Baltimore Jewish Home 10-31-24 by Moshe Rubin

Shabbat

Create Yourself by Rabbi Warren Goldstein

Shabbos

Making the Most of Shabbos by Rabbi Shimshon Pincus

Dear Readers,

The story of Noach provides us with a profound example of personal integrity and unwavering dedication to Hashem. The Torah describes Noach as a “Tzaddik Tamim Hayah B’dorosav,” leading to a well-known debate among the meforshim. Some explain this as a high praise, emphasizing that if Noach could maintain his righteousness in a generation as corrupt as his, surely he would have achieved even greater heights among other tzaddikim. Others, however, interpret it as a limitation, suggesting that Noach’s righteousness was relative to his lowly generation and that he would not have stood out in the times of Avraham Avinu. Nonetheless, Noach’s dedication to Hashem in such a world reflects the immense strength of personal conviction, standing alone in his devotion when no one else was with him.

When we compare Noach to Avraham Avinu, we can better understand two different models of avodas Hashem. Noach faithfully followed Hashem’s command, building the teivah despite constant ridicule, remaining focused on his task without actively seeking to influence his generation. In contrast, Avraham took on the mission of spreading awareness of Hashem, actively engaging with others to draw them closer to emunah. While Noach’s avodah was one of private devotion, Avraham’s avodah involved teaching and inspiring those around him. Both models are significant, but Chazal often views Avraham’s outreach as a higher level because of his efforts to influence the world for the better.

There are indeed different paths to serving Hashem, each valuable in its own way. At times, we may be like Noach, holding steadfast to our principles even if we stand alone. At other times, we may be like Avraham, reaching out to those around us to inspire and elevate them. In a world that often challenges or even dismisses Torah values, we are reminded that both personal integrity and a commitment to uplifting others are essential elements in our service of Hashem. The ultimate goal is to recognize when to stand firm and when to reach out, always with the intent of fulfilling Hashem’s will.

As we leave the Yom Tov season, we’re reminded of the balance between introspective and communal paths in avodas Hashem. The Yomim Noraim, with their intense focus on personal reflection and cheshbon hanefesh, draw us inward, encouraging each of us to refine our inner world and strengthen our individual relationship with Hashem. Succos and Simchas Torah, on the other hand, are marked by joy, unity, and celebration, where we turn outward, joining together to rejoice in Hashem’s Torah and embrace our connection with others. These two seasons echo the different forms of avodah embodied by Noach and Avraham—both solitary reflection and communal engagement. Together, they remind us that a life of Torah contains both personal dedication and uplifting those around us, a harmonious blend that completes our avodas Hashem.

Wishing everyone a peaceful Shabbos

Aaron Menachem

community events,

& photos, and mazal tovs to editor@baltimorejewishhome.com to be featured in coming editions!

Suburban Orthodox

Mercaz Torah U’Tefilla

Mesivta Kesser Torah

Shimmy and Miri Yarmak To Kehillas Derech Chaim

Senate Candidate Larry Hogan Visits WITS

On October 7th, former Governor Larry Hogan and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski (“Johnny O”) visited the Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary & College (WITS). During their visit, they met with Academic Dean, Dr. Leslie G. Klein, and Chairman of the Board, Mr. Shlomo Spetner. They toured the campus, gaining a deeper understanding of WITS’ mission and its role in providing high-quality education and support to frum women in the community. Governor Hogan praised WITS as “a wonderful undergraduate institution in Baltimore,” noting that “these state-of-the-art facilities are an invaluable resource to the local community and the women who learn here.”

The TA Middle school had a special seder as a zechus for all of Klal Yisrael, especially those in Eretz Yisrael.

of Inspiration

For Women and GIrls

The Secret to on Holding Tight to Hope

Introduction by: HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita shlit”a

TAKING PLACE LOCALLY ON

DATE: MONDAY November 11th (11 Cheshvan)

TIME: 8:30pm

PLACE: Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion, 6602 Park Heights Ave

CONTACT: Mrs Varda Birnbaum +1 (410) 868-3226

SUGGESTED MINIMUM DONATION: $10

All proceeds for Tzedaka for Aniyim - Torah Umesorah's Aniyim Fund

Donations go to the Torah Umesorah's Aniyim Fund, for food and other necessities for the poor and needy. Please make checks payable to Torah Umesorah's Aniyim Fund c/o Traub Family, 6022 Berkeley Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21209. This program was coordinated with the guidance of HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlita. L’ilui nishmas Ruchama ה”ע bas HaRav Naftali HaLevy Jaeger Shlita • L’ilui nishmas Tema bas Mordechai z”l (Rebbitzen Kamenetsky) and Yblch’t ‘Refuah Sheleima for Shmuel ben Eta Ettel (HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlita) Video Sponsor, Zecharia Dov ben Perel Shira

Around the Community

A Great Time At L’Chaim Day Program On Chol Hamoed!

L’Chaim Day Program held a Chol Hamoed event. Lectures and discussion groups, special concerts, Yom Tov movies, and inspirational tefillos were enjoyed by all.

by Rabbi Shimon Finkelman

Discover how the weekly parashah holds timeless lessons on refining our speech and deepening our love for every Jew. With its accessible and relatable insights and real-life stories for every parashah, this essential guide to shemiras halashon, ahavas Yisrael, and positive speech will not only inspire meaningful conversations at your Shabbos table but also transform your everyday interactions, bringing more harmony into your home and life.

Around the Community

Sukka at Aberdeen Proving Ground

By: BJLife Newsroom

For the 7th year, thanks to the efforts of Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum, director of the Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland-Chabad, a Sukka was built at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The Sukka is located in the courtyard of the main Chapel, and is available for use by the Jewish members of APG throughout the days of Chol Hamoed. JUSA hosted a Sukka Party on the third day of Chol Hamoed that was well attended by soldiers and employees of APG, were they had a chance to do the Mitzvah of Lulav and Estrog and make a Brocha in the Sukka.

JUSA would like to thank the new Garrison Chaplain (MAJ), Jay June Kim and his office for all their help and assistance.

Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum, in front of the APG Sukka with Aberdeen Proving Ground Garrison Chaplain (MAJ) Kim

Shabbos4Israel

SHABBOS LUNCH FOR MIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL AND POST SEM GIRLS W/ BEATIE DEUTSCH & RAZ BEN AMI

NOVEMBER 16 · 12:00 PM

AT KOL TORAH, RABBI BERGER

Free for Those who raise $180 at Run4Israel Non-Runners: $36

Run4Israel

WALK. RUN. RAISE. LED BY Beatie Deutsch

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17 7:30 AM · BALTIMORE ZOO

Join Us for a Transformative Jewish Unity Weekend with released Israeli hostage, Raz ben Ami, and Beatie Deutsch, Israeli Marathon Champion

In the face of heart-wrenching loss and unprecedented challenges, our community stands at a crossroads. The events of October 7 have tested our resilience and unity like never before. Now, we have a powerful opportunity to come together and turn disunity into strength through compassion and support for those who need it most. All events will feature talks by Raz ben Ami, a released Israeli hostage, whosehusband, Ohad, is still being held captive in Gaza, and Beatie Deutsch, Israeli Marathon Champion.

Run4Israel is proud to present a weekend dedicated to Jewish Unity on November 16-17, 2024 with event chairs Sherri Zaslow and Menucha Fink. We invite you to join us in fostering hope and healing for the Israeli war orphans of Dedi’s Children and supporting the vital work of JED: Jewish Empowerment & Destiny. Both organizations are registered charities committed to uplifting our community in this critical time.

A Call to Action: Support Our Children

Dance4Israel

SATURDAY NIGHT UNITY KUMZITZ & DANCE PARTY FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS (MIDDLE SCHOOL AND OLDER)

NOVEMBER 16 · 8:30 PM

AT JCC PARK HEIGHTS

Free for Those who raise $180 at Run4Israel Non-Runners: $18

rally4Israel

WITH RAZ BEN AMI “BRING MY HUSBAND OHAD AND ALL THE HOSTAGES HOME” NOVEMBER 17 · 4:30 PM NER TAMID SYNAGOGUE

On October 7, many families faced unimaginable loss. There are 900 orphans of the war. Our goal is to raise $180,000 to “adopt” five orphans who lost their fathers during these tragic events. Each child’s care and emotional support cost $18,000 per year, providing the steady mentorship and resources they desperately need to rebuild their lives. Dedi’s Children ensures that these brave children, alongside their mothers, receive vital therapeutic support, empowering them to heal and thrive amidst their grief.

Meet Our Heroes

Throughout the weekend, we’ll feature the stories of these incredible children, sharing the profound impact your donations will have on their lives. The relationships fostered by Dedi’s Children not only aid in healing but create a sense of community and belonging that is essential in overcoming tragedy.

Weekend Events: Unity in Action

November 16: Shabbos4Israel and Dance4Israel (female only)

• Shabbos4Israel: Join us at Kol Torah at noon for a special lunch with Beatie Deutsch and Raz Ben Ami. This event is

free for those who raise $180 at Run4Israel. Non-runners can participate for $36.

• Dance4Israel: The evening will culminate in a joyous Unity Kumzitz and Dance Party at the JCC at 8:30 PM for Middle, High School and Post Seminary Women. Celebrate togetherness as we raise our spirits in support of our cause. Free for those who raise $180, with a $18 fee for non-runners.

November 17: Rally4Israel (men & women)

• Join us at Ner Tamid Synagogue at 4:30 PM for a powerful Rally4Israel featuring keynote speaker Raz Ben Ami, a released Israeli hostage. Raz will share her inspiring story and call for the safe return of all hostages, reminding us of our shared responsibility to support each other in times of need.

How to Participate

Walk. Run. Raise. This is more than just a fundraising event; it’s a movement towards healing and unity. By participating in the women’s Run4Israel on Sunday, November 17, at the Baltimore Zoo, you will not only

challenge yourself physically but also stand in solidarity with those affected by October 7. Deadline approaching for the ¾ zip race shirt.

Directly support by helping raise funds the five orphans and the initiatives of JED: Jewish Empowerment & Destiny. Your involvement makes a real difference.

Together, We Rise

Let’s transform our grief into action, our sorrow into strength, and our disunity into a robust community spirit. Join us for this crucial weekend dedicated to Jewish Unity and healing. Together, we can ensure that the legacy of those we lost becomes a beacon of hope for the future.

Mark your calendars for November 16-17, 2024, and join us in this vital cause. Together, we can foster unity and provide a brighter future for our children.

For more information and to register for events, please visit our website run4israel.net or contact Race Chairs at run4israel5k@gmail.com. Let’s unite for our community, for our future, and for the precious lives of those who need us most.

613 Seconds with Moshe Meystel, Founder of BeMore Giving

BJH: How did the idea for BeMore Giving come about?

BJH: Tell us about yourself, Moshe.

Moshe Meystel: I grew up in Chicago, where I attended Skokie Yeshiva and Ohr Sameach in Israel. After that, I attended Rabbi Zucker’s Yeshiva (Brooklyn) and received my BTL and at night went to Seton Hall University for an MBA degree. Instead of doing my internship, I moved to Baltimore in 2013 to help with the JewHab Summer Program as the Director of Moving & Construction for Lev Shlomo (now Ahavas Chaim). Not long afterwards, I met my wife, Shoshi in Baltimore and our family settled down in Baltimore. I’m also an original member of Rabbi Duvi Rubin’s shul, Ohr Yisroel.

BJH: What do you do professionally?

MM: I run a commercial real estate business that manages properties throughout Maryland. I’m fortunate to have an amazing team around me, composed of great people from the Baltimore community.

MM: I’ve always looked for ways to do chesed for the community and have been involved in various initiatives. In May 2022, after feeling inspired at the Yarchei Kallah in Israel with my friend Menachem Khoshkheraman, we immediately committed to launching this project. By January 2023, we had formed a board, created foundational elements, and launched BeMore Giving. We have now built a website and are ready to go!

BJH: Can you summarize how BeMore Giving works?

MM: BeMore Giving allows individuals to contribute $1 to $5 daily (paid in monthly increments). These contributions are pooled together and distributed to various local charities each day. The goal is to make giving accessible to everyone, ensuring that 100% of the donations go directly to the charities. This way, even small daily donations can collectively create a significant impact in our community.

BJH: How can someone get involved and donate?

MM: Getting involved is simple! Just visit BeMore.Giving and choose your preferred daily donation amount. You can set it up to donate automatically or make manual contributions whenever you like. Every donation, no matter the size, helps support local charities and strengthens our community.

BJH: What does “BeMore” represent?

MM: “BeMore” signifies both Baltimore and the spirit of being more generous. It encourages a culture of giving locally- and giving daily.

BJH: Who can participate in BeMore Giving?

MM: Anyone can give! It’s an opportunity to guarantee the giving of tzedakah on a daily basis- what a great zechus! You can also donate as a gift to a Bar Mitzvah bochur or as a wedding gift, making your contribution even more meaningful.

BJH: What is your ultimate goal for BeMore Giving?

MM: Our goal is to foster achdus (unity) and continue to make Baltimore synonymous with generosity, enhancing

the community and making it even better.

Our tag line is: Every Day. Every Dollar. Ever lasting Impact.

BJH: How does BeMore Giving work in terms of funding?

MM: All funds are distributed to local charities, ensuring that donations remain within our community. If there’s a national organization, we earmark the funds for its local branches. Organizations can apply for a one-year grant, which our board reviews annually, alongside any inquiries from our Vaad Harabanim to ensure the process is transparent and accountable.

BJH: Do any Rabbanim endorse BeMore Giving?

MM: Yes! We have endorsements from respected Rabbanim such as Rabbi Hopfer, Rabbi Eichenstein, Rabbi Silber, Rabbi Goldberger, Rabbi Kaplan, and Rabbi Rubin, among others. The endorsement letter is on our website with more endorsements coming soon.

BJH: How can someone become a daily giver?

MM: Visit BeMore.Giving and click ‘Become a Giver.’

The Week In News

island’s power grid sputtered to a stop.

