The sudden collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime after over a decade of brutal civil war has left Syria at a crossroads. Refugees are cautiously returning, political prisoners are being released, and Syrians are contemplating the possibilities of a new era. For neighboring Israel, Assad’s downfall is a double-edged sword, as it reshapes the region’s power dynamics. With Assad’s regime gone, Israel faces both opportunities and threats, particularly from shared adversaries like Iran. In response, Israeli forces have moved decisively into the buffer zone, targeting key facilities and asserting their presence amid the turmoil.
Assad’s fall is tied to the weakening of his key allies: Hezbollah, Iran, and Russia. Each suffered blows that undermined their ability to prop up his regime. Russia’s focus shifted to the war in Ukraine, while Hezbollah and Iran faced significant setbacks in their confrontations with Israel. The aftermath of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel further destabilized this fragile alliance. Israeli and international leaders have hailed these developments as a strategic victory against Iranian influence in the region, although the cost of such gains remains high.
The future of Syria now lies in the hands of groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls significant territory. HTS, once tied to Al-Qaeda, has softened its rhetoric and hinted at a focus on internal governance and reconstruction. However, its adversarial stance toward Israel remains a concern. Israel is cautiously monitoring
these developments, aiming to secure its borders while avoiding deep entanglement in Syria’s internal affairs. This approach highlights Israel’s dual priorities: maintaining security and fostering a stable regional environment.
The Torah names Yaakov as Yisroel, yet continues to use both names, signifying two approaches to life’s challenges. Yaakov represents struggle and deception, a hidden purpose behind outward actions, while Yisroel reflects a straightforward and elevated engagement. Israel’s strategy against Assad’s regime embodies both roles. On one hand, Israel has operated covertly to weaken the Iranian-Hezbollah axis. On the other hand, its presence in the buffer zone is a clear assertion of sovereignty and security, an open and moral stance in defense of its people.
This duality underscores an eternal truth: the Jewish people must alternate between these roles to confront the challenges of an unchanging Esav, who symbolizes unrelenting hostility and spiritual blindness. While Israel’s actions have brought about Assad’s collapse, the world often misrepresents these efforts as aggression. This distortion reminds us that Esav’s hostility remains constant. In navigating this reality, Israel teaches the timeless lesson of Yaakov and Yisroel—balancing strategic wisdom with moral clarity, bringing light into a world often unwilling to recognize its source.
Wishing everyone a peaceful Shabbos
Aaron Menachem
Send us your: community events, articles & photos, and mazal tovs to editor@baltimorejewishhome.com to be featured in coming editions!
What an amazing three weeks in Baltimore! Thanks to your generous response, in pledges and donations, we have already reached over $400,000. That's over 65% of our goal of building the Baltimore Wing of our International Chesed Center!
If you haven't yet joined, please be a part of this incredible campaign to enable a new generation of Smart Chesed!
B’yedidus, Avrohom Leventhal
Lema’anAchai
Baltimore Chesed Wing
For more information regarding the Baltimore Wing of the upcoming International Chesed Center, visit: lemaanachai.org/en/project/ baltimore/ Or contact Yisrael Glass: yglass@lemaanachai.org
Last week, Torah Institute/Yeshivas Kochav Yitzchak held their annual BYOM (Bring Your Own Mishnayos) event. All boys from Grades 3-8 (500 boys!), together with their Rebbeim and many other staff members, packed the gym to learn Mishnayos with over 1,000 Perakim learned in 20 minutes!
BYOM is done primarily as a “pump up” for their Chemdas program, a program started many years ago by Rabbi Moshe Juravel Z”L to help their Talmidim be Koneh their Mishanyaos through a structured Chazara program.
Incentives exist such as earning money towards Seforim gift certificates and an amazing trip at the end of each year. This year alone, Talmidim have already Chazered over 3000 Perakim!
Rabbi Menachem Dreyfus, a longtime Rebbe in the Cheder who recently retired, took over and ran Chemdas for many years. At the BYOM event, he addressed the Talmidim with beautiful words of Chizzuk. Rabbi Mendy Reischer, a S’gan Menahel for grades 6-8, currently runs the program and organized the event.
New Local Yeshiva Hosts Open House
Yeshivas Mesoras Hatorah hosted an open house this past Sunday, launching the opening of the Mesivta for the incoming 9th grade this coming year.
Led by Harav Mordechai Shuchatowitz, the Nasi of the Yeshiva, the Yeshiva will provide a warm and structured environment for the bachurim to develop into true bnei
torah. Together with a staff of Bnei Torah and professionals, Rav Shmuel Shlomo Shuchatowitz will be running the Yeshiva on par with the highest models of local and national Yeshivos.
The Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisroel, Rav Aharon Feldman Shlit”a, graced the event with his presence and encouraged the attending parents to send their children to be the founding class.
The BYOM also gives the Talmidim a taste of the Cheder’s signature event, the Siyum Hadoros, which will take place on February 23, 2025. At this event, these 3-8 grade boys will learn all of Shas Mishnayos under one roof with their fathers and grandfathers. Afterwards, they celebrate with a beautiful seuda together with their mothers and grandmothers.
The Siyum Hadoros event is estimated to have between 1500 and 2000 participants, so this year’s BYOM was an invigorating and special way to get the Talmidim prepared!
Citing his personal example as the first class of TA high school, he explained the benefits of joining an inaugural class in a new makom Torah.
For a brochure and more information, the yeshiva office can be reached by emailing yeshivasmesorashatorah@gmail.com or 347-642-1055
JCFL by “Your Kitchen Spot” nears Post-Season
Wonly one more week remaining in the regular season, the “Goldberg’s/Mama Leah’s” postseason positioning is just about finalized. Yet this coming Sunday will really determine who is in and who is out, with 4 critical games to be played at the “Tripping Kosher” fields.
Read on for the highlights from Week 6 of the season:
Evergreen Benefits Group 26
AMP Solutions 6
Evergreen Benefits electrified the fans with a dominant defensive performance, putting the lights out on AMP Solutions.
The entire game, Evergreen’s defensive line of Avrami Freund, Nosson Waldman, and occasionally super-sub Moshe Reches, relentlessly pursued AMP’s QB Yehuda Roll, causing a power outage from AMP. Evergreen’s defensive line ended up with a safety (Freund), 5 sacks (3 Freund and 2 Waldman), and 2 jumping deflections (both Reches) at the line. The rest of the Evergreen “Black Out” defense had 3 INTs (2 by Chaim Finkelstein, 1 by Shloime Scheinfeld) and numerous other deflections, and highlight flag grabs, particularly by Chaim Finkelstein and Pasey Wealcatch.
Evergreen’s scores would come on TD throws from Chaim Finkelstein to Yoni Finkelstein, Scheinfeld, and Freund, along with the aforementioned safety by Waldman.
With the victory, Evergreen clinched the 1 seed in the upcoming playoffs.
Y & L Landscaping 60 Tiger Heating & Air 0
Y & L Landscaping dominated a shorthanded Tiger Heating & Air team with a 60-0 win in a battle of two teams fighting for the final playoff spots. QB Dan Gutman was picture perfect all day long as Y & L piled up 9 touchdowns in a game that was called with plenty of time on the clock.
Ben Gutman piled up 3 sacks on
defense along with 4 TDs on offense, Akiva Stutman had 3 TDs and picked off a pass, and subs Abbo Aranbayev and Avraham Frost were both key contributors towards the victory.
Mordechai Schiermeyer and Baruch Dollman each added a TD reception as Y&L aims to lock up a playoff berth in Week 7.
Baltimore CTC 19 Bunny’s Home Care 6
Baltimore CTC played stifling defense and performed well enough on offense to come away with a 19-6 win and put itself in position to make the playoffs.
CTC scored early in the first half: QB Mahyer “Rocket” Reischer threw a short pass to Reuvain “Shor VeHa” Borchardt, who ran 25 yards into Bunny territory. On the next play, Reischer threw a TD to Mighty Mitch Gross and CTC led 6-0, where the score remained until halftime.
Early in the second half, on 1st and 10 from deep in his own territory, Reischer tossed a short pass to Avromi “Sound” Gartenhaus, who darted rabbit-like, this way and that, from sideline to sideline, duping Bunny defenders all over the field and making it all the
way to the end zone. Later in the half, Reischer found Gross again in the end zone, and completed the point-after to Borchardt for a 19-0 lead.
Bunny scored a late TD for a final score of 19-6. Aron “Feisty Meisty” Meister also starred offensively with numerous catches, and O-linemen Levi Akkerman and Eitan Murinson kept Reischer free of pressure. But CTC truly shined on defense: Eitan “I Want to Roll and” Rock had three picks, and Gross added another. D-linemen Akkerman, Murinson and Borchardt pressured speedy Bunny QB Chaim Fink and contained his running prowess. Akkerman batted two passes at the line of scrimmage. Meisty, Gartenhaus and Shimon Kanter came up with some outstanding flag pulls to stop what could have been big runs.
After starting the season 0-3, CTC is now 2-3-1 and has a chance to make the playoffs next week with a victory and other games breaking their way.
Allstate Insurance – Yaakov Schmell
In a much-anticipated matchup between two teams fighting for playoff positioning, Allstate-Schmell started off rocky as Yoni Gugenheim picked
off Avi Yudkowsky to set up ActualEyes with great field position. However, ActualEyes was not able to take advantage of what would turn out to be their best field position of the day as Aryeh Walter, filling in for superstar Zack Lerner, picked off Dudi May in the end zone. Allstate-Schmell turned that into points on a long TD pass to Walter and, after forcing a punt, scored again on a short TD pass to Josh Zaslow.
ActualEyes managed to score a TD to bring the score to 12-7 and after forcing a goal line stop, had a chance to take the lead. However, in what would turn out to be one of many amazing defensive plays on the day, Mookie Chamdie tackled Yoni Gugenheim in the end zone on an attempted screen and Josh Zaslow had a long catch and run TD pass to give Allstate a 20–7 advantage going into the half.
The second half was all Allstate-Schmell as they scored 3 more TDs on passes to Zaslow, Walter, and Zach Schnitzer. Allstate continued to shut down ActualEyes on defense as Mookie Chamdie made a number of diving pass breakups to add to his interception and safety, as Allstate-Schmell cruised to a 39-13 victory.
Greater Washington: Around the Community
Havdala Pajama Night At The GanTSGW Hosts Special Guest Speakers
The children at The Gan had a super fun, and illuminating time during a special pre-Chanukah Havdala Pajama Night!
They added light to our world through activities such as letters to Chayalim, spinning on life size dreidels, besamim bags and of course delicious refreshments!
TSGW hosts Rabbi Weinberg of KMS and Mrs Chaya Wolvovsky of Chabad Silver Spring for their monthly “Our Torah Leaders” program.
Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide
6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M-F
6:25 am Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation M-F
Beit Halevi (Sfardi) M, T
Chabad of Silver Spring M-F
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S YGW M, Th
6:35 am Ohr Hatorah M, Th
6:40 am YGW S, T, W, F
Magen David Sephardic Congregation M-Th
6:45 am Beit Halevi (Sfardi) S, T, W, F
Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th
Ohr Hatorah T, W, F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M, Th
6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah M, Th Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County M-F
6:55 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah T, W, F
7:00 am Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Silver Spring Jewish Center S
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah T, W, F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac T,W,F
7:05 am Kesher Israel M, Th
7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th Kesher Israel T, W, F
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue M-F
Ohr Hatorah S
7:30 am Chabad of DC M-F Chabad of Potomac M-F JROC M-F
Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) M-F
7:45 am YGW (Yeshiva Session Only) S-F
8:00 am Beth Sholom Congregation S
Kemp Mill Synagogue S
Kesher Israel S
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY S
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S
8:00 am Chabad of Upper Montgomery County S
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah S YGW (High School; School-Contingent) S-F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac S Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) S
8:15 am Ohr Hatorah S Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy S-F
Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
8:30 am Chabad of DC S Chabad of Potomac S JROC S Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue S Silver Spring Jewish Center S YGW (Summer Only) S-F
8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S-F
9:00 am Chabad of Silver Spring S Kemp Mill Synagogue S
mincha
12:30 pm YGW Sunday
1:00 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
1:10 pm YGW M-Th
3:00 pm YGW Middle School School Days
mincha/maariv
Before Shkiah (15-18 minutes), S-TH
Beit Halevi (Sfardi)
Beth Sholom Congregation
Chabad of Potomac
Chabad of Silver Spring
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County
JROC
Kemp Mill Synagogue
Kesher Israel
Magen David Sephardic Congregation
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue Ohr Hatorah
for the Berman B’Aretz Mini Mission. The purpose of the mission is to reconnect with the Bermunity in Israel, including alumni, former teachers, grandparents, and families who have made aliyah.
"Our family could not be happier with the decision we made to enroll our children at OCA. Not only because of the strong academics, their commitment to Yiddishkeit, and social and emotional growth, but because of the family we’ve joined and the relationships they’ve built with the teachers and staff that will last a lifetime."
- Yael S., OCA Parent
613 Seconds with Yeshivas Ner Yisroel
BJH: What is Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, and what makes it unique?
YNY: Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, established in 1933 by HaRav Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman zt”l, is one of the most prominent Torah institutions in America. The yeshiva emphasizes developing gedolei Torah and lay leaders who carry a sense of Achrayus for Klal Yisroel.
BJH: How many bochurim and Yungerleit are there in Ner Yisroel?
YNY: Mechinas Ner Yisroel currently has 225 bochurim. The Yeshiva has 320 bochurim and Kollel Avodas Levi is comprised of 235 Yungerleit.
BJH: What is the significance of celebrating Ner Yisroel’s 91st Anniversary?
YNY: Reaching 91 years is a testament to the enduring legacy of Yeshivas
Ner Yisroel and its profound impact on generations of bnei Torah. Over nearly a century, the yeshiva has remained steadfast in its mission, producing talmidim who are Gedolei Torah and leaders in their communities. The 91st Anniversary Dinner is not just a celebration of the past; it’s a recognition of the present accomplishments and a commitment to continuing the mesorah for future generations.
BJH: When and where will the 91st Anniversary Dinner take place?
YNY: The dinner will take place, Sunday, December 22nd at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.
BJH: Who are this year’s honorees?
YNY: The honorees this year represent the values and ideals of Ner Yisroel:
1. Mr. and Mrs. Tzvi Ray (Chicago), הרותה דומע Award
2. Rabbi and Mrs. Akiva Eisenstadt (New York), הרות רתכ Award
3. Mr. and Mrs. Shlomo Kanner (Baltimore), הרות יקיזחמ Award
4. Mr. and Mrs. Eliezer Zweig (Baltimore), הרות
Award
5. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Kohengadol (Los Angeles), Rabbi Naftoli Neuberger Community Leadership Award
BJH: What is the goal of the dinner, beyond celebrating the yeshiva’s anniversary?
YNY: The dinner aims to strengthen the connection between the yeshiva and its alumni while raising critical funds. By joining the dinner, participants are investing in the future of Torah and ensuring that the mesorah continues to flourish.
