91ST ANNIVERSARY DINNER
Dear Readers,
On Rosh Hashanah, the Yom HaDin that determines our fate and that of the entire world, we are reminded by Chazal to “gilu b’raadah” – to rejoice with trembling. This blend of joy and solemnity captures the spirit of this day, as we celebrate with festive meals and formal attire, while also feeling the weight of the moment, aware that our destinies rest in Hashem’s hands. As the new year begins, we look forward with hope to Hashem’s blessings while feeling the trepidation of awaiting Heavenly judgment.
This past Tuesday, Election Day 2024, was also a day of weighty decisions for our nation. Against a backdrop of high stakes and intense emotions, we witnessed a somewhat surprising victory that will shape the future. Just as the world looked on with anticipation, we, too, felt a mix of emotions: wonder, excitement, and a hint of uncertainty. Will the elected leader fulfill the aspirations of the people? Will they stand by the values we hold dear? Will they ensure the security and well-being they promised? Only time will reveal the answers. For now, we thank Hashem for guiding this outcome and pray for His blessings as we navigate the years ahead.
One of our greatest hopes for this adminis-
tration is the potential to reshape our government’s view of Israel, upholding values that align with our beliefs. We pray that this election will be a turning point, bringing a renewed commitment to moral standards and a stronger, united America.
Looking back at this extraordinary election, it’s clear that there were moments that seemed almost orchestrated by Divine Providence. Much like the story of Megillas Esther, the timing and sequence of events were so precise that they seemed too significant to dismiss as mere chance.
In this week’s Parsha, Avraham Avinu merited a revelation from Hashem because of his deep desire to understand “Mi Hu Baal Habirah” –Who is the Master of the world. Rav Chatzkel Levenstein zt”l teaches that each of us can attain greatness when our actions are guided by a sincere desire to connect with the Divine. May we use this historic moment as an opportunity to recognize who ultimately controls the world, and may we feel both joy and awe as we embrace the path forward.
Wishing everyone a peaceful Shabbos Aaron Menachem
& photos, and mazal tovs to
November 1 st - January 15 th
Around the Community
Former Governor Larry Hogan Visits TA
TA was privileged to host former Governor Larry Hogan today, as an expression of hakaras hatov for his enduring support of our community and his instrumental role in creating the BOOST program, which has expanded educational opportunities for countless Maryland families. Governor Hogan engaged with students across various
grades, from reading to preschoolers to attending the Rosh Chodesh assembly with our elementary classes, and observing students in our high school Beis Medrash. His visit served as a heartfelt acknowledgment of the positive impact his contributions have had on the lives of many in our school and community.
TA Nursery Starts The Aleph Beis
Mazel tov to the nursery classes at Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim-Talmudical Academy of Baltimore on starting to learn Aleph Beis!
Shabbat A Day to Create Yourself by Rabbi Warren Goldstein
Shabbos Kodesh: Making the Most of Shabbos by Rabbi Shimshon Pincus
The Jewish Community Football League (JCFL)
By
“Your Kitchen Spot” Kicks Off 2024 Season
JCFL by “Your Kitchen Spot” kicked off its 13th season. Prior to the opening week, 80 players were divided between 8 different teams via a draft system, ensuring parity in competition. The teams are named for their individual team sponsors: All State –Yaakov Schmell, ActualEyes, AMP Solutions, Baltimore CTC, Bunny’s Home Care, Evergreen Benefits Group, Tiger Heating & Air, and Y & L Landscaping
Following the draft, teams were provided with their jerseys, sponsored by Stutman Chiropractic and leading up to the first game, players reviewed the Clothier Rules and Regulations, which included a number of additions for the 2024 season.
On Sunday morning, teams met the 2024 I Heart Remodeling Officiating Crew who, along with handling officiating duties, prepped the Tripping Kosher fields (at Pikesville Middle) with assistance from The Maryland Team Grounds Crew, and provided teams with their Fired Up equipment for the season.
Like previous seasons, all teams will compete for seven regular season games, with the top four facing off in the playoffs. The playoffs winners will then battle each other in the championship, The Goldbergs/Taam Thai/The Club/Mama Leah’s Bowl, for a chance to take home the Multicom Capital Trophy.
A thank you to the 2024 JCFL Media Sponsor, Baltimore Jewish Life/ Baltimore Jewish Home.
For a recap of some of the excitement from the first week of the season, keep reading:
ActualEyes 21 Bunny’s Home Care14
Ezra Strum’s jersey and Bava Batra daf 131a — that’s where team Bunny’s Home Care was holding. Led by two “Ezra Strums” — thanks to a printing error — ActualEyes’ all-99 D-line of Strum and Yisroel “No-Chancesky” sacked and ha-
rassed journeyman QB Dovid Flamm all day long.
ActualEyes’ first drive nearly stalled, when on third down, Aharon Lefkovitz held onto a backwards diving catch between two defenders. This set up a strike to Chaim Baruch Lefkowitz (CBL) in the front right end zone.
On Bunny’s opening drive, David May broke up a third-down ball to Chaim Herbstman and possibly injured his eye, which could be treated by the professionals at ActualEyes.
In the second half, a Bunny blitz forced a May scramble, allowing CBL to get wide open for a 40-yard touchdown. But two ill-advised throws by May, and a sideline touchdown catch by Avner Shotz tied the game late in the fourth quarter.
ActualEyes then marched down the field with a long QB run, another Eli Dollman reception, a Shmuly Luxenburg touchdown, and a Luchansky extra point. Bunny was looking helpless, but CBL slipped, allowing a long gain by Shotz. However, ActualEyes’ D-line proved too disruptive, and CBL quickly redeemed himself with a game-sealing interception.
Y & L Landscaping30 AMP Solutions 21
Y & L Landscaping got their season off to a roaring start, despite the absence of star QB Dan Gutman and TE Moshe Rothman, rallying from an early deficit to defeat AMP Solutions.
Super-sub Yoyo Strauss stepped in and threw 5 TD passes to accompany some of his vintage scrambling. Mordechai Schiermeyer had a pair of TD receptions and set up a third with a big play, Akiva Stutman and Menachem Rubenstein added a TD apiece, and Baruch Dollman had a sack on defense while holding up at TE all day on the offensive side. Ben Gutman showed out on both sides of the ball with a TD and a sack, while sub Chaim Mandelbaum grabbed an INT to seal the game in the closing minutes.
Evergreen Benefits Group 38 Baltimore CTC 22
Evergreen Benefits, led by QB, Chaim Finkelstein, kicked off their three-peat quest with a decisive victory over Baltimore CTC.
Evergreen dominated the first half, beginning with Safety Sammy Cohen ending Baltimore CTC’s first drive of the season with an INT. After that, Evergreen scored touchdowns on 5 straight possessions to take a 32-6 lead into halftime. Unsurprisingly, defending league MVP Shloime Scheinfeld scored 4 of those TDs, consistently shredding the Baltimore CTC defense. TE Avrumi Freund also scored on a well-executed passing play.
With all of Evergreen’s offensive fireworks, the one play that stood out was a perfectly executed hook-andladder, in which Cohen caught a pass, and showing true achdus, lateraled to Scheinfeld, who easily scored behind a punishing block from back-from-multiple-retirements WR Yoseph Orshan.
In the 1st half, Evergreen dominated at all 3 levels of their defense. DEs Nosson Waldman and Freund consistently applied pressure. Middle linebackers Yoni Finkelstein, Chaim Finkelstein, and Orshan consistently broke up passes and limited Baltimore CTC to minimal gains. Safeties Cohen and Scheinfeld made the deep part of the field a “no fly zone.”
Baltimore CTC regrouped in the second half to make it semi-respectable, but it was too little too late. Evergreen played a bend-but-don’tbreak defense and gave up a few
scores. After a mostly ineffective (and) offensive 2nd half, Evergreen iced the game after Finkelstein extended a goal-line play and casually flicked a patented backhanded pass to Orshan in the back of the end zone.
Tiger Heating and Air25
Yaakov Schmell: Allstate 19
In the first game of the season, Tiger Heating and Air, led by Ezra Bregin, faced Allstate InsuranceYaakov Schmell, led by Avi Yudkowsky. Tiger struck first, taking a 12-6 lead with just 30 seconds left in the first half. However, on a two-minute drill, Bregin threw an interception, allowing Yudkowsky to capitalize with a score, putting Allstate up 13-12 heading into halftime.
The second half saw a back-andforth exchange of scores, keeping the game close. With only three minutes remaining, Bregin found himself in a tie game with a fourth and short. Tiger decided to trust the analytics, calling a fake run and completing a pass to Yoffi Storch to keep the drive alive. Bregin quickly followed up with a touchdown pass to Storch.
Down by six and with under a minute left, Yudkowsky attempted a game-winning drive but fell short, as Tiger intercepted a pass in the end zone to secure the victory.
For Women and GIrls
The Secret to on Holding Tight to Hope
Introduction by: HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita
TAKING PLACE LOCALLY ON
All proceeds for Tzedaka for Aniyim - Torah Umesorah's Aniyim Fund Words of Inspiration from:
DATE: MONDAY November 11th (11 Cheshvan)
TIME: 8:30pm
PLACE: Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion, 6602 Park Heights Ave
CONTACT: Mrs Varda Birnbaum +1 (410) 868-3226
SUGGESTED MINIMUM DONATION: $10
Donations go to the Torah Umesorah's Aniyim Fund, for food and other necessities for the poor and needy. Please make checks payable to Torah Umesorah's Aniyim Fund c/o Traub Family, 6022 Berkeley Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21209. This program was coordinated with the guidance of HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlita. L’ilui nishmas Ruchama ה”ע bas HaRav Naftali HaLevy Jaeger Shlita • L’ilui nishmas Tema bas Mordechai z”l (Rebbitzen Kamenetsky) and Yblch’t ‘Refuah Sheleima for Shmuel ben Eta Ettel (HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlita) Video Sponsor, Zecharia Dov ben Perel Shira
Greater
Washington: Around the Community
One Year Since October 7th — Commemorating as a Nation
The event commemorating the catastrophes of October 7th, 2023 was held at The Anthem theater in Washington, D.C. and run by the Jewish Federation. The ceremony started with the University of Maryland Jewish a capella group Rak Shalom singing a mashup of “Ekra” and “Olatz.” Both songs were originally sung by a group called Shalsheles. The song’s soloists were Berman alumni Dani Schwartz ’20 and Shai Margulies ’21 and JDS alumnus Elyon Topolosky ’22.
Following Rak Shalom, there were multiple speakers who expressed their feelings, stories, and
plans following the attack on October 7th and the more recent attacks on Israel. Michael Herzog, the Israeli ambassador to America, spoke about Israel’s past efforts to lower Hamas’ capabilities to do harm. Additionally, he talked about Israel’s hopeful plans to do the same to Hezbollah.
Another speaker was Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, who spoke about his family’s story, emotions, and hopes about the war and their son. Tamar Todd and Sam Loiterstein, two speakers from George Washington University, spoke about the harassment they have both faced be-
Berman Marks Oct 7th - Photo Essay
cause of their Jewish identity. They explained how they felt alone on campus and wished they had people there for them. They shared how they found a new home and a new family when they connected deeper with the Jewish community on campus.
Sarah Hurwitz, an author and former White House speechwriter, talked about the hope and positivity that is still in the Jewish people. “We carry our grief with us, but we move forward in hope, and that, I think, is why we are all still here, still uttering the same prayers we offered in our ancient temple in Jerusalem, 2,000 years after it was destroyed,” she said.
Hurwitz showed that even after all we have been through, we are still here and still have hope for the outcome of our nation. The event closed off with many people getting on the stage and singing “Olam Chesed Yibaneh” and a powerful “Am Yisrael Chai” that all the attendees joined in on.
The event as a whole was such an incredible, meaningful, and moving experience. It reminded us that there is still hope for us. It reminded us that there is still light in our future that we can hold on to. It was an important event to commemorate the losses we have suffered as a nation and to remind us that we still all have one another.
Photos: Ann-Marrie VanTassell
by RABBI NACHMAN SELTZER
Rabbi Nachman Seltzer brings his writing talent to one of the Torah’s most fundamental stories the story of Avraham Avinu. Based on the Chumash, Midrashim, and classic commentaries, Avraham Avinu — The Story of the Father of Our Nation is a child-friendly and effective way to introduce our children to the glory of Avraham Avinu’s life.
by Rabbi Shimon Finkelman
Discover how the weekly parashah holds timeless lessons on refining your speech and deepening your love for every Jew. With its accessible and relatable insights and real-life stories for every parashah, this essential guide to shemiras halashon, ahavas Yisrael, and positive speech will not only inspire meaningful conversations at your Shabbos table but also transform your everyday interactions, bringing more harmony into your home and life.
Greater Washington: Around the Community
YGW Girls Division Remembers October 7th
On the first day back after Sukkos, YGW Girls Division held a special program in commemoration of the Yahrzeit of those murdered on Shemini Atzeres. All grades learned with a chavrusa a Mishna in Pirkei Avos so that we could complete the sefer as a zechus for the neshamos of those who have fallen. The girls worked on a chesed project of making Havdalah sets that will be distributed to Chayalim who are fighting for Eretz Yisrael.
The school was honored to have Mrs. Ainav Danino as their guest speaker. She shared her reflections about her son Ori’s legacy and about living with Emunah during challenging times.
The program ended with a student presentation, Mincha and Tehillim, and a kumzitz.
The teachers and students prepared a personalized gift to present
to Mrs. Danino of Perek Chof Zayin from Tehillim.
Two of the 8th grade students, Nava Baldinger and Aidel Gaisin also presented Mrs. Danino with a gift as a part of a fundraising initiative that they have undertaken to send gifts of comfort to mothers of hostages.
May our learning, tefillos, and acts of chesed be a zechus for our brethren in Eretz Yisroel.
