Baltimore Jewish Home 10-2-24

Proudly Presents

2024 - 5 7 85

The Annual Teshuva Drasha Rabbi Yissocher Frand

Thursday, October 10th, 2024 • 8:00 pm

Congregation Shomrei Emunah • 6221 Greenspring Avenue

Benefactors:

Special thanks are extended to:

Mr. & Mrs. Hershel Boehm and Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Boehm of Seven Mile Market for their generosity

Sponsors:

• Seven Mile Market

• Sol Levinson & Bros., Inc.

Associate Sponsors:

• Staiman Design

• Eruv of Baltimore

• Chevra Ahavas Chesed, Inc.

• T he Hamburger Family , in memory of Ted and Beverly Hamburger

Signing

Available for the Hearing Impaired

We Welcome Voluntary Donations to Ahavas Yisrael at the Shiur

This ad is dedicated in the memories of Rabbi Joseph Schecter ה”ע, Mr. Ted Hamburger

, Mr. Max Jacob

, and Mr. Billy Benjamin

Let’s help ensure our community’s simchas Yom Tov.

IMPORTANT ROSH HASHANAH AND SUKKOS SAFETY TIPS!

1.

2. OUT IN THE SUKKAH? BE SURE YOUR HOME IS SAFE!

Protect your home and valuables. Be sure to lock your doors every time you leave!

CARBON MONOXIDE DANGER!

Carbon monoxide, “The Silent Killer”, can build up over time when the stove is left on, even if there are no leaks! With three 3-day Yomim Tovim approaching, the danger is compounded. The Baltimore Fire Department has urged the community to either use an exhaust fan or leave a nearby window slightly open.

“Thank you for the valuable community education you provide on the dangers of carbon monoxide, particularly during Yom Tov!

We recently experienced the importance of this knowledge, when at 3:00 am on a Yom Tov morning, we heard our carbon monoxide detector go off. A pot of soup had overflowed on the stove the night before, and we lowered the flame. Since the burner was covered by a blech, we didn’t realize the flame had gone out entirely. Little did we know, that toxic carbon monoxide, which is odorless, was being released into our home.

Since there was no flame, we turned off the gas, aired out our home, and Boruch Hashem, no one in our family suffered any ill effects!

This incident should remind us all about this critical health and safety issue, and how taking simple precautions can easily prevent potential life-threatening situations.”

A Grateful Community Member

P.S. On July 15th, 2021, over 50 people were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning after there was a leak at a Jewish sleepaway camp. According to the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association there are 1,200 deaths and 50,000 emergency room visits annually.

In loving memory of Alvin S. and Elaine S. Mintzes, ה"ע

 www.chesedfund.com

Dear Readers,

It is doubtful that there is a more powerful, emotional, or poignant part of the davening on the yamim noraim than the recital of Unesaneh Tokef. The haunting tefillah sets the mood of the day, while the stark words highlight the fragility of life. On Rosh Hashanah, it is written; and on Yom Kippur, it is sealed, תומי

ימ, who shall live and who shall die…” If we allow ourselves to internalize its message, we are moved to take to heart in the concluding words, “

— that repentance, prayer, and charity can annul the harsh decree.

Yet, as profound as Unesaneh Tokef is in conveying Hashem’s mastery over the world, Rav Yisrael Salanter emphasized an even greater imperative: sensitivity toward others. When Rosh Hashanah falls on a Friday (like it does this year), and lengthy davening leaves little time for Shabbos preparation, he was asked which parts of the davening could be shortened. Rav Yisrael responded that if necessary, one could skip Unesaneh Tokef, as it is a later addition to Chazaras Hashatz and can be omitted without compromising the core themes of malchuyos, zichronos, and shofaros. However, he stressed that under no

circumstances should the shul’s recitation of piyutim during the chazzan’s repetition be skipped, as well as the “ay yah yai’s” between paragraphs, as it provides essential moments for the chazzan to rest.

The yamim noraim, from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, set the tone for the entire year. They remind us that our relationship with Hashem is intertwined with how we treat others. If we take Rav Yisrael Salanter’s lesson to heart and show true sensitivity to the needs and struggles of those around us, we elevate not only our own avodas Hashem but also the community as a whole.

This past year, we witnessed incredible acts of unity within the Baltimore community and throughout klal Yisrael, as so many stepped up to support one another in trying times. Let us carry that spirit of compassion and togetherness into the new year, beginning with Rosh Hashanah. By being sensitive to others and truly feeling their pain, we fulfill the essence of these days, laying the foundation for a year filled with growth, kindness, and deeper connection to Hashem and our fellow Jews.

Kesiva Vchasima Tova, Aaron Menachem

mazal tovs to editor@baltimorejewishhome.com

LOoK AT ME.

What do you see? A shining face of a little girl who knows who she is and who she can pray to. looK CLOSER.

Do you know where I came from?

Do you know that without the bus that brings me to school, I wouldn’t know any of this? Nothing!

Before, I didn’t know about Shabbos, tefillah, or mitzvos. Now, thanks to that bus, I get to learn Torah every day.

THANK YOU to our amazing staff and volunteers!

Rochel Neuberger

Executive Program Coordinator

Bella Herman

Administrative Manager

Program Coordinator

Rochel Wealcatch

Program Coordinator

Rabbi Mordechai Abrahams

Program Coordinator

SUMMER PROGRAM STAFF

Pesachya Neuman

Chananya Roth

Rachael Nelkin

Tzipporah Rosensaft

Shlaime Simcha Poupko

Rachel Goldstein

Eli Silberfarb

SUNDAY FUNDAY

Sarah Feldman

Kayla Heinemann

Chana Moradian

Rachael Nelkin

Sora Hoffman Sarah Moskovitz

Miki Herman

Shira Basya Katz

Peninah Ayala Taragin

Naami Steger

Tova Kimelfeld

Rena Miriam Steger

Menuchah Mahgrefteh

Aliza Laya Markowitz

Goodwin

Dear Fortuna Halwani Hila Roth

Elman Shira Ribakow

Hirsch

Hackerman

Rothman Rachelli Herzog

Kimelfeld Rachel Hamaoui

Tyberg

Tyberg

Tyberg

Shaindy Friedland Yocheved Friedland Nechami Hack Leah Fogel

Kayla Orlofsky Esther Guttenberg

Binny Schwarz,

Program Coordinator

Sarah Dina Rubelow

Program Coordinator

Adira Herman

Program Coordinator

Esther Aviva Kosman

Program Coordinator

Shira Metzger

Program Coordinator

Devora Leah Hopfer

Perel Twersky

Chany Treuhaft

Golda Kaufman

Shevy Stieglitz

Chaya Nechama Szendro

Tobi Smith

Miryam Hamaoui

Shaindy Weissman

Penina Feldman

EVENING PROGRAM

Rachael Nelkin

Shira Basya Katz

Tehilla Amster

Peninah Ayala Taragin

Naami Steger

Leeba Berlin

Nechami Hack

Elisheva Gordon

Chavi Goodhart

Chaya Reeva Goldfinger

Erenthal

Aliza Laya Markowitz

Chaya Pollock

Sara Kroll

Bookkeeper

Chana Leba Klainberg

Pesachya Neuman

Chananya Roth

Nechama Schwarz

Tova Kimelfeld

Meira Berenson

Shifra Goldstein

Leah Fogel

Avigayil Brody

Esther Wilansky

Chaya Leah Feldman

Chaya Baila Tesser

Shoshana Lieder

Leah Feder

Shaindy Lefkovitz

Esti Chaikin

Shoshana Lieder

Chana Devora Hack

Zahava Rosenbaum

Russi Flamm

Rena Steinberg

Shana Gross

Aliza Abrams

Malky Davidson

Devorah Preiser

Chaya Faigel Wasserman

Rivka Weiskopf

Molly Prero

Miriam Leff

Chani Neuberger

Iyla Tennenbaum

Adina Eisenmann

Tzippy Tuchman

Emily kuhr

Ahuva Weg

Aviva Graber

Shalva Lando

Dassi Rabenstein

Esther Sherman

Dena Hexter

Yael Englard

Menucha Frohlich

Rachel Hauer

Chelly Morris

Elisheva Stern

We thank you for the immeasurably valuable work you have done for our participants and families! Your dedication is essential to the work that we do – there is no MENUCHA without you! We appreciate the positive energy and a beautiful intensity you bring on a daily basis: Sign up to be a volunteer today!

Batsheva Rosskamm

Elisheva Schwartz

Bracha Yehudis Krasner

Hinda Leah Feigenbaum

Esti Chaikin

Shalva Davidovich

Shoshana Block

Miryam Silberfarb

Leah Birnbaum

Racheli Fink

Shana Nadoff

SHABBOS

Tzipa Preiser

Yehudis Preiser

Riki Meyers

Tehila Weg

Gitty Neuberger

Rikki Shane

Rachel Hamaoui

Tzipora Hyatt

Malka Schwob

Chava Meth

Raizy Waldbaum

Rivky Waldbaum

Malky Feldman

Esther Ciment

Blimi Ciment

Tova Schwarz

Yael Englard

Esther Chaya Grosberg

Chana Markowitz

Zehava Zweig

Tehilla Greenlinger

Elisheva Rishe

Dassi Burstyn

*Any omissions to this list are unintentional and inadvertent. Menucha appreciates the dedicated help of every single volunteer and staff member.

Zehava Zweig

Yehudis Brecher

Kayla Heineman

Chana Moradian

Ahava Rabenstein

Chana Markowitz

Chava Meth

Ahuva Mauer

Rachel Adina Hyatt

Shalva Lando

Chaya Reeva Goldfinger

Leah Meister

WEB AND GRAPHICS

Chava Meth

Penina Lieder

Sara Nordlicht

Around the Community

Igniting Passion And Excellence: JES Professional Development Workshops

Photos: JES Staff

Get ready to be inspired!

This August, Jewish Educational Services (JES) staff trained over 200 dedicated educators from eight local day schools and early childhood programs in personalized professional development for each individual school. In addition to helping prepare for the school year, these sessions were also a catalyst for transforming teaching practices and energizing classroom dynamics.

The JES workshops featured a variety of dynamic and tailored sessions designed to spark innovation and enthusiasm among educators. Highlights included:

• Teaching Like a Champion: Proven strategies to inspire and engage students.

• Establishing Rules and Consequences: Crafting a classroom environment where every student can thrive.

• EQ vs. IQ: Why It Matters: Exploring the crucial role of emotional intelligence in education.

• Secrets to a Well-Run Classroom: Expert tips for maintaining an organized and productive learning space.

• Flip the Script: From Chaos to Calm: A targeted session focused on setting up children with ADHD for success, transforming classroom chaos into calm.

From intense three-hour deep dives to engaging one-hour power sessions, each workshop was packed with interactive and practical learning. Participants left glowing with enthusiasm. As one educator put it, “It was personal, relatable, and the presenter was well-informed,” while another commented, “I enjoyed the open discussions and the participants’ input.” The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 87% of survey respondents strongly

agreeing that the overall teaching session was of high quality.

JES recognizes educators’ commitment to and desire for professional growth. Research consistently shows that ongoing teacher development significantly boosts student achievement and supports new educators, fostering long-term retention and a thriving teaching community. JES offers many opportunities, both in small group cohorts and larger workshops, to empower educators with the skills and confidence they need to excel in the classroom and make a lasting impact on their students’ lives.

This year, JES offered workshops specifically for new teachers, forming the foundation of a New Teacher Cohort. This program meets monthly, offering continuous training and support for educators in their first or second year. Registration for this year’s cohort is still open for those newer teachers looking to join a compelling community that fosters collaboration, mentorship, and professional growth as they

embark on their teaching journeys.

Professional development isn’t just about acquiring new skills; it’s about nurturing a growth mindset. This mindset emphasizes that abilities and talents can evolve with dedication and effort. By investing in high quality professional development opportunities for the school community, JES demonstrates a commitment to enhancing teaching quality and supporting educators to reach their goals.

For those interested in arranging a customized professional development workshop tailored to your specific needs, the expert staff at Jewish Educational Services is here to help. They offer a range of relevant topics and can provide continuing education credits for early childhood educators. To arrange a workshop, please reach out to Faye Friedman at ffriedman@ jesbaltimore.org.

Here’s to celebrating this dedication to excellence and growth. Let’s gear up for a fantastic school year filled with learning, inspiration, and achievement!

PROJECT OF TORONTO KOLLEL

TR US TE D

SINCE 1 99 8

Baltimore Hosts First Links Meeting To Support Grieving Children And Their Families

Baltimore hosted a special event that wowed everyone, even the organizers, with the tremendous turnout and support. It wasn’t just a fun night out, this was a night dedicated to raising awareness and funds for an exceptional organization, Links Family, that operates with a credo of dignity for those they help—children and teens who lost a parent, and their families. With a branch in the Baltimore-Washington DC corridor (the first one started outside the tri-state area!), Links Family is currently servicing 871 families and approximately 3,500 children, worldwide.

When a young parent dies, their child’s life is changed forever. Links is there to ensure no child has to grieve alone by providing an array of services that offer practical and emotional support. This translates into case management, therapy referrals and funding,

By: BJLife/Judy Landman

Many did not know that Links was brought to Baltimore 13 years ago and has a girls division coordinated by Judy Landman and Sarah Ottensoser and the boys division coordinated by Zev Daniel and Shmuel Artman, all under the leadership of the founder and director, Mrs. Sarah Rivkah Kohn.

Shabbatons and year-round events, support groups, targeted publications,

chassan and kallah services, shidduch guidance and advocacy, legal and financial guidance, and so much more.

The day may have been wet and rainy, but with Siyatta DiShmaya, by evening, the outdoor event was dry and beautiful and every detail was attended to. Through the courtesy of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation,

ful home of Menachem and Aviva Khoshkerman. Security was at the gate with Chaverim’s coordination as people kept streaming in to see what

Many did not know that Links was brought to Baltimore 13 years ago and has a girls division coordinated by Judy Landman and Sarah Ottensoser and the boys division coordinated by Zev Daniel and Shmuel Artman, all under the leadership of the founder and director, Mrs. Sarah Rivkah Kohn.

With music permeating the background by Menachem Manevich, Eli Cohen, Yonatan Grinberg, Matt Shoenalong with a stunning and delicious buffet by Dena Meir

Parry’s Holy Smoke barbecue and Yaakov Sonnenblick’s mixology added to the ambience while people were

able to find out more about Links on a personal level from the branch leaders and Mrs. Kohn, joined by the director of development, Mrs. Esti Bald, and the director of community outreach, Rabbi Nachum Feder.

The crowd heard words from the dynamic MC Zev Daniels, founder of the Baltimore branch, Judy Landman, and Sarah Rivkah Kohn who eloquently shared the great need of helping Links families and children. Rabbi Shmuel Silber concluded the program and spoke about how it is up to us to help Hashem’s children who have no parents. Additionally, there was a moving video from the perspective of a child who lost a parent. Throughout the entire event, the continuous donations were displayed on a large screen as the numbers climbed ever higher and closer to the goal, eventually surpassing it! Baltimore, a humble community, opened their hearts in a very big way and that was the best wow of all.

Thank you to the many volunteers and hosts who made this evening happen. Thank you to those who came and contributed. For those who missed it, Links Family will be having their annual crowdfunding campaign from Erev Rosh Hashanah through Erev Yom Kippur (Oct.2-11).

Hatzalah Baltimore County Ambulance Building Chanukas Habayis

Hatzalah responders, dispatchers, service units, and board members hosted a Chanukas Habayis for the new Hatzalah Baltimore County Ambulance Building. The state-ofthe-art building, located at the corner of Deancroft Rd. and Smith Ave., is equipped to house two ambulances and supplies for restocking. The building is attached to Hatzalah’s Baltimore County Operations Center.

Rabbi Jonathan Aryeh Seidemann, community Rav and Hatzalah board member, spoke about the importance and great merit of saving a single life. County Councilman Izzy Patoka presented Hatzalah with a citation for their dedication to the Baltimore County community. Baltimore City Councilman Yitzi Schleifer and County Councilman Izzy Patoka then cut the ribbon, paving the way for the newest ambulance, M5, to be put into service at the new “Deancroft Garage.” Hatzalah’s president, Elimelech Goldstein thanked County Executive Jonny Olszewski and the County Council for providing funding towards the building project.

October 8th Monday

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:00 am

Baking with Ms. Hirschman

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

1:00 pm

Arts & Crafts with Shifra

2:00 pm

Piano with Mrs Schwartz

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:15 am

Anagrams with Malka Zweig

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

1.00 pm BINGO

1:45 pm

Guitar with Yossi K

By: BJLife Newsroom

WEEKLY CALENDAR

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:15 am

Anagrams with Malka Zweig

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

1:45 pm

Guitar with Yossi K

9:30 am

Yoga with Deborah Bandos

10:15 am

Anagrams with Malka Zweig

11:00 am

Discussion Group with Rabbi Karp

1:45 pm

Guitar with Yossi K

Chinuch Today: A New Approach For A New Generation - Part 2

Following the elucidation of the pasuk in Mishlei, Rabbi Schaffel emphasized two more points. The first point is that “Kids do well if they can.” Many assume that “Kids do well if they want to,” which means that any child who struggles is not trying hard enough and the intervention. Whether the intervention is positive or negative, it is designed to stimulate their ratzon.

The principle “Kids do well if they can,” assumes that children WANT to behave and succeed academically. If they are not doing so, it is not due to a lack of desire - ratzon, it is the result of a lagging skill. The goal is to identify and teach the necessary academic or emotional regulation skills so that they can meet our expectations.

The phrase, “Kids do well if they can,” is rooted in our daily declaration “neshamah she’nasata bi tehorah hee.” Every person, regardless of who they are and what they do, possesses a Divine

neshamah that drives them to achieve deveikus and achieve their potential.