BJH: What message does this year’s theme convey?
YNY: The theme of the 91st Anniversary Dinner is “דמלו אצ, Greatness Beyond Boundaries”. Yeshivas Ner Yisroel has always opened its doors to Talmidim from all over the world and our alumni are making an impact globally, as well.
BJH: What are some of the yeshiva’s most notable achievements?
YNY: Over its illustrious history, Ner Yisroel has produced thousands of talmidei chachamim, rabbanim, dayanim, mechanchim, and lay leaders who have enriched Jewish communities worldwide. The yeshiva’s alumni network includes roshei yeshiva, kiruv professionals, and frum businessmen, all of whom credit their success to the chinuch they received at Ner Yisroel.
BJH: How can alumni and friends of the yeshiva stay involved?
YNY: Alumni and friends are encouraged to participate in the yeshiva’s events, support its initiatives, and maintain a strong connection with their
rebbeim. The yeshiva often hosts shiurim, events, and programs to keep the tzibbur engaged and inspired.
BJH: What is the long-term vision for Ner Yisroel?
YNY: Ner Yisroel remains committed to its founding mission of producing talmidei chachamim and leaders for Klal Yisroel. As it approaches its centennial milestone, the yeshiva continues to expand its programs, strengthen its infrastructure, and provide an unparalleled chinuch to ensure that the light of Torah shines brightly for generations to come.
BJH: How can one contribute to the dinner campaign?
YNY: There are multiple ways to contribute:
1. Journal Ads – Submit an ad for the dinner journal, expressing hakaras hatov to the yeshiva or honoring this year’s awardees.
2. General Donations – Contributions of any amount are deeply appreciated and directly support the yeshiva’s critical needs.
To participate, visit dinner.nirc. edu or contact the dinner office at 443-548-6087
This dinner is an opportunity to celebrate the past, support the present, and secure the future of Torah learning and leadership. Join us in this noble endeavor!
The Week In News
The Week In News
Syria’s New Leader
It took just 11 days for Syrian rebels to make their way to Damascus, overthrowing the 50-year Assad family rule and forcing President Bashar Assad to flee to Moscow. Abu Mohammed al-Golani is the rebel leader who led to the toppling of the regime. He supposedly has renounced
ties with al-Qaeda and says that he is a champion of pluralism and tolerance.
Al-Golani has recently dropped his nom de guerre and began referring to himself by his real name, Ahmad alSharaa.
So far, people around the world are holding their breaths to see what Syria will look like in the coming months.
Syria is home to multiple ethnic and religious communities, often pitted against each other by Assad’s state and years of war. Many of them fear the possibility that Sunni Islamist extremists will take over. The country is also fragmented among disparate armed factions, and foreign powers from Russia and Iran to the United States, Turkey and Israel all have their hands in the mix.
The 42-year-old al-Golani — labeled a terrorist by the United States, which has offered $10 million for information leading to his capture — has not appeared publicly since Damascus fell early Sunday. He is the leader of the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, HTS, which helped to bring down Assad.
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Hayat Tahrir al-Sham means the Organization for the Liberation of the Levant — a region that is historically seen as encompassing today’s Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel.
For years, al-Golani worked to consolidate power, while bottled up in the province of Idlib in Syria’s northwest corner as Assad’s Iranianand Russian-backed rule over much of the country appeared solid. He worked to eliminate competitors and built ties with various tribes and other groups.
Along the way, al-Golani shed his garb as a hardline Islamist guerrilla and put on suits for press interviews, talking of building state institutions and decentralizing power to reflect Syria’s diversity.
“Syria deserves a governing system that is institutional, no one where a single ruler makes arbitrary decisions,” he said in an interview with CNN last week, offering the possibility HTS would eventually be dissolved after Assad falls.
“Don’t judge by words, but by actions,” he said.
But many are skeptical that the
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snake has truly shed its skin. Al-Golani’s ties to al-Qaeda stretch back to 2003, when he joined extremists battling U.S. troops in Iraq. The Syrian native was detained by the U.S. military but remained in Iraq. Al-Golani’s prominence grew when Islamic State of Iraq leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi sent him to Syria to establish a branch of al-Qaeda called the Nusra Front. The United States labeled the new group as a terrorist organization. That designation still remains in place; the U.S. government has put a $10 million bounty on him.
Al-Golani’s public image was a journey. Back in 2014, when he was interviewed, he kept his face covered, telling a reporter for Qatari network Al-Jazeera that he rejected political talks in Geneva to end the conflict. He said his goal was to see Syria ruled under Islamic law and made clear that there was no room for the country’s Alawite, Shiite, Druze and Christian minorities.
In 2016, al-Golani revealed his face to the public for the first time in a video message that announced his group
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The Week In News
was renaming itself Jabhat Fateh alSham – the Syria Conquest Front –and cutting its ties to al-Qaeda. He was wearing military garb and a turban in that interview.
Years later, he began to publicly call for religious tolerance and pluralism –and started wearing suits.
In 2021, al-Golani had his first interview with an American journalist on PBS. Wearing a blazer, with his short hair gelled back, the now more soft-spoken HTS leader said that his group posed no threat to the West and that sanctions imposed against it were unjust.
“Yes, we have criticized Western policies,” he said. “But to wage a war against the United States or Europe from Syria, that’s not true. We didn’t say we wanted to fight.”
Time will tell if the leopard has truly changed its spots.
Less Work, More Kids
The Japanese government is concerned about declining population rates. As such, the government of Tokyo announced that the city will implement a four-day workweek for government employees next year to encourage young people to get married and start families.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike said that employees of the metropolitan government would be allowed to take three days off every week, starting in April, to help working mothers and boost record-low fertility rates.
“Now is the time for Tokyo to take the initiative to protect and enhance the lives, livelihoods and economy of our people during these challenging times for the nation,” Koike said last week.
The city will also give paternity leave to fathers and will allow parents of elementary school first through third-graders to trade part of their salaries to leave work early.
“We will review work styles ... with flexibility, ensuring no one has to give
up their career due to life events such as childbirth or childcare,” Koike added.
Last year, only 727,277 births were recorded in Japan, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, as more women are forced to choose between careers and families.
Sociologists have noted that the high cost of living in Japan and the country’s demanding work culture may be causes of the low birth rate.
Japan has a record-low birthrate of 1.2, which relates to the number of children a woman has in her lifetime. It takes a fertility rate of 2.1 for a population to remain stable.
Arsonists Damage Melbourne Synagogue
On Friday, two masked thugs set fire to Adass Israel synagogue, a Jewish place of worship in Melbourne, Australia, destroying the insides of the building.
The act of arson was committed at around 4:10 a.m., according to a witness quoted by Victoria Police Detective Inspector Chris Murray. In response to the fire, 60 firefighters and 17 fire trucks arrived at the synagogue, which had been “engulfed in flames,” according to Murray.
“We believe it was deliberate. We believe it has been targeted. What we don’t know is why,” said Murray.
No motive has been officially determined by authorities. However, Prime Minister Antony Albanese pointed towards antisemitism as the culprit, condemning the synagogue attack as “an act of antisemitism by definition,” for which he and Australia have “zero tolerance.”
Currently, authorities do not have enough proof to determine whether the arson was an act of terrorism. The two arsonists have yet to be caught, though police are searching for them. In the meanwhile, police have increased
security around synagogues and Jewish schools, according to reports.
Two congregants were at the synagogue during the attack. Neither of them were seriously injured, though one’s hand was burned. The synagogue’s “inside is completely gutted,” said synagogue board member Benjamin Klein, adding that the fire destroyed holy books and furniture. Nonetheless, he said the community would “rebuild” the synagogue, which was built by Holocaust survivors.
Victoria State Premier Jacinta Allan said the country would give the community $64,300 (100,000 Australian dollars) to rebuild the synagogue.
On Monday, the government announced the launch of an antisemitism task force known as Abalight.
“Special Operation Abalight will be an agile and experienced squad of counter-terrorism investigators who will focus on threats, violence, and hatred towards the Australian Jewish community and parliamentarians,” the head of the Australian Federal Police Reece Kershaw explained. “In essence, they will be a flying squad to deploy nationally to incidents.”
Since October 7, antisemitic attacks in Australia have quadrupled. The attack on the Adass Israel synagogue is the third antisemitic attack in Australia this year, following the vandalism of a Jewish MP’s office in Melbourne in June and antisemitic graffiti daubed on cars in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, an area with a high Jewish population, last month.
Romania Arrests London Stabbers
On March 29, two Romanian men stabbed Pouria Zeraati, an Iranian journalist and show host, in London. Last Wednesday, the assailants were arrested in Romania.
The stabbers, named as 19-yearold Nandito Badea and 23-year-old
George Stana, await extradition to Britain in the next thirty days. Authorities suspect that they worked on behalf of Iran to intimidate Zeraati and other journalists who are critical of the Iranian regime.
The assailants face charges of attacking “with intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” according to Helen Flanigan, acting commander of the Counter Terrorism Command. Zeraati recounted in an interview with the Washington Post that one of the attackers held up his arms and the other stabbed Zeraati’s thigh with a knife, indicating that they intended not to kill but to wound him as a means of intimidating Iran Internationalaffiliated journalists.
“Hope justice will be served,” Zeraati said of the arrests. “And hope this leads to major changes in policymaking toward the transnational repression threat in the UK and the [European Union].”
After the attack, the assailants fled England on a flight out of Heathrow Airport. Their whereabouts were unknown until last week.
According to reports, a third person, a getaway driver, was involved in the stabbing. Though he was initially arrested, authorities quickly released them.
In the U.K., the case was investigated by the Counter Terrorism Command “due to the victim being a journalist at a Persian-language media organization based in the UK and previous threats” against Zeraati and others.
UNRWA’s Ties to Hamas
According to documents provided by Israel to The New York Times, 24 educators, mostly principals or deputy
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The Peace of Mind A Comprehensive Approach to Mental Wellbeing
Adam Margolis,
DNP, MSN, APNP, AC-CRNP-PMH, is a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and the Medical Director of The Naomi Center, a community mental health clinic serving the Jewish community of Baltimore, MD, and surrounding areas. With over two decades of experience, Margolis specializes in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and bipolar disorder in both children and adults. He embraces a holistic approach, viewing each individual as a whole person rather than just a collection of symptoms. Margolis combines functional medicine principles with psychopharmacological treatment, offering Psychiatric Evaluations, Medication Management, and Health and Wellness Consultations. His clinical approach integrates psychiatric medication management with lifestyle counseling, helping patients identify and address the root causes of their mental health challenges while supporting their journey toward wellness and recovery.
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principals, working for 24 separate UNRWA schools, are members of Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Around half of those people possess Hamas or PIJ-provided weapons such as assault rifles and hand grenades or partake in the terror group’s training exercises. For example, the Times interviewed Gaza residents who noted that one UNRWA teacher was “regularly seen after hours in Hamas fatigues carrying a Kalashnikov.”
The documents also showed how prevalent Hamas tunnels are in UNRWA schools. Israel’s report quoted internal Hamas documents that declared schools and civilian areas as “the best obstacles to protect the resistance,” referencing two schools where the terror group hid weapons. Since the war began on October 7, Israel has repeatedly found Hamas terrorists stationed in school buildings.
On many occasions, Israel notified UNRWA that some of its employers were members of Hamas, but the warnings went unheeded. According to the Jewish state, around 10% of UNRWA’s members are associated with terrorist organizations, a statistic the agency denies. Many UNRWA members played a part in the Hamas massacre on October 7.
The Knesset on November 1 banned UNRWA from operating in Israel starting in early 2025.
In response to the reports, UNRWA’s commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini said that it was “extraordinarily interesting” that Israel chose to send the documents to The New York Times instead of the United Nations.
Bank, and countries like Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Billionaire Boom
2024 was a good year for six Israelis, as they became part of a hallowed club of those with a personal wealth of at least a billion dollars. Their combined personal wealth grew by 18% to $86 billion, according to the UBS Global Wealth Report.
Billionaires worldwide fared well, but those in the United States saw the biggest gains, amassing $5.8 trillion—40% of global billionaire wealth. The U.S. gained 101 new billionaires this year, an 11.2% increase, while only 20 individuals lost their billionaire status.
South America also did well this year. Brazil added 19 new billionaires, raising its total to 60, with a combined fortune of $154.9 billion. Across Central and South America, billionaire wealth grew by 20.8% to $411.4 billion as the number of billionaires on the continent increased from 74 to 92.
Those in China and Hong Kong didn’t fare as well. Billionaire wealth dropped there 16.8% to $1.8 trillion, with the number of billionaires falling from 588 to 501. Meanwhile, India experienced a 42.1% surge in billionaire wealth, reaching $905.6 billion, with its billionaire count rising from 153 to 185.
In Western Europe, billionaire wealth increased by 16% to $2.7 trillion, driven by a 23.8% rise in the Swiss billionaire community. The region now boasts 495 billionaires, up from 456 last year.
In Africa and the Middle East, billionaire
billionaires for the first time in 2024, with 60% of them identified as entrepreneurs—a shift from 2023, when most new billionaires inherited their fortunes.
Elon Musk is the world’s richest person, with a worth of $355.22 billion, followed by Jeff Bezos ($239.9 billion), Larry Ellison ($234.7 billion), Mark Zuckerberg ($212.06 billion), and Bernard Arnault and family ($173.07 billion).
Eyal Ofer is the richest Israeli, with a worth of $26.58 billion.
Israel in Control of Golan Heights Buffer Zone
After rebels took over Syria, ousting President Bashar al-Assad from power, the Israeli army temporarily took over the demilitarized Golan Heights buffer zone on the Israel-Syria border.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the decision to do so was made in light of the fact that Israel’s 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria had concluded with the regime change.
“We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” said Netanyahu, declaring the fall of Assad’s government a “historic day in the Middle East.”
“The collapse of the Assad regime, the tyranny in Damascus, offers great opportunity but also is fraught with significant dangers,” the premier said, adding that Israel would “send a hand to peace” to those who desire peace with the Jewish state. “If we can establish neighborly relations and peaceful relations with the new forces emerging in Syria, that’s our desire. But if we do not, we will do whatever it takes to defend the State of Israel and the border of Israel.”
The buffer zone that Israel has taken over was a sort of “no-man’s land” over the past few years.
Netanyahu added that the IDF’s seizure of the buffer zone was a “temporary defensive position until a suitable arrangement is found.” In the meanwhile, the Israeli military has deployed troops to the Golan Heights, which it annexed in 1981, concerned about the possibility of Syria joining the war against Israel. The Jewish state also fears that the wrong people will take hold of the chemical weapons that Bashar al-Assad ostensibly has.
Early Sunday morning, the 13year Syrian civil war ended with rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)’s entrance into Damascus, after which its leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani proclaimed Syria to be “free.”
300 Strikes Against Syria
In an effort to ensure weapons don’t fall into hostile hands, Israel pounded Syrian army bases on Tuesday, decimating military installations and airbases across Syria. Helicopters and jets were destroyed, as well as Republican Guard assets in and around Damascus.