L CHAIM
Monday November 11th
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 11TH- NOVEMBER 15TH
Tuesday November 12th
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 13th
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 14th
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
Arts & Crafts with Shifra
1:45 pm
Guitar with Yossi K
Friday November 15th
9:30 am
Rabbi P's Parsha Pointers and Patterns
10:00 am
Baking with Ms Hirchman
11:00 am
Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp
2:00 pm
Music with Aharon Grayson
11-12 For thousands of years, Mama Rachel has been the address for Yidden seeking all types of yeshuos. Mosdos Kever Rachel preserves Kever Rachel while supporting an on-site kollel of over 300 avreichim who learn day and night. Now, with The Imeinu Project, Yidden from around the world can have the opportunity to connect to Mama Rachel at any time.
613 Seconds with Pin #0098:
One of the couples currently being helped by Bonei Olam Baltimore
BJH: Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed, tell me a little about yourself?
Pin #0098: Hi, I agreed to this interview because I feel I can represent any Baltimore woman experiencing infertility. I want to say to the community, you know me, you’ve seen me, I’m one of you, but inside I have a deep dark secret. My husband and I are going through infertility – something that no one who hasn’t gone through can understand. I wake up in the morning, go to work, do my shopping, like all of you, but underneath the exterior is my broken heart; a heart bleeding for the opportunity to be a mother, a soul yearning for the chance to nourish and nurture. I meet you every day and look like everyone else, but deep inside I’m crying. Hot salty tears course my heart. I hold them inside so you won’t know my secret.
In public I always scan the crowd to
see if people see through my facade of normalcy. I feel so scared. So afraid. So isolated. When I’m with friends and they talk about sleepless nights, tuition stresses, Erev Yom Tov, I want to scream and yell, I want to tell all of them that I also have sleepless nights, just not from my baby! Late at night, I shed tears for what the Dr. will tell me next. I don’t have tuition stresses, but my bills for Doctors visits, medication, and treatments far surpass your children’s tuition. Erev Y”T I’m not busy running around shopping, instead I’m trying to arrange my treatment schedule so it shouldn’t come out on Y”T. But I don’t say anything, I just sit listening, smiling, nodding and silent…
BJH: This year’s campaign theme for Bonei Olam is Shhhh, from painfully quiet to a soothing whisper. How does this theme resonate with you?
Pin #0098: Recently, Bonei Olam
approved me for funding to try a treatment I never thought I would be able to afford. Hopefully, this treatment will result in the answer to my years of prayer. Knowing Bonei Olam is funding this treatment not only gives me hope of becoming a mother, I feel as if the community is there giving me chizuk as well. I know the money comes from people in the community. I want to shout out through my tears to each and every one of you, you cannot imagine how much chizuk and comfort you give me at this moment! But no, I must remain silent. Now I have hope, hope that my painful silence will soon be replaced with all the joyful sounds of parenthood.
BJH: You are only one of many cases Bonei Olam Baltimore is currently handling, what would you like to say to those in the Baltimore community?
Pin #0098: During these challenging times for Klal Yisroel we each have
the ability to participate in ensuring the continuity of generations by donating to Bonei Olam and assisting couples in Baltimore longing to have a family of their own. My journey would not be possible without the generosity of those in the Baltimore community. I’m sure I speak on behalf of the other Baltimore Bonei Olam couples is working with, when I say, thank you for your generosity and for hearing our silent cries of pain.
BJH: Thank you for sharing your story! Baltimore, you can help change the painful quiet to a soothing whisper by donating to the Bonei Olam online campaign, this Sunday and Monday, November 10th and 11th. Donate now at boneiolam.org/baltimore. All funds raised through this campaign will assist our local Baltimore couples. May we share good news together.
How Bonei Olam can help you!
The Week In News
The Week In News
Floods Hit Spain
Following the worst floods in the country’s modern history, eastern Spain’s death toll rose to at least 218 people killed in the natural disaster. All the while, dozens more are missing, with rescue services working to save survivors and recover the dead.
Last Tuesday, some areas of the Valencia region saw a year’s worth of rain in the span of just eight hours.
The storms concentrated over the Ma-
gro and Turia river basins and, in the Poyo canal, produced walls of water that overflowed riverbanks, catching people unaware as they went on with their daily lives on Tuesday evening and early Wednesday.
In a matter of moments, the muddy water covered roads and railways, entering houses and businesses in towns on the outskirts of Valencia. Drivers had to take shelter on car roofs, while residents took refuge on higher ground.
Spain’s national weather service said that in the hard-hit locality of Chiva, it rained more in eight hours than it had in the preceding 20 months, calling the deluge “extraordinary.” Other areas on the southern outskirts of Valencia city didn’t get rain before they were wiped out by the wall of water that overflowed the drainage canals.
When authorities sent alerts to mobile phones warning of the seriousness of the flooding and asking people to stay at home, many were already on the road, working, or covered in water in low-lying areas or underground garages, which became death traps.
On Thursday, rescue services recovered eight bodies from a flooded garage
near the border of Valencia city, according to Mayor Maria Jose Catala. One of the bodies belonged to a local police officer. A woman, aged 45, was found dead at home in La Torre, the neighborhood where the other five bodies were found.
Political opponents spoke out against the central Spanish government, alleging they failed to alert residents of the incoming floods in time for them to evacuate and have been taking too much time deploying rescue missions.
In the nearby town of Paiporta, 62 people perished, according to Mayor Maribel Albalat.
“We found a lot of elderly people inside their homes and people who went to get their cars. It was a trap,” she said, adding that locals were not informed in advance about the flooding.
Floods damaged around 50 miles worth of roads in eastern Spain, according to Oscar Puente, the country’s transport minister. Deserted cars, some of which had bodies inside, obstructed many other roads. Many bridges, rail tracks, and acres of farmland were also damaged.
At a local rescue coordination center, Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister of
Spain, warned residents near Valencia to remain indoors because of the possibility of more bad weather.
“Right now, the most important thing is to safeguard as many lives as possible,” Sanchez declared.
Europe is no stranger to deadly floods. At least 185 people were killed by intense flooding in Germany in 2021. In 1970, floods killed 209 in Romania, and another 500 were killed in Portugal in 1967.
Iran Executes Jewish Man
On Monday, Arvin Nathaniel Ghahremani, a 20-year-old Jewish man, was executed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
HIRINGHIRING
The Week In News
Ghahremani, who lived in Iran, was arrested at the age of 18 on murder charges. He had been sentenced to death. Jewish communities around the world tried to intervene on his behalf to prevent his death. Sadly, he was executed at Kermanshah Central Prison. Ghahremani was supposed to be killed in May. He had been charged over the death of Amir Shokri, an Iranian, who died after a fight between the two. Ghahremani had been ambushed
outside a gym by Shokri and seven other men. Shokri had owed Ghahremani money. Ghahremani fought back to defend himself; Shokri eventually died.
Ghahremani was sentenced to death by sharia law. Shokri’s family needed to forgive Ghahremani for the alleged killing in order to spare his life. Despite offers of huge sums of money, the family refused to forgive Ghahremani.
Earlier this year it was reported that Shokri’s family had come under
pressure from a close aide to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the intelligence division of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to not accept the financial settlement, according to Ynet. The motive for the objection was reportedly Ghahremani’s Jewish ethnicity.
Advocates petitioned the court for a retrial but it was rejected.
IKEA Pays For Prison Labor
During the Soviet Union’s occupation of East Germany from 1949 to 1990, the German Democratic Republic (GDR), which had been ruling the region at the time, enslaved tens of thousands of political prisoners and jailed criminals. Many of these prisoners were forced to construct flatpack furniture for IKEA, a prominent furniture company. Some of the furniture was built as recently as the 1970s and 1980s.
Following reports of how the forced labor benefited IKEA, the company hired Ernst & Young, an independent auditor, to investigate the matter. The investigation found that IKEA did, in fact, benefit from cheap prison labor in communist Germany and that the company’s representatives probably knew about it at the time.
In response to the investigation, IKEA’s German branch, this past week, volunteered to give 6 million euros ($6.5 million) to a government fund to reimburse the prisoners coerced into forced labor. The fund is expected to be established in the weeks to come, after Germany’s parliament approves it.
known, IKEA has consistently worked to clarify the situation,” said IKEA Germany’s CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer Walter Kadner. “We have given our word to those affected that we will participate in providing support. We therefore welcome the implementation of the hardship fund and are pleased to be able to keep our promise.”
IKEA’s move is unprecedented, as few companies have voluntarily compensated victims of forced labor. The decision was praised by UOGK’s chairman, Dieter Dombrowski, who called the move “groundbreaking.”
“After it became known that the company was involved in forced prison labor, IKEA accepted our invitation to talk. Together we have taken the path of enlightenment and IKEA has met those affected on an equal footing,” said Dombrowski. “We hope that other companies will follow IKEA’s example.”
Many other companies benefited from communist Germany’s forced prison labor. In 2012, Rainer Wagner, the former chairman of UOGK, called IKEA “just the tip of the iceberg” and urged other companies to pay former prisoners for the forced labor they benefited from.
“IKEA’s pledge to support the hardship fund is an expression of a responsible approach to dealing with dark chapters in the company’s own history,” said the GDR victims’ special representative in the German parliament. “We can’t undo what prisoners had to suffer in the GDR’s prisons, but we can treat them with respect today and support them.”
Milei Appoints Jewish FM
The company’s decision came after years of talks between IKEA Germany and the Union of the Victims’ Associations of Communist Dictatorship (UOGK), an organization dedicated to compensating the victims of communist Germany.
“We deeply regret that products for IKEA were also produced by political prisoners in the GDR. Since it became
Gerardo Werthein, a Jewish veterinarian, was named Argentina’s foreign minister by President Javier Milei this week..
Werthein replaced Diana Mondino, whom Milei dismissed after Argentina voted in the United Nations to condemn the U.S. embargo on Cuba.
The Week In News
The United States and Israel — which Milei, elected last year, has defined as Argentina’s main allies, in a shift for Argentina — were the only two votes opposing the non-binding resolution.
Werthein had been Milei’s ambassador to the United States, one of two Jewish ambassadors that Milei appointed. The other is Axel Wahnish, an Orthodox rabbi who represents Argentina in Israel.
Werthein will lead a “transformation in our country’s foreign policy,” according to a statement from Milei’s office.
Milei has been a vocal supporter of Israel, in contrast to his predecessor, who was a sharp critic of the Jewish State. Similarly, many of his counterparts in Latin America are pro-Palestinian. The leaders of neighboring Brazil and Chile have condemned Israel for its military response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, as has Colombia’s Gustavo Petro. Milei, in contrast, has offered full-throated support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and visited Israel in February on his first international trip as president.
Argentina has defined Hamas as a terrorist group and has formally named Hezbollah as the perpetrators of two deadly attacks on Jewish targets in Buenos Aires in the 1990s. Last week, Security Minister Patricia Bullrich disclosed the identity of the Hezbollah chief in Latin America, Hussein Ahmad Karaki. She said he participated in the terrorist attacks in Buenos Aires and continues to lead Hezbollah’s operations in the region, likely from Lebanon. She said she would seek his prosecution.
Werthein, whose only direct diplomatic experience includes his short stint as ambassador, is expected to draw on his years in international sports collaboration and his role in the family business. That business started in 1904 when an ancestor, an immigrant from Bessarabia in what was then Russia, founded a country store in the agricultural La Pampa province called “The Hebrew.” Today, the Werthein Group has interests in agriculture and livestock, retail, telecommunications, real estate, financial services, wineries and energy. Gerardo Werthein left the company in 2019.
The Week In News
Werthein traveled to New York with Milei a year ago to visit the gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Queens.
“It was a special, symbolic and pretty moment,” he said about his visit to the gravesite at the time.
The U.S. ambassador to Argentina, Marc Stanley, is also Jewish and active in the local Jewish community in Buenos Aires.
“The investigation began after significant suspicions arose in the Shin Bet and IDF — including as a result of media publications — that secret and sensitive intelligence information was taken from the IDF and removed illegally, sparking concerns of serious harm to national security and a danger to the sources of the information,” the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court said.
PM Spokesman Sabotaged Deal?
On Sunday, an Israeli court named Eli Feldstein as one of the people associated with the Prime Minister’s Office who allegedly illegally leaked classified information to shoot down hostage deals. Three other suspects have yet to be named due to a court gag order.
“As a result, damage could have been done to the ability of defense bodies to achieve the goal of freeing the hostages [held in Gaza].”
Although Netanyahu said that no individuals suspected or charged in the case worked for his office, Feldstein played a role in the Prime Minister’s Office. The spokesperson didn’t work directly with Netanyahu (because he
The Week In News
failed a polygraph test), but rather, with the premier’s director-general. Feldstein was thus in close contact with the prime minister but didn’t have high security clearance.
Two documents were supposedly leaked to the press. The first, a document that noted that Hamas prolonged hostage talks as an act of psychological warfare against Israel and to regain its military capabilities was seemingly handed to Bild, a German newspaper, which wrote an article on the leak. Another document, suggesting that the now-deceased Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, was plotting to smuggle the hostages into Egypt and Iran, inspired the Jewish Chronicle to write a now-redacted article. These leaks were allegedly meant to sabotage hostage deals by turning the Israeli public against any agreements with Hamas.
Although both ideas were mostly dismissed by the Israeli media, the leaks mirror thoughts expressed by Netanyahu during meetings held around the times when the two articles were published.
Feldstein, a 32-year-old Israeli who grew up in a charedi family in Bnei Brak, was detained on October 27 in an early-morning raid. Police arrested three
others. The suspects may reportedly be imprisoned for up to fifteen years.
According to Ynet, officials have four problems with the situation: top-secret documents were leaked; advisors without proper security clearance were allowed in meetings and off-limit areas; classified documents were handled sloppily; and documents were used to change the public’s thoughts regarding a hostage agreement.
