Baltimore Jewish Home - 12-2-21 by Moshe Rubin

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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

DECEMBER 2, 2021

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

DECEMBER 2, 2021

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CONTENTS COMMUNITY

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

DECEMBER 2, 2021

Around the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Zvi Teichman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Dear Readers, Chanukah and Pesach are two holidays that closely parallel each other. The primary mitzvah of the day takes place in the home; the lighting of the Menorah on Chanukah, and the Seder on Pesach. On other holidays the signature mitzvah takes place in shul or outside the home; the Tefillah on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Lulav and Esrog and Succah on Succos, the learning of Torah on Shavuos, and the Mishloach Manos and Megillah on Purim. Both Chanukah and Pesach carry the very similar theme of celebrating freedom. On Pesach we show our appreciation as we were carried from a bondage to salvation.

PEOPLE

It’s a time to show our gratitude as we achieve a physical redemption. However, on

613 Seconds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Chanukah we celebrate a different type of freedom - the freedom to perform Mitzvos. The Yavanim were committed to stripping the Jewish people of their spirituality, but

FEATURE The Beauty and Mystery of Israel’s Olives . . . . . . . . 42

HUMOR & ENTERTAINMENT

we triumphed and regained our religious independence. Perhaps, we can say that it’s for this reason that both Pesach and Chanukah have a strong focus on the home. These messages must be ingrained deep within the walls of our home if we hope to survive as a nation. It’s our responsibility to instill upon ourselves and our children what it means to

Centerfold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

be a Jew. Through every generation there are both physical and spiritual challenges,

Notable Quotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

yet, if we hold onto our beliefs, we will overcome them. This lesson is the blueprint

LIFESTYLES

of what every Jewish home should be built on. It is for this reason that we light the Menorah within our homes. As the warmth of the candle and the brightness of the

Parenting Pearls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

light engulfs us, it’s sending a message to us all of what the secret of our survival

My Israel Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

has been as the pages turn. The inspiration that one gains from the ner is the key to

Common Cents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Jewish continuity. So, as we enjoy the doughnuts, the latkes, and the parties, let’s

Mental Health Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Dating Dialogue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Recipe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

also enjoy the Menorah! A Freilichin Chanukah! Aaron Menachem

Life Coach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Your Money. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

NEWS B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M

Global. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 That’s Odd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Send your news to BJH! Send us your: community events, articles & photos, and mazal tovs to editor@baltimorejewishhome.com to be featured in coming editions!

The Baltimore Jewish Home is an independent bi-weekly newspaper. All opinions expressed by the journalists, contributors and/or advertisers printed and/or quoted herein are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, Internet or another medium. The Baltimore Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The BJH contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

Mesila of Baltimore is Now Living Smarter Jewish (LSJ) Baltimore In November of 2009, an organization was founded in Baltimore called Mesila. Though initially connected with the Mesila Israel brand, Mesila of Baltimore has not formally been affiliated with the Israeli office for many years, though the name has been kept until now for the sake of continuity. Over the last 12 years, Mesila of Baltimore has coached over 600 families in Baltimore and given classes to hundreds more. We are excited to announce that, effective immediately, the Mesila of Baltimore organization will be affiliated with a new national effort known as Living Smarter Jewish (LSJ for short). Living Smarter Jewish is a brand new national effort that launched over the last few months to inspire and enable a healthy financial lifestyle for Orthodox Jewish families by providing inspiration, information and services. It is almost cliché to discuss the

challenges of Orthodox affordability in 2021. So much has been said about things like the cost of housing in our communities, the cost of tuition, the cost of kosher food, etc. and yet the problems continue to grow and the solutions seem more elusive than ever. Enter L$J, an organization with a mission and a mandate to effect meaningful change on both the national conversation as well as the lives of families in our communities. LSJ has created a multi-faceted approach to dealing with the personal finance issue and effective immediately the following services will be available to our community and dozens of others across the country: Education: LSJ believes that education at all ages can be meaningful. Especially helpful, however, is education geared toward young adults and young married couple that can help them plan and prepare to deal with many of the inevitable expenses fac-

ing families. With that in mind, LSJ has made a free, comprehensive financial literacy curriculum available to boys and girls high schools in Baltimore and across the country. LSJ has also implemented a free newlywed 1-on-1 coaching program for all couples in their first year of marriage that will assist with developing a budget, opening bank accounts, saving for milestone events and retirement and much more, all in a single session. Coaching: Former Mesila Baltimore coaches are now LSJ coaches and will continue to offer coaching for families in person and when not possible, via Zoom all at no cost. The goal of this coaching program is to help families understand their budgets, track their expenses and create achievable goals to help them reach financial freedom and independence. Content: From the smash hit pod-

cast Kosher Money to hours of video content featuring well known financial and budgeting experts in our community and personal finance blogs written by our own Elliot (Shmuel) Pepper and Gelt Guide’s Eli Fried, LSJ is dedicated to providing content that addresses the most important issues facing our community today. Financial Advisors: Due to overwhelming demand, LSJ has aggregated a group of qualified individuals from across the country that are willing to work with families in our community on a fixed fee hourly basis (instead of the traditional % of Assets Under Management) , regardless of amounts being invested, to help them with asset allocation and investment decisions. Please log on to livingsmarterjewish.org to access our services and content and please feel free to reach out via email at info@livingsmarterjewish.org with questions or comments.