The rough tally of 200 raids overnight had left nothing of the Syrian army’s assets.
The Israeli Air Force has carried out over 300 airstrikes in Syria since the collapse of the regime, destroying advanced weapons and other capabilities.
Strikes reportedly carried out by Israel in Damascus’s Barzeh area completely destroyed a defense ministry research center. Back in 2018, Western countries, including the United States, struck the facility, saying it was related to Syria’s “chemical weapons infrastructure.”
Israel’s navy also carried out a largescale operation on Monday night to destroy the former regime’s naval fleet.
Israel said its airstrikes would carry on for days, but told the UN Security Council that it was not intervening in Syria’s conflict. It said it had taken
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“limited and temporary measures” solely to protect its security.
The Jewish state denied that it is sending in forces into Syria beyond the buffer zone.
The rebel groups that have taken over the country since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in a lightning two-week raid are associated with al-Qaeda and other jihadist groups. As such, Israel, a neighbor of Syria, is working to ensure that these terror groups do not have access to military apparatuses that they could use against their enemies and against Israel.
The civil war in Syria had been raging since 2011.
4 Killed in Lebanon
On Sunday, four Israeli reservists were killed in southern Lebanon in what the army is calling an “operational accident,” when munitions in a Hezbollah tunnel they were in exploded.
The four men were all serving with the 226th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade’s 9263rd Battalion when they were killed in the blast, while searching for weapons in the Labbouneh area of southern Lebanon. Their bodies were trapped inside a destroyed tunnel for hours, until rescuers could reach them.
The four heroes were named as Maj. (res.) Evgeny Zinershain, 43, from Zichron Yaakov; Cpt. (res.) Sagi Ya’akov Rubinshtein, 31, from Kibbutz Lavi; Master Sgt. (res.) Binyamin Destaw Negose, 28, from Beit Shemesh; and Sgt. First Class. (res.) Erez Ben Efraim, 25, from Ramat Gan.
Zinershain was a company commander, and Rubinshtein was a platoon commander.
L CHAIM
While carrying out searches in the Labbouneh area on Sunday afternoon, troops found the entrance to a Hezbollah tunnel where weapons were apparently being stored. They entered the tunnel, and a large explosion occurred, which, in turn, caused the Hezbollah weapon stockpile to detonate, bringing the walls and ceiling of the underground passage down on top of the troops. The collapse trapped the four soldiers; rescue operations to extract their bodies took some 12 hours.
It’s possible that the initial blast was likely caused by explosives previously left behind by other Israeli forces who had operated there, which were unknown to the soldiers who entered the tunnel.
Sadly, 80 soldiers have been killed on the northern front since the beginning of the war.
Last month, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire. Under the terms of the ceasefire, the IDF has 60 days to withdraw from southern Lebanon, where troops have been operating since October to drive Hezbollah from
WEEKLY CALENDAR
the border region. Israel will then cede responsibility for the area to the Lebanese army.
But the Israeli army has still been carrying on strikes in Lebanon against Hezbollah terrorists and weapons depots that it says are violating the ceasefire’s terms.
On Sunday, the military said troops operating elsewhere in the western sector of southern Lebanon located and decommissioned several rocket launchers aimed at Israel. The soldiers also found and destroyed mortars, dozens of rockets, ammunition crates and assault rifles, according to the IDF.
More Pain
Three soldiers were killed and 12 others were wounded in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday, the Israel Defense Forces announced, amid the ongoing war against Hamas.
The slain troops were named as Staff Sgt. Ido Zano, 20, a combat medic with the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion, from Yehud-Monosson;
DECEMBER 16TH- DECEMBER 20TH
Stimulating Activities For Adults - Delicious Kosher Meals
Monday December 16th Wednesday December 18th
9:30 am
Yoga with Deborah Bandos
10:00 am
Baking with Ms. Hirschman
11:00 am
Discussion Group with Rabbi KarpNews from Israel and Hello to Chanukah
1:00 pm
Arts & Crafts with Shifra
2:00 pm
Piano with Mr. Taragin
Tuesday December 17th
9:30 am
Yoga with Deborah Bandos
10:15 am
Anagrams with Malka Zweig
11:00 am
Discussion Group with Rabbi KarpJewish Chaplains & Chanukah History
1:00 pm BINGO
1:45 pm
Guitar with Yossi K
9:30 am
Yoga with Deborah Bandos
10:15 am
Anagrams with Malka Zweig
10:30 am
Bais Yaakov Middle School Visit
11:00 am
Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp - Obeying D'Rabbanans and Chanukah History
1:00 pm
Arts & Crafts with Shifra
1:45 pm
Guitar with Yossi K
Thursday December 19th
9:30 am
Yoga with Deborah Bandos
10:15 am
Anagrams with Malka Zweig
11:00 am
Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp - Hilchos Chanukah
1:00 pm
Arts & Crafts with Shifra
1:45 pm
Guitar with Yossi K
Friday December 20th
9:30 am
Q and A with Nurse Shaindel
10:00 am
Baking with Ms. Hirschman
11:00 am
Discussion Group with Rabbi KarpNews from Israel & Parsha Overview
2:00 pm
Music with Aharon Grayson
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Staff Sgt. Barak Daniel Halpern, 19, a squad commander in the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion, from Kiryat Ono; and Sgt. Omri Cohen, 19, of the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion, from Ashdod.
Those who were wounded included a Givati reservist and a member of the Artillery Corps’ Sky Riders Unit who were in serious condition.
The troops had been getting ready to head out of the Strip for a furlough. They were boarding a lightly armored truck used to transport troops when Hamas terrorists launched anti-tank projectiles and opened fire at them.
So far, the military estimates that it has killed at least 1,750 terrorists during the recent operation that was launched in September, while another 1,300 have been detained and around 90,000 civilians evacuated from the area.
Thirty-four IDF soldiers have been killed so far in the operation.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 44,000 people in the Strip have been killed or are presumed dead in the fighting so far, though the toll cannot be verified and does not differentiate between civilians and terrorists. Israel says it has killed some 18,000 combatants in battle as of November and another 1,000 terrorists inside Israel on October 7.
On Tuesday, the IDF announced that it had killed in an air strike 10 Hamas terrorists responsible for the deaths of Ido, Barak Daniel, and Omri the day before.
2,000 Terrorists Used in Terror Drill
Months before the October 7, 2023, massacre, Hamas gathered 2,000 terrorists from its elite Nukhba force to simulate a surprise attack on Israel, according to a report by Channel 12.
According to the report, fighters were scrambled to various designated
gathering points, mostly in mosques, to simulate preparations for an invasion of Israeli communities across the Gaza border.
Israel only became aware of the drill months later through documents seized in Gaza during the subsequent war and through interrogations of captured Nukhba fighters.
It was one of the many indications that Israeli intelligence either missed or ignored that the terror group was planning to invade the country.
Following the terror exercise, a narrow panel of Hamas’s highest military council met to assess the drill, the report said. Among those who participated in the meeting — documents from which were found by Israeli troops in a Hamas bunker during the war — were Muhammad Deif, then commander of the group’s military wing, and Yahya Sinwar, then its Gaza chief.
The terror panel concluded that the drill was a success, particularly because the terrorists managed to evade Israel’s observations.
Thousands of Hamas-led terrorists invaded Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages in the most brutal way. In the 14 months since the war broke out, multiple investigations have noted intelligence officers’ awareness of some Hamas exercises simulating an invasion, which led to warnings that were ignored by intelligence higher-ups, who believed the terror group was grandstanding and uninterested in conflict.
A dossier compiled by the IDF’s Military Intelligence’s Unit 8200 less than three weeks before October 7 warned that Hamas was training for a large-scale invasion of Israel, during which hostages would be taken en masse.
In addition, an email sent to intelligence officials in the IDF’s Gaza Division just days before the attack reportedly warned that an invasion was imminent, citing Hamas exercises in the Strip.
LA Times’ Bias Checker
Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of the Los Angeles Times, recently unveiled an AI “bias meter” that could be found on the paper’s news articles, giving readers “both sides” of a story.
“Somebody could understand as they read it that the source of the article has some level of bias,” Soon-Shiong said. “And what we need to do is not have what we call confirmation bias, and then that story automatically, the reader can press a button and get both sides of that exact same story based on that story and then give comments.”
Soon-Shiong added that the news outlet’s failure to distinguish between news and opinion “could be the downfall of what now people call mainstream media.”
The move was condemned by some, including the union that represents hundreds of LA Times newsroom staff. They noted that Soon-Shiong had “publicly suggested his staff harbors bias, without offering evidence or examples.”
“Our members — and all Times staffers — abide by a strict set of ethics guidelines, which call for fairness, precision, transparency, vigilance against bias, and an earnest search to understand all sides of an issue,” stated the Los Angeles Times Guild. “Those longstanding principles will continue guiding our work.”
One opinion columnist, in particular, left the Times due to SoonShiong’s scrapping of the paper’s endorsement of Kamala Harris and insistence on embracing conservative viewpoints.
“My resignation is a protest and visceral reaction against the conduct of the paper’s owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong. Soon-Shiong has made
several moves to force the paper, over the forceful objections of his staff, into a posture more sympathetic to Donald Trump,” wrote Harry Litman. “Given the existential stakes for our democracy that I believe Trump’s second term poses, and the evidence that Soon-Shiong is currying favor with the President-elect, they are repugnant and dangerous.”
An assistant editorial page editor, Kerry Cavanaugh also resigned, as the Times’ owner seeks to remake the newspaper’s editorial board. SoonShiong has said he wants to hire more right-wing and centrist individuals to balance the political views on the editorial board.
Daniel Penny Not Guilty
In a case that riveted that nation, Daniel Penny, a former Marine, recently went on trial in Manhattan for the death of Jordan Neely on May 1, 2023. Penny had held Neely down on the floor of a subway car when the black man – who was homeless and had a history of mental illness – began to threaten passengers and frighten them. Neely subsequently died.
This week, Penny was acquitted on a charge of criminally negligent homicide, with jurors deciding that Penny’s actions were not criminal. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed last week.
After the forewoman announced the verdict, the courtroom erupted, with some people cheering the outcome and others responding with anger.
The jurors had spent more than three days trying to come to a unanimous decision on whether Penny, 26, was guilty of manslaughter — a higher charge — in the death of Neely, 30. On Friday, the jurors sent two notes to the judge overseeing the trial saying that they were deadlocked. Penny, 26, served four years in the Marines and went on to study architecture. Neely, 30, struggled with
Sitting Pretty
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mental illness after his mother died; her boyfriend was convicted of killing her. He subsequently was diagnosed with depression and schizophrenia, was repeatedly hospitalized, and used the synthetic cannabinoid K2 and realized it negatively affected his thinking and behavior, according to medical records seen at the trial. The drug was in his system when he died.
Murdoch Can’t Change Family Trust
A Nevada commissioner ruled resoundingly against Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to change his family’s trust to consolidate his eldest son Lachlan’s
control of his media empire and lock in Fox News’ right-wing editorial slant, according to a sealed court document obtained by The New York Times.
The commissioner, Edmund J. Gorman Jr., concluded in a decision filed Saturday that the father and son, who is the head of Fox News and News Corp., had acted in “bad faith” in their effort to amend the irrevocable trust, which divides control of the company equally among Murdoch’s four oldest children — Lachlan, James, Elisabeth and Prudence — after his death.
A lawyer for Rupert Murdoch, Adam Streisand, said Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch were disappointed with the ruling and intended to appeal.
In a statement, James, Elisabeth and Prudence said: “We welcome Commissioner Gorman’s decision and hope that we can move beyond this litigation to focus on strengthening and rebuilding relationships among all family members.”
The battle over the family trust is not about money — Rupert Murdoch is not seeking to diminish any of his children’s financial stakes in the company — but
rather about future control of the world’s most powerful conservative media empire, which includes Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.
Rupert Murdoch, now 93, has long intended to bequeath the media conglomerates to his children. But he is also determined to preserve the rightwing bent of his empire.
James and Elisabeth are both known to have less conservative political views than their father or brother. In seeking to consolidate Lachlan’s control, Murdoch has argued that maintaining the political bent of his outlets — and stripping the voting power of three of his children — is in the financial interest of all his beneficiaries.
A new study by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine indicates that 46% of Americans admit to having less “alone time” during the holidays, with 56% of U.S. adults maintaining that alone time is important for one’s mental health.
“We have a lot of input, demands and stress in general that is elevated during the holidays, so it is extra important to be attentive to your need for alone time,” explained survey developer and reviewer Sophie Lazarus, a clinical psychologist at Ohio State’s psychiatry and behavioral health department.
As with most times, the benefits of alone time differ from person to person. Some need some time to be physically away from others, while some may need a way to disconnect while by themselves, says Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a California State University Emerita Professor of psychology and licensed clinical psychologist.
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To some people, alone time is energizing; to others, it’s exhausting. According to the survey, 36% of respondents reported feeling more irritable when they didn’t have enough alone time. Generally, it’s important to balance alone time with time spent with others.
During the holidays, it may be hard to briefly distance oneself from family and friends, but there are ways of being by yourself without insulting others. For example, you could take a walk, run an errand by yourself, or wake up before everyone else to enjoy time on your own.
CEO Killer Arrested
stretch of road in Altoona, Pennsylvania, that is dotted with chain stores and fastfood restaurants, they approached the customer, Luigi Mangione.
“He was sitting there eating,” Joseph E. Kenny, the New York Police Department’s chief of detectives, said at a news conference.
Mangione was wearing a blue surgical mask and had a laptop. One of the officers asked him to pull down the
deep-seated anger toward the U.S. health insurance industry.
Mangione, officials said, had a gun and a silencer similar to the ones used in Wednesday’s shooting and a fake driver’s license that matched one used by the man suspected of killing Thompson. He also carried with him a three-page handwritten manifesto condemning the health care industry for putting profits over patients.
“These parasites had it coming,” it said, according to a senior law enforcement official who saw the document. “I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done.”
The Altoona police arrested Mangione, 26, on gun charges and said he was being questioned about the murder of Thompson, CEO of the insurance giant UnitedHealthcare.
Judge: Naval Academy Should Accept Based on Race
Students for Fair Admissions, the anti-affirmative action group that in 2023 successfully ended Harvard and the University of North Carolina’s raceconscious admission system after the case was brought to the Supreme Court, sued the U.S. Naval Academy in an effort to stop
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is important for non-civilian schools.
Fifty-two percent of enlisted Navy service members are part of a minority. Out of the Navy’s 218 admirals, only around 17 were of color, as of 2020.
“America’s enemies do not fight differently based on the race of the commanding officer opposing them, sailors must follow orders without regard to the skin color of those giving them, and battlefield realities apply equally to all sailors regardless of race, ethnicity, or national origin,” the anti-affirmative action organization argued. “To that end, President Truman desegregated the military well before other institutions followed suit.”
Along with Students for Fair Admissions, two anonymous academy applicants joined the lawsuit, claiming that they were rejected because their seats were instead given to minorities. The organizations say they will take this case to the Supreme Court if they have to.