Netanyahu’s office maintained on Saturday that Feldstein “never participated in security discussions, was not exposed to or received classified information, and did not take part in secret visits.”
It added, “The published document never came to the Prime Minister’s Office from the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate, and the prime minister learned about it from the media.”
Of the Bild article, which asserted that Hamas seeks a ceasefire deal solely to restore its military power, the PMO said it was “ridiculous” to say such a piece “caused any damage to the negotiations for the release of the hostages or to the security of Israel.”
Netanyahu’s political opponents, including Opposition Leader Yair Lapid and National Unity party leader Benny
Gantz, slammed Netanyahu for his alleged connection with the leaks.
More Iranian Spies Arrested
On Thursday, Israeli officials charged Rafael and Lala Guliyev, a couple in their thirties who live in Lod, with spying for Iran. Later that day, prosecutors announced that, last week, they indicted a man from Bnei Brak, Asher Binyamin Weiss, on suspicion of carrying out tasks for Iran, including surveilling an Israeli nuclear scientist whom the Islamic Republic planned to assassinate.
According to the Shin Bet and Israel Police, Elshan Agyeiv, a 56-year-old Israeli of Azerbaijani origin, recruited the Guliyev couple. The husband was tasked with surveilling Israeli security
sites, including the Mossad’s headquarters and stalking one of the Institute for National Security Studies’ (INSS) female academics, whom Iran sought to target. He was also supposed to help find an assassin for Iran. The man’s wife frequently helped him out.
For each day that Rafael Guliyev stalked the INSS academic, he was paid $600. In all, Iran allegedly gave the couple $26,000. As part of the man’s role, he photographed and videoed the woman’s home and car for hours, the indictment claims.
The husband and wife also allegedly took pictures and videos of Tel Aviv’s Moldovan consulate, Israel Electric Corporation sites, the Haifa Port, an Hadera water pumping state, public bomb shelters in Tel Aviv, and the graves of October 7 victims. Additionally, they purportedly took photos near Tel Aviv’s Kirya military base of posters of the hostages who were kidnapped on October 7 and remain in Gaza.
Guliyev communicated with the Iranians via the Telegram app. His contacts urged him to buy a dedicated phone, high-quality cameras, and a laptop with encrypted software.
Weiss allegedly filmed a nuclear
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scientist’s house and car using a GoPro camera. He then sent the video to a young man in East Jerusalem who had been hired to assassinate the scientist.
Last month, Israeli officials arrested seven residents of East Jerusalem who were allegedly involved in the plot.
Additionally, Weiss purportedly set cars ablaze, sprayed graffiti, and posted hundreds of posters in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan urging the public to revolt against the government. Iranian officials paid him thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrency, in return for which he sent them photo evidence of his crimes.
Many others have been charged with working on behalf of Iran. Seven young adult men from East Jerusalem’s Beit Safafa were also hired by Iran to assassinate an Israeli nuclear scientist and a mayor in a large central Israeli city, vandalize parts of Jerusalem, take pictures of different sites, and spray graffiti.
Twenty-year-old Rami Alian, who was one of the detained boys from Beit Safafa, was told to throw a hand grenade at a security serviceman, but he didn’t end up following through. His Iranian contacts offered to pay him
$53,000 if he successfully killed a particular Israeli nuclear scientist.
The investigation shows “once again the efforts of the Iranian intelligence agencies to recruit and exploit Israeli citizens in order to promote espionage and terrorist activity in Israel,” said a Shin Bet official.
New Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi
On Thursday, Rabbi David Lau was succeeded by Rabbi Kalman Ber as Israel’s A shkenazi chief rabbi, following a 77-58 vote which saw Rabbi Ber defeating Rabbi Micha Halevi, the chief rabbi of Petah Tikva.
Two months prior, Rabbi Ber and
Rabbi Halevi tied with 40 votes each, thus prompting Gali Baharav-Miara, the attorney general, to call a runoff election.
In July, Rabbi Lau and his Sephardi counterpart, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, stepped down from their positions, as their ten-year terms had ended. Their positions had been vacant until recently. Last month, Rabbi Yosef was succeeded as chief Sephardi rabbi by his brother Rabbi David Yosef.
The Ashkenazi and Sephardi chief rabbis have several responsibilities, including organizing Israel’s kashrus system and rabbinical courts, which are authorized to rule on matters such as marriage, divorce, and burials.
While Rabbi Halevi was backed by the Religious Zionism party of Bezalel Smotrich, and Shas, Aryeh Deri’s charedi Sephardic party, Rabbi Ber was supported by the United Torah Judaism party. Some backed Rabbi Halevi because Rabbi Ber didn’t portray himself as an explicitly religious Zionist candidate.
the United States in more than 25 years.
The International Association of Machinists (IAM) said rank-and-file members voted by 59% to approve the deal.
“I’m proud of our members. It is a win,” said Jon Holden, president of the largest IAM local at Boeing and the union’s chief negotiator. “They achieved a lot, and we’re ready to move forward.”
“While the past few months have been difficult for all of us, we are all part of the same team,” Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said in a statement. “We will only move forward by listening and working together. There is much work ahead to return to the excellence that made Boeing an iconic company.”
The 33,000 union workers who had been on strike are set to go back to work on Wednesday.
Rabbi Ber’s win was “an important development for Jewish heritage,” said UTJ lawmaker and Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Heritage Minister Meir Porush, adding that Rabbi Ber would “undoubtedly succeed in uniting all of Israel in this difficult time” due to his
The vote was postponed several times by the Knesset due to concerns about municipal voting. During one Supreme Court ruling, the court ordered the Chief Rabbinate Council to “consider” adding women to its group of voters, which only includes men at this time.
Boeing Workers
On Monday, Boeing workers voted to accept the company’s most recent offer, ending the strike that began on September 13. It was the costliest strike in
The deal calls for an immediate raise of 13% and raises of 9% for each of the next two years, and then another 7% in the fourth and final year of the contract. Taken together, members will receive a pay raise that exceeds 43%.
Workers also get a ratification bonus of $12,000, part of which they can contribute to 401(k) retirement accounts. The deal did not restore the traditional pension plan they lost in 2014 from their previous labor deal, a stipulation that had seen workers reject Boeing’s previous two offers.
Companies, both unionized and nonunion, have generally moved away from a traditional pension plan, known as defined benefit plans, in recent decades. Such plans generally pay retirees a set amount every month no matter how long they live or how well pension fund assets perform.
Union leadership had urged members to accept the latest offer, even though it was not significantly different from the one they rejected on October 23. The union had urged members “to lock in these gains and confidently declare victory” and warned members that another rejection could “risk a regressive or lesser offer in the future.”
The strikers have lost more than $600 million in combined wages but the cost to Boeing has been significantly greater, according to estimates from Anderson Economic Group, a Michigan-based research firm, which puts Boeing’s losses through the end of last week at $6.5 billion. Overall, the cost to the U.S. economy has topped $11.5 billion.
Those losses
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two fatal crashes led to a 20-month grounding of its best-selling jet, the 737 Max, in 2019 and 2020.
Despite its problems, Boeing is still a major contributor to the U.S. economy, as it is the largest American exporter.
Drought in Many States
Almost the entire United States faced drought conditions during the last week of October.
Only Alaska and Kentucky did not have at least moderate drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor system.
The past four months were consistent-
vice. But in June, while roughly a quarter of the country was dry to some degree, he said, now 87% of the nation is.
“Drought in many parts of the country and the world is becoming more frequent, longer and more severe,” said Erica Fleishman, director of the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute and a professor at Oregon State University.
Dry conditions over the past few months led New York City on Saturday to urge residents to start conserving “every drop possible.”
Last month was the driest October since record keeping began in 1869, according to the city, which issued a drought watch for the 9.8 million people who rely on the city’s water supply. A watch encourages voluntary water conservation and ensures city agencies are ready with water conservation plans. The last time a watch was issued was in 2001.
Rohit Aggarwala, the city’s chief climate officer and commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, noted that the problem is one of quantity,
in the fall. But, he said, the water is completely safe to drink.
Even after Hurricane Helene dropped huge amounts of destructive rain across the Southeast, the region is experiencing drought. Not much rain has fallen since the storm, and warmer temperatures mean higher evaporation rates and drier soils.
Drought doesn’t just come from a lack of precipitation like rain or snow. Drought conditions are driven by abnormally high temperatures that can quickly suck moisture from the atmosphere and the ground.
Even if the total amount of precipitation stays the same or increases a bit, drought can occur. That is especially true as rain events get more episodic, with heavier deluges over a smaller number of events. When all the water comes at once, it’s more difficult for soil to soak it up or for water storage to contain it. (© The New York Times)
Jaywalking is Legal
Want to cross the street against the light in the Big Apple? Be my guest. Jay-
walking is now officially legal in New York. Still, authorities caution that people need to be careful and look both ways while crossing the street.
In September, the City Council passed legislation allowing pedestrians to cross the street at any time without adhering to traffic signals. Over the weekend, the bill became law after Mayor Eric Adams neither signed nor vetoed the bill within a 30-day window.
Jaywalking had been illegal in New York from 1958 and carried a fine of up to $250.
At least 200 people over the past five years have died while crossing the street in the middle of the block or against traffic signals, accounting for around 34% of all pedestrian fatalities, according to the New York City Department of Transportation.
Supporters of the bill, including one of the sponsors, Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, said that the jaywalking law was racist.
“In 2023, over 92% of jaywalking citations went to Black and Latino New Yorkers,” she said in a statement. Now that the law has been approved, Narcisse believes that officers can focus
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“Police officers have shared with me that they prefer to focus on true public safety efforts, not issuing tickets for crossing the street.”
The law allowing jaywalking officially goes into effect in February, but it does not eliminate the risks associated with the longstanding practice. Last year, 62.2 million people visited New York City. They had better be on their guard while crossing the busy city streets.
Canned Air for Sale
Don’t take for granted the air you breathe – it could be worth lots of money.
nations at the holiday hotspot. The canned air have been on sale since early October.
Davide Abagnale is a consultant for Italy Comunica, the marketing company that dreamt up the cans.
“We wanted to create a reminder that people can easily take home in their suitcases,” Abagnale, 36, said. “When the can is opened, it obviously loses its charm a bit.”
The cans are made in the Netherlands and sealed in Como.
Last year, a record 5.6 million tourists came to the area to view the beautiful scenery and enjoy the idyllic towns.
Two-Headed Turtle
noodles often compete for resources.
Indeed, Morena’s two-for-one turtle was double the trouble with two mouths that refused to eat.
What has two heads and is slow on the take? A turtle with two heads, of course.
Joseph Morena, of New Jersey, has been taking care of a two-headed turtle for the past few months. His friend had hatched the interesting creature and had no idea how to care for it.
Morena happily took the reptile, who has been surviving despite the odds under his care.
“I am going to do whatever it takes to keep these guys happy and alive,” Morena pledged.
“Obviously I had to take him,” he said, explaining that raising the unique creature was difficult given the low birth and survival rates of multi-noggined critters.
To have multiple heads, also known
“I continued to offer food, but they showed no interest. I began to get really worried,” he recalled.
Finally, the larger of the two heads began to eat, and slowly, the smaller head decided it wanted to nosh too.
Still, Morena is concerned for his pet. One morning, he awoke to find the turtle on its back, unresponsive.
“I was almost certain they had passed,” he recounted and said he frantically performed gentle chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth.
Moreno breathed a sigh of relief when they recovered almost two hours later.
“Somehow, they managed to almost drown in half an inch of water,” he said.
The turtle is now eight weeks old and hopefully stronger.
“They are still young and they have a lot of challenges to overcome,” he said. “I’m not saying that they are guaranteed to live but they are not giving up and every
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Torah Thought Silent Heroes
By Rabbi Zvi Teichman
Upon discovering how quickly she became pregnant in contrast to Sarah having been childless all these many years, Hagar diminishes her reverence for her mistress, Sarah, in her eyes.
Sarah turns to Avraham, seemingly distressed, accusingly points her finger at Avraham, exclaiming, “The outrage against me is due to you!” Sarah goes on to emphasize how it was her initiative to give the maidservant to his bosom, yet when Hagar conceives, she lowered her esteem of Sarah. With flourish, she frustratedly throws down the gauntlet by declaring, “Let G-d judge between me and you!”
The paradigms of kindness and devotion seem to have devolved into a bitter quarreling couple.
Impossible!
The Targums Yerushalmi and Yonoson, have a totally different read on this story.
It describes how Sarah, not angrily, but matter-of-factly lays out the situation as she observes it. She goes on to portray how throughout her long history with Avraham, from her acquiescence to their initial journey towards the unknown; to her readily feigning she is Avraham’s sister in Egypt to prevent Avraham from being killed; to her devising the plan to beget a child for Avraham through the agency of Hagar; to her being belittled by Hagar with no reaction from Avraham, she remains the loyal wife, yet look what has resulted. Sarah implies that it was due to this attitude of Avraham that gave rise to Hagar’s reaction. Sarah then goes on to suggest that it is time that G-d makes things right by bestowing His peace between them, allowing the world to be populated by a child born to them so that there will be no need to rely on an Egyptian maidservant, the daughter of Pharaoh, the son of Nimrod, who tossed Avraham into the fiery furnace.
So, she wasn’t asking G-d to intervene and judge Avraham for his behavior, but was rather pleading with G-d to allow them to bear the child that would carry his legacy.
There appears to be a highlighting of
Hagar’s lineage to Nimrod that seems to be at the root of what has gone awry here.
What was Sarah conveying in her review of her history with Avraham? How is that relevant to Hagar’s inappropriate behavior.
The moment Hagar conceived she questioned Sarah’s reputation as a righteous woman for how else she can explain herself becoming pregnant instantly, yet ‘righteous’ Sarah remained barren all those years. Hagar’s only conclusion was that Sarah was a phony.
