Baltimore Jewish Home 11-21-24

November 1 st - January 15 th

YOUR UPGRADED SUMMER EXPERIENCE in Israel in Israel

Join us for an unforgettable summer in the heart of Eretz Yisrael! For the Bais Yaakov girl entering 9th-12th grade who is looking for the experience of her lifetime in Eretz Hakodesh, our uplifting staff and upbeat trips and activities will keep you inspired and help you build friendships that last a lifetime. Unwind in comfort at the upscale D-Hotel in Ma’ale Adumim after each exciting and fun-filled day.

JULY 2 - JULY 28 This is a summer experience you won’t want to miss!

Dear Readers,

In Pirkei Avos, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, asked his five talmidim: “Which is the best path for a person to follow?” Each of them offered a valuable answer. Rebbi Eliezer said, “Ayin Tovah” (a good eye), Rebbi Yehoshua suggested, “Chaver Tov” (a good friend), Rebbi Yossi proposed, “Shachen Tov” (a good neighbor), Rebbi Shimon taught, “One who foresees the outcome of his actions,” and finally, Rebbi Elazar ben Arach responded, “Lev Tov” (a good heart). Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai, after considering each answer, said, “I see the words of Rebbi Elazar ben Arach as the best, for included in his words are your words.”

The Maharal explains that the heart is the center of a person’s being—both physically and spiritually. Just as the heart is the source of life for our bodies, pumping blood to every part of us, it is also the spiritual core from which all positive qualities emerge. A lev tov manifests as kindness, generosity, understanding, and wisdom. It is through a lev tov that a person can truly connect with others, showing compassion and love, and it is through a lev tov that we can lead our lives in alignment with the values of the Torah.

When Avraham needs to find a wife for his son Yitzchok, Eliezer is sent on a mission to find the right match. He turns to Hashem in prayer, asking for a sign to help him choose the woman who will be the right partner for Yitzchok. The miracle that follows is well-known: Rivka comes to the well, offering water to Eliezer and then to his camels as well. Eliezer immediately sees that she has the qualities needed to become the mother of the Jewish people. But be-

yond her beauty and lineage, Rivka’s acts of kindness reveal something much deeper: she embodies a lev tov, a heart full of generosity and compassion. It’s striking to note that while Rivka’s physical beauty and her noble ancestry made her a fitting match for Yitzchok, it was her heart—her lev tov that made her truly exceptional. Eliezer’s search wasn’t just about finding someone from the right family or a woman of beauty; it was about finding someone who would carry forward the values of kindness, humility, and goodness. And these are the traits that were central to Avraham’s vision for the Jewish people.

The emphasis on lev tov teaches us that in relationships—whether familial, communal, or marital— the heart plays the central role. While other qualities are important, it is a lev tov that will sustain relationships and enable them to thrive. The Torah teaches us that goodness must flow from within, from a heart that is kind, generous, and capable of foreseeing the impact of one’s actions on others. Although we may not always be able to control our circumstances, we can still choose how we respond, how we treat others, and how we let our hearts guide us. A lev tov is not just an abstract ideal but a practical, everyday quality that shapes our interactions and our choices. When we choose kindness, when we cultivate a good heart, we make a lasting impact on the world around us.

Wishing everyone a peaceful Shabbos

Aaron Menachem

NWCP Anniversary Dinner

"This is a very important community event. I urge everyone to attend."

Rav

Rav

Yaakov Hopfer

of Shearith Israel | President of the Vaad Harabonim

Saturday Night, December 7, 2024 • 8:00pm

New Location: Congregation Shomrei Emunah 6221 Greenspring Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21209

Years Protecting Our

Community

Donation: $75 per person Reservations by November 25th Information and reservations: 410-664-6927 ext. 8 or email rsvp@nwcp.info Payments and donations: nwcp.info

Evening of Appreciation

Featuring an elegant dairy dairy buffet, including a delicious variety of fish, pasta, soup, salad, and dessert

Join us for an enjoyable evening of friendship and support for the police department, government officials and our NWCP volunteers

Join us as we pay tribute to our community's police officers:

Avraham Shugarman Zach Friedman Baer Rosenbloom

Mordechai Mandelbaum

Mordechai Singer

Official Ribbon Cutting For Bikur Cholim New Kosher Hospitality Room

At Union Memorial

By: BJLife Newsroom

The Bikur Cholim Kosher Hospitality Room at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, which has been operational since just before Rosh Hashanah, continues to provide essential accommodations for the Jewish community.

The hospital hosted the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Kosher Hospitality Room. The event included a presentation highlighting the initiative’s impact, attended by community leaders and hospital representatives. It offered the community an opportunity to express Hakaras Hatov (gratitude) to the MedStar Union Memorial administration for their efforts to meet the community’s unique needs

(R-L): TJ Senker (cutting the ribbon), Rabbi Pinchos Rabinowitz, Executive Director, Bikur Cholim of Baltimore; Brian Cawley, Director of Operations.

(R-L): Brian Cawley, Director of Operations; TJ Senker, President of MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital; Rabbi Pinchos Rabinowitz, Executive Director, Bikur Cholim of Baltimore; Dr. Alex Yazaji, VP of Medical Affairs, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.

Around the Community

Remembering An Outstanding Member Of Our Community

Sterling Care Assisted Living was honored to enjoy the music of the outstanding and talented musician, Menachem Manevich. His piano playing and singing resulted in the residents clapping and singing along, and being inspired by the tunes and messages of the songs.

This event was sponsored by Tobias’s Tent, an organization

whose mission is to perpetuate the memory, the inspiration, and the influence of Tobias Vogelstein z’’l, an outstanding member of our community. You can learn about his amazing life at tobiastent.org.

Once again, Stan Lustman shared his enthusiasm with all involved, and facilitated the delivery of happiness to members of our community, to perpetuate the memory of Tobias.

A Chashuv Guest Speaker Addresses Avos U’bonim

Horav Nesanel Kostelitz Shlita imparts chizuk and insight to the boys and their fathers at Khal Machzekei Torah’s Avos U’bonim Motzoie Shabbos program.

Week 3 Of The JCFL By “Your Kitchen Spot” Season Is In The Books!

Special for this week, JCFL leadership introduced a few improvements which have already had a positive impact on the playing experience.

Members of the “I Heart Remodeling” officiating crew partnered with the “Maryland Team” grounds crew to add painted sidelines and markings to the “Tripping Kosher” fields. Early reports indicate that both players and officials appreciate the improved clarity offered by the painted sidelines.

And in an effort to ensure uniformity in officiating, refs were provided with “JCFL Rule Cheat Sheets” (sponsored by Clothier), as a reference for some common game occurrences that require official intervention.

Baruch Hashem, the 2024 season is going swimmingly and fans are already prognosticating about the “Goldberg’s Bagels/Mama Leah’s Pizza” postseason.

Read on for highlights from Week 3:

AMP Solutions 39 Bunny’s Home Care20

In a thrilling matchup, Team AMP Solutions came out firing on all cylinders, showcasing a dominant offensive performance en route to a decisive 39-20 victory over Team Bunny Home Care.

Quarterback Yaakov Rosenblum led the charge with a flawless display of accuracy and decision-making. From the opening whistle, Rosenblum was in complete control, threading passes to his receivers with pinpoint precision. He found the end zone three times in the first half alone, helping AMP build a commanding lead early. His ability to spread the ball around and find open targets kept the Bunny Home Care defense on their heels all game long. Elazar Freedman and Mordy Reches were the defensive standouts for AMP Solutions, each grabbing two interceptions that thwarted Bunny’s attempts to mount a comeback. Their ability to read the opposing quarterback and make timely plays kept the momentum firmly in AMP Solutions’ favor.

Despite some late-game heroics from Bunny, who put up 13 points in the second half, the deficit was too much to overcome. AMP stayed consistent, with Rosenblum continuing to spread the ball effectively and eventually threading the needle on a final dagger TD pass to Gershon Vegh. The win underscores AMP’s offensive and defensive “Solutions,” setting them up as a formidable contender moving forward.

Allstate Insurance –Yaakov Schmell 40 Baltimore CTC 18

In a critical showdown between two 0-2 teams desperate for their first win, Allstate-Schmell took control early and never looked back, cruising to a decisive victory over Baltimore CTC.

After an impressive defensive stand on CTC’s opening possession, Allstate-Schmell wasted little time striking first. Quarterback Avi Yudkowsky connected on long touchdown passes to Josh Zaslow and Zach Lerner, putting Allstate-Schmell up 13-0. However, CTC quickly answered with a score of their own, cutting the deficit to 13-6. The game’s momentum swung back in Allstate-Schmell’s favor when CTC threw an interception, which set up another TD by Lerner to extend the lead. CTC responded just before halftime with a long touchdown pass to Mitch Gross, narrowing the margin to 19-12 as the teams went into the break.

Allstate came out strong in the second half, with quick touchdowns to Zaslow and Ezra Rosen to push their lead to three scores. CTC didn’t go down without a fight, pulling back within 15 points with their own score, but Allstate’s defense stepped up when it mattered most, stopping CTC after they took over on a short field after a critical interception, following a Mookie Chamdie clutch sack to keep the lead intact. With the game winding down, Allstate sealed the victory with a well-executed catch-and-throw touchdown to Zach Lerner, putting the finishing touch on a much-needed win.

Y&L Landscaping bounced back with an emphatic win led by wide receiver/safety extraordinaire Mordechai Schiermeyer and substitute quarterback Dovid Flamm. Y&L played with an extra chip on their shoulders after a member of the opposing team referred to them as “old” and “washed up” before the game.

Schiermeyer hauled in 2 of Flamm’s 4 TD passes and came inches away from another on a spectacular catch. He also had the game sealing interception on an excellent play, fighting through contact to secure the ball and the win.

Flamm coordinated the offense well as Y&L jumped out to an early 19-0 lead, as he also threw TD passes to Akiva Stutman and Ben “Slow Cooker” Gutman. Baruch Dollman had a crucial sack and along with Gutman, anchored an effective pass rush.

Evergreen Benefits Group 34 Tiger Heating & Air6

In a matchup of unbeatens, Evergreen Benefits cooled off Tiger Heating and Air with a dominant victory.

Tiger’s 1st drive ended on an INT by Chaim Finkelstein. Tiger’s 2nd drive culminated in their only score of the game.

On the ensuing Evergreen drive, Swiss army knife WR/TE/OL/DL/ OLB/SFTY Avromi Freund caught a long parabolic pass that got Evergreen to the 3-yard line. Evergreen would punch it in and convert the 2-point conversion (Finkelstein to Shloime x2).

Tiger’s 3rd possession ended on a ho-hum for him, but highlight reel for anyone else, INT (Shloime, assisted by Chaim) of an ill-advised jump ball from Tiger QB Ezra Bregin who was impacted by heavy pressure from Freund and DL Nosson Waldman. Evergreen would take advantage, and score on a 40-yard hook-and-ladder play. Freund caught the pass and lateraled to Scheinfeld who streaked down the sideline untouched.

Right before the half, Scheinfeld had another INT.

Evergreen continued the onslaught with another TD and 2-pt conversion (Finkelstein to Scheinfeld).

Evergreen again ended a Tiger drive with an impressive, gutsy, diving INT by ailing bubbly sub Moshe Reches.

In a recurring theme, the next Tiger drive ended on Finkelstein’s 2nd INT. Evergreen scored again, this time on a patented back shoulder throw by Finkelstein to his younger brother Yoni.

Freund displayed his anticipation and athleticism for Evergreen’s 6th INT of the game.

WR Tzvi Perlman/”Hands Maven” used his immense height advantage to make an incredible juggling catch for Evergreen’s 5th TD to close out the game. Of note was the “jumping chest bump” celebration between Chaim and Tzvi, which occurred approximately 2 inches off the ground.

Greater Washington: Around the Community

Father/Son Sunday Morning Learning Program

Honoring Our Veterans At TSGW

Veterans Day, observed each year on November 11, is a federal holiday of hakaras hatov. Its primary purpose is to thank veterans of the United States armed forces for all their sacrifices for and contributions to our safety and freedom.