Mystery Donor
James Patterson is a celebrated author of scores of thrillers and
mysteries. This year, the writer has generously given hundreds of dollars in holiday bonuses to booksellers across the country.
Around 600 booksellers will receive the $500 holiday bonus. Patterson has been donating this award to independent store employees since 2015.
“Booksellers save lives. Period,” Patterson said in a statement, “I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and all their hard work this holiday season.”
The winners were nominated by co-workers and customers, among others. Patterson chose the winners from thousands of applications.
“We appreciate Mr. Patterson’s financial generosity as well as his generosity of spirit. We all continue to be awed by, and grateful for, Mr. Patterson’s continuing support of
independent booksellers,” Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, said in a statement. “It means everything to have him recognize and reward the valuable role booksellers play in the industry.”
Along with his gifts to booksellers, Patterson has given millions of dollars to schools, libraries and literacy programs. In 2015, the National Book Foundation presented him an honorary National Book Award — the Literarian Award — for “outstanding service to the American literary community.”
Patterson’s books have sold more than 425 million copies, and he was the first person to sell one million e-books
In 2016, Patterson topped Forbes’s list of highest-paid authors for the third consecutive year, with an income of $95 million. His total income over a decade is estimated at $700 million.
Army Deserter on the Run for 16 Years
After 16 years on the run, a
military deserter turned himself in to U.S. Border Patrol agents at the Port of Buffalo, Rainbow Bridge border crossing, last week.
The unidentified 38-year-old turned himself in on Tuesday after encountering CBP officers on the crossing’s pedestrian walkway.
“The traveler claimed to be ‘turning himself in’ for military desertion,” the agency said. “The traveler was escorted to secondary inspection for verification.”
Officers verified the man’s identity during a secondary inspection and found that he had an active National Crime Information Center U.S. Army warrant for Military Desertion. His name has not been released.
“Our officers work diligently to screen all travelers entering the United States,” Area Port Director Gaetano Cordone said. “We work closely with several law enforcement agencies to help capture fugitives and ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”
The man was taken into custody and turned over to the U.S. Army from the Fort Liberty, North Carolina Provost Marshal’s Office.
Ari Purec & Aliza Yudkowsky
Chaim Singer (Potomac) & Shira Charna David (Lakewood)
Levi Yitzchok Klein (Brooklyn) & Esti Muller (Baltimore)
Run For Amudim 2025: Running For Their Lives. Changing Their Story.
n February 2nd 2025, as the sun rises over Miami, more than 25,000 runners from every corner of the world will take on the annual Miami Marathon. For some, it’s a personal goal; for others, it’s a chance to push their limits. For a special group running with Amudim, it’s a race that symbolizes hope, resilience, and the chance to rewrite lives.
This year’s #Run4Amudim campaign, themed “Run for Their Lives: Change Their Story,” speaks directly to the urgency felt by those Amudim supports. For individuals grappling with addiction, abuse, and mental health challenges, life itself can feel like an endless marathon—a race against obstacles that seem insurmountable. Amudim exists to change that narrative, stepping in as a lifeline, empowering people to envision and achieve futures they once believed were out of reach.
Running to Rewrite Lives
The Run4Amudim runners bring powerful stories and a shared commitment to the track
this year, uniting to raise both awareness and funds. Each runner laces up not just for the physical challenge, but to stand with those facing emotional and psychological battles. “When you run for Amudim,” says CEO Rabbi Zvi Gluck, “you’re not just joining a race. You’re becoming part of a team that’s rewriting lives.”
Take Dini, who runs in honor of her sister Malky, who lost her battle with addiction. Through Amudim’s platform, Dini has transformed her grief into action, creating a legacy that helps others avoid a similar fate. She’s found a way to turn tragedy into purpose, and in her words, “Every step I take is a step toward giving others the chance that Malky never had.”
A Team for Every Story, A Race for Every Cause
Amudim’s campaign this year is joined by unique teams, each with a powerful purpose and a story to share. These teams are more than groups of runners; they are communities dedicated to raising awareness, breaking stigmas, and providing support.
Team Run to Remember dedicates every step to loved ones lost too soon, turning grief into resilience. Team Hope spreads butterfly wings of support for those in dark times. Team Lemmer, led by Yanky and Shulem Lemmer, works to break cycles of trauma and abuse. Team Worth It, led by Alyssa Goldwater, fights stigmas around mental health and eating disorders. The all-women Team Missfit joins with a drive to empower women in all aspects of life.
For the runners of #Run4Amudim, this journey goes beyond the physical challenge. As marathon runner and mental health advocate Beatie Deutsch explains, “Running and mental health are so clearly connected. The mental benefits that come with a good run are unbelievable, and running has helped me on my own path.”
From Couch Potatoes to Marathoners: Running for Impact, Not Just Miles
Run4Amudim welcomes everyone, whether you’re a marathoner or just someone who wants to make a difference. Group chats
buzz with messages of encouragement, stories of struggles overcome, and a shared goal: to be the lifeline for those in crisis.
A Finish Line for All
On February 2, 2025 these runners will cross the finish line as champions of resilience, perseverance, and compassion. They run to create a world where everyone, no matter their challenges, can find strength, support, and healing.
The Run begins with a transformative Shabbos experience at the Hilton Aventura in Florida, featuring Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz, Beatie Deutsch and Shulem Lemmer, with cuisine by Executive Caterers and Dunwell Pizza.
Register by December 31st to join the run and the shabbos!
Run4Amudim.com
The Next Chapter for Mesivta Shaarei Chaim
Last week, a monumental event took place right here in our community. Baltimore’s Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (“Wilhelm’s”) purchased a stunning new 5-acre campus located at 5415 Greenspring Ave, Baltimore MD 21209. Nestled in the picturesque neighborhood of Mt. Washington, around the corner from Sinai Hospital and a mere minutes drive from the Orthodox Jewish community, the property is ideally suited for a place where students can learn their best and achieve success.
Mesivta Shaarei Chaim, now in its fifth year, has grown to 4
classes staffed by outstanding Rabbeim; tremendous Talmidei Chachamim who care deeply for their Talmidim. They are master mechanchim who possess a strong understanding of the growth process of today’s bachur. Under their tutelage, Shaarei Chaim students have been able to develop the skills necessary to attain a true grasp of the intricacies of learning Gemara. In this process, the bachurim have grown as Bnei Torah and yirei Shamayim, and are constantly working on themselves to become better Ovdei Hashem.
The amount that was accomplished thus far is remarkable; however, a large impediment stood in the way, holding back further growth. The Mesivta lacked a physical campus that could be called a place of its
own. Shaarei Chaim Hanhala had a specific vision in mind, and were not willing to compromise on aspects that were felt to be important for current and future Talmidim. B’chasdei Hashem Yisborach, after several years of searching and investigating, the Mesivta was able to finalize on a property that met all their goals, and one which is hoped to be a wonderful place for tremendous shteiging and accomplishing.
With Hashem’s abundant help, and the assistance of so many of the community’s lay leaders and supporters, Shaarei Chaim’s new campus allows them the opportunity to expand the scope of their program in a significant way. As soon as possible, plans involve installation of a full-sized modular building that will include a beautiful
bais medrash as well as all the functional spaces necessary for a Mesivta. Shaarei Chaim looks forward to ushering in “the next chapter” with renewed energy and commitment to providing for each Talmid with utmost dedication.
Mesivta Shaarei Chaim will be having an Open House take place this upcoming Sunday, December 15th (see accompanying flyer for details). All parents of 8th grade boys are invited to come hear about Mesivta Shaarei Chaim and its excellent program. Feel free to contact the Mesivta office for more information: (410) 656-9827 or office@ shaareichaimbaltimore.org. Applications for the upcoming school year can be submitted online at shaareichaimbaltimore. org/apply-now.
courtesy of MyZmanim and are for the 21209 area. Havdalah Zmanim are at 40 minutes past Shkiah.
Yaakov succeeds mightily in defeating the guardian angel of Esav. In what appears as a concession speech to Yaakov, the angel admiringly asks Yaakov, ךמש המ — “What is your name?”, to which Yaakov readily responds, “Yaakov” The angel goes on to inform him that, “no longer will it be said that your name is Yaakov, but Yisrael, for you have striven with the Divine and with man and have overcome.”
Clearly the angel was not directed to advise Yaakov of this change, as we find later upon Yaakov’s arrival in Beth-el, the Torah describes how G-d informs Yaakov, “Your name is Yaakov. Your name shall not always be called Yaakov, but Yisrael shall be your name.”
There seems to be two subtle differences between what the angel alleges and what took place.
In the earlier episode after ‘discovering’ Yaakov’s name, the angel states ‘that no longer, רמאי — will it be said that your name is Yaakov’, intimating it will not be uttered at all, neither by others nor by Yaakov.
In the later description, not only does G-d first clearly assert ‘your name is Yaakov’, but G-d also goes on to avows, וארקי אל — ‘Your name shall not always be called Yaakov’, implying that ‘others’ will not call you by that name, but Yaakov will still refer to, and present himself, as Yaakov.
How are we to understand the angel ‘leaking’ privileged information to Yaakov, prior to G-d conferring the title of Yisroel upon him?
The famed Limner Rav, one of the illustrious Tzaddikim and Geonim of 19th century Western Galicia, elucidates a cryptic teaching from the Holy Baal Shem Tov.
Within רקש — falsehood, dwells תמא — truth, since the numerical value of the word רקש — 600, absorbs within itself the numerical equivalent of תמא — 441. (בוט םש רתכ)
The Limner Rav is baffled by this observation, since many words have a numerical value that is subsumed within the greater number of 600.
In our pursuit of self-perfection, we often rise to the challenge in overcoming our inner instincts and mastering the ability to keep the evil inclination at bay. We rightfully give ourselves credit in having achieved that level of control. Yet, therein lays the danger of being tainted, ever so subtly, with pride that often transforms into arrogance, leading to complacency and ultimately vulnerability to the tentacles of temptation.
There is only one antidote to this danger. Humility. When we realize how ןטק — small, we are in our accomplishments in contrast to the levels of devotion we can achieve, we stand a chance of maintaining an intensive vigilance against the forces of smugness that wear away our strengths.
This is the depth of the Baal Shem Tov’s teaching. Even as we pursue truth, we can be enveloped by our accomplishments in empowering our delusions of personal achievements that mislead us into assuming we are impervious to the temptations of pride and power, exposing us to the slippery slope of complacency. To not be consumed by falsehood we must interject a healthy dose of humility that will help us be conscious of our weaknesses stirring us to greater vigilance.
When one adds a measure of ןטק — humility, which is numerically equal to 159 to the value of תמא — truth, 441, the partnership equals 600, able to stand
up to its adversary רקש — falsehood which is equivalent to 600!
The guardian angel remained loyal to his charge Esav in employing a devious tactic to trap Yaakov. He emboldens Yaakov by discarding his former name rooted in the word בקע — heel, symbolic of the humblest component of our body, and injecting a sense of pride — for you have תירש — striven with the Divine and with man and have overcome, the new name לארשי rooted in the notion of הררש — authority, power, and dominion, hoping to plant the seeds of arrogance that will breed his ruin.
G-d sets the record straight by emphasizing to Yaakov to never forget his name is Yaakov, for that is his surety to remain on a healthy trajectory towards greatness, never succumbing to arrogance. In the same vein, G-d wants Yaakov to know that others will call him Yisroel, for he has succeeded in rising to unparalleled greatness, ascending to levels greater than angels. (חלשיו לארשי תרזע)
It is Yaakov who declares יתנטק, “I am humbled” םידסחה לכמ — considering all the kindness G-d has showered upon him, compelling him to rise even higher in debt for that relationship.
Yaakov also adds that he is feels “unworthy” תמאה לכמ — ‘from all the truth.” Perhaps this alludes to the ‘reality’ that although we at times attain great accomplishments in comparison to other nations, but in the realm of objective truth — the full truth, there is so much more to attain.
Yaakov never was satisfied with his sterling achievements since he felt indebted to do so much more and strived to attain a level perfection that was measured by the yardstick of pure truth.
One who realizes the possibilities will never lull into complacency.
I recently read a remarkable portrayal of this perspective on life, as evidenced by a student of the great Gaon and passionate Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshivas Mir, Rav Chaim Shmulevitz.
During a summer vacation as he descended the steps to the beach in Netnaya during the early morning sunrise, he noticed how his Rebbe stood on a high step gazing out at the horizon. Oblivious to their presence, they overheard the Rosh HaYeshiva engaging in a conversation with himself.
“Chaim, Chaim, the Abishter granted you another day, what are you going to do with the day the Abishter gave you?
Chaim, what did you do with the day that the Abishter gave you yesterday?
Chaim, what did you do with yesterday that the Aibishter should give you yet another day?”
May we realize how indebted we are to G-d for the out of proportion benevolence He sends our way.
May we acknowledge how far we can go in raising the bar of our goals to reflect His truth.
May we never be complacent. May we never feel smug.
May we always feel privileged.
You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ ohelmoshebaltimore.com
PARSHA
OVERVIEW
Yaakov prepares to confront his wicked brother, Eisav. Yaakov fights with the angel of Eisav, who ends up injuring Yaakov. Yaakov positions his family and sends gifts, and then confronts Eisav. Dina, the daughter of Yaakov is abducted by Sh’chem. Shimon and Levi take revenge and kill Chamor, Shechem, etc. Hashem tells Yaakov to travel to Beis Ail and his name is changed to Yisroel. The last tribe, Binyamin, is born. Rachel passes away. Yitzchak passes away.
TSorahparks
Inspiration Everywhere
Parshas Vayishlach on
QUICK VORT
Quotable
The Jewish people kept hope alive and hope kept the Jewish people alive
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt”l
GEMATRIA
Chazal tell us ערה רצי יתארב ... - I have created the Yetzer Hara, but ןילבת
- have created the Torah as its remedy.
Perhaps, it’s not a coincidence that the gematria of יתארב is the same as 613 - גירת , a reference to Torah!
We must utilize the “weapon,” that is the Torah, to overcome the Yetzer Hara.
But no, it’s not a weapon of mass destruction; rather, the Torah is a weapon of mass construction. It is meant to build us to become better!
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
The Torah tells us that Yaakov Avinu sojourned in the house of Lavan - םע
יתרג ןבל . Rashi says the word יתרג is the same gematria as (613) גירת , thus teaching us that תוצמ גירת יתרמש - I have kept all 613 mitzvos.
The Chasam Sofer says something startling. Yaakov could not have kept all 613 mitzvos since we know during the time he was at the house of Lavan, he did not fulfill the mitzvah of Kibbud Av Va’em.
T he Chasam Sofer says a massive chiddush. The word יתרמש (I have kept) here does not mean “kept,” rather it means “I have yearned for and anticipated,” like the Lashon of
ויבאו - and his father anticipated the matter (regarding what will become of the dreams of Yosef).
What kept Yaakov Avinu spiritually strong was his constant thirst, his t’shuka, his anticipation of the fulfillment of all 613 mit zvos!
In life, we must strive to always stay thirsty for more and more spirituality.