Cuban energy officials managed to get power back up briefly to some parts of the island on Friday night. But early Saturday the state’s utility company reported another “total disconnection” of the system, the second in less than 24 hours.

Cuba’s Power Grid Collapses

For years, experts had warned that Cuba’s power grid was about to collapse. The structure was reliant on plants hundreds of years old and was importing fuel that the nation could hardly afford. Last Friday, the country was plunged into darkness as the entire

Although government assurances promised that power would be restored over the weekend, many were less than certain.

“We are estimating there should be important progress today,” Lazaro Guerra, the electricity director for the Ministry of Energy and Mines, said in an interview on state television. “But I cannot assure you that we will be able to have the system fully connected today,” he added.

For years, Cuba has been plagued by rolling blackouts that last a few hours a day, often longer in the countryside.

But this time is different, residents say, recalling the nightmare of the so-called “Special Period” in the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Havana residents described to

with lights twinkling only from hospitals and modern hotels that had their own generators.

What went wrong last week? It was a perfect storm of a few factors: the government’s failure to tackle the island’s aging infrastructure; the decline in fuel supplies from Venezuela, Mexico and Russia; and a lack of capital investment in badly needed renewable systems, such as wind and solar.

Cuba’s electricity grid relies on eight very large power plants that are close to 50 years old and usually have a lifetime of around 25 to 30 years.

Recently, Cuba has turned to leasing half a dozen massive ships that operate as mobile power stations, capable of generating 20 percent of Cuba’s electricity. The Turkish-owned ships have become a familiar sight in the Bay of Havana, but the lease agreement requires that Cuba supply the fuel. Cuba produces about 40,000 barrels of fuel a day, analysts estimate, but consumes about 120,000 barrels a day.

Until about a year ago, the deficit of some 80,000 barrels was covered

plus smaller amounts from Mexico and sometimes from Russia. Those imports appear to have decreased significantly.

Fatal Storm Hits Philippines

Tropical Storm Trami wreaked havoc on the Philippines over the weekend, with the storm’s floods and landslides killing at least 126 people as of Saturday. The death toll, which is expected to rise, was announced by the Southeast Asian country’s president, Ferdinand Marcos, who toured the devastated region of Manila on Saturday in the wake of the natural disaster. Marcos said that the Philippines’

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff, a“eylw

TOPIC:

“Rav Hirsch’s Approach to Secular Education: Ad Hoc or Permanent Psak”

Shearith Israel (Glen Avenue Synagogue)

Sunday, November 3rd, 7:30 pm

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff is a musmach of Ner Yisroel, founding Rav of Baltimore’s Congregation Darchei Tzedek, and founding Rabbinic Administrator of the Vaad HaKashrus of Buffalo. Rabbi Kaganoff is the author of eleven books and hundreds of articles on Rabbinic scholarship, both in English and Hebrew. Rabbi Kaganoff also served as translator and editor for the Rabbi Dr. Joseph Breuer Foundation and has recently edited new translations of Rav Hirsch’s commentaries on the Chumash and Tehillim into Hebrew. In addition, Rabbi Kaganoff has translated the entire Collected Writings of Rav Hirsch (9 volumes) into Hebrew, the first time this has ever been done.

Dr. Mayer Liebman

SCHLEIFER

EARLY VOTING: THURS OCT 24 TH - THURS OCT 31 ST GENERAL ELECTION DAY: TUES NOV 5 TH 7AM - 8PM

VOTE AGAINST QUESTION H

The Week In News

flood control systems were inundated by the rainfall triggered by the storm, noting that some regions saw one to two months of rainfall in the span of just one day.

“The water was just too much,” Marcos explained.

Forty-one people were missing on Friday, the day when the storm left the country’s northwest, with many emergency officials working to recover bodies and save survivors. On Saturday, a team of firefighters, police officers, and emergency workers are believed to have recovered the body of a 14-year-old girl who went missing after the storm hit the Batangas province’s Talisay town. As of Saturday, one other person in the town was missing.

“We’re not done yet with our rescue work,” the president said. “Our problem here, there are still many areas that remained flooded and could not be accessed even by big trucks.”

Marcos outlined his administration’s plans for a new flood control project –one that is powerful enough to protect the country from natural disasters such as Trami. On average, the Philippines

is hit by twenty storms and typhoons a year. During an emergency meeting with his cabinet, Marcos shared that he was worried that Trami, the Philippines’ eleventh storm of the year, might make a U-turn, hitting the country once more.

Schools and government offices were closed on the island of Luzon on Friday for the third day, and inter-island ferries were paused, leaving thousands stranded.

Vietnam is reportedly the storm’s next target.

Auschwitz Survivor Dies at 100

Lily Ebert, a Holocaust survivor who used social media to recount her experiences in Auschwitz, passed away last Wednesday at her London home at age 100. She leaves behind her two children, Ahron and Bilha, her sister Piri Engelman, ten grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

L CHAIM

November 5th Monday November 4th

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:00 am

Baking with Ms. Hirschman

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

2:00 pm

Piano with Mrs Schwartz

9:30 am Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:15 am Anagrams with Malka Zweig

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp 1:00 pm BINGO 1:45 pm

Guitar with Yossi K

Ebert was 20 years old in July 1944 when the Nazis forced her and her family out of Hungary and sent them to Auschwitz, where her mother and two of her siblings would perish. She would later dedicate her life to Holocaust education, writing a bestselling memoir called “Lily’s Promise,” and teaching millions of kids and teenagers about the Holocaust using the TikTok account she shared with her great-grandson, Dov Forman.

Born in December 1923, Lily was raised in an Orthodox Jewish home and enjoyed a peaceful childhood in Bonyhád, Hungary. She had five siblings – two brothers and three sisters. When she was 18 years old, her father passed away.

When the Nazis invaded Hungary,

they limited the rights of all Jewish residents, setting curfews and stealing the possessions of whomever they wanted. After being deported to Auschwitz, along with 440,000 other Hungarian Jews, Ebert and her sister Bela were separated from their mother and two of their other sisters, who were sent to the gas chambers. In April 1945, Lily and over 2,000 Jews were forced into a death march and were then rescued by Allied forces. In 1956, after twelve years of being apart, Lily reunited with her brother Imi.

In 1948, Lily married her husband, Shmuel Ebert, with whom she had three children, including Esther, who passed away in 2012 from cancer. They would live in Israel until the 1960s when the family relocated to London. Lily would later start educating the masses about the horrors of the Holocaust, eventually helping establish the Holocaust Survivors’ Center and its sister organization in order to help survivors of the Shoah. She gave lectures at schools and in Parliament, dedicating her life to ensuring that the world never forgets about the atroci-

WEEKLY CALENDAR

9:30 am Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:15 am Anagrams with Malka Zweig

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

1:45 pm

Guitar with Yossi K

Thursday November 7th

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:15 am Anagrams with Malka Zweig

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

1:45 pm

Guitar with Yossi K

8TH

November 8th

9:30 am

Rabbi P's Parsha Pointers and Patterns

10:00 am

Baking with Ms Hirchman

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

2:00 pm

Music with Aharon Grayson

American Friends of Koidenov Inc. welcomes

The Koidenover Rebbe

The Rebbe will be our honored guest

Monday, November 4TH - Tuesday, November 12TH

The Rebbe will be staying at the home of our gracious hosts

Dr. and Mrs. Yossi Scheller • 2501 Willow Glen Dr.

SHABBOS KODESH PARSHAS LECH LECHA 5785

NOVEMBER 8TH-9TH

We look forward to sharing with the Rebbe an elevated Shabbos full of chizuk and inspiration

Mincha and Kabbolas Shabbos 4:39 pm

Derech Chaim (Rabbi Gross)

Tish 8:00 pm

MERCAZ TORAH UTEFILLAH (RABBI EICHENSTEIN)

Shacharis and Divrei Chizuk 8:15 am

Shomrei Emunah (Bais Medrash) רועיש Immediately following davening

Mincha 4:35 pm followed by Shalosh Seudos

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

The Rebbe will be available by appointment at the home of his hosts

Dr. and Mrs. Yossi Scheller • 2501 Willow Glen Dr. for private consultations and brochos.To schedule an appointment to meet with the Rebbe or for more information about other events please call/text Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin at 443-570-7598 or email office@koidenov.org

The Week In News

ties of the Holocaust. For her contributions to society, she was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2015 and was made a Member of the British Order by King Charles in 2023.

In 2021, Lily started her popular TikTok account to share her story, ensure that the world never forgets about the Holocaust, and, perhaps most of all, show that despite her traumatic experiences in the concentration camps, she went on to live a happy life and have a big family.

In reaction to Lily’s passing, King Charles said she was “an integral part of the fabric of our nation.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “With her passing today, we must now keep our promise to her… Together we will ensure that Lily’s message echoes eternally across the generations.”

“I would talk for my own sake, and I would also speak for those I loved who hadn’t survived,” Lily said in her book. “And for all the millions of people I never knew who died with them, all over Europe, I want the world to never forget this terrible crime against humanity.”

Smog Blankets India and Pakistan

Ahead of Diwali, India’s annual five-day “Festival of Lights” celebration, northern India and eastern Pakistan have been consumed by thick, hazardous orange smog. Despite local bans, the air quality usually plummets before Diwali due to all the fireworks launched in anticipation of the holiday. And with the windless winter coming, the countries are bracing for even worse smog due to coal-powered plants, traffic, and the burning of agricultural waste by farmers.

Delhi, the capital of India, saw its air quality index at around 250, which is “very unhealthy,” on Monday. On that same day, Lahore, a city in Pakistan fifteen miles from the border with India, had an air quality index of over

500, which is considered hazardous. Medical authorities say that exposure to hazardous air can lower one’s life expectancy and increase one’s chances of getting respiratory diseases. Many wonder why India, beyond implementing largely ignored laws, seemingly neglects the country’s air pollution crisis. While India started its ambitious Clean Air Program in 2019, progress has been very slow, and some experts have criticized the country for implementing temporary quick fixes instead of addressing the root causes of the issue.

While Delhi banned residents from using and selling firecrackers in the days before Diwali, the local government has struggled to enforce the law. Just a week ago, the Supreme Court of India criticized the Punjab and Haryana state governments for failing to stop farmers from illegally burning crop waste, a practice that contributes to pollution. Authorities have, however, said that progress has been made in reducing the practice’s frequency.

the strikes were Israel’s retaliation for “months of continuous attacks from the Iranian regime against the State of Israel.”

Some of the hit sites were 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) away from Israel. The strikes demonstrated the Jewish state’s power, as the attack was unparalleled in size and duration.

The attack’s first wave hit Iranian air defenses, allowing the Israeli Air Force to freely carry out this mission and potential future operations as well. Subsequent waves targeted the Islamic Republic’s drone and ballistic missile manufacturing facilities and rocket launching sites, including ones used on April 14 and October 1, the two times when Iran fired missiles into Israel.

Iran downplayed the attack, claiming that the Israeli strikes caused “limited damage,” with Iranian air defenses intercepting most of the strikes. However, Israel denied such claims, and many Israeli officials have said that Iran’s air defenses failed to intercept any attacks.

Israel Strikes Iran

On October 1, Iran launched 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. On Saturday, nearly four weeks later, Israel responded to the attack, targeting several Iranian military sites with a series of “precise strikes,” according to the Israeli military.

The barrage’s first wave started at about 2:15 a.m. local time and the last wave ended at around 6 a.m., with the Jewish state successfully hitting sites in Tehran, Karaj, Isfahan, and Shiraz. In the midst of the strikes, Iran closed its airspace, and Israel immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The Israel Defense Forces said

Huge Hezbollah Tunnel

The IDF recently discovered an underground tunnel network built by Hezbollah beneath a Lebanese village just kilometers from the border.

Dozens of fighter jets, refuelers, and spy planes took part in the “complex” operation, which was known as the “Days of Repentance,” a codename referring to Yom Kippur. According to the IDF, “all goals [were] achieved” and thanks to the successful strikes, the IAF could now enjoy a “wider freedom of aerial action in Iran.”

“The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7 — on seven fronts — including direct attacks from Iranian soil,” said the IDF. “Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond.”

“If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation — we will be obligated to respond,” stated IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. “Our message is clear: All those who threaten the State of Israel and seek to drag the region into a wider escalation will pay a heavy price. We demonstrated today that we have both the capability and the resolve to act decisively, and we are prepared — on offense and defense — to defend Israel and the people of Israel.”

Although Israel reportedly considered targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities and oil fields, the Jewish state refrained from doing so in line with the Biden administration’s requests.

The tunnels, which were 2 kilometers in length and in some places had a depth of forty meters, were the biggest the Israeli military has ever uncovered in southern Lebanon and was much bigger than even the largest Hamas tunnels in Gaza. The tunnels were big enough to comfortably host hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists and contained dozens of rooms, such as bedrooms with mattresses, working generator rooms, kitchens, bathrooms — with toilets and showers — an armory, and a food storage room. Some rooms even had 13-foot ceilings. According to the army, the uncovered underground bases were constructed by the terror group over the last fifteen years.

“This isn’t a ‘tunnel,’ it’s an underground combat site, extremely significant, which the enemy constructed over years for the purpose of an invasion of Israel — we estimate targeting the northern towns,” said the 98th Division’s commander, Brig. Gen. Guy Levy, during a press tour of the tunnels.

Levy explained that the tunnels were meant to be used as part of a planned Hezbollah invasion of northern Israel. Right before such an attack, terrorists from the Radwan Force would be able to exit the tunnel through its various emergency exits, bringing them above ground to the Lebanese village, from where they could storm the northern border, the IDF said.

“Everything here is ready ahead of the action they planned to carry out in Israel. It’s a warehouse ready for the day the order is given,” said Lt. Col. Yoni Hacohen, the commander of the Paratroopers Brigade’s 890th Battalion, adding that the tunnel’s discovery was a “huge victory” for Israel. Hacohen was part of the raid on the

When we show up, elected of cials pay attention. Strong Jewish voter turnout ensures we are heard. We’re voting for more than just the President on Nov 5th. State and local elections in uence our every day life. BECAUSE IT IMPACTS OUR EVERY DAY LIFE

To nd your local polling place, visit: teachcoalition.org/vote

The Week In News

tunnel network, during which the IDF encountered some terrorists.