Torah School put this idea into practice with our “Wall of Honor” project. Organized by Mrs. Deborah Cleeman and Mrs. Rachel Benamou, this beautiful exhibit honors almost 100 family members of our TSGW students—parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and other relatives of all ages and from all branches of the military. They served in World War II, Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, and on American soil, too, defending our country and preserving peace and security around the world. The exhibit will be on display in our lobby during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Please stop by and be part of this truly meaningful tribute!

In addition, our older classes (4G, 5G, 6G, 4B, and 5B) had the incredible opportunity to learn about Veterans Day

from someone who currently serves in the United States military. With humor and engaging storytelling, Lieutenant Colonel Matt Cohen, father of Ezra (4B) and Esther (1G) and husband of Mrs. Jenny Cohen (4GA), taught students about the history of the holiday, shared some Veterans Day trivia, and explained the difference between Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and the little-known Armed Forces Day.

He told us that the only kosher, shomer Shabbos Jewish war veterans post in existence is located in our very own community and has over 30 members. He told us about a special edition of Shas published

by the U.S. Army for Holocaust survivors who wanted to learn. And he brought to life the stories of famous Jewish heroes of the United States armed forces, including some of the 18 Jews who have received the Medal of Honor, the very highest award for bravery.

The stories of our Jewish veterans—those displayed on our Wall of Honor and those we learned from Lt. Col. Cohen—are the stories of our families, our community, our country, and our People. Happy Veterans Day!

YOU’RE INVITED!

MONDAY NOVEMBER 25 TH 7 PM-10 PM

BJSZ SOCIAL HALL

JOINING SHADCHANIM: MRS. ADINA FEINSTEIN

MRS. JUDI FELDMAN • MRS LOLLY FRIEDMAN

MRS. SHULAMIT GARTENHAUS • MRS. DEVORAH GERTZ

MRS. RUTHIE KINZER MRS. SHANI LEIMAN

MRS. MARCIE LURMAN • MRS. TOVA RAPPAPORT

MRS. MICHAL SEIDEMANN • MRS. SIMI SOKOLOFF

MRS. YOCHEVED STRUM • MRS. RIVKY TENDLER

MRS. KEREN TRAUB • MRS. MALKA ZWEIG

Greater Washington: Around the Community

Israeli Artisans Fair To Support Israeli Small Businesses

The Israel Bonds Washington Women’s Division and Kemp Mill Synagogue hosted an Israeli Artisans Fair in Silver Spring, MD.

Nearly 500 Israel Bond investors and members of the greater DC community gathered at Kemp Mill Synagogue for an afternoon of community building in solidarity with Israel. The event, organized to support Israeli small businesses struggling due to decreased tourism, featured approximately 30 Israeli vendors, offering attendees a unique opportunity to purchase and support Israeli art without leaving the DC region. While community members celebrated Israeli craftsmanship and brought home meaningful items, children participated by writing heartfelt letters to IDF soldiers and creating their own Israeli-themed artwork.

Israel Bonds extends heartfelt gratitude to Kemp Mill Synagogue for their generous hospitality in hosting

this event, to the Israeli vendors who made the journey to share their work, and to all who attended. Whether attending to show support, enjoy the art, purchase one item, or many, this community gathering displayed to the vendors and to others in Israel the DC community’s deep commitment to supporting the Israeli people and their economy.

Shining TOGether

CHAI LIFELINE NATIONAL GALA

BENEFITTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY ILLNESS AND CRISIS.

Rabbi Chaim & Chavie Bruk

DR. David J. Hackam

PEDIATRIC SURGEON-IN-CHIEF & CO-DIRECTOR, JOHNS HOPKINS CHILDREN’S CENTER CO-CEOS, CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF MONTANA

CHAMPIONS OF HOPE AWARD

MAIMONIDES MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Campaign Chairs

GALA Chairs

The LEV Experience Returns From A Transformative Trip To Israel

The LEV Experience recently returned from a weeklong trip to Israel with Momentum. This trip was led by Devorah Buxbaum and had initially been scheduled to go in October of 2023 with 45 women. However, in the wake of October 7, they traveled with 8 women, embracing Israel’s profound moment in history with open hearts and unwavering spirit.

This journey embodied the duality of grief and strength. The women mourned the pain of October 7 and beyond, while marveling at the resilience of the Jewish people. Heroes and sheroes—soldiers, parents, siblings and ordinary citizens—shared their stories of courage, unity, and hope. The group bore witness to unimaginable atrocities, yet they also sang and danced together, finding strength and light in the current situation.

Through inspiring lectures and workshops, the women explored core Jewish values and identity. They

focused on fortifying these values within themselves and discovering ways to bring them home, igniting inspiration in their families and communities.

Returning to Maryland, the women describe their hearts as fuller, their souls deeply inspired, and their commitment to Judaism and Israel profoundly strengthened. They are dedicated to continuing the journey of connection, growth, and meaningful impact.

This trip was far more than a journey; it was a transformative chapter in their lives—one that will continue to shape their paths forward.

L

Monday November 25th

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:00 am

Baking with Ms. Hirschman

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

1:00 pm

Arts & Crafts with Shifra

2:00 pm

Piano with Mr. Taragin

WEEKLY CALENDAR

NOVEMBER 25TH- NOVEMBER 29TH

Stimulating Activities For Adults - Delicious Kosher Meals

Tuesday November 26th

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

Wednesday November 27th

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:15 am

Anagrams with Malka Zweig

10:45 am

Bais Yaakov Middle School Visit

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

1:00 pm

Arts & Crafts with Shifra

1:45 pm

Guitar with Yossi K

Thursday November 28th

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:15 am

Anagrams with Malka Zweig

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

Special Thanksgiving Meal with All The Trimmings

1:00 pm

Arts & Crafts with Shifra

1:45 pm

Guitar with Yossi K

Friday November 29th

9:30 am

Rabbi P's Parsha Pointers and Patterns

10:00 am

Baking with Ms. Hirschman

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

2:00 pm

Music with Aharon Grayson

613 Seconds with Shlomo Rosenstein

BJH: Tell us about yourself and your journey to Baltimore.

SR: My name is Shlomo Rosenstein, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I moved to Baltimore in 2017, when my wife, Sarah Leah (Wax), a Baltimore native, began her master’s degree in social work at the University of Maryland. Baltimore is a wonderful place to raise our family, and I enjoy being part of this vibrant community.

BJH: Where did you attend Yeshiva and complete your education?

SR: My educational journey took me through several Yeshivas and Kollelim across the U.S. and Israel, including Tiferet Jerusalem (TJ), Mir Yeshiva, and Yeshiva Gedola of Greater Washington. Each Yeshiva imparted unique values and skills that shaped my character and work ethic. I pursued my MBA in Finance at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. This diverse background, coupled with growing up in a smaller community, has helped me relate to people from all walks of life and navigate challenges with an open mind and resourcefulness.

BJH: Where do you currently work, and what services do you offer?

SR: After an internship at T. Rowe Price, I joined NIV Advisors (formerly Premier Financial) as a Financial Advisor. At NIV, we provide personalized financial

guidance in a private, supportive setting. Our approach is built on four core pillars:

• Protection: Our insurance products, including life, disability, long term care, and health insurance provides a safety net that covers unexpected expenses and income loss.

• Retirement: We help clients plan for a secure retirement by setting up long-term savings strategies, such as 401(k)s and IRAs, helping them achieve financial freedom in later years.

• Savings and Investments: We guide clients in building wealth through smart savings and investments to reach both short- and long-term goals.

• Legacy and Estate Planning: We assist with strategies to pass on assets efficiently, often through wills, trusts, and charitable giving.

NIV Advisors’ mission is to empower clients to reach their financial and insurance goals with a clear, customized roadmap.

BJH: Could you elaborate on your involvement with the MHBE Consumer Decision Support Workgroup and the Maryland BAT Phone Program?

SR: This past year, I joined the MHBE Consumer Decision Support Workgroup, part of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. Our group focused on improving the tools that help consumers make informed health insurance decisions. Through our discussions with insurance providers and executives, we’ve developed strategies to make it easier for families to navigate their healthcare options effectively, especially during times like Open Enrollment.

In addition, I’m involved with the Maryland BAT Phone Program (Benefits Assistance Team). This initiative offers a direct support line for health insurance brokers and navigators, helping to resolve complex issues and clarify policies. It’s an incredible resource that bridges the gap between the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange and onthe-ground support, ensuring that consumers get the guidance they need

BJH: What initially interested you in a career in finance and insurance?

SR: I was drawn to finance and insurance because it’s a field where I can make a tangible difference in people’s lives. Navigating financial security and insurance can be intimidating, and I wanted to be a resource that helps others feel confident, informed and empowered.

BJH: What makes NIV Advisors unique?

SR: What sets NIV Advisors apart is our emphasis on a personalized approach. We offer our clients a supportive environment to discuss their needs, values, and long-term goals, with no pressure or sales tactics. Our team tailors every plan to the individual’s unique circumstances.

BJH: What is one recent professional achievement you are proud of?

SR: Being recognized as a top broker in Maryland on the individual health insurance marketplace was a significant honor. This acknowledgment reflects the commitment and dedication I strive to bring to my clients every day.

BJH: What’s the best advice you’ve received, and how has it impacted your career?

SR: The best advice I’ve received is to “approach every situation with empathy.” In finance and insurance, we work with people’s dreams, goals, and concerns. Leading with empathy has allowed me to build strong, trusting relationships and better understand my clients’ needs.

BJH: Why is it important to lock in insurance rates early, even on a tight budget?

SR: Locking in rates for life, disability, and long-term care insurance early is essential. As you age, rates rise significantly, and even health conditions like elevated weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, or diabetes can increase costs drastically. Starting early, even with a tight budget, ensures you secure fixed and lower rates and allow for long-term savings. We partner with many companies to create plans tailored to your specific financial goals. Taking action, even in your 20s or 30s can make a huge difference in the big picture!

BJH: Do you have any hobbies? Are you involved in any chesed or charitable initiatives?

SR: Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family. I’m a big fan of the outdoors, playing sports, and cheering for my hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. I go to shiurim and learn with my chavrusas. Giving back is important to me, and I’m involved in a number of charitable organizations. It’s rewarding to see the positive effect these initiatives have on our community.

To learn more about NIV Advisors, please contact Shlomo Rosenstein at shlomo@nivadvisors.com or call direct: 410-844-1141, office: 240-309-6001 #7. Our website is almost done with its rebranding, stay tuned!

The Week In News

The Week In News

Russia Updates Nuclear Doctrine

On Sunday, U.S. President Joe Biden granted Ukraine permission to strike targets deep inside Russia with American-made weapons. Two days later, Russian President Vladimir Putin updated Russia’s nuclear doctrine, declaring that Moscow will consider aggression from any non-nuclear state – but with the participation of a nuclear country – a joint attack on Russia.

Supposedly, Ukraine had fired the U.S.-made ATACMS missiles into the

Russian region of Bryansk. The attack, if confirmed, would mark the first such use by Ukraine since Biden gave the green light.

The Russian government had previously signaled that the U.S. approval would be a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine, now 1,000 days old.

In a phone call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted the changes mean that “the Russian Federation reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression using conventional weapons against it and/or the Republic of Belarus.”

“An important element of this document is that nuclear deterrence is aimed at ensuring that a potential adversary understands the inevitability of retaliation in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation or its allies,” Peskov said.

Russia has escalated its own campaign against Ukraine in recent days, blanketing the country with drone and missile attacks that seem aimed in part at destroying civilian energy infrastructure as winter approaches.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, it has lowered the threshold under which it would consider using nuclear weapons.

In a 2020 update to the nuclear doctrine – before the war began – Putin said Moscow reserves the right to use nuclear weapons “when the very existence of the state is threatened.”

But changes outlined in September this year appeared to lower that threshold, saying Moscow could use nuclear weapons when facing “a critical threat to its sovereignty.”

Tuesday’s decree refines the circumstances in which Russia might resort to nuclear weapons. It essentially restates and makes official the terms set out in September’s proposed revision, which said Moscow would consider any assault on it supported by a nuclear power to be a joint attack. This updates the list of conventional weaponry whose launch might constitute a critical threat, and specifies an attack on Belarus would be viewed on an equal footing to Russia.

Measles is Spreading

According to a statement by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Thursday, 2023

saw a 20% rise in measles cases, with about 10.3 million people contracting the deadly disease.