Rashi tells us that Yaakov made himself into a bridge,
The Likkutei Halachos (in Laws of Tefillin) says that the attribute of Emes - truth - is a bridge.
Yaakov was a an exemplar of the attribute of truth, as we say: תמא ןתת
In a world filled with so much רקש and falsehood, we need to take inspiration from our father, Yaakov Avinu, and become people who live by the truth.
Truth stands. Falsehood falls down.
What is the source for the concept of ביבח
?
Where can you find it in our Parshah?
What are additional cases where this rule applies, and what are cases where it does not apply?
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I GO TO WORK, JUST LIKE YOU.
At Jus by Julie, I manage UberEats orders. Each order I pack is a small triumph, a step towards independence.
When I’m not working, I cherish moments with friends, especially at Yachad. It’s more than a community; it’s a family that values every individual.
My life is vibrant, busy, and meaningful
School of Thought
By Etti Siegel
Q:Dear Etti,
My son is polite, follows the rules, raises his hand in class, and can be a little socially awkward. He has been mentioning that he doesn’t get called on very much and seems to be mostly overlooked in school. I had the same issue with my daughter, but she found another more quiet child and they have supported each other for years.
I would think that my children would be a teacher’s dream, but the more disruptive and loud children seem to get the attention and rewards and my children seem forgotten.
It is probably my fault because I am an introvert –I feel bad for my children because everyone likes to be noticed.
-Overlooked
A:Dear Teachers,
Dear Mom of Overlooked, I hear you. And that is why I am going to address this letter to teachers, instead of you.
There are children in our classroom who go unnoticed. I understand why! The children who demand attention by calling out or misbehaving are the children who demand our focus because we need to make sure they do not destroy the class decorum by any means necessary. We have charts with them or special signals… we do what we can to keep them regulated so that we can teach.
The problem is that no children deserve to be furniture in our classroom.
Some children seem to want to be ignored. Their body language practically screams, “Leave me alone!” When these children whisper or shrug when we call on them, it seems to make sense to call on the next student and keep the curriculum moving.
But no child deserves to be invisible. Even if a child is painfully shy, we are obligated to make each child feel noticed and worthy of attention.
Here are some tips to remember each day as you teach: No Opt Out (from Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lamov): If a student does not know the answer or has the wrong answer, show it is not a big deal, BUT call on another student to answer that question and call on your student AGAIN so they can answer the question correctly. Let them leave with the right answer! When done matter-of-factly, in a positive tone, teachers report more listening and happier students.
Cold Call: Waiting for hands limits who is involved in the lesson. Randomly call on anyone! For easy answers,
this keeps the momentum going in the classroom and brings a higher energy. Use popsicle sticks, index cards, or follow a pattern in your head. Everyone should have a chance to be called on. If you call on a child who does not the answer, that’s okay. Go right back to No opt Out!
Warm Call: Give a shout out to a few students so they know they will be called on and have a chance to prepare themselves. “Sara, I’m calling on you for #1; Malka, I’m calling on you for #2; Shevy, I’m calling on you for #3.”
The problem is that no children deserve to be furniture in our classroom.
A particularly shy student might need a phone call the night before to practice an answer so they don’t freeze up in class.
Some teachers tell me, “I say hello to every student by attendance!” While sweet, there is no child that feels noticed because a teacher mentioned their name in a rote call, even when they add a smile or a nice word. I prefer teachers stop taking formal attendance at this point of the year and just write down who is absent and focus on noticing the individual students where and when it matters.
I remember responding to a neighborhood chat asking if anyone could pick up a high school girl in Brooklyn to bring her back to Queens. That was exactly my route, so I volunteered. We had a nice chat as I drove, but one comment she made still rings in my head. “This year I am trying to be the worst misbehaved in my class,” she announced. “It is time I got some attention. The girls who make trouble are the ones who get noticed, and when they are good, they get rewarded. I am always good, and I get ignored.”
“How is that going for you?” I asked, genuinely interested in this experiment.
“Terrible,” she replied. “It turns out that I am terrible at being bad.”
Rule followers deserve to be rewarded. They deserve recognition. They deserve to be lauded!
Another reason for an invisible child can be shyness.
Shyness needs to be worked with in a safe and gentle way. If, in our safe classrooms, we have as many opportunities as possible for children to present their writing or work to the class, starting in younger grades when they have less inhibitions, then we can help build children’s self-esteem. We can read children’s work if they don’t want to read it themselves, allowing them to bask in the recognition in a safer manner.
When asking students a critical thinking question, give opportunities for children to write their thoughts on an index card to then read it instead of having to answer “off-the-top-of-their-heads,” and see confidence build.
According to the National Social Anxiety Center, 40% of people are genuinely afraid of speaking in public. It is a real fear.
Studies also show that children trust teachers who seem to genuinely like them and care about them.
Putting the two together means we have a lot of power to help our students!
Dear Parents, especially Mom of Overlooked, If you make it clear that you value and enjoy your child, it will go a long way to making sure your child grows up to be a self-assured, strong adult. You might need to send them to an after-school or Sunday program that hones his/her talents or find a way for your child to be celebrated (helping a mom with a new baby down the block who will have endless thanks for an extra pair of hands or be a homework helper).
The fact that you call yourself introverted means that you may also struggle to express yourself, so plan to give at least three well-placed praises or compliments to each of your children each day. Watch them develop an inner glow as they internalize your messages.
It takes a village to raise a child, and we are a very hard-working and caring village!
Thanks for sharing.
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.
Parenting Pearls Channeling Their Potential
By Sara Rayvych, MSEd
Children are adorable, and they do many crazy things. Unfortunately, some of their antics can be inappropriate or disruptive to the rest of the family. The list is endless, and many of these unfortunate actions are simply children learning what is – and isn’t – correct behavior. Other behaviors are more particular to that individual youngster and are connected to their personality.
Children are their own people, and it’s incredible how they have their own unique personalities from the youngest of ages. Mothers will tell you how differently their children behaved in-utero, even before they were exposed to other people. Many suggested that my toddler was very active because she had older brothers. I reassured each of them that she was doing full gymnastics during the pregnancy. Rather than kicks and punches, she was doing somersaults and flips. Her activity level was just a part of her and another way that made her special.
Unfamiliar with larger families, I’ve heard many people speak with the assumption that siblings must be very similar and lack their own personalities. While there are definitely certain traits that run in families, siblings are often so different you can barely believe they came from the same home.
As our children grow, we get to see
more and more of their personalities emerge. One of the many joys of parenthood is seeing how our children – all gifts from Hashem – become their unique selves and add their talents to the world.
Along with this joy comes the important role of channeling their traits and helping them learn to act appropriately. Kids are not born knowing how to be menschen. It takes years of guidance and love to mold that sweet, innocent baby into a Torah Jew.
In addition to all the usual things parents need to teach their child, we also have to guide them with their unique personality traits. A naturally calmer child is different than a more active one, and each requires a different method. There are 70 paths to Torah, and each shevet had their own path in kriyas Yam Suf. Our goal is not to make each child a carbon copy of the other or shove every child into some preconceived mold. Each child comes into the world with their own life’s purpose, and they need the gifts that Hashem gave exclusively to them to assist in completing this tafkid. Our goal is not to break a child to fit our ideal; it’s to guide our child in using their talents properly.
The Goal
Generally, middos are not inherently good or bad – it depends on how they
are used. Being organized is usually a good thing, but yelling at others for any perceived mess is not proper use of this trait. Caring for those in need and giving tzedaka is beautiful, but a person can’t give their last penny and leave their own family hungry. Temperament, leadership, impulse control and being an introvert/ extrovert are only a few of the many traits we need to train our child to use properly.
Similar to adults, children, too, come with a variety of middos, and we need to channel those natural tendencies towards a productive direction. Often, the most prominent middah a child possesses can pose a real challenge for a parent. The highly active child can move non-stop and get into trouble. The child always seeking justice and fairness can forget to act with kindness and compassion.
It’s important to reiterate that it’s not our job to “break” a child or try to make them into someone they are not – even if we think a different personality is ideal. It is our role to guide our child and teach them how to use their natural attributes properly in their avodas Hashem – chanoch l’naar al pi darko.
This is challenging for a few reasons. The first and more subtle reason can be parental ego. All parents have – or should have – goals and dreams for their child. This is natural and healthy. We want to
see our children accomplished, happy and living a life that brings nachas to us and Hakadosh Baruch Hu. The difficulty comes up if we have a narrow definition of “accomplished.” There are many jokes about “my child, the doctor,” but there is often truth behind humor. If all a parent wants is for their child to be a doctor (or anything else), then no matter how accomplished and successful their child is as a lawyer, teacher or accountant, they will still feel their child has failed them. For example, even a child that becomes a wonderful husband, loving father and learns hours each day will feel like a failure to a parent that only wanted a rosh yeshiva.
No matter how worthy our hopes are, we can’t pressure and force a child if it doesn’t match their nature. It’s important to clarify this point since I don’t want to give the impression that Torah and mitzvos are optional, chas v’shalom . Every child has within them the ability to be an oveid Hashem – the question is only which of the 70 paths they will choose. Many of the Jewish community’s greatest organizations were started by those who thought and acted out of the box. Sadly, some of these individuals were considered disappointments to their parents and teachers. The problem arises when we have a narrow expectation for a child.
Mentally focusing on a more realistic ideal – and being b’simcha in it – may help in this area. Parents can easily see successful individuals throughout our community that have made a positive impact even – or especially – if they didn’t fit a particular mold.
Another challenge to educating a child within their nature is a bit more obvious. If the child is quieter, milder and obedient, then we have fewer issues, but children with other traits can be very hard to raise. The child that is very active or can’t focus, has to have things done a specific way, or is higher maintenance can be very difficult to handle.
Solution Minded
There are many potential solutions. I will give some general ideas, but it’s difficult to give exact advice in this area. Your child’s teacher or another person that knows them well can give more targeted suggestions.
We should not encourage negative behaviors. We can’t let a child hit and then say, “They have a more aggressive nature that we’re encouraging.” We don’t buy a child everything they ask for thinking, “They’re more sensitive, and we can’t say no to them.”
Negative temperamental behaviors can often be tamed or channeled. Taming a middah means helping a child to control their behavior, while channeling it encourages a child to use it in a different, more productive way. Neither of these involve breaking or destroying a child – we are redirecting their behavior. For example, taming aggression could
lead davening (or lein), or run a group at shul or for local children.
A surprisingly simple, but useful, tool with young children is to distract or redirect them. They can often be separated from the most intense situation by simply giving them somewhere else to look. It won’t work every time, but it works frequently enough to be kept in
Our goal is not to break a child to fit our ideal; it’s to guide our child in using their talents properly.
involve teaching a child techniques to control their anger and calm themselves down. Channeling a middah may mean helping an active child use their energy in healthy play or accomplishing a task. A teacher used to give a child with busy hands the classroom’s small sefer Torah to hold since it required both hands to balance. A child that likes to be at the center of attention can perform in a play,
your toolbox. This is general advice and not specific to this topic, but it can be one way to handle a challenging middah until the child is old enough to learn to tame or channel it.
There are many stories of real-life examples of individuals that have positively used a variety of personality traits. Children may appreciate hearing these stories and examples of people
like themselves that have made a positive difference. There is no need to mention a child’s negative characteristics to do this. “Sweetie, would you like to hear this amazing story I read today?” is sufficient. There’s no need to elaborate, “Guess what, I heard a story today about a kid just like you that was nasty to others but still turned out OK.”
It’s important to remember that many temperaments which are challenging in childhood can be used appropriately in adulthood. For example, some of the most accomplished women I know have ADHD and can credit their success to their activity level. This can be chizuk to parents.
Only the Borei Olam could make millions of people – each different from the other. Every child is a unique gift from Hashem, and it’s a zechus to raise and mold one of these treasures. May Hashem give us the guidance to do justice to His creations.
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.
Avrumi & Mindy Weiner on the birth of a son
Jacob & Ilana Dorfman on the birth of twin sons
CJ & Malki Elefant on the birth of a daughter
Chemi & Sara Leah Lefkovitz on the birth of a daughter
Rabbi And Mrs. Aron Tendler on the birth of a son
Nema & Sarah Rich on the birth of a son
Isaac & Jennifer Ouzana on the birth of a son
To Raise a Laugh
Skeletons In The Closet
One morning last week, my wife and I woke up to find that our closet bar had collapsed. Frankly, I’m surprised it held on as long as it did
Not too long, though. Yes, our house was built in 1937, but until we moved in, the bedroom had no closet. Because why on earth would a master bedroom need a closet? So we’d hired a contractor whose main strategy for saving money was to do everything wrong.
This closet has two bars. I take the left side and my wife takes the right. That way, we can each open the sliding door and see all our options. But not at the same time. Especially since the door he installed is bigger than half the closet.
But one of the first things that I learned, sharing a closet, is that my wife owns way more clothes than I do. For example, on any given day, my wife can choose from a shirt, a shell, a sweater, a sweatshirt, or a top. Whereas I wear a shirt. Every day.
In fact, my wife has so many clothes and she changes so often that she doesn’t always have time to hang things up right away. She generally does it as one big pile on Fridays. So I have no idea how many clothes she has.
So my big fear was that if we shared the closet, eventually my wife would take over the whole thing. So I keep placeholders. When I stop wearing a shirt, instead of getting rid of it and having her take over the space, I keep it in there. This way, if I ever get a new shirt and there’s really no room for it, I can remove one of my older shirts and use the space. Though I don’t know how much room for expansion I’m think I’m going to need. Am I suddenly coming into 500 shirts?
But I’ve been operating under this logic for as long as we’ve been in the house, which is about 10 years now, plus there’s whatever logic she’s operating under, and eventually the bottom closet bar couldn’t take it anymore, and the plastic piece holding it into the wall gave way. So while my wife went out to buy a new closet piece, I decided to sort through my clothes to make things lighter. The understanding was that my wife would do the same.
I started by making piles:
PILE 1 was items that I wear. This consists of enough shirts to take me through the Nine Days, almost enough white shirts to take me through your longer Yomim Tovim provided I don’t suddenly eat stuffed cabbage on Day 9, and apparently I own more than one functional pair of pants. Who knew?
PILE 2: was clothes that technically fit me, but I don’t wear them often, such as polo shirts and a baseball shirt that I got one summer when I was thinking of coaching Yiddle League. For example, I have some ruined pants and shirts in case I need to do some painting or repair work. The way these clothes were chosen for this was that I actually wore them for one of those jobs, and I got them dirty. Or because they ended up in the laundry with a pen. Though I don’t know how that happened. I keep my pens in my pants pocket, and I never wash my pants.
PILE 3 is clothes that no longer fit me, but that I would hypothetically wear again if they did.
Some of these helpfully have size labels, while some have European labels with weird numbers such as “51”. 51 WHAT?
I’m keeping PILES 1 and 2, and I’m also going to keep PILE 3, because apparently the only thing holding me back from
By Mordechai Schmutter
losing weight is the expense of buying a new wardrobe.