Was Hagar who was exposed to the teachings of Avraham so shallow to think that life is that simple, that even good people struggle? Life isn’t about ‘winning all the toys’. One who lives happily, projecting good values and morals despite the disappointments that may come in one’s way, is what our character and relationship with G-d is all about. One who lives with that reality develops a sense of self that is not predicated on the external achievements we hope for, but rather on the deepening connection with G-d we attain in that journey.
Nimrod was the first proclaimed רוביג — hero in the Torah. He gained his reputation as such through his mighty conquests of wild animals and beasts. He went on to apply that heroic effort in overpowering nations, imposing his control over man as well.
No longer was success measured by the attainment of intellectual wisdom or by the altruistic actions in helping one’s fellow man, nor through one’s self-control of one’s thoughts and the disciplining of one’s instincts — the perfection of character.
All that mattered was winning the game of life.
This toxic attitude wasn’t just the driving force behind the unhealthy competition in the arena of physical attainment, it infiltrated into the realm of the most exquisite of relationships, that of man and woman. The vying for validation and control would mar the ability to appreciate the other’s differences and accepting them without a need for supremacy.
Sarah painted a beautiful portrait of her and Avraham’s life. One without contention. One with understanding. One of acceptance. There was no need for asserting oneself for they meshed seamlessly in their goals and valuing of one another.
Sarah conveyed that Hagar simply didn’t fathom the ‘shprach’, the special language of Avraham and Sarah. Despite her exposure to this extraordinary home she knew only of the instinct to ‘win’ as the sole yardstick of success.
This is what Sarah revealed before Avraham. Only through the healthy relationship that existed between them both could they possibly produce the family that would bring the world to its proper stature.
Hagar was gifted to Sarah by Pharaoh after having been awed by her greatness expressing his desire that his daughter would be better off as a maidservant to her rather than a mistress in the palaces of Egypt.
In fact, the Midrash explains her very name רגה, was bestowed upon her then for it is rooted in the Aramaic word for reward, רגא, as this was Sarah’s reward for her enduring in the house of Pharaoh.
Reward connotes a payment of tribute for having done something that deserves compensation and admiration.
Is that a correct way to exhibit his reverence for her spiritual stature? A gift is the more appropriate expression of a privilege to connect with someone one truly admires.
Why a reward?
In the world of Nimrodian values even when one loses to an opponent there exists a possibility of admiration for a ‘winner’, but never for the greater character of that individual. Beneath that veneer of esteem lies a determination to overcome and defeat the opponent the next time.
The Holy Kohen of Tzfas, the Sifsei Kohen, indeed reveals that Pharaoh’s apparently benevolent sentiment that Hagar shall be a ‘repayment’ of sort, has the sub context of Pharaoh’s latent hope that Hagar will ‘payback’ in kind, causing Sarah suffering, in return for the suffering Pharaoh endured at the hands of Sarah.
Hagar is eventually sent away. Yet we are told she repented and returned to Avraham as Keturah.
The great Kabbalist the Rama M’Pano teaches that the soul of Hagar reincarnated as the Canaanite maidservant of Yishai, the father of David.
In a remarkable reversal of her original role, she was instrumental in the birth of David.
Yishai doubted his status as a Moabite, as he descended from Rus the Moabite, and thus possibly also tainted and unpermitted to remain married to his wife, a pure Israelite. The law that restricts marriage to only female Moabites, but not men, was not yet
determined at that time. Yishai decided the only solution would be to separate from her. Yishai longed for a child whose ancestry would be unquestionable. His plan was to engage in relations with his Canaanite maidservant, freeing her conditionally and asserting that if his status as an unrestricted Jew is legitimate, then she is freed as a proper Jewish convert and permitted to marry him. If, however, his status is blemished and he has the legal status of a Moabite forbidden to marry an Israelite, he would withhold her freedom, since a Canaanite maidservant may marry a Moabite.
The maidservant was aware of the anguish of her mistress, Nitzevet, the wife of Yishai. She understood her pain in being separated from her husband for so many years. She knew, as well, of Nitzevet’s longing for more children.
The empathetic maidservant secretly approached Nitzevet and informed her of Yishai’s plan, suggesting she replicate the deed of Rochel who switched places with Leah.
With a prayer on her lips that her plan succeeds, Nitzevet took the place of her maidservant. That night, Nitzevet conceived. Yishai remained unaware of the switch.
After discovering her pregnancy, her sons wished to kill their apparently adulterous mother and the illegitimate fetus that she carried. Nitzevet, for her part, would not embarrass her husband by revealing the truth of what had occurred. Like her ancestress Tamar, she was prepared to be burned alive rather than embarrass Yehuda. Nitzevet chose a vow of silence. And like Tamar, Nitzevet would be rewarded for her silence with a child of greatness who would be the forebear of Moshiach.
Having compassion on her, Yishai ordered his sons not to touch her, permitting the child that will be born be treated as a lowly and despised servant. In this way everyone will realize that his status is questionable and, as an illegitimate child, he will not marry an Israelite.
As history bears out Nitzevet and David were justified. But it took the strength of a matriarch to forge forward through life without any external validation other than the truth of her convictions and her relationship with G-d.
But it also required a true but silent ‘hero’, the perfected soul of Hagar, the Canaanite maidservant of Yishai, in bringing about the personification of the greatest attributes of our patriarchs and matriarchs, in whose hands Yishmael would fall.
It is the silent heroes whose sense of worthiness stems from an inner truth and unfettered connection to G-d that indeed are the true winners.
You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ ohelmoshebaltimore.com
PARSHA
OVERVIEW
Hashem tests Avraham to leave his home to an unknown place. There is a famine. Sarai is captured and returned. Lot parts from Avraham. Hashem promises Land to Avraham. War between 4 and 5 kings. Avraham rescues Lot. Hashem promises Avraham children. Avraham is circumcised.
Quotable Quote “ ”
The people that can know the full darkness of history and yet rejoice is a people whose spirit no power on earth can ever break.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt”l
TSorahparks
Parshas Lech Lecha on
GEMATRIA
The gematria of ירבעה םרבאל (Chapter 14, Passuk 13) i s 560. There is one passuk in the entire Torah (Devarim 2:17) with this gematria: רמאל ילא ה רבדיו - Hashem spoke to me saying. Perhaps Avraham connected in this personal way...and listened. Avraham was able to act differently than the rest of the world because he felt, “Hashem is speaking to me!”
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 - 126
QUICK VORT Chassidus
The Jewish people are called “Ivrim, Hebrews” which is based on a term in this week’s Parshah, where the great Avraham Avinu is referred to as ירבעה
Literally, “Ivri” means “from the other side.” But, it’s more than just a name; it’s really a calling to each and every Jew.
The calling of the Jew is to be like Avraham Avinu. Just as Avraham Avinu was “from the other side,” so too we are meant to be from the other side.
We think different, talk different, and act different. Chazal tell us that “Avraham Avinu was on one side and the entire world was on the other.”
We have a holy calling, a mission granted to us from Hashem, to be different.
Let us value our differences, embrace them, and become the best Jews we can become!
The heiliga Sfas Emes quotes a Zohar which says that the calling of “Lech Lecha” was not directed to Avraham Avinu alone. It was a calling to everyone. But essentially, everyone else was busy with their “stuff,” and only Avraham Avinu actually listened.
Points to
Hashem tells Avraham Avinu to go outside and count the stars. When Avraham then went outside, and started counting, did he think he’d be able to count EVERY SINGLY STAR? Surely, that feat would have been impossible!
Why would Hashem ask him to do something impossible?
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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
Forgotten Her es The Congressional Gold Medal for Flying
By Avi Heiligman
Both the U.S. president and Congress have awards that they are able to bestow upon deserving recipients. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest and most prestigious award that Congress can give to a citizen. Many important historical figures and organizations have received the Gold Medal in recognition for their accomplishments. Congress has presented the award to many aviators and flying organizations for pushing new frontiers in air and space.
When World War II began, civil aviation worldwide was close to being grounded due to the needs of the military and the buildup of the air force. However, in the United States, there were thousands of pilots that for a variety of reasons had not joined the military but were capable of helping with the war effort. In 1941, the Civil Air Patrol was founded, and their operations soon began in earnest after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. Most civilian planes were grounded after the attack so many pilots joined the Civil Air Patrol so that they would be able to fly.
Cities and shipping along the coasts were a prime target for enemy submarines, but the military was underequipped for dealing with this threat. In
the first year of the war, hundreds of merchant ships were sunk. What the U.S. Navy needed was an early warning system to alert them of U-boats lurking off the coasts waiting to attack. The Civil Air Patrol began unarmed coastal patrols using radios to pinpoint the submarines’ locations to the army, navy and coast guard. Their planes were privately owned and operated, and both
submarines and had sunk two of them, although some historians maintain that research does not support the claim of the sunken U-boats. Additionally, Civil Air Patrol pilots reported on many Allied merchant ships in distress and came to the rescue of sailors from ships that had become victim to the U-boats.
These unpaid volunteers who put themselves in constant danger to pro -
trol’s Congressional Squadron.
By the end of the war, they had sighted 173 enemy submarines and had sunk two of them
The Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) were two World War II units that recruited minorities. Both were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their excellent service records during the war. The Tuskegee Airmen were mainly African-American pilots who flew as both fighter and bomber pilots during World War II. They were vital to the protection of bombing raids over Europe, and their Congressional Gold Medal is retained at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.
men and women were accepted as sub chasers. Later on during the war, Civil Air Patrol planes were authorized to carry bombs and depth charges. It was dangerous work, and 62 civil aviators died in the line of duty. Ninety aircraft were lost on patrols. Even though the Civil Air Patrol was not military, 800 members were awarded air medals for their actions during the war. By the end of the war, they had sighted 173 enemy
tect the borders were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014. Former Jewish Congressman Lester Wolff accepted the award on behalf of the World War II members of the patrol. Wolff had served in the Civil Air Patrol as squadron commander and helped shape the unit in the years after World War II. During the war, he flew as a submarine chaser. While in Congress, Wolff was a founding member of the Civil Air Pa -
In April 1942, a force of sixteen B-25 Mitchell medium bombers came out of the clouds over Tokyo in a surprise raid just months after Pearl Harbor. Colonel Jimmy Doolittle had recruited the crews and flew the land-based bombers off of the aircraft carrier, USS Hornet. Most of the planes crashed while attempting to reach China, and one crew was interred when they landed in Vladivostok , Russia. The physiological results from the raid raised morale in the U.S., and Japanese citizens began to fear their government couldn’t prevent more attacks. In 2014, these men were presented with the Gold Medal for “outstanding heroism, valor, skill, and service to the Unit-
Women Airforce Service Pilots
Lester Wolff in the cockpit of a plane
Members of the Civil Air Patrol
ed States in conducting the bombings of Tokyo.”
Brigadier General Billy Mitchell also received the award for putting his career on the line trying to convince the military to spend resources on bombers and airplanes instead of battleships. His foresight during the interwar period between the two world wars was correct –battleships were soon a thing of the past while military aviation grew exponentially during World War II. In addition to the award, the B-25 Mitchell medium
bomber was named in his honor.
Four very famous astronauts were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their pioneer work in space flight.
Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were recognized by Congress for the Apollo 11 spaceflight to the moon and John Glenn for his achievement of being the first American to orbit the Earth. The Congressional Gold Medal was also bestowed upon Katherine Johnson, Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson
for their valuable contributions during the Space Race as mathematicians and space engineers. In addition to these awards, there is also the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to recognize astronauts that distinguish themselves for their contributions in space.
Many other aviation pioneers and airmen also received the Congressional Gold Medal, including the inventors of the airplane, Orville and Wilbur Wright. Collectively in 2014, American flying aces, aviators that shot down at least
five enemy aircraft, were awarded the medal.
The achievements of those that have been awarded the medal is history that should be learned about and remembered.
Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.
Tuskegee Airmen
Colonel Jimmy Doolittle
Neil Armstrong on the moon
To Raise a Laugh
The Joys Of Bird Watching
So we have two parakeets. Mind you, we don’t own the parakeets. We’re hosting them for yom tov. We have parakeets the same way we’re having my in-laws. They make noise, hog the newspaper, and I have to keep putting out food.
(Note: This article was written before Sukkos.)
The birds actually belong to my neighbors. We’re watching them because my neighbors are going to Eretz Yisrael for Sukkos to visit their son, who just had a new baby, so he’s totally up to putting up his parents for two weeks. And they have to leave their birds here, in the States, because it’s complicated to fly with birds. Ironically. Kids they let you bring directly onto the plane, but that’s where they draw the line.
It turns out that if you have birds, then whenever you go away for yom tov, you have to go around your whole neighborhood trying to find someone who’s willing to take responsibility for your birds and the Shabbos & Yom Tov questions that come with them, which this person has never actually had a reason to look up yet. Whereas if you own fish, you just leave, and then when you’re on the plane, you go, “Oh, no! I forgot about the fish!” and then you come home and you buy new fish. Though usually, they’re still alive. You can go for a while without food, as long as you have water. If you forget to put water in your fish bowl, you arguably shouldn’t have fish.
So I jumped on the opportunity, and not just because I have a column to write that doesn’t think of topics on its own. It’s also because my wife doesn’t really want to own pets, because she says we already have kids, and we’re not doing great with those. But we do occasionally have a pet for a short amount of time, just for the experience, until our kids get bored of it.
So two weeks sounded like a nice amount of time to have birds. Particularly since my in-laws were coming for yom tov, and they have a bird at home, for which they had to find a bird-sitter. So we could make them feel right at home. And maybe get some tips, given as loving advice.
Our neighbors did give us some Shabbos instructions about the birds, but they didn’t cover all these yomim tovim that would come up. For example, they brought the birds right before Yom Kippur, so they could go to the airport as soon as the fast was over, and we wanted to know, “Do pets have to fast on Yom Kippur?” Should we take the food out of the cage? I mean I know that your animal is supposed to rest on Shabbos, and it’s supposed to keep Pesach too. And get drunk on Purim, I’m assuming. But does it have to fast? I mean, it’s not bar mitzvah.