Numerous weapons were scattered about on the tunnel floors, including grenades, mines, assault rifles, and RPGs. One bed even had an AK-type gun and a grenade on it.

The village under which this tunnel network was situated has yet to be named.

On Saturday morning, the Israeli military blew up the subterranean Hezbollah base using 400 tons of explosives, setting off an underground explosion that was so powerful that it registered as an earthquake, rumbling the ground of northern Israel.

Knesset Bans UNWRA

Israel’s Knesset on Monday made it illegal for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to operate in Israeli territory and for state officials to cooperate with the agency.

The two laws were passed by a large majority following the exposure of UNRWA staff complicity in Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 massacre and despite pressure from the United States and other countries against the move.

The Biden Administration was “deeply concerned” about the legislation, according to an unnamed U.S. State Department official cited by Axios.

Josep Borrell, the E.U. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, tweeted that the new laws “would de facto render UNRWA’s vital operations in Gaza impossible, and seriously hamper its provision of services in the West Bank.” The laws stand “in stark contradiction to international law and the fundamental principle of humanity,” he added.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini tweeted that the legislation “opposes the U.N. Charter and violates the State of Israel’s obligations under international law.”

However, experts on UNRWA, including former Israeli lawmaker Einat Wilf, who has written an acclaimed book about the agency, dispute that the legislation contradicts international law. Israel is not party to any treaty compelling it to engage with the group or allow its activities, Wilf told JNS.

The two laws are by far the most robust parliamentary push by Israel against UNRWA, the largest donors of which are the United States and the European Union. The agency has for decades has been accused of providing cover and income to Palestinian terrorists while undermining peace efforts.

The law that bans UNRWA activity in Israeli territory, authored by Knesset member Boaz Bismuth (Likud) and six other coalition lawmakers, was passed by a majority of 87 of the Knesset’s 120 lawmakers. Nine MKs present voted against the law, one did not vote. The remaining 23 lawmakers were not present for the vote.

“UNRWA—United Nations Relief and Works Agency will operate no representation, provide no service or hold any activity, directly or indirectly, in the sovereign territory of the State of Israel,” the law co-authored by Bismuth states.

The second law, passed by 92-10, states: “No state authority, including entities and individuals who legally hold public office, will engage in any contact with UNRWA or its representatives.” This legislation was coauthored by MKs Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beiteinu), Dan Illouz (Likud) and Ron Katz (Yesh Atid).

“UNRWA will not operate in Israel, their benefits will be canceled, their entry to Israel will be banned. Total Disconnect,” Malinovsky tweeted following the votes.

According to its website, UNRWA employs some 30,000 staff, most of them Palestinians, including 13,000 in the Gaza Strip. It also has staff in Judea and Samaria and eastern Jerusalem. UNRWA also operates in Jordan and Lebanon.

Being banned in Israel could end UNRWA’s work in Jerusalem and greatly complicate its operations in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, where the organization is at least partially dependent on Israeli cooperation.

In the wake of the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, in which Hamas terrorists murdered at least 1,200 people and

abducted another 251, evidence surfaced about the complicity of UNRWA staff in those atrocities and other acts of terrorism. For example, UNRWA worker Faisal Ali Mussalem al-Naami and a colleague were captured on video loading the body of Israeli Yonatan Samerano into a vehicle in Sderot.

According to Israel, over 450 terrorists belonging to terrorist organizations in Gaza, mainly Hamas, are also employed by UNRWA. UNRWA’s Lazzarini has flatly denied these allegations.

On Sept. 29, Hamas admitted that Fatah Sharif Abu al-Amin, chairman of UNRWA’s Teachers’ Association, was its commander in Lebanon. The agency had suspended Abu al-Amin in March, yet after his death denied knowing he was involved in terrorism.

In July, Israel’s foreign ministry published a list of names and ID numbers of 108 UNRWA employees Israel accuses of being Hamas terrorists. It was a “small fraction,” a Foreign Ministry official wrote, of a much larger list including hundreds of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad members who also worked for UNRWA. The wider list could not be released due to security considerations.

UNRWA had a budget of about $1.1 billion in 2023. Eighteen countries suspended funding to UNRWA following the Oct. 7 attack, including the United States, which provides roughly a third of the organization’s budget. The United States froze its donations to UNRWA until March 2025. Only it and New Zealand have not yet reinstated their funding.

While it has been obvious for years that Hamas is stealing money from UNRWA and using its installations, the organization has refused to put safeguards in place, Anne Herzberg, legal adviser at the Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor organization, noted, emphasizing that the agency itself is to blame for the Israeli move.

“If UNRWA indeed plays such a vital role, then the international community must implement reforms as well as bring criminal charges not only against UNRWA employees who participated in Oct. 7 but also officials who not only allowed Hamas to exploit UNRWA’s facilities and money but looked the other way,” she told JNS.

Through UNRWA, the United Nations employs a unique refugee definition to Palestinians. The agen-

cy defines as refugees not only those who fled the 1948 war but their descendants in perpetuity until a “just solution” emerges for their status. The United Nations employs a different definition for all other refugees, who cannot pass the title to their descendants and often lose it when they are naturalized elsewhere.

This has perpetuated the Israeli-Palestinian conflict according to many critics, including Hillel Neuer, the founder of U.N. Watch.

“What the Knesset did yesterday is extremely significant,” Neuer told JNS on Tuesday, though he too said that the new legislation would not close UNRWA down.

“Beyond the concrete consequences, a very important message was sent, which is ‘no more,’” he said. “No more will Israel tolerate an agency that has a pathological agenda. The aim of UNRWA is not distributing aid, it is teaching Palestinians that they will dismantle Israel,” he continued. (JNS)

Hezbollah’s New Leader

This week, the Hezbollah terror group announced a leader to succeed Hasan Nasrallah, who had been killed by an Israeli strike last month. Nasrallah had led the Iranian-backed militant group for three decades before he was killed.

Naim Qassem, Nasrallah’s former deputy, was put into Nasrallah’s place as secretary general. Qassem had said after Nasrallah’s killing that the group was prepared for a “long” battle with Israel.

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted a photo of Qassem on social media, together with the words: “Temporary appointment. Not for long.”

Israel has devastated Hezbollah’s senior leadership since ramping up its attacks in Lebanon in mid-September. Last week, Israel con -

Live against a backdrop of cutting-edge design and magnificent panoramic views. Define each moment with architectural mastery in the heart of Neve Shamir, Beit Shemesh, adjacent to the Country Club and its Olympic-size pool.

Plate-glass walls and large, stunning balconies bring the vista of rolling green mountains inside. Innovative design and few units per floor ensure maximum privacy. Here, your life becomes legendary.

NEVE SHAMIR, RAMAT BEIT SHEMESH

The Week In News

firmed that Hashem Safieddine, who was widely expected to become the group’s next leader, had been killed in an Israeli attack in Beirut’s southern suburbs weeks earlier.

Despite the blows to its leadership, Hezbollah has been determined to terrorize the Jewish state, launching rocket, missile and drone attacks against Israel and fighting against Israeli ground forces, who first crossed into Lebanon on October 1. Last week, the militant group damaged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea in a drone attack and said a “new escalatory phase” was coming.

Qassem began his political career with the Amal Movement in the mid1970s but left the group in 1979, influenced by the Islamic Revolution that shaped the ideology of a generation of Lebanese Shiite activists. He played an integral role in the formation of Hezbollah, founded with funding and guidance from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in 1982.

Naim was appointed deputy secretary general of Hezbollah in 1991 by Nasrallah’s predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, who was killed in an Israeli helicopter attack the next year. Qassem continued to serve in the role when Nasrallah assumed leadership of the party and has been one of the group’s most prominent spokesmen for decades.

Fatal Car Ramming

On Sunday morning, Bezalel Carmi from Rishon Lezion was killed when a terrorist rammed his truck at people standing at a bus stop in Herzliya outside the IDF’s Glilot base. Carmi was 72 years old.

Thirty-two people were wounded in the terror attack, five in serious condition, seven moderately wounded, and 20 lightly hurt.

The terrorist, Rami Nasrallah, was shot and “neutralized” by armed civilians in the area. He was an Arab Israeli driver from Qalansawe in central Israel.

According to the police’s initial probe, a bus had stopped at the station outside the base to drop off passengers, and then a truck rammed into the stop, hitting the people there. Many of the injured were senior citizens who had disembarked from the bus ahead of a day trip to a nearby museum to mark the national memorial day for those killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and subsequent war.

Hamas put out a statement a short while after the incident, praising the “heroic ramming attack” that was carried out near “Mossad headquarters.”

The Glilot area near Herzliya is home to the Mossad headquarters, along with several IDF intelligence units, including the high-profile signals intelligence Unit 8200.

Without taking responsibility for the apparent attack, the terror group said that it was “a natural response to the crimes of the Zionist occupation against our Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem, and its ongoing brutal massacres, especially in the northern Gaza Strip.”

In a separate incident on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said a Palestinian motorist who tried to carry out a ramming and stabbing attack against IDF troops near the West Bank town of Hizma was shot dead.

According to the IDF, the assailant accelerated his car toward troops of the Binyamin Regional Brigade’s 43rd Battalion, as they were operating near Hizma.

“The terrorist drew a knife…and tried to carry out a stabbing attack,” the IDF said, adding that the soldiers opened fire at the terrorist, killing him. He was identified as Amudi Sami, an East Jerusalem resident of the Shuafat refugee camp.

Gülen’s work in the U.S., called him a “towering figure of faith, wisdom, intellectual and spiritual leadership” whose “impact will be felt for generations.”

Gulen believed in a philosophy that blended Sufism — a mystical form of Islam — with staunch advocacy of democracy, education, science and interfaith dialogue. Over the past few years, Gulen lived in self-exile in a gated compound in Pennsylvania. He had not been involved actively in his movement in recent years.

At one point, Gulen had been an ally of Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but that eventually changed. Gulen called Erdogan a dictator, accusing him of accumulating power and crushing dissent. In response, Erdogan cast Gulen as a terrorist, charging him with orchestrating the attempted military coup on July 15, 2016, when factions within the military used tanks, warplanes and helicopters to try to overthrow the government.

During that coup attempt, thousands took to the streets to oppose the takeover attempt. The coup plotters fired at crowds and bombed parliament and other government buildings. A total of 251 people were killed and around 2,200 others were wounded. Around 35 alleged coup plotters were killed.

sonous wrong path.”

In Turkey, Gulen’s movement — sometimes known as Hizmet, Turkish for “service” — has been subjected to a broad crackdown. The government arrested tens of thousands of people for their alleged link to the coup plot, fired more than 130,000 suspected supporters from civil service jobs and more than 23,000 from the military, and shuttered hundreds of businesses, schools and media organizations tied to Gulen.

Gulen called the crackdown a witch hunt and denounced Turkey’s leaders as “tyrants.”

Baltimore Bridge Collapse Settlement

Last March, Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after the Dali container ship slammed into it, killing six workers and forcing authorities to close down the Port of Baltimore for nearly a dozen weeks.

Exiled Turkish Leader Dies

Fethullah Gulen, the Islamic cleric who had been accused of orchestrating a failed 2016 coup in Turkey, died last week in the United States.

The Alliance for Shared Values, a New York-based group that promotes

Gulen vehemently denied involvement in the coup. Turkey put Gulen on its most-wanted list and demanded his extradition, but the United States showed little inclination to send him back, saying it needed more evidence. He was never charged with a crime in the U.S., and he consistently denounced terrorism as well as the coup plotters.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said last week that Gulen’s death “will not make us complacent or relaxed. This organization has been a threat rarely seen in the history of our nation.” He called on Gulen’s followers to turn away from “this trea-

On Thursday, the ship’s owner, Grace Ocean, and operator, Synergy Marine, settled a civil claim brought against them in September by the U.S. Department of Justice. The settlement was reached after the companies, both Singapore-based, agreed to pay over $100 million.

A spokesperson for the companies, Darrell Wilson, clarified that the agreement was “not indicative of any liability, which we expressly reject,” but was only to cover “costs related to clearing the channel.” Wilson noted that the costs were entirely insured.

As per U.S. law, in the event of a disaster similar to the Baltimore Bridge collapse, owners of vessels can limit the amount of money they have to pay by proving they weren’t aware of the ship’s flaws prior to the incident – a claim that Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine made in a filing in April.

The Week In News

The DOJ, however, noted numerous preventable mishaps with the Dali in the department’s federal suit on March 26.

“None of the four means available to help control the Dali — her propeller, rudder, anchor, or bow thruster — worked when they were needed to avert or even mitigate this disaster” due to poor maintenance or “jury-rigged” solutions to the ship’s serious issues, according to the suit.

While on its way to Sri Lanka, the ship lost power, regained power, and then lost power again, at which point it smashed into the Baltimore Bridge. Still, Wilson maintains that the companies bear no responsibility for the incident and are “prepared to vigorously defend themselves.”

The companies have also been sued by the state of Maryland, which will need to reconstruct the bridge – a project that will likely cost $1.9 billion and take four years. Additionally, the families of three victims said in September that they would sue the companies. Many other companies, including the one that employed the deceased workers, sued

the ship’s companies. The Justice Department is also carrying out a separate criminal investigation into the matter.

WaPo Won’t Endorse

Last week, The Washington Post said that it would not endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election. As a result, three members of its editorial board stepped down. At least 200,000 digital subscribers cancelled their subscriptions to the paper.

Will Lewis, the Post ’s publisher and CEO, said the non-endorsement was his decision, although it has been said that owner Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, made the call.

Molly Roberts, David Hoffman and Mili Mitra resigned from the paper’s 10-member editorial board due to the decision about the endorsement, but they are remaining on the Post ’s staff. That is the same number

of editorial board members who resigned from the Los Angeles Times ’ board in protest of that newspaper’s decision not to endorse a presidential candidate.