PILE 4 is clothes that may or may not fit me, but that I would never wear either way. I don’t even know where some of these clothes came from. Did they come with the house? That’s not possible. There were no closets when we got here.
At the behest of my wife, we donated PILE 4 to an organization that provides clothes for people to wear on job interviews. Thanks to me, someone out there will not get a job and wonder why.
PILE 5 was clothes that no one would ever wear, such as any shirts with holes in the elbows. I’m not even sure how a shirt goes about getting holes in the elbows. It’s not like I spend all day elbowing people.
Meanwhile, my wife didn’t toss anything, because if she’s to be believed, everything she has would go into PILE 1, 2, or 3.
My point is that once I saw how many clothes were actually mine, I think I had more clothes than my wife did, at least on this level of the closet. I don’t even want to mention that it was technically my side of the closet that collapsed. I guess my point is that I thought my wife would take over the closet, and in an effort to prevent this, I accidentally took it over. It turns out that in a marriage, we might start off doing something for a good reason, but, over time the reason gets lost, and we keep doing it anyway. It took our closet collapsing for me to see what was really in my closet. Maybe it’s time to look at things from my wife’s side.
My wife’s side collapsed that Friday.
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.
Israel Today Trump Should Trust His Instincts and Ignore the Syria “Experts”
By Jonathan S. Tobin
It didn’t take long after the swift fall of the Assad regime in Syria for the members of America’s foreign-policy establishment to speak up in favor of their default position on just about every distant conflict: support for various sorts of American intervention and a generous supply of aid to right the wrongs of the world. Along with that reflexive desire to mess around in distant, complex and confusing disputes, the supposedly smart people were equally quick to express disdain for President-elect Donald Trump’s equally predictable response to developments in Syria.
Trump’s immediate reaction was to write on his Truth Social platform that, among other things, America’s response should be (in all caps for emphasis) to: “HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!”
So, who are you going to trust? The credentialed elites who have spent their lives studying and spouting opinions on the Middle East and guiding America to disaster after disaster or a real estate mogul/reality-TV star turned populist politician?
Despite the supposed great learning of the “expert” class and all of Trump’s shortcomings, the incoming president is the one who is in the right here. Though it would be impossible for the United States to be entirely disconnected from events in Syria, his instincts here are both wise and based on a better understanding of the events of the last quarter century of history than most of those who have been advising American leaders in the past.
How Assad Fell
The surprising collapse of Syria’s brutal authoritarian government is the
direct result of Israel’s defeat of the Assad clan’s main ally, Iran. Tehran thought the seven-front war launched against the Jewish state by its terrorist proxies on Oct. 7, 2023, would fundamentally alter the balance of power in the region. But the setbacks dealt by Israel to Hamas in Gaza—and then against Hezbollah in Lebanon in the last few months—achieved that result but not in the way the Islamist regime intended.
Bashar Assad and his minority Alawite regime survived 13 years of civil war because his Iranian and Russian allies were able to use their considerable military power to defeat his Sunni Arab opponents and massacre large numbers of civilians. The war they waged cost the lives of more than 500,000 people and displaced half of the nation’s population with an estimated 6.7 million refugees forced to flee their homes.
But with Russia distracted by its war in Ukraine and Hezbollah weakened by Israel to the point where it lost its ability to defend Iranian interests, the Syrian rebels were able to turn the tide of a war that most of the world thought had ended years ago. With what may well have been considerable help from the Islamist government of Turkey, which has been meddling in Syria for years, the jihadist forces opposing Assad launched an offensive that the former dictator’s army couldn’t stop. Iran cut its losses and withdrew from Syria, and the result is that a coalition of rebels is now in charge in Damascus.
This is a clear defeat for both Iran and Russia—and that is something for Americans to cheer. But what follows this is unclear. The main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, is largely made up of former terrorists once associated with ISIS and Al-Qaeda. In a
bid for foreign help, for the last several years, they have been trying to convince Western nations that they have turned over a new leaf and are no longer Islamist extremists. That’s highly doubtful, and their intentions toward Kurdish forces in Northern Syria remain unclear. The Kurds were allied with the West during the fight against ISIS and a small force of U.S. troops is still based there.
Israel occupied Syrian territory around the Golan Heights (including the summit of Mount Hermon) to forestall any effort by Syrian jihadis to attack the Jewish state. And when one considers that the competing interests of Turkey, Iran and any remaining Russian forces still in the country are still in the mix, the current stalemate makes for a volatile and potentially dangerous situation. In particular, how Iran reacts to a new reality where it has clearly lost its bid for regional hegemony ought to worry the entire world. It might decide to accelerate its nuclear program and seek to declare itself a nuclear power so as to save face after the debacles in Lebanon and Syria, as well as to deter any effort to topple the Islamist tyranny that has ruled Iran since 1979.
The Establishment Demands Intervention
In theory, this could be an opportunity for Syria to rid itself not just of a minority dictatorship but become a less repressive country where people no longer fear for their lives. Indeed, the understandable happiness about Assad’s fall has led some, like Washington Post pundit Josh Rogin to proclaim that “Syria is free. Now it’s time to help.” The editorial board of the Post doubled down on that position with a piece explaining, “Why the U.S. needs to help build a new Syria.”
Both of those positions were a clear rebuke to Trump and his “America First” mindset. So, too, was the response of New York Times columnist and longtime self-proclaimed Middle East “expert” Thomas Friedman. The inveterate Israel-basher poured scorn on Trump’s position that America ought to stay out of the Middle East. According to Friedman, Trump is obligated to prevent a nuclear Iran by attempting a rapprochement with Tehran and appease it in much the same manner as former President Barack Obama’s dangerous 2015 nuclear deal.
Nor was it only liberal outlets who were criticizing Trump. At his The
Editors site, Ira Stoll wrote, “Trump Botches First Foreign Crisis as President-Elect.” He quoted Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), arguing that the United States was obligated to remain in Syria to fight ISIS, to ensure that Assad’s chemical weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands and to back up the Kurds against any possible attack on them by a HTS regime in Damascus.
Assuming that Trump intended to follow the Biden administration’s policy of letting Iran’s Houthi terrorist allies interdict international shipping in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, as well as to stop Israel from defending its interests in the region, Stoll seems to believe that the new administration will be entirely isolationist.
To shame Trump, he even quoted President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speech in which JFK articulated America’s Cold War pledge: “Let every
quick work of defeating them. Similarly, he backed Israel’s efforts to defend itself (including recognizing its annexation of the Golan) and turned the screws on Iran with tough sanctions and targeting its terrorists.
The Blunders of Bush, Obama and Biden
Staying out of Syria doesn’t mean ignoring it, and Trump is clearly willing and able to defend American interests and allies when they are threatened in a way that the feckless Biden administration was not.
However, unlike the foreign-policy establishment, including both its liberal wing and the ancien regime Republicans still stuck in the mindset of the failed administration of President George W. Bush, Trump has no illusions about jihadi-ruled Damascus now being “free” or the rise of a “new” Syria that
Anyone who thinks that Trump will let Islamists in Syria run amuck in the region the way Iran’s allies have done in the past wasn’t paying attention during his first term.
nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
The problem with these positions is not just that they mischaracterize Trump’s intentions and likely course of action. It also reflects a foolish inability to learn a basic lesson from America’s misadventures in Afghanistan and Iraq—not to mention Cold War mistakes like Vietnam that followed JFK’s “bear any burden” promise—that the president-elect has absorbed yet allegedly smarter people criticizing him seem unable to grasp.
Anyone who thinks that Trump will let Islamists in Syria run amuck in the region the way Iran’s allies have done in the past wasn’t paying attention during his first term. While Obama was too interested in appeasing Iran to prevent ISIS from establishing its “caliphate” in much of Syria and Iraq, it was Trump who unleashed the American military on the terrorists and made relatively
would be indifferent if the Kurds were threatened. But the idea that America is obligated to send more troops or commit itself to joining in a new round of civil war there that would likely be presented to the public as a rescue mission is equally mistaken.
The problem with past American policies towards Syria was not a failure to intervene in the civil war. It was that Obama did not articulate American interests in a way that would contain it and the flood of refugees from the conflict, many of whom made their way to Europe (creating new problems on that continent). By declaring that Assad’s using chemical weapons on his own people crossed a “red line” and then refusing to enforce it when that line was crossed, Obama set the pattern for American humiliation in the region. That was compounded by his indifference to the Russian and Iranian interventions there that followed his “red line” fiasco.
will become a partner for the democratic West.
America cannot fix Syria or remake it in its own image any more than it could do the same in Afghanistan or Iraq. Neither an American military expeditionary force nor an army of social workers and teachers is likely to transform it into a Jeffersonian democracy or anything other than another Arab/Muslim state with very different values and goals than those of the West. The best to hope for is an authoritarian regime that isn’t dedicated to war with Israel and the West or has a goal of spreading the jihadist virus to other nations in the region, especially those with relatively moderate governments that fear Iran and want peace or at least no conflict with the Jewish state or the West.
It is highly unlikely that Washington can bribe HTS to behave; still, the United States can contain it and, as is always the case with Trump, be ready to threaten its leaders to confine their activities to their own borders. That doesn’t necessarily mean the new administration
These are mistakes Trump doesn’t plan to repeat. The idea that he can solve the problems of the region with a new round of appeasement of Iran or by pressuring Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians or any of its other enemies is also going to be a non-starter in an administration packed with friends of the Jewish state. The Trump 2.0 administration also understands that involving the United States in a new Middle Eastern quagmire like that authored by George W. Bush is also out of the question.
Staying out of Syria isn’t isolationism. It’s common sense. The same is true for a reluctance to engage in futile attempts to engage in nation-building in a place where the leading factions—and most of the people—don’t share Western values. Trump has shown himself capable of grasping that American foreign policy should mix strength and a willingness to strike enemies with a rational fear of being sucked into unwinnable conflicts and assistance projects that are doomed to failure.
As he showed when he ignored the experts who warned him not to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Trump should be guided by his allergy to advice from establishment figures who have been wrong about everything for a generation. Rather than mock or bash his stand on Syria, sensible observers should be cheering it.
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate).
Mental Health Corner
Some Kids Really Don’t Like Camp
Overnight summer camp is a ubiquitous element of the lengthy time period that schools decide to close each and every year. Many kids eagerly look forward to the summertime to return to their camp and reunite with all of their camp friends. However, there are kids who do not like overnight camp. Parents will often strongly encourage their children to overcome their hesitations and anxieties, harboring the belief that they are executing their hallowed parental duties. This is sometimes true, and sometimes not true.
Separation Anxiety
Many children are great candidates for summer camp, but are anxious about being away from home. These children will often benefit greatly from overcoming their hesitation, as this helps them mature and move past their fears. When done properly and with wisdom, parental encouragement can be positively transformative for the child’s growth and development.
Not A Good Match
Camps need to occupy the children for the entire day. This leads many camps, especially boys’ camps, to dedicate a large portion of the day to sports activities. Some boys are just not good at sports. They find their enjoyment with other pastimes, such as reading books and woodworking, which might not be possible in the specific camp that they are being sent to. It is not necessarily in the child’s best interest to send them to a camp that spends a large chunk of their time on activities that do not interest the child at all.
Bullying
Intense Perfectionists
Many children thrive in school as they get straight A’s, are well adjusted, and adored by all. Sometimes, underneath this veneer is a child who is intense and perfectionistic, and is expending a lot of energy on maintaining their good standing. On occasion, this may continue into summer camp, as they will try their best to be as good of a camper as possible. If such a child wants to skip summer camp, it might be due to their mental exhaustion and their desire to have some time when they can just be themselves.
Vicarious Parenting
Different strokes for different folks. Some kids love camp, and some kids just happen to enjoy being home for no particular reason. If a child is free from anxieties, is happy, and is well adjusted, there is no particular reason to compel a child to attend camp. Sometimes, parents fall into the trap of vicariously reliving their childhood through their children. “I loved this camp when I was his age, so I am sure my son will love it as well!” A parent must therefore ask himself or herself, “Am I doing this for my child, or for myself?”
It is an unfortunate fact of life, that whenever children get together without adult supervision, there is a risk of bullying. For reasons that are not always so clear, there are certain children who have a higher tendency to be picked on by a bully. Overnight camps cannot supervise the children 24/7. There are times when there are no counselors or adults around, such as when the children are supposedly already sleeping in their bunkhouse. When a child would rather stay home because he has experienced bullying, the question then becomes if the child’s fear is substantiated or unfounded, and is there anything that can be done to mitigate the concern.
Parenting is not meant to be easy. Decisions about a child’s summer plans affect a large segment of time that can be very formative in a child’s life. It is not a decision that should be taken lightly.
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 410-448-8356 or at yslansky@ reliefhelp.org
Forgotten Her es
Jewish Heroes at the Battle of the Bulge
By Avi Heiligman
Military intelligence failures were a prominent feature during World War II. These range from Germany underestimating the Russia military might during Operation Barbarossa on the Eastern Front to America failing to pick up the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Additionally, there were misses by espionage units, including the Germans being duped by spies that were caught and feeding them false or useless information.
One the most colossal intelligence failure of the war was the German lastditch attack in the Ardennes region in December 1944. The attack completely shook the Allied armies as the Germans relied on bad weather, the Allied supply chain that was spread out thinly in the area, and the element of surprise. Called the Battle of the Bulge, the Allies were able to finally stop the German advance and by early 1945 had reversed the German gains. Many heroic stories of courage and valor emerged from the bitter fighting with only some gaining media attention.
The battle was very chaotic for the Allies and was especially tough for Robert Sabetay and the 90th Division.
Sabetay was a Jewish soldier from Des Moines, Iowa, and landed at Normandy with the 773rd Field Artillery Battalion. After the fierce Battle of Metz, Sabetay was transferred to 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division that was
at the enemy. He was immediately told to use his radio to call in for fire support on enemy guns. A few days later, he was wounded by shrapnel from a panzer shell, but there was no medic available to dress his wound. Instead, he kept on
The highest ranking American in Bastogne, Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe, answered the surrender call with one word: “Nuts!”
tasked to stop the German advance. He first saw action on December 24 and on that day alone participated in five battles. During one firefight that day, he chased after a German with a pistol and ran into a house. The German shot bullets in a circular pattern through a door but missed Sabetay. Soon the German ran off into German lines while Sabetay joined a group of American GIs shooting
fighting in the below-zero weather and later was awarded the Purple Heart.
The 84th Division, known as the Railsplitters, was another unit sent to fight the Germans during the battles. As with the other divisions, field artillery was particularly vital to front line troops as air support could not be counted on due to inclement weather. In addition to battling the Germans, the units also strug-
gled with the snow, sleet, fog and rain. One of their officers in the 325 th Field Artillery, 84th Division was a Jewish officer who had graduated from West Point. Herbert I. Stern was born in Baltimore and was a major when the Battle of the Bulge began. The commanding officer of his battalion was reassigned so Stern led the unit during the battle. They had just trained in using a newly introduced fuze that would burst the shell 60 feet above the ground. This fuze, called a VT fuze, was used by Stern’s battalion to great effect on German lines.