So my feeling was that we should just put the food in the cage, and if the birds eat it, that’s their aveirah. On Yom Kippur. See if they last the year. But is that lifnei iver? I mean, animals don’t have a calendar. Though they do have a newspaper in their cage with the date on it. So really it’s on them.
There’s also a whole bedtime routine that they told us to do, which there isn’t when you’re taking care of, say, goldfish. According to our neighbors, every night we’re supposed to cover the cage with a towel so the birds know it’s nighttime, and as we’re doing so, we’re supposed to say, “Good night, Sheifeleh! Good night, Zeeskeit!” Because they understand the words, “Good night,” and they also know their Yiddish names, as well as which one of them is Sheifeleh and which one is Zeeskeit. We’re also supposed to sing Shema and Hamalach Hagoel, although we were not told how much of Shema we’re supposed to say, so I’ve been going until Emes. (More for me than for them.) Plus Hamapil. But they say that birds need a nighttime routine
By Mordechai Schmutter
so they know it’s coming. Because in the wild, there’s a song that plays before the sun goes down. This is totally normal. My mother-in-law, for example, sings a song called, “Good night, Carlie,” to her bird every night, except when I’m around, in which case I have to sing it.
“♫Good night, Charlie...♫”
“Charlie’s dead. This one’s Harry.”
Does the bird know its name? Is it now going to stay awake all night, wondering, “Who’s Charlie?”
The other hassle of birds, I would say, is that they make a lot of noise. Way more than fish. I would say that Sheifeleh and Zeeskeit probably spend like half their day bickering. And when the phone rings, they make extra noise. Which is annoying, because after the phone rings, I have to conduct a phone call, and it sounds like I’m at the zoo. (“I’m sorry, did I call you on your Chol Hamoed trip?”) They’re like little kids. Who, I should point out, also don’t know it’s time to go to sleep unless you cover them and sing a song.
But the funny thing is that as long as there’s a towel over the cage, they don’t make a peep. Or a chirp. In fact, there was one day that I forgot to take the towel off before I went to shul, and there was no noise until I came home. So now I’m considering putting the towel over them during phone calls, so I could have quiet. But then I would have to do the whole Shema-andHamapil thing every time the phone rings, while the phone is ringing, before I can pick up. And then I wouldn’t be allowed to talk.
I have two weeks to figure this out.
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
Reading Dyslexia
ADD / ADHD
Social Awkwardness
Poor Memory
Math Dif culties
Writing Dif culties
Disorganization
Clumsiness
Easily Overwhelmed
of your health needs. It can cure high blood pressure, low thyroid, emphysema, ADHD, and depression, etc. Real life does not have a one-sizefits-all elixir for life, and if someone makes that claim, it is a pretty strong sign of quackery.
Ancient Wisdom - Very often marketers of a non-medical cure will claim that it is based on ancient wisdom. Perhaps they will get even more specific and say that it comes from ancient Chinese wisdom or some other exotic location on the globe. Truthfully, there are some ancient potions that have been studied and have been found to be incredibly effective. However, a lot of the ancient medical interventions were useless if not harmful. Therefore, before adopting an ancient potion in place of standard medicine, conventional scientific studies need to be done in order to test these remedies. The mere fact that it is ancient does not mean that it is effective or safe.
Hard-To-Treat Illnesses - There are some medical and mental illnesses that are extremely hard to treat. Mind-boggling progress had been made in the treatment of many illnesses, including cancer. Nevertheless, these diseases are still very dangerous and often very hard to treat. When a non-scientific remedy focuses on these hard-to-treat conditions, then you must be suspicious of deception. Individuals who suffer from these illnesses are vulnerable and grasping for something that would give them hope. Therefore, they are prime targets for charlatans.
The Quick-Fix - Promises of results in unprecedented time is often a sign of a claim that is not based on reality. This is especially true with remedies that are marketed for weight loss. Losing weight takes time, and if they claim rapid weight loss, it is either not true or extremely dangerous.
Vague Language - Fake remedies often use vague terms that are meant to create an aura of reality. You might find language such as “purify-
ing the body”, “boosting the immune system”, “removing toxins”, etc. The body is a highly complex system that can’t simply be purified by pouring something into your mouth. Just imagine if someone would tell you about a remedy for your car that if you pour it into your gas tank it will “purify your engine”, “boost the car’s energy”, and “remove the impurities”, thus saving you thousands of dollars of “unnecessary” bills from your mechanic. You probably wouldn’t believe it even though your car is astronomically less complex than your body.
Conspiracies - One of the common claims of a fake remedy is that the scientific community knows about this, but there is a major conspiracy to withhold this information from the general public, in order to not lose their business. Conspiracy theories are hard to disprove even though they are almost never true.
Skepticism is a trait that when used well can be very helpful in navigating the complexities of one’s mental and medical health. Skepticism is also vital in helping one avoid the quick fixes that are too good to be true. Although the medical field does not have all of the answers and so much remains to be discovered, it is still important for one to not channel their frustration into a complete abandonment of conventional medicine.
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
47 Trump and Republicans Win Bigly
By TJH Staff
In a surprising landslide, Donald Trump handily won the 2024 presidential election on Tuesday, mounting the most momentous comeback in political history. Republicans now control the House and Senate, as the country was painted red on Tuesday night with decisive wins by the GOP in key states.
In a deeply divided nation, voters embraced Mr. Trump’s pledge to seal the southern border, to revive the economy with 19th-century-style tariffs that would restore American manufacturing, and to lead a retreat from international entanglements and global conflict.
Trump is the first president since Grover Cleveland in the late 1800s to have sat in the Oval Office, lost a reelection, and then mount a successful run. He is also the oldest person to have been elected president of the United States, winning the election at the age of 78.
As of Wednesday morning, not all states had counted all their votes. Still, by 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning,
the Associated Press called the election for Trump, as Trump came in with the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. He had earned stunning victories in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Virginia, guaranteeing him an electoral triumph. He is set to win the popular vote as well, the first Republican to do so in 20 years.
In his victory speech at Mar-a-Lago resort in the early hours of Wednesday, Trump vowed to “heal” the nation, fix the border fiasco, and deliver a strong and prosperous economy.
“I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president,” said Trump. “This will truly be the golden age of America.”
He praised his running mate, JD Vance, in the speech as well.
“He turned out to be a good choice. I took a little heat
Sunday - Wednesday: 11:00-8:30
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Tov Pizza voted Baltimore’s best kosher pizza
at the beginning, but I knew in my brain that he was a good one. About as good as it gets,” he said. “And we love the family. And we’re going to have a great four years, and we’re going to turn our country around, making something very special.”
Vance, in his speech, said, “I appreciate you allowing me to join you on this incredible journey. I thank you for the trust, the place to me. And I think that we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America. Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re never going to stop fighting for you, for your dreams, for the future of your children. And after the greatest political comeback in American history, we’re going to lead the greatest economic comeback in American history.”
Trump told the audience, “This was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There’s never been anything like this in this country, and maybe beyond. And now it’s going to reach a new level of importance because we’re going to help our country heal.
“We’re going to help our country here. We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly. We’re going to fix our borders. We’re going to fix everything about our country, and we’ve made history for a reason tonight. And the reason is going to be just that. We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible.”
Trump told Americans across the nation, “Every citizen, I will fight for you, for your family and your future. Every single day, I will be fighting for you. And with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America. That’s what we have to have. This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again,” he said.
Trump was flanked by his family while addressing his supporters, including former first lady Melania Trump and son Barron Trump. The president-elect invited UFC CEO Dana White to speak on stage and gave shout outs to Elon Musk, as well as professional golfer Bryson Dechambeau.
Vice President Kamala Harris did not concede on Tuesday night. Her campaign announced that she would not be speaking that night and would address the nation on Wednesday.
Harris’ campaign’s co-chair, Cedric Richmond, delivered brief remarks.
“We still have votes to count, we still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken. So you won’t hear from the vice president tonight. But you will hear from her tomorrow,” Richmond said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump on his stunning political comeback victory on Wednesday.
Bibi wrote on X, “Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship, yours, Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu.”
French President Emmanuel Macron and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also tweeted their congratulations, as did British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the leaders of Germany, El Salvador, India, and Australia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X, “Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory! I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
He added, “I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together. We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States. We are interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both of our nations.”
It wasn’t just the White House that Republicans took in this week’s election. The GOP took back the Senate majority that they held during Trump’s first term but lost when he was defeated in 2020.
Democrats entered the 2024 election cycle with only one or two seats to spare — and an all-but-impossible map to defend, with three seats in deep-red states
on the ballot. Republicans won all three of those races. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin’s retirement effectively guaranteed Republican Jim Justice’s win there. Montana Sen. Jon Tester lost to 38-year-old former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy. Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown fell short against businessman Bernie Moreno.
Sen. Deb Fischer tightly held onto her seat in Nebraska.
Democrats hoped a long shot would materialize — longing for a win by Rep. Colin Allred against Texas Sen. Ted Cruz or that former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell could buck Florida’s rightward trend and beat Sen. Rick Scott. Neither came close.
Three Senate races in the Great Lakes battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were also neck-and-neck. Their outcome will determine the size of the GOP majority.
With Mitch McConnell retiring from his position as party leader, Republicans are bracing for a battle on whom to fill his seat. Texas Sen. John Cornyn and South Dakota Sen. John Thune are the two top contenders. When it comes to the House, with votes still being counted on Wednesday morning, it looked like the Republicans were going to come out on top.
Locally, Rep. Anthony D’Esposito lost his seat in the 4th District in Nassau County to Democrat Laura Gillen. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Nassau County Democrat, bested Republican Michael LiPetri, in the 3rd District, which includes part of Queens. Rep. Gregory Meeks, of the 5th Congressional District, earned 69% of the vote. Rep. Grace Meng, in Queens, won over her Republican opponent.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Lawler handily defeated former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones by at least 16 points in the 17th District, covering parts of Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. Republican Rep. Nick LaLota defeated Democrat John Avlon, a former journalist and CNN commentator, by at least 11 points in the 1st District covering Suffolk County.
State Senator Patricia M. Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick kept her seat in the state senate race against James Lynch in the 9th District.
New York Assemblymember Ari Brown came in with a decisive victory, nabbing more than 62% of the vote on Tuesday. In Far Rockaway, Assemblymember Stacey Pheffer-Amato won by a slim margin against her Republican opponent.
Lessons For Life As
Let’s be honest, we’re a smartphone family. My husband and I have had smartphones since they were invented, and flip phones are not on our radar.
When our daughter got into tenth grade, she asked us for a smartphone. My husband recoiled at the idea of giving a teenager a means to social media and open internet access. We discussed getting her a flip phone, and she threw a royal fit. It was not worth it for her to have a phone at all if it wasn’t a smartphone. She was going to look like the biggest nerd in her circle of friends.
We discussed it further and realized that we were just pushing off the inevitable. When our daughter became of age, she would get her own smartphone and do with it as she pleased. Then we saw our chance. We could get her a smart -
phone now and teach her how to use it responsibly.
We took the phone to TAG and had them remove the internet browser, the app store access, and left only the basic minimum. Voilà! We used this as an opportunity to teach her a lesson for life. Smartphones can get out of control without proper planning. Teaching our daughter how to safely use technology she will inevitably use anyway gave us a chance to impart vital life lessons.
DID YOU KNOW: If you’re in the market for a device for your family, it’s best to choose one you can secure and customize to meet your family’s needs. For around $80-$150, you can get a reliable Android tablet or a refurbished iPad and install a filter that will help keep your family safe online.
However, the Amazon Kindle series, while often more budget-friendly, poses significant risks by allowing unfiltered internet access. Kindle Fire tablets do include basic parental controls, but these are limited and can be bypassed relatively easily, especially by tech-savvy kids or their friends. Even with controls set, there’s currently no option for fully filtering internet content on Kindle devices. On the Kindle Fire model, the only truly secure way to block internet access is to have a technician permanently remove the WiFi chip. This means all apps, books, and games would need to be pre-loaded,
and only content that works offline would be available. This method also doesn’t prevent material from being added via a USB connection.
In most cases, a local TAG office can remove the WiFi chip from a Kindle Fire for free. However, TAG generally recommends families invest in an Android tablet or iPad where a reliable filter can be installed. These filters usually cost just a few dollars a month and offer peace of mind by providing a safer, more customizable solution for your family’s online use.
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.
School of Thought
By Etti Siegel
This letter is being printed after Election Day but was sent and responded to before Election Day.
Q:Dear Etti, What happens AFTER Election Day, especially if the candidate we voted for doesn’t win? What do I tell my kids about the whole thing, and what will they hear in school? This has been touted as the most important election ever! And both sides are so passionate!
- Red, White, and Blue
A:Dear Red, White, and Blue, Uncertainty is high, and that is not a comfortable feeling. We like knowing what will happen next. From a young age, children want to know, “Where are we going,” When are we leaving,” and “Are we there yet?” We adults are the same.
Being adults, however, we must remember that the children in our orbit look up to us for safety and security. When we walk around anxious and talk incessantly about the election, children can pick up on our fears and they become very dysregulated, especially when they are too young to catch nuance. Our older children get anxious because adults use “click bait” terminology that is great to create a headline that will grab a reader but not so great when trying to build a safe and secure environment.
The news (social media and print media) paints events in very extreme ways, magnifying every event and often catastrophizing it. We need to be careful that
we stay away from overdramatizing and present facts from trusted sources if we are talking about news events (or any events). We have laws of lashon harah, rechilus, and lashon naki for a reason!
This is the time to show bitachon and emunah. It is not just lip service, but the foundation of who we are.