Also on Monday, USA Today said it would not endorse a presidential candidate this year. The Gannett-owned newspaper, one of the largest papers by circulation in the United States, in 2020 broke its longstanding tradition of not endorsing presidential candidates when it urged readers to pick President Joe Biden over Trump.

Will Lewis, the Post’s publisher and CEO, has said that it was his decision to break the tradition of endorsing a candidate – dating back

decades – at the paper and not endorse a presidential candidate this year — or in any future election.

Announcing her resignation from the editorial board in a letter to Post Opinions Editor David Shipley, Roberts wrote, “I stand against silence in the face of dictatorship. Here, there, everywhere.”

She also posted a statement online. “To be very clear, the decision not to endorse this election was not the editorial board’s,” Roberts wrote. “It was (you can read the reporting) Jeff Bezos’s.”

“I’m resigning from The Post editorial board because the imperative to endorse Kamala Harris over Donald Trump is about as morally clear as it gets. Worse, our silence is exactly what Donald Trump wants: for the media, for us, to keep quiet.”

Lewis said in a statement Saturday that “reporting around the role of The Washington Post owner and the decision not to publish a presidential endorsement has been inaccurate.”

The Week In News

“He was not sent, did not read and did not opine on any draft,” Lewis said. “As Publisher, I do not believe in presidential endorsements. We are an independent newspaper and should support our readers’ ability to make up their own minds.”

On Monday, USA Today spokeswoman Lark-Marie Anton said, “While USA TODAY will not endorse for president, local editors at publications across the USA TODAY Network have the discretion to endorse at a state or local level.”

“Many have decided not to endorse individual candidates, but rather, endorse key local and state issues on the ballot that impact the community,” Anton said. “Why are we doing this? Because we believe America’s future is decided locally — one race at a time. And with more than 200 publications across the nation, our public service is to provide readers with the facts that matter and the trusted information they need to make informed decisions.”

Six Figures Isn’t Cutting It

According to a new study by Bank of America, around 20% of households with an annual income of $150,000 are living paycheck to paycheck. The bank considers those who spend over 95% of their household income on necessities such as food, internet, public transportation, utilities, gas, housing, and child care to be living paycheck to paycheck.

In comparison, about 35% of households with an annual income of less than $50,000 are living paycheck to paycheck, according to the analysis. And strangely enough, the percentage of households that make somewhere between $50,000 to $75,000 and live paycheck to paycheck is only a little bit higher than

those making over $150,000.

Inflation is the obvious culprit. Prices are 20% higher now than they were in February 2020, before the coronavirus, and wage growth has slowed considerably as the labor market cools.

There are several reasons why many households that are making six figures aren’t doing much better financially than those who aren’t making as much money. As one of the authors of the study notes, “Higher-income households may have bought larger, more expensive homes and consequently have bigger mortgages. And often along with bigger homes come bigger insurance costs, property taxes and utility bills.”

Households with higher salaries may be taking out larger mortgages “on the aspiration that they’re going to be getting raises and promotions,” said David Tinsley, a senior economist at the Bank of America Institute. Additionally, those making over $150,000 may have more financial challenges because they tend to have many young children and thus have to deal with tuition costs.

The analysis team noted that they didn’t differentiate between different types of necessity spending. For example, one who pays tuition for a prestigious preschool was still considered to have been spending money on a necessity.

Rubber Duck Threats

Karen Read is on trial in Boston for killing Police Officer John O’Keefe. The trial is charged, with many people saying that Read should be free. One of those people, Richard Schiffer Jr., took justice into his own hands with a dangerous weapon: a rubber duck.

Schiffer is accused of peppering homes and businesses of key witnesses with rubber ducks and fake $100 bills bearing messages supporting Read. He is charged with witness intimidation, criminal harassment and littering for his alleged role in the in-

cidents and will appear in court for what many are calling “Duckgate.”

Canton police say they used traffic cams, surveillance footage, witnesses and other evidence to connect the ducks and fake $100 bills to Schiffer, who is 65 and lives in neighboring Stoughton.

The rubber ducks appear to be a reference to a statement at a pre-trial hearing in January, when defense attorney Alan Jackson told the court, “If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it’s a duck.”

In an online fundraiser seeking help with his legal fees, Schiffer admitted to putting rubber ducks around Canton and surrounding areas.

“Through the First Amendment and my right to free speech, I expressed my opinion and belief that Karen Read is innocent. The fundamental right of free speech is afforded to us by the Constitution of the United States,” he wrote.

In supporting language for a second online fundraiser, Schiffer wrote: “Charging innocent citizens with manufactured crimes is weaponizing our justice system to silence law-abiding citizens.”

He sounds like a quack.

We the People

Last week, the only known private copy of the U.S. Constitution changed hands.

The copy had been printed by Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress, and was found

in a filing cabinet of a North Carolina home . It sold for $9 million at auction.

The document had been collecting dust in a metal filing cabinet for many years until it was discovered in 2022 in a home in Edenton, North Carolina. The house had once been owned by Samuel Johnston, the state’s governor from 1787 to 1789, and was being cleared out. It’s not clear how it ended up in the cabinet in the first place.

Thomson printed about 100 copies of the Constitution during the Continental Congress’ existence, and only eight are known to still exist, seven of them in public ownership.

“This is the point of connection between the government and the people. The Preamble — ‘We the People’ — this is the moment the government is asking the people to empower them,” auctioneer Andrew Brunk, who owns Brunk Auctions, noted.

It took just seven minutes for the gavel to come down at $9 million at auction.

“I get calls every week from people who think they have a Declaration of Independence or a Gettysburg Address, and most of the time it is just a replica. But every so often, something important gets found,” historical document appraiser Seth Kaller said before the auction. “This is a whole other level of importance.” The document was printed in 1787 after the Constitutional Convention, during which the framework of the Constitution and America’s government was drafted. It was then sent to Congress so it could be ratified by the states. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution; Rhode Island was the last.

Hey, it’s a free country.

Stick With It

Do you eat sushi with chopsticks? How about plain rice?

Sumaiya Khan has infinite patience. The 24-year-old from Bangladesh used chopsticks to lift one grain of rice at a time and managed to eat a record-breaking 37 pieces in one minute. This took a lot of practice. For the

The Week In News

past few years, Khan has been using chopsticks to eat all her meals.

“I had a thing for ramen back in the day. I was obsessed with ramen and loved Korean culture so that’s when I got my own personal chopsticks, and since then I’ve eaten almost all of my food using them, and especially since I’m Bangladeshi I eat rice almost every single day,” she explained.

A coworker took note of Khan’s rice-eating skills and suggested she might be able to break the record for the most rice grains eaten in one minute using chopsticks, which previously stood at 27 grains of rice.

“It feels surreal, it feels amazing, and everyone around me is proud of me for actually attempting it,” Khan

said. “I feel proud of myself for doing it too because it’s such a great thing to actually achieve, having your name out there in the world and being part of something so big, it’s actually amazing and I’m honored and blessed and proud and every other good thing that I can say about it.”

She’s happy she sticks out.

Conkers Controversy

Ever heard of conkers? Don’t feel bad. The unusual sport is British in nature and pits two competitors against each other using a chestnut on a leather string to try to break their opponent’s chestnut. Sounds fun, no? Guess you have to live in the UK to appreciate this type of entertainment.

This year’s World Conker Championships featured more than 200 participants. David Jakins, known as “King Conker,” won his first men’s title at Sunday’s event in Southwick,

Northamptonshire. Jakins lost the overall contest to women’s title winner Kelci Banschbach, 34, an Indianapolis native who became the first American to win the competition.

But the 82-year-old men’s champion is causing controversy, after Jakins was accused of cheating in the men’s event and officials found a steel chestnut in his pocket.

“Allegations of foul play have been received that somehow King Conker swapped his real conker for the metal one later found in his pocket,” World Conker Championships spokesman St. John Burkett said.

“Players select conkers from a sack before each round. There are also suggestions that King Conker had marked the strings of harder nuts. We can confirm he was involved in drilling and lacing the nuts before the event.”

Jakins denied marking the leather strings to give himself an advantage, asserting that he’s “nut guilty.” He also denied using the steel chestnut in the competition, explaining it was a novelty item for amusing children.

“You get them to hit it with their conker and then their conker breaks and they can’t believe it,” he told the BBC. “It’s impossible to cheat at conkers – it’s a load of nonsense.”

Event chairman Jim Packer said he believes Jakins, saying he examined the steel chestnut and “it’s very obvious it’s not a real one.”

The investigation is ongoing.

The World Conker Championships is no stranger to controversy – officials came under fire in 2023 when a soggy chestnut harvest led to the conkers used in the competition being baked for the first time in the event’s history. Conkers is making everyon e go bonkers. Want

Shlomo Shapiro (Baltimore) & Nechama Peppard (Miami)

Yosef Zelinger & Chaya Zelcer

Baruch Ginsburg (Toronto) & Bracha Niknava (Baltimore)

Jacob Kaplan & Aviva Chana Shyken

Aviva Kramer & Dovid Wilhelm

Ariel Golfeyz & Miriam Zamel

Yehuda (Almoni) Edelstein & Frieda Perlstein

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

SUN MON TUES

Fall Semester 5785

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3 - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

VIA ZOOM

10:00-11:00 am

Lessons from the Desert: Topics in Sefer Shemos and Sefer Bamidbar MRS. RUHAMA WELCHER

10:00-11:00 am Pirkei Avos

REBBETZIN BRACHA GOLDBERGER

9:30-10:25 am

Topics in Sefer Bereishis MRS. MINDI HAUER

WED

VIA ZOOM 9:30-10:30 am Living Tehillim MRS. RIVKA SEGAL

9:30-10:25 am

THURS

No Charge for 5785 Mesorah Members

Non Members $80 per course

Please visit our website to view The sponsors for each course.

8:00-9:00 pm Sefer Shmuel REBBETZIN ETTIE ROSENBAUM

12:00-1:00 pm Parsha HaShavua

MRS. SARA BREJT

Ohr Gedalyahu: The Eye Opening Works of HaRav Gedalia Schorr, zt”l RABBI MENACHEM GOLDBERGER

NEW CLASS! 12:00-1:00 pm

Forging a Personal Bond With Hashem RABBI YONAH SKLARE

Classes take place at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion - 6602 Park Heights Avenue unless listed as a Zoom class. Mesorah Baltimore Members will receive exclusive access to class recordings.

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

Torah Thought A Window To The World

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

Do you ever feel like the world is closing in on you, imprisoned in your predicament in life?

The word the Torah uses to describe a place of confinement is a ֹרהסה תיב — a prison.

The Ramban asserts that the word ֹרהס is like the noun רהצ, the ‘window’ that was built atop the Ark, that served as a skylight, allowing outside light into the Ark. The letters ס and צ interchangeable as they are both in the group of letters that are expressed using the tongue.

It seems odd that a dungeon that serves as a cell of confinement below ground should be characterized specifically by the skylight that allows light to enter its space.

Might the window that shines light from the ‘outside world’, which serves as a painful reminder of the opportunities of life the prisoner is deprived of, that adds extremely painful frustration to his unfortunate situation, be deserving of this ‘honor’ due to it representing the deepest anguish of imprisonment?

Many of us sense we are impris-

oned, not necessarily physically, but restrained from reaching our objectives and hopes, being held back by the circumstances allotted to us in life, that prevent us from achieving our ambitions.

We look out of the proverbial windows of our confinement that permit us to see outward at others and their visible successes and bemoan our plight feeling deprived from what we feel we deserve.

Noach too, the Midrash teaches, was ‘incarcerated’ in the Ark. He prayed the words recorded by King David, האיצוה — Take, ישפנ רגסממ — my soul out of confinement. (ח במק םילהת)

The emphasis on his ‘soul’ being removed from confinement would

begging G-d to simply alleviate his physical constraints, but rather his

We are taught that there are two — window that

One says it was literally a window that permitted light to enter the Ark. While the other posits that it was a stone that generated its own -

War II Paris, Rav Shmuel Yaakov Rubinstein, a Kotzker Chosid, who exhibited great warmth in serving his Kehilla, suggests that these two opinions represent two approaches

One can look out a window onto the world surrounding oneself and observe the decadence and corruption and be compelled to commit to steering far away from those influences, feeling emboldened by the contrast of

one’s own aspirations and those who have strayed.

But then there are those who do not satisfy themselves with merely not being like others, but rather strive to discover their own inner illumination, not judging themselves worthy only in relationship to those around them but seek objective greatness.

In this second view Noach sought to find himself.

Perhaps when the Torah later reports how when Noach realized the waters subsided ‘Noach opened the window of the Ark which he made’, he was seeking to open a window to the world allowing his self-generated luminescence to inspire a new world.

רהצ is also related to רהז — radiance, the letter ז also part of the group of tongue enunciated letters, thus alluding to self-induced light.

It has been observed that the same letters that spell רהצ — window/ radiance, also spell the word הרצ — misfortune/distress.

The word הרצ is related to רוצ — compressed

It is only when we stingily look through the window of our soul that we feel walled in and experience הרצ — distress

If we use that same window to elevate ourselves, transforming into veritable light, that is when we will radiate outwards, creating a רהצ — radiance that will warm the world with inspiration.

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

PARSHA

OVERVIEW

G-d brings a major flood to destroy the world; Noach and his family were saved on an Ark. He remained on the Ark for 12 months. G-d commands Noach to populate the world, and vows to never destroy the world with a flood again. The Tower of Babel is built.

TSorahparks

Parshas Noach

QUICK VORT

Quotable Quote “ ”

“A Yid Doesn’t Fall in Love;

A Yid Rises In Love”

GEMATRIA

The gematria of חנ חנ is 116. This is interesting, because the word הכונח (which is coming in several weeks) is related to חנ . The gematria of םינוי (Greeks) is 116. Something to think about...

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

ISee “Thoughts in Chassidus” section.

In Hollywood, Western culture, and the world at large, there is a concept of “Falling in Love.”

When I read the Nesivos Shalom and the words הלופנ הבהא , it really struck me as perhaps an allusion to this idea.