Stern’s artillery battalion was in direct support of the 333rd Infantry Regiment. The first night they had reached the front lines, a local woman screamed that Germans were in the area. Stern quickly moved his battalion to an area where they would be infantry support and they would be able to fire accurately. Stern left the safety of his command post and found a crossroads that he felt the Germans would use in their advance. He was right in his assessment, and a dozen American units were able halt the German force trying to penetrate their lines. This action was credited as the turning point in the battle, and
Robert Sabetay
Soldiers at the Battle of the Bulge
Stern was awarded the Silver Star. As of the writing of this article, Herbert Stern is 105 years old and is the oldest living graduate of West Point.
The Supreme Allied High Commander in Europe, General Dwight Eisenhower, realized that time was of essence and rushed 250,000 soldiers and 50,000 vehicles to stop the Germans from advancing too far. Of the units sent in to fight, the 101 st Airborne is probably the most well known as their stand
Known as the Screaming Eagles, they were sent to the important crossroads along with elements of the 10th Armored Division. Despite being surrounded by five German divisions, they held out even though they had high casualties and were low on supplies and ammunition. On December 21, the Germans demanded the surrender of the besieged Americans whom they thought were about to collapse. The highest ranking American in Bastogne, Brigadier Gen
surrender call with one word: “Nuts!” Five days later, General Patton’s Third Army reached Bastogne from the South and ended the siege.
While the Battle of the Bulge scared the Allied high command, it was individual soldiers like Sabetay and Stern that proved vital in holding the lines. Units like the 10st Airborne and the 10th Armored were hailed as heroes. The losses in men and material for the Germans were so high that they were not replaceable, and it was a matter of just a
few months before the Third Reich surrendered. As we approach 80 years since the battle, it is important to remember the bravery of the soldiers and units that stopped the Nazis in their last-ditch offensive on the Western Front.
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.
Herbert Stern
American soldiers heading to cut off German troops
Soldiers in the “Railsplitters” unit
TJH Centerfold
From Syria to Moscow
Now that former Syrian strongman Hafez al-Assad has fled to Russia, here are some things that will take some getting used to:
His gold-plated bathroom in Damascus is now a shared toilet down the hall, with graffiti that says, “Long live Lenin!”
In Syria, he covered his face to avoid sandstorms; in Moscow, he will have to cover his face to avoid frostbite.
His entourage of elite guards is now one guy named Sergei, who smells like pickles and vodka and wears an ill fitted t-shirt that has a wear-andtear hole to the left of the belly button area.
His armored motorcade has been downgraded to a 1982 Pinto with no brakes, held together by duct tape.
Forget lamb feasts—now he’s staring at cold, quivering meat jelly, trying to figure out if it’s dessert or a dare.
You Gotta Be Kidding Me
He used to fly private jets; now he’s crammed into a bus that smells like wet socks, with a driver named Oleg who’s blasting ‘90s techno and asking, “You like Putin, yes?”
In Syria, he fought warlords. In Moscow, he’s battling old babushkas who body-check him for the last cabbage at the market.
In Syria, if he angered Putin, he didn’t get his shipment of weapons. In Moscow, if he angers Putin, he will decide to jump out of the 16th story window.
In Syrian, Assad had to figure out how to run a country. In Russia, he has to figure out how to get from “Кузьминки” to “Кропоткинская” without ending up in Siberia.
Stalin’s ghost appears to Putin in a dream, and Putin asks for his help running the country. Stalin says, “Throw all your detractors out of windows and then paint the inside of the Kremlin blue.”
“Why blue?” Putin asks.
“Ahh!” says Stalin. “I knew you wouldn’t ask me about the first part.”
Welcome to Russia Triva
Now that Assad has taken up residence in Mother Russia, it’s time for him to brush up on his knowledge of his new homeland. (Yes, he’s a TJH reader…long story.)
1. In the past three years, how many of Putin’s adversaries mysteriously died by falling out of windows?
a. 2
b. 4
c. 7
d. 12
2. The constitution of the USSR declared that the responsibility of all citizens was the following:
a. To love the motherland
b. To drink vodka like a fish
c. Live life to the fullest
d. Labor
3. The official residence of the Russian president is the Kremlin in Moscow. What does “Kremlin” mean?
a. Fortress
b. The Best
c. Headquarters
d. Pinnacle
4. The Russian Federation was established following the disbanding of the Soviet Union. Who was the Federation’s first president?
a. Smirinoff Wodka
b. Viktor Chernomyrdin
c. Boris Yeltsin
d. Mikhail Gorbachev
5. Russia does not share a border with which of the following countries:
a. China
b. South Korea
c. Mongolia
d. Poland
6. Who was in charge of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
a. Khrushchev
b. Gorbachev
c. Brezhnev
d. Stalin
7. What did Putin work as in the 1980s?
a. Moscow banker
b. Doctor
c. KGB spy
d. Ski instructor
8. What did Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev do at the 1960 U.N. Assembly meeting?
a. He refused to shake President Eisenhower’s hand
b. He took out a bottle of vodka and made a toast
c. He took off his shoe during his speech and started banging it on the lectern
d. He brought his daughter up to the lectern and had her stand by his side during his speech
9. What was Sputnik 1?
a. The name of the Russian warship that came within 15 miles of Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
b. The world’s first artificial satellite launched by the USSR in 1957, resulting in the U.S. vs. USSR space race.
c. The name of a jail created by Stalin.
d. The title of the USSR Constitution.
Answers: 1-D 2-D 3-A 4-C 5-B 6-A 7-C 8-C 9-B
Wisdom Key:
6-9 correct: Mr. Assad, seems like you read up on your new home country!
3-5 correct: Unless you live in the Ukraine (in which case, the USSR is a bit too close for comfort), it’s okay that you are only moderately educated on the great bastion of Communism.
0-2 correct: как вам не стыдно
(Just in case you don’t speak Russian, it means “shame on you.”) Stay away from windows!
Notable Quotes
“Say What?!”
It’s over for Obama. The spell is broken. Donald Trump broke him, Biden, Harris, the Bushes, the Clintons and the Cheneys.
- Miranda Devine, New York Post
It was a pleasure to have dinner the other night with Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada. I look forward to seeing the Governor again soon so that we may continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all! DJT.
- Trump on Truth Social, after a meeting during which he told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that if his only way of keeping Canada solvent is to rip off the U.S., Canada should just become the 51st state
I do believe in the sanctity of life, and I think that’s why I felt, along with so many other Americans, joy, unfortunately. Maybe not joy but certainly not empathy.
- Former Washington Post and New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz in an interview with Piers Morgan celebrating the murder of the CEO of United Healthcare, who was a 50-year-old father, son, brother and spouse
According to a Charles Schwab survey, Americans believe it takes $2.5 million in net worth to be considered wealthy – up from $2.2 million just two years ago in 2022. Even financial security feels out of reach for some, with the average person saying they’d need $778,000 just to feel comfortable.
- Yahoo! Finance
I’m actually very optimistic this time around.
- Jeff Bezos talking about the pending Trump presidency in an interview at the New York Times DealBook Summit 2024
What I’ve seen so far is he is calmer than he was the first time and more settled. You’ve probably grown in the last eight years. He has, too.
- ibid.
He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. And my point of view, if I can help him do that, I’m going to help him because we do have too much regulation in this country.
– ibid.
By the way, all of our problems, all of our economic problems, like if you look at the deficit and the national debt, and how gigantic it is as a portion of GDP — these are real problems, and they’re real long-term problems — and the way you get out of them is by outgrowing them. You’re going to solve the problem of the national debt by making it a smaller percentage of GDP, not by shrinking the national debt, but by growing the GDP. You have to grow the denominator. That means you have to grow GDP at 3%, 4%, 5% a year, and let the national debt grow slower than that. If you can do that, this is a very manageable problem.
- ibid.
All they know [young liberals] is that a lot more Palestinians have been killed than Israelis. And I tell them what Arafat walked away from, and they, like, can’t believe it. [Arafat] walked away from a Palestinian state, with a capital in East Jerusalem, 96% of the West Bank, 4% of Israel to make up for the 4% of the West Bank to be annexed for Israeli settlements.
- Bill Clinton, at The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2024
I go through all the stuff that was in the deal, and they, like – it’s not on their radar screen, they can’t even imagine that happened.
- ibid.
I tell them, you know, the first and most famous victim of an attempt to get the Palestinians a state was prime minister Rabin, whom I think I loved as much as I ever loved another man.
- iIbid.
You walk away from these once-in-a-lifetime peace opportunities, and you can’t complain 25 years later when the doors weren’t all still open, and all the possibilities weren’t still there. You can’t do it.
- ibid.
She couldn’t have been nicer... We had a very nice conversation.
- Trump talking about sitting with Jill Biden at the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral this weekend
It’s just a firm shake. He understands that. It’s just a firm shake.
- Trump talking about his now infamous handshake with French President Emmanuel Macron
Donald Trump and Jill Biden shared a photo-op at the Notre Dame Cathedral over the weekend. Good to see that there are no hard feelings between the incoming president and the current president.
– Tyrus, filling in for Greg Gutfeld on the Fox’s late night show
I grew up with matzah with peanut butter as my favorite snack, and every Passover, my family and I made matzah pizza together.
- Brigham Young University’s Jake Retzlaff, the first Jewish quarterback in the program’s history, upon the announcement that he signed a sponsorship with kosher food company Manischewitz
At Chanukah time, our tradition was making potato latkes. Now, at BYU, I’m able to share these traditions with my teammates. This partnership is about more than football — it’s about creating connections and celebrating Jewish pride in ways I never expected.
- ibid.
Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…
Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
Thank you so much for taking my question. I hope it is able to be answered soon...
I’ve been there for a while, I’m 32 years old, and have a group of incredible friends. We are each other’s lifelines; we travel together and are there for each other throughout the many challenges of dating. I’m dating a guy seriously now, and he recently brought up engagement. I cannot tell you how thrilled I am, but at the same time how guilty I feel. To leave my friends behind and start a new life seems like the biggest slap in the face I can do to them. We have always talked about certain friends who got married and then left us in the lurch, basically forgetting we exist. I know I won’t be that person, but based on our past conversations, I know how they will feel and they will feel like I left them behind. Is there anything I can do to make this easier?
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.
Your young man is lucky to finding such a considerate young woman to marry who values relationships.
To answer your question, there are certainly ways to maintain your relationships with your friends as you journey towards marriage. Obviously, you will include your friends in your news before it becomes public and stay in touch with them weekly. Calling and having a conversation, even if it is not long, is very different than leaving voice notes and sending texts. Keep the relationship going through in-person monthly meetups if possible such as a walk, coffee date, exercise session together, etc. It’s always easier to build habits based on other routines. For example, every time you_____, call friend one. Every time you do ______ call friend two, for example. Don’t talk about your time constraints when you connect – just get into things and enjoy your time together with laughter, sharing, and confidences.
At some point during your engagement period, have a conversation about this subject. You may want to use the phrase “making room in our relationship for my chosson is going to take adjustment” or similar phraseology. Acknowledge the change and reassure your friends you will do your best to keep up the relationship as you invest in your marriage and new life. Try to be smart about the timing. Things will readjust again after you are settled in your marriage, location, and with the new circle of his friends.
Inviting all the friends together regularly, every couple of months, is a practice that some people find helpful. They get to see their friends and facilitate matches even if they don’t spend significant one-on-one time together.
The Shadchan
Michelle Mond
I’m so thrilled for you that you are beginning the next stage! Please know that your feelings are extremely valid and something that is very common. It’s essential to understand that life inevitably moves people in different directions. True friendships adapt and thrive throughout the many twists and turns of life, so long as your friendships have not been completely surrounding the pain of being single, which is commonly considered trauma bonding. So long as your friendships have been deeply rooted, I am not worried that you will be able to keep them going strong throughout your marriage.
The biggest piece of advice I have for you is: don’t make things weird! Your friends will pick up on your energy, so you really set the stage here. We all know those friends who have gotten married and fell off the face of the planet, forgetting their single friends. One of your biggest fears is to become one of them; this just proves what a devoted friend you are. Although you will be busy during engagement, still make time to hang out with them and have DMCs just like the old times. Have them help you with wedding planning. They can come with you to pick out flowers,
a dress, etc. Ask your chosson who his good friends are and try to set your friends up with them.
Once you’re married, you can invite them for meals but make sure the energy is positive and upbeat. A single who is invited as a guest to a married friend can smell a pity-invite from a mile away.
Keep things as normal and regular as possible, making time to speak on the phone and to chat on WhatsApp. You can still be there for them and give sage advice, when applicable. Iy”H, this will be the beginning of your whole friend group moving to the next stage soon!
The Zaidy
Dr.
Jeffrey Galler
When singles are blessed with a loyal group of friends, with whom
Moving into a new chapter doesn’t mean abandoning the people you love.
they can confide and share adventures and misadventures, it can be a blessing but also can be a detriment.
It’s a blessing to have supportive, nonjudgmental friends who help you navigate life’s ups and downs.
It’s possibly a negative, however, when someone feels so secure and content in this group that it takes extra ef-
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Easily Overwhelmed
fort to overcome a comfortable inertia and end one phase of life and embark upon the next phase.
The simple response to your letter is that it is true that for you and your friends, things will never be the same.
You will no longer join your friends in heated discussions about whether Ruchie should, or should not, wear that green dress for her second date with Eric. And, your friends will certainly miss your input when they analyze what Eric really, really, actually meant when he said, “I think you look lovely tonight.”
It’s like the last day of summer camp or the post-graduation party, where everyone promises to remain best friends forever. However, in the normal course of events, most friendships change after geographic or situational dislocation.
You will probably always remain friends with the girls in your group (you will need bridesmaids, of course), but they will probably be mostly somewhat
Pulling
The Navidaters
more superficial relationships.
If you’re lucky, a select few of you will remain “besties” forever. (My wife’s two best friends from high school, known as “The Triplets,” are still very close friends today.)
Remember that these friendships aren’t ending. They are simply evolving.
Embrace and enjoy this new phase in your life.
Reader’s response:
Dr. Racheli Yudin, EdD Elementary Public School Principal Wife
Stepmom Mommy
I want to start by acknowledging that you are already one step ahead if you are thinking about your fellow singles
It All Together
Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
Thank you for sharing your question with such vulnerability. It sounds like you’re navigating an incredibly exciting yet emotionally complex time in your life. First, I want to take a moment to validate the joy and excitement of being in a loving relationship and considering engagement. That is such a beautiful milestone, and you deserve to experience it fully and unapologetically. At the same time, the guilt and worry you’re feeling about your friends speak volumes about how much you value them
and the deep con - nection you share. It’s clear they mean so much to you.
It’s normal to feel a mix of emotions when life changes—especially changes that may shift the dynamics in close relationships. Your guilt shows how deeply you care, but it’s also important to recognize that moving into a new chapter doesn’t mean abandoning the people you love. You’re allowed to grow and change while still nurturing those
during your time of much anticipated and much deserved simcha.
