רהנה תובוחר)

Moshe was no longer the vigilante who sought justice, but rather the quiet persona and embodiment of mussar / ethics, who solely, perforce his excellence of character, was able to influence others with his inherent goodness, illuminating and uplifting even the most coarse of characters.

The great 15th century scholar and kabbalist, Rav Avraham Saba, points out that in this last instance Moshe no longer acts out of zeal only on behalf of his brothers. He responded simply because, והביחיי תמאה עבט— the pure and natural truth obligated him. There is nothing more compelling than following ‘truth’.

The ראב, a well, represents a natural source of life that must be discovered. One must dig until one strikes a deep natural source of water — life itself. In mystical tradition the word for well, ר-א-ב, is an acronym for the sentiment expressed by the prophet Yeshaya, יחור יברקב — my spirit within me, ךירחשא — beseeches you (ט וכ היעשי)

The discovery of one’s soul mate is an expression of ‘completion’. Its proximity to a well, signifies the eternal pursuit for perfection. One who pines to find one’s true essence will be privileged to find the suitable partner to mine it together.

In the spirit of Rav Yisrael Salanter, in emulating our great teacher, Moshe, may we each find our true selves and warm the world with that discovery.

You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ ohelmoshebaltimore.com

OVERVIEW PARSHA

The Egyptian exile begins. The Jewish midwives defy the laws of Pharaoh and keep the children alive. Moshe - the future leader of the Jewish nation - is born. He is ultimately saved by the daughter of Pharaoh, and grows up in the palace. G-d remembers the promise to save the Jews from Egyptian bondage, and He appears to Moshe at the burning bush. Moshe and Aharon announce the news of redemption to the suffering Jewish nation..

Quotable Quote “ ”

“Good leaders create followers, but great leaders create leaders.”

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt”l

TSorahparks

Parshas Shemos on

GEMATRIA

and)

Pesukim - 124

Words -

Letters - 6,762

Mitzvos - 0

QUICK VORT Chassidus

The Belzer Rebbe said on the words

When someone is going through a hardship, a difficulty, a nisayon, sometimes the kneejerk reaction is to want to run away from the situation, rather than to embrace the situation.

Yosef HaTzadik teaches us that it is THROUGH the Nisayon, it is THROUGH the “mitzrayim,” that truly makes a person into the great being that he can be.

(they became very strong) that the Jewish people, despite being subjugated by the Egyptians, were able to STRENGTHEN themselves with the midda (attribute) of ךדאמ לכבו, and found the courage to THANK Hashem for everything that happened to them.

In our lives too, we must strive to find a way to connect to the notion of ךדאמ. To be thankful and grateful for who we are, for what we are, and for everything that we have.

The numerical value of is 564, which happens to (Yosef was in Egypt .(plus the 2 words)

The concept of םוקמ

be the same as

means to change one’s place.

It didn’t matter where Yosef was, he always remained Yosef HaTzadik.

If he was in Eretz Yisroel, surrounded by his family and kedusha, he was righteous. And if he was in the depths of Egypt, surrounded by impurity, he still remained righteous. What an inspiration!

Rabbi Ori Strum is the author of Ready. Set. Grow. (Mosaica Press).

His shiurim and other Jewish content can be found on Torah Anytime and Meaningful Minute. He also likes your feedback: rabbistrumo@gmail.com

Rashi says the chiddush of the words םירצמב היה ףסויו - even though we know he w as there - was that despite being in this place of negativity, he was וקדצב דמוע , he stayed firm in his righteousness.

With the words םירצמב היה ףסויו , perhaps we are being taught that instead of trying to run away from the difficulty, the chiddush here is that Yosef embraced it.

Yosef was conscious that he was in Mitzrayim. He fully embraced it, and excelled.

Let us do the same!

Points to

The Baal HaTurim sees the word תומש as an allusion to

What is the connection between Parshas Shemos and Shnayim Mikra? Why is there an allusion here?

Inspiration Everywhere

Five AI Skills Every Professional Needs to Learn Better Business

By Shlomo Argamon

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries and redefining careers. From healthcare and finance to marketing and retail, AI creates opportunities for those who understand it, while making those who don’t obsolete. To stand out and advance your career, mastering AI-related skills is essential. Here are five critical skills that will help your career and make you indispensable.

1. Writing Effective AI Prompts How well an AI tool works depends on the quality of the instructions you give it. The clearer and more explicit you can make your prompt, the more useful your result. For instance, instead of asking, “Tell me about AI,” try, “List three benefits of AI for healthcare management, as a concise numbered list.” To do this well, however, you need to know what your AI tool can do, how it interprets requests, how to specify exactly what you want, and how to improve your

instructions based on seeing what the AI actually does with them.

In fact, there are many specific techniques, like “chain-of-thought” and “role-playing,” that can improve AI prompts in the right circumstances— knowing these techniques and when to use them will make you a prompting master. To learn how to do this, you can enroll in university AI courses or in a bootcamp—once you’ve started, online platforms like AICrowd offer hands-on exercises to practice creating prompts for real-world tasks. Developing your skill at prompting will enable you to use AI to assist you in a variety of tasks in professional settings.

2. Using AI to Analyze Data Trends

AI excels at finding hidden patterns and trends in data, which helps companies predict where their markets are going, optimize their processes, and improve their business outcomes. To

use AI for analyzing data you need to understand how to work with data, how different kinds of analysis models work, how to properly interpret the AI’s outputs, and how to visualize and explain the patterns and trends it finds. Various technical tools like Python, R, PowerBI, and Tableau offer powerful capabilities, while no-code platforms make some of them accessible to non-technical users.

College courses in AI and data science can teach you these skills, while participating in competitions on platforms like Kaggle provides practical experience and community collaboration. Whether you are creating reports, optimizing supply chains, or exploring new business opportunities, knowing how to use AI for data analysis will help you thrive in any field.

3. Evaluating AI Tools for Reliability

AI runs on data, so it is only as good as the data, and the assumptions, be -

hind it. The biases that are inevitable in any dataset are amplified by AI, so a critical part of using AI is evaluating its results for reliability and bias. If this is not done, you are liable to get problematic unexpected results. For example, an AI hiring tool trained on data describing who a company hired in the past would tend to favor candidates who fit past hiring patterns, potentially discriminating against good candidates from underrepresented groups.

Evaluating AI tools for reliability and mitigating bias involves understanding how AI models are trained and recognizing the signs of bias, as well as how to use quantitative metrics for assessing performance. And when you find a problem, critical thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration may be needed to understand the larger context to properly mitigate the risks.

These skills can be developed through courses in AI, machine learn-

ing, and data science, as well as teambased courses and activities involving collaborating with many different kinds of people. Workshops and platforms like Kaggle provide hands-on practice to ensure AI tools results fit with your organization’s values and ethical standards.

4. Using AI to Improve Decision-Making

One of the biggest impacts of AI is helping people make better decisions. It does this by providing better and more up-to-date understandings of complicated situations, thanks to its ability to analyze large amounts of data. This enables businesses to better understand what they are dealing with and to predict important changes. For example, retailers can use AI to forecast customer demand and suppliers’ prices, while healthcare providers can improve patient outcomes through quicker and more accurate diagnosis. AI can also help by brainstorming creative new potential approaches to a problem.

To use AI effectively for decision support, you must make sure you have high quality data and the right kind of AI system, know how to interpret the AI’s outputs properly, and be able to communicate your findings clearly to

non-experts. Understanding how AI’s predictive models and natural language processing works will help you turn its analyses into practical results. User-friendly tools like Tableau and Power BI are excellent starting points for non-technical users.

of it, you need to use the right tools for the right tasks, so that the overall process improves productivity without overwhelming people. This means figuring out all the different steps that your team takes to solve problems and identifying which parts of that process can be auto -

Not doing this well, on the other hand, can cause significant problems. For instance, if a customer service AI focuses on how fast problems are resolved, it may rush customer interactions, leading to dissatisfied customers and disengaged staff.

Courses in systems development and human-computer interaction, along with hands-on projects, can help you design workflows that streamline operations and foster trust.

Master These Skills to Stay Ahead

Organizations that use AI thoughtfully can get ahead of the competition, and mastering the skills to do so can make you indispensable. Start small, practice with relevant data, and build your confidence in using AI to support decision-making.

5. Designing AI Workflows

Since it is an interactive technology, AI also changes how people work with each other, influencing how they set goals and collaborate. To make the most

mated with AI. Then you need to choose the right tools and make sure the AI is set up to fit well with how people work.

For example, a well-designed AI-enhanced customer service system could handle routine inquiries, escalating just the harder questions to human staff, who would then have more time and energy to engage in meaningful interactions. This will not only boost employee morale but also improves customer satisfaction.

In our increasingly AI-driven world, mastering these skills will ensure you’re not just keeping up with technology but actively shaping how it is used. Whatever your job and whatever your industry, these skills will make you more valuable on the job market.

Touro University is now offering both a certificate and masters in Artificial Intelligence. To learn more, contact (646) 777 9360 or frivera7@touro.edu.

Dr. Shlomo Argamon is associate provost for AI at Touro University.

Zmanim are courtesy of MyZmanim and are for the 21209 area. Havdalah Zmanim are at 40 minutes past Shkiah.