Engagements Yaakov Sokol (Cleveland) to Sima Krakauer (Baltimore) Reuven Levinson (Toronto) to Elana Kohen (Baltimore) Shimi Carroll to Batya Pearlman (Both Baltimore) Ahron Szajowitz (Baltimore) to Sarah Katchen (LA) Dovid Munic (Israel) to Devora Finegold (Baltimore) Naftoli Lynn (Philly) to Leah Friedman (Baltimore)

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

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Bnos Yisroel - Creating Masterpieces With tremendous thanks to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, we want to share how lucky we feel to be part of such a special community. Raising funds while still dealing with the effects of Covid has been challenging. And yet, thanks to your support, we were able to reach and exceed our campaign goal. Thanks to your help, Bnos Yisroel students will continue to thrive and 288 students will be provided with much needed scholarship support.

We made a decision before this campaign, that EVERY DOLLAR raised above 1 million dollars would be given DIRECTLY to our incredible staff members in the form of raises and bonuses. At this point, we have raised $1,159,406 from 2885 donors, and we are thrilled that $159,406 will be added to the pay of our 180 dedicated and special staff members. There is no one in our community who deserves this recognition more than those who give their hearts and souls to our lo-

cal schools. We daven for the opportunity to continue to raise salaries and demonstrate the gratitude and appreciation they so rightfully deserve. If anyone intended to participate in this meaningful campaign and did not yet have the chance, the campaign web-

site (www.CreatingMasterpieces.org) will be open until December 15, 2021. Thank you again to all our GENEROUS FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, for helping to create beautiful masterpieces!

Bais Yaakov’s Impressions Auction Draws Rave Reviews By: Mrs. Liba Steen This year’s Bais Yaakov Impresst sions Auction on November 21 , promised to be NEW and like no other, and asserted that one had better be game! The challenge was presented; who could resist? Within a few short weeks, the event was completely sold out, with over 500 admission tickets purchased and over 12,000 prize tickets sold. Expectations were high and anticipation was mounting. The hype was real. The Impressions Auction Event was a smashing success! Attendees gushed that the event was, “next level!” They praised the “elevated ambience and décor” at the beautiful DoubleTree by Hilton and declared Catering by Yaffa’s lavish buffet “superb and beautifully presented.” The auction was spearheaded by a powerhouse team of devoted Bais Yaakov mothers, board members and alumnae, led by Mrs. Perri Goldenhersh. For months they worked tirelessly, hand in hand with Bais Yaakov’s development office team, under the leadership of Rabbi Aaron Gross. They meticulously planned an event with the goal of bringing together the women of our community to enjoy, relax and reignite our love and commitment to Bais Yaakov. With the help of over twenty dedicated parent volunteers, every detail of this elaborate evening

was carefully planned and flawlessly executed. On the night of the event each guest was made to feel welcome, appreciated and embraced by the Bais Yaakov family. The evening’s entertainment featured an innovative escape room style challenge designed to delight and engage every attendee. Women at each table worked together to beat the clock, finding answers to a multitude of creative riddles and befuddling brainteasers. The game included maps, mivchanim, music soundbites, a Dr. Seuss book, hidden messages and multiple padlocks.

The puzzles were a challenge! To ensure that no one got stuck, twenty Bais Yaakov high school students circulated the room, cheerfully offering hints to frazzled puzzlers. Congratulations to the winners at table 26! In 34 minutes they managed to‘escape’ with their ‘diploma’. Each received a $50 Amazon gift card. Chani L., like so many others who participated, declared, “This was the best entertainment ever! The game was brilliant, phenomenal! I loved that we all got soinvolved and were cheering each other on. What a fun bonding experience!” The feelings of joy and togeth-

erness grew as the attendees viewed “the most heartwarming and delicious video” produced by Avi Dear. The upbeat music video featured hundreds of Bais Yaakov students at every age and stage, preschool through high school, buoyantly dancing and singing their way through the halls of Bais Yaakov in simcha and achdus. What nachas! The night concluded with Mrs. Hinda Moskowitz entertaining the crowd with a comic monologue as she drew the names of the 80 auction winners. Mazel tov! To view auction prize winners please visit our Impressions Auction website at Impressions.BaisYaakov.net. We hope you enjoy your prizes in happiness and health! A special mazel tov to beloved teachers, Mrs. Chaya Bracha Waldbaum, Mrs. Miriam Levy, and Mrs. Malka Waldman, who won the three Treat the Teachers prizes. Much appreciation is extended to the over 500 wonderful parents who showed their hakoras hatov by contributing tickets on behalf of our faculty. The success of an event lies in its lasting IMPRESSION. As Huvie (BY Class of ’19) said, “This was so beautiful. The food, the game, and the video were exceptional! Everything about the event was amazing! But more importantly than that, I felt proud to be part of this, proud to be part of something bigger…I felt proud to be a Bais Yaakov alumna.”