The year had a death toll of around 107,500, which mostly includes young children, a figure that the WHO and the CDC said was “unacceptable,” considering measles is easily prevented with one or two doses of a highly effective vaccine. The first dose is 93% effective, while the second dose is 97% effective.

Measles has mostly been eradicated from the world, with 82 countries seeing no cases over the past half a century. However, due to misinformation about the vaccine’s safety, some have elected to skip vaccinating their children, thus creating a major uptick in cases. Additionally, poorer countries may have a difficult time accessing the vaccine. According to the WHO and CDC, 83% of children received their first measles vaccine dose in 2023, while just

ATTENTION

BAIS YAAKOV GIRLS

GRADES

74% got their second dose. In all, over 22 million kids were not vaccinated. In the U.S., the measles vaccination rate dropped to 92.7% for kindergarteners in the 2023-24 school year.

In 2024, the U.S. has seen 266 confirmed cases of measles and 16 outbreaks as of November, the CDC said. Globally, there was a 60% increase in the number of major measles outbreaks in 2023, with 57 countries experiencing significant outbreaks, as opposed to just 36 countries in 2022. Almost half of the outbreaks took place in Africa.

2023 also had an 8% drop in measles deaths compared to 2022 because the outbreaks occurred in places where children were well-fed and had access to health care. According to research, malnourished or diseased children who have weak immune systems are more at risk of dying from measles. According to the CDC, up to 3 out of every 1,000 children who get measles could pass away from respiratory and neurologic complications.

Measles symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, watery eyes, and a rash of red spots. The disease, however, could cause lifelong issues, especially in babies and children. For example, measles can cause pneumonia, brain damage, and blindness.

“Measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General. “To save even more lives and stop this deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable, we must invest in immunization for every person, no matter where they live.”

“I think we have a very short memory of what it is like to hold a child who has been paralyzed with polio or to comfort a mom who’s lost her kid from measles,” said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen. “We need to remember that the reason we have these childhood vaccines is to make sure that we are the strongest, the healthiest that we can be as a community.”

The ISS is

Leaking

NASA is becoming increasingly concerned about a leak in a Russian module in the International Space Station. While Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, acknowledges the issue, it disagrees with NASA about the prob-

lem’s severity and cause.

In order for the space laboratory, which is the size of a football field, to safely host a team of astronauts, it must be pressurized and filled with breathable gasses.

Five years ago, in 2019, leaks were initially discovered in a tunnel that connects the Zvezda, a room for Russian astronauts, with a docking port frequented by spacecraft bearing gifts such as cargo and supplies. Now, the leaks have, according to the United States, become too problematic to ignore. The U.S. views the problem as the space station’s greatest one, as it could potentially endanger the crew, a new report from NASA’s Office of Inspector General revealed.

According to NASA astronaut and ISS Advisory Committee chairman Bob Cabana, while NASA “has expressed concerns about the structural integrity of the (leaking module) and the possibility of a catastrophic failure,” Roscosmos “does not believe catastrophic disintegration … is realistic.”

“The Russians believe that continued operations are safe — but they can’t prove that to our satisfaction,” Cabana said. “And the U.S. believes that it’s not safe, but we can’t prove that to the Russian satisfaction.”

A September meeting between the U.S. and Russia was successful, according to Cabana, but it did not resolve the disagreements between the two parties. Thus, the U.S. has moved to appoint independent experts to assess the problem and report back to the two space agencies, though Russia has yet to do the same.

In the meantime, the crew has adopted certain precautionary measures, including sealing off the leaking segment except when cargo arrives at the dock, in which case, the module is opened but the hatch that separates the U.S. and Russian areas of the station are shuttered, according to Michael Barratt, a NASA astronaut.

“We’ve taken a very conservative approach,” Barratt said. “It’s not a

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The Week In

comfortable thing, but it is the best agreement between all of the smart people on both sides — and it’s something that we as a crew live with.”

According to a statement by NASA released Thursday, the cracks that are likely causing the leaks are “very small, not visible with the naked eye, and have brackets and pipelines near them, making it difficult to get diagnostic tools into these areas.”

Cabana added that the U.S. and Russia disagree about what’s causing the issue. Russia says that vibrations –perhaps caused by certain mechanical systems, including those used for energy storage – are taking a toll on the ISS’s walls, leading to a phenomenon of “high cycle fatigue.” U.S. officials, on the other hand, say that other factors are at play, including mechanical stress, environmental exposure, and “residual stress.”

Both parties agree that the module where the leak is may have to be permanently closed if the leak rate goes to an “untenable” level. However, NASA and Roscosmos disagree on what could be considered “untenable.”

Japanese Princess Dies at 101

Japanese Princess Yuriko, the wife of wartime Emperor Hirohito’s brother and the oldest member of the imperial family, died on Friday at the age of 101.

Yuriko was born in 1923; she married Prince Mikasa at the age of 18 a few months before the start of World War II. Mikasa was the younger brother of Hirohito and the uncle of current Emperor Naruhito.

prewar family values, allows only males to take the throne and forces female royal family members who marry commoners to lose their royal status.

The youngest male member of the imperial family, Prince Hisahito — the nephew of Emperor Naruhito — is currently the last heir apparent, posing a major problem for a system that doesn’t allow empresses.

According to the Imperial Household Agency, Yuriko was active before suffering a stroke and pneumonia earlier this year. She would exercise in the morning while watching a daily fitness program on television and read multiple newspapers and magazines. She also enjoyed watching news and baseball on TV. On sunny days, she sat in the palace garden or was wheeled in her wheelchair.

Iran Tries to Assassinate Irwin Cotler

According to reports, Irwin Cotler, a Jewish jurist and former Canadian justice minister and attorney general, was the target of a foiled assassination attempt by Iranian agents. The attempt was thwarted by Canadian officials, who had warned Cotler of the imminent threat of assassination within 48 hours.

She recounted living in a shelter with her husband and their baby daughter after their residence was burned down in the U.S. fire bombings of Tokyo in the final months of the war in 1945. The couple had five children together. Her husband and her three sons are no longer alive.

Yuriko’s death reduces Japan‘s rapidly dwindling imperial family to 16 people, including four men, as the country faces the dilemma of how to maintain the royal family while conservatives in the governing party insist on retaining male-only succession.

The 1947 Imperial House Law, which largely preserves conservative

Two suspects were being tracked by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who could not confirm or deny whether the alleged attempted assassins were arrested or were still in Canada.

Since October 7, the RCMP elected to protect Cotler 24/7 with armed guards and armored vehicles. In 2008, Cotler became a sworn enemy of Iran when he began insisting that the Is-

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lamic Revolutionary Guard Corps should be recognized as a terror group. A strong supporter of Israel, Cotler condemned the International Criminal Court for seeking arrest warrants for both Israeli and Hamas officials, which he said serves as a “false moral and legal equivalence.”

“Because the ICC, which I have been a longtime supporter of and remain a supporter of, is being prejudiced in this way, it ends up regrettably prejudicing not only the international justice system in singling out the Israeli leadership but also contributes to the overall weaponization of international law and international institutions,” Cotler said.

The attempt on Cotler’s life may be tied to a recent Iranian plot in New York, where operatives were supposed to abduct and assassinate an Iranian-American journalist. The FBI informed him that his name came up in the investigation.

Khamenei is Sick

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is 85 years old. On Sun-

day, it was reported that he was gravely ill. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was secretly chosen to take over his father.

A report by Iran International suggests that Mojtaba could assume the role even before his father’s death.

The supreme leader is traditionally selected by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body elected every eight years by the public but vetted by the Guardian Council, whose members are directly or indirectly appointed by the supreme leader.

Speculation over Khamenei’s successor intensified in May after a helicopter crash involving former President Ebrahim Raisi, who had been considered the frontrunner for the role. While Raisi had not denied ambitions for the position, the crash is believed to

have altered the political landscape.

Mojtaba Khamenei, a cleric like his father, was born in Mashhad and is married with two children. He served in the Iran-Iraq War during the 1980s, forging ties with individuals who would later become prominent figures in Iran’s security apparatus, including Hossein Taeb, a senior official in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Over the years, Mojtaba has drawn international attention. In 2019, the United States accused him of collaborating closely with the IRGC and the Basij, a paramilitary volunteer force under the IRGC, to further his father’s destabilizing regional ambitions.

Within Iran, Mojtaba has faced allegations of suppressing dissent. In 2009, he backed Taeb, then the Basij commander, in the violent crackdown on Green Movement protesters. He was also targeted by demonstrators during the protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, who died in custody after being detained by the morality police for allegedly failing to properly wear her hijab.

Critics in Iran say that Mojtaba lacks

the religious credentials and managerial experience to succeed his father. Some clerics and commentators have dismissed the idea of dynastic succession as un-Islamic, likening it to monarchy.

There are other people who are possible candidates to take over for Khamenei, including cleric and politician Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri and cleric Ali Reza Arafi. Former President Hassan Rouhani and Sadeq Larijani, the former judiciary chief, have also been named as having ambitions for the role.

Families of Oct. 7 Victims Sue Iran

On Sunday, relatives of those killed in the October 7 massacre and those murdered in the war that ensued thereafter filed a lawsuit against Iran in a

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United States federal court in Washington, D.C., referencing several uncovered documents that prove the Islamic Republic played an integral role in orchestrating October 7, the tragic day when the Hamas terror group stormed southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others, over 100 of whom remain in Gaza.

The plaintiffs referenced a document from a meeting held in 2022 by several Hamas officials, including then-leader Yahya Sinwar and Khalil al-Hayya. The document spoke about a potential defense agreement between Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the event of war. Hamas specifically requested a monthly payment of $7 million each month from Iran, which would help the terror group carry out the October 7 attacks.

The lawsuit also singles out Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

One document shows that Hamas’ then-political leader, Ismail Hainyeh, told Sinwar that the terror group should boost its relationships with

Iran, Hezbollah, and Syria and should also focus on “strengthening our ties with Russia and forming strong relationships with Algeria, while simultaneously maintaining our existing ties with Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt.”

“It has been concluded that a clear message must be conveyed to A-Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah that if Iran or the resistance in Lebanon would face a war in the future, we, the Hamas Movement and the Al-Qassam, are fully prepared to participate, in full force, in those battles,” says one of the documents.

“Moreover, in that same message, if a confrontation erupts between us and the occupation [Israel] on the future of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, and if an open confrontation results…what is needed is for the Axis of Resistance to intervene, headed by the [Hezbollah] and other factions [Iraq, Yemen, and Syria].

“It is up to the [Islamic] Republic to decide whether to participate, and we haven’t set this as a condition for it, but it is of paramount importance that the [Hezbollah] take an active role,” wrote Marwan Issa, Hamas’ third-in-command, who was later killed by Israel.

Issa’s plans materialized, with Hezbollah and the Houthis joining in on the fighting.

Another document shows that Iran paid Hamas terror chiefs somewhere between $12 million to $48 million. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified financial compensation.

This isn’t the first time families of October 7 victims have sued Iran. In February 2024, 67 people sued the Islamic Republic over its “direct responsibility” in orchestrating the October 7 massacre.

U.S. Honors Pilots Who Helped Israel

In April, Iran launched over 300 missiles and drones at Israel in response to the killing of two senior army generals in a Damascus strike that Tehran blamed on Israel. Israeli air defenses intercepted the missiles. A U.S.-led coalition of regional forces including British and French warplanes, worked with the Israelis to help provide cover. A few missiles made it through

the defenses, causing very minor damage at an air base, while a young Bedouin girl was seriously injured by falling shrapnel from an interception.

Recently, the U.S. Air Force honored pilots, aircrews and support personnel who helped thwart the massive Iranian-led rocket and drone attack on Israel.

Airmen from the 494th Fighter Squadron and 494 Fighter Generation Squadron were recognized for their activities in intercepting the hundreds of attack drones and rockets fired by Iran and from Yemen at Israel on April 1314. The ceremony was held at Britain’s Royal Air Force Lakenheath station. For the first time, a woman serving in the American Air Force was decorated with a Silver Star, the force’s third-highest award for valor.

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the first woman in the U.S. Air Force to receive the honor and only the 10th woman in the Department of Defense to have the decoration.

F-15E jets from RAF Lakenheath were “vital during the fight that intercepted and engaged aerial threats” and “fought in the largest air-to-air enemy engagement in over 50 years,” a statement said.