Shacharis

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah: EVERY 15 MINUTES

M-F: 6:15 AM, S-F: 6:30 AM, 6:45 AM, 7:00 AM, 7:15 AM, 7:30 AM, 7:45 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:15 AM, 8:30 AM, 8:45 AM, 9:00AM, 9:15AM, 9:30AM, 9:45AM, 10:00AM

Neitz Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] M-F

Ohel Yakov S-F

6:00 AM Shomrei Emunah Congregation M-F

6:10 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, Th

6:15 AM Kol Torah M, TH

Shearith Israel Congregation M, TH

6:20 AM Agudah of Greenspring M, TH

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S-F

Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park M-F

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M-F

Kehilath B'nai Torah M, TH

Pikesville Jewish CongregationM, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S, M, TH

6:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring T, W, F

Chabad of Park Heights M-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Kehilath B'nai Torah T, W, F

Khal Bais Nosson M-F

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek M-F

Kol Torah T, W, F

Ohr Yisroel M-F

Pikesville Jewish CongregationT, W, F

Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

6:35 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) M, TH

Ohel Moshe M, TH

6:40 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) T, W, F

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M, TH

6:45 AM The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei IsraelM, Th

B”H and Mesivta of Baltimore (Dirshu Minyan) S-F

Beth Abraham M, TH Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue M-F

Ner Tamid M-F

Ohel Moshe T, W, F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim M-F

6:50 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] M, TH

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh M, TH

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation T, W, F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh M, TH

Derech Chaim M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center M, TH

6:55 AM The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei IsraelT, W, F

Beth Abraham T, W, F

Kol Torah M, TH

7:00 AM Aish Kodesh (upstairs Minyan) M-F

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's)S

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh T, W, F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh T, W, F

Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach TzedekS

Kol Torah T, W, F

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah M-F

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S, T, W, F

Shearith Israel Congregation S, M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh M-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center T, W, F

Tiferes Yisroel M-F

7:05 AM Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) M, TH

7:15 AM Kedushas Yisrael S Kol Torah S Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S, T, W, F

Baltimore Weekday Minyanim Guide

Ner Israel Rabbinical College S-F

Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Emunah CongregationS

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei IsraelS

Tzeirei Anash M-F

7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Beth Tfiloh Congregation M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH

7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] S

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore S-F

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh S

Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationS

Chabad of Park Heights S

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh S-F

Darchei Tzedek S

Kedushas Yisrael S-F

Khal Bais Nosson S

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) S-F

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S, T, W, F

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

7:45 AM Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M-F

Talmudical Academy S-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Mesivta Kesser Torah S-F

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim S-F

7:50 AM Derech Chaim S

Ner Tamid S

Ohel Moshe M-F

8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit ParkS

Beth Abraham S

Chabad Israeli Center M-F

Darchei Tzedek S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach TzedekS

Kehillas Meor HaTorah S

Ohr Yisroel S

Pikesville Jewish CongregationS

Shearith Israel Congregation S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch CenterS

Tiferes Yisroel S

Tzeirei Anash S

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah S-F

8:15 AM Kehilath B'nai Torah S Kol Torah S

8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

8:25 AM Ohr Chadash Academy (School Days Only) S-F

8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Chabad Israeli Center S

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Shomrei Mishmeres HakodeshS

9:00 AM Aish Kodesh S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S

Beth Tfiloh Congregation S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationS

Moses Montefiore Anshe EmunahS

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F

Mincha

Mincha Gedolah Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek

12:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) Kol Torah

Mincha

continued

1:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)

10045 Red Run Blvd Suite 295

Milk & Honey Bistro 1777 Reisterstown RD

1:25 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

1:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)

1:45 PM Ohel Moshe

Wealcatch Insurance

1:50 PM One South Street, 27th Floor (M-Th)

2:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)

Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room

Kol Torah

Market Maven

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Reischer Minyan - 23 Walker Ave 2nd Floor

2:15 PM Pikesville Beis Medrash - 15 Walker Ave

2:30 PM Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan

Ner Israel Rabbinical College

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)

Shearith Israel Congregation

2:45 PM Kollel of Greenspring

Shearith Israel Congregation (S-Th)

3:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

3:05 PM Kedushas Yisrael

3:15 PM Hat Box

3:22 PM Ohr Chadash Academy (School Days Only, Call to Confirm)

3:30PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

4:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th)

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

10 Min Before ShkiAh Chabad Israeli Center

14 Min Before ShkiAh Kol Torah

Mincha/Maariv

Before Shkiah

8:50 PM Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)

8:55 PM Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

9:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Arugas Habosem

Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

9:20 PM Kol Torah

9:30 PM Agudah of Greenspring

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Kedushas Yisrael

9:40 PM Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi]

9:45 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Kollel Erev Birchas Yitzchok (Luries)

Kollel of Greenspring

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's)

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah

9:50 PM Aish Kodesh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Ohel Moshe

10:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Darchei Tzedek

Kehilath B'nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

10:05 PM Kol Torah

10:10 PM Ner Israel Rabbinical College

10:15 PM Derech Chaim

Khal Bais Nosson

10:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

11:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

11:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Agudah of Greenspring - 6107 Greenspring Ave

Agudath Israel of Baltimore - 6200 Park Heights Ave

Ahavat Shalom - 3009 Northbrook Rd

Aish Kodesh

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Agudah of Greenspring

Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Beth Abraham

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation

Darchei Tzedek

Kehillas Meor HaTorah

Kehilath B’nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill’s), 5:00pm Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Ner Tamid

Ohel Moshe

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Ohr Yisroel

Pikesville Jewish Congregation

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Shomrei Mishmeres

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center

Tiferes Yisroel

Maariv

Aish Kodesh - 6207 Ivymount Rd

Arugas HaBosem - 3509 Clarks Ln

Bais Dovid-Bais Medrash of Summit Park- 6800 Sylvale Ct

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim - 3120 Clarks Ln

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore - 6823 Old Pimlico Rd

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh - 6618 Deancroft Rd

Beit Yaakov - 3615 Seven Mile Ln

Beth Abraham - 6208 Wallis Ave

Beth Tfiloh Congregation - 3300 Old Court Rd

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation - 6602 Park Heights Ave

Chabad Israeli Center - 7807 Seven Mile Ln

Chabad of Park Heights - 3402 Clarks Ln

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh - 3800 Labyrinth Rd

Darchei Tzedek - 3201 Seven Mile Ln

Derech Chaim - 6229 Greenspring Ave (Weekday)

Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue 6611 Greenspring Ave.

Kedushas Yisrael - 6004 Park Heights Ave

Kehilath B’nai Torah - 6301 Green Meadow Pkwy

Kehillas Meor HaTorah - 6539 Pebble Brooke Rd Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek - 6811 Park Heights Ave Khal Bais Nosson - 2901 Taney Rd Kol Torah - 2929 Fallstaff Rd

Kollel of Greenspring - 6504 Greenspring Ave.

Machzikei Torah - 6216 Biltmore Ave

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah - 6500 Baythorne Rd

Mesivta Kesser Torah - 8400 Park Heights Ave

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim - 3702 Fords Ln

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah - 7000 Rockland Hills Dr

Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber One South Street, 27th Floor

Ner Israel Rabbinical College - 400 Mt Wilson Ln

Ner Tamid - 6214 Pimlico Road

Ohel Moshe - 2808 Smith Ave

Ohel Yakov - 3200 Glen Ave

Ohr Chadash Academy - 7310 Park Heights Avenue

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] - 6813 Park Heights Ave

Ohr Yisroel - 2429 Lightfoot Dr

Pikesville Jewish Congregation - 7644 Carla Rd

6:00

6:30

7:00

7:30

8:00

8:30

8:45

PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

PM Darchei Tzedek

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina)

12:50 PM One South Street, 27th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202

Ohr Yisroel

Shearith Israel Congregation - 5835 Park Heights Ave

Shomrei Emunah Congregation - 6221 Greenspring Ave

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh - 2821 W Strathmore Ave

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim - 7504 Seven

To Raise a Laugh

Pushing Off Homework

People are always asking me the benefits of working from home.

Well, that’s not true. No one talks to me, because I work at home. I don’t really interact with the outside world. For the most part, I work in my living room, which always struck me as an odd name for a room. You’re supposed to live in there? What does that mean? I live in every room. I dine in the dining room, and I keep my bed in the bedroom and my laundry in the laundry room. What do I do in the living room? So I make a living in there.

This is the kind of thing you come up with when you’re a wordsmith, working at home, and you’re trying to push off doing actual work.

But if people would ask me, hypothetically, I would say that there are pros and cons:

PRO: You get to be your own boss! Also, your own janitor, supplies manager, lunch lady, colleague, and computer tech support.

(Actually, my computer tech support is my wife, because if I had to fix the computer that was plaguing me all day, I’d probably throw it out the window.)

CON : You might be working, but as far as anyone else cares, you’re also home. For example, every time a call goes out online that someone is looking for a minyan at the cemetery, my wife sends me. Now I don’t mean to call that a downside – it’s a big mitzvah, obviously. But for some reason, I’m hardwired to feel like unexpected visits to the cemetery are a downside.

PRO: No meetings! You can actually go hours without ever needing to speak to another human being, which causes you to start saying things like “another human being”.

You also start losing your social skills. This doesn’t happen right away, especially if you do something to stave it off. I go to teach in a high school every day, though that doesn’t really improve my social skills, unless social skills involve repeating things a million times, not letting people eat when they’re hungry, and forcing people to learn new things when they clearly don’t want to.

CON: You need a ton of motivation to get anything done. A lot of people say that not going to work is great because there’s no one around to distract you, but if I had a dollar for every potential distraction in my living room, I wonder how many paper clips I can string end to end before they fall off this magnet?

PRO: At work, you always have people stealing your food from the fridge. On the other hand, that happens at home too. And no one likes it when you write “Totty” on the food to keep that from happening. Especially your wife.

CON: And then there are all the things you have to do to keep the house running. At some point, when you work at home, you discover that it’s way easier to navigate a supermarket before noon on a weekday. Not to mention cleaning the house when the kids aren’t home. Why on earth would you waste that time working?

PRO: One huge thing people say – usually the first thing that comes to mind – is that you can work in your pajamas. This seems to be the one thing these people are jealous of – like their having to get dressed every morning is what’s getting off to every single day on the wrong foot.

But I don’t really see that. Working in pajamas is overrated. Especially the part where you come home from Shacharis and put your pajamas back on in the first place.

CON: Another downside to working at home is that, as time goes on, you become

By Mordechai Schmutter

less and less technologically advanced, comparatively, to the rest of society. There’s no one to keep up with. The people I do talk to, once I venture out and squint at the sunlight, can’t believe I don’t have a smart phone. I don’t need a smart phone. I work at home. Why do I need a smart phone? So I can take calls while I’m teaching?

PRO: You save time commuting, unless you count visiting the fridge 50 times a day.

CON: How often you find yourself wondering if you’d be more productive if you started sleeping during the day and staying awake at night. Then you find yourself wondering how Shabbos would work.

PRO: Speaking of which, you get to choose your own holidays. If you work for a non-Jewish boss, you don’t necessarily mention every special day on the Jewish calendar, because at some point he thinks you’re making them up, just because you’re the only guy in the office who asked if he can take off for Tu B’Shvat. But when you work at home, you have no problem taking off for holidays. Actually, you have to, because your kids are off for everything. So it’s not like you’re going to get any work done. Also, if there’s no school, they’re going to go to bed later, because, as they’ll point out, it’s not a school night (according to them, anyway. I keep trying to convince my kids that a school night is technically defined as a night BEFORE a day of school. We’re Jewish; days start at night).

The weird thing is that, looking at this list, it seems like all my pros are cons and all my cons are pros. This should bother me, but it’s time for my nap.

Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writer and a humor columnist for Hamodia and other magazines. He has also published eight books and does stand-up comedy. You can contact him at MSchmutter@gmail.com.

Vacations are a time for relaxation and adventure; however, one can find them challenging in maintaining healthy weight goals. Airport snacks, fast food options, and tempting foods can easily get in the way. For those mindful of their health, it’s important to keep a balanced perspective. Vacation is meant to be enjoyable, and therefore losing weight is not the goal. The focus is maintenance, to eat healthy while enjoying yourself. Feeling good will enhance your overall vacation experience.