Two things can be true at once. You are allowed to feel immense joy while also holding space and being sensitive to your dear friends. When I got engaged at 39, I actually had to work through this exact same emotional experience with a therapist. I was overwhelmed by this feeling of guilt. After years of working on staying positive as a single, educated, career driven woman with so much to offer outside of my marital status, I suddenly felt like a traitor. What you’re feeling is so valid and so real.
I think the answer here is remaining in tune to these feelings and sensitivities. Additionally, just like you are filled with mixed emotions, it’s OK for your friends to be filled with a variety of feelings. You are going to be the one to set the tone. Let your friends know they matter. Carve out time for your friendships even when life gets busy. Be OK if a friend withdraws or sets new boundaries but be ready with open
friendships in meaningful ways.
When the time feels right, I would encourage you to have an open and heartfelt conversation with your friends. Acknowledge your awareness of how much your friendship means to all of you and share your intention to keep those bonds strong, even as your life evolves. You might say something like:
“I love you all so much, and I want to share something that’s really exciting but also a little emotional for me. [Partner’s name] and I are talking about getting engaged, and while I’m over the moon about this, I’ve also been thinking a lot about us—about how much you all mean to me and how deeply I value our friendship. I know life might look a little different as I step into this new chapter, but I want you to know how committed
A single who is invited as a guest to a married friend can smell a pity-invite from a mile away.
arms for their return. Let your chosson know how important your friendships are so that he can encourage you on this journey.
It’s going to take time for everybody to adjust to this new normal, but with your self-awareness, I am confident that you will navigate this with grace.
Wishing you a hearty mazal tov and may you all have the zechus to dance at each other’s simchas.
I am to staying connected and making sure you all remain such a big part of my life. You’ve been my rock, and I hope you know that will never change.”
This kind of honest and compassionate communication can help ease their worries and reinforce the security of your bond. It also allows you to stay true to yourself and your journey while extending understanding and sensitivity to your friends.
Finally, be kind to yourself. Change can be uncomfortable, but it’s also a natural and healthy part of life. You can love and honor your friendships while also stepping forward into the exciting new life you’re building. You deserve both.
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.
The King of Memes, Kalahari & Camelback, and Kokosh & Babka
The Many Dimensions of Ari Dicker
By TJH STaff
There’s no one quite like Ari Dicker. A man of many dimensions, Ari hosts community midwinter trips and has a popular WhatsApp status. Last week, TJH spoke with Ari and discussed his trips and his love of memes, biking, and kokosh and babka, among other topics.
TJH: Let’s get into your background. How did you get started organizing midwinter trips for the community?
Ari Dicker: It was 2016. My wife and I were a young couple living in Far Rockaway looking to get away for yeshiva midwinter break. It was the first year that Camelback opened up a full resort with a waterpark. So I got a few families together from Rabbi Stein’s shul and made a group to ensure we had a minyan. I made a WhatsApp chat for minyan purposes, and many people we met there joined us. That first year, we just had 19 nights booked. I saved those people’s numbers and made another group the next year for forty families. Year after year I did this, and it just snowballed into this big group. The low rates and concessions (free conference space to daven, no extra charges for larger families) we secured that first year the hotel just kept copy/pasting because we kept growing.
And now, this isn’t just a side hustle for me anymore. It’s a mission. And the mission is to give people a good and affordable option. Keyword good and keyword affordable. I’m sure there are cheaper places to go that aren’t nice. And there are nicer places to go that aren’t as affordable. I want to keep it as affordable as possible. The day it becomes unaffordable, then it’s just not on-brand for me. And if I start cutting corners with the quality of what I’m offering, the whole thing is going to fail. The people who go on my trips are not going to be okay with substandard stuff. They’re not going to be okay with a trip that’s not actually good. So, let me give you an example of what we offer. We have a trip to Kalahari. It’s one of the best water parks in the country. The fact that we’re able to offer a trip to the second biggest water park in North America for what comes out to be $20 a day per person is insane. Other waterparks charge $100+ a day. I wouldn’t spend $900 to take my
family for a day to the water park. We get to go to Kalahari, and we get the same thing for a fraction of the price. So, that’s what I mean: What we’re offering is really high quality, and the price point is still ridiculously low.
It’s the same thing with Camelback. You get two days of activities, one in waterpark, one on the slopes, for as low as $35 per person per day. And both come with nice overnight accommodations. It’s cheaper than local day trips!
You work with two hotels now: Camelback and Kalahari. How many people tend to go on those two programs, and what types of people do you cater to?
More people go to Kalahari just because it’s the more affordable option, but you’re getting more out of the experience at Camelback. This past year, we had around 650 rooms booked in
Kalahari and about 300 in Camelback. So, all in all, we hit around 1,000 between the two. At our peak in Camelback, we had around 460 nights booked over the yeshiva midwinter break.
There are really three kinds of people that I cater to. My primary customers are regular, middle class, hardworking Jewish families (when I say middle class, I mean Jewish middle class – not American middle class – who are professionals that want something nice for their families. The second is people who will just pick the cheapest room possible – the people who can’t afford to do anything else. Very often this comes out to the be most affordable option for entertaining your kids. And the third is people in corporate America. For example, if you’re a lawyer or accountant at a big Manhattan firm, you can’t take off for Sukkos and Pesach and all the Jewish holidays, have a few sick days, and take off for yeshiva midwinter break. So, I do get a lot of people in corporate or hospital settings who can’t take a five-day vacation. It’s great for them because they’ll go on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Sunday, they’re not working. And so, it’ll only cost them two days off.
How much time do you spend organizing the trips and answering people’s questions?
Up until this year, the whole process was mostly copy-paste. I would answer questions here and there. But then it reached a point where it got a little bit out of control because I was answering too many of the same questions and spending a lot of time on it. So, I decided to make a website with all the information. You can find practically all the answers to your questions on yeshivamidwinter.com.
Last year, you had an amazing initiative where some people got together and helped to sponsor other people’s vacations. How did that work?
That was inspired by one person. It wasn’t anything official. This guy just reached out to me and said, “Hey, here’s $1,500. Find me some families that can’t afford to go away, and let’s help them out.”
sor a family.” And that whole initiative snowballed over the last two years, and we were able to send 30-40 families on a nice two-day vacation, who otherwise would have been stuck home due to financial reasons. We made it more legit and now run it through the Davis Memorial Fund so it is tax deductible. We call it the “No Jew Will Be Left Behind Initiative.” The idea behind it is, if you can afford a big, expensive, beautiful vacation, good for you. Have fun and enjoy. But also “take a family along with you” and sponsor them to make sure they’re not stuck home. These trips I make are so cheap. If a family can’t even afford a $250-300 for a two-day getaway, can you imagine how badly they could probably use some nice, enjoyable family time?
When I post about the sponsorship opportunities, I realize that Tomchei Shabbos is a bigger priority than this. I realize that there are yeshivas that aren’t making payroll. There are bigger priorities that we have as a community than sending people away for midwinter break. With that being said, this is just a matter of helping families feel normal. Everyone’s going away. And it’s become the norm to go away and do something. There are kids who don’t feel normal if they can’t go away, and it’s just a nice chessed.
How did you find families who would appreciate a free vacation?
I reached out to a few rabbanim, school principals/administrators and great organizations like JCCRP who deal with the community’s most vulnerable families. And that was the one thing that really hit me hard: I was talking to one of the high school principals at Shulamith, and she told me, “There are girls who don’t show up to school the day after midwinter because their parents can’t afford to go away. They didn’t go anywhere for vacation, and they’re too embarrassed about this because, at recess, everyone’s going to ask them, ‘So, what did you do? Where did you go?’” They’re so embarrassed that they literally miss an extra day of school to not have to answer those questions!
“My job is like a TV show, and every day, I get a new episode: someone’s doing something nice, someone’s doing something crazy, someone’s doing something beautiful, someone brings in an interesting food.”
So, on my status, I posted about it: “Hey everyone. Look at this nice thing that this person did.” And the next thing I knew, 20, 30 people started piling on, messaging me, “Hey, I’ll spon-
Food is a central part of the Jewish lifestyle. Anywhere we go, we take along tons of food with us. How do people get kosher food on your trips?
Okay, so the problem is that kosher food costs a ton of money. And what I don’t want is for my trips to become a “program.” Once
I start including food and making it a full-service program, I’m going to price out half the community.
But what I do is I arrange for kosher food delivery. And this past year, it was a smashing success. During the peak two nights of the trip, I convinced Chickies to bring the Chickies truck. Now, everyone can choose how they get their food. If you want to do your own thing, do your own thing. You want to cook on a Betty Crocker? You have that option. You want to treat your family to Holy Schnitzel or Chickies one night? You could do that as well. So, I try to offer as many options as possible, while, at the same time, keeping the costs down.
Quick question about Bike4Chai. When did you get involved? How many times have you biked for it? How many miles? And how do you train for the race?
In 2015, I was almost 300 pounds. And that year, all my friends were biking for Bike4Chai, and I was inspired. I said, “You know what? I’m
going to do the race next year.” I trained the whole winter, I lost 60, 70 pounds, and I did it all through cycling.
I’d like to give a shoutout to the Five Towns Riders. The chevra is a really welcoming, friendly, and encouraging cycling community. They’re serious riders, and there are guys who will help you every step of the way, encourage you, and give you direction. If you’re considering taking on the sport, there is an excellent support system here that other communities don’t have.
Personally, I ride for many hours each Sunday morning – somewhere between 50 and 100 miles. And then, on Fridays, I ride to and from work, so I get another 70 miles like that. And then, in the middle of the week, I’ll get another ride in.
That’s amazing! Another facet of Ari Dicker is the memes. You’ve been famously crowned “The Meme King” or now as the “Memeologist.” How did you get involved in that, and how do you get your memes?
I like comedy, and I like laughing. I’m a funny guy, and I have good taste in these things.
It really started during Covid, when there was a lot of funny content being posted. And basically, I curated it all and posted all the good stuff on my WhatsApp status. During Covid, people started messaging me, “Hey, Ari. Every day, with the pandemic, things are crazy in my house. But at the end of the day, my wife and I sit down, and we see what you post throughout the day, and we
just end our day off on a positive, funny note, and that’s really helping us.”
My average WhatsApp status view count is around 2,000+, but I think my count is actually much higher than that because it’s not just one person viewing the status per phone. Parents often tell me that their kids are always asking to take their phones to look at my status. Everyone in the family passes the phone around, so I imagine the view count would actually be much higher.
One day, my mortgage broker told me, “Ari, you’re not just posting funny content. It’s a fine art. You’re a scientist. You’re like a memeologist.” And I decided to stick with that title.
Wow. You’re also passionate about babka. How did that start?
Babka is more bready and is given time to rise.
Between trips, and memes, and babkas, you have a lot going on. Can you tell us a little bit about your family and job?
We, baruch Hashem, have seven children, including two little identical twins. We moved to North Woodmere a few years ago.
No question about it: I am a hopeless foodie. And one of my favorite things is kokosh and babka. When I started working in Williamsburg, which is like the “Mecca” of kosher bakeries, I went through all of them, tasting and rating them on the status. I, not so humbly, call myself the world’s leading expert in all things kokosh and babka. Last week, a random status follower messaged me and said, “Ari, I think this is a babka you need to taste. Where can I drop it off?” He was coming to the Five Towns for Shabbos and thought I’d appreciate it. Or I’ll get a message from someone, “Hey, my wife started selling kokosh out of the house. We’d love your review.” And it just became a thing: kokosh and babka.
It must be difficult to give bad food reviews since it could harm someone’s business. How do you make sure it’s not lashon hara?
My rule is: If I like it, I post about it. If I don’t like it, I won’t post about it. I don’t do bad reviews.
I only post things that I truly think are good. And it doesn’t matter how much you pay me. I’m not going to post if I don’t actually stand by it.
I have a very important question: what’s the difference between kokosh and babka?
Kokosh is denser. The dough doesn’t rise as much.
As for my job, I have an outpatient physical therapy office in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. And you know, I love working in Williamsburg. My job is like a TV show, and every day, I get a new episode: someone’s doing something nice, someone’s doing something crazy, someone’s doing something beautiful, someone brings in an interesting food. Williamsburg can be quite an interesting place.
And I love them, and they love me. So, it’s a good shidduch. In that area, a professional with a vaarm personality will get you very far.
Do you have a closing message for our readers?
Help get the word out about our trips. Keeping the group size big helps us keep the rates low. If I had to spend a lot on a whole big media campaign, it would make the groups cost more. So when you see the groups posted, help spread the message. Even if you’re not joining us this time, you never know when you’re gonna need a good local option for midwinter break or chol hamoed. If we crowd-source this, we keep it affordable. We need to keep good family time affordable – the community needs it. And we also do some nice chessed along the way.
My dream is to one day be able to make these trips a self-sustaining, welloiled machine that I could hand off to somebody else. For my kids, these trips have become regular, but eventually, my kids are going to want to do something else. But for now, they’re happy. For now, it’s our annual ski trip, and they have fun. And what it really comes down to is how easy of a trip this is. The parents can park themselves in one spot (like the water park), and the kids can roam around all day. In addition to being affordable, it’s a very easy option, especially for big families.
Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!
Maya Palmer, 5 Akiva, 9 & Eitan, 7 Lichterman
Chaya K., 7
Naftali M., 10
Suri Mael, 8
Benny Noff, 10
Zazi T., 8
Zecharia & Ayala Khoshkheraman, 7 and 4
Tamar Weiss, 6
Shmuel Nelkin, 6
Zevy Seidel, 4
Akiva Attar, 3
Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!
BK, 11
Rachel T., 2
Yuda Rothstein, 4
Tzipora Feigenbaum, 11
Rena Feigenbaum, 5
Temma Chernitzky, 3
Mayer Noff, 7
Shmulie Slavaticki
Eitan, 3
Maya Schwarzenberger, 11
Miriam Hendon, 7
Elchanan Attar, 6
Yardena Markowitz, 6
Meira Isenberg, 7
Nachshon G., 12
Miriam T. 9
Leah Seidel, 6
Deena C., 10
Michal Rothstein, 6
Azi Sperling, 4
D.H., 7
Esty Milworm, 11
Asher Benyowitz, 5
Avinoam, 7
Shua Rosenstein, 4
In The K tchen
Sausage and Peppers Sheet Pan Dinner
By Naomi Nachman
Ingredients
◦ 12 hot dogs or sausages, cut into bite-size pieces
◦ 6 bell peppers, any color, sliced into thin strips
◦ 1 medium red onion, sliced into strips
◦ 3 tablespoons canola oil
◦ 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
◦ ½ cup beer
◦ ½ teaspoon dried oregano
◦ ½ teaspoon dried basil
◦ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
◦ ½ teaspoon salt
◦ ½ teaspoon black pepper
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Spread the sausage, bell peppers, and onions on a 12 x 17 baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, vinegar and beer. Sprinkle with dried oregano, dried basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper over everything.
Bake for 40 minutes, uncovered.
Serving suggestions: Serve with rice. It also makes a great filling in a sandwich.
Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/ New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet. com or at (516) 295-9669.