The second point that Rabbi Schaffel emphasized was the importance of conveying unconditional love to our children. Unconditional love means that there is nothing a child must do to earn our love and conversely, there is nothing they can do that would diminish our love for them. Our words, tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language are ways by which we communicate and shape their perception of themselves. As the saying goes, “When you criticize your children, they don’t stop loving you, they stop loving themselves.”

Additionally, their relationship with Hashem is, by and large, framed by their relationship with us. When children feel that they must earn our love and are not secure that they are loved unconditionally, they will project that feeling onto their relationship with Hashem. Conveying unconditional love to our children, gives them the neces-

sary framework to believe that Hashem also loves them unconditionally.

Rabbi Schaffel concluded his remarks by addressing children who are in crisis. Children in crisis are not simply struggling with their religious observance, they struggle with life. They may not be in school, may not be capable of holding down a job, may struggle in their relationships, or may struggle with addictions. When kids reach this level of dysfunction, we must adjust our chinuch approach to match their needs. Their religious struggles and lack of observance are symptoms of their underlying condition which is their existential pain. At this stage, we focus on building our relationship with them. Investing in our relationship with them and doubling and tripling the dose of unconditional love stabilizes them so that they can heal from their pain.

Rabbi Schaffel explained that this is where Lebeinu steps in. Lebeinu

provides hadrachah and halachic guidance to help stabilize the situation and create the conditions for the child in crisis to heal. Our approach is very personalized to match each child’s needs but also considers what the parents can do and does not overlook the siblings of the struggling child since their needs are also important. Lebeinu started to serve as a resource for those families that need additional guidance when a child is in crisis. There are support groups that meet regularly and opportunities to meet with Rabbi Schaffel one-on-one for specific guidance that best suits your family.

Another essential focus of Lebeinu is to serve as a resource for all parents to fulfill the long-term goal of chinuch which is to inspire them to remain loyal to Torah and mitzvos when they are older.

The recording of this shiur can be found on our website: https://lebeinu. org/resources

BJH: We all know that Ahavas Yisrael is one of the most important tzedaka and chesed institutions in our community. Can you tell us a bit about how Ahavas Yisrael started?

Rabbi Boruch Brull: Over 46 years ago, my dear friend Rabbi Elozor Isbee (a”h) and I, realized that our community didn’t have an organized approach to help those experiencing significant financial difficulties. We had encountered families who were struggling and had no place to turn for assistance. We determined that the time had come to establish a structured organization in Baltimore. A year later, Eli Schlossberg joined our team. We recruited some volunteers, performed limited fund-raising from generous community members, and began to offer financial support to a handful of families. Not long after that, we started delivering a few boxes of food on Thursday nights.

613 Seconds with Rabbi Boruch Brull, on behalf of Ahavas Yisrael

we provide emergency financial support for rent, mortgage payments, utilities, and other crises. We work with volunteer professionals —accountants, doctors, and mentors—to assist our recipients with complex challenges. We help eligible families apply for government programs, ensuring they can access available resources. These are just a handful of the services we provide today.

BJH: That’s incredible! I imagine that with the Baltimore community growing at a pretty significant rate, Ahavas Yisrael constantly needs to adapt to address increasing challenges. How have you grown to meet those needs?

RBB: With an office on Sudbrook Lane, an operations manager, two case managers, a secretary, and a designated professional for job networking, we are B’H poised to provide a wide array of services. But despite our growth, we remain committed to our roots—every case is treated individually with personalized care, and we work hard to understand each recipient’s specific needs. Our ability to adapt is what keeps us effective. Over the years, we have established strong relationships with other local organizations to offer a more comprehensive support network. This year, we helped over 800 families; for Rosh Hashana, we distributed over $300,000 in assistance. This year’s budget was over $4.3 million dollars!

BJH: Interesting. I think many people still see Ahavas Yisrael as the “food box organization” but not much else. Clearly, Ahavas Yisrael is so much more than that!

RBB: Absolutely! A number of years ago, we recognized that the needs of our community were evolving. We wanted to ensure that we were providing true, long-term support rather than just temporary relief. With this in mind, our case managers work tirelessly to help families understand their financial situations and work towards greater stability and independence.

Additionally, we have made substantial strides in our job networking program to empower community members to gain sustainable employment. Mrs. Goldenberg, our liaison in this area, has facilitated interviews, job placements, and mentorship opportunities for over 150 individuals this year alone. These efforts are just a snapshot of our comprehensive approach to community support. Our goal is to not only meet immediate needs but to foster independence among those we serve.

BJH: Is it challenging for Ahavas Yisrael to provide such substantive support on a community level, while also doing so in a sensitive manner?

person’s unique circumstances. We work diligently to create an environment where recipients feel valued and respected. By fostering trust and understanding, we strive to make the process as comfortable as possible for everyone involved.

BJH: Truly amazing! With a $5 million annual budget, it must require a fair amount of work to raise those funds. How has community support played a role in Ahavas Yisrael’s success?

RBB: The achdus—the unity of the community—gives us the ability to succeed. The countless donations we receive daily enable us to allocate funds generously. The personal relationships we’ve cultivated with our Rabbonim guide our actions. Our active board members play a vital role in Ahavas Yisrael’s continued growth. We network with local businesses, and many stores proudly display our tzedakah boxes. We are also blessed with a large volunteer base that offers their support, from food deliveries to financial counseling, and so much more.

BJH: What is the future vision for Ahavas Yisrael?

BJH: Since then, how have Ahavas Yisrael’s services evolved?

RBB: The scope of our work has evolved significantly. Our Thursday night food distribution program now serves dozens of families each week. In addition,

Whether it’s assisting someone restructure their mortgage or helping them find a new job, our goal is to provide comprehensive and sustainable support. Honestly, in 1978, I never could have imagined that Ahavas Yisrael would grow into the multifaceted organization that it is today!

RBB: We understand that financial difficulties can be a deeply personal and overwhelming experience. Therefore, we strive to protect the dignity of each recipient in everything we do. This is our primary goal at Ahavas Yisrael.

Our kind and caring team handles sensitive situations with compassion through one-on-one consultations to understand each

RBB: We’ll continue to rise to meet the needs of the community however they evolve. We would love to close our doors soon with no need for our services, with the coming of Mashiach. Until then….we need your support!

Checks can be mailed to: Ahavas Yisrael Charity Fund, 115 Sudbrook Lane Suite E, Baltimore, MD 21208 Online donations can be submitted: ahavasyisrael.org

The Week In News

The Week In News

New Japanese PM

After five attempts, Shigeru Ishiba, a former defense minister, has finally become the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party and will become Japan’s new prime minister in October after the country’s parliament meets. Ishiba will succeed Prime Minister Fumio Kisidha,

who said in August that he would not pursue a second term in office due to several party controversies.

Ishiba, 67, won his party’s contest, competing against eight other candidates, including Sanae Takaichi, the economic security minister who could have been the first female premier of Japan, whom he defeated in a 215 to 194 vote runoff, and Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of Junichiro Koizumi, who was a popular former prime minister.

The conservative party that he now leads has been in control of Japan since the LDP’s founding in 1955, with a few brief breaks in between when a different party led the island nation. Ishiba is a relatively progressive outcast in his party and has previously had the courage to speak out and disobey the LDP.

After his victory, Ishiba said his party could be “reborn and regain the trust of the people,” following a series of scandals that wrecked the LDP’s reputation. Some party members have allegedly engaged in illegal economic activities.

“I will believe in the people, speak the truth with courage and sincerity,

and I will do my utmost to make this country a safe and secure place where everyone can live with a smile on their faces once again,” Ishiba said.

Among the incoming prime minister’s many promises, Ishiba has vowed to end his country’s high inflation rates and cultivate “growth in real wages.” He has also voiced his support for the establishment of a NATO-like organization composed of several Asian countries meant to protect each other from China and North Korea, and he supports Japanese independence from nuclear energy, promoting renewable sources instead.

Once the United States elects its next leader in November, Ishiba will be tasked with cultivating Japan’s relationship with the new U.S. president

Fatal Flooding Hits Nepal

After three days of monsoon rains in Nepal, flooding and landslides across the country have led to the deaths of at

least 104 people. At least 73 people have been injured, and 64 are still missing, the Nepal Police said. Most of the deaths were reported on Saturday.

On Sunday, as the rains calmed down, rescuers were able to reach more remote locations via helicopter to pull people from their homes that had been destroyed by landslides. They were also able to retrieve the bodies of those who had perished in the natural disaster.

Binod Ghimire, a senior superintendent of police, said that more than 5,000 police personnel equipped with helicopters, rafts, ropes and vehicles had been deployed. More than 3,000 people were able to be rescued, but people are concerned that the rescues are taking too long.

Nepal’s prime minister, K. P.

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

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8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S-F

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

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8:15 pm OSTT (OLNEY) S-Th SHC, Knesset Yehoshua M-Th

8:45 pm YGW

1:50 pm YGW Summer

2:15 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F

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Sharma Oli, who was in the United States to attend the U.N. General Assembly, faced criticism at home for the rescue operations.

Many parts of the country were without power. “Several districts are disconnected from communication, so we are struggling to compile loss of lives and properties,” said Dan Bahadur Karki, a spokesman for the Nepal Police.

The disaster occurred just as Nepalis were preparing to celebrate the Hindu festival of Dashain, set to begin on Thursday. Hindu devotees travel for days to far-flung villages to obtain the blessings of their elders.

Nepal has a population of about 30 million. In recent years, it has been hit by many natural disasters, including the bursting of glacial lakes.

Mark Zuckerberg: $200 Billionaire

Zuckerberg is rolling in the dough. The Meta CEO has grown his personal fortune by a whopping $73.4 billion in 2024 to $201 billion. He is now the fourth richest person in the world, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index.

Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk ($272

billion); Jeff Bezos ($211 billion), the founder of Amazon; and Bernard Arnault ($207 billion), the CEO of luxury brand LVMH, are the only people ahead of Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg, 40, launched Facebook in 2004. Shares of Meta have surged by nearly 64% in 2024. On Wednesday, Meta shares gained 0.9% to close at a record high of $568.31. Meta shares dipped to $567.36 on Friday.

Meta operates popular social media platforms Facebook, Instagram and Threads, as well as the instant messaging app WhatsApp.

Speaking on Wednesday at the Meta Connect 2024 event, Zuckerberg said Meta AI is on track to become the most used assistant in the world.

“We’re almost at 500 million monthly (active users), and we haven’t even launched in some of the bigger countries yet,” Zuckerberg said, referring to countries in the European Union.

Zuckerberg isn’t the only tech mogul to see a big jump in their fortune this year. Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, and Larry Ellison, co-founder of Or-

acle, have seen their net worths surge in 2024 by $62.2 billion and $58.6 billion, respectively.

S. Korea To Ban Dog Meat Farms

To Americans, dogs are man’s best friend. But in South Korea, the animal has been, for hundreds of years, considered a delicacy. However, that is expected to change in 2027, when slaughtering, selling, and breeding dog meat will officially be a crime punishable by two to three years in jail, as per a bill passed in January by the parliament of South Korea.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, once the ban is put into effect, dog farmers will be compensated with 225,000 won ($170) for each dog they have to give up. And, if the farmers close down their dog farms early, they could receive up to 600,000 won ($450) for each dog – an incentive meant to promote an early phase-out.

However, a group of dog farmers recently declined to accept the government’s offer, pointing out that the compensation is too low. Previously, they urged the government to compensate them with 2 million won ($1,505) for each dog. The farmers have vowed to fight the ban, which they say will burden them economically and rob them of their ability to select their profession freely, and are currently advocating for the current three-year grace period, which ends in 2027, to be extended, and for the compensation package to be more generous.

Sangkyung Lee, Humane Society International’s Korean anti-animal cruelty group campaign manager, said South Korea’s move was “an important milestone in this historic ban that will see the ban through to completion and end our country’s dog meat era for good.” He added that his office is “disappointed” that the government has proposed to compensate the farmers for each individual dog, as the farmers might start “potentially increasing dog breeding to get more money from the scheme and more puppies being born into suffering.”

The Seoul-based Korean Animal Welfare Association called on local governments to keep an eye on dog farms to ensure that farmers aren’t breeding the animals to expand their farm and, as a result, make more money from the compensation deal. The organization applauded the government’s efforts to

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quickly end dog farming through “reasonable” measures, and condemned the farmers association for demanding higher compensation.

The majority of people in South Korea do not consume dog meat, though the country has the only industrial-scale dog farms in the world. Dogs are also a delicacy in Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and a few countries in Africa. According to recent polls, two in three South Koreans support the ban. South Korea’s first lady, Kim Keon Hee, was very vocal about her stance against dog farming.

According to Park Beomsu, the Vice Agriculture Minister, there are around 466,000 dogs in South Korea that are being raised to be slaughtered and consumed. Following the ban’s enactment, the dogs that are still alive will likely be put into the animal adoption system or brought to care facilities, Park added.

Save the Koalas

The “world’s koala capital” is Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia. But even there, the koala bear population remains in decline, as the species is having a challenging time adapting to an urban environment. Many have been attacked by dogs or hit by cars, while some have been plagued with infectious diseases such as chlamydia. Over 5,000 koalas have been treated at two veterinary hospitals in South East Queensland, although 66% were put to sleep due to poor survival chances.

In 2022, the species was classified as endangered, but the situation has yet to improve for the koalas, despite the 10-year national recovery plan that Australia started that same year to end the decline and boost the population and quality-of-life of the cuddly animals. Although millions of dollars were invested into the effort, their chances of survival are still “poor,” as per an annu-

al report published last May.

While the koala population decline has steadied in forests, in cities and partly-rural places, the population remains unstable because of “human activity and domestic dogs,” explained a spokesperson for the Department of Environment, Science, and Innovation (DESI), adding that the government of Queensland has seen some positive results due to the state’s implementation of the “strongest koala habitat protections ever seen.”

Tim Portas, a veterinarian, believes that “within 20 or 30 years, if things don’t change, they’ll be gone in southeast Queensland.”

The Australian federal government pledged 76 million Australian dollars ($52 million) towards the Saving Koalas Fund over the span of four years in order to “support the recovery and the long-term conservation of the koala and its habitats.” The state government of Queensland included an additional 31 million Australian dollars ($21 million) in its newest budget for saving koalas. And in an effort to prevent human development on koala habitats, around half of the over 714,000 hectares of designated koala territory has been exempt from any sort of building. Additionally, Queensland, according to a spokesperson, is determined “to commence rehabilitation to restore 10,000 hectares of koala habitat in South East Queensland by 2025,” a goal that isn’t quite as ambitious as conservationists had hoped.

Israel that targeted his underground quarters in Beirut, Lebanon. Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanon-based Iranian proxy group, was the terrorist organization’s top-ranking leader since 1992. His death was announced by the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah on Saturday.

As part of the same strike, Ali Karaki, the commander of the terror group’s Southern Front, was also killed. Ibrahim Hussein Jazini, head of Nasrallah’s personal security unit; Samir Tawfiq Deeb, an advisor to Nasrallah; Abd al-Amir Muhammad Sablini, responsible for Hezbollah’s force build-up; and Ali Nayef Ayoub, responsible for Hezbollah’s firepower, were also killed in the blast.

In the past few weeks, Israel has killed most of Hezbollah’s top officials.

Friday’s strike left some areas of Beirut filled with smoke and dust. Nasrallah was hiding out in the Dahiyeh, Hezbollah’s main underground base located beneath residential buildings in southern Beirut, and was hit by many bunker-busting bombs delivered by Israeli Air Force fighter jets. His body was retrieved from the blast site on Sunday.

According to Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, a spokesman for the Israeli military, the Jewish state had been tracking the Hezbollah leader for a number of years, and was successful in pulling off the assassination thanks to “real-time intelligence.” Meanwhile, Hezbollah eulogized Nasrallah and stated that it would continue fighting Israel “in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon and its steadfast and honorable people.” Saturday morning, Hezbollah continued firing rockets at Tel Aviv and the West Bank.

“This is not the end of the tools in the toolbox. The message is simple: to anyone who threatens the citizens of the State of Israel, we will know how to get to them,” vowed Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the IDF Chief of State, following the successful operation which was titled, “New Order.”

meters away from the building above the Dahiyeh, noting that anti-ship missiles are stored in the vicinity.

“In the coming hours we are going to strike strategic capability that Hezbollah placed underground, under three buildings in the heart of the Dahiyeh,” said IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. “Over the years, Hezbollah built and developed an array of coast-to-sea [missiles], that originate in Iran… We will now reveal how [Hezbollah] places strategic weapons under civilian buildings in the heart of the Dahiyeh.”

“These missiles are a real threat to world shipping lanes and strategic facilities of the State of Israel. In a short while, we will attack the weapons under the buildings. The intensity of the explosion of the weapons under the buildings will lead to damage to the buildings and could lead to their collapse,” Hagari said.

Shortly after the warning was issued, six missile warehouses in the area were struck, eliminating dozens of anti-ship missiles. Other areas in Lebanon were also struck. A day later, Hezbollah fired several rockets at places in Israel and at West Bank settlements. Most rockets were intercepted, and, thankfully, no injuries or significant damage were reported.

Hagari also said that the IDF would be preventing any weapons coming into Lebanon for Hezbollah, including through the international airport of Beirut.

Netanyahu Addresses the U.N.

Shoshani added that although the terror group has been hit hard, it’s still strong, that “this isn’t a threat that has gone away.” He added that it’s “safe to assume” that Hezbollah will try to take revenge. However, the spokesman said that the Jewish state would like Nasrallah’s assassination to “change Hezbollah’s actions.”

After hitting the terror headquarters on Friday, the Israeli military notified local civilians to evacuate 500 or more

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his Friday address to the United Nations by stating that he wasn’t planning to speak to the U.N. but elected to after he “heard the lies and slanders leveled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium.” He added that the international organization, which was once-respected but is now disgraced, is the “home court” for the Palestinians.