Whether you’re on a ski trip, in the sun, or exploring new places on a road trip, staying on track with your health goals is possible with a bit of planning.

Ski Trips

Ski trips can be exhausting, and one can easily get hungry. Many turn to high-calorie meals to refuel after a day on the slopes. However, it is possible to enjoy filling meals without overindulging.

The best way to start your day is with a protein-rich and fiber-full breakfast. Consider options like eggs with vegetables and whole grain toast, or oatmeal topped with berries, a nut butter and seeds. This will keep you full longer and provide sustained energy. In addition, it is important to pack healthy snacks to avoid the high-calorie, high-sugar options at the ski lodge. Great options include nuts, fruit, or no-sugar-added granola or protein bars. These snacks are portable, nutritious, and will help you maintain your energy levels throughout the day. Shopping in advance for fresh fruits and vegetables are excellent options as well. They are filling, nutritious, and convenient.

For lunch, consider packing sandwiches made with high-fiber, low-carb bread or wraps filled with lean proteins like tuna, turkey, or chicken. Protein-packed, high fiber, no-sugar-added bars are also easy to grab and go, provid-

Health & F tness

From Sand to Snow Staying Slim While You Go

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

ing a nutritious midday meal that won’t weigh you down.

When you arrive home for dinner, opt for lean protein such as grilled chicken or fish and pair it with vegetables. A hot soup is another excellent choice, which can be filling and warming. Be mindful of portion sizes, especially with starchy sides like potatoes or pasta. By incorporating these strategies into your ski trip, you can enjoy your vacation without compromising your health. With a bit of preparation and mindful choices, you can fuel your body properly, stay energized, and make the most of your time on the slopes.

Airbnb Stay

Many travelers choose to stay in accommodations with kitchen facilities, like an Airbnb, allowing for greater control over meal preparation. Bringing along small kitchen appliances, such as a Betty Crocker pizza maker, frying pan, or a George Foreman grill, can make it easier to prepare healthy meals. This broadens

your meals to include cooking eggs, fish, and a variety of other nutritious dishes. In addition, one can shop/Instacart fresh fruits and vegetables or frozen vegetables given the availability of a fridge and freezer. Such accommodations allow you to prepare your meals, which ensures you have control over the ingredients and can stick to your healthy eating goals.

Warm Weather Vacation

Warm weather vacations often include lounging by the pool, beach barbecues, and dining out. These activities can make it very difficult to stick to your usual diet. However, with a few mindful choices, you can maintain a healthy balance while still enjoying your getaway. Firstly, it is important to drink plenty of water, especially if you’re spending time in the sun. Aim to drink at least 64 ounces (2 liters) of water daily to keep your body functioning optimally and help curb hunger. Avoid sugary beverages like fruit juices and sodas, which can add unnecessary calories. Instead, focus

on water and unsweetened drinks to stay refreshed.

For poolside snacking, consider freeze-dried apple chips or fresh fruits and vegetables. These are easy to pack, healthy, and keep you satisfied between meals. If you’re staying in an Airbnb or an apartment, freezing grapes is another refreshing snack option that’s perfect for hot days.

It is beneficial to incorporate physical activities into your vacation itinerary to stay active and make the most of your time. Walking, biking, swimming, and other outdoor activities are great ways to enjoy the scenery while burning calories. In addition, many destinations offer parks, tennis courts, and other sports-covered locations that can be enjoyed in the warm weather. These options are especially significant for those who have a daily workout routine and want to maintain their fitness schedule while on vacation.

When on vacation, one may constantly encounter tempting food options that can be hard to resist. Instead of indulging at every meal, give yourself one treat a day. This can give you room to enjoy a dessert, alcoholic beverage, or other tempting treats that easily emerge on vacations. This approach helps you enjoy the moment without overdoing it. Maintain your portions and give yourself the space to enjoy. For example, if you choose a tropical cocktail as that day’s treat, balance it with a lighter meal. If you choose to have a dessert that day, share it with someone instead of having it all to yourself.

Eating Out

Eating out is a big part of vacation, but it doesn’t have to derail your healthy eating goals. When reviewing the menu, look for dishes that are grilled, baked, or steamed. Avoid creamy sauces and fried items. Another great idea is to stay away

from the breadbasket to avoid unnecessary carbs and calories.

Even if the menu seems challenging, remember that most dishes can be modified to be healthier. Don’t hesitate to ask for dressing on the side, a substitution of salad for fries, or a smaller portion size. Many restaurants are happy to accommodate requests to meet your dietary needs. Opt for smaller portions or share a dish to keep calorie intake in check. If you’re craving dessert, remember your given once-a-day treat. Consider sharing it or choosing a lighter option so you don’t feel deprived. Similarly, balance your protein choices by opting for chicken or fish instead of red meat like burgers or steak every night. This can help reduce calorie intake and provide more variety.

Pay attention to your hunger cues and stop eating when you’re full. Savor your meal slowly and enjoy the dining experience.

Road Trips

Road trips can involve long hours sitting in the car and frequent stops at fast food joints or convenience stores. One also easily turns to snacking to fill the long hours and boredom.

A cooler is a useful item that can al-

low you to bring your refrigerated items. Bring along healthy snacks like yogurt, cheese sticks, fresh fruit, and whole-grain crackers. This reduces the temptation to buy unhealthy snacks on the road. It is also beneficial to plan your meals in advance. Research restaurants along your route that offer healthy options. When you do stop to eat, choose meals with plenty of vegetables and avoid fried foods. Sitting in the car for so long can be hard and it is important to stay active. Take breaks to stretch and walk around at rest stops. This keeps your metabolism active and helps prevent stiffness from sitting too long.

General Tips for Staying on Track

Set Realistic Goals: Aim to maintain your weight rather than lose weight during your vacation. This makes it easier to enjoy your trip without feeling deprived.

Stay Active: Incorporate physical activity into your vacation. Whether it’s skiing, swimming, or hiking, find ways to keep moving.

Indulge Wisely: It’s okay to indulge, however, balance it with healthier choices throughout the day. Enjoy a treat, but

don’t let it derail your entire meal or day. Ideas for healthy, portable snacks

• Celery or sliced apples spread with peanut butter (rub lemon juice on apples to prevent browning)

• Fresh fruit (bananas, grapes, strawberries and oranges are easy to carry along)

• Sliced veggies (baby carrots, cauliflower florets, bell peppers and snap peas are easy to eat)

• Single-serving containers of almond butter, hummus or guacamole for dipping

• Dried fruit, like raisins, cranberries, apples, apricots

• Nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, etc.) preferably in pre-portioned 100-calorie pouches

• Protein bars, shakes or packets of protein powder you can mix into water or milk

• Hard-boiled eggs

• Plain, low-fat yogurt with granola or fruit

• Individually wrapped low-fat string cheese

• Individual portions of sugar-free applesauce

• Single-serving envelopes of tuna packed in water

• Low-sodium turkey jerky or smoked salmon

• Popcorn (air-popped or a low-fat, low sodium variety containing as few ingredients as possible) in 100 calorie bags

Maintaining healthy weight goals while on vacation is all about balance and thoughtful planning. Whether you’re skiing, relaxing on a beach, or hitting the road, you can enjoy your trip without sacrificing your health. Focus on staying active, making smart food choices, and indulging in moderation. Packing healthy snacks and planning meals in advance can help you avoid common obstacles. Remember, the goal is not perfection but maintaining a healthy balance that allows you to feel your best and fully enjoy your vacation. By incorporating these strategies, you can return from your trip refreshed and on track with your health goals.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer

Elchonon Mitnick (Baltimore) & Yaffa Ginsparg (South Bend)

Bentzi Azose (Chicago) & Leeba Goldenhersh (Baltimore)

Aaron Fructandler (Brooklyn) & Cheved Eichorn (Baltimore)

Yoni Zigelboum (Yoni Z) (New York) & Ashley Aden (Mexico City)

Mental Health Corner

Early Morning Awakening Insomnia and Depression

By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman

Sleep is a basic human need, and when our sleep needs are not met, we become at risk for a host of short-term and long-term health problems. Diffi-

culty sleeping is called insomnia, and most people view insomnia as difficulty falling asleep at the beginning of a night’s sleep. This type of insom-

nia, known as sleep onset insomnia, is only one type of insomnia. Another type of insomnia is sleep maintenance insomnia, which includes early morning awakening insomnia.

Early morning awakening insomnia refers to someone who has no trouble falling asleep but will wake up in the wee hours of the morning and then be unable to fall back asleep. This leads to insufficient sleep with all of its negative consequences. There are many reasons why one would have this type of insomnia, and one of them is depression.

In order to understand the relationship between depression and early morning awakening, we first must explore the nature of our sleep cycle.

There are two systems in our bodies that control our sleep; the circadian rhythm and the homeostatic sleep drive. The circadian rhythm is governed by our internal clock that keeps track of the time of day or night and regulates the sleep-wake cycle. The homeostatic sleep drive is the urge to sleep that builds up in our bodies after many hours of being awake.

These two systems may work independent of each other. For example, if one was awake the entire night, an incredible urge to sleep will emerge because of the homeostatic sleep drive, even though his internal clock knows that this is not the typical time of day that is normally dedicated to sleep. Similarly, if one’s body feels that it is the right time to go to sleep, one might feel drowsy, even if there has not been many hours of wakefulness.

Very often, your circadian rhythm and homeostatic sleep drive are in sync, and then you will feel really tired at the beginning of the night since both of these systems agree with each other that it is time to sleep. As the night progresses and the hours of sleep accumulate, the homeostatic sleep drive dissipates, but one will

still continue sleeping, even in the absence of the overpowering urge of a sleep drive, simply because the circadian rhythm still thinks that it is time to remain asleep.

What happens if one’s circadian rhythm is disrupted? You might still be able to fall asleep without difficulty at the beginning of the night due to the overwhelming urge to sleep caused by the homeostatic sleep drive. However, maintaining sleep might be a real challenge. As mentioned earlier, what keeps one asleep later in the night is only the circadian rhythm and not the homeostatic sleep drive. Hence, one’s eyes may open at three o’clock in the morning, and then be simply unable to fall asleep.

For reasons that are not entirely clear, depression commonly disrupts the circadian rhythm. Therefore, someone suffering from depression might still be able to go to sleep in the beginning of the night, thanks to the homeostatic sleep drive, but he will be unable to stay asleep for the entire night due to the disrupted circadian rhythm.

The practical implication is that consulting a sleep specialist might not be enough. If the cause of early morning awakening is due to depression, then any treatment for the depression has the potential to correct the circadian rhythm.