The jets, which are based in the UK but had been deployed to the U.S. Central Command’s region of responsibility, which includes Israel, flew 154 sorties during the night.

The ceremony saw Air Force members receive “two Silver Stars, six Distinguished Flying Crosses with the valor device, four Distinguished Flying Crosses with the combat device, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars Medals, seven Air and Space Commendation Medals and seven Air and Space Achievement Medals,” the statement said.

The pair of stars went to F-15E instructor pilot U.S. Air Force Maj. Benjamin Coffey and Hester.

“The team engaged the enemy multiple times throughout the night despite having severe aircraft emergencies and while under falling debris at the expeditionary base caused by hostile fire from the enemy,” the statement said.

“Additionally, at great personal risk, Coffey and Hester engaged low-altitude one-way attack UAVs in the complete darkness of night with the air-to-air gatling gun of the F-15E after they expended all their air-to-air missiles,” it explained.

“We all fell into an execution rhythm: call, shoot, and confirm the target was destroyed before we moved on to the next task we had to accomplish to keep everyone safe,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Timothy Causey, the 494th Fighter Squadron commander.

Hezbollah Has Russian Weapons

According to the Wall Street Journal, IDF soldiers have found loads of Russian weapons in Hezbollah’s possession in southern Lebanon.

Some of the weapons were manufactured as recently as 2020, such as Kornet anti-tank missiles, which were transported from Russia, through Syria, and into southern Lebanon in recent years.

According to the report, Israeli military leaders were aware that Hezbollah possessed Russian-made weapons, but the ground operation allowed Israel’s defense establishment to uncover the extent to which Russian-made arms were supplied to Hezbollah.

Israel has not been able to access areas of southern Lebanon since 2006 and was not aware of Hezbollah’s capabilities, thinking that the terror group possessed Soviet-era weapons, which were less sophisticated. Now, Israel is finding more advanced, newer, and larger numbers of Russian weaponry in southern Lebanon, which have allowed Hezbollah to continue to attack Israel, military analysts told the Wall Street Journal.

Kornet anti-tank missiles are frequently used in attacks against IDF soldiers.

Other Russian-made weapons seized by Israel in southern Lebanon reportedly include guided anti-tank missile systems, such as Metis, Konkurs, Fagots, and Saggers. These weapons were found less than a kilometer inside of southern Lebanon.

Additionally, according to the report, 60-70% of the weapons seized by Israel during the beginning of the operation were Russian-made.

U.S. Sanctions Settlement Org.

This week, the Biden administration sanctioned the Amana association, the settlement movement’s main development organization.

Amana is a key organization within the settler movement that has funded and assisted the establishment of numerous cities and villages in Judea and Samaria.

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While the impact of the move was likely blunted by this month’s election of Donald Trump, who may well reverse such sanctions, it still sends a signal to other Western countries that have already followed the U.S. in imposing similar sanctions against Israelis in the area for the past year. Amana was already sanctioned by the UK and Canada earlier this year.

The sanctions block any Amana assets based in U.S. and crucially prevent U.S.-based institutions, including Israeli banks, from providing services to the organization. They also bar U.S. citizens and organizations from donating to it.

Along with Amana, the U.S. State Department announced that Binyanei Bar Amana, a subsidiary of the association, had been designated by the Treasury Department, along with a smaller

sanctions, accusing the Biden administration of “interfering in an entirely domestic Israeli zoning issue.”

The head of the Yesha umbrella settlement organization, Yisrael Ganz, also condemned the sanctions, accusing the administration of “strengthening the axis of evil” and acting “against the Bible.”

In total, 17 individuals and 16 entities have been sanctioned through an executive order signed by U.S. President Joe Biden last February, which allowed the U.S. to target those “destabilizing” Judea and Samaria.

can College of Cardiology. Researchers looked at data from almost 90,000 people who wore an accelerometer for a week and compared their sedentary and active time with later diagnoses of conditions like stroke, heart attack and heart failure in later years.

Not only was more sedentary time associated with greater risk for cardiovascular disease, but the data was able to show a general guideline for what might count as too much sitting, according to

as many people as possible avoid sitting more than 10.6 hours a day,” Ajufo said. “That’s not a hard and fast threshold, but we think it’s a reasonable first step for guidelines and public health intervention.”

Scientists caution that this study was not as far-reaching as could be, as it included mainly people of white and European ancestry. It also was observational, which means that while it can make associations, it can’t prove that the sitting was the cause of the heart disease.

Researchers advise that people should add movement into their day, walking around every half hour or after they finish an important task.

Ajufo noted that it’s important to walk around to break up the periods of sitting and not just getting your exercise at the end of the day.

The Week In News

Russian Hacker Brought to U.S.

Evgenii Ptitsyn is accused of administering the sale, distribution and operation of Phobos, a type of ransomware that has been used in more than 1,000 ransomware attacks on public and private organizations. The 42-year-old Russian was extradited from South Korea to the U.S. to face charges in connection to a ransomware gang that allegedly extorted more than $16 million from victims around the world.

Last year, ransomware operatives using Phobos extorted a North Carolina-based children’s hospital for about $100,000 and a California-based public school system for about $300,000, according to the indictment.

Along with his co-conspirators, Ptitsyn — who was known by the online handles “derxan” and “zimmermanx” at times — developed Phobos and offered access to the ransomware to other criminals in exchange

ing an effort to combat the rampant plague of ransomware, which has caused many millions of dollars in losses for American companies, schools and hospitals.

“The Justice Department is committed to leveraging the full range of our international partnerships to combat the threats posed by ransomware like Phobos,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Evgenii Ptitsyn allegedly extorted millions of dollars of ransom payments from thousands of victims and now faces justice in the United States thanks to the hard work and ingenuity of law enforcement agencies around the world — from the Republic of Korea to Japan to Europe and finally to Baltimore, Maryland.”

Cybercriminals extorted a record $1.1 billion in ransom payments from victim organizations around the world last year despite U.S. government efforts to cut off their money flows.

Arthur Frommer

plore the world. This week, pioneering travel guidebook writer Arthur Frommer died at the age of 95.

Frommer was born in Virginia in 1929 and attended Yale Law School. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. His love of travel and languages inspired him to write and self-publish a guidebook for fellow GIs. That guidebook became so popular that he decided to write a guidebook for the masses: “Europe on $5 a Day.”

He founded Frommer’s in 1957. The company began as a series of guidebooks, then expanded through the decades to include online content, newsletters, podcasts and more. He continued to write, travel, publish, speak at conferences and give interviews into his 90s.

For Frommer, travel was more than

just sleeping in nice hotels.

In an essay titled “How Travel Changed My Life,” he wrote: “Travel has taught me that despite all the exotic differences in dress and language, of political and religious beliefs, that all the world’s people are essentially alike. We all have the same urges and concerns, we all yearn for the same goals.”

In 2012, Google bought the Frommer’s brand, only to sell it back to Arthur a year later.

Arthur’s daughter Pauline Frommer is the co-president of FrommerMedia and editorial director of Frommer’s Guidebooks.

“Throughout his remarkable life, Arthur Frommer democratized travel, showing average Americans how anyone can afford to travel widely and better understand the world,” she wrote in the announcement of her father’s death.

“Travel makes it impossible to pay no heed to the sufferings of others simply because they are far away,” Arthur wrote in “How Travel Changed My Life.” “It erases distance and makes you a more sensitive citizen of the world, yearning for peace everywhere.”

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Shacharis

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

Neitz Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] M-F

Ohel Yakov S-F

6:00 AM Shomrei Emunah Congregation M-F

6:10 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, Th

6:15 AM Kol Torah M, TH

Shearith Israel Congregation M, TH

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei IsraelM, TH

6:20 AM Agudah of Greenspring M, TH

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S-F

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M-F

Kehilath B'nai Torah M, TH

Pikesville Jewish CongregationM, TH

Shomrei Emunah CongregationS, M, TH

6:25 AM The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei IsraelT, W, F

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

Chabad of Park Heights M-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Kehilath B'nai Torah T, W, F

Khal Bais Nosson M-F

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek M-F

Kol Torah T, W, F

Ohr Yisroel M-F

Pikesville Jewish CongregationT, W, F

Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Emunah CongregationT, W, F

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

Ohel Moshe M, TH

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

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationM, TH

6:45 AM B”H and Mesivta of Baltimore (Dirshu Minyan) S-F

Beth Abraham M, TH

Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue M-F

Ner Tamid M-F

Ohel Moshe T, W, F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim M-F

6:50 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] M, TH

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh M, TH

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationT, W, F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh M, TH

Derech Chaim M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah CongregationM, TH

The Shul at the Lubavitch CenterM, TH

6:55 AM Beth Abraham T, W, F

Kol Torah M, TH

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

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's)S

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh T, W, F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh T, W, F Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue S Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach TzedekS

Kol Torah T, W, F

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah M-F

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

Shearith Israel Congregation S, M, TH

Shomrei Emunah CongregationT, W, F

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh M-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch CenterT, W, F Tiferes Yisroel M-F

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

7:15 AM Kedushas Yisrael S Kol Torah S

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S, T, W, F

Ner Israel Rabbinical College S-F

Baltimore Weekday Minyanim Guide

Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Emunah CongregationS

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei IsraelS

Tzeirei Anash M-F

7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Beth Tfiloh Congregation M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah CongregationM, TH

7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] S

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore S-F

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh S

Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationS

Chabad of Park Heights S

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe AryehS-F

Darchei Tzedek S

Kedushas Yisrael S-F

Khal Bais Nosson S

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) S-F

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

Shomrei Emunah CongregationT, W, F

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

Talmudical Academy S-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Mesivta Kesser Torah S-F

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim S-F

7:50 AM Derech Chaim S

Ner Tamid S

Ohel Moshe M-F

8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Beth Abraham S

Chabad Israeli Center M-F

Darchei Tzedek S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach TzedekS

Kehillas Meor HaTorah S

Ohr Yisroel S

Pikesville Jewish CongregationS

Shearith Israel Congregation S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch CenterS

Tiferes Yisroel S Tzeirei Anash S

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah S-F

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

8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

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

8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Chabad Israeli Center S

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Shomrei Mishmeres HakodeshS

9:00 AM Aish Kodesh S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S

Beth Tfiloh Congregation S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationS

Moses Montefiore Anshe EmunahS

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F

Mincha

Mincha

Gedolah Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek

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

Mincha

continued

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

10055 Red Run Blvd Suite 295

Milk & Honey Bistro 1777 Reisterstown RD

1:25 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

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

1:45 PM Ohel Moshe

Wealcatch Insurance

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

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

Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room

Kol Torah

Market Maven

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Reischer Minyan - 23 Walker Ave 2nd Floor

2:15 PM Pikesville Beis Medrash - 15 Walker Ave

2:30 PM Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan

Ner Israel Rabbinical College

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)

Shearith Israel Congregation

2:45 PM Kollel of Greenspring

Shearith Israel Congregation (S-Th)

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

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

3:05 PM Kedushas Yisrael

3:15 PM Hat Box

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

3:30PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

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

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

10 Min Before ShkiAh Chabad Israeli Center

14 Min Before ShkiAh Kol Torah

Mincha/Maariv

Before Shkiah

Aish Kodesh

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Agudah of Greenspring

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Beth Abraham

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation

Darchei Tzedek

Kehillas Meor HaTorah

Kehilath B’nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill’s)

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Ner Tamid

Ohel Moshe

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]

Ohr Yisroel

Pikesville Jewish Congregation

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Shomrei Mishmeres

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center

Tiferes Yisroel

Maariv

Maariv continued

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

8:55 PM Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

9:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Arugas Habosem

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

9:20 PM Kol Torah

9:30 PM Agudah of Greenspring

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Kedushas Yisrael

9:40 PM Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi]

9:45 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Kollel Erev Birchas Yitzchok (Luries)

Kollel of Greenspring

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's)

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah

9:50 PM Aish Kodesh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Ohel Moshe

10:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Darchei Tzedek

Kehilath B'nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

10:05 PM Kol Torah

10:10 PM Ner Israel Rabbinical College

10:15 PM Derech Chaim

Khal Bais Nosson

10:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

11:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

11:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Agudah of Greenspring - 6107 Greenspring Ave

Agudath Israel of Baltimore - 6200 Park Heights Ave

Ahavat Shalom - 3009 Northbrook Rd

Aish Kodesh - 6207 Ivymount Rd

Arugas HaBosem - 3509 Clarks Ln

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim - 3120 Clarks Ln

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore - 6823 Old Pimlico Rd

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh - 6618 Deancroft Rd

Beit Yaakov - 3615 Seven Mile Ln

Beth Abraham - 6208 Wallis Ave

Beth Tfiloh Congregation - 3300 Old Court Rd

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation - 6602 Park Heights Ave

Chabad Israeli Center - 7807 Seven Mile Ln

Chabad of Park Heights - 3402 Clarks Ln

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh - 3800 Labyrinth Rd

Darchei Tzedek - 3201 Seven Mile Ln

Derech Chaim - 6229 Greenspring Ave (Weekday)

Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue 6611 Greenspring Ave.