We need to model and believe that we must do our hishtadlus and vote for the candidate we believe would be best for us, but we can’t control the bigger picture. Only Hashem knows what is really best for us, so we accept the results and move on with our lives. In general, dwelling on events beyond our control is not helpful or healthy.
We also need to model acceptance when things don’t go the way we want them to.
We also need to model acceptance when things don’t go the way we want them to. This lesson is vital to our children’s social-emotional growth, and they are watching us carefully. We need to show how to win and how to lose with grace. Becoming angry or aggressive in response to an election can translate in our children’s minds as permission to becoming aggressive and angry about losing a game or a competition in school or camp! Being a sore loser is not classy, nor does it make you friends.
Putting down others who do not think the way we do is not the Jewish way, either. We are the only religion that does not missionize and try to convince others to join our religion. We just want everyone to live in peace, and we ask them to let us live in peace. (Of course, helping someone who is Jewish but doesn’t
know about their own religion is helping a sibling come home, not missionizing.) Perspective taking, dan l’kaf zchus, is a core Jewish belief as well. We don’t demonize others just because we feel differently than they do. We pause and realize that they might be seeing things from a different viewpoint, an outlook we don’t have to weigh in on and judge.
As adults, we need to take a moment to make sure we have clarity on the election, so we can model proper reactions and behavior no matter which way the pendulum swings. This is a teachable moment, one that will stay with our children and form how they feel and react every time votes are cast in life, not just elections. This is a time for adults to turn to the person they ask their questions to, a rav, guide, and/or mentor, so the message we give over is one we truly feel. Children value authenticity. We can show, not just talk about, how we respond in times of national or personal upheaval when we want one result and what we want does or does not happen. Our message must be one of bitachon and emunah which brings calm and serenity. It is a good time for our children to hear us mention that we asked a rav or mentor for guidance, and that it is our way to ask da’as Torah questions, not only on basar v’chalav (meat and milk), but on philosophy as well.
Wishing you, me, and all of am Yisrael the clarity of always being able to recognize the good in our life, - Etti
Mrs. Etti Siegel holds an MS in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership and brings sound teaching advice to her audiences culled from her over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience. She is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, is a sought-after mentor and workshop presenter around the country, and a popular presenter for Sayan (a teacher-mentoring program), Hidden Sparks, and the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She is a frequent contributor to Hamechanech Magazine and The Journal for Jewish Day School leaders. She will be answering your education-based questions and writing articles weekly for The Jewish Home. Mrs. Siegel can be reached at ettisiegel@gmail.com.
TJH Centerfold
Bush v. Gore
Less than 25 years ago, such an innocent time, when both presidential candidates were funny even when they weren’t trying to be……
Al Gore Sayings
“I am Al Gore. I used to be the next president of the United States of America.”
“It’s time for the human race to enter the solar system.”
“My attitude is you win some and you lose some. Then there’s that little known third category.”
“Put yourselves in my position: I flew on Airforce 2 for eight years and now I have to take off my shoes to get on an airplane.”
“I took the initiative in creating the Internet.”
“I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.”
George W. Bush Sayings
“They misunderestimated me.”
“Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?”
“For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three nonfatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America. It’s just unacceptable. And we’re going to do something about it.”
“More and more of our imports come from overseas.”
“Our enemies never stop thinking of ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”
“You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.”
You Gotta Be Kidding Me
A politician dies and goes to heaven. He is greeted by an angel who says, “Welcome to Heaven. Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”
“No problem, just let me in,” says the politician.
“Well, I’d like to but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in in Heaven and one day in…. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”
“Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven,” says the politician,
“I’m sorry but we have our rules.”
And with that, the angel takes the politician to see both places. He is taken to the bad place first. He is greeted by another angel who shows him around. Much to his surprise, it looks great. He is in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a club and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is happy and looks great.
The politician is then brought to heaven and it’s nice too, but not as nice as the other place.
The next morning, it is time to make his choice and he decides to go to you-know-where.
Well, much to his surprise, when he returns there, it is nothing like it was before. It is a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags.
The politician runs over to the angel and screams, “What happened?”
The angel replies, “Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted for us!”
2000 Election Recount Trivia
1. In 2000, George W. Bush won the presidential election after the “2000 Florida recount” sage. Who was the Democratic presidential nominee who ultimately lost that election?
a. Bill Clinton
b. Al Gore
c. Michael Dukakis
d. John Kerry
2. How many days did the recount go on for?
a. 13
b. 23
c. 36
d. 49
3. According to a study conducted by a number of news organizations after the 2000 election, it was concluded that Bush was the rightful winner. As the AP noted, “A vote-by-vote review of untallied ballots in the 2000 Florida presidential election indicates George W. Bush would have narrowly prevailed in the partial recounts sought by Al Gore.” How many more votes—of the more than 6 million cast in Florida— did Bush have than Gore when the official counting was done?
a. 537
b. 1,323
c. 12,916
d. 24,376
4. The term “hanging chad” became part of the news vernacular during the recount. What did that refer to?
a. There was a third-party presidential candidate in some areas of Florida by the name of Chad Cosmo Kramer. The Democrats argued that his
presence on the ballot violated federal law (because he did not meet the statewide threshold), as such, people who were given such ballots should get to cast a new vote.
b. At one voting precinct, in a heavily Democrat area, there was a vagrant named Chad who was blocking the entrance to the precinct and many people did not get to vote before the polls closed. The Democrats argued that those people should have been allowed to cast their votes after the polls officially closed.
c. Some ballots were punchcard ballots in which voters were supposed to detach a portion of the perforated paper in order to indicate who they were voting for. When the perforated paper wasn’t fully detached, election officials had to determine whether the hanging chad ballot was clear enough to indicate who the voter intended to select.
c. A full hand-recount was completed and Bush won.
d. The Florida legislature enacted a law that whoever was ahead on election day wins. Since Bush was ahead on election day, he was automatically declared to be the winner.
6. In Palm Beach County, due to “butterfly ballots” which were a confusing type of ballot it seems, one 3rd party candidate received 3,400 votes. The argument made by the Democrats is that there are a lot of elderly Jewish women in Palm Beach County who certainly did not intend to vote for this party candidate. Who was the 3rd party candidate?
a. Jesse Jackson Pat Buchanan
c. Al Sharpton David Duke
d. Chad was an acronym for how officials who hung up each ballot on a board were supposed to proceed. C-check; H-hand the ballot to a superior; A-ask for advice; D-determine honestly.
5. What caused the 2000 Florida Recount to come to an end?
a. Al Gore conceded the election because he didn’t want to tear the country apart.
b. The Supreme Court ruled that the recount must end. Since Bush was ahead, he won.
Ballot Card
5-6 correct: Al Gore, is this what has become of you? Reading TJH Centerfolds?
2-4 correct: Well, well, well, this is right in the middle. OK, we need a team of election officials to review where you stand.
0-1 correct: Chad! It’s you again!
Notable Quotes “Say What?!”
Can someone please remind me who the media declared “quality pollsters” are again?
- Pollster Robert Chaly on X, who was derided as being a fake pollster throughout the campaign because he consistently had Trump leading by margins similar to what he won by
A dead squirrel is garnering more outrage than a GENOCIDE in Gaza
- Jackson Hinkle on X
The dead squirrel is real.
- CatBee in response
Democrats Warn That If Trump is Elected It Will Be the End of Bureaucracy as We Know It.
- Babylon Bee
New York Authorities Announce Peanut the Squirrel Died Of COVID - ibid.
Max hug time 3 minutes. For fonder farewells please use the car park.
- A new sign posted in Dunedin Airport in New Zealand
I’m not sold on this idea that, oh, it was the cost of eggs. I worry that it was, “Well, I’m not voting for this woman. Or I’m not voting for this black woman.”
- Left-wing pundit Juan Williams on Fox News
You know, I would love to hear from Van on this, but let’s be honest on this, okay, let’s be absolutely blunt about it. There were appeals to racism in this campaign, and there is racial bias in this country and there is sexism in this country, and anybody who thinks that that did not in any way impact on the outcome of this race is wrong.
- Liberal pundit David Axelrod on NBC News
Avoid Lashon Hara / Gossip. Choose words that heal, not harm.
- Ivanka Trump on X
America Unburdens Itself From What It Has Been -Headline on The Babylon Bee
Democrats Wonder If It Is Too Late to Go Back to Joe Biden -ibid.
I will not come back, Jonathan, how’s that? I’m done.
- Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, as he abruptly left a Washington Post live show when the liberal hosts claimed that Trump will end democracy
Drink Guinness and don’t marry!
- Kathleen Hennings, of U.K., sharing her secrets of longevity at her 105th birthday party
It’s very meaningful that the oath was made on the Torah, especially in the week of the Parshas Lech Lecha. This parasha marks the beginning of Abraham’s journey, who, under Divine command, leaves his homeland and embarks on a path of purpose and mission. Just like Abraham, who was given the responsibility to spread the message of the Creator and bring light and guidance to the nations, this oath also carries a deep message: a call to take on a role of influence and leadership, bringing the values of the Torah and the principles of life and freedom to others.
- Argentina’s President Javier Milei at the swearing-in of Gerardo Werthein as the new foreign minister of Argentina
Abraham’s journey wasn’t only physical but also spiritual, connecting him with other nations, where his influence and values impacted many. May Gerardo receive these blessings, achieving success in his own “journeys,” becoming a channel for positive influence and transmitting the essence of the Torah in his surroundings. May Hashem grant him strength and clarity to fulfill this sacred mission, and may he be a source of blessing and light to those around him. Amen!
- ibid.
If you see someone in the fetal position drenched in sweat, they either just ran the New York City Marathon or they’re waiting for tomorrow’s election.
- Jimmy Fallon
This is why the kids hated it. What kind of lives have these people led that makes them think that this is the right way to handle young people?
- Comedian Jerry Seinfeld responding to the announcement by the private New York City school that his children attended (Ethical Culture Fieldston School) that they will allow “emotionally distressed” students to skip class the day after the election
I was in depression, and I realized that I was in a bad place. So having that, having to make those kind of choices, and I signed myself into Walter Reed to get help because of the depression. I chose to get help, or I chose not to follow the path of self-harm. And so that’s a way I’ve had an impact through all of that and also my voice through after what happened on October 7th. And I’ve decided I was gonna be a very consistent voice for Israel throughout that.
- Sen. John Fetterman on The Joe Rogan podcast
Tomorrow is Election Day and “Late Night” is officially endorsing Xanax 0.5 milligram, twice a day as needed.
- Seth Meyers
You are the media now.
- Tweet by Elon Musk on election night after Trump won and the legacy media officially died
Palestinian terrorists are freedom fighters, sanctions should be imposed on Roham, Smotrich, Ben Gabir and the IDF for carrying out a second Nakba in Gaza
- Publisher of left-wing Israeli newspaper Haaretz , Amos Shokan, at a conference, resulting in hundreds of thousands cancelling their subscriptions to the paper
I would like to issue an apology to all of those states we have not mentioned. It is not our fault, it is the founding fathers, they decided on this thing called the Electoral College. Which interestingly, no other country in the world decided to copy. Because of that, in presidential terms, in effect on nights like this, you have a right to think that it feels like no one cares about your vote. If you are in California or if you’re in New York, and when you think about how enormous a force that can be in voter suppression, there may be nothing quite like it.
- MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell on election night
THREE-PEAT!!
- Headline on the conservative Gateway Pundit trolling the media
AOC Enraged to Learn Long Line is for Voting and Not Bread
-The Babylon Bee
Deny it though he may, the evidence produced in a House Committee on Education and the Workforce report about antisemitism on college campuses is an appropriate coda to Sen. Chuck Schumer’s career-long attempt to pose as the shomer of Israel in Congress. That he was advising leaders of Columbia University in New York City not to worry too much about criticism of their failures to protect Jewish students because only Republicans cared about the issue is a disgrace.
Still, the gap between Schumer’s public lip service condemning the postOct. 7 surge in antisemitism in the United States and what he says in private is indicative of more than his own corrupt mendacity. It demonstrates how badly compromised the supposedly pro-Israel wing of the Democratic Party has become in recent years.
While many in the GOP would agree with Schumer’s assertion about their party being the only one that cares about antisemitism, it really isn’t accurate. Many rank-and-file Democrats, including a solid number of Jews who may be politically liberal but, unlike Schumer, are still ardent supporters of the U.S.-Israel alliance, are deeply troubled by the rise of the anti-Israel leftwing of their party.
The Senate Punts On Antisemitism
Still, it was no accident that it was the Republican-controlled House that conducted the only serious hearings and investigation about the plague of antisemitism sweeping across the country in the weeks and months following the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in southern Israel by Hamas and other Palestinians. The Democrats control the Senate and could have easily seized on this issue but given
Israel Today
Who Made Antisemitism a Partisan Issue? Chuck Schumer
By Jonathan S. Tobin
the hostility to Israel from some prominent members of their caucus, Schumer made sure none of the upper body’s committees seriously took it up.
The same is true of Schumer’s decision not to allow a vote in the Senate on the Antisemitism Awareness Act that codified the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of the term into federal law. That measure overwhelmingly passed the House last May by a 320-91 margin with 21 Republicans and 70 Democrats voting no. But Schumer, like the Biden-Harris administration’s chief worry during the course of the presidential campaign, is about alienating so-called “progressives” in his party who traffic in the hatred of Israel and Jews. That’s why he is carefully avoiding fighting the most prevalent current form of antisemitism, which is focused on the demonization of Israel and its supporters, even though he never tires of claiming that he is the Jewish state’s biggest booster. The fact that he’s getting very little pushback from centrist Democrats for this failure is telling.
For decades, the Senate Majority Leader has used a superficial similarity of his last name with the Hebrew word for “guardian” or “watchdog” to claim that he could be counted on to defend Israel and the Jews. But as President Joe Biden—his longtime Senate buddy—would have put it, that was always a “load of malarkey.” Schumer has always been, like so many of his fellow politicians, a cynical opportunist rather than a man on a mission to stand up for the interests of his own community.