Insomnia is its own unique type of suffering, and overcoming insomnia can sometimes feel almost insurmountable. Getting to the root cause is often necessary. If the underlying cause is indeed depression, then treating the depression will not only likely heal the insomnia, but it will also add joy and happiness to all areas of your life.

This

lief

Yisrael Slansky

Sun-Wed 11:00-8:30

Baseball Blues Tech Triumphs

As told to Rebbetzin Sara Gross

Everything is becoming more automated in this country. You need your smartphone to park, transfer money at the bank, and even sign up for appointments, like haircuts. For yeshiva bochurim, using flip phones is part of life, and it doesn’t phase them at all—except when it messes up your plans.

My son wanted to go to a baseball game with some friends from yeshiva. They discovered that tickets could only be purchased and accessed with a smartphone. The boys searched for someone they knew who had a smartphone and begged him to join them at the game. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, and they were very disappointed.

Finally, my son called the stadium and explained the situation. The attendant said they could still attend the

game if they followed a long list of steps and printed out all the necessary information. Relieved, my son and his friends printed everything they needed and went to the ballgame, feeling like they were on the winning team.

DID YOU KNOW:

When you get a new computer or smartphone—whether an Android or iPhone—one of the steps in the device’s setup process usually features a user-friendly method to copy all your files, contacts, apps, and other data from your old device. This is incredibly convenient, as it means you don’t have to re-download apps or manually transfer your contacts and other information.

However, the filter you installed on your old phone does not transfer to the new device during this

process. While the filter’s app icon may appear on the new device, the filter itself is not actually installed or active. To ensure your filter is properly set up on the new device, you’ll need to contact your filter company or visit a TAG office.

Additionally, once the filter is installed on your new phone, the old device will no longer have a filter. If you plan to keep your old device as a backup, it’s a good idea to protect it with its own filter. All the filtering companies recommended by TAG offer free versions of their software that can completely block internet access. Your TAG office will be happy to install it for you, ensuring your device remains secure until it’s ready for use.

Alternatively, TAG Baltimore has a drop box in the office for old devices in working condition. You can

bring your old device to us, and we will donate it to a local refurbishing company in exchange for a donation to TAG.

Getting a new device is exciting, but it’s important to ensure both your new and old devices are secure for you and your family by addressing their digital safety.

Our Ultimate Mission Living Kiddush Hashem

TBy Rabbi Shraga Freedman

he mitzvah of kiddush Hashem (and its corollary, the prohibition to be mechallel shem Shamayim) is a cornerstone of the avodas Hashem of every Jew. In fact, Rav Eliyahu Dessler states (Michtav MeEliyahu, vol. 1 p. 22), kiddush Hashem is the most significant mitzvah in the Torah because it encompasses all of the Torah’s other precepts. Every one of our actions may have the effect of either raising or lowering other people’s awareness of Hashem and esteem for Him.

A number of years ago, Rabbi Moshe Sherer approached Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky with a dilemma. He wanted to solicit the aid of a

powerful government official in order to save the life of a Jew behind the Iron Curtain, but he feared that the official might ask for a public show of support for something that was not in the spirit of the Torah. After considering the matter, Rav Yaakov ruled that the official should not be approached. One may transgress almost any prohibition to save a life, he explained, but not the prohibition of chillul Hashem (Torah Leaders, Artscroll).

Why does this mitzvah occupy such a central position in our lives?

In Shaarei Teshuvah (3:158), Rabbeinu Yonah sets forth a fundamental principle: the reason that Hashem selected the Jewish nation, elevated

them above the rest of the nations of the world, and sanctified them with His Torah and mitzvos, is entirely so that they would sanctify His Name. In other words, kiddush Hashem is the raison d’etre of the Jewish people. Not only is it a mitzvah of great significance; it is the sum total of our mission on this world.

The very purpose of the Torah and its commandments is kiddush Hashem; all of the other mitzvos play a role in achieving that end and serve as tools for us to use to bring honor to Hashem. This weekly column will shed light on this mission and discuss the many ways that our avodas Hashem leads to more kiddush Hashem in the world.

Rabbi Shraga Freedman is the author of Sefer Mekadshei Shemecha, Living Kiddush Hashem, and A Life Worth Living.

Email LivingKiddushHashem@ gmail.com for a free sefer. Visit LivingKiddushHashem.org for more resources

Living Kiddush Hashem was founded with the goal of imbuing every Jew with a powerful sense of mission — the mission to be mekadeish Sheim Shamayim in his or her own unique way. We strive to accomplish this by raising awareness of the paramount importance of the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem and its centrality in everything we do.

Jeremy & Eleanor Shabtai on the birth of a daughter

Mr. & Mrs. Dani Bagley on the birth of a daughter

Mr. & Mrs. Ezra Rosen on the birth of a daughter

Rabbi & Rebbetzin Shmuel Iser on the birth of a son

Binyomin & Chani Vilner on the birth of a son

Yossi & Elisheva Willner on the birth of a daughter

SINAI HOSPITAL

1st floor, off the Blaustein

Lobby

JOHNS HOPKINS

1st Floor, Blalock Room 175

GBMC

New Building, Main Entrance,

Adjacent to the Spiritual Care offices – Room 3281

UNIVERSITY OF MD MEDICAL CENTER

6th Floor, Gudelsky Conference room

UNION MEMORIAL

First floor, Johnson Professional Building across from the Zen Meditation Garden

TJH Centerfold

12 Things Joe Biden Will Do Before He Leaves Office

1. Declare every Tuesday National Twofor-Tuesday Ice Cream Day.

2. Pardon his son Hunter for all future crimes.

3. Tell America about the time that someone spelled cat with a K and Dr. Jill Biden put on her blue siren and paid an emergency visit to the kid’s house to tell her that it is spelled with a C— because she is a doctor of…literacy!

4. Call Kamala Harris and say, “Good luck to you as you become the 47th President…. Oops, that’s right, you lost!”

7. Whisper-scream at the White House staff because they lost his aviator shades… “C’mon, folks, you lost my you know the things person applesauce!”

8. Wake up from his nap early: There’s an inauguration to attend, so he’s gotta cut the midday nap short.

9. Apologize for all the racist things he has said over his 50-year career in politics, including being close friends with the late segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond. (Keep waiting for that apology.)

10. Order up one more serving of his favorite applesauce from the White House kitchen.

5. Give an honest speech about his accomplishments. The speech stars NOW! … It’s OVER! (Lasted a full zero minutes and zero seconds.)

6. Call the Justice Department and command them to indict Trump one last time. After all, it’s hard to get over your addictions.

Irony x 2

11. Give one last speech about how Trump is an insurrectionist because a few of his supporters took an unscheduled tour of the Capitol. (OK, it was a little more than that…they trespassed! Wah! Wah! Wah!)

12. Sniff the Oval Office drapes one last time.

President Obama on Jimmy Kimmel in October 2016 reading and commenting on Trump’s tweets:

“Obama will go down as perhaps the worst president in the history of the United States — @RealDonaldtrump, Well, @RealDonaldTrump, at least I will go down as a president!”

Trump Trivia

1. Who took over as host of “Celebrity Apprentice” after Donald Trump left?

a. Mark Cuban

b. Arnold Schwarzenegger

c. Bill Maher

d. Tom Hanks

2. In the 2024 election, Donald Trump became the first Republican to do what in two decades?

a. Win the State of Ohio

b. Win the popular vote

c. Spend less then $1 billion on the race

d. Win Florida

3. What happened to Trump at age 13?

a. His father sent him to a military academy because he was misbehaving in school

b. He was hit by a car and almost did not survive

c. He made $100,000 on a business selling used textbooks in his high school

d. He met Pres. Eisenhower and

Riddle me This

told him that “one day, I will be president.”

4. How does Trump like his steak?

a. Rare

b. Medium rare

c. Medium

d. Well done

5. How many golf courses does Trump own?

a. 4

b. 9

c. 18

d. 47

6. Trump is the first president in the past 100 years to not have what?

a. A religious affiliation

b. A pet

c. A family member other than his wife living in the White House with him full-time

c. 6 d. 8

8. How much is annual membership to Trump’s Mar-aLago, which has a golf course and Trump’s primary residence?

a. $50,000

b. $175,000

c. $250,000

d. $1 million

Answers: 1-B 2-B 3-A 4-D 5-C 6-B

7-B

8-D

d. A pair of reading glasses

7. How many children does Trump have?

a. 3

b. 5

Wisdom key: 6-8 correct: Huge, huge, totally huge!

3-5 correct: Not bad, but no invite to Mar-a-Lago for you.

0-2 correct: Stay tuned for the Kamala Harris trivia…actually, that’s not happening.

Shortly after Trump’s second inauguration, Jack takes a tour through a museum’s American Presidents exhibit. The person leading the tour tells him, “We have a picture of each presidency. Currently, Donald Trump is the 45th person to hold the office.” But Jack quickly realizes that there are 47 pictures on the wall. Why are there two too many photos?

Answer: Presidents Grover Cleveland and Donald Trump were each elected to served two non-consecutive terms, so their photos are on the wall twice.

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

It gives me a sense of peace.

- Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown who was seen on the sideline during the TV broadcast reading a book called “INNER EXCELLENCE: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life” by Jim Murphy, when asked about it by the press after the game

I physically feel like I can do anything and everything, but I have to make sure my mentals are good.

– ibid.

I think the American people are safer and the country is better off than we were four years ago.

- Outgoing National Security advisor Jake Sullivan on CNN’s “State of the Union”

I think I would’ve beaten Trump, could’ve beaten Trump. And I think that Kamala could’ve beaten Trump, would’ve beaten Trump.

- Pres. Biden in a recent conversation with reporters, leaving many scratching their heads

The president now says that he could have beaten Trump and Kamala could have beaten Trump. He added, “If you don’t believe me, ask my good friend Jimmy Carter.”

– Greg Gutfeld, Fox

A travesty that Biden is giving Soros the Medal of Freedom

- Elon Musk on X, commenting on Pres. Biden giving George Soros a Medal of Freedom

George Soros’s hatred of humanity includes Israel btw

- ibid.

Even Ray Charles could see what’s going on!

- Mayor Eric Adams (D-NY) after he was charged with additional crimes

I wanted my kids to, when I walked in the room, or their dad walked in the room, or you would walk in the room, that they stand up out of respect.

- Maria Shriver on the TODAY podcast revealing that when her kids were growing up they always had to stand up for her when she walked into a room

Hopefully everyone is cool with me skipping the inauguration so I can go to the national title game.

- Vice President Elect J.D. Vance on social media after his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes won the college playoffs and will play in the Championship game on January 20

All told, the U.S. has provided $102 billion in assistance to Ukraine, our allies and partners $158 billion. This may be the best example of burden-sharing that I’ve seen in the 32 years that I’ve been doing this.