Kedushas Yisrael - 6004 Park Heights Ave

Kehilath B’nai Torah - 6301 Green Meadow Pkwy

Kehillas Meor HaTorah - 6539 Pebble Brooke Rd

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek - 6811 Park Heights Ave

Khal Bais Nosson - 2901 Taney Rd

Kol Torah - 2929 Fallstaff Rd

Kollel of Greenspring - 6504 Greenspring Ave.

Machzikei Torah - 6216 Biltmore Ave

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah - 6500 Baythorne Rd

Mesivta Kesser Torah - 8400 Park Heights Ave

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim - 3702 Fords Ln

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah - 7000 Rockland Hills Dr

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

Ner Israel Rabbinical College - 400 Mt Wilson Ln

Ner Tamid - 6214 Pimlico Road

Ohel Moshe - 2808 Smith Ave

Ohel Yakov - 3200 Glen Ave

Ohr Chadash Academy - 7310 Park Heights Avenue

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] - 6813 Park Heights Ave

Ohr Yisroel - 2429 Lightfoot Dr

Pikesville Jewish Congregation - 7644 Carla Rd

Shearith Israel Congregation - 5835 Park Heights Ave

6:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

6:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

7:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

7:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

8:00

PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Kol Torah

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

8:30

8:45

PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

PM Darchei Tzedek

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina)

Ohr Yisroel

Shomrei Emunah Congregation - 6221 Greenspring Ave

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh - 2821 W Strathmore Ave

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim - 7504 Seven Mile Ln

Talmudical Academy - 4445 Old Court Rd

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel - 5915 Park Heights Ave

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center - 6701 Old Pimlico Rd

Tiferes Yisroel - 6201 Park Heights Ave

Tzeirei Anash - 6706 Cross County Blvd

Wealcatch Insurance

Bais Yaakov Exhibit 2024

By: Judy Landman

The Baltimore/Washington communities are in for a visual and educational treat coming January 2025! Once again, Bais Yaakov of Baltimore’s high school is getting ready for their quadrennial Exhibit; a showcase of incredible proportions designed, produced and assembled by students under the guidance of their dedicated staff. It is a feast for the eyes and mind with creative and beautiful displays featuring a breadth of knowledge.

Exhibit was born in 1995, as an activity for visiting students, when it coincided with the Bais Yaakov Convention, a gathering of Bais Yaakovs from across North America. The Convention is no longer hosted in Baltimore; however, Exhibit was such a success that it continues every four years. Each

Exhibit has a different theme which is researched extensively. Students then transform the school into a live and active museum with stunning works of art in all sorts of mediums. Often the most mundane of materials is used to create a montage of beauty related to the theme. The humble cork, thumbtack or match stick is unrecognizable as it becomes part of a bigger picture; a portrait of a tzadik, or a map of Europe, etc. It is incredible to see the extent of creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Enter the high school hallway and you have entered another world. It is breathtaking.

I attended Exhibit 2021 which portrayed Jewish life around the world. Entitled “Journey through the Generations,” Exhibit’s sights and sounds from across time and around the globe mesmerized me. Art brought history to life in a tangible way. On a personal level, I took great pride in the accuracy of the depiction of the room that was dedicated to my roots, Hungary! Having been there many times, I was more than pleasantly surprised to see models of famous sights like the Chain Bridge and the shoe memorial by the Danube River dedicated to those killed in the Holocaust. I was so very proud of the docents, the students, who led the tours and were eager to answer any questions with poise and confidence.

I am not the only proud one. When speaking with Rabbi Zweig, the Menahel of Bais Yaakov High School, I could hear his emotion through the phone. He told me that this project leaves an indelible impression on the students. He gets tremendous nachas from seeing the girls working side by side, along with teachers and parents, who are just as excited as their children! Many parents generously volunteer their nights and skills to help with drilling, hanging and other jobs. This involvement helps forge a close home-school relationship which he feels is very much a part of the Bais Yaakov of Baltimore experience. The more a student is actively involved in her education, the greater the everlasting impact. Many students concur that Exhibit was the best part of their high school experience.

Mrs. Elise Wolf, English Studies principal, notes how teachers also express their positive feelings toward this great endeavor as they are assigned to different rooms/subjects to assist the girls. They see first-hand the excitement and dedication, as well as the team building and conflict resolution and valuable life skills that Exhibit engenders. They feel privileged to watch the creation of “something from nothing” not only personally but through the lens of their students, a very powerful

and galvanizing chinuch experience.

As an alumna who attended Bais Yaakov when Rabbi Steinberg, Rabbi Diskind and Rabbi Freedman, zt”l, were alive, I well remember how they encouraged us to participate in what we call liberal arts. Performances and shows (including a poetry play in the 4th grade!) punctuated our school experience. Rabbi Steinberg considered this a crucial part of our education and is warmly remembered waiting outside our concerts and plays, pacing back and forth and asking parents how the show was going.

Exhibit is a microcosm of the well-rounded and inclusive education the students at Bais Yaakov receive. I encourage you to attend the upcoming Exhibit featuring the Yamim Tovim which not only shape our calendar but give meaning to our lives.

Come see for yourself the “Splendor of the Seasons.” Come and experience the splendor that is Bais Yaakov of Baltimore.

“Lechu V’Nelcha”.

Judy Landman is a proud alumna of Bais Yaakov of Baltimore. She is the author of the book Seasons of the Rain available on Amazon. Please e-mail her at seasonsoftherain@gmail.com to write about your event!

Torah Thought Stop, Look And Listen

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

There is a pivotal moment in the story of the selection of Rivka as a wife for Yitzchok, where Eliezer, who has been constantly referred to until then as the דבע, the servant of Avraham, suddenly transitions into the nobler appellation of איש, the ‘man’, a term connoting dignity and stature.

שיאהו — The man was astonished at her, reflecting silently to know whether G-d had made his journey successful or not. (אכ דכ תישארב)

Eliezer had carefully crafted a script regarding his expected encounter with a maiden at the well that if it were to unfold precisely as he devised it, would serve as an omen that she was the bride destined for Yitzchok. Everything eventually plays out exactly according to his plan. It is Eliezer’s astonishment at that juncture, which the verse is depicting. Perhaps it is the validation of his initiative that affirms his newly obtained status as a ‘man’. Truth is though that the ‘omen’ wasn’t confirmed at that point, as he hadn’t yet determined her actual identity until a bit later.

The label of being a דבע, a servant, more specifically implies being enslaved, limited in freedom to choose. Whether we are physically in bondage or not, we are nevertheless ‘slaves’ to the drives, ambitions and anxieties that capture our attention and manipulate our emotions.

Worry stifles our ability to think clearly and we often feel chained by our fears. Disappointment as well, often defeats us and prevents us from motivating ourselves after experiencing failure.

Expectations too, can also distract us from sensing the joys along the journey of life, when our obsession to succeed focuses all of our energies on the goal at the expense of enjoying the experience.

Eliezer undertook a mission of cosmic import. The task of selecting a wife appropriate for the ‘unblemished sacrifice’, Yitzchok, from whom the entire history of mankind would hinge on, certainly weighed heavily on the shoulders of Avraham’s loyal servant, Eliezer. We can only imagine the pressure he felt in carrying out this mission. The fear of failure coupled with the anxiety to bring it to its successful conclusion, would befuddle the psyche of the greatest of servants.

Even more potentially disheartening to Eliezer was the dashing of his lifelong hope that his daughter would merit to be the worthy bride of Yitzchok. Remember that Eliezer had served his master, Avraham, for more than sixty-five years. During that time he became so identified with his teacher, in character and spiritual attainment, that he is described as being a ‘spitting image’ of Avraham. Terrible disillusionment could have plagued Eliezer when he was shunned, despite his obvious sterling stature, and told that, no, he wouldn’t become the mechutan of Avraham.

How did Eliezer muster the emotional strength in conquering these powerful inner forces?

The Targum Unkelos on this verse describes with more specificity the stages of reaction Eliezer processed, translating the words as: קיתש לכתסמ הב יהש, he waited, gazed, and was silent.

Although clearly overwhelmed with the excitement of success, rather than plodding eagerly forward he delays, he stops for a moment, holding his emotions back. He then ‘gazes’, intimating his maintaining a contemplative consciousness of the moment and its import. Finally he is utterly silent, absorbing the experience and allowing it to linger rather than seek to immediately bring it to fruition just yet.

Eliezer knew that whether the mission would succeed or not didn’t detract from the fact that something remarkable was taking place and clearly orchestrated from on high. Although there was still a chance that this maiden wasn’t from the family of Avraham, and the distinct possibility that it may end in failure, it was still a moment to relish.

Do we ever truly know whether our successes are to our benefit, or our failures are to our detriment? What matters most is being aware and thrilled that we are constantly being guided by the loving hand of Providence.

When one digests this idea properly, one is prevented from destructive overzealousness in achieving our goals, nor demolished when things fail to live up to our expectations. Anxiety has no place when we sense the presence of the Divine.

Might I suggest, that the verse isn’t describing Eliezer’s astonished anticipation of success as it would superficially seem. Rather the verse should be read as follows:

שיאהו — The man

הל האתשמ — was astonished,

תעדל שירחמ — silencing his need to know,

וכרד 'ד חילצהה — whether he would achieve success

אל םא — or not.

This former servant, who was vulnerable to the shackles of anxiety, expectation and disappointment, implemented the secret to emotional freedom. He took a moment to stop, and not be overtaken by the blind drive for success. He then made sure to look and observe the import of this instant that was due to the ministrations from Above. He then displayed utter silence, to listen carefully, not allowing his instinctive urges to interfere, and instead relish the joy of the experience and the reality of G-d’s presence engaged so personally with him.

Eliezer was now totally freed and truly deserving of the title, שיא, a ‘man’ so at one with his Creator, unfettered

from the pinions of distorted emotions.

The Midrash in interpreting this unusual moment of האתשמ, astonishment, describes how Eliezer was, טיבמו ץמצממ, squinting to see. (םש

The extraordinary Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, points out something fascinating.

When a person is in pain one instinctively squints or shuts one’s eyes. Why?

When a person wants to perceive an object that is far away, he squints to better focus his vision. When there is an overwhelming amount of light we squint to filter out the extraneous light. Squinting eliminates the ‘distractions’ that compete for one’s sight. Sometimes though when pain reaches a certain level of intensity, one must look even further to the ultimate future to ‘see’ the purpose of that pain. (ג

The word האתשמ in its simplest meaning is rooted in the word ההש, to wait.

The first step to regaining healthy perspective is to gain hold of ‘one’s horses’, the raging emotions that overwhelm our spiritual retina.

The next step is to relish the moment, to proverbially squint or if necessary close our eyes completely, and appreciate the journey on the train of Providence we are on.

The word האתשמ, has within it the letters that spell out: םש אהת, be there, emphasizing the need to live and enthuse every moment.

Finally we must sense and be conscious of His loving presence in our successes and failures alike.

In this word also lay the letters that spell out: םשה תא, with G-d, to remain ever cognizant that He is always there cheering us on!

Be a ‘man’ and shed the shackles of slavery to your blind ambitions and distorted emotions.

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

PARSHA

OVERVIEW

The Matriarch, Sarah Imeinu, passes away. Avraham Avinu purchases the Cave of Machpeila as a burial plot. Eliezer finds a wife for Yitzchak (Rivka). Avraham remarries. Avraham passes away at the age of 175. The Torah delineates the descendants of Yishmael.