“They [the Palestinians] know that in this swamp of antisemitic bile, there’s an automatic majority willing to demonize the Jewish state for anything. In this anti-Israel flat-earth society, any false charge, any outlandish

Nasrallah Eliminated

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allegation can muster a majority,” Netanyahu said.

During his speech, the premier spoke about the conflict with Hezbollah, saying that “we won’t rest until our citizens return safely to our homes” and that “we will continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are attained.”

On the subject of the war in Gaza, he said Hamas “has got to go” and noted how “inconceivable” it would be for the terror group to play a role in the future rebuilding of Gaza – as “ridiculous” as it would have been to allow “the defeated Nazis in 1945” to be part of Germany’s reconstruction. Netanyahu added that Hamas is nearly defeated, as twenty-three out of twenty-four of its battalions have been destroyed, and said that Israel will continue to fight until the terror group is completely obliterated and will, in the meanwhile, ensure that Hamas can no longer steal its civilians’ humanitarian aid and sell it for very high prices.

Several family members of Israeli hostages, some alive and some not, came to New York along with Netanyahu and sat in the gallery during his speech. At one point, Netanyahu pointed out each of the families and asked them to briefly stand. The prime minister, wearing a yellow ribbon that represents the mission of bringing the hostages home, noted that Israel’s “sa-

cred mission” is freeing the abductees from Hamas captivity.

“Let them go. Let them go. All of them. Those alive today must be returned alive, and the remains of those whom you brutally killed must be returned to their families,” Netanyahu said, in “a message” to Hamas. “This war can come to an end now. All that has to happen is for Hamas to surrender, lay down its arms, and release all the hostages. But if they don’t, we will fight until we achieve victory, total victory; there is no substitute for it. Israel will win this battle, because we don’t have a choice.”

Netanyahu themed his speech around the difference between Iran and Israel – darkness and peace – and touted a potential peace deal between Saudi Arabia and the Jewish state, which would see Israel “continue the path we paved with the Abraham Accords four years ago” and “transform the Middle East into a global juggernaut,” thus ushering “in a historic reconciliation between the Arab world and Israel, between Islam and Judaism, between Mecca and Jerusalem.”

“That is the choice we face today: the curse of Iran’s unremitting aggression or the blessing of a historic reconciliation between Arab and Jew,” the premier said. “Israel has already made its choice. We’ve decided to advance the blessing. We’re building a partnership for peace with our Arab neighbors while fighting the forces of terror that threaten that peace.

Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, reiterated in a speech two weeks ago that Saudi Arabia would only recognize Israel if a Palestinian state, with a capital in East Jerusalem, is established.

Netanyahu condemned Tehran and its nuclear program, calling on the U.N. Security Council to “snap back” sanctions against Iran. He also criticized Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, for trying to secure arrest warrants against him and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and condemned Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for refusing “to condemn the horrific massacre of October 7” and for “still paying hundreds of millions to terrorists who murdered Israelis and Americans.”

Hamas is Now a Guerilla Group

According to an assessment released on Friday by the Israel Defense Forces, the Hamas terror group has now been reduced to a guerrilla organization that should be fully destroyed given some time, with its military basically eliminated.

Compared to how Hamas was organized before October 7, the terrorist organization has changed significantly with regard to its command and control, rockets, weapons, and army. Half or more of the Hamas terrorists have died since the war broke out on October 7, when the terror group invaded southern Israel, murdering 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping 251 others. Before the war started, Hamas had around 30,000 operatives in Gaza, five regional brigades, 24 battalions, and around 140 companies, according to the IDF. Every brigade had its own anti-tank missile array, air defenses, rocket firing array, and sniping and engineering teams, along with many regional outposts and strongholds, the Israeli military added. But since the war began, Hamas has lost most of its army.

According to the IDF, 18,000 Hamas terrorists have been killed since October 7, 1,000 of whom were eliminated in Israel on the day of the unspeakable tragedy. Meanwhile, Israel has lost 348 soldiers in Gaza and near the southern border since the start of the Jewish state’s ground campaign into the Strip.

While defeating Hamas is the IDF’s most important goal in the war, it has given priority to the more urgent goal of rescuing hostages.

“If we wait, it is not certain that there will be anyone to return,” the IDF said.

Congress Averts Shutdown

Last Wednesday, the House and Senate voted to prevent a government shutdown with a short spending bill that will remain in effect until December 20, when Congress will once again have to figure out how to fund the government in what is expected to be an intense post-election political battle.

As per Republican presidential nominee and former president Donald Trump’s request, House Speaker Mike Johnson originally proposed a bill that tied government funding with the SAVE Act, a GOP-led initiative meant to prevent illegal immigrants from voting in the upcoming election. However, the bill failed when Johnson proposed it to the House last week, and he thus moved on to “Plan B,” a bill that would fund the government but wouldn’t fulfill the demands of Trump and other conservative members of Congress. That bill was approved by the House in a 341 to 82 vote, which saw 209 Democrats and 132 Republicans voting in support of the law, while 82 Republicans voted against the bill. In the Senate, 78 voted in favor, while 18 voted against.

President Joe Biden praised the House and Senate for “avoiding a costly government shutdown,” adding that it gives Congress “more time to pass full-year funding bills by the end of the year.”

Trump’s thoughts on the bill are unclear. Though the former president opposed any government spending bill that wasn’t tied to anti-noncitizen voting measures, Johnson insists

The Week In News

that Trump realizes that it’s currently impossible to pass the SAVE Act due to a lack of congressional support for the bill. Many Republicans have noted that a government shutdown just over a month before the election would make it more difficult for the House to retain its Republican majority and for Trump to win back the presidency.

“We have to make tough decisions in leadership. This is the last available option to us,” said Johnson of his decision to team up with Democrats to pass the bill. “None of us like it, but we can’t shut the government down 39 days before an election. It would be political malpractice.”

Johnson’s bipartisan move may prompt condemnation from members of his party, but he is, as of now, unlikely to be ousted from his position like former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was.

The bill included a $231 million package to fund the U.S. Secret Service so that it could better defend the lives of Trump, who has been the target of two recent assassination attempts, and Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.

Bringing the Astronauts Home

In June, two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, flew to the International Space Station in a test flight of Boeing’s Starliner vehicle. But as problems developed with the Starliner’s propulsion system, the aircraft returned home without the two astronauts on board. On Saturday, two astronauts left Earth in the Crew Dragon spacecraft, leaving two seats empty for Williams and Wilmore to return home.

Nick Hague of NASA and Aleksandr Gorbunov of Russia were able to leave Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida as the weather cleared

from Hurricane Helene.

“Thankfully, we had a nice clear window in there,” Dana Hutcherson, the deputy manager of NASA’s commercial crew program, said. “We threaded a needle just perfectly.”

The Crew Dragon is scheduled to dock with the space station at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. It had been lifted from Earth with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Since 2020, SpaceX has been conducting regular flights taking astronauts to the space station for NASA.

Twice a year, a Falcon 9 rocket would launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, placing into orbit a Crew Dragon spacecraft with four astronauts aboard, who would join the space station crew. About six months later, the same four astronauts would get back into the Crew Dragon and head home to Earth.

This mission, named Crew-9, would have done the same, but now this Crew Dragon will be the ride home for Williams and Wilmore. That meant that two NASA astronauts slated for Crew-9, Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson, were bumped off this flight.

Cardman, Wilson, Hague and Gorbunov trained together for this mission for about a year and a half. Cardman was to serve as the Crew-9 commander, but this would have been her first spaceflight, while Hague made a trip to the space station in 2019.

“I can really relate to how they must be feeling, but we’ll fly them,” Ken Bowersox, the associate administrator of NASA’s space operations mission directorate, said. “We’ll find them slots in the future.”

“It was hard not to watch that rocket lift off without thinking, ‘That’s my rocket, and that’s my crew,’” Cardman said as the rocket lifted off on Saturday.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Indicted

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, became the city’s first mayor to be federally indicted while in office on Thursday morning when the federal government introduced five charges, including bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and soliciting foreign campaign contributions, against him.

“For nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valu-

able benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him,” the indictment alleges, adding that Adams was purportedly given free-of-charge rooms at “opulent hotels,” meals at luxury restaurants, and “luxurious entertainment” by foreign nationals in Turkey. In exchange, the mayor supposedly pressured the city’s fire department in September 2021 to allow a new building for the Turkish consulate to open without completely inspecting the structure to ensure it complies with fire safety laws. Adams did not disclose the travel benefits and instead tried hiding the incident through various means, including by erasing texts and changing the password to his phone, the indictment added.

“Mayor Adams took these contributions even though he knew they were illegal,” charged Damiam Williams, the Southern District of New York’s U.S. attorney. “He knew these contributions were attempts by a Turkish government official and Turkish businessmen to buy influence with him.”

According to the indictment, Adams also accepted illegal campaign contributions during his 2021 campaign for New York City mayor.

On the morning of the indictment’s unveiling, federal officials reportedly went to Adams’ residence in Gracie Mansion, searched through his home for over three hours, and served him a summons.

In response to the indictment, Adams said he wasn’t surprised, urged New Yorkers to “wait to hear our defense before making any judgements,” and said he wouldn’t be making any immediate changes to the way he runs the city based on the charges.

“I look forward to defending myself and defending the people of this city as I’ve done throughout my entire professional career,” the mayor said.

“The travel, the expenses, the flight they talk about is in 2017 – seven years

ago, five years before he is mayor,” said Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro. “There is nothing illegal or improper about that, but they don’t want you to look at that too long.”

Spiro added that federal investigators’ search was done in “an effort to create a spectacle,” adding that they took Adams’ phone “when he would have happily turned it in.”

“He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court,” the lawyer added.

Although New York Gov. Kathy Hochul could choose to fire Adams from his position, she has reportedly said she wouldn’t do that. The governor hasn’t called on Adams to resign but said she has “carefully reviewed” the indictment and suggested that the mayor take the “next few days to review the situation and find an appropriate path forward.”

“This is an extraordinarily difficult day for New York City,” Hochul said. “This indictment is the latest in a disturbing pattern of events that has, understandably, contributed to a sense of unease among many New Yorkers.”

An “inability committee,” composed of several top city officials, could also potentially oust Adams.

Some members of Adams’ party, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), have called on the mayor to step down. If Adams resigns, Jumaane Williams, the public advocate of New York City, would take his place and a special election would be called.

The indictment comes in the wake of a wave of resignations in the mayor’s administration, including NYPD commissioner Edward Caban and top City Hall lawyer Lisa Zornberg. Caban and several other officials were the subjects of federal investigations. David Banks, the Schools Chancellor, also announced that his retirement would come at the end of 2024 after his phones were seized during a federal search warrant was executed on his home.

Secret Service Bill Passed

In a unanimous vote, the House and Senate passed a Secret Service bill that would grant protection to presidential candidates former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Har-

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ris that is equivalent to the protection given to the president. A few days after it passed in the House of Representatives in a 405-0 vote, the bill was brought to the Senate by Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL).

“Passing the act today with unanimous consent of the Senate sends an important message to the American public and the world that we will not ignore these threats, which are truly an attack on our democratic process and have rightly shocked the world,” Scott stated.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) shared that he was concerned that the bill wouldn’t address the actual issues that the Secret Service faces but elected not to vote against the bill.

“Let’s move ahead with this bill,” suggested Murphy. “I don’t think it actually solves the problem; let’s pass the additional money so that they have everything they need, the Secret Service, in order to get the job done, and then let’s sit down and have a broader conversation about why we have seen this spike in political violence and what other ways Republicans and Democrats can come together.”

This measure comes following two attempts on Trump’s life in just two months, one on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, when he was shot in the ear by a sniper stationed on a nearby building, and the other on September 15 when a gunman was found hidden in the bushes outside Trump’s Florida golf course.

After the first assassination attempt, acting Secret Service director Ronald Rowe Jr. said, “The Secret Service moved to increase assets to an already enhanced security posture for the former president.” He also said, “In the days that followed, President Biden made it clear that he wanted the highest levels of protection for former President Trump and for Vice President Harris.”

Congress also included another $231 million Secret Service package last Wednesday when the House and Senate voted for another government spending bill.

Hurricane Helene Hits Hard

South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, and other states were hit by the deadly Hurricane Helene over the weekend. At least 95 people were killed, including ten in North Carolina, twenty in South Carolina, seventeen in Georgia (two of whom were killed by a tornado in Alamo), eleven in Florida, and one in Virginia, according to the five states’ respective governors or fire officials.

The National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, said the hurricane was “the worst event in our office’s history” and added that it is “devastated by the horrific flooding and widespread wind damage that was caused by Hurricane Helene” and has “no words” for the loss of life.

The storm caused over 400 North Carolina roads to be shut down. Meanwhile over 3 million residents of Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia were left without electricity.

In Buncombe County, North Carolina, there are over sixty missing persons, with the county deploying over 150 search and rescue operations. More than twenty air rescue missions “successfully extracted patients from isolated areas that remain inaccessible by ground” in McDowell County, according to the emergency management office of the county. According to the U.S. Defense Department, around 4,000 National Guardsmen were sent to twenty-one counties in Florida to engage in rescue missions, while some guardsmen have also gone to Georgia and Alabama. According to Vice President Kamala Harris, 1,500 federal personnel have been sent by the Biden administration to communities hit by Helene.

In North Carolina, over 200 people were rescued by floods. In the span of 48 hours, Busick saw 29.58 inches of rain, for example.

“You look at Keaton Beach … almost every home was destroyed, or the vast

majority, and some totally obliterated. It’s because they had such a massive surge that went in there,” said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, noting that the flooding may have been up to 20 feet tall.

Many people lost their homes or were trapped in their houses. Many buildings were destroyed, as well.

As of last Saturday, Helene was a post-tropical cyclone with wind speeds at 35 mph. According to several governors and officials, the hurricane was one of, if not the worst, that they’d ever seen, and most people didn’t expect the natural disaster to hit nearly as hard as it did.

High Hat

If you thought that shtreimels could be high, consider Joshua Kiser’s hat.

The Pennsylvania man recently took a stroll wearing his record-breaking hat. The head covering measures a whopping 17 feet, 9.5 inches.

“I was browsing the records on the Guinness World Record website looking for some inspiration. Eventually, I stumbled upon a picture of an eccentric man posing with a gigantic top hat on his head – the world’s tallest hat,” Kiser recalled.

The “eccentric man,” Odilon Ozare, had set the record in 2018 with a 15-foot, 9-inch hat.

“For no one single reason, the image of a ridiculously tall hat stuck with me. I shut my laptop and went off to search for materials to make a tall hat. I was convinced I’d be able to set the record and have my name in the history books in no time,” Kiser said.

But it’s not so easy to create such a tall hat. His first attempt, involving cardboard blocks and Velcro, failed to

surpass even 5 feet tall.

“The Velcro couldn’t hold the blocks together tight enough, and I had no way to keep it on my head,” he explained. Kiser’s next idea, wooden dowels, was similarly unsuccessful.

“I had planned on attaching nuts and bolts to the tips of the dowels to attach them together the long way. It wasn’t nearly sturdy enough to point over 15 feet straight up in the sky,” he said. “I needed something sturdy – I thought about rebar, or metal rods, but I knew those would be too heavy. This idea did not work. I still had no way to attach it to my head even if it did.”

His final design was inspired when he came across some lightweight gutters at Home Depot, as well as a Philadelphia Eagles trash can that he said “looked about the circumference of my noggin.”

The hat was reinforced with expanding foam and covered it with red fabric to give it the appearance of a hat.

Finally, Kiser successfully walked the required distance of 32.8 feet while wearing the 26.4-pound hat, nabbing the tall title.

Anyone want a cap for sale?

Gallstones Smuggling

Who knew that cow gallbladders are in such demand in Hong Kong?

Recently, two siblings from Uruguay were sentenced to prison for trafficking more than $3 million in bovine gallstones to Hong Kong for use in Chinese medicine.

A 50-year-old man was sentenced to two years and one month in prison for smuggling and money laundering, while his sister, aged 48, received an 18-month jail sentence for money laundering but was released on probation.

The two got the gallstones from Uruguayan slaughterhouses. There are so many cows in Uruguay – more than 3 cows for each person who lives there – and most of those cows and meat are exported.

The Week In News

The defendant paid between $198,000 and $200,000 a kilo – more than the price of gold currently at around $83,000 a kilo – for the gallstones, which were acquired from slaughterhouse owners or staff in five different Uruguayan departments. He used the shipping company DHL to mail them to Hong Kong, earning him around $8,000 per kilo.

Gallstones found in the bladders of cattle during meat processing are highly prized in Asia, where they are used in alternative medicine for their purported anti-inflammatory properties and to fight fever.

Hasn’t anyone heard of Motrin?

Japan is Getting Old

According to data released by the Japanese government last week, the number of people in Japan aged 100 or older has hit a record high of more than 95,000. Almost 90 percent of those are women.

As of September 1, Japan had 95,119 centenarians, up 2,980 yearon-year, with 83,958 of them women

and 11,161 men, the health ministry said in a statement. People hitting the big 65 are also going up in number, with a record high of 36.25 million –29.3 percent of Japan’s population.

Japan is currently home to the world’s oldest living person, Tomiko Itooka, who was born on May 23, 1908, and is 116 years old, according to the U.S.-based Gerontology Research Group.

Itooka lives in a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyogo prefecture in western Japan, the ministry said.

Japan’s oldest man, Kiyotaka Mizuno, is 100 years old. “I have no idea at all about what’s the secret of my long life,” he told local media.

Mizuno, who lives in Iwata, Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan with his family, gets up at 6:30 a.m. every morning and eats three meals a day – without being picky about his food. He likes to listen

to live sports.