- Outgoing Secretary of State Anthony Blinken at the NATO foreign ministers meeting

If you need help, emergency information, resources and shelter is available. All of this can be found at URL.

– L.A. Mayor Karen Bass at a press conference

She’s got a spine of steel, and she’s been a black woman in America for a really long time. None of this is new.

- A Hollywood actress telling TMZ that the only reason embattled L.A. Mayor Karen Bass—who drastically cut the L.A. Fire Department’s budget—is being criticized is because she is black

People had many, many questions. How could Barack Obama, the man who faced vicious, racist conspiracies for years because of Trump, act so buddy-buddy with him? Does he not remember birtherism? Does he not remember how for years Trump lied about how he was secretly born in Africa? Does he not remember how Trump suggested that he was secretly a Muslim who was sympathetic to terrorist groups and terrorist causes?

– Left wing journalist Don Lemon, after Obama and Trump were seen in a friendly chat at Jimmy Carter’s funeral

Perhaps more critically, does he not remember how his entire political party has been calling the man a fascist, an autocrat, a threat to democracy for months if not years? People could not believe what they were seeing. Had the Democratic Party lied to them? Had Kamala Harris and Joe Biden lied to them?

- Ibid.

I wish Joe Biden all the best, but the fact is, he has left us a dumpster fire.

- Vice President-elect J.D. Vance on Fox News

During the Biden administration, when [the Biden administration was] trying to roll out the vaccine program, while they were trying to push that program, they also tried to censor anyone who is basically arguing against it. And they pushed us super hard to take down things that were, honestly, were true. They basically pushed us and said, you know, that “anything saying that says vaccines might have side effects, you basically need to take down.” And I was just like, “We’re not going to do that, we’re clearly not going to do that, I mean that is kind of inarguably true.”

- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg—who is singing a much different tune now than four years ago— talking to Joe Rogan

I mean basically these people from the Biden administration would call up our team and like scream at them and curse.

- ibid.

I don’t think that the [government] pushing for social media companies to censor stuff was legal.

- ibid.

It’s one thing to say we want to be kind of like welcoming and make a good environment for everyone, and I think it’s another to basically say that “masculinity is bad,” and I just think we kind of swung culturally to that part of the – the kind of – the spectrum.

- ibid., explaining why Facebook is doing away with its DEI program

It’s critically important that, to the extent you can find anything that gives you an ability to be patient in this extremely dangerous and unprecedented crisis, that you do.

- Vice President Harris addressing the L.A. fires, giving us a parting word salad

No one is my gatekeeper.

- Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) responding to criticism for going to meet with President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago

I grabbed my purse, my keys, my phone and charger, my dog and two kids and walked out the door with the clothes on my back.

- California resident Leslie Marshall writing on Fox News about her experience

I told my kids, “Don’t look back.”

- ibid.

People impacted by these fires are gonna receive one-time payment of $770.

- Announcement by Pres. Biden

Something that people may find helpful for stopping fires is packing wet sand/dirt (aka mud) on vulnerable surfaces if you can. This is far more effective than just wetting a surface with water, which evaporates quickly.

- Elon Musk, on X

What are you, some kind of an expert on heat shields or something?

- Colin Wright, in response

Yup, I literally work on heat shields every week.

- Musk, in response

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

Hi! Hope you are doing well! I want to start off with saying how much I appreciate your column, so thank you for that!

I’m dating this great guy and we get along well and I really think he’s an amazing person and I would love to spend my life with him. There’s just a little something blocking this from happening. He has a great job and works a lot, which I’m fine with, but sometimes when I text him, he waits hours to respond because he’s so busy with work. He says that when he gets married, he’s going to work less, but he really likes what he does and I don’t think it bothers him working so much. I really respect that about him, but I don’t know what to do because every time I text him, I’m waiting hours for a response. I want him to be there for me and our future kids, and I’m wondering if this will be an issue even if he cuts down on some work.

Thank you so much!

Miri*

Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.

The Panel

Dear Readers,

We want to offer YOU an opportunity to be part of the discussion! Please email us at MichelleMondShadchan@gmail.com, subject line “reader’s response,” if you would like to participate in the new “A Reader’s Response” columnist spot. We will send you a question and publish your answer in an upcoming Navidaters edition. If you have a question you would like the Navidaters to answer, please reach out to this email as well.

Looking forward!

Michelle, the “Shadchan”

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

You need to talk about this further. This is going to be a subject for not only discussion and negotiation now and in the future, but a challenge to your communication as a couple. Exploring different ways to navigate this issue with flexibility and creativity will give you an opportunity to really share and work things out. Your respect for his commitment to his work and his enjoyment of his profession shows a lot of maturity and caring. Hopefully, he will articulate his understanding of the needs of a spouse for support and teammanship. You are going to want to talk about love languages, responsibilities you each feel comfortable and good about, scheduled times, and investment of time and energy into saving, finances, and family needs. Scheduling, boundaries, and date nights will be part of a discussion as well as outsourcing some responsibilities. You will want to talk about what you see among other couples of different ages as well as other people in his profession. This is not a one-time discussion but a process of opening up to one another with understanding.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

You describe the guy you’re dating as amazing marriage potential, however, the one thing that holds you back is his

lag in response time to your texts. Let’s dive deeper into this. He is certainly not ghosting you or ignoring your texts while he is at work. He is simply working hard and focusing on his current responsibility and task. Based on your question, I can understand you are not used to this. You do not mention your own profession, but it seems it probably is a much more flexible working environment. If you are a secre tary at a shoe boutique, for example, you may have hours per day of downtime to scroll. You are using this time to text this guy and wonder why he is not responsive. Meanwhile, he may be a doctor, lawyer, or fill-in-high-yield-fast-paced-professionhere trying to get through his day. He has a set amount of hours and clients in his day, and he is trying to get through it with as little distraction as possible so he can get home at a normal hour.

We live in a generation where every thing is so immediate, but some things are not meant to be that way. A hardworking man is supposed to focus on work and put his phone down, and a good wife should be able to understand this. You are dating him and seeing this as a problem but that could not be further from the truth.

A shift in your perspective is crucial over here. You must be able to recognize his work ethic as a respectable, positive quality and his lack of texting as a side ef fect of this. If you are not able to come to this realization or get used to this reality, you may need to marry a guy who may not have as good of a work ethic and/or has a less demanding job.

Find things to fill your time during the day so you can get used to the routine of not texting with him during work hours.

This is not something I would recommend you talk to him about or see if he can change; the change needs to come from you. See if you can handle that. For your sake, I certainly hope you can!

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Ihate to criticize an intelligent young lady who likes our column, but… ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Don’t you want a guy who has an important job, takes his work seriously, has a strong work ethic, and will be able to make a good living for his wife and children?

You didn’t write what he does for a living, but if he were a neurosurgeon, would you expect him to stop in the middle of a procedure and immediately answer your text message?

Sometimes, even someone who is madly in love with you just can’t be interrupted, to, for example, instantly answer your text messages.

Okay, maybe that’s an extreme way of expressing what I’m trying to tell you. But please understand that people in demanding jobs (whether male or female) may not be able to pause on demand in order to answer a social text message.

Your boyfriend is focused on building a successful career, and that will benefit both of you. Please try to understand the issue from his point of view. Imagine if your boyfriend were to write to us: “I’m dating a wonderful girl, and I think I love her and want to marry her. I have a great but demanding job that requires my full concentration, but she often texts me during work hours, and if I don’t respond right away, she seems upset. Is this a red flag? Will she be an overly demanding wife, who doesn’t understand the reality of my career? I just don’t know what to do…”

So, the message to all singles (whether male or female) is to be understanding. Sometimes, even someone who is madly in love with you just can’t be inter-

rupted, to, for example, instantly answer your text messages.

I hope I don’t sound like I’m stereotyping, but here are some additional hints:

Smart wives understand that sometimes it’s a good idea to give a guy some space and not interrupt him, when, for example, he’s trying to decipher obscure instructions and put together an “easy-to-assemble” bookshelf. Or when he’s watching the ninth inning of a baseball game. Or during the fourth quarter of a football playoff game.

And smart husbands understand that sometimes, women need our undivided, full attention when they need to discuss something. At length. Immediately.

As couples grow together and their relationships mature, they learn to understand each other’s needs and navigate through these relatively trivial issues.

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Hi there,

Thank you so much for your kind words about our column; it means the world to me! I appreciate you reaching out and sharing your thoughts.

It sounds like you’ve found someone truly special, and I can sense how much you value and respect him. It’s clear that you admire his work ethic and the passion he has for what he does. Those are wonderful qualities, and it’s lovely to see how supportive you are of his ambitions.

At the same time, it seems like there’s a part of you that’s unsure whether his work habits might create challenges in the long

run, es

pecially when it comes to being present in the relation - ship or as a future partner and parent. That’s such a valid concern, and it’s great that you’re reflecting on this now, as it’s important to understand what will help you feel loved, supported, and secure in a relationship.

I encourage you to explore this with curiosity rather than judgment, both about him and yourself. For example, ask yourself: What do I truly need in a partner to feel connected and prioritized? Is it about faster responses to texts, or is

Reader’s Response

Isaiah Cox

“The Curmudgeon”

Back in the Dark Ages (before texting), working men did not hear from their wives while at work. That arrangement functioned pretty well for humanity for a few thousand years. There are countless jobs that really cannot accept interruptions for long stretches: e.g., operating heavy equipment, pilots, truck drivers, surgeons – even rebbes cannot interrupt a shiur to answer a text.

Now? People think they want more communication. But there is a cost. There is always a cost. As Thomas Sowell puts it, There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs. And the trade-off in this case is simple enough: availability reduces earnings.

Most women would be thrilled to marry a man who works hard and successfully, providing for his family.

If you really need a man who always responds promptly, even when at work, then are you prepared to give up the benefits of such a man? Distracted men are lower-earners, because we are

it about knowing he’ll emotionally and physically show up when it matters most? Then, consider how he’s already showing up for you in ways that feel meaningful. Are there times when his actions demonstrate his commitment, even if his timing with texts isn’t ideal?

It’s also worth gently sharing your feelings with him, not as a criticism but as an invitation for a deeper connection. You might say something like, “I love how dedicated you are to your work, and I also want to feel connected with you even when life is busy. Sometimes, when I wait hours for a response, I feel a little disconnected, and I wonder how we might find a balance that works for both of us.”

This could give you insight into how he views your concerns and what chang-

Smart wives understand that sometimes it’s a good idea to give a guy some space and not interrupt him.

less productive when we are distracted. Are you prepared to have reduced income for your living and education and other expenses, in return for responsiveness during the workday?

No woman maintains respect for a man she cannot look up to. But being the man who earns the respect of his wife takes a lot of hard work and focus!