TSorahparks

Inspiration Everywhere

Parshas Chayei Sarah on

“Judaism...is a faith that values intellectual honesty and moral truthfulness above all things.”

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt”l

GEMATRIA

The Gemarah says לכה

ןאכ . On some level, it could be teaching us: If I am here, then EVERYTHING is here. In other words, we must give each situation our ALL. This was םהרבא ’s middah. It so happens,

(

is the same gematria as (300)

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

Pesukim - 105

QUICK VORT

Rav Moshe Shternbuch zt”l says an absolutely fascinating pshat to explain why Sarah Imeinu was in pain when she heard of the “death” of her son.

He explains that greater than dying םשה שודיק לע which occurs in only a moment, is TO LIVE םשה שודיק לע which spans many moments.

When Sarah Imeinu heard that her son died, she was in pain over the fact that Yitzchak will no longer be able to LIVE םשה

The mo st important thing that we can do is to dedicate each and every day of our lives to the Master of the Universe.

It is incumbent upon us to LIVE לע םשה

and become the best

ה that we can possibly become.

The Slonimer Rebbe, the Nesivos Shalom, explains that Avraham Avinu connected to the Torah even though the Torah wasn’t given yet.

And he understood the Torah wants a person to “despise gifts,” as such, he offered to pay in full so as to avoid a matanah!

Queen Esther ruled over 127 countries, which, the Midrash tells us, corresponds directly to the 127 years of her great great great (etc...) grandmother, Sarah Imeinu.

What is the connection between these two great women?

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CONNECT to Hashem constantly throughout your day PERCEIVE your worth and value UTILIZE life circumstances for growth and connection

internal conflicts

FOUNDATIONS. IGNITE. INSPIRE. INVEST. The Foundations Program guides girls and women to realize their spiritual potential as unique members of Klal Yisroel through an interactive curriculum. A 9 session course for the women of the community that will change your mindset towards your spiritual life!

your relationships

Afikomen Present Tech Triumphs

As told to Rebbetzin Sara Gross

Ithink it’s a fact of life that mothers are embarrassing to their daughters. I don’t know how it goes in your house, but it seems that no matter what I do or wear, my girls cringe. What’s funny is that my girls are most embarrassed that I have a smartphone—one I barely use and that’s completely filtered—but they still hate it.

This year at the Seder, I announced that for their Afikomen present, I would switch to a flip phone. My girls were thrilled. I overheard my daughter say to herself, “This is the best day of my life.” Okay, that’s pushing it with the drama, but I was glad to make my girls proud.

DID YOU KNOW? When shopping for a gift, especially for a child, it’s important to research not just the price and features but also the device’s digital safety. Many popular gadgets, like MP3 players,

To avoid surprises or unnecessary disappointment, TAG can guide you and provide a list of safe devices to help you make informed decisions before you shop. If you have a specific model in mind, feel free to contact us to find out if it’s safe or to explore your options for securing it. A little research goes a long way in keeping your family and home digitally secure.

This is a service of TAG Baltimore. TAG Baltimore is an organization that provides technology awareness, education, and support. They can be reached at 410-449-1824 or help@ tagbaltimore.org.

To Raise a Laugh

Life In A Bird House

So we’ve had birds in our house for two weeks now. And we all have holes in our fingers.

(NOTE: This article was written shortly after Sukkos.)

A couple of weeks ago, I ran an article about how our neighbors went to Eretz Yisrael for Yom Tov, and they asked us to watch their birds. This is a tradition going back thousands of years, back to when everyone had chicken farms, and if you were going to make the trek to Eretz Yisrael for Yom Tov, you would have to ask your neighbors if they could watch your chickens for a few months, or else you would have to take all your chickens with you, which would make the trip more complicated. Especially the hotel logistics.

These birds are parakeets, by the way. So I assume you’re disappointed. A parakeet is a kind of bird that every time you tell someone, “I have a parakeet,” they say, “A parrot?” And you have to say, “No, a parakeet,” and they’re all disappointed. No other birds are as disappointing just because of the name.

“Why didn’t you get a parrot?”

Look, you can get a pet too. Stop being disappointed about my pet.

That’s like if you say, “I got a fish,” and they’re like, “A whale?”

But once these people get over their initial disappointment, they try to at least justify your choice. They ask, “Well, do they talk?”

We don’t know. They don’t talk to us Maybe they’re shy. We are strangers.

So we were probably a disappointment as well. I’ve never had a bird. Most of my pet experience involves fish. But it’s a lot of the same concepts, right? Remember to feed it, and water it, and give it lots of sunlight…

No, that’s plants. And I kill plants.

But they were not that hard to keep alive. For one thing, our neighbors told us that we

could just put several days’ worth of food in the cage at a time, and the birds would take care of the rest. So it turns out that birds are very different than fish. You do that with a fish, it’s going to eat all the food immediately, so it doesn’t get soggy. But birds are responsible. And also very aware of at what point they need to stop eating or they won’t be able to fly.

Except when it comes to millet. In addition to the regular birdseed, our neighbors gave us a bag of these big stalks called millet, and they said, “This is their fancy Shabbos treat. They only get this on Shabbos.”

We were told that every Friday, we should hang a stalk of millet from the top of the cage, and when we’re doing so, we should say, “Good Shabbos! Good Shabbos!”

It was unclear if they were training the birds to know that Shabbos meant special treats, or to say, “Good Shabbos,” whenever they wanted millet. Regardless of what day it actually was.

The birds definitely didn’t understand the concept of Shabbos. We put up the millet on Friday afternoon, and by the time Shabbos started, the entire stalk was gone. We kept moving it around, and they kept finding ways to get to it. We even yelled, “Don’t eat that! It’s not Shabbos yet!” but it didn’t help.

We’re also supposed to let the birds out at least once a day. You don’t let fish out once a day just so they can flop around on the ground for a while and then flop back into the tank.

“No, it’s good for the birds.”

These birds didn’t want to come out. We’re strangers. Strangers who tried to force them to take a bath. They are the most introverted, homebody birds we have ever seen. In fact, we couldn’t get them to try new foods either, and I’ve tried lettuce, kale, and sesame candies. At the moment, there’s a piece of banana peel hanging down from the top of their cage, right over their main perch, and I think they’re scared of it. And I said, “A Gutten Isru Chag,” and everything.

The birds are actually okay once they’re

By Mordechai Schmutter

out, but we have to chase them around the cage first. Which is hard, because we can’t fit into the cage, and there are all these perches and toys in the way. And then once they’re out, their main priority is to get back to the cage.

Which I guess is a good thing, because another difference between birds and fish – when you’re watching other people’s in particular – is that you can physically lose a bird. You can’t lose a fish.

“What happened to my fish?”

“Sorry, we don’t know where it went. I put it on the ground to stretch its fins, and when I got off the phone, it was gone. We think the parakeet got it. Or it might be under the fridge.”

Fortunately, though, the birds’ wings were clipped, which gave them limited flight capability. And ensured that they wouldn’t try to fly home, or into the ceiling fan.

I’m actually glad my neighbors told us that their wings were clipped, because otherwise, if anything happened, we would have replaced them with birds whose wings weren’t clipped, and my neighbors would have been in for a surprise when they got home, the first time they took the birds out of their cage.

I do have one kid who is scared to handle them. So I guess it’s a good thing we don’t have them long term. Though I guess he’d get used to it. Maybe this is a reason to have pets long term. That way, your kids learn not to be scared of those specific animals. That way, if your kid is ever walking down the street and there’s a parakeet, he won’t be scared. Everyone else will be running and ducking for cover, and your kid will be like, “Eh, it’s just parakeets. It’s not even like it’s parrots.”

Or he’ll know that if he wants to scare it away, all he needs is a banana peel.

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.

Mental Health Corner

Planting Seeds

Raising children is one of the biggest challenges a person will ever face in life. For many parents, the adolescent years are the hardest of all. Teens will choose friends, behaviors, and mannerisms that may be shocking to the parents. Parents need a plethora of

strategies at their disposal to handle every situation as they arise. One of the tools is the art of planting seeds.

Planting seeds refers to comments that you make that the listener does not view as judgmental, condescending, or combative, that gets

Reading Dif culties

Dyslexia

ADD / ADHD

Social Awkwardness

Poor Memory

Math Dif culties

Writing Dif culties

Disorganization

Clumsiness

Easily Overwhelmed

Michal Weiss, MS, OTR/L

443-464-0808 Director@NeuroClics.com

1838 Greene Tree Rd, suite 535

the individual to start thinking and which might eventually blossom into a full-blown thought.

The theory behind the planting-seed strategy is based on a concept that we have discussed many times in this column, and that is the fight-or-flight response. The way our brain operates is that whenever we feel under attack, our entire system rapidly realigns itself into a high-energy mode that gives us the extra strength that we need to deal with the threat. The threat does not need to be physical. Social and emotional threats will trigger the same reaction. For this reason, if you admonish your teenager in a way that the teen feels “under attack”, he or she will be physically unable to absorb what you are saying as their system has flipped on a dime into fight-or-flight.

You might be wondering that if this is true, how can one communicate with the teen when their conduct is not up to par? One of the ways is by planting seeds in their brain. Here are some examples.

Reuven’s bedroom often looks as if it were hit by a tornado. One day, Reuven was very concerned that he could not find a book that he really wanted to read. Reuven’s mother calmly asked, “Do you think that organizing your room might help you keep track of your belongings?” Reuven shrugged his shoulders, and said, “Perhaps.” End of conversation. The seed has been planted. Will this result in immediate results? Of course not. Not all seeds sprout, and those that do tend to grow very slowly. But every tall and majestic tree was once a little seed.

Rachel has been staying up late at night, and it has really been affecting her productivity. Rachel’s father was reading a magazine with Rachel within earshot. He read that sleep deprivation has a direct impact on test scores in school. Rachel happens to be very conscious of her grades. Rachel’s father then said out loud as if to himself, “Wow! I never knew that

sleep deprivation lowers your grades in school.” Rachel did not think that her father was talking about or to her. But she did hear what he said without feeling threatened or judged. Boom! Another seed planted!

Levi has recently been hanging out with another boy who often gets in trouble and Levi’s parents were concerned that this will rub off onto Levi. Levi’s mother one day said to him, “I heard that your friend was recently suspended from school for two weeks. Do you feel certain that you can maintain your good behavior and not be influenced by your friend?” Levi might say that he is certain that he is okay and will not be affected at all. Nevertheless, a seed has been planted, and this will hopefully get him thinking about whether or not it is a good idea to hang out with this specific friend.

Planting seeds is not a quick fix, and is only one of the many strategies that one must have to navigate the parenting challenges that adolescents will send your way. Parents need boatloads of Siyata Dishmaya and wisdom so that both they and their children will emerge unscathed from the gauntlet that is adolescence.

This is a service of Relief Resources. Relief is an organization that provides mental health referrals, education, and support to the frum community. Rabbi Yisrael Slansky is director of the Baltimore branch of Relief. He can be contacted at 410-4488356 or at yslansky@reliefhelp.org

TJH Centerfold

Nike Trivia

1. What percentage of the sneaker market share does Nike, which was founded 50 years ago, have?

a. 25%

b. 40%

c. 60%

d. 75%

2. The famous Nike logo, a solid swoosh, was designed by Carolyn Davidson, a student at Portland State University. How much was she paid for creating the iconic logo?

a. $35

b. $350

c. $3,500

d. $30,500

e. $350,000

c. Famed college basketball coach Bobby Knight’s famous rallying call to his players

d. What Michael Jordan said before hitting the jump shot against the Utah Jazz, resulting in an NBA championship

4. What type of machine was used to make the first pair of Nikes?

a. 3-D printer

b. Lazer cutting machine

c. Waffle maker

d. Grinding machine

5. What was the original name of the Nike company?

a. American Sneaker Corp.

b. Nikeology

3. What was the inspiration for the Nike slogan, “Just Do It”?

a. The words that Buzz Aldrin said to Neal Armstrong right before Armstrong stepped onto the moon

b. Serial killer Gary Gilmore’s last words before he was executed

c. 1998 d. 2002

7. After Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan gifted his sneakers to a Utah Jazz ball boy. How much were those sneakers sold for at auction in 2023?

a. $400,000

b. $750,000

c. $1.2 million

d. $2.2 million

Answers: 1-C 2-A 3-B 4-C 5-D 6-A 7-D

Wisdom Key:

c. Slick Sneakers

d. Blue Ribbon Sports

6. In which year did the first Air Jordans come out?

a. 1985 b. 1992

6-7 correct: I am not coming to your house for waffles; you definitely tried creating your own sneakers with them.