The world uses the term “Falling in Love” to describe relationships, but in actuality, it is reflective of the negative attribute of הלופנ הבהאfallen love.

Fal ling in love is not a stable, everlasting, or holy endeavor. In Judaism, we don’t fall in love; rather, we RISE IN LOVE.

That’s why marriage is called ןיאושינ , which means: uplift!

Our relationships are meant to be pure, holy, and uplifting.

Have a holy Shabbos!

Pesukim - 153

The Nesivos Shalom, the Slonimer Rebbe, explains that the םגפ רקיע of the רוד לובמה was התחשה, people acting in an abominable nature. The root of תוירע, interestingly is דסח, but not a lofty דסח, rather a impure דסח, called הלופנ הבהאfallen love.

The Chasam Sofer reveals that according to the opinion that the Ark had a window (and not a stone), Noach was allowed to look outside and see the destruction and downfall of the window!

Think about why this would be allowed.

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

Hebrain Jewish Jeopardy

by Barbara Landesman

israeL’s deFeNse

A violent confrontation took place in June 1948 between the Israeli Defense Forces led by Ben-Gurion and this paramilitary Jewish group led by Menachem Begin, resulting in the shelling of the ship Altalena on the Tel Aviv beach.

a) Irgun

b) Lehi

c) Shabak

2) This name is the Hebrew acronym for “The Army for the Defense of Israel.” Founded in May 1948, this organization includes other existing paramilitary organizations, including ground forces, air force, and navy.

a) Mossad

b) Tzahal

c) Maglan

Meaning “Chariot,” it is the main Battle Tank of the Israeli Defense Forces since 1979; four versions have been used.

a) Python

b) Merkava

c) Tavor

Meaning “The Defense,” this Jewish paramilitary organization in the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 until 1948 was created after the 1920 Arab riots and the 1921 Jaffa riots to protect Jewish farms and kibbutzim; it became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.

a) Palmach

b) Haganah

c) Magav

5) The Israeli Operation in the Sinai Peninsula was known by this name; this 1956 offensive was fought against Egypt by Israel, Britain and France; it would give Israel safe passage to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.

a) Operation Opera

b) Operation Litani

c) Operation Kadesh

It is a group of Israeli bolt blowback operated submachine guns. Developed in the late 1940s and introduced to IDF Special Forces in 1954, its magazine is housed in the pistol grip for a shorter weapon.

a) Kolibri

b) Uzi

c) Tavor

aCCUsed

In 1938, Herschel Gynszpan was accused of assassinating German diplomat Ernst Vom Rath, thereby setting off this event.

a) Babi Yar

b) Kristallnacht

c) Kielce Pogrom

d) Kishinev Pogrom

In January 1965, hired Soviet experts for the Syrians caught this Mossad agent sending messages to Israel. He was accused of espionage and was publicly hanged in Syria.

a) Gilad Shalit

b) Eli Cohen

c) Zvi Zamir

d) Peter Malkin

9) November 1278: 680 Jews were arrested and sent to the Tower of London. 293 were hanged. They were accused of shaving off a small portion of a precious metal coin for profit and melted into bullion. This is known as:

a) Money Laundering

b) Counterfeit Money

c) Coin Sweating

d) Coin Clipping

10)

Following the 1263 Debate in Barcelona, he was accused of issuing blasphemies against Christianity and was therefore exiled.

a) Nachmanides

b) Maimonides

c) Judah Halevi

d) Abarbenal

11)

Distributed by Russian police during the late 1800s, this forged text held 300 Jewish leaders responsible for Europe’s major problems.

a) Mein Kampf

b) Der Jedenstaat

c) The International Jew

d) Protocols of the Elders of Zion

disCoV eries

12) On April 27, 2007, a team of archaeologists from Hebrew U discovered his tomb; the site is located at the exact place given by Flavius Josephus, atop tunnels and water pools, at a flattened desert site, 7.5 miles south of Jerusalem.

a) Herod’s Tomb

b) Ezra’s Tomb

c) Zechariah’s Tomb

13) The Taylor Prism was discovered in Nineveh, Iraq in 1830. These inscriptions recorded his siege of Jerusalem in 701 BC during the reign of King Chizkiyahu. It is presently located in the British Museum in London.

a) Sancherib

b) Nebuchadnezzar

c) Titus

14)

Discovered in 1908 in an ancient city 20 miles west of Jerusalem, it is a tablet of limestone and contains an inscription in Paleo-Hebrew script dating to the 10th century BCE. It describes monthly periods and attributes to each a duty such as harvesting, planting, tending specific crops. It is currently located at the Museum of the Ancient Orient in Istanbul, Turkey.

a) Siloam Inscription

b) Gezer Calendar

c) Tel Dan Stele

15) A business letter written in the Judeo-Persian language was discovered by Marc Aurel Stein in the early twentieth century. The letter, 37 lines long, now housed in the British Museum, was dated at 718 CE and found in Danfan Vilia, along the Silk Road in this country.

a) India

b) Iraq

c) China

16)

Discovered in 1896 at Thebes, Egypt, it is an inscription by this ancient Egyptian king (reigned 1213-1203 BC) which appears on the reverse side of a granite stele. Now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, it is the only ancient Egyptian document which mentions “Isrir” or “Israel.”

a) Mesha Stele

b) Meneptah Stele

c) King Ezania’s Stela

17) These tablets were excavated from Babylon during 1899-1917. Dating from 6th century BC, they describe the rations set aside for this Royal captive. They are presently located at the Museum of the Ancient Near East, Pergamon Museum, Berlin.

a) Jeroboam, King of Israel

b) Omri, King of Israel

c) Jehoiachin, King of Judah

Forgotten Her es Jewish Veteran Congressmen

By Avi Heiligman

Election season is here and that means the media and the public dig into the past of candidates at all levels. A military background is usually good for a candidate unless your name is Tim Walz who is being accused of stolen valor and leaving his troops before being deployed. Aside from those veterans seeking to serve in Congress who are under suspicion for lying about their military record, many candidates and those who have served in Congress in the past have impressive records. War heroes are a big draw in political candidates as seen with the election of Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower for president. Several have earned the Medal of Honor, while others have served in specialized units like the Navy SEALs. Additionally, several Jewish members of Congress have served in the military, including some household names that the public may not realize possess a military background.

The name Pulitzer is synonymous with prizes awarded for achievements in journalism. Joseph Pulitzer had quite the background before becoming a famous publisher. His resume includes being a Civil War veteran and serving for a short time in the House of Representatives. He was born in Hungary to a Jewish family and failed three times to join armies in Europe. The Austrian Army, French Foreign Legion and the British Army all

rejected him, but in 1864, Pulitzer was recruited in Germany to fight for the Union Army.

Pulitzer was seventeen when he arrived in Boston and soon joined the Lincoln’s Cavalry and was part of Company L, 1 st New York Cavalry Regiment. The regiment was an element of General Sheridan’s Troopers, and Pulitzer fought with them until the end of the war at Appomattox Court House. Only after the war did he learned English as his regiment was made up of German immigrants. After being mustered out of the army in June 1865, Pulitzer tried his hand in several vocations before becoming a writer. In 1884, he was elected to Congress as the representative from the New York 9th district and resigned in 1886.

Both Lester D. Volk and Martin C. Ansorge served during World War I before becoming congressmen from New York in the House of Representivers. Volk was an officer with the Medical Corps and was with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) on the Western Front. Ansorge was a private in the Motor Transport Corps, but the war ended before he was sent overseas.

Hundreds of thousands of Jewish Americans served in the military during World War II including New York Mayor Ed Koch. Born in the Bronx in 1924, Koch was drafted into the army in 1943. A year later, he landed in Cherbourg,

France, with the 104th Infantry Division and earned a few medals for his service. After the Germans surrendered in May 1945, Koch, who spoke Yiddish, was sent to Bavaria so that he could identify Nazis who were still in public office and replace them with non-Nazis. He was honorably discharged from the army in 1946. Koch soon became a lawyer and served in the House of Representatives from 19691977. He served as the mayor of New York from 1978 through 1989.

Benjamin Gilman was another Jewish representative with an impressive war record. The New York congressman served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a staff sergeant with the 19th Bomb Group, 20th Air Force. Stationed on the Mariana Islands, he flew 35 missions over Japan and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters.

Representative Sam Steiger was not an army commander but gained a reputation when he was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart for actions during the Korean War. He was born in New York and joined the army after finishing college in 1950. In June 1953, Steiger was a tank platoon commander with the 140th Tank Battalion, 40th Division stationed in Korea. On Hill 812, one of the American tanks became disabled and its crew was in the line of enemy fire. Disregarding the danger, Steiger left his own tank and under heavy fire made his

way to the disabled tank to make the necessary repairs. Twelve hours later, another tank needed rescue as its crew was sitting ducks for enemy fire. Steiger pulled up this time in a dozer tank and transferred the stranded crew to his tank. Both crews were saved by Steiger from imminent capture or harm with the quick and courageous action by the future Arizona representative.

Steiger entered politics because of a bet he had with his friends. While working as a ranch hand, he and his friends noticed that their county had never elected a Republican representative. Steiger opined that perhaps the right Republican had never ran for the seat. And so, Steiger friends challenged him to run for office; he ran and was elected to the state senate in 1960.

While the actions of Congress are well covered by the press, the backgrounds of its members are not always as well known. Many of those that served in the military had distinguished careers in uniform and some were decorated for bravery while serving their country under fire.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

Joseph Pulitzer

Benjamin Gilman

Ed Koch in 1944 in France with the US Army

To Raise a Laugh

That’s Enough For The Year

Now that yom tov is over, I think it’s time to get back to my diet. Not that I’ve been dieting at all before Yom tov. But our family minhag – and I think the minhag Yisrael – is to talk about how we’re going to diet after yom tov. It’s the main thing Yidden do this week, besides bring books back to the library. The key, I think, is to spend so many days this month eating that we’re literally sick of food, and then to see if we can ride that feeling all the way to Chanukah.

Though I don’t know if the minhag is to actually diet. It’s just to talk about dieting. It’s like the things we pledge to change on Rosh Hashanah. Even if we don’t actually change them in the end, Hashem judges us by our intentions at the time. And if that’s good enough for teshuvah, it’s good enough for dieting.

For the most part, I’ve been living on a strict regimen of intending to work out coupled with, every single day, intending to eat right. I actually diet every day until about noon. That should work, right? I’m spending literally a third of my life dieting. If I were working out every day until noon, you wouldn’t say, “Yeah, but it only works if you work out the WHOLE day.”

And yes, diet and exercise are a segulah for arichas yomim. But we just had the yomim noraim, during which we davened for arichas yomim, and we had a window for segulos until Hoshana Rabba, and diet and exercise isn’t one of the segulos that we managed to squeeze in there. So whatever. The window is closed. I did enough segulos. You can’t rely on segulos anyway.

I was actually on a diet for a while,

and I had a whole list of foods to eat that would fill me up but that were pretty low in calories. And I was doing great until after about a year or so, when I got sick of those foods. I was eating soup like three meals a day during the summer.

And the whole diet thing is disheartening in the first place, because let’s say there’s free cake, and you’re being good, so you don’t eat it. And it’s really hard, because everyone around you is eating it, and the whole room smells like it, and you’re holding yourself back, and it’s not like smoking, where you can just go inside and be anti-social and everyone will say, “Yeah, he doesn’t want to smell all the second-hand cake.” You just have to stand there and take it. And do you know how much weight you’re losing because you’re not eating the cake? Zero. In fact, maybe you’ll gain a few ounces because of all the second-hand cake fumes. This isn’t like mitzvos and aveiros. You don’t get schar for avoiding temptation. Your body doesn’t say, “I’m going to lose weight because we could be eating cake but we’re not.” At most, you just don’t gain. That’s it. That’s the entire satisfaction. And to be honest, it’s not much, because you don’t see how much you’re not gaining. You don’t get a printout receipt at the end of the day, “You saved 5 pounds!” That would be motivational. And there’d be a coupon for 5 lbs. off another food that you generally don’t eat anyway.

And even if you say, “I’ll only eat cake socially, when other people are eating it,” and you figure that this way it will keep you from eating cake when you’re alone, the result will actually be that you’ll suddenly find yourself becoming extremely social. You’ll go to every simcha, every social event, parent-teacher conferences, you’ll show up with cakes that you’ll offer everyone… You’ll be happy, and fun to be around, and you don’t want that. And anyway, what is even the point of watching

By Mordechai Schmutter

what you eat when no one’s around? It’s a known fact that if you eat something and no one sees you eat it, it has zero calories.

And anyway, the foods they tell you to avoid when you want to lose weight are really hard to avoid, as Yidden. Bread, for example. Yiddishkeit is based around bread. We just ate round challah for a month, because it was a segulah to be round. Or something. But apparently, bread isn’t that good for us. That’s why there are signs at the park not to feed it to the ducks.

“But why not?” you’re asking. “The ducks love bread! They go crazy over it!”

Yeah, but it’s not good for them. They might love it, but they also don’t read medical studies about what’s good for them.

And in fact, if you think about it, there are not a lot of healthy Jewish foods. There’s no yom tov where there’s a minhag to eat vegetables. Well, technically, there’s Rosh Hashanah, when there are a whole bunch of healthy simanim to eat, but even then, you eat one bite of squash and one bite of carrots, and one black eyed pea, and that’s enough for the year. It’s not like you have to eat 354 of them. There’s no halachic minimum. In fact, the only other time we’re supposed to eat vegetables –the karpas on Pesach – there’s a halachic maximum. And most of us have replaced it with a potato.

So apparently, my current diet, which I’m getting back to this week, is that I do eat, but if what I eat is bad for me, I feel bad about it. Like the guilt is going to help. If guilt helped you lose weight, all Jews would be skinny. Especially this time of year.

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.