I would say that as long as he focuses on you when you are together, then you should count yourself very blessed, indeed.

es he might be open to making. It could also clarify whether his promises to work less in the future feel realistic or if they’re something he might struggle to follow through on.

Ultimately, relationships thrive when both partners feel heard and understood, and it sounds like you’re in a great position to build that kind of foundation with him. Trust yourself to recognize whether his actions align with your needs—not just in words but in how he shows up over time.

Wishing you all the best as you navigate this! You’ve got such a good head on your shoulders, and I have no doubt you’ll find clarity in the process.

Warmly, Jennifer

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

MIDDOS AWARDS

Gavi Weinberger (1st)

Yaakov Balakahni (1st)

Yehuda Graden (3rd)

Shimon Bielory (3rd)

Meir Rubin (4th)

Yehuda Barr (4th)

Yosef Kulik (4th)

Yaakov Yablonsky (5th)

Yehuda Mirkin (5th)

Alyee Zaslow (7th)

Kalman Goodman (7th)

Yehuda Katz (7th)

MIDDOS RAFFLE WINNER:

Kalman Goodman (7th)

GAME OF THE WEEK

In a thrilling matchup Clothier staged an incredible comeback to edge out Bella Boutique, 45-44. Trailing by 8 points at halftime, Clothier refused to back down, showing resilience and determination throughout the contest. Bella Boutique’s Kobi Weisbord led all scorers, with strong support from the unstoppable Spero, making them a tough duo to contain. However, Clothier’s teamwork and focus made the difference. Aviel and Matt lit up the scoreboard with impressive shooting performances, while Binyomin and Naftali anchored the defense, disrupting Bella’s offensive flow.

The game came down to the wire. With the score tight, Aylee Zaslow stepped up scored. Tthat turned out to be the game-winning shot as on the ensuing possession, Clothier locked in on defense, getting a critical stop to preserve their lead. They then held the ball in the final seconds, securing the dramatic victory with composure and teamwork. This game was a masterclass in perseverance and teamwork, solidifying its place as the Inkredible Kids Game of the Week.

RECAP RECAP RECAP

YOUTH HIGHLIGHTS

It was an exciting week of basketball with intense matchups across all grades! In the 1st grade division, Clothier secured a commanding 27-12 win over Holy Smokes BBQ, while MDSC edged out Sprinkles in a close 34-24 game. The 2nd grade games were action-packed as Fired Up put on a scoring clinic, defeating MDSC 71-51, and Clothier battled to a 38-29 victory over Holy Smokes BBQ.

In 3rd grade, Clothier dominated Holy Smokes BBQ with a 34-6 blowout, and MDSC prevailed in a tight defensive struggle against Rentals of Distinction, winning 15-10. Meanwhile, Jtap Tennis outscored Inkredible Kids in a competitive 38-28 matchup. The 4th-grade division saw Tov Pizza defeat Ta’am Thai 20-14, Clothier squeak past Jtap Tennis League 25-23, and MDSC top Mamah Leah’s in a close 30-26 contest.

The 5th grade games were equally thrilling, with Goldberg’s Bagels narrowly beating Jtap Tennis League 22-19, and Abbo’s Auto Shop driving past Clothier 26-20. Holy Smokes BBQ outshined Fired Up with a fiery 39-12 victory, while MDSC edged out Orshan Legal Group LLC in a nail-biter, 24-22. In the 6th grade division, The Club eked out a 19-18 win over Tov Pizza, and MDSC dominated JCC with a 43-10 win. Holy Smokes BBQ also triumphed over Clothier 42-34.

The 7th grade division was filled with drama as Holy Smokes BBQ edged JCC 48-44, and Rentals of Distinction took down MDSC with a decisive 49-23 victory. The game of the week featured Clothier narrowly defeating Bella Boutique Jewelry in a nail-biting 45-44 finish. Finally, in the 8th grade division, Holy Smokes BBQ cruised past Clothier 40-15, and Skye Landscaping overwhelmed MDSC with a 50-20 win.

ADULT HIGHLIGHTS

Ortho Maryland edged Bella Boutique Jewelry 31-28 in a nail-biter, with Bella missing a chance to tie after Meir Parry’s three-pointer off a stolen inbound pass fell short. Town Appliance put up a strong fight behind Chewy Gunzberg’s game-high 19 points, but Holy Smokes BBQ, powered by Eitan Hariri, YoYo Straus, and Nadav Spiegler, all scoring in double digits, secured a 63-49 victory. Meanwhile, MDSC, led by Mordy Reches and Yaakov Meister with 10 points each, dominated Fired Up in a commanding 53-21 win.

Trump’s Picks

By TJH STaff

As January 20 comes ever closer, President Donald Trump is set to fulfill many of the pledges he made on the campaign trail. As such, he has selected key people to help him follow through with his vision for America. Below is a list of many – but not all (hey, we would have run out of room!) – of Trump’s picks for key positions in his government. Senate hearings are scheduled to approve some of those who have been nominated for these roles. Fasten your seatbelts, America, these hearings can be fun!

Marco Rubio Secretary of State

2016 saw Trump and Rubio fight it out on the national stage as they both battled to earn the Republican nomination for president. This time around, the Republican senator from Florida, campaigned for Trump and was even under consideration for his vice presidential pick.

Rubio has served on the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees and has become a powerful advocate for American interests and against America’s enemies, including totalitarian regimes in China, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and Cuba. He has also been a powerful and unrelenting advocate for Israel’s right to exist. In his role as co-chairman of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China, he has decried the forced labor and unfair trade practices of the Chinese Communist Party.

In a speech on foreign policy, Rubio once said, “Like Washington, Reagan viewed the construction of a strong military not as a preparation for aggression but as an action to prevent aggression. In his words, ‘A truly successful army is one that, because of its strength and ability and dedication, will not be called upon to fight, for no one will dare to provoke it.’”

Rubio will be the first Latino to hold the position. He once said, “My dad was a bartender. My mom was a cashier, a hotel maid, and a stock clerk at Kmart. They never made it big. They were never rich. And yet they were successful. Because just a few decades removed from hopelessness, they made possible for us all the things that had been impossible for them.”

This role requires Senate confirmation.

Pam Bondi Attorney General

Bondi was Trump’s second choice for attorney general of the U.S., as his first pick, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration after allegations came to light. But Bondi is not new to the Trump circle. The former Florida attorney general has been a longtime Trump ally. She endorsed Trump in March 2016, on the eve of the Republican primary in Florida, over Florida Senator Marco Rubio. She gained national attention over the past few years as a defender of Trump and spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Bondi’s name was floated as a possible candidate for the attorney general position during Trump’s first term.

Bondi was Florida’s first female attorney general. As Florida’s top prosecutor, Bondi stressed human trafficking issues and urged tightening state laws against traffickers. She held the job from 2011 to 2019. She also worked as a lobbyist for both U.S. and foreign clients. During Trump’s first impeachment trial in 2020, Bondi stepped away from lobbying to help the Trump legal team. She has been a vocal critic of the criminal cases against Trump as well as of Jack Smith, the special counsel who charged Trump in two federal cases. In one radio appearance, she blasted Smith and other prosecutors who have charged Trump as “horrible” people she said were trying to make names for themselves by “going after Donald Trump and weaponizing our legal system.”

This role requires Senate confirmation.

Pete Hegseth Secretary of Defense

“Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First,” Trump said when announcing his pick for Secretary of Defense.

“With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — our military will be great again, and America will never back down.”

Hegseth served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard, serving overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as at Guantanamo Bay and twice being awarded the Bronze Star. He has a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Hegseth gained national fame over the past ten years, as he worked as a host and commentator on Fox News and is the author of four books.

The Secretary of Defense is responsible for overseeing the Department of Defense, an organization with more than 2.6 million employees and a burgeoning budget of over $840 billion.

The Cabinet-level post requires Senate confirmation.

Tom Homan “Border Czar”

Tom Homan was Trump’s director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the first Trump administration. He is not shy about his stance on immigration, vocally promoting a “zero tolerance” program that separated parents from children at the border. In October, when asked by “60 Minutes” if there was a way for families not to be separated, Homan answered affirmatively, “Of course there is.

Families can be deported together.”

Homan is set to be in charge of the southern and northern U.S. borders, as well as “all Maritime and Aviation Security,” according to Trump.

“There is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders,” the president-elect added.

Speaking at the National Conservatism Conference in July, Homan told undocumented immigrants to “wait till 2025,” adding, “If you’re here illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.”

“Trump comes back in January,” Homan said. “I’ll be on his heels coming back. And I will run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.”

Addressing cartels at the Republican National Convention, Homan said that Trump would designate Mexican cartels a “terrorist organization” for their role in getting fentanyl over the border, warning, “He’s gonna wipe you off the face of the Earth.”

Homan is a former police officer and Border Patrol agent. He was executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President Obama. During that administration, ICE carried out a record number of deportations.

This role does not require Senate confirmation.

Mike Huckabee U.S. Ambassador to Israel

Huckabee was governor of Arkansas for ten years. He came into the national spotlight in 2012 and 2016 when he unsuccessfully tried to earn the Republican nomination for president. Throughout the years, Huckabee has been a staunch ally and supporter of Israel, including now, during Operation Iron Swords.

“Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years,” Trump said in a statement. “He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!”

Huckabee first visited Israel forty years ago. He has said that he doesn’t believe that a two-state solution is practical. The pastor has called Judea and Samaria the “Promised Land.” In 2008, Huckabee was quoted as saying that “there is no such a thing as a Palestinian.”

“Basically, there really is no such thing as — I need to be careful about saying this, because people will really get upset — there’s really no such thing as a Palestinian,” he said during a campaign stop. “There’s not.”

He has also been quoted as saying that a Pal-

estinian state can be formed from Arab countries.

“My point is, if that’s the issue, if it’s real estate, if you look at a map, and say here is how much Israel has and here is how much the Arab states hold, there is plenty of land,” he said in 2015.

This position requires Senate confirmation.

William McGinley White House Counsel

In the most recent presidential campaign, McGinley served as outside counsel to the Republican National Committee’s “election integrity” efforts. Prior to joining the Trump White House last time around, McGinley worked as counsel to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. During Trump’s first term, McGinley served as White House Cabinet secretary for two and a half years before going into private practice.

In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.”

Friends describe McGinley as a devout Catholic with a reputation for truth-telling.

This role does not require Senate confirmation.

Mehmet Oz Centers For Medicare and Medicaid

Services

Administrator

Most famous for his eponymous talk show, “The Dr. Oz Show” and for appearing regularly on the Oprah Winfrey show, Trump announced that Mehmet Oz will become the administrator for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He will be working closely with Robert F. Kennedy, who is Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services secretary.

Oz narrowly lost his 2022 Senate bid to John Fetterman in Pennsylvania, a campaign in which Trump endorsed Oz.