At least his hearing is still strong.

Bog Butter

Better check your bogs. You might find butter.

Most people living in the tristate area have never encountered a bog, which is a wetland that is spongy and poorly drained. But in Ireland, there are lot of bogs, and Micheal Boyle has one in his backyard.

The Irish gentleman smelled something funny and uncovered a huge slab

of “bog butter.”

Years ago, people living in Ireland and Scotland would bury dairy or animal fat in bogs for preservation.

The slab of bog butter on Boyle’s farm had a small piece of wood on the bottom, which likely indicates that the bog butter once lay in a wooden container that has since decomposed.

This find was especially unique in its large size, and it could very well be “one of the biggest chunks of bog butter found in Ireland to date,” according to Paula Harvey, an archaeologist who visited the site.

Bog butter chunks are usually around the size of a mixing bowl, Harvey explained, but this one was between around 48 and 55 lbs. in weight, according to The Irish Examiner.

“It was just by pure luck that we came across it,” Boyle said.

Boyle had seen something about a foot in the ground and then sniffed a “cheesy smell.”

“It does taste like butter, an unsalted butter at that. I had a sliver, and I’m still here to tell the tale,” Harvey said of the find.

You butter believe it.

Torah Thought A Day Of Battle

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

During the Mussaf service on Rosh Hashana we recite three sections consisting of verses from the Torah that commemorate respectively, G-d’s Kingship; Remembrance; and Shofar Blasts.

The very second verse extolling G-d’s kingship is a sentiment expressed by one of the greatest all time enemies of our people, Bilaam the Wicked.

He gazes at no iniquity among Yaakov and sees no evil schemes in Israel, G-d the Lord is with him, ךלמ תעורתו — and the affection of the King is in him. (אכ גכ רבדמב)

Surprisingly not only does G-d never refer to Himself as King, but this verse is also one of only three verses in the entirety of the Five Books of Moshe that G-d is termed ךלמ, King!

Is there some deeper relevance to the selection of a verse that was uttered by our archenemy that merited finding itself in the liturgy of this very holy day for perpetuity?

The saintly Reb Nosson Nota Shapiro of Krakow, the author of the famed mystical text Megaleh Amukos, who was alleged to have Eliyahu HaNavi visit with him regularly, makes a fascinating assertion.

When Balak requests of Bilaam to assist him in cursing the Jewish nation he states, So now — please come, יל הרא — and curse this people for me... (ו םש בכ)

The Megaleh Amukos claims that this took place on Rosh Hashana. This is cryptically alluded in the word הרא, which serves as an acronym for הנשה שאר לולא, the days when the Jewish nation prepare themselves in repentance. The word יל, as well, is

comprised of a ל, numerically equal to 30, symbolizing the 30 days of Elul, and a י, equivalent to 10, a reference to the Ten Days of Repentance from Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur. (אפר

The Mishna in Avos contrasts the character traits of the wicked Bilaam with those of the illustrious Avraham, and their respective disciples. Avraham personified the qualities of a good eye, a humble spirit and a meek soul in counterpoint to Bilaam’s evil eye, arrogant spirit and greedy soul. Clearly Avraham and Bilaam represented polar forces that each sought dominance in the world. It was clearly a battle between the forces of good promoted by the selfless Avraham against the legions of evil lead by the selfish Bilaam.

If the nefarious Bilaam seeks primacy on this most significant date it stands to reason that we should find a counterpart in the life of Avraham that negates this evil attempt to obliterate us.

The Akeidah plays a major role on the day of Rosh Hashana. It is in the merit of that extraordinary act of self-sacrifice that serves as a credit for us on the Day of Judgment, as it is clearly expressed in the Remembrance segment of Mussaf. For this reason, it is preferable to utilize a ram’s horn to fulfill the mitzvah of Shofar so as to conjure the memory of this event that concluded with Avraham sacrificing a ram in place of Yitzchok beseeching of G-d that He shall deem it as if Yitzchok was verily slaughtered upon the altar.

The Pesikta Rabbasi indeed asserts that the Akeidah occurred on Rosh Hashana.

The accomplishment in this last of the ten tests Avraham had faced, the

Akeidah, is what gave validation to all the previous nine.

The Vilna Gaon maintains that just as Avraham had to endure ten tests, where he passed them all with flying colors, similarly Bilaam had to face ten challenges, but failed them all miserably.

So here we have once again these two philosophies pitted diametrically against each other on this most fateful of dates.

In examining these two episodes one will discover some remarkable and glaring parallels.

They both begin their mission ‘saddling’ their own donkeys with zeal. Each of them travels with two ‘young men’. Lastly, Avraham is transported by a male donkey while Bilaam rides a she-ass.

The differences between them weren’t merely evident in their character but stemmed from a very varied world view.

Bilaam professed that man was placed on this planet, perhaps by a benevolent G-d, but left to his own devices. It’s a world that functions by the law of the survival of the fittest. Man is driven by an ambition to succeed by conquering the forces of nature and warding off those that may stand in his way ‘in bringing home the bread’ and all the pleasures that man is ‘entitled’ to. Secondly, man has an ego, a sense of self-importance that is gratified when others adore and appreciate his talents and conquests. This, Bilaam maintains is a vital right that man should derive satisfaction in and pursue. Finally, man may indulge in all the pleasures, carnal or otherwise, this wondrous planet offers him, and it is in fact an inherent privilege bequeathed to man — that most intelligent of all beasts that sits at atop the totem pole of nature.

The ‘evil eye’ is that selfish and narrow perspective on life that leads man to blind ambition that tramples

all who stand in its path. The ‘arrogant spirit’ prods man’s ego to seek self-worth purely by the number of admirers one possesses, and ‘likes’ one earns. The ‘greedy soul’ is the animal soul that pines to quench its lusts unconditionally.

Avraham Avinu sees a benevolent and selfless world where one can achieve exquisite self-perfection by aspiring to emulate the very traits of our Father in Heaven. The greatest satisfaction in life is when man gains mastery over his physical and emotional drives and directs them in serving and assisting the Divine Soul to its greatness. The ‘good eye’ of Avraham sees only positive even in the challenges. The ‘humble spirit’ is never wooed by the temptation of honor or glory, all it needs to satisfy its hunger is a closeness to G-d that is not encumbered by self-interest and personal needs. Finally, the ‘meek soul’ understands that although one may take and indeed enjoy the material blessings G-d proffered, but it is never a ‘need’, merely an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate His kindness.

The saddling is accented in both accounts to compare the nature of the ‘ambitions’ they each pursued, Avraham in the search for the Divine, with Bilaam desperately promoting himself. The ‘young men’ who attended to Avraham were there to be enlightened, whereas by Bilaam were there to cheer him on and stroke his ego that required a constant supply of honor to pump his adrenalin. The donkey of Avraham we are taught is the very same donkey the Moshiach will ride on when heralding the redemption. He is described as riding ‘upon his רומח’, his donkey, which is a metaphor for having mastered his רומח, literally ‘material’ needs. Bilaam is accompanied by his she-ass which we are taught was Bilaam’s ‘mate’, providing him with bestial pleasure and crass indulgence.

The very last test of Bilaam was to determine whether, after being

Torah Thought

forced to express the truth in bestowing blessing upon his enemy, he would finally ‘get it’. Once again, he fails miserably by advising his client to entice the Jewish nation to debauchery knowing how that is their Achilles heel. The Moavite women proceed to seduce them but first require of them to worship the idol Baal Peor. This idol was worshipped by defecating in its honor. Perhaps this was Bilaam’s ‘Hail Mary’ moment in his last attempt to portray his demented theology. Bilaam taught his lackeys that man is merely a composite of instincts and drives that are to be nurtured unapologetically. The relieving of one’s natural and uncontrollable body functions was symbolic of man accepting his natural drives as the fire that stokes man’s ambitions.

The Akeidah forever remains the inspiration throughout our long history that we are willing, able and eager to express our utter devotion to the will of G-d even at the ex-

pense of life itself. There is a higher ideal, a nobler goal than survival in a material world. There is no greater joy than submitting ourselves to His will knowing that He can always be relied upon to be the loving Father who only wants and does pure good for His children.

We all possess a little piece of Bilaam in our daily lives.

Are our ambitions truly selfless, or are we driven to success even when it interferes with our ability to perform and commit to mitzvos the way we really should?

Are we truly independent in our choices or are we influenced by what others do or may say? How often do we follow what we truly believe in and not swayed by popular opinion?

There are things we feel we can’t relinquish, and beyond our choice. Comforts, habits and indulgences that we know aren’t healthy, yet we can’t shake them. Are we permitting

ourselves to, in a figurative sense, abide by the philosophy and worship of ‘Peor’ by claiming these are uncontrollable needs we simply must yield to?

Might that be the reason we utilize Bilaam’s very own words so that we should be prodded to ponder how much of our lives are lived tainted by that very same attitude?

The term Akeidah, which literally means to tie together the arms and legs, relates to the fact that Yitzchok requested that his father Avraham bind his hands and feet, lest he instinctively flinch at the sight of the knife.

The call of the Shofar awakens us from our stupor. It must arouse within us a new reality, the affirmation that we can conquer all that G-d sends in our direction. We must bind ourselves if we are to be privileged to be numbered among the disciples of Avraham.

The Zohar describes Rosh Hashana as a ‘day of battle’ where we must

take a stand and fight courageously for what we truly believe in. It is the spirit of this epic battle between Avraham and Bilaam that we must display on this momentous day, our full and uncompromising loyalty to the legacy of the Patriarchs. Anything less leaves us exposed to the invasive influences from the corrupted and demented world of Bilaam.

As we hear the shofar summoning us let us rally heroically around our flag and gain the final victory.

Sound the great shofar for our freedom!

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

OVERVIEW PARSHA

The bulk of the Parshah discusses the famous Song of Ha'azinu, the song which Moshe Rabbeinu taught the Jewish people right before his passing. Moshe gives the Jews the directive of following the Torah and its commandments.

Quotable Quote “ ”

History does not give rise to hope; hope gives rise to history.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt”l

TSorahparks

Inspiration Everywhere

GEMATRIA

The Song of Ha'azinu is in Chapter 32 - בל - which is the Hebrew word for "heart." Immediately, after the song, Moshe directs the Jewish people to place the Torah upon םכבבל , their hearts.

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

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

Pesukim - 52

Thoughts in

QUICK VORT Chassidus

The Song of Ha’azinu is written in the Torah in two columns with words on both sides, and an empty space, a pathway if you will down the center.

The Ramban says that all of history is alluded to in the Song of Ha’azinu. The Torah’s words on both columns that comprise the song, represent the rubric of life, the totality of the commandments, and the overall map of the human experience, hence all of history.

On some level, then, perhaps that empty space running down the middle of the Song of Ha’azinu represents YOUR UNIQUE PATH THAT YOU MUST EMBARK ON. That empty space perhaps is a calling for you to walk down your personal life mission, ALONG UNCHARTED TERRITORY.

What you can achieve and accomplish on this world is completely unique to you.

The Degel Machaneh Ephraim says that in the future, it will be a time of no chol; only Shabbos! Shabbos Shuva is a calling to that time in the future, that once Shabbos ends, we will go back to Shabbos yet again and not chol. Because with the geula, it's ALL in the realm of Shabbos!

Points to

This week is Shabbos Shuva. It’s the Shabbos between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

What is the connection between Parshas Ha’azinu and Shabbos Shuva?

What does a song have anything to do with repentance?

Something to think about...

Have a holy Shabbos!

Parshas Ha’azinu

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2 | EREV ROSH HASHANAH

Eruv Tavshilin

Hadlakas Neiros....................................................................6:28PM

Alos ....................................................................................................... 5:52AM

Mesheyakir ........................................................................................... 6:29AM

Neitz .................................................................................................... 7:04AM

Sof Zman Krias Shema ............................................................... 9:23/9:59AM

Chatzos .............................................................................................. 12:56PM

Mincha Gedolah ................................................................................... 1:27PM

Plag Hamincha .................................................................................... 5:35PM

Shkiah 6:46PM

Tzais ............................................................................................. 7:37/7:59PM

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3 | ROSH HASHANAH DAY 1

Hadlakas Neiros ...................................................................7:58PM

Alos ....................................................................................................... 5:53AM

Mesheyakir ........................................................................................... 6:30AM

Neitz .................................................................................................... 7:05AM

Sof Zman Krias Shema ............................................................. 9:24/10:00AM

Chatzos .............................................................................................. 12:55PM

Mincha Gedolah ................................................................................... 1:26PM

Plag Hamincha ..................................................................................... 5:33PM

Shkiah ................................................................................................... 6:45PM

Tzais.............................................................................................. 7:35/7:58PM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2

Hadlakas Neiros ...................................................................6:25PM

Alos ....................................................................................................... 6:25AM

Mesheyakir ........................................................................................... 6:31AM

Neitz .................................................................................................... 7:06AM

Sof Zman Krias Shema ............................................................. 9:24/10:00AM

Chatzos .............................................................................................. 12:55PM

Mincha Gedolah ................................................................................... 1:26PM

Plag Hamincha ..................................................................................... 5:32PM

Shkiah ................................................................................................... 6:43PM

Tzais.............................................................................................. 7:34/7:56PM

SHABBOS, OCTOBER 5 | PARSHAS HA’AZENU | SHABBOS SHUVA

Alos ....................................................................................................... 5:55AM

Mesheyakir ........................................................................................... 6:32AM

Neitz .................................................................................................... 7:07AM

Sof Zman Krias Shema ............................................................. 9:24/10:00AM

Chatzos .............................................................................................. 12:55PM

Mincha Gedolah ................................................................................... 1:26PM

Plag Hamincha ..................................................................................... 5:31PM

Shkiah ................................................................................................... 6:42PM

Tzais.............................................................................................. 7:33/7:55PM

Kesiva Vchasmima Tova

KIDDUSH LEVANAH

Motzaei Shabbos, October 5th, 9:00PM through all night Wednesday, First Night of Succos, October 16/17

Most have the minhag to wait until Motzaei Yom Kippur to recite Kiddush Levanah

TZOM GEDALIAH (NIDCHE) | SUNDAY, OCT. 6

Baltimore: Fast begins 5:56AM (some begin at 5:48AM) Fast Ends ........................................................................................ 7:31PM

Alos ....................................................................................................... 5:56AM

Mesheyakir ........................................................................................... 6:33AM

Neitz .................................................................................................... 7:08AM

Sof Zman Krias Shema ............................................................. 9:25/10:01AM

Chatzos .............................................................................................. 12:45PM

Mincha Gedolah ................................................................................... 1:25PM

Plag Hamincha ..................................................................................... 5:29PM

Shkiah ................................................................................................... 6:40PM

Tzais and fast ends ................................................................7:31PM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 | EREV YOM KIPPUR

Hadlakas Neiros & fast begins ................................................6:14PM

Alos ....................................................................................................... 6:01AM

Mesheyakir ........................................................................................... 6:38AM Neitz .................................................................................................... 7:13AM

Sof Zman Krias Shema ............................................................. 9:27/10:03AM

Chatzos .............................................................................................. 12:53PM

Mincha Gedolah ................................................................................... 1:24PM

Plag Hamincha ..................................................................................... 5:23PM

Shkiah ................................................................................................... 6:32PM

Tzais.............................................................................................. 7:23/7:45PM

SHABBOS, OCTOBER 12 | YOM KIPPUR

Yizkor

Alos ....................................................................................................... 6:02AM

Mesheyakir ........................................................................................... 6:39AM Neitz .................................................................................................... 7:14AM

Sof Zman Krias Shema ............................................................. 9:27/10:03AM

Chatzos .............................................................................................. 12:53PM Plag Hamincha ..................................................................................... 5:22PM

Shkiah ................................................................................................... 6:31PM

Tzais.............................................................................................. 7:22/7:44PM Fast ends .............................................................................7:22PM

CHAP A LULAV AFTER YOU CHAP A MINYAN!