For the wholesome Bais Yaakov girl Who wants to ew it right…

Where each day is a fresh burst of sunshine On beautiful campgrounds in Greenville, NY

FIRST HALF: JULY 1 - JULY 27

SECOND HALF: JULY 30-AUGUST 25

Apply by November 15 for the Early Bird Special

Under the Rabbinical Guidance of Harav Chanoch Saltz א”טילש

For Girls going into 7-10th grade TCs – going into 11th grade camptal.org | (878) CAMP-TAL

Be the ﬁrst to greet the dew! Trailblazing Glamping Program for a select group of CITs

Mrs. Chaya Faigie Bar Director

Camp Mother: Mrs. Ahuva Ziemba

Administrative Director: Mrs. Miriam Seitler

Sta Supervisor : Mrs. Tsippy Boehm

Mental Health Corner

The Hidden Victim Of Bullying

The effects of bullying on both the victim and the bully are well known. There is a hidden victim that we often overlook, and that is the bystander. The impact of bullying on a bystander is not that intuitive, and in order to understand this perplexing topic, we first need to understand why bystanders often do not step in to protect the victim.

The bystander effect describes the tendency for bystanders to not intervene when they are in a group of three

small vent, indicating that there might be someone in distress in the adjoining room. When the individual was alone, they invariably stood up to investigate the source of the smoke and report it to the necessary authorities. When the individual was in a room with two other people who were set up to not react, then the likelihood of the individual to intervene dropped to ten percent! Although in this experiment the other two individuals were told not to react, it does show the difficulty that an individ

to react, the diffusion of responsibility can lead to no intervention whatsoever. When a bystander would have liked to intervene but fails to do so, a constellation of emotions may occur, ranging from guilt to depression.

Guilt comes from the feeling that they should have intervened and that had they intervened the victim would have been spared from being bullied. Anxiety can be triggered by starting to feel that school is not a safe place and

school is a result of their exposure to bullying in school.

Albert Einstein once said that the world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. This is a very appropriate quote regarding adults, but regarding children and adolescents it is very difficult to expect such young people to have the courage to stand up and go against the tide. It is therefore incumbent upon the adults to

JERUSALEM

Political Crossfire Sinwar’s Final Moments: On the Run, Hurt, Alone, but Still Defiant

By Mark Mazzetti, Natan Odenheimer, Aaron Boxerman, Ronen Bergman and Adam Goldman

At the end, the fearsome militant leader who had helped unleash a vicious war seemed barely a threat.

In video captured by an Israeli drone, a man sat alone, badly wounded and caked in dust amid the ruins of a building in the Gaza Strip, wrapped in a kaffiyeh and staring directly into the camera. The man, Israeli officials say, was Yahya Sinwar, the chief of Hamas.

The stare-down lasted some 20 seconds, then the man limply but defiantly hurled a broken piece of wood toward the drone. Not long afterward, officials say, an Israeli soldier shot him in the head, and a tank shell flattened part of the building.

So ended the long hunt for one of the world’s most wanted men. It began hours after the brutal Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that Sinwar helped orchestrate, and concluded amid the destruction of a Rafah neighborhood resembling so many parts of Gaza, leveled by the Israeli military in the year since.

The search involved Israeli commandos and spies as well as a special unit established inside the headquarters of Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence service, and at the CIA. It used a sophisticated electronic surveillance dragnet and ground-penetrat-

ing radar provided by the United States.

New details about Sinwar’s movements over the past year have emerged since his death, including the fact that Israeli intelligence officers had seen mounting evidence since August that Sinwar, or possibly other top Hamas leaders, might be in Rafah’s Tel al-Sultan neighborhood.

They observed people there moving about with their faces covered, sometimes apparently surrounded by guards, suggesting that they were senior Hamas officials or hostages. And in September, they found Sinwar’s DNA in urine collected from a tunnel.

In the end, Sinwar was discovered and killed in Tel al-Sultan somewhat by happenstance, by a group of troops on a routine patrol. But Israeli forces had spent weeks scouring the neighborhood based on the intelligence that senior Hamas officials were hiding there, possibly with Israeli hostages.

Sinwar died aboveground, just a few hundred meters from a tunnel complex where he had been hiding this summer, according to Israeli officials, and where six Israeli hostages were killed in late August.

This account of the hunt for Sinwar, and his eventual killing last Wednesday, is based on interviews with Israeli and Amer-

ican government officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence operations, as well as classified Israeli government documents obtained by The New York Times.

Sinwar had been a spectral presence since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks. There had been only glimpses of him over the past year, and he is believed to have spent most of his time hidden underground.

Yet he commanded Hamas’ forces in an ongoing war and managed to play an active role in the negotiations over a cease-fire and the release of Israeli hostages.

There had been near-misses along the way. On Jan. 31, Israeli commandos raided an elaborate warren of tunnels in Khan Younis— dubbed “The Kingdom” by Israeli officials — based on the intelligence that Sinwar was hiding there. It turned out he had been but had left the bunker just days earlier.

In addition to stacks of Israeli shekels, Sinwar left documents there that detailed years of secret meetings among Hamas leaders planning the Oct. 7 attacks, which the documents refer to as “The Big Project.”

The killing of Sinwar is perhaps Israel’s most significant military achievement of the war, and it raised hopes that the

elimination of the Hamas chief and the decimation of the group’s leadership might bring about a deal to end the conflict and release the Israeli hostages captured on Oct. 7, 2023, and still held in Gaza. Since his death, however, both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Hamas have pledged to continue the battle.

In a statement issued Friday, Hamas said that Sinwar’s death “will only increase the strength, steadfastness, and determination” of the group’s fighters “to continue on their path, and to be loyal to their blood and sacrifices.”

Sinwar may have been hobbled and diminished in his final moments, but the Hamas statement sought to project an image of him as a defiant fighter, “advancing and not retreating, brandishing his weapon, engaging and confronting the occupation army at the forefront of the ranks.”

A Cold Trail Heats Up

Early this year, Israeli intelligence concluded that Sinwar had fled a bunker in the center of Khan Younis in response to news reports citing Israeli officials saying he was hiding in a tunnel beneath the city. From there, he retreated to the western part of the city before finally relocating to Rafah.

For much of the summer, Sinwar’s trail was cold. officials said he had abandoned electronic communications, allowing him to avoid the surveillance net set up by Israeli and U.S. intelligence agencies. He was thought to be moving between Rafah and Khan Younis, staying in touch with Hamas operatives using a network of human couriers, but there was precious little specific intelligence about his movements.

Then, in August, came mounting evidence pointing to Tel al-Sultan.

On Aug. 31, Israeli forces recovered the bodies of six slain hostages, five of whom Hamas had captured at a music festival on Oct. 7, 2023, in an underground tunnel complex in Tel al-Sultan. Israeli military officials said they believed that the hostages had been executed by their captors just days earlier.

Weeks later, while investigating the same tunnel complex, Israeli forces confirmed through a DNA test of a urine sample that Sinwar — whose genetic and other information they had from his decades in Israeli prisons — had been hiding there at some point. But they never pinpointed his whereabouts, and there was discussion among Israeli intelligence officials that the Hamas leader might actually be dead.

Then, in late September, Hamas sent a message to the group’s political leaders in Qatar, saying that Hamas’ leadership in Gaza was committed to a cease-fire proposal that had been negotiated in July but fell apart.

Israeli and American officials did not believe that Hamas was serious about accepting a deal but saw the message as strong evidence that Sinwar was alive and still directing the group from the rubble of Gaza. He was also thought to be with the commander of the Tel al-Sultan battalion, Mahmoud Hamdan — one of the few high-ranking Hamas leaders still believed to be alive at the time.

Throughout the war, Israel had pieced together the whereabouts of several Hamas leaders with intelligence collected on the battlefield, using that information for lethal operations that killed most of the top echelon of Hamas’ leadership and other military commanders.

A Dragnet Tightens

The intelligence collection around Tel al-Sultan in recent weeks had prompted Israeli forces to increase patrols in the neighborhood, and one Israeli military official said that operations in the area were attempts by the military to gather clues, rather than raids guided by precise intelligence.

In this way, Wednesday’s killing of Sinwar was, for the Israelis, a stroke of luck.

That morning, soldiers from an Israeli training brigade operating in Tel al-Sultan spotted three men moving from house to house, one of them trailing the other two. They had no idea one of the men was Sinwar.

“Yahya Sinwar hid in an area that our

the upper floor, captured footage of a wounded man sitting in a chair, his face swaddled in a kaffiyeh to hide his identity.

The man hurled a stick at the drone, according to the footage. Israeli officials said a sniper shot the man in the head, and a tank fired at the building.

It was getting dark by then, and the troops decided to return to the two build-

Israeli officials have said that all Hamas operatives in the tunnels — even the group’s leaders — must occasionally escape the dark, claustrophobic conditions and breathe fresh air.

forces had surrounded for a long time,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, said Thursday night. “We did not know he was there, but we continued to operate decisively.”

It is unclear what brought Sinwar aboveground, although Israeli officials have said that all Hamas operatives in the tunnels — even the group’s leaders — must occasionally escape the dark, claustrophobic conditions and breathe fresh air.

Israeli officials said that a July airstrike that killed Mohammed Deif, the shadowy chief of Hamas’ military wing, was launched during one such occasion when Deif came to the surface.

In recent weeks, Israeli troops had stepped up ambushes and efforts to clear the many tunnels around Rafah. The army even pumped some of them full of thick nontoxic gas in an attempt to smoke out fighters when they assessed no hostages were in those parts of the tunnels, according to two Israeli military officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press about sensitive military tactics.

After the Israeli troops spotted the three men Wednesday, a firefight broke out, and one Israeli soldier was badly wounded. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, said that two of the three men fled into a building, and the third into an adjacent one.

The troops killed the first two militants and turned their attention to the man in the other building, deploying a drone to examine the building’s interior. The drone, entering a ruined house from

breath mints, according to photos from the scene provided by Israeli officials.

The troops found a man in the rubble who looked strikingly like Sinwar, with a large hole in his forehead and a gash on his knee. An electrical cord had been tied around his severely injured right arm to stanch the bleeding.

The Israelis cut off one of his fingers to use for DNA testing and took photographs of his teeth to match with Sinwar’s dental records on file from his years in an Israeli prison.

Based on fingerprints and dental records, Israeli officials determined that it was Sinwar. By Thursday evening, his body had arrived at Israel’s National Institute for forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv, where Dr. Chen Kugel, the head of the institute, oversaw an autopsy.

l ater that night, Netanyahu announced to the country that Sinwar was dead, calling it a milestone in “the sunset of Hamas’ evil reign” in Gaza.

ings Thursday morning to lessen the danger from booby traps that Hamas often sets inside buildings it has evacuated.

In one of the buildings, they found automatic weapons, thousands of dollars’ worth of Israeli currency, a pamphlet with prayer verses and even a packet of Mentos

But he also appeared to rebuff the idea that Sinwar’s death might mean the end of the war.

“The mission before us is still unfinished,” he said.

© The New York Times

Health & F tness Daily Habits That May Be Harming Your Gut Health

By Ariella Kaplan, BSc, ANutr

Gut health is a popular topic, and we often focus on the things that benefit it. However, it’s equally important to understand which daily habits may negatively impact your gut. The gut, a 30-foot-long digestive tract that stretches from your mouth to your colon, is home to trillions of beneficial bacteria, collectively known as the gut microbiota. These bacteria are influenced by various factors in our everyday routines, with significant consequences for our overall health.

Sleep

Sleep and gut health have a bidirectional relationship; just as poor gut health can lead to sleep disturbances, insufficient sleep can harm the gut. Lack of sleep raises cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, which can compromise gut lining integrity and increase intestinal permeability. This allows toxins to enter the bloodstream, resulting in inflammation and bloating.

Additionally, sleep deprivation impacts hunger hormones—ghrelin (the

hunger hormone) and leptin (the satiety hormone)—which often leads to poor food choices, such as consuming processed, sugary foods for quick energy. These foods can disrupt the gut microbiota by feeding pathogenic (bad) bacteria.

Melatonin, a hormone responsible for regulating sleep, also plays a role in gut motility. Low melatonin can impair digestion, causing conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Staying up late can further disrupt digestion, especially if you’re eating close to bedtime, as the body should be focusing on resting, not digesting food. This can create a cycle of poor sleep and worsening gut health.

Artificial Sweeteners

Products labeled as “sugar-free” or “diet” often contain artificial sweeteners, synthetic sugar substitutes that research suggests may negatively affect gut bacteria. A study found that six common artificial sweeteners, along with ten sports supplements approved by the FDA, were toxic to the gut microbiota of mice. While

more research is needed in humans, these findings raise concerns.

Artificial sweeteners can be hidden in everyday items such as toothpaste, chewing gum, and sweets. These sweeteners may cause glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in some individuals, complicating conditions like type 2 diabetes. Moreover, regular consumption of artificial sweeteners can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, leading to dysbiosis, which is associated with digestive disorders like IBS or IBD.

Artificial sweeteners are far sweeter than sugar, which can desensitize your taste receptors and drive a craving for sweeter, less nutritious foods. This can indirectly contribute to increased overall sugar consumption, further harming the gut.

High-Sugar Diet

A high-sugar diet is characterized by consistently consuming more than the recommended daily limit of 30 grams of sugar. This includes sugar from sources like honey, maple syrup, and high-fruc -

tose corn syrup. Diets high in refined sugar have been linked to increased inflammation and a higher risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.

Excess sugar consumption may weaken the gut lining, leading to increased permeability, which allows harmful substances to pass through the gut and into the bloodstream. High-sugar diets often lack fiber, fruits, and whole grains, all of which are essential for promoting gut bacterial diversity. Such diets are typically accompanied by high fat and salt intake, further disrupting gut balance.

Stress

You’ve probably experienced “butterflies” in your stomach during times of stress—this is the gut-brain axis at work. This connection between your brain and gut can cause digestive symptoms such as bloating, gas, or even exacerbate conditions like IBS.

The stress hormone cortisol disrupts gut function. From an evolutionary perspective, the body’s stress response diverts blood away from the digestive

system to prepare for a “fight or flight” situation. When stress becomes chronic, it can impair digestion long-term, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort or other gut-related issues.