This position requires Senate confirmation.

Trump’s Cabinet

A president’s Cabinet consists of the vice president (in this case, JD Vance), plus fifteen other people who fill key positions in the administration. These are the fifteen people, along with their departments, who Trump has nominated for his Cabinet.

They are listed in order of succession to the presidency, which is determined by when the department was created.

Secretary of State:

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida

Treasury Secretary: Scott Bessent

Defense Secretary: Pete Hegseth

Attorney General: Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi

Interior Secretary: North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum

Agriculture Secretary: Brooke Rollins

Commerce Secretary: Howard Lutnick

Labor Secretary: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon

Health and Human Services Secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Housing and Urban

Development Secretary: Former Texas state Rep. Scott Turner

Transportation Secretary: Former Rep. Sean Duffy of Wisconsin

Energy Secretary: Chris Wright

Education Secretary: Former Small Business

Administrator Linda McMahon

Veterans Affairs Secretary: Former Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia

Homeland Security Secretary: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem

Howard Lutnick Commerce Secretary

Lutnick, an American billionaire businessman, was born in Jericho, NY, to a Jewish family. He is the chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Group.

Lutnick lost 658 employees, including his brother, in the 9/11 attacks, personally surviving the tragedy on the ground. Since then, Lutnick has been an involved contributor to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund. As commerce secretary, Lutnick will play a role in implementing Trump’s plans for steeper tariffs.

“He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative,” Trump said in a statement announcing the pick.

Lutnick lost both his mother and then his father at a young age, forcing him and his two siblings to support themselves.

This role requires Senate approval.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health and Human Services Secretary

Kennedy ran for the Democratic nomination and then as an independent candidate in this year’s election before dropping out of the race and endorsing Trump. Trump subsequently promised Kennedy a key position in the White House.

As HHS secretary, Kennedy would oversee 13 public health-related agencies, and has expressed plans to upend many of them, telling an audience at a conference in November he would halt infectious disease studies at the National Institutes of Health if given a role in the Trump administration. “I’m going to say to NIH scientists, G-d bless you all…thank you for your public service.”

Kennedy has controversial views when it comes to health. He has been vocal about his disdain for vaccinations, particularly the Covid-19 vaccine. He has advocated for removing fluoride from public water, an idea Trump said he was open to.

If confirmed, Kennedy will take the reins of a $1.7 trillion agency that oversees vaccines and other medicines, scientific research, public health infrastructure, pandemic preparedness, food and tobacco products. HHS also manages government-funded health care for millions of Americans – including seniors, disabled people and lower-income patients who rely on

Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act’s markets. The heads of the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services all report to the HHS secretary.

This role requires Senate confirmation.

Scott Bessent Treasury Secretary

Although he has supported Democrats in the past, money manager Scott Bessent is a fan of President Trump. He is an advocate of cutting spending while extending the tax cuts approved by Congress in Trump’s first term.

The billionaire from South Caroline had donated to various Democratic causes in the early 2000s. He also worked for George Soros, including during his famous 1992 bet against the pound, which generated huge profits on “Black Wednesday,” when the pound was de-linked from European currencies.

Bessent has called for spending cuts and shifts in existing taxes to offset the costs that the tax extension would add to the federal deficit.

“That’s going to be a negotiation with the Republican Congress,” Bessent said on November 6. “I’ve already been in conversations with a lot of the Republicans who will chair those committees. The Republican Congress, there’s a big appetite for pay-fors. It will be a negotiation.”

He has also said, “I do think this debt and deficit is going to be the big issue of the day. I think Americans are worried about it.” He argues that consumer prices can be brought down “by starting with a deficit reduction program.”

Trump has repeatedly spoken about proposing tariffs on goods emanating from certain countries. Bessent told Bloomberg in August that he views tariffs as a “one time price adjustment” and “not inflationary,” and tariffs imposed during a second Trump administration would be directed primarily at China. “I think that tariffs in a way can be regarded as an economic sanction without a sanction. If you don’t like Chinese economic policy, flooding the market with over production, you could put a sanction on them, or a tariff. It’s also an answer to currency manipulation.”

He wrote in an op-ed that tariffs are “a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives. Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defense, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing cooperation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.”

This position requires Senate approval.

Kash Patel FBI Director

With the early resignation of director of the FBI

Christopher Wray, who had been appointed by President Trump in 2017, Trump’s pick to lead the organization, Kash Patel, is ready to take on the deep state. In fact, Patel laid out his vision in his 2023 book, “Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy.” In the book, Patel lays out his case against what he refers to as “the deep state” — an amorphous term he says includes elected leaders, journalists, Big Tech tycoons and “members of the unelected bureaucracy” — and called for “a comprehensive housecleaning” of the Justice Department, which he claims has protected high-ranking members of the Democratic Party while unjustly targeting Republicans and their allies.

Trump has praised the book as a “blueprint to take back the White House and remove these Gangsters from all of Government,” according to promotional endorsements.

Patel has been vocal about his disdain for the FBI, repeatedly calling for the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., to be dismantled and turned into a “museum of the deep state.”

Patel grew up in New York and was raised Hindu by his immigrant parents. He worked as a public defender in Florida and then as a federal prosecutor in the National Security Division of the DOJ, according to his book. He called that a “dream job” for any young lawyer.

In 2019, Patel went to work for Trump on the National Security Council before becoming chief of staff to acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller at the end of Trump’s first term.

Patel founded Fight With Kash — now the Kash Foundation — which is “dedicated to providing financial assistance to active duty service members and veterans, legal defense funds, and education programs,” according to the organization.

This position requires Senate approval.

Janette Nesheiwat Surgeon General

“Dr. Nesheiwat is a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health,” Trump said in nominating Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for the position of surgeon general. “She is

committed to ensuring that Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare, and believes in empowering individuals to take charge of their health to live longer, healthier lives.”

Nesheiwat is a Fox News medical contributor and serves as a medical director at CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey.

Nesheiwat specialized in emergency and family medicine. She has supported vaccines that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for HHS secretary, has cast doubts about. Still, she has criticized the CDC’s guidance on Covid vaccines and was critical of government mandates during the pandemic.

She regularly contributes to Fox News and other outlets, has written a book about “miracles in medicine” and promotes dietary supplements she formulates.

This position requires Senate approval.

Adam Boehler Envoy for Hostage Affairs

“He has negotiated with some of the toughest people in the World, including the Taliban,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post announcing Adam Boehler as his pick for special presidential envoy for hostage affairs. “Adam will work tirelessly to bring our Great American Citizens HOME.”

Boehler is the chief executive officer of Nashville-based healthcare investment firm Rubicon Founders. He was a negotiator on the Abraham Accords team in 2020, working alongside Jared Kushner.

Boehler responded to Trump’s announcement, “There is nothing more important than bringing Americans home. Under @realDonaldTrump’s leadership, there will finally be action and consequences. We will BRING THEM HOME.”

Trump made the announcement following the revelation that American citizen Omer Neutra, a hostage in Gaza who was believed to be alive, had, in fact, been killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

The same day Neutra’s death was announced by Israeli authorities, Trump warned that “there will be ALL [HECK] TO PAY in the Middle East” if the hostages held by Hamas are not released prior to his inauguration on January 20, 2025.

The current envoy is Roger Carstens, who had been appointed by Trump in 2020 and was kept on during the Biden administration.

During the first Trump administration, Boehler also served as the chief executive officer of the new-

ly created U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, which sought to bring several U.S. international funding agencies together under one roof. During the Covid pandemic, the new agency was also tasked with coordinating some of the medical supply chain, parts of which were working under an emergency Defense Production Act mandate from the White House.

This position requires Senate approval.

Stephen Miller Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy

Miller, 39, was born in Santa Monica, California, to a Jewish family. Although his parents were both Democrats, Miller made a sharp turn to the right after reading a book by Wayne LaPierre, longtime head of the NRA.

Miller was a senior policy advisor for Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and joined the administration during Trump’s first term, serving as senior advisor. He wrote Trump’s first inaugural address with Steve Bannon.

Miller has been vocal about his anti-immigration stance. At a rally in Madison Square Garden just a few weeks ago, Miller declared, “America is for Americans and Americans only.”

Miller is married to Katie Waldman, who is also Jewish; they have three children together. They first met in 2018, when Waldman worked at the Department of Homeland Security and worked with Miller on communications on immigration issues. Waldman later served as press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence.

This role does not require Senate confirmation.

Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy Department of Government Efficiency

Musk and Ramaswamy were famous faces along the campaign trail with Trump. Musk, co-founder and CEO of Tesla Motors and Space X and the owner of the social media platform X, threw his support

behind Trump in the 2024 presidential campaign, famously stumping for the former president while wearing his black MAGA hat. Ramaswamy founded the pharmaceutical company Roivant Sciences and ran for president in 2024 before endorsing Trump.

“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies,” Trump said in a statement when picking these two winners for his team.

Trump had proposed the creation of a government efficiency commission as part of a slate of new economic plans that he unveiled in early September. At the time, he said Musk had agreed to lead it if he were to secure a return to the White House.

Trump’s statement quoted Musk as saying that “this will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!”

Ramaswamy separately responded on X with a slogan he often used during his presidential campaign to call for the elimination of federal agencies, writing: “SHUT IT DOWN.”

Musk posted on X an image of himself at a podium labeled Department of Government Efficiency and D.O.G.E., the name of Musk’s favorite meme and cryptocurrency. “I am willing to serve,” he wrote.

At a rally in Madison Square Garden a few weeks ago, Musk told the crowd, “Your money is being wasted, and the Department of Government Efficiency is going to fix that. We’re going to get the government off your back and out of your pocketbook.”

The position does not require Senate approval.

Kristi Noem Homeland Security Secretary

The governor of South Dakota since 2019, Noem previously served as a member of the House from 2011 to 2019 and as a state representative in her home state from 2007 to 2011. She will be tasked with overseeing an enormous agency that includes U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Secret Service.

During her time as governor, Noem described the border crisis an “invasion.” She backed better physical barriers at the border. Under her leadership, South Dakota was the first state to send National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in 2021 to assist Texas; she deployed troops to the border a total of eight times.

She co-sponsored several bills against immigration. Kate’s Law was introduced in response to the 2015 killing of Kate Steinle by an illegal alien who had already been deported five times. Sarah’s Law was introduced following the 2016 drunk driving killing of Sarah Root by an illegal alien who had been driving drunk.

“She will work closely with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan to secure the border and will guarantee that our American homeland is secure from our adversaries,” Trump said after naming Noem for the position. “I have known Kristi for years and have worked with her on a wide variety of projects. She will be a great part of our mission to make America safe again.”

Noem responded to the nomination, saying, “With Donald Trump, we will secure the border and restore safety to American communities so that families will again have the opportunity to pursue the American dream.”