• A SPECIALLY CURATED SELECTION OF HAND-PICKED ESROGIM: GROSS, CHAZON ISH, YANIVER •

• CHOOSE WITH AND WITHOUT A PITUM •

• LARGE RANGE OF HADASIM | COMPLETE SETS OR INDIVIDUALS •

• UNDER THE STRICT SUPERVISION OF THE תידרחה

SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, OCT. 6 (הילדג םוצ) .................................1:00 PM - 7:15 PM

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9 6:00 PM - 11:30 PM

THURSDAY, OCT. 10 7:30 AM - 11:00 AM & 6:00 PM - 11:30 PM

SUNDAY, OCT. 13 9:30 AM - 11:30 PM

MOTZEI SHABBOS, OCT. 12 ..................... 9:00 PM - 11:30 PM

MONDAY, OCT. 14 ........................................... 9:30 AM

TUESDAY, OCT. 15 9:30 AM

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16 (תוכוס

)  7:00 AM

UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF R’ Shlomo Eichenstien For questions or to place an order, call or text 845-772-4036

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 6500 Baythorne Road · Baltimore, MD

THE ZIDICHOVER REBBE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO LOOK OVER ARBA MINIM SETS AND TO ANSWER ANY SHAILOS THAT MAY ARISE

Baltimore Weekday Minyanim Guide

Shacharis Mincha

Neitz Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] M-F

Ohel Yakov S-F

6:00 AM Shomrei Emunah Congregation M-F

6:10 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, Th

6:15 AM Kol Torah M, TH

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah M-F

Shearith Israel Congregation M, TH

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei IsraelM, TH

6:20 AM Agudah of Greenspring M, TH

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S-F

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M-F

Kehilath B'nai Torah M, TH

Pikesville Jewish CongregationM, TH

Shomrei Emunah CongregationS, M, TH

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

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

Chabad of Park Heights M-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Kehilath B'nai Torah T, W, F

Khal Bais Nosson M-F

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek M-F

Kol Torah T, W, F

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah M-F

Ohr Yisroel M-F

Pikesville Jewish CongregationT, W, F

Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Emunah CongregationT, W, F

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

Ohel Moshe M, TH

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

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationM, TH

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

Beth Abraham M, TH

Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue M-F

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Ner Tamid M-F

Ohel Moshe T, W, F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim M-F

6:50 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] M, TH

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh M, TH

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationT, W, F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh M, TH

Derech Chaim M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah CongregationM, TH

The Shul at the Lubavitch CenterM, TH

6:55 AM Beth Abraham T, W, F

Kol Torah M, TH

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

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's)S

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh T, W, F

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

Kol Torah T, W, F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah M-F

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

Shearith Israel Congregation S, M, TH

Shomrei Emunah CongregationT, W, F

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh M-F

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

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

7:15 AM Kedushas Yisrael S Kol Torah S

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

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Emunah CongregationS

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei IsraelS

Tzeirei Anash M-F

7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Beth Tfiloh Congregation M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah CongregationM, TH

7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] S

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore S-F

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh S

Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationS

Chabad of Park Heights S

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe AryehS-F

Darchei Tzedek S

Kedushas Yisrael S-F

Khal Bais Nosson S

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) S-F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

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

Shomrei Emunah CongregationT, W, F

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

Talmudical Academy S-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Mesivta Kesser Torah S-F

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim S-F

7:50 AM Derech Chaim S

Ner Tamid S

Ohel Moshe M-F

8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Beth Abraham S

Chabad Israeli Center M-F

Darchei Tzedek S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach TzedekS

Kehillas Meor HaTorah S

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Ohr Yisroel S

Pikesville Jewish CongregationS

Shearith Israel Congregation S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch CenterS

Tiferes Yisroel S

Tzeirei Anash S

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah S-F

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

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

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

8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Chabad Israeli Center S

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S-F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Shomrei Mishmeres HakodeshS

8:45 AM Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

9:00 AM Aish Kodesh S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S

Beth Tfiloh Congregation S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationS

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Moses Montefiore Anshe EmunahS

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F

9:15 AM Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Selichos: This list covers year-round zmanim. Please

Mincha Gedolah

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek

12:30 PM Kol Torah

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

1:00 PM 10055 Red Run Blvd Suite 295

Milk & Honey Bistro 1777 Reisterstown RD

1:25 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

1:45 PM Ohel Moshe

Wealcatch Insurance

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

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

Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room

Kol Torah

Market Maven

Reischer Minyan - 23 Walker Ave 2nd Floor

2:15 PM Pikesville Beis Medrash - 15 Walker Ave

2:30 PM Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan

Ner Israel Rabbinical College

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)

Shearith Israel Congregation

2:45 PM Kollel of Greenspring

Shearith Israel Congregation (S-Th)

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

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

3:05 PM Kedushas Yisrael

3:15 PM Hat Box

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

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

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

5:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

5:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th)

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

6:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Shearith Israel Congregation (S-Th)

6:30 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

10 Min Before ShkiAh Chabad Israeli Center

14 Min Before ShkiAh Kol Torah

Mincha/Maariv Plag

Ohel Yaakov

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

Mincha/Maariv Before Shkiah

Aish Kodesh

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Agudah of Greenspring

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Beth Abraham

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation

Darchei Tzedek

Kehillas Meor HaTorah

Kehilath B’nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill’s)

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Ner Tamid

Ohel Moshe

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]

Ohr Yisroel

Pikesville Jewish Congregation

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Shomrei Mishmeres

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center

Tiferes Yisroel

Maariv

7:30 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

8:15 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

8:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

8:45 PM Darchei Tzedek

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina)

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Ohr Yisroel

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

8:55 PM Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

9:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Arugas Habosem

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

9:15 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

9:20 PM Kol Torah

9:30 PM Agudah of Greenspring

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Kedushas Yisrael

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

9:40 PM Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi]

9:45 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Kollel Erev Birchas Yitzchok (Luries)

Kollel of Greenspring

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's)

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah

9:50 PM Aish Kodesh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Ohel Moshe

10:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Darchei Tzedek

Kehilath B'nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

10:05 PM Kol Torah

10:10 PM Ner Israel Rabbinical College

10:15 PM Derech Chaim

Khal Bais Nosson

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

10:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

10:45 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

11:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

11:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (Bein Hazemanim only)

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Ner Israel Rabbinical College S-F

9:30 AM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

9:45 AM Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

10:00AM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

7:45 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

8:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Mental Health Corner

Owning Your Mental Health

Levi just received a mental illness diagnosis. The lifelong implications of his condition came as a complete shock, and processing the mere fact that this is his new reality became a challenge unto itself. What should Levi’s perspective be? Should he

resort to denial and just let the doctor tell him what medications to take? That would seemingly put his mind at ease and he can live the rest of his life in peace.

It is somewhat counterintuitive, but usually fully embracing and

owning one’s mental illness is the healthier approach. Perhaps the following parable from the Maharal of Prague (Nesivos Olam, Nesiv Hateshuva, Chapter 1) in his discussion about Teshuva (repentance) will help us understand this perplexing topic.

for the rest of his or her life, even if one tries suppressing it. The path to wholeness is by coming to the realization that the person you are, with all of your imperfections, is a lovable and worthy person.

A king once gave a basin to one of his subjects for safekeeping. The man was negligent and the basin broke. The man was terrified and did not know what to do. He consulted a wise man who told him that there is nothing to do since it is beneath the king’s honor to return to him a broken basin. The man thought to himself that maybe this wise man is not familiar with the king’s nature, so he decided to consult with a nobleman who knows the king personally. The nobleman told him that this king is so great and exalted it is certainly inappropriate to return something broken to him. Out of desperation, the man went to the craftsman who made the basin and asked him if it can be repaired. The craftsman told him that repairing the basin is extremely difficult, and even after he is finished with the repairs it will still be imperfect. With all of his options exhausted, the man decided to try his luck by going to the king directly and admitting that he broke the king’s basin. The king surprisingly told him that he actually prefers a broken and imperfect basin!

This parable illustrates an important and fundamental principle of repentance. Teshuva is in its core essence the process of coming closer to Hashem. When you feel that you are broken and undesirable, you will maintain your distance out of fear that your imperfections are an impenetrable barrier. When you realize that you are perfect just the way you are, then the real process of repentance and coming closer to Hashem can begin.

A mental illness diagnosis burdens a person with a similar problem. The “imperfection” makes one feel undesirable and inferior. This thought will haunt a person

It might seem easier to run away from your story, but you will spend your whole life trying in vain to escape your reality. Owning your story requires strength and bravery, but in the long run it leads to your ability to find the infinite light that is within the darkness.

There is another, more practical, reason why it is so important to be fully aware and cognizant of your diagnosis. It is rare to be able to manage one’s mental illness with medication alone. Therapy, support groups, and lifestyle changes are all vital elements to a holistic approach to one’s mental health. Only through full awareness of your diagnosis will you have the ability and motivation to seek out ancillary interventions for managing your mental health.

Life is full of twists and turns, and no one is immune from the turbulence of our existence. In order to conquer your challenges, you must first accept them. Only through acceptance can you reach the realization that is illustrated by the Maharal’s parable, that you are actually more lovable with all of your imperfections.

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

To Raise a Laugh

Putting The CAN’T In CANTOR: An Introvert At The Amud

No one second-guesses the chazzan like the chazzan himself.

I don’t daven for the amud very often, but when I do, there are a lot of thoughts going through my head. Mostly questions. And I can’t just turn around and ask the crowd. Am I the only chazzan who wonders these things? Everyone else seems so sure of themselves.

And I’m not even talking about Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. For Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the chazzan gets to prepare the davening beforehand. He’s not blindsided by the gabbai thirty seconds before davening. But most days, people all over the world get dropped in front of the amud with no advance warning. Sure, maybe we should all prep everything, just in case. But the problem is that you never know what shul you’re going to be asked in. In fact, when you go to a shul that you rarely go to, that’s when they specifically ambush you and ask if you can daven. They’re already tired of asking everyone else.

“Guess at our nuschaos and minhagim,” they say. “It’ll be fun!”

Point is, there are all these questions that chazzanim have – at least infrequent chazzanim – and we can’t even ask anybody. The best we can hope for, for some of these questions, is a nod from a random person in the crowd.

- I wonder if anyone can tell that I’m not good at singing.

- Did anyone notice that mistake, or should I keep going? Maybe they’re quietly giving me a chance to correct it.

- Has everyone finished saying this paragraph, or is everyone just saying it quietly?

- Who’s that guy yelling out random parts of davening, and why is he davening slower than the rav?

- If this guy is going to daven louder than me, why did he refuse to be the chazzan?

- How come I cannot think of a single tune that I have ever heard for L’cha Dodi in my life, or at least how it starts, besides for the Young

Israel one that I learned when I was five?

- Is this one of the tefillos that I’m supposed to say Birchas Kohanim?

- How far back in the shul do I have to go to find a seat for Tachanun? There are no open seats in the first few rows.

- I wonder where my kids are right now.

- I don’t know if people know this, but if you’re ever not sure of what to say next, and you make your choice, and someone behind you happens to clear their throat at that exact second, it will throw your entire world into question.

- Am I going too fast? Am I going too slow? Am I going too fast? Am I going too slow? At any given point, I feel like I’m making half the shul happy and half the shul very upset.

- I guess if half the shul wishes that I was going faster and half the shul wishes I was going slower, then I’m doing great. No? No one told them to daven in the same shul as each other. This isn’t on me.

- Let’s see how many people are finished Shemoneh—Wow, when did the room get this full?

- Are ten people finished Shemoneh Esrei? I’ve lost count. I thought that guy was done, but then after about 2 minutes after I counted him, he suddenly backed up 3 steps. And I thought that guy was on his phone, but it’s very possible he’s using it to daven. And that guy is standing still like he’s davening Shemoneh Esrei, but it’s very possible he’s done. Is there anyone sitting down behind other people who are davening? Can everyone who’s done just stand sideways or pace around a little so I can tell?... No, forget the pacing. I think I counted that guy twice.

- Okay, someone just gave me the nod. How does some random person always know when it’s okay to proceed? Is he willing to take halachic responsibility for me? Because if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have made eye contact with me, right? I know I don’t. And the rav isn’t finished either. Is he going to take the blame on this?

- Don’t forget Yaaleh V’yavo. Don’t forget

By Mordechai Schmutter

Yaaleh V’yavo. Don’t forget Yaaleh V’yavo. I already forgot it in the quiet Shemoneh Esrei.

- Was that enough korbanos?

- Why does this shul tallis keep sliding off?

- How come this tallis only goes halfway down my back? Is this a kids’ tallis?

- This is the yellowest tallis I have ever worn in my life.

- Is Modim supposed to be a race? Because I am not winning.

- Is there Tachanun today? I’m going to pause before kaddish and see if everyone pulls out their chairs.

- I have to blow my nose. I have to blow my nose. I have to blow my nose.

- I could grab some of the rav’s tissues.

- But at what point of Chazaras HaShatz can I stop to blow? Modim?

- Where does the chazzan stand during leining? I have no idea. I never pay attention to him then. Should I go back to the amud? Should I find a seat? Should I stand at the amud but turn the amud a little? Should I give them this tallis to use for aliyos? I think it’s a kids’ tallis.

- I just said, “Morid Hatal,” in an Ashkenaz shul. How do I take that back? With a moment of uncomfortable silence?

- Why isn’t anyone opening the aron? Should I open the aron?

- How am I supposed to take out my esrog and lulav between Chazaras HaShatz and Hallel? I AM the Shatz!

- Is the rabbi going to speak? Is he not going to speak? Should I start kaddish? “Yisgadal—”Oh, he’s speaking. Where do I sit? Should I just stand at the amud? And turn it a little?

- Okay, a kid just ran out for the speech. I could sit in his seat. Between his father and his grandfather.

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.

Experience

HoW MucH Have We Heard?

HoW carefully Have We listened?

By

ra

BBi

sH ay scH acHter

When Moshe Rabbeinu was asked to speak to Klal Yisrael about leaving Mitzrayim, the Torah says, “V’lo shamu el Moshe mi’kotzer ruach u’mei’avodah kashah.” Sometimes we are unable to hear, internalize, appreciate, and understand. There is just too much noise, too much politics, too much trauma, too much pain or just a general overload of information that clouds our ability to hear and properly comprehend.

“Lo hibit aven b’Yaakov…v’ya’su olam agudah achas…”

Over the past year, thousands have made solidarity trips to Eretz Yisrael. The Jewish people have supported one another and continue to contribute significantly to every aspect of the war effort. Though our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael are the ones on the front lines of this war, Jews throughout the diaspora have come together and participated with hearts full of chessed, overwhelmingly generous wallets, and enthusiastically passionate tefillos. Certainly, there is independent value in visiting the sites of devastation and bearing witness to the monstrous atrocities of our enemies. We must hear the firsthand accounts of those who stared evil in the face and are alive to speak about the experiences of these unimaginable horrors. But is there perhaps more that one could come home with and apply to everyday life?

“Mi yanuch, u’mi yanuah, mi yishakeit, u’mi yitareif…”

The layers of communal and personal trauma in Eretz

Yisrael are overwhelming. We decided that identifying one story, one individual, one family, or one community would be a more realistic way of making a meaningful and substantive impact.

“Machnisei dimah hichnisu dimoseinu…”

Over the past few months, our community, The Young Israel of Woodmere, has been privileged to host many individuals who have been affected by this war – widows, orphans, survivors and released hostages. We have been transformed by the life lessons, the deep insights, the courageous resiliency, and the overwhelmingly positive perspectives that they have shared around our Shabbos tables and in our personal homes. It has become normal for our children to converse, play, and relax on the couch with released hostages, newly minted widows and bereaved parents, and families of current hostages. Each one is an entire world unto him or herself. Each one experiences his or her own profound trauma and attempts to heal their painful wounds.

Below is just a small sampling of the impactful conversations and experiences that have transformed us as a family. So many of the anecdotes are too startling to share, and in an attempt to preserve their privacy, we have left the names and identities out of many of the stories. In sharing these powerful anecdotes, it is our hope that the knowledge of the reader is expanded, his feelings deepened, and his compassion and drive to help amplified.

“Shomeah el evyonim u’ma’azin chinunim…”

At close to 2:00 a.m., in a dark and moldy underground Hamas tunnel, a young, panic-stricken woman suddenly woke the other four Jewish women who were being held together in captivity. She instructed them to get off their mattresses immediately. Fearing the worst, they were then instructed to come closer together and hold hands. Having no idea where this feeling came from, she then began to lead them in singing the words, “Shir hamaalos, esah einai el he’harim me’ayin yavo ezri.” For the ensuing thirty minutes, they all sang and then screamed together, “Ezri me’im Hashem. Ezri me’im Hashem. Ezri me’im Hashem.” As they were being mercilessly tormented in captivity, these women felt a deep conviction that the only possible salvation would come from the Ribbono Shel Olam Himself. That imagery of screaming to Hakadosh Baruch Hu from the depths of despair has profoundly changed my understanding of the words “mi’ma’amakim kirasicha Hashem.”

“Asher b’yado nefesh kol chai…”

After meeting with the most powerful leaders in the world to plead for her son’s safe return, a hostage mother sent me the following text: “Hashem will save my son and all of them. It is so obvious. Psheeta. Everything else is tafel and hishtadlus. These important men who think they know the reasons, the statistics and the proper negotiating tactics, they don’t see that it is

all avodah zarah. They do not understand that it will come solely from Hashem.”

“Simcha l’artzecha v’sasson l’irecha…”

Throughout the millennia of this painful galus, we have been davening incessantly for a Geulah. We imagine what that utopian experience might feel like and how dramatically our world will change when will finally be redeemed, but how much and how seriously do we consider the reality of our redemption?

A hostage mother painfully showed me the suit that she had purchased, the plates that she had ordered, the menu that she had drawn up, and the tablecloths and napkins that she had chosen for the upcoming Seudas Hodaah when her son would be returned to his loving family. Tragically, he was ruthlessly murdered in Hamas captivity.

As I looked at all that was prepared, I asked myself: do I actually believe in the coming of Mashiach as much as this mother believed in the improbable possibility of her sons miraculous return home? Is there anything practical that I have prepared for the actual moment of Mashiach’s arrival?

“U’btzel k’nafecha nechesa v’nislonan…”

At an event in Eretz Yisrael last week, I introduced an almanah to the very sensitive team of rabbanim from Machaneh Shurah (the IDF’s army base focusing on issues of halacha and chevra kadisha). I had told her that these compassionate tzaddikim were the ones who had so gently and lovingly cared for her husband in the days after October 7. She was overwhelmed to have met them and then said, “I really need to thank you. As I was driving to the levaya, I genuinely felt as if my husband was being brought to his wedding with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. I must thank you for being the warmhearted people who attended this very sacred chuppah and volunteered to walk him down the aisle.”

“Ha’yom t’gadleinu…”

As he safely stepped onto the IDF helicopter after 128 days in Hamas captivity, Louis Har, a rescued hostage, shared the iconic words that he overheard the IDF commander declare over the radio – “ha’yehulomim b’yadeinu” – the diamonds are in our hands! If only I too could learn from them, that every Jewish soul is indeed a precious diamond that is worth risking our lives to save.

“Areshes sifaseinu ya’erav lefanecha…”

Upon arriving at Tel Hashomer hospital to be reunited with their father, Louis’s family insisted on first having a conversation with the commanding officer who had led the raid. They repeatedly asked whether any IDF soldiers had fallen in the rescue mission. Reluctant to respond, the officer finally inquired, “Why do you need to know?” They emphatically responded, “If there is an almanah currently grieving alone in her home because of our fathers’ rescue, we must first travel to her home, give her a loving embrace, and only then enter our fathers’ room to be reunited and celebrate.” The ability to selflessly put the needs of others before our own has taken on an entirely new level of meaning to me.