Over-Exercising and HIIT

Excessive exercise, particularly high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or frequent running, may negatively affect your gut. When you exercise too intensely, the body interprets this as stress, releasing cortisol and adrenaline, which divert blood from the digestive system to your muscles. After a hard workout, digestion can remain compromised, resulting in gut discomfort.

Moderate exercise, on the other hand, is gut-friendly. Aiming for 30 to 60 minutes of exercise, 4 to 6 days a week, allows the body to benefit from physical activity without overloading it. Incorporating rest days is crucial for recovery. Low-intensity activities like weightlifting or brisk walking can also improve mood and digestion without straining the gut.

Mouthwash

Since the digestive tract starts in

the mouth, oral health plays a key role in maintaining gut health. Your mouth is home to its own microbiota, known as the oral microbiome. Many common mouthwashes are antibacterial, meaning they can kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria in the mouth.

Disrupting the oral microbiota can have systemic effects, as bacteria in the

to reduce the strain on your gut and improve sleep quality.

2. Long-term use of artificial sweeteners may disrupt your gut microbiota and increase sugar cravings.

3. A high-sugar diet can promote the growth of pathogenic bacteria, contributing to gut imbalance.

4. Chronic stress impairs digestion

pects of health, including gut function. Managing stress through techniques like mindfulness, yoga, or meditation is equally important, as long-term stress can significantly impact gut health. Eating a varied diet rich in fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics will promote gut bacterial diversity. Limiting sugar and artificial sweeteners by opting for whole foods and water instead of sugary drinks can further protect your gut health.

mouth are linked to overall health. Poor oral health has been associated with conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Maintaining a healthy balance of oral bacteria supports better digestion and overall gut health.

Key Takeaways

1. Avoid eating 2-3 hours before bed

through the gut-brain axis, leading to digestive issues.

5. Excessive exercise reduces blood flow to the gut, which can result in digestive discomfort.

6. Supporting your oral microbiome is essential for gut health.

Despite the demands of daily life, prioritizing sleep can benefit many as -

Ariella Kaplan is a Registered Associate Nutritionist with a private practice at FIT, a women’s gym in Cedarhurst. She graduated top of her class from her university in London, where she wrote a thesis on vitamin D deficiency and autoimmune diseases. Ariella works with clients in-person and virtually, helping men, women, and teens achieve their health goals. Specializing in gut health and nutrition education, she has also spoken at local high schools to educate students. To schedule a free consultation, visit thebritishnutritionist.com or follow her on Instagram @thebritishnutritionist.

He Said What?

Match the quote with the person who said it

1. “This election is about who’s going to be the next President of the United States!”

2. “People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war, or before an election.”

3. “The people who cast the votes don’t decide an election; the people who count the votes do.”

4. “As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by destroying it. Words are to confuse, so that at election time people will solemnly vote against their own interests.”

5. “If elected I shall be thankful; if not, it will be all the same.”

6. “I regard voting as the most sacred right of free men and women.”

7. “If voting changed anything, they’d make it illegal.”

8. “We would all like to vote for the best man but he is never a candidate.”

9. “Vote: the instrument and symbol of a freeman’s power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.”

10. “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”

You Gotta Be Kidding

Me!

A pollster calls a voter who goes into a rant against Trump, stating that “if Trump gets elected I don’t know whether I will hurt myself or leave the country!” The pollster says: “OK, I will put you down as ‘undecided.’”

a) Gore Vidal

b) Abraham Lincoln

c) Emma Goldman

d) Ambrose Bierce

e) Otto von Bismarck

f) Winston Churchill

g) Dan Quayle

h) Frank McKinney Hubbard

i) Ronald Reagan

j) Joseph Stalin ym”sh

1- G; 2-E; 3-J; 4-A; 5-B; 6-I; 7-C; 8-H; 9-D; 10-F

2024 Election Trivia

1. According to Kamala Harris, in the middle-class town where she grew up in (yes, she grew up in the middle class, just in case you don’t know), what were people very proud of?

a. Their lawns

b. Getting into good universities

c. Their children excelling at sports

d. Their charity work

2. Where does Kamala claim she worked to help her pay for school?

a. World Salads

b. Kacklin’ Kamala’s Komedy Klub

c. McDonalds

d. The library

3. According to Trump, what do people in Springfield, Ohio, eat?

a. Hot dogs

b. Corn dogs

c. Hush puppies

d. Pet dogs

4. According to Robert F. Kennedy, what did he one time dump in Central Park?

a. A dead bear

b. A bag of old Styrofoam cups

c. A MAGA cap

d. Old pictures of his father and uncle JFK

5. What did Joe Biden put on while visiting Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2024?

a. A MAGA cap

b. A hearing aid

c. A hardhat worn on 9/11

d. A tie with a U.S. flag on it

6. How many loaded guns did J.D.

Vance find in his grandmother’s house when she died?

a. 2

b. 5

c. 8

d. 19

7. Why did the Secret Service Director say that agents were not on the roof in Butler, PA, (depicted below) from which an assassin attempted to kill Trump?

a. Because it was outside the security perimeter

b. Because it was too hot on the roof

c. Because they had a drone hovering over the roof

d. Because it was too sloped

8. What type of doctor is Dr. Jill Biden?

a. Cardiologist

b. Anesthesiologist

c. Neurosurgeon

d. A Doctor of Education (AKA a teacher)

9. During the vice presidential debate, how did Democrat VP candidate Tim Walz explain the fact that he lied about serving in Iraq and about being Hong Kong in 1989 during the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests?

a. “I meant that I was not in Iraq and I was not in Hong Kong”

b. “I’m a knucklehead at times”

c. “I never said those things— my comments were taken out of context”

d. “All politicians lie!”

10. What does Kamala Harris love most?

a. Venn diagrams

b. Yellow school buses

c. Word salads

d. Having visions of seeing through visions of what it’s like to be not burdened by being unburdened by the visions of the past and therefore having visions of a future that is not seen through a vision of being burdened

e. All of the above

Wisdom Key:

8-10 correct: You are the next Ben Shapiro! (Just talk on double speed.)

4-7 correct: You are in the middle of the road. You must be one of three undecided voters left in the U.S.

0-3 corect: Call 911 and ask for Dr. Jill Biden…there’s a typo here!!!

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

I’ve never seen a more heroic figure than Liz Cheney.

- Chris Matthews on MSNBC talking about Cheney—whose father had a longtime feud with Trump—backing Kamala Harris

Temporary appointment. Not for long.

- Caption of a photo of newly selected Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, posted on X by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant

California Man Arrested for Showing I.D. To Vote.

- Babylon Bee headline

Progress: Trump Holds Most Ethnically Diverse, Pro-Israel Nazi Rally in History.

– ibid.

Democrats Explain Trump Was Going To Be Hitler During His First Term But He Forgot.

– ibid.

You’re kind of close to heaven while you’re up there.

- Eleanor Mann talking to a Missouri TV station after going skydiving for her 90th birthday

Donald Trump has no character. He doesn’t [care] about the Latino community. Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.

- President Joe Biden

Trump is classless, and if he loses, he probably won’t concede, which proves that he’s classless.

– Len Berman, 710 WOR

Exchange during a New York Times interview with Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)

REPORTER LULU NAVARRO: There was a young child who was killed who was taking the pager to their parent.

SEN. FETTERMAN: It did unfortunately, tragically, because Daddy was a member of Hezbollah. That’s tragic. You know, he brought that danger and evil into their home.

I mean, so I know this sounds bizarre. It sounds like if I said this five years ago, you’d lock me up—we gotta lock him up!

- President Joe Biden attacking Trump at a campaign event for Vice President Harris in New Hampshire, suggesting that lawfare should be used to stop Trump

The far left has often spoken about the need to “abolish billionaires.”

No nation has abolished more billionaires in the past month than Israel. Ismail Haniyeh, worth 4 billion dollars, has been abolished. Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas’ multi-billion dollar empire, has been abolished. The far left should be cheering Israel on as it abolishes the billionaires of Hamas.

– Tweet by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY)

[Harris] won’t be pinned down. I think in some cases she’s lying. People are worried that if she walked by a polygraph machine, the dang thing would explode.

- Sen. John Kennedy (R- LA) on Fox News

Look, here’s my opinion; I’m not speaking for the campaign with this—I thought their hearts were too big when Joe came into office that they didn’t know how many people would cross the border and it got away from them.

– Harris supporter Mark Cuban on CNN explaining why over 11 million illegal immigrants have entered the U.S. since the start of the Biden-Harris administration

The first thing I noticed was how many Black and brown people were there—lots of Hispanics, more than a sprinkling of Black people and Asians. Of course there were plenty of white people, including elegant Eastern European women and their beefy husbands, young Orthodox Jewish men (where were the women?), and loud young men who burst out regularly with shouts of “USA! USA!” But the picture you may have of Trump rallies as all-white fiestas did not hold true.

- Katha Pollitt writing in the left wing publication The Nation about attending the Trump rally in MSG

The Path to 270 Electoral College Votes –and the Presidency

Solid Trump: 219

Solid Harris: 215

Toss-Ups: 104

270 electoral votes are needed to win the presidency. Each state’s number of electoral votes is proportionate to its population. Real Clear Politics average of polls has 219 electoral votes solid and leaning towards Trump and 215 electoral votes solid and leaning Harris. The states with the 104 “toss up” electoral votes are the battleground states, which is essentially the focus of the election.

Red States are for Trump, Blue States are for Harris, and Grey States are Undecided.

Minnesota (10)

Harris +4.7

2020: Biden 7.1

2016: Clinton 1.6

2012: Obama 7.7

This state should not be in play, especially since Harris’s running mate is Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. However, the polls have tightened significantly in Minnesota over the past few weeks, and although it is a long-shot for Trump, simply based on the polling, it is a possible pick-up for him. If Trump wins Minnesota, that would mean that he will likely win the presidency in a landslide.

Nevada (6)

Trump + 0.7

2020: Biden 2.4

2016: Clinton 2.

2012: Obama 6.7

Nevada is the swing state with the most Hispanics. Trump is polling well with Hispanics. Trump unveiled his “No Tax on Tips” plan in Nevada. As a state with many hospitality workers, this plan is wildly popular. However, Harris adopted the same plan days after Trump announced his plan of service workers not being taxed on tips. As such, it remains to be seen who the voters believe more.

Georgia (16)

Trump +2.3

2020: Biden 0.3

2016: Trump 5.1

2012: Romney 8

Trump has had a complicated relationship with Georgia since the 2020 elections. He believes that Republican Governor Brian Kemp allowed cheating and publicly feuded with Kemp until a couple of months ago when they made peace and attended a rally together. Since then, Trump’s poll numbers have increased in Georgia, and he now appears to be leading in the Peach State.

Arizona (11)

Trump +1.5

2020: Biden 0.4

2016: Trump 3.5

2012: Romney 9.1

Arizona has traditionally been a Republican stronghold, but that has changed over the past decade. Trump lost by a razor-thin margin in 2020 and challenged the validity of the result, alleging many irregularities. More than 25% of voters are Latino. Even so, as a border state, it fits right into Trump’s focus on illegal immigration.

Pennsylvania (19)

Trump + 0.5

2020: Biden 1.2

2016: Trump 0.7

2012: Obama 5.4

True to its name as the Keystone State, Pennsylvania is the keystone to the 2024 presidential elections. Both candidates have spent more time there than in any other state. To date, over $1 billion has been spent by both parties in Pennsylvania. For many years, Pennsylvania has been considered to be “fool’s gold” for Republicans because they usually don’t win there. But Harris’s prior position of banning fracking is highly unpopular in Pennsylvania which has a significant fracking and fossil fuel industry which employs tens of thousands of people. Harris has changed her position on fracking and now claims to support it. If Harris loses, her decision not to pick Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her running mate will likely be seen as the worst political miscalculation in modern history—he is popular and seen as a moderate that could have attracted some conservative voters. According to many reports, Harris was pressured not to pick him because he is Jewish.

Michigan (15)

Trump +0.1

2020: Biden 2.8

2016: Trump 0.2

2012: Obama 9.5

MWisconsin (10)

Trump + 0.3

2020: Biden 0.6

2016: Trump 0.7

2012: Obama 5

Wisconsin is part of the “Blue Wall,” along with Pennsylvania and Michigan. If Trump wins Wisconsin, he will likely win the election. The last two elections were decided by razor-thin margins, and it once again appears to be a squeaker.

North Carolina (16)

Trump +0.8

2020: Trump 1.3

2016: Trump 3.7

2012: Romney 2.0

Due to changing demographics, North Carolina has recently turned from a red state to a “purple” state. The recent hurricane that killed 96 people in North Carolina may also play a role in the outcome. Many rural areas—which tend to favor Trump—have been ravaged by Hurricane Helene. This may result in a lower turnout than could otherwise be expected in those areas. However, early voter turnout indicates that voters are coming out in force. According to the latest data, the Democrats have a 0.6 advantage in early voter turnout. By comparison, at the same time in the election process in 2020, Democrats had a 16.2 advantage in early voting.

ichigan has more than 200,000 registered Muslim voters. They have been vocal about their disdain for Israel and have blamed the Biden/Harris administrations for allowing Israel to defend itself against the savage Hamas beasts. According to polls, the Muslim community is almost split evenly between Trump and Harris. At a recent Trump rally, numerous Muslim leaders, including the mayor of Dearborn Heights, a city with a sizeable Muslim population, stated that they are endorsing Trump because they believe that he would end the war in the Middle East. Many Muslims in Michigan, including the mayor of Dearborn, the Michigan city with the highest number of Arab and Muslim-Americans in the country, are refusing to endorse either Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican candidate Donald Trump and will instead vote for a third-party candidate. That may be equally problematic for Harris. However, it remains to be seen whether the Muslim community ultimately follows through on their protest vote or if they return to the Democrat tent on election day.