A vicious partisan who even stooped to personally threatening Supreme Court justices for rendering decisions he opposed, Schumer has had a longtime goal of power, not policy. Whenever he was presented with a test of whether he would stick to the principles he claimed to support and partisan interests, he chose the latter. That was true when it came to the dangerous 2015 Iran nuclear deal (which he technically opposed while pledging not to try to influence anyone else to join him in voting “no,” rendering his stand meaningless). And it was equally true when he bashed Is -
rael’s government in the middle of a war for its survival, thus providing cover for Democrats who were seeking to prevent the Jewish state from defeating Hamas after the Oct. 7 massacre.
Advising Columbia
As damning as those examples were, the text messages from former Columbia University president Minouche Shafik to her board members about the advice given to her by Schumer is the sort of betrayal that should put an end to his pretensions about being someone who gives a [darn] about antisemitism or the welfare of Jewish students. By telling her that Columbia’s leaders should merely “keep [their] heads down,” Schumer showed his true colors.
According to Shafik, they should merely wait for the storm over the rampant Jew-hatred occurring on campus to pass because of their tolerance for proHamas protesters intimidating Jewish students. The reason for this was even more troubling. The advice relayed to Columbia board members David Greenwald and Claire Shipman was that they needn’t worry too much because the school’s “political problems are really only with Republicans.”
Schumer’s office has denied the evidence produced by the House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, chaired by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), calling it “hearsay.” But it’s highly unlikely that Shafik would have lied about her conversations with Schumer in private communications with her board that were subsequently subpoenaed by the committee.
The revelation about Schumer’s contemptible indifference to the treatment of Jewish students as well as Columbia University’s institutional failure to do something about the way its Hamas-sup -
porting students and faculty members were turning the Morningside Heights campus into a no-go zone for Jews made headlines. But the 325-page House report is a compendium of many other outrageous examples of how some of our elite universities betrayed their principles and their students after Oct. 7.
The committee behind the report is chiefly remembered for its hearing last December, during which the presidents of Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania responded to a question from Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) about whether advocacy for genocide of Jews violates the rules of their schools. Each answered that “it depended on “the context,” which demonstrated that, like Schumer, they were more worried about being attacked by the intersectional antisemitic left for opposing antisemitism than they were about their willingness to give Jew-hatred a pass.
What mattered about that exchange was not so much the subsequent opprobrium that rained down on their heads from a broad cross-section of American public opinion outraged at the idea that elite universities thought antisemitism was merely a matter of opinion. That’s
especially true since everyone knows that advocacy for prejudice against other minorities, like African-Americans, would cause the full weight of the power of these schools to come down on the heads of anyone who advocated for, say, the lynchings of black Americans—the way the pro-Hamas mobs did for the killing of Jews and Israelis.
The committee’s report reveals how the behavior of a number of elite universities was actually worse than it was initially reported in the media. And it makes an ironclad case that their actions were clearly in violation of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act which prohibits federally-funded institutions from engaging in discriminatory behavior.
The report is important in its own right. But it begs the question as to why the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, rather than the largely powerless and ineffective Department of Education, isn’t addressing the issue of antisemitism in our education system.
The answer is that the current regime at the DOJ is much more interested in enforcing the woke catechism of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) that is primarily responsible for enabling exactly the sort of outrages that are detailed in
the House report. What is needed is a change in federal policy that will produce a DOJ that is interested in rolling back the widespread discrimination produced by DEI rather than supporting it.
Schumer’s contemptible denials of his complicity in what happened at Columbia remain unsurprising, but they are compounded by the fact that a new book is expected to be published under his name (though likely ghost-written by a staffer) in February is reportedly devoted to his analysis of contemporary antisemitism. Given Schumer’s inveterate partisanship, it’s likely that the book will talk more about false accusations against former President Donald Trump than it will about the real antisemitism happening within his own party. But after the House report, his publishers would be wise to spare themselves further embarrassment and shelve plans for rolling out the senator’s book.
Antisemitism shouldn’t be a partisan issue. While clearly outnumbered, there are still Democrats like Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) who provided the country with a profile in courage when it comes to standing up for Israel and against the woke antisemites in Congress. The two parties have largely ex-
changed identities in the last half century as each changed course on Israel. Whereas once the opposite was true, today, the Democrats are deeply divided when it comes to support for the Jewish state while Republicans have become lockstep in their support. Their attitudes towards antisemitism directly stem from this sea change.
And though they haven’t demonstrated the kind of influence that the radicals of the House “Squad” wield over the Democratic Party, there are Jew-haters on the right , like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, who deserve close scrutiny and condemnation.
Schumer’s public and private conduct as Senate Majority Leader made it clear that the Democratic Party establishment would rather be called out for going easy on antisemites than confront the hate within their own ranks. Regardless of the outcome of this year’s presidential and congressional elections, that decision demonstrates a trend that is at the heart of the nation’s antisemitism problem. (JNS)
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate).
Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…
Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
Thank you for taking my question. I have been dating for a couple of years (I’m 27 years old) and recently moved out of my parents’ house. For the first days of Sukkos, I went to spend the holiday with my parents. For chol hamoed and the second days, I went back to my apartment. I had my meals set up for Shemini Atzeres, but I figured I would meet some people in shul on Simchas Torah and get invites for Shabbos. But when I went to shul on Simchas Torah, it felt very cliquey. Everyone was into their kids and even when people were nice and said hello it was only for a few minutes of conversation. Ultimately, I didn’t get any Shabbos invites for meals and ended my second days of Yom tov very lonely.
I know this is not a “dating” question but I feel like our community needs to be more sensitive and warmer to singles in the community, particularly female singles. These women are on their own a lot for Shabbos and don’t have the minyan “structure” that single males have where they can meet people. What can be done?
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.
Thank you for bringing this subject to the attention of the community. The issue of inviting singles for Shabbos and yom tov with dignity is one that neighborhoods and organizations have begun to grapple with. Some, like shabbat.com, were originally envisioned for newcomers to Torah life. Others have a neighborhood focus. Many shuls have welcoming committees, official or informal. It’s also helpful for shidduchim.
At a recent meeting in my community, this subject was the focus. Knowing who is living here emerged as a priority. Everyone wanted to be helpful, especially middle-aged folks who don’t have small or teenage children at home who need focus and family time. Focusing on multi-family dwellings such as apartment buildings, condos, and garden apartments is important; one individual can bring a friend. Finding folks who may not come to shul, especially women, takes initiative. Inviting a group of individual single people in a community who may be invisible for the same meal is great because friendships develop between them as well as with the host family. Eventually social and Shabbos networks do develop. This is true for singles of all ages, including divorced or widowed individuals. Often, these networked individuals do Shabbos meals together on their own.
All that being said, the sensitivities of the single must be at the fore. Well-meaning families want to keep in mind that people don’t want to be charity cases and looked at with pity. Everyone needs to be respected with sensitivity and warmth.
The Shadchan
Michelle Mond
On Simchas Torah I sat next to a woman at the kiddush at our shul. On the surface, this woman was one of the many other mothers sitting on the sidelines, pushing a stroller while balancing a plate of kugel on one knee, while feeding her baby small bites. We got to talking, and I learned of her incredible story.
This woman had been dating for YEARS until she finally was set up with her husband at the age of 37. Here, she was sitting at shul with her almost twoyear-old baby. If you were a single in that room, you would never know that just a few years earlier, this woman shared the exact same sentiments that you describe. Everywhere she’d look, she described, for years she would see women preoccupied with their children and husbands, diaper and stroller topics of conversations.
This woman shared that the hardest, most painful part of getting engaged was actually not the guy himself or the relationship but the guilty feeling of leaving her single life and single warriors behind when it was finally her turn.
The loneliness and pain is real. When you are in that position, however, it is important to look around and recognize that each and every person in that room has their own story to tell. Whether it be the women who waited two decades to finally find “the one” or the women who got married right away but suffered with mental or physical health issues. There is no limit to everyone’s pekeleh in that shul at that time when you are looking around and feeling lonely.
Please know that you are not alone.
Please know that it is not that people do not see you or want to invite you, but everyone there is dealing with their own tekufas. I say this so you can understand that it is not a matter of people being cold and non-sympathetic; it’s not you. Everyone is dealing with their own pekeleh.
With that being said, it is crucial for our communities to become more aware of this issue and create opportunities for singles to have a place to go for meals if they need it. Here is one idea: every shul could have a liaison to take on the task of compiling a list of families who would love to host singles. Singles would be directed to this liaison, to share this list to help them find a nice family to spend a meal with. Who knows, maybe shidduchim could be made this way, too? I think if our communities would implement such a list, we would avoid situations as you have described in your letter.
As frum Yidden we have SO many yomim tovim and Shabbosim which consist of so many meals! Having such a database would alleviate the anxiety singles have surrounding these difficult times.
The Zaidy
Dr. Jeffrey Galler
One of the frustrations about writing this column is that we do not get to ask the letter writer for more information.
For example, had she ever been to that shul before? Did she consider attending with a friend who is a shul regular, who could introduce her to others? Did she make a call to anyone ahead of time, perhaps to the rebbetzin, in order to introduce herself and respectfully let her know that she would love yom tov meal invitations?
Did she choose a shul that would be a good fit for her needs? Clearly, different shuls seem to have different personalities. Some shuls are known for being very cliquey and unwelcoming to newcomers. By contrast, other shuls are known for their warmth and welcoming nature towards newcomers.
Here are three suggestions for our Orthodox community:
First , emulate my shul, where the
People don’t want to be charity cases and looked at with pity.
rabbi, or one of the officers, periodically reminds members to introduce themselves to newcomers and make them feel welcomed.
Second, it would certainly be helpful, responsible, and praiseworthy for shuls to organize social events for singles.
Third , I recently learned about a great initiative from a local shul that welcomes newcomers by pairing them with regular members to help ease introductions.
Good luck on your journey!
Reader’s Response
Chasi Feld Nitekman
Lev Emuna Therapy (LET)
Practitioner and Coach
Dear newly independent single, firstly, thank you for trusting us with this vulnerable issue. There is so much that can be unpacked but to start, congratulations on making that most probably hard decision and your big move! Change is hard and new steps will always feel uncomfortable. But I’m sure you know the saying, nothing changes if nothing changes, so Kudos to you!
I will address the issue first from an inner work perspective, if you don’t mind. There are many times we see situations and people in how we think they should be. That is very human and normal, and I know all too well the journeys you are on, so I’m understanding your feelings. Just answering your specific scenario, I could be wrong, but if I met someone in shul on the third day of yom tov I would not assume they don’t have a meal. People in general tend to feel overwhelmed when
there are little kids involved and a chaotic holiday. There is a lot going on around them, it’s hard to think calmly, and let’s be honest, in those circumstances, it’s unfortunately easier to speak to your friends and be in your easier headspace for those few moments in shul.
As for some practical advice and maybe new perspectives moving forward, we can always learn from situations. Again, I’ve been in your shoes, so what I’m suggesting I know isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s simply being honest and speaking up, and you will be so pleasantly surprised at their reactions. We are ultimately a united nation and are always
happy to host and make someone happy. That being said, shul for a single girl isn’t always a place to find deeper connections; it’s usually family oriented and friends that know each other previously.
This is how I navigated this situation. In the community I’m in, I found friends with similar interests. I became part of chaburahs, when we meet weekly and learn; we bond and have fun! We have so many types in one group: married, single, different age groups, etc. Now you are meeting people in a less chaotic, more intimate way.
Additionally, many shuls have sisterhoods. You can volunteer and
Pulling It All Together
The Navidaters
Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
Thank you for writing to us!
Your email is an important one. As many single and divorced people will tell you, Shabbos and yom tov invitations can be few and far between. And it can be utterly lonely and depressing. I think that most people get caught up in their own lives and are not purposely trying to leave anyone out. They simply don’t think about it. And your feelings are 1,000 percent valid. I wish there was a way to make this societal issue go away. There are ways in which Jews are supposed to give tzedaka (charity) and ways in which we are not. Humiliating someone, giving it publicly, are of the lower ways to give. Giving in complete privacy and anonymity is the highest way of giving. No single person wants to feel like charity (and by the way, for what it’s worth, you aren’t... being single isn’t a sin and it doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you. Our society makes being single into a disease of sorts. I think we can celebrate waiting for the right
one and hon- or our own unique jour - neys that Hashem chose for us. People like to believe that we have a lot more control here than we really do. It really is all in G-d’s hands).
I want to be very realistic. This has been an issue for a very long time. And while there are certainly steps you can take (i.e., reaching out to shuls to organize meals and raising awareness like you did by writing this email), I also encourage you to spend your Shabbosim and yomim tovim with other single and divorced people who are in your shoes. There is truly nothing like community. There is always a shiur going on in most shuls on Shabbos afternoon. I encourage you to go to those shiurim. You may find friendship and build a new network. You can start something in a local shul as well. Every organization that has ever been started began because someone saw a lack and need in the community.
join events, and again, be in more get-toknow-each-other situations. It takes time to build. Have patience….
You also mentioned other singles in the same boat. Planning in advance meals together can be a lot of fun. Build networks in a nutshell, LOL.
Lastly, and maybe the hardest at first (and you may not be ready for it) but in my humble opinion the most empowering, is a tool I give my clients. If your goal is to be married and not lonely, embody that person who cooks, prepares beautiful meals, looks good and is comfortable on her own. Yes, what I’m saying is embrace your situation and sometimes hang out with yourself. You will be surprised that you may look forward to it once in a while! A lot can be accomplished in that.
There is a lot to be said on this topic; I hope I made some useful suggestions. I know I addressed the issue from the oth-
And for anyone reading this who would like to do more, here are some suggestions...