Iris Haim’s hostage son Yotam was mistaken for a Hamas terrorist and was tragically killed by IDF forc -

es. Iris has repeatedly verbalized her immeasurable love and support to these soldiers who made this devastatingly tragic mistake. She has invited them to her home numerous times, so that they can feel the sincere love and appreciation that she has for each of them. She harbors no hard feelings toward them at all and is only filled with adulation and respect for the sacred work that they continue to do. What an enormously powerful lesson in the human ability to be ma’avir al middosav in a most extraordinary, heroic way!

One young woman shared that she offered a daily tefillah to Hashem in Hamas captivity that the IDF not attempt to rescue her. The thought of a soldier potentially being killed for her safe return was a reality that she felt she would never be able to live with. She preferred staying in captivity for life, rather than bearing the pain of a broken family who would lose their loved one on her behalf.

“V’yaeida kol pa’ul ki atah p’alto…”

Julie Kuperstein, a sincerely devoted baalas teshuva for the past thirteen years, has been awaiting the safe return of her son Bar who was a security officer at the Nova Music Festival on October 7. Julie was asked what she feels about members of her community who seem to be moving on with their lives while she continues to endure the standstill of torment and unimaginable uncertainty. Without a moment of hesitation, Julie responded, “You seem not to understand! My son is in the hands of the Borei Olam! He has not yet returned because he has not yet finished his personal shlichus.”

Since becoming a baalas teshuva, Julie has suffered unbearable hardship. A number of years ago, while responding to a volunteer Hatzalah call, her husband was severely injured and handicapped from an accident on his way to the call. Julie now agonizingly awaits her son’s safe return from Hamas captivity. Through this staggering experience, Julie was asked whether she ever regretted her courageous choice of thirteen years ago to believe in Hashem? Have these experiences not rattled her emunah in a most radical way? Once again, without a moment of hesitation, Julie responded, “The truth is that the Borei Olam does not owe me anything. He is the Borei Olam and not I.”

“V’Hu echad u’mi y’shiveinu…”

After surviving 11 months in Hamas captivity, Ori Danino was murdered in cold blood by his captors. With absolute faith and clear conviction, his mother Einav told me during the shivah, “Ein davar rah yoreid min ha’Shamayim” – there is nothing bad that comes from heaven. “Abba lo oseh rah l’yeladim shelo” – a father never chooses to harm his children. “I am grateful to Hakadosh Baruch Hu that I was privileged to bury my son. Not only

to bury him in Eretz Yisrael but in Yerushalayim. I was not only privileged to bury a part of his body, but his body in its entirety. For this I offer thanks to Hakadosh Baruch Hu every single day.”

“Zacharti lach chessed ne’urayech…”

On one occasion, there was a small bottle of grape juice that had been brought to a group of three hostages. The three agreed to ration and split it evenly among themselves. When the third hostage, a young boy, received his portion, he assuredly said, “Ani tzamei aval ani shomer es zeh l’kiddush leil Shabbos” – I am thirsty, but I am saving my portion for Friday night kiddush. He then remembered that when eating challah at a Shabbos meal, one generally dips the bread into salt. Looking at the small remnants of his bagel, he then proceeded to scrape off the salt and spices, so he would be able to dip his stale bagel into the salt later that evening after reciting his Friday night kiddush.

The Gemara describes the importance of being mindful of Shabbos throughout the days of the week. This inspiring anecdote has made me consider my own anticipation and preparedness for Shabbos.

“Hashem tzivakos yagein aleihem…”

In life, we try to be sensitive and nonjudgmental. It is impossible to know what might be going through the mind of another person and why at times our words may evoke certain reactions. Chazal encourage us to be forgiving and understanding, as one simply never knows what might be happening in the life of another.

When picking up one of the released hostages from the airport in New York, I very innocently said, “Welcome to New York.” The reaction to my innocuous words was visceral. After a few moments, she regained composure and explained, “When I was driven into Gaza in the pickup truck, the first thing I was told by these evil terrorists was, ‘Welcome to Gaza.’ Your comment brought me back into that painfully traumatic moment.”

It is impossible for us to know what specific traumas people might be living with. Sensitizing ourselves to the reality that we are simply unaware of much that goes on in the minds of other continues to be a critically important lesson for me.

“Ba’u she’arav b’sodah…”

Before telling her six children the devastating news about their father’s heroic death on October 7, an almanah called all her children into the living room and said, “Our home has always been a happy home. Our home will always be a happy home. Look at the pasuk hanging on the wall – “hafachtah mispadi l’machol li…” Now let me tell all of you that Abba, your father, is a hero and that is a gene that all of you have from him. You too are

A tragic text exchange

all heroes, and you will all heroically choose life and live it with great joy, as Abba would have wanted from you.”

“Lo sachpotz b’mos ha’meis…”

An almanah told me that since losing her husband

Give me strength, energy, vigor, and vitality to remain afloat in these turbulent waters.”

If you have felt depressed and helpless at any point over the past year, consider the heartfelt tefillah of this almanah when reciting mechayeh ha’meisim.

panicked, she pleaded with her father once again to call the army and inform them about his dire situation. At 11:07 a.m., her final WhatsApp messages to her father were no longer received. The last desperate message she sent her father was “Abba, ta’aneh b’vakasha – Father,

Louis Har Einav Danino

Centerfold

Tough Beez-ness

If bees could unionize, they’d definitely demand fewer workdays and more flowers.

You thought your commute was tough? Try flying five miles just to grab lunch.

Ever wonder if bees judge our gardens like, “Really? This is what I have to work with?”

If bees had a catchphrase, it’d be “work hard, sting harder.”

“Bee yourself,” they said. So, now I’m flying around aimlessly and freaking people out.

The ultimate middle manager: Queen Bee. Does nothing but somehow gets all the credit.

Ever wonder if bees gossip about us, like, “That guy totally screamed when I flew by!”

Bees can’t be too happy about the fact that they work their entire life to create a tiny drop of honey and we humans put it in a plastic bear-shaped container and waste it on tea.

“You think you’re busy? Try juggling pollen collection and dodging human swats all day!”

You Gotta Be Kidding Me!

A gabbai approaches a guest in the shul and says, “I want to give you an aliyah. What is your name?”

The man answers, “Esther ben Moshe.”

The gabbai says, “No, I need your name.”

“It’s Esther ben Moshe,” the man says.

“How can that be your name?”

The man answers, “I’ve been having financial problems, so everything is in my wife’s name.”

Bee Trivia

1. In 2022, Austin Bellamy, 20, of Ohio was cutting a tree when he hit a beehive. He fully recovered after being stung how many times?

a. 35

b. 140

c. 380

d. 20,000

2. How many eyes does a bee have?

a. 7

b. 5

c. 2

d. 1

3. How far can a bee fly to collect nectar before it has to rest?

a. 1 mile

b. 5 miles

c. 10 miles

d. 20 miles

4. How much honey can a single bee produce in its lifetime?

a. 12 pounds

b. 1/12th of a teaspoon

c. 16 ounces

d. 32 pounds

5. How many flowers does a honeybee colony have to visit to make one pound of honey?

a. 10 million

b. 2 million

c. 500,000

d. 10,000

of Turkey, is mineral rich and believed to provide medicinal benefits. How much does it cost per kilogram?

a. $12,200

b. $6,800

c. $400

d. $74 Answer key

6. How long can a queen bee live?

a. 1 year

b. 3-5 years

c. 10 years

d. 14 years

7. How many bees are typically in a healthy hive?

a. 500

b. 50,000

c. 500,000

d. 5 million

8. Elvish honey, which comes from a cave in the northeastern part

Riddle me This

If you have 3, you have 3. If you have 2, you have 2. But if you have 1, you have none. What is it?

Wisdom key

6-8 correct: You bee really amazing!

3-5 correct: Not great, not bad. I guess you get a B!

0-2 correct: You are a bit of a zom-bee! Try some Elvish honey on your next hound dog!

Answer: An option

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

Exchange between President Biden and a reporter:

REPORTER: Any comment on the strikes in Yemen, Mr. President?

BIDEN: I’ve spoken to both sides. They gotta settle the strike. I’m supporting the collective bargaining effort. I think they’ll settle the strike.

We need to guard that spirit. We have to guard that spirit. Let it always inspire us. Let it always be the source of our optimism, which is that spirit that is uniquely American. Let that then inspire us by helping us to be inspired to solve the problems that so many face, including our small business owners.

- Kamala Harris speaking at the Economic Club of Pittsburgh

We just need to move past the failed policies that we have proven don’t work. And like generations before us, let us be inspired by what is possible.

- ibid., seeming to forget that she has been in office for the past four years

Some of the work is going to be through what we do in terms of giving benefits and assistance to state and local governments around transit dollars and looking holistically at the connection between that and housing and looking holistically at the incentives we in the federal government can create for local and state governments to actually engage in planning in [a] holistic manner that includes prioritizing affordable housing for working people.

- Kamala Harris, in an interview with MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle

One can watch that and say, “She didn’t give a clear and direct answer.” That’s okay because we are not talking about clear and direct issues.

– Stephanie Ruhle, after the interview

Is it just me…I feel like someone just “roofied” ChatGPT.

- Greg Gutfeld, commenting on Harris’s interview

Surely Cheney, the IRS, Putin and Iran endorsing Kamala can’t all be wrong!

- Elon Musk on X, after the IRS union endorsed Kamala Harris

I have spent countless hours studying Hezbollah, and there is not an expert on earth who thought that what Israel has done to decapitate and degrade them was possible.

- Jared Kushner on X

Anyone who has been calling for a ceasefire in the North is wrong. There is no going back for Israel. They cannot afford now to not finish the job and completely dismantle the arsenal that has been aimed at them. They will never get another chance.

- ibid.

After the brilliant, rapid-fire tactical successes of the pagers, radios, and targeting of leadership, Hezbollah’s massive weapon cache is unguarded and unmanned. Most of Hezbollah fighters are hiding in their tunnels. Anyone still around was not important enough to carry a pager or be invited to a leadership meeting. Iran is reeling, as well, insecure and unsure how deeply its own intelligence has been penetrated. Failing to take full advantage of this opportunity to neutralize the threat is irresponsible.

- ibid.

Who [in the world] is Zelensky to be trying to interfere in our election? The arrogance of this guy… And the guy, I’ve got to say, is an absolute moron for coming to the U.S. six weeks before the election and attacking Trump and Vance.

- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) commenting on Ukrainian Pres. Vladimir Zelensky disparaging JD Vance and then visiting an ammunition plant in with Governor Josh Shapiro (D), Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), and Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA)

I don’t care if Zelensky likes or dislikes what they have to say. If he had the sense G-d gave a cricket, he would have said, “I’m not going to comment about U.S. elections, that’s for the people of America to decide.”

- ibid.

This is just dumb on his part, because if Trump wins, he’s got a huge problem that just got bigger. And if Trump loses, you know, good luck trying to get Republicans to listen to what he has to say if he just behaves like a Democrat campaign activist.

- ibid.

All Biden does is sleep on the beach. How do you sleep on the beach when you have cameras on? I promise to never sleep on the beach with the cameras on!

- Donald Trump at campaign rally

I watched, about a year ago, when he talked about how the illegal migrants are hurting our city, and the federal government should pay us, and we shouldn’t have to take them. And I said, you know what? He’ll be indicted within a year. And I was exactly right, because that’s what we have… These are dirty players. These are bad people. They cheat, and they do anything necessary.

– Donald Trump commenting on Mayor Adams being indicted by the Justice Department

Hezbollah is winning.

- Tweet by Iranian supreme leader, Ali

We are happy to book you in for an eye test. We are a public hospital and open to everyone.

- Assuta Public Hospital of Ashdod responding in Persian

Mr. Nasrallah was opposed to Israel, which he called “the Zionist entity,” and maintained that there should be one Palestine with equality for Muslims, Jews and Christians.

- The New York Times writing about terrorist mastermind Nasrallah, who was responsible for numerous horrific terrorist attack against Israel and around the world, including killing 220 marines in a bombing on U.S. barracks in 1983 and bombing a Jewish center in Buenos Aires in 1994 which killed 85 people

Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the U.N. General Assembly. To make sure that the pro-Hamas protestors wouldn’t show up late, he offered to page them first.

– Greg Gutfeld

I truly believe that Biden’s legacy will be etched in the history books as Washington.

- The View’s Sonny Hostin equating Joe Biden with George Washington

Khamenei

The same always happens with the ideas of the left. They design a model according to what human beings should do, and when things turn out differently, they repress, restrict and curtail their freedom.

- Argentina’s President Javier Milei addressing the U.N.

In this very house, we have systematically voted against the State of Israel, which is the only country in the Middle East that defends liberal democracy, while simultaneously demonstrating a total inability to respond to the scourge of terrorism.

- ibid.

Joe Biden referred to JD Vance as a secretary at an event yesterday. Even more absurd, he referred to his wife as a doctor.

– Greg Gutfeld

Mark Zuckerberg unveiled new holographic smart glasses this week. The glasses will allow users to translate words spoken in foreign countries. So you can hear “what a [total] dork” in 24 countries!

- ibid.

California’s plastic bag ban is now in effect, prompting Nancy Pelosi to go into hiding.

– ibid.

Sad: Hezbollah’s Turnover Rate Officially Surpasses McDonald’s - Babylon Bee headline

Fearing For Her Safety, Kamala Will Only Appear in Public Behind Soundproof Glass Until Election Day

- ibid.

Media Warns Florida Hurricane May Hamper Ongoing Trump Assassination Attempts - ibid.

Exploding Restaurant Buzzer Takes Out Hezbollah Party of 6 - ibid.

Eric Adams Declares New York a Sanctuary City For Mayors Facing Federal Criminal Charges

- ibid.

New Poll Shows Kamala With Huge Lead Among Deranged Assassin Demographic

- ibid.

Experts Warn Hurricane in Hurricane Alley During Hurricane Season Clear Sign of Climate Change

- ibid.

Eric Adams has now been indicted. He should probably go stab someone at a New York subway station so the prosecutors release him quickly.

– Tweet by Ben Shapiro

There really is nothing like [the UN General Assembly]. If you can’t get down a couple of blocks on foot, you can at least console yourself that some African despot is holed up in his 5-star hotel.

- Douglas Murray, New York Post

Hamas has strong support at liberal elite colleges and the youth wing of the Dems. As the older Dems retire or pass away, the Democratic Party will become officially antisemitic.

- Elon Musk on X

Let’s extinguish him for good.

- Joe Biden’s Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on MSNBC talking about Trump

Parenting Pearls Growing Into the New Year

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

Rosh Hashana is a special time for reflection. Another year has passed, and a new one is about to begin. Many emotions emerge as we look back, remembering the different experiences we had over the past year. I know I’m not the only one who feels this Rosh Hashana is different from others. We’ve had a very difficult year – one we never could have envisioned. Our tefil-

los this year will be especially intense. There is so much beauty in the Jewish calendar, with each month bringing its own “flavor.” This is a time to evaluate where we are and where we’d like to be. As parents, we can also take stock of our parenting, creating goals for ourselves.

The day-to-day life of a parent can be overwhelming, with adults barely

Want

Mendel Orkin (Baltimore) & Yaffa Muchnik (Oxnard, CA)

Mordy Katz & Sarina Karfunkel

Yisroel Tesser & Miri Sachs

finding time to sleep or eat. It’s certainly understandable that spending time evaluating our parenting methods may feel like a luxury. It’s important to periodically take that time and give real thought to what changes we’d like to make. We’re always meant to be growing, and only by putting real thought and intention into our parenting, can we hope to continue on that positive path. Rosh Hashana is the perfect time for this extra cheshbon hanefesh.

Evaluating our parenting methods is a very powerful tool towards improvement. It gives us a chance to think deeply about how we are parenting and if our current methods are meeting our child’s needs. As our children grow and develop, their needs are continuously changing. They also go through phases that may temporarily require a different approach.

In many ways, the changes we make to our parenting can be the catalyst for improving our overall middos. Learning patience with a toddler will bring patience into the rest of our life. Speaking with a gentle tone will be applied towards others. Thinking before we act will improve all our interactions.

Thoughtful Parenting

The role of a parent begins automatically once that baby is placed in your arms. A lot of what we do is based on instincts, our own experiences growing up, and basic survival. Parenting is

wonderful but incredibly difficult without breaks. While it’s beautiful that each child is unique, it also means there is no guidebook for each child!

It’s easy to fall into habits that may or may not be the best option. Perhaps what worked in the past isn’t effective now, yet we haven’t changed our techniques to match the child’s current needs. Parenting by rote is not the most successful long-term parenting model. There is also a tendency for positive behaviors to slip away without a conscious effort towards maintenance. The parent who speaks lovingly may start to raise their voice without realizing. After making an effort to maintain eye contact during conversations, a parent may regress into looking at their phone or other places. We see this in most areas of life, and we require constant, personal vigilance to ensure we’re on the growing path.

There is also a strong tendency to parent by reacting reflexively to the child’s behavior or the circumstances around us. While this is logical and an important part of the job, parenting proactively is even more effective. A proactive parent anticipates situations that may arise and already has a gameplan in place to address the issue. A proactive parent can often prevent negative situations from occurring – it’s easier to prevent a problem than to try fixing it afterwards.

Choose something to improve and

make that your goal for the upcoming year. It doesn’t need to be dramatic, and we’re more likely to maintain a smaller, more realistic goal.