3-5 correct: Your Jordans didn’t give you so much lift.

0-2 correct: You are an Adidas guy – if you are going to wear ugly sneakers, at least wear On Clouds.

Winning Sneaker Brands

Sole Survivors – Guaranteed to outlast your gym membership.

The Couch-to-Fridge Flyers –Because your cardio starts in the kitchen.

Air Procrastinators – Built for running...tomorrow.

Toe-Trappers – Perfect for awkwardly catching furniture legs.

Slip-and-Dies – For rainy days when grip is a luxury.

Lace Houdinis – Always untying themselves at the worst times.

Velcro Victory 7s – For when you’ve given up on laces altogether.

The Squeaky Steppers – Announcing your arrival with every step.

Sole Screamers – The shoes that make every floor sound like a haunted house.

The Midlife Crisis Classics – Flashy enough to prove you’re still cool.

The Dust Collectors – Pristine because they never leave the box.

The Trip Trainers – For mastering the art of stumbling gracefully.

The Tight-Squeeze 12s –Order your size... and regret it instantly.

The Overcommitters – Built for a marathon, used for coffee runs.

The Slip-N-Pray – Grip so bad, every step is a leap of faith.

The Croissant Runners – Soft, flaky, and never meant for real activity.

You Gotta Be Kidding Me

Two guys are walking through a forest looking for deer, when all of a sudden, a giant bear jumps out and stares them down. One guy stops, opens up his backpack and laces up a pair of running shoes.

His buddy looks at him and says, “What are you doing? Are you crazy? You can’t outrun the bear!”

The guy replies, “I know. All I have to do is outrun you!”

Riddle me This

Dave, who works at a butcher’s shop, wears size 10 shoes. He is 6’2” and his waist is 40”. What does he weigh?

Answer: Meat

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

Some Democrats are finally waking up and realizing that woke is broke.

- Maureen Dowd, The New York Times

So it’s post-mortems galore, watching the media point fingers at everyone but themselves. But really it’s just a massive misdirection in an effort to save what’s left of their credibility…. The media is like the creep who kills [someone] and then volunteers to lead the search party.

– Greg Gutfeld, Fox

We’ve obligated just recently and pushed out the door another $8 billion in security assistance for Ukraine – that was in September – another almost half a billion dollars just a few weeks ago, and President Biden has committed to making sure that every dollar we have at our disposal will be pushed out the door between now and January 20.

- Sec. of State Anthony Blinken assuring the press that the U.S. is spending all that it can on Ukraine before the new administration takes over

The main issue with Matt Gaetz is that he used his office to prosecuite his political opponents and authorized federal agents to harass parents who were peacefully protesting at school board meetings. Oh wait, that’s actually Merrick Garland, the current attorney general.

- Vice President-elect JD Vance

I mean it’s—I would describe it as G-d-tier level trolling to just trigger a full-on China Syndrome to own the libs in perpetuity.

- Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) talking about Trump’s cabinet picks so far

Back in June, I stood up on behalf of hardworking families and simply said no. No to a new $15 congestion toll that at that particular time was just too much. You heard me correctly It was $15 and now it is $9, that is a 40% reduction. This lower toll will save daily commuters nearly $1,500 annually, and that kind of money makes a big difference for our families.

- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (who put the NYC congestion pricing on hold indefinitely in June, and much to nobody’s surprise decided to go ahead with it once the elections were over) claiming to SAVE drivers money by charging $9 to enter Manhattan

I was going to rob you and then kill you but I’ve decided to only rob you, which means I have saved your life.

- Tweet by The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh pointing out the idiocy of Hochul’s gaslighting

I’m calling on Leader Schumer to bring a bill to the floor sanctioning the ICC [International Criminal Court which issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders], which the House already passed on a bipartisan basis. If he refuses to act, the Senate Republican Majority will. We will stand with Israel and make this and other supportive legislation a top priority in Congress.

-Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD)

So to my allies in Israel and Jewish people around the world, my message to you is this: Reinforcements are on the way.

- Ibid.

His threat is not just towards new arrivals and undocumented families. His threats are also against Black families…. We’re going to protect undocumented individuals. We’re going to protect Black folks, Brown folks, Asian folks. The city of Chicago will be better, stronger and safer despite who’s in the White House.

- Chicago Mayor Johnson asserting somehow that Trump’s plan of cracking down on illegal aliens is a threat to black Americans

The people rendered their verdict on all this lawfare on last Tuesday, one week ago. And like I have worked on for years and years and years, the whole country came together. Working class people all over came together and they rejected what’s going on in this court and what’s going on with President Trump.

- Conservative firebrand Steven Bannon—who was jailed for 4 months for asserting executive privilege and refusing to testify in Congress about private conversations with Trump— speaking to reporters after a court hearing in New York last week

The lawfare of Tish (Letitia) James and Alvin Bragg and Jack Smith and Merrick Garland has been rejected by a landslide by the American people.

– Ibid.

So the one thing I have to say to Merrick Garland, Lisa Monaco, Jack Smith, Tish James, Alvin Bragg: You wait, the hunted are about to become the hunters. Thank you very much.

- Ibid.

Summers are gone… On the East Coast, where you have four seasons, we’re down to maybe one or two.

- Maryland’s Secretary of the Environment Serena McIlwain, addressing the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference

Department of Government Efficiency Identifies 525 Government Workers who Haven’t Done any Work for Years.

- Headline in The Babylon Bee

The Fattest, Sickest Country on Earth Concerned New Health Secretary Might Do Something Different.

- ibid.

A Light Unto Nations

The Enduring Legacy of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, z”l

By Sivan Rahav-Meir

Four years have passed since the loss of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, z”l, and one year since the outbreak of the Iron Swords conflict. In these turbulent times, we can only imagine the wisdom he might have shared, the guidance he would have offered. His voice is profoundly missed, especially now when his words could have offered clarity and hope. This longing to “hear” his perspective propelled me on a journey…

To Be a Jew is a booklet that was born from a deep desire to find meaning in the current historic moment. Distributed freely across the globe, with over a quarter of a million copies printed in Hebrew and English – and soon to be available in additional languages — it shares the timeless lessons of Rabbi Sacks with all who seek them. Below is a small selection of his enduring wisdom; for the full booklet, available as a free download, visit sivanrahavmeir. com/to-be-a-Jew.

On his yahrzeit, the 20th of Cheshvan, may these words be an elevation for his soul and a source of strength and faith for us all in these challenging days.

Growth That Arises From Crisis

Every tragedy in Jewish history was followed by a new wave of creativity. The destruction of the First Temple led to the renewal of the Torah in the life of the nation, exemplified by the work of Ezra and Nehemiah. The destruction of the Second Temple led to the great works of the oral tradition, Midrash, Mishnah and the two Talmuds. The massacres of Jewish communities in northern Europe during the First Crusade led to the emergence of chasidei Ashkenaz, the German-Jewish pietists.

The medieval encounter with Christianity led to a renewal of Bible commentary. The meeting with Islam inspired a renaissance of Jewish philosophy. The Spanish Expulsion was followed by the mystical revival in Safed in the sixteenth century. The greatest catastrophe of all led to the greatest rebirth: a mere three years after standing eyeball to eyeball with the angel of death at Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen and Treblinka, the Jewish people responded by their greatest collective affirmation of life in two thousand years, with the proclamation of the state of Israel.… Jews [do not] give way to defeat or despair. They are the people of hope.

The Chinese ideogram for “crisis” also means “opportunity.” Perhaps that is why Chinese civilization has survived for so long. Hebrew, however, is more hopeful still. The word for crisis, mashber, also means a “childbirth chair”. The Jewish reflex is to see difficult times as birth pangs. Something new is being born.

(Rabbi Sacks, Future Tense, p. 54, 55)

We cannot change the past, but by remembering the past we can change the future. And though we cannot bring the dead back to life, we can help ensure that they did not die in vain.

(Ibid. p. 88)

Where is Man?

When I first stood at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the question that haunted me was not, “Where was G-d?” G-d was in the command, “You shall not murder.” G-d was in the words, “You shall not oppress the stranger.” G-d was saying to humanity, “Your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.” G-d did not stop the first humans eating forbidden fruit. He did not stop Cain committing murder. He did not stop the Egyptians enslaving the Israelites. G-d does not save us from ourselves. That, according to the Talmud, is why creating man was such a risk that the angels advised against it. The question that haunts me after the Holocaust, as it does today in this new age of chaos, is “Where is man?”

(Rabbi Sacks, Judaism’s Life-Changing Ideas, p. 7)

Everything Has a Purpose

Life is meaningful. We are not mere accidents of matter, generated by a universe that came into being for no reason and will one day, for no reason, cease to be. We are here because a loving G-d brought the universe, and life, and us, into existence – a G-d Who knows our fears, hears our prayers, believes in us more than we believe in ourselves, Who forgives us when we fail, lifts us when we fall and gives us the strength to overcome despair. The historian Paul Johnson once wrote: ”No people has ever insisted more firmly than the Jews that history has a purpose and humanity a destiny.”

(Rabbi Sacks, Ceremony & Celebration, p. 22)

Each Person Has a Mission

G-d enters our lives as a call from the future. It is as if we hear him beckoning to us from the far horizon of time, urging us to take a journey and undertake a task that, in ways we cannot fully understand, we were created for. That is the meaning of the word vocation, literally “a calling,” a mission, a task to which we are summoned

We are not here by accident. We are here because G-d wanted us to be and because there is a task we were meant to fulfill. Discovering what that is is not easy and often takes many years and false starts.

(Rabbi Sacks, Studies in Spirituality, p. 24)

Shabbat: A Palace in Time

Shabbat. The day of rest when we give our marriages and families what they most need and are most starved of in the contemporary world, namely, time. While making a television documentary for the BBC on the state of family life in Britain, I took the person who was then Britain’s leading expert on childcare, Penelope Leach, to a Jewish primary school on a Friday morning.

There she saw the children enacting in advance what they would see that evening around the family table. There were the five-yearold mother and father blessing the five-year-old children with the five-year-old grandparents looking on. She was fascinated by this whole institution, and she asked the children what they most enjoyed about the Sabbath. One five-year-old boy turned to her and said, “It’s the only night of the week when Daddy doesn’t have to rush off.” As we walked away from the school when the filming was over, she turned to me and said, “Chief Rabbi, that Sabbath of yours is saving their parents’ marriages.”

(Rabbi Sacks, Morality, p. 73)

A Spiritual Response to Terrorism

The first Prime Minister of Israel, David Ben Gurion, said, “In Israel, to be a realist you have to believe in miracles.” For Jews, faith is as necessary as life itself. Without it, the Jewish people would simply not have survived.

In 2001, after the Oslo peace process had broken down and the suicide bombings had begun, I told the then Israeli ambassador: “In the past, Israel’s enemies have tried to put it in a military crisis and failed. Then they tried to put it in a political crisis and failed. Now they are about to put it in a spiritual crisis, and they may succeed.”

That, ultimately, is what twenty-first-century terror is about, and Israel has been its most consistent target. The suicide bombings brought war from the battlefront to the buses of Haifa, the shops of Tel Aviv and the restaurants of Jerusalem. There were times when Jewish parents sent their children on the school bus not knowing whether they would see them alive again. The missiles of Hezbollah and Hamas placed two-thirds of Israel – the north and south – within their range. As I write, there are seven-yearold children in Sederot who have only known safety in a bomb shelter. The delegitimation of Israel among some media, academic and NGO circles has left its people feeling abandoned and alone. The aim is to intimidate and create despair, and it needs immense resources of faith and courage not to be affected. That is the spiritual crisis.

(Ibid. pp. 18–19)

Sivan Rahav-Meir is a primetime news anchor with weekly broadcasts on television and radio. Her “Daily Thought” has a huge following on social media, with hundreds of thousands of followers, translated into 17 languages. She has a weekly podcast on Tablet, called “Sivan Says” and has published several books in English. She lives in Jerusalem with her husband Yedidya and their five children.

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I am dating an incredible guy after 7 years of pretty terrible dating experiences.