This position requires Senate approval.

John Ratcliffe CIA Director

Ratcliffe, a former House member from Texas, served in the Trump administration as director of national intelligence for the final months of Trump’s first term.

Ratcliffe was elected to Congress in 2014, but his visibility rose in 2019 as an ardent defender of Trump during the House’s first impeachment proceedings against him. He was a member of Trump’s impeachment advisory team and strenuously questioned witnesses during the impeachment hearings.

“This is the thinnest, fastest and weakest impeachment our country has ever seen,” Ratcliffe said after the Democratic-controlled House voted to impeach Trump over a phone call he had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Ratcliffe has repeatedly sounded the alarm about China, calling the country the top threat to U.S. interests and the rest of the free world.

“The intelligence is clear: Beijing intends to dominate the U.S. and the rest of the planet economically, militarily and technologically,” Ratcliffe wrote in a December 2020 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal. “Many of China’s major public initiatives and prominent companies offer only a layer of camouflage to the activities of the Chinese Communist Party.”

The Cabinet-level post requires Senate confirmation.

Dan Scavino Deputy Chief of Staff

Once Trump’s golf caddy, Scavino is a long-time ally to the president-elect and served as a communications adviser during Trump’s first term. The House voted to hold Scavino in contempt of Congress after refusing to cooperate with a probe following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, but the Justice Department declined to indict him.

This role does not require Senate confirmation.

Elise Stefanik U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.

Stefanik, a congresswoman from New York, serves as chairwoman of the House Republican Conference and is one of Trump’s fiercest supporters on Capitol Hill.

“I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump said in a statement.

The New York congresswoman, the fourth-ranking House Republican, has been a strong ally of the president-elect and a major fundraiser for the GOP.

Stefanik has frequently criticized the United Nations, particularly over its criticism of Israel, and said the Biden administration should consider a “complete reassessment” of U.S. funding for the UN if the Palestinian Authority continues to pursue a push to revoke Israel’s UN membership.

Stefanik made headlines last year with her strong questioning of heads of universities during a House hearing who refused to call out antisemitism on their campuses.

The Cabinet-level post requires Senate confirmation.

Mike Waltz National Security Adviser

Waltz is a three-term Florida Republican congressman and Trump loyalist who served as a Green Beret in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa, earning four Bronze Stars during his tenure. Waltz previously worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser during the George W. Bush administration.

Like many congressional Republicans, Waltz has criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia. A member of the Armed Services, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Committees, he has chastised NATO allies for not meeting their military spending commitments and has taken a hard line on China and Iran.

This role does not require Senate confirmation.

Susie Wiles Chief of Staff

Wiles, who served as the de facto manager of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, was credited with guiding his successful bid. (In his election night speech, Trump referred to Wiles as “the ice maiden.”)

Trump called her “tough, smart, innovative… universally admired and respected,” when speaking about her assistance in the 2024 and 2016 election wins.

Trump went through a record four chiefs of staff during his first administration. Wiles will be the first woman – Republican or Democrat – to ever to serve as chief of staff.

“For myself and countless others, having Susie Wiles as a mentor and a friend is a gift,” said Brian Hughes, a senior adviser. “The nation will see that with President Trump in the White House with Susie as the chief of staff the next four years will be America’s best.”

Wiles is the daughter of the renowned late NFL kicker and sportscaster Pat Summerall.

This Cabinet-level position does not require Senate confirmation.

Steven Witkoff Special Envoy to the Middle East

Witkoff is a Trump donor and a real estate investor with “no known expertise in diplomacy or the Middle East,” the Times of Israel reported. In a statement posted to X, Trump called Witkoff “a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” and said he would be “an unrelenting Voice for PEACE.”

Witkoff has praised Trump’s dealings with Israel, saying in July that his “leadership was good for Israel and the entire region.”

He added, “With President Trump, the Middle East experienced historic levels of peace and stability. Strength prevents wars. Iran’s money was cut off which prevented their funding of global terror.”

Trump had been playing golf with Witkoff and other friends during the second assassination attempt on the presidential candidate in September.

Witkoff was born in the Bronx and was raised on Long Island. After his son Andrew died of an overdose, Witkoff gave Andrew’s guitar to “fellow music lover Donald Trump.”

“President Trump didn’t say something nice to me and put it in a closet somewhere,” Witkoff said. “He put it right out front at his Trump International West Palm Beach property where he and I both see it whenever we walk in and play.

“I know this man very well,” Witkoff said. “President Trump is as kind and compassionate a man as I’ve ever met in my lifetime.”

This role does not require Senate confirmation.

Lee Zeldin EPA Administrator

Zeldin, a former New York congressman, is a longtime Trump backer.

“We will restore U.S. energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the U.S. the global leader of AI,” Zeldin said in a post on X after Trump announced his appointment overseeing the EPA. “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water.”

Zeldin had lost the New York governor’s race in 2022 to Kathy Hochul.

One of Zeldin’s first tasks will likely be starting the process to overturn several of the Biden EPA’s biggest rules on climate, including tailpipe regula-

tions for vehicles and rules aimed at slashing pollution from power plants and oil and gas producers.

Zeldin said Trump cares about ensuring access to clean air and water but wants to use the EPA to pursue “energy dominance.”

“One of the biggest issues for so many Americans was the economy, and the president was talking about unleashing economic prosperity through the EPA. We have the ability to pursue energy dominance, to be able to make the United States the artificial intelligence capital of the world, to bring back American jobs to the auto industry, and so much more. President Trump cares about conserving the environment, as you just mentioned in that statement from him. His desire to ensure access to clean air, clean water, it was a top priority,” Zeldin said.

Asked about day one priorities from the agency, Zeldin said, “So, day one and the first 100 days, we have the opportunity to roll back regulations that are forcing businesses to be able to struggle, they’re forced to cut costs, internally, they are moving overseas all together.”

“There are regulations that the left wing of this country have been advocating through regulatory power that ends up causing businesses to go in the wrong direction,” he said.

This Cabinet-level post requires Senate confirmation.

Tulsi Gabbard National Intelligence Director

The former Democratic congresswoman will be sitting in a position which oversees the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser.

Gabbard has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades and deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. She received a Combat Medical Badge in 2005 for “participation in combat operations under enemy hostile fire in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III,” the Hawaii National Guard said.

Gabbard had been the first Hindu and the first American Samoan elected to Congress. She was raised in Hawaii. During her four House terms, she became known for speaking out against her party’s leadership. Her father, Mike Gabbard, was a state senator who was first elected as a Republican but who switched parties to become a Democrat.

Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022 and endorsed Trump early in the race.

The Cabinet-level post requires Senate confirmation.

Linda McMahon Secretary of Department of Education

McMahon is not new to the Trump team. The major Republican donor and former pro-wrestling executive served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration during the first Trump term. She was appointed in 2017 and resigned in 2019 to become the chair of America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC.

“Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next Generation of American Students and Workers, and make America Number One in Education in the World. We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort,” Trump said in a statement this week in announcing his pick.

She is the board chair of the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump think tank that was formed in 2021 by McMahon, Larry Kudlow and other advisers from the first Trump administration.

AFPI has raised millions of dollars since it was founded and has been described as a “WhiteHouse-in-waiting,” planning potential policy proposals for Trump’s second term.

The Department of Education delivers federal funding to nearly every public K-12 school in the country and manages the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio.

McMahon is also the former CEO of the WWE, which she co-founded with her husband, Vince McMahon. As head of the WWE, Linda McMahon oversaw its transformation from a small wrestling entertainment company into a publicly traded media empire. She stepped down as CEO in 2009.

McMahon twice ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate in Connecticut, losing in 2010 and 2012. She self-funded those campaigns, spending $50.1 million in 2010 and $48.7 million in 2012. Trump donated $5,000 to her campaign in 2012.

McMahon donated more than $7 million to two pro-Trump super PACs during Trump’s first campaign for president.

This position requires Senate approval.

Leba Priluck,

Note:

Yakira Mandelbaum,9

Sadie Schwarzenbergers, 8

Ahuva Langer

Ahuva & Chaya B.,11 & 9

Sigi O’Connor, 8

Rummi Katz

B. R. E., 6

Sarala K., 5 Maya Schwarzenberger, 11

Miriam Shugarman 5

Matan S., 5

5

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Eliam Hakimi, 4

Elchanan Attar, 6

Kayla Goodman, 10

Leah Saposnik, 10

Dovi B., 7 Eitan, 3

Eitan Noff, 4

Eli Saposnik, 6

Azi Weiss, 5

Emmie Schwarzenberger, 5

Eli Felder, 5

Eliana Hakimi, 10

Talia Goetz, 6

Charlie Friedman, 6 Chevi, 4

Leora & Ahuva Moss, 4 & 7

Ayala Addi, 12

Eli Korb, 6 & Nina Korb, 4

Shalva Romer, 7

Yakira S., 5

Aviel Hakimi, 5

Eliana Kushner, 5

E. N. E., 4

Tzion & Chananel Maron, 9 & 5

Shmuel G.

In The K tchen

Ori’s Meatballs and Peas

By Naomi Nachman

I had the honor of spending some time with Einav Danino, who lost her son Ori after he was taken hostage on October 7 from the Nova Festival and held for 11 months in horrific conditions in the Gaza tunnels. Ori was murdered right before the IDF could rescue him along with five other precious young souls.

I had asked Einav what her son’s favorite food was, and she told me peas and meatballs. I asked her if she would make them with me so we could all make Ori’s favorite dish and think of him and spread his light on the world. On October 7, Ori had made it to safety with some friends, but he ran back to the festival to continue to help others escape until he was kidnapped.

Ingredients

Meatballs

◦ 2 pounds ground beef

◦ 1 onion, finely grated

◦ 1 potato, finely graded

◦ 1 egg

◦ ½ cup breadcrumbs

◦ 1 teaspoon salt

◦ 1½ to 2 teaspoons cumin, to taste

◦ Black pepper

Sauce

◦ 1 onion, diced

◦ 2 stalks celery, small dice

◦ 1 bag frozen peas

◦ Salt and pepper, to taste

◦ 2 cups water or broth

◦ Canola oil

Preparation

Mix all meatball ingredients together and set aside. Prepare the sauce: In a large sauté pan on medium-high heat, add 2 teaspoons canola oil. When the oil is hot, sauté the onion until it becomes golden brown.

Add celery and peas to the pan and season with salt and black pepper and sauté until the celery is soft, approximately five minutes.

Add approximately 2 cups of water or broth.

Shape the meat mixture into balls and place them around the peas. Lower pan to a simmer. Cook covered on low heat for 40 minutes.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

Naomi with Ori Danino's mother and his favorite dish, meatballs and peas