Rosh Hashana With Kids

The Yomim Noraim are such a special time, but this beautiful z’man comes with a number of challenges for parents. Parents of young children are unable to spend hours in shul listening to the soul-stirring tefillos, even just hearing 30 shofar sounds can seem insurmountable. Preparing so many meals to feed the crew can be overwhelming and stressful. We want to focus on the meaning of the day, but the kids are fighting over a toy. Rosh Hashana looks very different with kids.

Becoming a parent comes with many changes, including a shift in our yom tov experience. It’s a difficult mental shift, but we can adjust our expectations to better match the reality. It can be painful for many parents to not daven in

We are currently building the future of Klal Yisroel. It may be difficult to connect the screaming toddler of today to the great person they can become, but the potential is there. Daven what you can and try to take a few minutes of (non-existent) quiet to reflect on the kedusha of the day, but also try to feel the chashivus in the seemingly mundane tasks that come along with childrearing.

Shofar For All

The shofar is an important and meaningful part of Rosh Hashana. In addition to being the mitzvah of the day, it sets the tone and directs our feelings. Many felt a little pained last year without shofar on the first day of Rosh Hashana. With shofar being so prominent, it’s natural that everyone wants to be present – including mothers of young children who usually can’t attend shul. There are a number of options to ensure everyone hears shofar without disturbing the kehilla. I’m not a rav and parents should

tle ones have limited ability to remain quiet, they should be brought in just before shofar blowing. Let them get their energy out first and walk in just for the big event. It’s tempting to want to daven with the kehilla before, but for many children, if they’re present during the earlier tefillos, then they’ve already fulfilled their quiet quota and will get cranky during the actual kolos. Come prepared with whatever your child will need for comfort. Babies may need their pacifier or special blankie. Slightly older children may benefit from having a (non-messy) snack or drink. This is the one time of year I suggest lollipops, drinks with straws, or other treats that require sucking to keep their mouth occupied. Please remove any trash or items you’ve brought with you. In addition to being basic derech eretz, our children are never too young to see the kavod we give a makom tefillah. Littles ones are calmer when they’re held – keep an infant or toddler close

throughout shofar blowing. Depending on shofar blowing times, mothers can take turns watching each other’s little ones at home, while the other attends shul. Alternatively, mom can go to shofar blowing after Tatty comes home. There are times when parents absolutely cannot get to shul. It requires advanced planning, but there are many individuals who can blow shofar and are happy to do so. One year, my little one was throwing up, and I didn’t feel comfortable bringing him to shul to infect others. We were very fortunate to have a neighbor who thoughtfully blew shofar for us and came to the rescue.

I want to wish our readers and all of Klal Yisroel a year full of bracha, shalom, good health and nachas from their children. Shana tova!

Sparks of Light

Wishing Someone a Shana Tova is Praying for Others

The Rama in Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 582:9) teaches that it is customary on the first night of Rosh Hashana to greet others by saying, “L’Shana tova tikasev v’sechasem” (may you be inscribed and sealed for a good year). However, this formalized greeting stands in contrast to Shabbos, where although it is an opportunity to greet your fellow man weekly, there is no specific halachic requirement to do so (such as wishing, “Good Shabbos”). Why is there such emphasis on greeting your fellow man and even going so far as to bless him when you cross paths on Rosh Hashana?

The Abudraham suggests that it is for the same reason that the word “U’v’chein” (and thus) appears repeatedly in the Shemoneh Esrei of the Yomim Noraim, and yet is difficult to translate (one might say, “and therefore” or “and behold”). Why do we need this introductory word before phrases like “tein pachdecha ” (place Your fear) or “tein kavod ” (place Your honor), which, by addition of “U’v’chein ” then become “And thus, place your fear,” etc.?

The key to understanding these questions lies in a lesson from the Gemara in Bava Kama (92a): “One who prays for mercy on behalf of someone else, while they need that same thing, will be answered first.” The Abudraham explains that the reason we say “U’v’chein” so frequently during the Yomim Noraim is that it is meant to bring to mind the pasuk in Megillas Esther (4:16), “U’v’chein avo el He’melech,” (and thus I will go to the king). Esther, before approaching King Achashverosh, requested the Jewish people fast and pray for her, knowing that their prayers would strengthen her as she risked her life.

By Rabbi Benny Berlin

Rosh Hashana is a time to focus on others. When we say “L’shana tova” to another, we are turning outward, acknowledging that just as we have our needs, so do others. We might need

Chaim 101) explains that while we stand before Hashem individually, we must be aware of those around us. Hearing the cries of others reminds us to pray for them, as our prayers may be answered

When we pray for them, our prayers become more powerful.

parnassah, healing for a sick relative, or blessings for our children. But we must remember that others also need these things. When we pray for them, our prayers become more powerful. This focus on others is also the reason for the minhag to daven loudly on the High Holidays. The Tur (in Orach

through them, and theirs through us.

In a practical sense, prayers often have the opportunity to be fulfilled through us. We might know someone who is praying for a shidduch, and we could be the one to introduce them to their future spouse. Someone else may be praying for a job, and we might know

of an opportunity that could help them.

The Klausenberger Rebbe adds that the mitzvah of blowing the shofar is unique in that it requires a Makri , someone who calls out “Tekiah” or “Shevarim” before each sound is blown. No one announces before shaking the lulav, so why the need for prompting during shofar blowing? The Tokeiah could just use a siddur to remind him of the order of what he is to do, just like a chazan uses the siddur to remind him of the words. The Klausenberger Rebbe explained that this teaches us a deep lesson: to have our prayers answered, we must first listen to others. Just as we cannot blow the shofar without the Makri’s call, we must hear the needs of others before we can ask for our own.

The famous psuk which opens Parshas Nitzavim, “Atem nitzavim ha’yom kulchem lifnei Hashem Elokeichem, You are all standing this day before Hashem, your G-d” (Devarim 29:9) echoes through history to us now, reminding us that to reach our collective destiny we need each other.

This Rosh Hashana, let us take a moment to look around and recognize the unique world within each person in our community. Every individual has their strengths, struggles, dreams, and prayers. May we pray for each other and may our collective prayers storm the heavens as one kehillah.

Together, as one, may we stand before Hashem on Rosh Hashana. Let us be there for each other in tefillah and in action, and may we all be inscribed for a year of bracha, health, and peace.

Rabbi Benny Berlin is the rabbi of BACH Jewish Center located in Long Baeach, New York. For more information, visit: https:// www.bachlongbeach.com/.

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

Thank you for such a thought-provoking column. I was wondering if you guys can help me with a situation I am in.

I am dating a great guy; we are going on our second month dating next week. He is kind, generous, and has all the qualities I would like in a husband. Over the course of the past few weeks, I have met a few people who have heard of him. The responses have always been along the same lines. “Wow, him? He’s very picky...you’re lucky that he has dated you this long,” “he dated my friend for a while; he’s a great guy.”

Comments of the like are making me extremely nervous that he will end up breaking up with me. All the signs in our relationship points to him being serious and committed. But the comments from people around me are definitely affecting me mentally about the prospect.

Can I bring this up with him? Or is it better than I leave it alone and keep things to myself? Are what people are saying a red flag?

Thank you,

Sarah*

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

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

It’s not like you have been dating him that long, Sarah. However, you are feeling very vulnerable as a result of what you have heard from others. One guy cannot break you if he is commitment-phobic.

However, you can and should bring up with him the direction the relationship is taking. Being open is healthy and good. If you are both seasoned daters, it might be a good idea to bring up the subject of when each of you has come close to commitment and what that felt like. If taking action and putting things on the table feels hard, get some help.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

During my many years as a shadchan,

I cannot even count how many times I have heard the following kinds of statements after an engagement of a great guy is announced.

“Wow, he finally settled down!”

“He said no to every idea I had!”

“No way!! He was so picky, I never thought he’d get married!”

“Can I see a picture? I NEED to see the type he ended up with!”

My point in telling you this is to show you how common it is for people to make inappropriate comments like this. You are not the first nor the last person to be on the receiving end of these types of messages from neighborhood yentas.

So, you may ask, why do people say it? Either people are shocked enough to say whatever is on their minds, or maybe they are envious of the shadchan who finally got the “pickiest” guy to settle down. Whatever the case may be, unfortunately comments like this are normal.

My message to people reading this column regarding this topic is think before you speak. My message to you, Sarah, is trust in Natan and your relationship, unless there is something concrete that is bothering you. The previous girls that he has dated did not work out for a reason,

quite possibly to make room for you in his life. You have no idea about the issues or concerns he had with his prior relationships which did not work out.

I have seen so many guys once labeled as super-picky get engaged. If he is the right one for you, then it will happen. It also can’t hurt to communicate with him directly. You can start the conversation by discussing your own past dating experiences, then proceed to ask Natan about his.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

My wife often accuses me of “thinking like a man” and failing to understand that women tend to share their personal experiences with their closest friends. However, this column has heard of far too many situations where “helpful” friends can sabotage a potentially wonderful relationship.

When you are dating someone seriously, it’s best to keep the details of your relationship private. You should not be sharing this very personal aspect of your private life with your friends. Perhaps maliciously or perhaps inadvertently, your friends could easily ruin your relationship with your boyfriend.

Why would a single girl’s friends ruin a budding romance? Perhaps they genuinely mean well and are trying to be helpful. Perhaps they are jealous. Perhaps they don’t want to lose a single friend to married life.

Regardless of their motivations, unless there’s evidence of serious wrongdoing, it’s important to not let these external opinions overly influence you.

It is important for you to understand that the “helpful” information imparted by your “friends,” may be wildly inaccurate. Or, perhaps the young man has grown and evolved and is very different than what your “friends” have heard about him.

If you are old enough, and mature enough, to consider marriage, trust your own judgment and instincts. Focus on, and enjoy, the relationship you’re building and make decisions based upon your own direct experiences, rather than external noise.

A Reader’s Response:

Rabbi Dr Josh Mark, Psychotherapist

It’s so wonderful that you found someone with so many of the qualities you’ve been looking for. It’s like searching for the perfect piece of clothing; you visit a thousand stores until you find just what you’ve been searching for. Yet even “perfect fits” need a bit of “work” to make it just so.

As you describe it, you and the young man need to have a discussion about what you’ve heard. The purpose of the discussion should certainly be to clarify what you’ve heard and clarify where he’s “holding.” While the discussion may feel awkward at first, it will give the two of you the chance to deepen your connection and of course to put these comments and responses to rest. It will also give him an opportunity to soothe your feelings and worries, something that, given

the ups and downs of life, will get tested again and again. Life is rarely smooth, but when you’re with your best friend, the ups and downs become fun and filled with blessings.

As to the red flags, only clarification through candid discussion will reveal what the flags mean. No matter what comes out, you will be closer to your ultimate goal: building a heimishe Yiddishe home. B’hatzlacha and mazal!

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your email and for reading the column! I completely understand the concern you have and how this would be affecting you mentally. How nerve-wracking to think about your guy being picky and how this may impact you down the road, at any point.

I don’t know that there is a clear, definitive answer about how to go about handling this. As they say, different strokes for different folks. On the one hand, people’s drive-by comments can often be ridiculous and stir the pot for no reason. And on the other hand, where there’s smoke there’s fire. Life

typically presents us with two conflicting truths, and when it does, how do we make a decision about what to do?

One thing I will say, regardless of your decision, is that all relationships come with the risk of getting hurt. I can also say that very often people are labeled “picky” because they haven’t met the right one. Isn’t everyone “picky” until they do, to a certain extent? Another truth is that if he does have a pickiness issue, it will reveal itself at some point and you will have to have confidence about who you are and your value in order to stay in this relationship (and any relationship for that matter, and I hope your confidence is high). When we work on owning our own value and worth, we shift mindsets from “does he like me?” to “is this a relationship I feel safe in? And I’m going to pay attention to how I feel because that is of utmost importance when I choose my life partner.”

You are not the first nor the last person to be on the receiving end of these types of messages from neighborhood yentas.

you through it all and who can remain present, committed and non-defensive. Here is a sample script for the conversation:

“Can we talk? There’s something that’s been on my mind, and I don’t want to keep things from you. A few people mentioned to me that in the past you’ve been kind of picky with dating. I’m not saying I believe them, but I didn’t know what to do with this. I wanted to share this with you because I don’t want any secrets between us, and it also is making me feel a little uneasy. It would put my mind at ease if you could share a bit about why past relationships haven’t worked out because I’d like to hear it from you and not others. And also, if we could talk about how we are both feeling about this relationship.”

Mr. & Mrs. Yona Berkowitz on

the birth of a daughter

Ari & Michali Friedman on the birth of a son

Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!

I am of the school of thought that if something is causing anxiety, mental anguish and getting in the way of your mental health and ultimately the relationship, it is always best to be honest and communicate. Whatever comes out of the conversation will be better than being left in the dark riddled with anxiety. Should you decide to speak with him, approach the situation with vulnerability and a pinch of humility, expressing your genuine embarrassment and discomfort in bringing this to his attention. If he dumps you for bringing this up, then good riddance. If he is defensive, that is not good either. Look out for how he tends to your feelings around this. Look for sensitivity and kindness and gratitude for you having shared. Marriage is a lifetime of sharing feelings and worries, and you want a partner who is going to be there for

If he was “picky” in his past but he is into you, you’re going to have to decide if you are going to put your trust and faith in his feelings for you. And if he wasn’t, you’re going to have to decide if you believe him.

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.

“Igrew up in a family of Slonimer Chassidim in Meah Shearim,” shares Tzili Shneider, founder of Kesher Yehudi, an organization whose aim is to unify all sectors of Israeli society. “My mother taught us that there’s no such thing as charedi, left, right, Mizrachi, chiloni. ‘There were only two options as far as Jews were concerned,’ she would tell us, ‘a Jew and a non-Jew.’” As Tzili grew up, however, she saw that Jews were not holding by that. She felt the large divide between charedi and chiloni jews was disastrous for both sides.

“The Jewish people have been a nation for 2,000 years, spread throughout different countries across the world. They spoke different languages, ate different foods, yet always knew a Jew was a Jew. Now that we’re miraculously back in our land, now we’re going to

start dividing into different groups? We need to return to being one nation with one tradition. There’s no place for hate. We’re partners in our history, daughters and sons who all stood at Matan Torah, all descendants of our holy Imahos and holy Avos.”

Tzili recalls the Six Day War. “I remember dancing in the streets as a young child. One soldier took me on his shoulders and danced with me. No one thought about whether one was charedi and the other wasn’t, who was dati and who wasn’t. We were all together. We had the Kotel. We were so excited!”

As the years progressed, the chasm between the different groups was just widening. Something had to be done. However, Tzili felt strongly that any reconciliation was not going to come through the media, the government, the army, or Bagatz (the Israeli Supreme Court).

Forging a Kesher Yehudi

By Malkie SchulMan

“We needed a grassroots organization made up of regular people, people willing and able to sit with each other and talk face to face, people willing to respect each other no matter how different their opinions are.”

And as no one was stepping up to the plate, in stepped Tzili to see what she could do.

Foundational Moments

That was 13 years ago, and to date, Kesher Yehudi has 34,000 people involved in their chavrusa programs.

“The charedi community today,” shares Tzili, “is big. If 200,000 charedim would learn with 200,000 chilonim, the face of the country would change.” But Tzili stresses, “the goal of Kesher Yehudi is not to make

chilonim religious; it’s not to turn them into charedim. Our goal is to unify all Jews, to bring achdut back to Am Yisroel.”

The turning point came during Tzili’s daily bus ride to her teaching job in the Jewish Quarter from her home in Ramot.

“I rode the same bus every day, and every day, I’d see the same chiloni woman sitting on the bus, also going to her job, also getting off at the same stop. Yet we never spoke. I remember saying to myself, how could it be that we’ve been riding on the same bus for four years and we’ve never spoken to each other? She’s married with children like me. She drops her children off at kindergarten like I do. What difference does it make that I’m dati and she’s chiloni? We both decided to live in Yerushalayim for the same reason; what’s the difference how she dresses?”

With a strong feeling that there was something “lo b’seder ” going on, Tzili embarked on her mission.

“We don’t have to agree on whether our sons should go to the army,” she insists, “and of course, I don’t agree with chillul Shabbos, but I do agree that all Jews are my brothers and sisters b’lev v’nefesh, and when we come together to talk, the conflicts disappear. Solutions will never come from fighting with each other, only when we come together in friendship and respect. The truth is,” she continues, “we don’t have the luxury of hating each other. Our enemies want to kill us. They couldn’t care less what political party we belong to. The Nazis didn’t care in Auschwitz, and neither does Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, or any of the rest of our many enemies.

“When we started 13 years ago, I thought we’d get together maybe 50 chavrusas. By the end of the first year, we had almost 1,000 learning partners!” shares Tzili.

She and her husband sought guidance from Rav Elyashiv, zt”l, who was very enthusiastic about their goals, stressing this is what Am Yisroel needs today more than anything. Many of the people waiting outside to speak to him were upset about having to wait so long, but Rav Elyashiv insisted that Kesher Yehudi was the call of the hour and he wanted to be part of it. Every question the Schneiders asked, whether very serious or seemingly trivial, Rav Elyashiv gave total attention to.

One of the first shailas they had was regarding what to learn with a chavrusa when someone comes and doesn’t know what they want to learn.

“Rav Elyashiv immediately responded, ‘Learn Shabbos.’”

“But Rebbe,” Tzili said, “Shabbos is the last thing these people should be learning. For them, Shabbat is just a day of ‘don’ts.’ Shabbat is their one vacation day of the week, the day they go out with their kids, cook shnitzilim, go on the computer. They’ll go crazy having nothing to do all day. I don’t think we can take that away from them. It’s too hard.”

Rav Elyashiv insisted. He said, “If it’s not too hard for me, it’s not too hard for them. They think it’s hard, but it’s harder not to keep Shabbos. A life with no Shabbos is hard. Shabbos is a gift.” He continued, “In the Torah, there is no chiloni/charedi/Ashkenazi/ Sephardi, but there is a mechallel Shabbos b’farhesya. You help him to be a Jew if he isn’t mechallel Shabbos.”