Everybody is so happy for me and waiting for me to finally give the go ahead for him to propose. There is one thing that is stopping me, and to be honest, it seems so trivial. He is shorter than me. I never imagined dating a guy shorter than me, let alone marry a guy shorter than me.

The story of how we met is on its own pretty miraculous. We were seated at the same table at a Shabbaton, and we had the most amazing conversations. Since I came late due to losing my apartment keys (only to find them in the same spot I’m sure I checked 5 times before being 15 minutes late), I only realized how short he was after we talked a lot and he stood up to help clear when the meal was over.

How can I get over this? Is there anything you can do to help?

Thank you!

Shalva*

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.

Shalva, there is nothing the dating column panelists can do to help. We cannot magically make him taller. We can reassure you that if all else meets your needs, you can set aside the picture in your mind and commit.

You are mature in realizing the yad Hashem in your initial encounter and experience. Count your blessings and go forth. Don’t get fixed on an external factor if all else is a fit and you are attracted to him. You can do this. We cannot do this for you.

To help yourself, you may want to write a list of all his wonderful qualities and the height gap on the other side. Marriage is for living, not for photos. But you have to bite the bullet.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

Thanks for writing in! The story you’ve shared about how you met is inspiring. It shows how Hashem’s ways are truly miraculous. You acknowledge the hashgacha (Divine providence) involved and find him to be an exceptional match for you aside for the aspect of his height.

I encourage you to practice making him “taller” in your eyes. By focusing on the positive aspects of him, your relationship, and how well the two of you get along, you will be able to quiet the voices in your head that are telling you taller is better.

As any married friend would confide, there will always be aspects to a potential

match that you will have to get used to. I can tell you dozens of stories of couples who said they specifically did not want “enter-make-it-or-break-it-here” in a guy, and ended up marrying a guy with exactly that thing. How did these couples make it work? There is one underlying thread that can make this successful: an ayin tovah and focusing on the good. Write down a list of all the amazing things this guy has, and whenever you are second-guessing it, refer to this list.

Before you get engaged, please make sure you are 100% comfortable with his height and can think positively about the two of you together. Once you are able to do that, you will be in a great place!

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Late at night, when a couple discusses areas of deep concern and need to make decisions about serious issues, it doesn’t matter what color eyes they have or how tall or how short they are.

What matters is that they share the same values, goals, and aspirations. What matters is that they respect each other’s ability to analyze and discuss important issues and appreciate each other’s respec tive opinions.

What matters is that they can remain calm and respectful despite different per spectives, and even disagree, but with warmth, humor, and love.

You may have misplaced your apart ment keys, but it sounds like you’ve found a young man with the key to your heart. In the grand scheme of sharing a life to gether, a height disparity is not a “big” problem.

Reader’s Response

Hannah Heller, Baltimore, MD Teacher & Women’s Health Educator

Dear Shalva,

You are so blessed to have found that special person with whom you really click and feel a strong connection.

Just like meeting him was a chance occurrence, so is your connecting with someone you may not have thought to consider. He has already shown strong middot by voluntarily getting up to help clear the table. You may have felt frustrated about temporarily losing your keys. From your description, it sounds like your conversation with him helped you relax and let go of your stress.

Think about what exactly you are afraid of and if avoiding that is really more important than being married to someone you love. I know of couples where the wife is taller, and they are very happy together. Just think: it will be another reason for him to look up to you!

Wishing you great success and hope we will all be able to soon say mazal tov to both of you and your families.

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Dear Shalva,

First, I want to acknowledge how meaningful it is that you’ve found someone so incredible after years of difficult dating experiences. It’s clear that this relationship holds something very special, and your story of how you met feels almost magical. It sounds like this connection was built on deep conversations and shared values—qualities that truly sustain a lasting partnership.

I also want to validate your feelings about height. It’s okay that this detail is something you’re struggling with, even if

it feels triv-

ial on the surface. Height can carry meaning for us—it might reflect cul - tural ideals, personal expectations, or even how we imagine relationships “should” look. These feelings don’t make you shallow; they make you human.

Sometimes, when something feels “off” about a partner, it can reflect a deeper uncertainty, but other times, it’s simply a way our mind tries to grapple with stepping outside our comfort zone. You’ve

been through seven years of difficult dating, and allowing yourself to trust and embrace a truly good relationship can be daunting—especially when it challenges an expectation you’ve held for a long time.

I encourage you to reflect on what this height difference means to you. Does it challenge how you see yourself in a relationship or how others might perceive you? Does it bring up questions about protection, femininity, or roles within a partnership? Are you not physically attracted to him? Whatever the answer, it’s important to be gentle with yourself as you explore it.

Lastly, remind yourself of what you’ve already built together. It sounds like this man offers qualities you’ve been longing for—someone who sees and appreciates you, who shares deep and meaningful

Marriage is for living, not for photos.

conversations, and who inspires joy in your life. Over time, as you focus on those parts of the relationship, this concern may begin to feel smaller.

You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Give yourself the space to reflect, trust your feelings, and allow yourself to be guided by what truly makes your heart feel safe, cherished, and seen.

Sincerely, Jennifer

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

Parenting Pearls

The Seal of Truth

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

Chosamo shel Hakadosh Baruch emes, the seal of Hashem is truth. Midvar sheker tirchak, distance yourself from falsehood.

I could write paragraphs just of quotes extolling the virtue of honesty. With the number of teachings devoted to stressing truthfulness (and avoiding the opposite), one would think that maintaining the utmost of honesty would be unquestionable.

The sad reality is that this beautiful middah can be challenging. While most individuals would be appalled by the

idea of outright lying, there are small ways that falsehood can creep in. A general discussion on honesty is beyond the scope or purpose of this article, but I wanted to bring up the topic of children and honesty.

Inculcating this middah into our children is a high priority and certainly something parents prioritize. This is not intended to be mussar for parents, nor a halachic guide. I simply want to bring up a discussion on some of the ways parents can set the stage for a lifetime of emes in the next generation.

Honesty and Development

Children are continuously growing and changing, and their ability to differentiate between truth and falsehood develops similarly.

Mendel Azimov & Liba Wolowik

Eliezer Katz (Baltimore) & Reena Levy (Los Angeles)

Yaakov Weiner (Providence/Phoenix) & Laya Stein (Baltimore)

Nathaniel Shabtai & Leah Goldberg

R. Eliyahu Roseboro & Miryam Ruth Fenimore

It’s important to differentiate between lies and fantasy. Children lack an understanding of the world around them and have very fertile imaginations. A child might really think it’s possible that a unicorn can share their ice cream cone with them. This isn’t truthful, but they’re not lying; they are truly unable to separate reality from fantasy. I remember the difficulty I had explaining to a young girl that unicorns were not real and had never existed, as she kept insisting they were extinct. We can gently help children understand the difference between reality and fantasy, but we shouldn’t accuse them of lying or being a “bad child” (a phrase that has no place in parenting).

Very young children generally don’t lie. You can ask a guilty toddler if they did something wrong and they’re likely to confess. They’re beautifully innocent and don’t realize they can say it wasn’t them. Enjoy this phase.

Once children exit this phase, they may see lying as a way to avoid getting into trouble or upsetting their parents. They also will try to give the answer they think their adults want to hear – truthful or otherwise. They are too young to comprehend the morality of honesty versus falsehood, and we need to remember this fact when educating

them on the importance of honesty.

As children get older, they begin to understand the difference between right and wrong. They often have some ability to recognize if their actions are correct, and they are capable of feeling guilty when they misbehave. Like younger children, lying may still be seen as a way to get out of trouble or avoid hurting or disappointing their parents. They may claim they studied when they didn’t or deny using foul language even though they recognize the reality is otherwise. Even with this greater awareness of proper actions, they still lack the maturity of an adult and a full understanding of both the severity of lying and the full consequences of their actions. While teens may appear like adults, their brains are still developing, and their thought processes don’t match their appearance. Understanding the level and limitations of their cognitive abilities can help us better address falsehood when it crops up.

Leading By Example

As always, we are our child’s main teacher. We may not stand in front of their classroom, but they are still closely watching our actions. We need to model what we want them to follow, not rely on mere words.

We interact with others in full view of our children, and we need to be conscious of this. Our actions and speech should be in line with our values, in both obvious and subtle ways. When we

praise others, it should be for actions we would be proud were our own children to imitate and not otherwise.

We all know the situation: we say something in a vague way, it’s kind of true but very misleading. This may be the most common way the average person dances around the truth. Few people are outright liars, and most of us appreciate a life of truthfulness. It’s not my place to judge what any person says, but it behooves us to think twice before speaking to ensure our speech matches our middos.

Years ago, we were visited by a relative my children rarely saw. In an offhand manner, she told them she would bring a particular gift when we would next get together. It was two or three years later before we saw her again, and one of the first things my son asked was if she brought the gift. She was shocked – I wasn’t. Children are very literal and take us at our word. If we say we are taking them to the park at five on Shabbos afternoon, they will be waiting at the door by 4:59. You are likely to have received ten reminders before this. If we say we will give them a prize for saying Shema each night, they expect it as soon

as they’ve finished the required recitations.

We have to be careful when speaking to our children. They will hold us to anything we say and see us as less than truthful if we don’t keep our word – even if we never meant it seriously. As parents, we should only say what

I’d still like to provide a few pointers.

Lying is a serious offense but calling a child a “liar” or any other nasty name only pushes them away. After all, how can we expect better behavior from a child that is nothing but “a liar”? Alternatively, we can expect better choices

Understanding the level and limitations of their cognitive abilities can help us better address falsehood when it crops up.

we intend to do and know we can realistically accomplish. It’s tempting to “promise” things we can’t provide, but children remember (and hold it against their parents).

Parenting Pointers

Setting children on the path of truthfulness is a challenging topic. While not a complete response to this discussion,

from a sweet, holy child that made a mistake and wants to improve. Children should be praised for telling the truth. This is especially true when it involves a child acknowledging having done the wrong thing. Children may see lying as an easy means of avoiding trouble. It takes a lot of inner strength to not take that route.

Children often lie to prevent getting

into trouble but need to learn that, ultimately, they benefit from the truth and don’t lose out. Parents need to make clear the importance of telling the truth, and the child should see some concrete benefit from doing the right thing. We certainly don’t want them to feel punished for their honesty. When possible, the consequence/punishment should be minimized, eliminated or otherwise adjusted, with the child being told clearly that you are proud of them and making this change due to their honesty.

Throughout our interactions with our precious children, we need to remember they are still growing and lack a full understanding of both their actions and of moral behavior. They will make mistakes as they continue on their path of becoming true avdei Hashem May Hashem give us the wisdom to guide them honestly.

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.

Noam & Rebecca Sonnenschein on the birth of a daughter

Ezri & Shoshana Lowenthal on the birth of a daughter

Zac & Caitlyn Welgrin on the birth of a daughter

Mr. And Mrs. Shai Scheller on the birth of twin daughters

Shloime & Reva Rabinowitz on the birth of a son

Mr. & Mrs. Shua Wealcatch on the birth of a daughter

Moshe and Rivky Mutterperl on the birth of a son

Binyamin & Nechama Wach on the birth of a son

Shragi & Rochel Kasnett on the birth of a daughter

Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!

Nava Mosesson, 5

Avraham Sharp

Shmuel & Leba Priluck

Esti Katz, 7

Aryeh Swiatycki, 3

Ahuva, 7

Zeke Schechet, 7

Chaim Swiatycki, 7

Eitan Noff, 4

Chani Waxman

Chayala Liebes, 8

Ariella, 6

Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!

Malka Katz, 7

Yedidya, 9

Penina Winchell, 6

Yehonatan Baron, 5

Noam Abramson, 7

Shalva Leba Lichtman, 8

Michali Sinaie, 9

Noa S., 6

Shoshana Trachtenberg, 6

Tehilla, Ari, Rivka Rosenbaum 8

Zevy Seidel, 4

Tova, 4

Chaya Swiatycki, 5

Moriyah Alhadeff, 7

Natan Moshe, 4

Moshe J., 6

Zahava Schreiber, 2

Lielle, 5

Moshe C., 3

Yakira S., 5

Sorala C., 7

Michah Dinovitz

Leah Seidel, 6

Eliezer Weinreich, 6

Aidel G, 5