Instead of telling a single person, “Come for Shabbos any time! We have an open door for you!” (so nice, by the way!), pick up the phone and invite this person for a specific Shabbos like you would anyone else. No one wants to ask. It’s a terrible feeling.
Ask your rav who is single or divorced in shul and invite them over. A certain therapist used to tell women, “Think long and hard before you get divorced because the invitations will stop. No one wants a divorced woman at the table.” I don’t love this advice or way of speaking, but I think there is some truth to this. If you have any hang-ups about having a single or divorced woman at your table, I encourage you to dig deep into why. Some people feel that a single or divorced woman has no social status to offer them (how utterly sad of these people.... Don’t kill the messenger. I say it like it is.) And others are threatened. We may not like hearing this, but it’s true. I think of the warm families who include single and divorced people at their tables, and they always strike me
As isolating as this all is, it is not a reflection of you at all.
er side, but when we work on ourselves, our energy changes and so does our reality and the way others see us! You will see people will naturally call you. And yes, people do need to learn to be more sensitive and you being in this situation will be the first one to get others!
My blessing to you is that in a blink of an eye you should be on the other side of the table and this topic won’t pertain to you, except by making a difference!
Looking forward to great news.
as having a quiet and true confidence and incredible empathy. If it is not your way to include divorced or single women at your Shabbos table because of religious reasons, this does not apply to you. I respect cultural norms.
Please remember, as isolating as this all is, it is not a reflection of you at all. Orthodoxy must work harder to make more room for single, divorced and widowed people. It is incredibly marriageand family-centric and that is beautiful, but what happens to those who are not married and don’t have children? The emotional strength it takes for some to get dressed and walk into shul by oneself is enormous. And as my good friend says, single and divorced and widowed women are “superheroes.” Don’t let anyone make you feel bad or less than. Our value does not come from being married. It comes from one’s own values, how we treat others, our self-growth, our talents and skills and just being a human.
Thank you for your eye-opening email. I welcome reader’s responses with any ideas to help change things.
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 Indoor Play
By Sara Rayvych, MSEd
We’ve plunged fully into fall; the weather is getting a chill but is still beautifully warm. Like many local families, we’ve been taking advantage and enjoying the great outdoors. Despite the unseasonably warm temperature, the upcoming cold is evident. The kids are grabbing their sweatshirts before running out, and the darkness comes a full hour earlier. While grateful for each day of outdoor fun, many parents are already thinking ahead to the days when the children will be playing indoors.
Along with the adjustment to being behind walls, their method of play will drastically change. Those hours of running and playing sports, swings and slides will be a memory. Rather than hear the famous, “I’m boooored,” there are many options to keep children not only entertained but also productive and learning.
A Few Words On Play
Play is important for children of all ages. Starting from infancy, play is one of a growing child’s main methods of learning. This is not to belittle the crucial role of both classroom time and parental guidance – both necessary in healthy development –but many skills are best acquired through the experimentation that play provides. Rather than something kids do because they have nothing else to do, play is an important job!
While not an exhaustive list, it’s worth mentioning a few of these benefits. This will not only reassure adults of the importance of play, it will also guide parents in ensuring they give their child access to toys that meet their child’s unique needs.
Play involves creativity, experimentation, and taking (hopefully) safe risks. For example, building a tower takes creativity to design, trial and error to get right, and it risks coming tumbling down.
Play encourages fine motor skills. Piecing together Legos, puzzles, play dough/ putty, coloring and cutting are among the many types of play that necessitate the use of fine motor skills.
Play builds gross motor skills. All of that running (yes, even indoors), dancing
and other activities strengthen their gross motor skills and coordination.
Playing with peers encourages interpersonal skills. Taking turns, following rules and increased communication are all inherent parts of interactive play. It’s a fallacy to think children learn these crucial skills just from peer interactions. Putting two little ones together can yield a beautiful play experience, but it can just as easily result in fighting. An adult’s supervision and guidance may be necessary to ensure the experience is positive for all participants.
More than just entertainment, play is soothing for children. One of my little ones used to fall asleep pushing a truck back and forth. The simple motion was calming for him and quickly put him to sleep. The importance of play therapy is one example of the way adults can harness this benefit.
Selecting a Toy
Toys can be expensive! Fortunately, the best toys are not necessarily the most expensive ones. Usually, the simpler classic toys are the best and allow the greatest creative outlet. Balls, building toys, books and crayons can keep a child busy for hours. Toys that are open-ended will give children the most options.
Toy preference can feel as individual as the child themself. Seeing what your child gravitates towards will help, but it’s still beneficial to expose children to a variety of toys.
While age and gender can influence the toy of choice, it’s not a guaranteed method. I’ve had six-year-olds play games designed for those 10 and over, as well as older kids enjoy a younger child’s toy. Certain toys are more popular with one gender rather than the other, but many children will enjoy the toys of either gender. Little ones – of both genders – enjoy playing house, pushing a doll stroller and playing similar games.
Technology-based toys are very popular but come along with a number of concerns. The general concerns that come along with excessive “screen” use are well known, as is the very serious problem of children accessing material that doesn’t
meet their family’s standards. Nearly every game and toy has been adapted to be played in a digital version. These digital versions should not be considered a replacement for the real thing. Despite their popularity, the experience isn’t the same and children don’t gain the same benefits they would from the original.
Toys and Games
Toys and games are a serious business, and I certainly can’t list them all here. Still, it is worth bringing up a few examples.
Building toys have been around for decades – and for good reason. Lincoln Logs, Legos and MagnaTiles can be used again and again with unlimited options. These toys can be introduced to a young child yet still fascinate an older one.
Pretend play is important for a child’s development. Often, children can play pretend with anything, and household objects are sufficient. There are nice doll strollers, play foods and tiny carpenter tools that help add to the fun for both boys and girls.
Jigsaw puzzles are very popular with a variety of challenging levels based on the number and shape of the pieces. Completed pictures can be glued and hung up or put back for another time. Jigsaw puzzles take up a lot of space and can be quickly destroyed by a younger sibling. A roll-up puzzle mat can be a worthwhile investment for a child that enjoys puzzles. This mat can be rolled up between uses and quickly unrolled to get right back into their latest puzzle.
There are many puzzle books and other logic puzzles that are fun and make a child think. Sudoku, word searches and mazes can be fun for children of all ages and are
a nice option for children that enjoy a quieter activity.
There are many wonderful board games, and this is often a favorite Shabbos afternoon activity. Kids can have fun while enjoying a challenge with friends. Games are also a nice way for siblings and other family members to bond.
We commonly think of board games as two opponents playing against each other. This can cause friction for many children. It also limits children who don’t have a second willing participant. Cooperative games require children to work together to accomplish a goal, encouraging communication and teamwork. Outfoxed, Race To The Treasure and Castle Panic are popular among the younger crew, while The Game, Pandemic and Forbidden Desert appeal to the older set. There are also a number of “solitaire” games that can be played with only one participant. Examples include Rush Hour and Kanoodle.
I will include the “great outdoors” as a toy option. Yes, it may be cold outside, but that doesn’t mean a child can’t get out and enjoy the fresh air. Bundle them up to go out and give them dry clothes when they return home.
Hashem gave us different seasons to enjoy the variety and beauty of nature. Having fun, readily available play options will help make even the coldest season feel warm and cozy.
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.
Health & F tness
The Whole Scoop on Processed Foods
By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN
Whole Foods Versus Processed Foods
In today’s modern food language, the terms “whole foods” and “processed” foods are quite familiar. The terms may appear in other forms such as organic, natural, and chemical-free. While these terms do differ to some extent, we all perceive them as healthy. However, what makes it healthy? You’ve probably heard that it’s best to reduce your intake of “highly processed foods” to benefit your health. While this is true, many people may get confused about what makes something processed and why eating too many processed foods can cause health problems. Many may ask, what is the difference between whole foods and processed foods and why should it matter?
In a world where processed foods are often faster, tastier, and cheaper, it’s easy to rely on those foods that offer convenience and speed. However, with all these convenient choices, it’s important to understand the impact that processed foods have on our health and well-being. By making informed choices, we can take control of our diets and choose foods that better support our long-term health, even in a world where fast and convenient options are prevalent.
What are Whole Foods?
Whole foods are foods that are as close to their natural state as possible, with minimal to no processing. Examples of whole foods include fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, seeds, whole grains (oatmeal, barley, rice, and wheat), lean meats, eggs, and fish. These foods are packed with essential nutrients – fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, protein, and healthy fats – that play a critical role in supporting our health.
What are Processed Foods?
Many whole foods are actually minimally processed. Minimal processing like washing, cutting, freezing, pasteurizing, or even cooking can be helpful and healthy. Processing can come in the form of buying a salad that is pre-washed, canned beans, frozen fruit, or even whole grain bread.
Items made from whole foods – such as granola made with oats, dried fruit with no added sugar, or polenta made with whole cornmeal – are also considered minimally processed and therefore “healthy.”
Additionally, some oils, such as olive oil and avocado oil, are derived from whole foods and are considered a healthy choice.
While minimally processed foods are healthy choices, the dilemma comes from the ultra-processed foods.
Ultra-processed foods undergo deliberate alterations from their natural state
for various reasons, including preservation, flavor enhancement, or convenience. These changes can involve the addition of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, artificial flavors, and preservatives. In contrast, whole foods are in their natural or minimally processed state, providing essential nutrients without excessive additives.
Some examples of ultra-processed foods include: sugary beverages, packaged snacks, sweetened breakfast cereals, baking mixes, reconstituted meat products (hot dogs and fish sticks), frozen meals (pizza), instant soups, veggie burgers, salty snacks, candies, white breads, energy/protein bars and shakes, pasta, ice cream, and margarine.
Benefits of Eating Whole Foods
Whole foods stand out for their nutritional benefits.
• Nutrient Density: Whole foods are rich in essential nutrients without empty calories, promoting overall health. In gen-
eral, ultra-processed foods tend to be much higher in calories than whole, minimally processed foods. For example, one can of soda, which consists of sugar and no nutrients, contains 150 calories. Compare this to an apple, which has approximately 100 calories and is significantly nutrient dense, including fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. There are some highly processed foods that are low in calories, which may stem from companies marketing weight loss products. However, this calorie reduction doesn’t automatically make them a healthy choice. When assessing whether a food is healthy, consider its entire nutritional value not just its calorie count.
• Fiber: Whole foods consist of more fiber. Natural fiber in whole foods aids digestion, weight management, and heart health. For example, a whole orange contains about 3 grams of fiber, whereas a glass of orange juice has little to no fiber.
• Antioxidants: Whole foods provide antioxidants that combat free radicals, reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
• Satiety: Whole foods’ fiber and nutrients help increase satiety and control appetite and prevent overeating.
• Digestive Health: Whole foods support a healthy gut microbiome, benefiting the immune system and mental well-being.
Health Issues in Processed Foods
Research highlights links between highly processed foods and health issues.
• Weight Gain and Obesity: Processed foods are calorie-dense but nutrient-poor, contributing to weight gain and an increased risk of obesity.
• Cardiovascular Disease: The trans fats, high sodium levels, and added sugars in processed foods can elevate the risk of heart disease.
• Type 2 Diabetes: Excessive consumption of processed foods is associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes due to their refined carbohydrates and added sugars.
• Cancer: Additives and preservatives in processed foods raise concerns about potential links to cancer, while the high sugar content is associated with certain types of cancer.
• Inflammation: Processed foods can trigger chronic inflammation, contributing to various chronic diseases and disorders, including arthritis, asthma, and depression.
Making it Real
If your diet includes a lot of ultra-processed foods and you’re looking to cut back, start with a single goal. For instance, try choosing an unsweetened beverage instead of a sugary soda. Little by little, you’ll make substantial progress in reducing your ultra-processed food intake. The next time you are grocery shopping, pay attention to the foods that you are purchasing and the level of processing. Focus on buying mainly whole and minimally processed foods on a regular basis while decreasing your intake of highly processed foods.
Modifying what you eat may be difficult in the beginning, but it is a game changer. You will feel healthier, sleep better, feel stronger and more energetic, and lead a healthier life.
Meals: Compare and Contrast
A great breakfast example that consists of whole foods is a bowl of oatmeal topped with blueberries, walnuts, chia seeds, and
bers, and grilled chicken, dressed with olive oil, lemon, and spices. This meal is more nutritious and much healthier then frozen pizza and fries.
For dinner, a great option would include baked salmon with broccoli and quinoa, providing essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals. In contrast, a processed meal would include mac n’
When assessing whether a food is healthy, consider its entire nutritional value not just its calorie count.
cinnamon. This nutrient-dense meal provides fiber, protein, and healthy fats, giving you energy for the day. In contrast, a highly processed breakfast might include a sugary cereal such as Fruit Loops which is high in added sugars and doesn’t have much nutrient value, only leading you to sugar spikes and crashes.
For lunch, a whole food choice can consist of a colorful salad with leafy greens, half an avocado, cherry tomatoes, cucum-
cheese or hot dogs which are high in unhealthy fats.
For snacks, aim for fruits and vegetables like apples, mango, peppers, carrots, and pineapple – foods that come from the earth, not from a bag. By choosing whole foods for snacks instead of packaged items, such as chips, pretzels, bars, we can enjoy more natural sources of nutrients, supporting our health and energy levels throughout the day.
Prioritizing whole and minimally processed foods over ultra-processed options can significantly enhance your overall health and well-being. Whole foods are rich in essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that support digestion, immunity, and energy balance. Meanwhile, highly processed foods, with their added sugars, unhealthy fats, and preservatives, can contribute to weight gain, chronic inflammation, and increased risks of diseases like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Transitioning to a diet focused on natural, nutrient-dense options doesn’t have to be overwhelming; small, consistent steps can make a meaningful difference. By making mindful choices and opting for foods closer to their natural state, we align our diets with what our bodies truly need for optimal health.
Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer
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