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

My husband and I have been married for 38 years, b”H. We are very politically conservative. Our 30-year-old daughter who has been dating for 7 years has been out of the house for a while now. She came home over chag with a young man who is a staunch vocal liberal who she’s been dating. Our daughter does not seem to mind this, however, we REALLY don’t like him. This is not because of his political leanings; it’s because he seems utterly brash, unintelligent, and lazy minded.

We told our daughter after yom tov what we think and how we don’t think it’s a match and she say it’s probably just because of him “not being conservative” to our liking. How do we properly relay the message so she understands this is not about politics, it’s about his terrible temperament and middos?

Thank you,

Brenda & Sam*

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. Looking forward! Michelle, the “Shadchan”

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

Brenda and Sam, you are in a tight spot. The art of influencing adult children is a fine art that takes practice and skill. At the same time, knowing your boundaries and limitations is essential. Certainly, you know that decisions are ultimately those of the child, but careful communication must be exercised in order to be heard. That is your goal: for your concerns about his middos, work ethic, and interests to be heard. (His intelligence is less important if he is good and kind.)

Saying what you think is not going to guarantee that you will be heard. And it is your daughter’s choice, not yours. Asking choice questions using proper context to get her to reflect on his comments may be helpful. However, your history of communication with your daughter may preclude your being heard. She may feel attacked, legitimately or not, and therefore resist taking in what you are asking her to reflect on. She may be insecure and feel good about herself because he is giving her attention and interest. You may have a stormy history behind you.

I would suggest that you seek professional help to learn how to master open-ended discussions about reading other people, to handle your role, and to be heard in all situations, from potential spouse material to other things. Keep in mind that your daughter brought him home over yom tov to meet your family. She does want to hear your

impressions and probably wants your approval of this fellow. Learn the skills to take things in, choose your times to respond, and keep things open without being confrontational. A professional can help.

The Shadchan Michelle Mond

Thank you so much for writing in with such an important question. I would guess that there have been years of stilted communication and/or a complex relationship with your daughter up until now that has come to a pinnacle to this point. The good news is that she brought him home, which clearly means there is something she would like you to see.

I believe the most effective way for you to get through to her, for now, is to heal your current relationship with her outside this nasty guy she’s dating. Try for the next couple months to focus on loving her, spoiling her, and talking to her positively. Work on yourselves (utilizing a therapist or professional if needed) to heal your relationship with her. Talk nicely, compliment, and make it clear to her how proud you are of her many good qualities and accomplishments. Only with this type of relationship as a backbone can you come to her with genuine concern about the man she is dating and expect to be heard. When you broach the topic once your relationship is better, make it mainly about how he treats her and how she

feels with him. Coming from a place of love and concern for her rather than your disdain for him will help you get the message out. Wishing you much hatzlacha!

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Hmm. You make it very clear that you do not like the young man. But nowhere do you mention if he and your daughter love each other. Will they be good for each other? Will they take care of each other? Will they bring out the best in each other?

Here’s a news bulletin: This relationship is not about you. It is about your adult daughter and her boyfriend.

There are many examples of famous

Saying what you think is not going to guarantee that you will be heard.

couples, with very different political beliefs, who have had very happy marriages. Republican activist Mary Matalin and Democratic strategist James Carville have been happily married for three decades. Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway was happily married to famous Trump-hater George Conway for 22 years. (Full disclosure – they did actually get divorced recently.)

Neuro Clics helps people struggling with the following symptoms:

Reading Dif culties

Dyslexia

ADD / ADHD

Social Awkwardness

Poor Memory

Math Dif culties

Writing Dif culties

Disorganization

Clumsiness

Easily Overwhelmed

In William Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, there is a variation of the famous quote: “Politics makes for strange bedfellows.”

The point is that there is more to life than one’s political beliefs. We would all benefit from accepting that folks who are positioned very differently on our political spectrum can, nevertheless, be equally sincere, genuine, and intelligent.

If you continue to express your dis -

approval and disparage the young man, you will succeed in creating a son-inlaw who hates you and you will not be able to enjoy your grandchildren. Your only role here is to advise your daughter to date this boyfriend long enough in order to be sure that the young man is right for her.

And make sure that you do not wear your MAGA hats at their engagement party.

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Dear Brenda and Sam,

Thank you for writing. We picture welcoming a warm, productive, kind and bright son- or daughter-in-law into our families. That’s the hope, the fantasy. And for some people, it seems to work out, and for others, it just isn’t so. I wanted to lay that out there first and foremost, because it’s the truth. And it’s a very bitter pill to swallow. I am sorry you find yourselves in this situation.

Just some food for thought... Your description of his character paints a pretty awful picture, and you may be right about that. These situations are always incredibly delicate and must be handled wisely and strategically. The bottom line is that you cannot stop her from marrying him, unless you are prepared ultimately to lose your relationship with your daughter.

I would humbly suggest revisiting this conversation with a much softer tone in an attempt to come alongside her and get to know what she likes about him. If you were harsh or abrasive with your

opinions, you need to own that and take accountability or the conversation will be for naught. If she is willing to have this conversation with you, validate, validate, validate. For example, “I can see why you have feelings for him.” Ask her what she thinks about the behavior you witnessed over chag. Speaking poorly of him will likely drive her right into his arms (even more.)

If he does indeed have a terrible temperament and bad middos, I would invite your daughter to a therapy session together. You may need a safe, unbiased space to navigate this conversation. When I hear “terrible temperament and bad middos,” my mind immediately turns to abuse. I have seen way too many controlling, difficult, toxic, abusive relationships in my office, and I have to say that if you, as a parent, see this behavior, it is always worth asking your adult child to a therapy session.

Unfortunately, many people need

A Reader’s Response

The High School Teacher Gitty Schonfeld

Iwill need to clarify some things first. You say you find him brash and unintelligent. Is it only in his political views? Is he unable to hold the conversation with your daughter? Is he brash in the way he answers your questions and when he talks to you? When talking to your daughter, ask her how he speaks to her privately. What is his tone of voice? What is his attitude towards other topics? Most people don’t like to be attacked and questioned about their decisions. I would try to get her to come to her own conclusions through questioning rather than forcing your opinion on your daughter with lectures.

Here’s a news bulletin: This relationship is not about you.

If the answers to the questions are, yes, he is brash and insensitive, then it is a question of middos. However, if it’s only in his political views when you’re having political discussions that the brashness and the unintelligence comes out, then I would recommend you just avoid those topics with him. In general, it is better to avoid political topics when families get together. Just because people share a different political view does not mean they cannot get along socially and peacefully.

to make this mistake. Is it part of their neshama’s journey? I’ve begun to think that for many people it just is. I hope not so for your daughter. If he is as you say, you must understand that your daughter is not seeing the red flags and we need to ask ourselves why. This is something she needs to explore. Where is the red flag blindness coming from? Is she used to this kind of behavior? Has she seen it before? Does she suffer from poor self-esteem? Is she people-pleasing? Is she tired of dating? This is her work and her choice to explore.

Revisit the conversation in the new way I shared above and invite her to a session with a qualified therapist. Hopefully she sees what you see and has strength to walk away, but if not, your work will be figuring out the kind of relationship you want with your daughter and if you will respect her choice and keep her close or not respect her choice and lose her or have at best a very strained relationship. I truly wish

the best for you and your daughter.

Sincerely, Jennifer

P.S. To anyone dating someone with a bad temperament and bad middos: These things do not get better. A person is at his/her best during the dating phase of a relationship. In other words, it will only get worse. “But he/she also this good part. You don’t understand.” Abuse is the confusion. A healthy relationship is not confusing and there is no Jekyll and Hyde situation going on.

What is the telltale sign of an abusive or unhealthy person? Being mentally inflexible. This person doesn’t listen to your feelings, doesn’t validate you, shuts down, punishes you in all sorts of ways. Some of us do not realize this is happening. You should feel respected and desired in your relationship. Your stomach shouldn’t turn. There must be chemistry and respect for a relationship to work of course, but look for that mental flexibility and, above all else, kindness. Kindness to everyone.

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.

It’s exciting! It’s stressful! It’s momentous! It’s potty training!

This is a major milestone in a young child’s life. It’s one of the ways they transition out of babyhood and into childhood. Learning how to control their bodies and be like the “big people” is a step towards independence.

Many parents view this as a form of freedom. Changing soiled diapers isn’t the most beloved parental task, and it’s rather exhilarating to think of a child transitioning out of this phase. With all this excitement, parents are often unprepared for the difficulties during the early months after potty training. For example, a newly trained child needs to have easy access to a restroom wherever they go.

The Basics

While there are many methods to potty training, there are a few basic criteria that apply to all of them.

We tried for many days to train one of my children. He was the right age and was kind of getting the idea, but he still had frequent accidents. We made the difficult decision to put off the training and put back on the diaper. We tried again just two months later, and he trained immediately with minimal accidents.

Parenting Pearls Toilet Training Tips

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

Children need to be ready for this big step. Unfortunately, parents often begin training when the adults are ready, but if the child is not at that developmental stage, then it’s going to be frustrating and less likely to work. I know there is a major pressure to have little ones trained prior to beginning school. This rule is understandable but can cause conflict for parents who have a late potty learner. There is no single solution, and parents are advised to speak with their child’s morah weeks before the school year begins.

Children learn to use the toilet during the day before they’re trained at night. It can take a number of weeks – or even months – for children to stay dry at night and make it to the toilet as soon as they wake up. They also learn to urinate in the toilet before bowel movements, requiring days or weeks longer to accomplish this next step.

Pick which words you will use to describe what they’re doing (for example “pee,” “poo,” etc.). Be consistent and use the same phrasing each time. Choose something that won’t embarrass you when your child uses it in public. It should also be something others (such as teachers) will understand.

There are both stand-alone potties

and also little seats that can be placed on the adult toilet seat. There is no inherent advantage of starting with one or the other. Some children do have their preference, and it’s best to use what makes your child comfortable.

The adult toilet seat can be very large and scary for little kids. There is a real concern of partially falling in, and it’s hard to relax and use the restroom when you feel like you’re holding on to save your life. For the first year or two, little ones will appreciate having a small seat that can be secured to the adult version. Even somewhat older children will enjoy the extra feeling of security that comes with a smaller sized seat.

Even boys start off sitting on the toilet. It is much easier and requires too much coordination for new potty learners to switch each time between standing and sitting. Allow your son plenty of time to become comfortable using the toilet in a sitting position before introducing the concept of standing. It’s my personal experience that boys quickly learn this skill when they see others standing, and I’ve never had to teach it to them.

Accidents happen. This applies both in life and in potty training. No matter how well a child has been trained, they

will have accidents. Perhaps they were distracted, feeling ill, in a new environment, or they simply waited too long. It’s normal for occasional accidents to occur even months later. Major life adjustments or stresses can cause a temporary increase in accidents. Reach out to your child’s healthcare provider if the accidents become frequent. They will want to rule out (or address) any medical or emotional causes.

There is no shaming in potty training, and this is meant to be a pleasant experience for your child. They’re called “accidents” for a reason, and they’re inevitable. Adults should never criticize or embarrass a child who has wet/soiled themself. It can be frustrating for the adults, especially if they ruined a nice outfit, but it’s important to not pass that on to the child. Children can be asked to help clean the mess and be given a loving reminder that you know they’ll make it to the potty next time.

Bring extra clothes wherever you go. There is a reason preschool morahs ask for a change of clothing, and parents should keep a set in the car or stroller. This should include underwear, baby wipes, socks, a waterproof bag (for holding wet items), and a full set of clothing.

While not mandatory, it is very helpful to bring a small or travel potty on trips. Children are more likely to use a small toilet they’re comfortable with than to try precariously perching themselves on an adult-sized public toilet. Also, kids love to touch everything around them – including public toilets –and then they inevitably find a reason to put their hands in their mouth. A travel potty of their own will help prevent this.

Little ones will need a large supply of underpants while they’re learning this new skill. Children like garments that are cute and colorful and this can be very motivating for them, but the first pairs get dirty fast and should not be expensive. I’ve also noticed a tendency for early learners to want a new pair of underwear each time they use the bathroom. They’re used to a fresh diaper each time, and they start off assuming the same about underwear.

Many companies make “training” underwear. These garments look and feel like traditional underwear, but they have an added absorbent layer to decrease the mess – some better than others. Some parents may find these to be helpful and

cial occasions,” such as when accidents would be exceptionally problematic (e.g. shul, family simcha or long trips).

Personally, I’m not a big fan of using diapers for potty training, even the ones that pull on and off like underwear. Diapers are diapers, and toddlers know it.

They can be helpful for overnight use or long trips when it’s likely there won’t be appropriate bathroom facilities.

Methods

Potty training is a full-time job, and parents need to dedicate a few days towards the goal. Choose a time period when both parent and child can be home, relatively relaxed and focused on training.

The child’s clothing should be easy for the child to remove by themselves. Choose clothing that you don’t mind

There are many different methods to help a child learn to use the potty. Choose the method you think will best suit your child’s needs. If one method doesn’t work then try a different way or put off the training until the child is a little older.

Most methods involve frequent reminders to use the potty and a reward system for successful usage. In addition to the agreed upon treat, children enjoy when their parents and siblings clap and cheer for them. Nothing motivates a child like parental attention and pride. I’ve also found that many children enjoy hearing their adults call grandparents and other relatives to proudly proclaim, “Guess who used the potty for the first time?”

With most of my children I gave them a small treat to enjoy and share with their siblings each time they used the potty. Other families give the child a toy at the end of potty training, once they’ve

transitioned into full-time toilet use.

Even if they wet the floor, I considered it as “using the potty” as long as the child was sitting on the potty at some point. For example, if the child had a small accident on the floor but made it to the potty for the end (even if I carried them there), then I gave them their treat. This is especially important with boys who can sit on the toilet but still “miss” and go over the potty seat.

Some children will surprise their parents and train themselves. Maybe they saw an older child use the bathroom or they were randomly inspired, but one day they just decide to use the toilet and they’re trained. Thank Hashem, hug your child, and celebrate.

This milestone can be stressful and messy, but hopefully parents can focus on their child’s growth throughout the process. Both child and parent have much to be proud of when a little one declares, “I made in the potty!”

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@gmail.com.