“We strictly adhere to Rav Elyashiv’s advice,” maintains Tzili, “and I felt it was a sign when our last Shabbaton with the hostages’ families took place, unknown to us, on Rav Elyashiv’s yahrzeit.”

Not Kiruv – Achdut

“Nevertheless, we are not about kiruv,” maintains Tzili. “We are about achdut. That’s why the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed, and that’s how we can rebuild it—with ahavat chinam.”

One of Kesher Yehudi’s most exciting innovations, what Tzili says is the heart of their organization, is a program they have with mechinat kdam tzevait, a pre-military academy in Eretz Yisroel. This one-year program prepares elite young men and women for army service and aims to develop the future leaders of the country. Kids today don’t have the burning idealism they had years ago, let alone Jewish knowledge. Consequently, there’s a need to train them for their future roles. Currently, there are 55 pre-military academies around the country where young adults learn subjects such as leadership, Jewish identity, Zionism, and Jewish history. Part of the curriculum is to recognize and understand Israel’s diverse populations, such as the Druzim, the Sephardim, the Ethiopians,

and the charedim.

“This was our entry point,” shares Tzili. “We explained to the academies that to learn about the charedim, their students need to experience our way of life.”

To do that, Kesher Yehudi brings a group of charedim that live near each school, and they set up chavrutot. Each month, a new topic that the chavrutot will discuss with each other is introduced from a Jewish perspective. A rabbi speaks about the topic, which may be anything from Creation to free will, to women’s rights in Judaism, to racism in Judaism. Then the group is split into chavrutot, and together, each pair learns the material. After 1½ hours, they leave but are encouraged to continue learning together the rest of the month. The following month, a new topic is introduced in the same way. Already they’ve had Shabbatonim with 31 academies. (They’ve had requests for Shabbatonim from nine more schools but unfortunately, had to turn them down due to lack of funding.)

Tzili stresses that the connections the partners make with each other are forever.

“We are not a ‘hit and run’ organization,” she quips.

The pairs start off strangers, but after 20 minutes, they’re already close friends. Nevertheless, effort needs to be put in to maintain an ongoing connection. At the end of the year, there’s a big celebration.

“I always hear the same thing,” Tzili says, “just perhaps in different ways. The charedi partner will say, ‘I’m here because of my brave chavruta, Nir, an 18-year-old chiloni who is willing to be moser nefesh to defend me and keep our country safe. I can learn because he is prepared to fight.’ At the same time, Nir will say, ‘I’m here because of my shomer Shabbat chavruta, Yosi, because without him and people like him who are shomrei Shabbat and lomdei Torah, we wouldn’t be a Jewish nation. We would be a medinat goyim (a gentile nation). Because of him, I know why I am fighting. He needs to stay in yeshiva, because more than my own strength to fight the enemy, I need Hashem to help me.’

“On many levels, it’s an eye-opening experience. Not the least is that both sides get appreciation for the other. The charedi chavrusa gets an appreciation of how this young man or woman is willing to sacrifice

his life for his country, and the chiloni partner gets an appreciation of the Torah along with the understanding that there is no Jewish nation without our Torah and mitzvot. Long before the Tzahal came along, we survived as a people because we clung to our holy Torah.”

A Shabbos High

“The Torah was not given in Bnei Brak or Yerushalayim,” maintains Tzili. “It was given in the desert, so every Jew could access it.”

She shares one of Kesher Yehudi’s many success stories.

“Rimon, a chiloni chavruta, called me to ask how he could get in touch with David. He’d been trying all his numbers but couldn’t get through. I asked him what was so urgent. He said, ‘I’m in Aza but we were given a four-hour break to go out. I called my (chiloni!) parents, and we agreed that I should spend the time learning Torah with my chavruta.’ We located David and sent him in a taxi to Aza to learn in person with Rimon. When the other soldiers saw them learning, they said, ‘We also want to learn Torah.’”

Before the war, Kesher Yehudi had 4,000 chavrutot learning monthly, but since the war, they have 7,000 study partners (14,000 people!) learning monthly.

“Hamas taught us two things,” asserts Tzili. “One is that we’re all Jews, and two – we must stick together. Everyone is desperate for an end to the war, for the hostages to return home whole and healthy. I ask the families of the hostages why we are asking Bibi to bring them home. What can he do? What can Biden do? Nothing; it’s only Hashem. And what does Hashem want from us? He wants us to be unified. Let’s make a Shabbat together and observe it k’hilchata (according to the law).”

They all agreed, and so far, Kesher Yehudi has hosted two Shabbatonim for the hostages’ families together with charedim. The chilonim were adamant about keeping Shabbat completely.

The Shabbatonim for the hostages’ families were so successful that the next logical step was to make one for the Nova festival survivors. The Nova survivors understood they were saved for a reason, and they, too, were eager to come together to keep Shabbat, especial-

ly in the merit of the hostages’ return.

“There were 155 survivors who attended the first Shabbaton and 110 survivors at the second. Ninety percent of participants on both sides,” says Tzili, “pledged to keep up the connection. From these Shabbatonim, I saw that Am Yisrael chai, all Jews are special, all Jews are tzaddikim. Hashem chose all of us. He has good taste. Also, it was an eye-opener for the chilonim to see that charedim are warm and caring. Unfortunately, they just knew about charedim from the media’s perspective.”

were so strong in their desire to do something for the hostages that they held out the entire Shabbat and did not smoke, Tzili shares.

One Nova survivor, “Eitan,” was having suicidal thoughts. His friend tried to get him to come to a Kesher Yehudi Shabbaton, but he refused.

“When the friend arrived Friday afternoon without Eitan,” Tzili says, “I told him, ‘You’ve already been to our Shabbaton. The rule is you can only come again if you bring someone whose never been here before.’ At 6 p.m., he returned with Eitan.” Tzili tried to play for time. She told the desperate young man: “I understand your feelings. You can always go ahead with your plans if you want but maybe wait a day,” to which Eitan, thankfully, agreed.

“Here, there is so much holiness that it’s better to me than any drug-induced high.”

A released hostage, Aviva Segal (whose husband remains a hostage to date), joined a Kesher Yehudi Shabbaton. She related that she lived with her husband in Kfar Aza, and before October 7, she saw all people as equal. A Jew was no different from a non-Jew. She would always seek to help the Palestinians in her neighborhood. But she learned a big lesson in captivity. She learned that Jews are the most compassionate nation, and that is what makes them unique.

Although the chilonim were committed to keeping Shabbat on the Shabbaton, it wasn’t easy for some of them because they were addicted to smoking. Yet they

Shabbat was very moving for everyone, including Eitan. Rabbi Yisrael Goldwasser, a Gerrer chassid and well-known lecturer and historian, attended the Shabbaton. He brought with him a sefer Torah that had survived the death camps, known as the Sefer Torah of Block 12. Rabbi Goldwasser shared stories of inmates risking their lives to get an aliyah from the Torah. One day, the Germans discovered the Torah and executed the Jews found with it before taking it away to violate it. A non-religious inmate, anguished over the Torah’s desecration, crept out at night to steal it back. He wrapped the scroll around his body 80 times to keep it hidden. Although he was shot at and his blood spattered on the Torah, he was not critically injured. Miraculously, he managed to smuggle the Torah back to Block 12, where he hid it by removing a plank from the wooden bench upon which he slept and inserting the Torah inside. Every Simchat Torah until the war’s end, Jews would come to Block 12 and dance around the bench. Eventually, after the war, the Torah made its way to a shteibel in Bnei Brak.

Every year on Simchat Torah, Rabbi Goldwasser would take out the (now posul ) sefer Torah and dance with the remaining Holocaust survivors. This year, there were no survivors left, so Rabbi Goldwasser danced in the center of the room alone with the Torah. While he was still dancing, the news came that war had broken out. Rabbi Goldwasser quickly placed the scroll back in the aron as the congregation began to recite Tehillim.

“And now, nine months later,” said Rabbi Goldwasser to the assembled crowd, “we can finish my Simchat Torah dance. The Arabs took away Simchat Torah this year, but the sefer Torah has waited all year for people to come and dance with her. At the Nova festival on October 7, you were dancing a rikud shel chol (a nonJewish dance). Today, we will dance for Hashem, with His Torah.”

“At that point the room was silent,” says Tzili, “it felt like Matan Torah. Rabbi Goldwasser called the men in the room to gather around and dance with the sefer Torah. After that, the women came forth to dance with the sefer Torah. Everyone danced with the Torah, separately and in a group, the chilonim and charedim together. Everyone cried as together we sang, ‘Torat Hashem Temima’ to the heavens. We all knew then that we are nefesh echad (one soul), not because of our Israeli flag but because of our holy Torah.”

Then the troubled young man, “Eitan,” took his turn to dance. He said, “I want to see the blood on the Torah because I understand that inmate.”

Rabbi Goldwasser opened the Torah and on Parshat Matot-Masei, there were the bloodstains. Eitan asked for a tallit, and with the tears pouring out of his eyes, he read the entire Shema Yisrael out loud.

“I don’t believe anyone who was there,” says Tzili, “will ever forget that moment.”

Tzili tells the story about Micha, a Nova survivor who was addicted to drugs and vowed to put on tefillin daily and keep three Shabbatot in a row after he was miraculously saved from the terrorist attack on October 7. He was on the way to the festival with three friends when they were attacked. The driver was shot and killed, when the car came to a halt. All the doors flew open, as he and his friends toppled into a ditch. They were shot at from all sides, and one friend was killed but Micha and his friend remained alive. Micha lay in the ditch for many hours, trying not to breathe so the terrorists wouldn’t realize he was still alive. The street was filled with Arabs yelling, “Allahu Akbar” and shooting wildly, but for some reason, the bullets never hit him. As he lay there, Micha said to Hashem, “If You save me, I’ll keep three Shabbatot and put on tefillin every day.” When the army arrived, after 6½ hours, he and his friend were half-dead. The army

didn’t know if he was a terrorist or a Jew because he had dark skin and a long beard. They told him to say, “Alef beit,” but he couldn’t get it out. They were about to kill him when, as he tells it, his neshama cried out, “Shema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad.” The officers put down their guns and rescued him.

Micha was in the hospital for a month, and when he left, he kept his vow to put on tefillin every day. However, keeping Shabbat was too hard because of his smoking and drug addiction.

Tzili continues, “When I asked him why he came

“We all knew then that we are nefesh echad (one soul), not because of our Israeli flag but because of our holy Torah.”

to the Shabbaton, he said he’d promised Hashem he would keep Shabbat, but he realized he needed help. He felt that with other people’s support, he’d be able to keep it. Shabbat morning came and Micha said, ‘Tzili, I’m still keeping Shabbat.’ ‘Every moment you keep it is precious, ‘I told him. But he made it through the entire day and told his story to the group Motzei Shabbat. All the survivors clapped and chanted, “Micha Melech Yisroel, shomer Shabbat; Micha Hagibbur, Melech Yisroel, shomer Shabbat.”

Micha had tried for nine months to keep Shabbat every single week. Micha then shared the secret of his

success in keeping Shabbat.

“I tried for nine months to keep Shabbat but couldn’t. Why? Because I smoked for a high, and at home, nothing but my drugs gave me a high. Here, there is so much holiness that it’s better to me than any drug-induced high. It wasn’t even hard for me.”

“I told the charedi chavrutot, you never had such an opportunity for mesirut nefesh for Shabbat. Even if it’s a boiling hot day in August, and you forgot to turn on the air conditioner, you would never think to turn it on. It was a great lesson for them to see their brothers and sisters holding fast to the challenge even though it was excruciatingly difficult. We’re not in the times of the Maccabees or the Holocaust. This is the mesirut nefesh of our generation,” Tzili maintains. “And on the charedi side, when the chiloni sees that an avrech with ten children is willing to live so simply for the sake of learning Torah that is their mesirut nefesh.”

Indeed, every participant at the Shabbaton was so inspired that after Shabbat when everyone was asked if they wanted to sign up to commit to continue learning with the chavruta they’d been paired with over Shabbat, every single individual signed up.

B’emet Kesher Yehudi

“We can all make a difference,” asserts Tzili. “Everyone can be part of this revolution. Those of us in Israel can befriend a chiloni Jew and learn Torah with them. All my children, my sons and sons-in-law in kollel and my daughters and daughters-in-law have multiple learning partners.”

Even for those in chutz l’aretz, though they can’t have a chavrusa with a chiloni, can support the cause through adopting an academy. Tzili’s greatest desire is to establish programs in all the 55 pre-military academies.

“We had 1,600 new soldiers graduating from the academies we’re involved with, 1,600 young men and women who now know how to talk to Hashem, who know why they’re fighting. They understand it’s Hashem Who will save them and not their ammunition. Before learning with their chavrutot, they didn’t know that they could even pray to Hashem.

“This is how we’ll bring the hostages home.”

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

Leah Seidel, 5

Ariella, 6

Batsheva Lehrfield, 10

Bracha, 7

Avi Winchell, 2

Ayelet Winchell, 7

Chani G., 7

Ashira Winchell, 4

Amiel Shotz, 5

Rachel Hadassah Rubinov Tova, 4

Noa S., 6

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

Malka R. Benyomin L.

Aryeh L.

Yaakov Aryeh Agular, 9

Zevy Seidel, 3

Miri G., 11

Y. Schoemann, 12

Orli R. almost 7

Rachel Lipsky, 7

Meir Hefter, 10

Yair Rubinov Yosef, 6

Yitzy Delrahim, 9

Tehilla, Ari, Rivka Rosenbaum, 7

Michali, 9

Yitzchak Rooshanshad, 11

Sarala Katz Shoshana, 3 & Penina, 6

Tamar Berkowitz, 6

Nati C, 5

Meira Isenberg, 7

Liah Hakimi, 7 BL, 10

A Taste of a Sweet New Year

By Danielle Renov

Asian Chicken Crumble Salad

This is what I want for dinner most nights. After a long day of cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner, testing recipes, and just general mom-ing, I’m tired and hungry. I don’t want something heavy because my body is too exhausted to handle anything like that. I want something light and crunchy, but it must have a chewy, hot and cold element to it. That’s what this is. The ground chicken crumble, which sounds crazy but I guarantee is quite genius, is so delicious and satisfying and together with the cold properly cut cucumber (although if you don’t properly cut your cukes, I won’t tell anyone), and the umami packed, punchy vinaigrette hits just the spot!

Ingredients

Chicken Crumble

» 1 lb. ground white or dark chicken

» 1 tsp freshly grated ginger

» 2 cloves garlic, grated

» 2 Tbsp soy sauce

» 1 Tbsp seasoned rice vinegar

» 1 tsp sesame oil

» 1 tsp sriracha

Asian dressing

» 3 Tbsp soy sauce

» 2 tsp sesame oil

» 1 tsp miso paste

» 2 tsp rice vinegar

» 1 clove garlic, grated

» ¼ cup water

Salad

» 2 baby bok choy, chopped

» 4 cucumbers halved, seeded, chopped

» 6 radishes, sliced

» 1 Thai chili, thinly sliced

» 4 scallions, chopped

» 1 tsp black sesame seeds

Preparation

Chicken Crumble

Combine all chicken crumble ingredients in a medium bowl.

Heat a nonstick pan over medium high heat.

Add chicken mixture; cook, stirring often to break up mixture and create crumbles. This should take 6-7 minutes.

Once chicken is cooked through, turn off heat and set aside.

Asian Dressing

Add all dressing ingredients to a bowl or a jar with a tightly fitting lid. Whisk or shake to combine.

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Salad

Add all the vegetables to a large bowl, along with chicken crumble. Drizzle dressing over the top, starting with 3 tablespoons and adding 1 tablespoon more at a time till it is dressed how you like it.

Garnish with black sesame seeds.

Variation: If you’re not a ground chicken lover (I’m looking, fine, talking, errrr, writing to you, Eli) you can absolutely swap out the same amount of ground chicken for turkey or beef.

Avocado Egg Rolls

An ode to the sushi restaurant in the Five Towns that came and went too quickly but served the best avocado egg rolls ever.

Ingredients

» 2 Tbsp chopped sundried tomatoes

» 4 avocados, cubed (2½ cups cubed)

» 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro

» ½ jalapeño pepper, minced

» 1 tsp kosher salt

» ¼ tsp coarsely ground black pepper

» 1 lime, halved

» 1 (9 oz) package egg roll wrappers (each cut in half diagonally to create 2 triangles) OR square wonton wrappers

» Oil, for frying (I like avocado oil)

Preparation

Add tomatoes, avocados, cilantro, jalapeño, salt, and pepper to a bowl. Squeeze the juice of ½ lime over the avocados so they don’t brown. Gently mix to combine. Don’t overmix or the avocado will turn into guacamole and we’re not looking for that!

Place 1 heaping tablespoon of avocado mixture near the corner of an egg roll wrapper triangle, then brush the edges with a little water. Roll over once, then fold the sides of the triangle over and continue to roll till closed. Do the same thing (if using) the square wonton wrappers.

Repeat with remaining avocado mixture and wrappers.

Heat 3-4 inches oil over medium high heat. Once oil gets to 350°F / 180C° (the handle of a wooden spoon inserted into the oil will have bubbles form around it), fry 5-6 at a time for about 3 minutes.

Transfer to a cooling rack to drain.

Serve with chipotle mayo, spicy green sauce, or any dip you like!

To reheat, place in a foil pan in a single layer and reheat uncovered!

Enjoy!

Note: I would not freeze these. Something about defrosted avocado just doesn’t do it for me.

These recipes are reprinted with permission from Peas, Love and Carrots by Danielle Renov, published by ArtScroll/Mesorah.