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME DECEMBER 2, 2021

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

Rabbi Eichenstein Ignites Bochurim at Yeshiva Gedolah Ohr Hatorah’s Chanukah Mesiba

shering in the special days of Chanukah, Yeshiva Gedolah Ohr Hatorah celebrated with an uplifting mesiba on Sunday night, the first night of Chanukah. Held in the Yeshiva’s Bais Medrash at 3506 Bancroft Road, the atmosphere and setting were just right for an evening of aliyah and simcha. Led by the Roshei Yeshiva, Rabbi Dovid Hoffman and Rabbi Moshe Aharon Rosenbaum, the ruach and spirit of achdus of the Hanhala, Bochurim and Kollel yungerleit shone through as dancing began even before sitting down. After a few minutes everyone found their seats to enjoy the sushi, donuts and other Chanukah delectables. Third year Bais Medrash Bochur Avrami Saltzman of Milwaukee addressed the asifa. He noted the chizuk that we can take from the Chashmona’im and their attitude to do a hishtadlus despite the odds and leave the rest in Hashem’s hands. Each per-

son’s accomplishments and successes begin with the realization that one must begin and try no matter what the situation. The highlight of the evening was the Divrei Hissorrirus by Rabbi Yissocher Dov Eichenstein, Rav of Merkaz Torah U’Tefilla. Upon his entrance, Rav Eichenstein was greeted with such spirited singing that he commented that the “varmkeit made him think he was in a Chassidishe Yeshiva.” Noting the Ahavas Hatorah and ehrliche hash-

kafos of Ohr Hatorah Talmidim and Alumni that he personally witnesses, Rav Eichenstein thanked the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Dovid Hoffman, for being so instrumental in the establishment and running of the night learning at Merkaz Torah U’Teffila when it was established eleven years ago. Weaving personal stories with the words of Chazal, Rav Eichenstein brought out the lesson of living with the Ribbono Shel Olam and putting oneself in His hands. When one lives

with that Emunah, the world opens up, worries and concerns can be overcome and success can be found in all areas – limud Hatorah, Avodas Hashem and everyday life. More lively dancing followed the speeches as Rebbeim and Talmidim, Kollel yungerleit, friends and neighbors joined together to solidify the feeling of joy. A heartfelt kumzitz concluded the evening with a sense of yearning and deveikus to the Ribbono Shel Olam.

Kollel Nachlas Hatorah of Khal Machzikei Torah held a special Morning of Learning

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he large crowd was privileged to hear from Harav Nechemiah Goldstein, Rosh Kollel of Nachlas Hatorah. The Rosh Kollel spoke about Minhagei Chanukah and presented the background and origins to the customs of giving Chanukah gelt, playing dreidel, and eating donuts. The audience was intrigued by Rabbi Tzvi Rosen, Star-K Kashrus Administrator, who gave a Shiur about the contemporary olive oil industry. He gave a fascinating presentation of

how olive oil is made from the tree to the bottles we buy in the stores. This special Legal Holiday Program was arranged in addition to the regular schedule of learning at Kollel Nachlas Hatorah. The daily schedule on Sunday through Friday begins with 8:30 am Shacharis followed by shiurim and chavrusa learning from 9:45 am -11:30 am. For more information, please contact HaRav Nechemiah Goldstein at 410-358-1019. Photo Credit: Dave Weintraub

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Touching Greatness, Becoming Great - Photos from Yeshivas Toras Simcha

Chanukah projects

Rav Yosef Berger, Rov of Beis Knesses Kol Torah came to farher the 6th Graders on more than a blatt gemara in Bava Kammah. They knew it really well!

the 3rd Graders learned their first mishna in one of the many Ner Yisroel batai medrash!

Chanukah projects

Mesiba at Rebbe

Chanukah projects

Chanukah activity in the gym

Lichvod beginning to learn mishnayos, the 3rd Graders meet the Rosh Hayeshiva of Ner Yisroel, Horav Aharon Feldman Shlita.

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How did you get into the insurance business? Mostly by accident. I was straight out of yeshiva and college and was contemplating my next move. I needed health insurance for myself. I found the purchasing process to be confusing and frustrating. After researching and

I know you’re involved in several local organizations and schools. How do you find the time while running a business? Stephen Covey once said “The key is not spending time, but in investing it”. I’ve been privileged to be able to work closely with many of our local organizations and schools. The Baltimore non-profit sphere is replete with many talented and passionate individuals that go above and beyond their job description to make our community better and stronger. Working alongside these administrators has been a tremendous source of inspiration for me. I have absolutely gained more from the various organizations I am involved in than I have given. As far as the time commitment – I’m blessed to have a wonderful staff that keeps the business engine running if I’m tied up with organizational work.

What types of insurance does Columbia Group sell? We work with all Health and life insurance products with a primary focus on corporate employee benefits. We also have a very active individual health and life insurance division that sells dental, travel and disability insurance. Our main service area is the MD/DC area but we are currently active in 14 states. Do you see insurance rates coming down in the near future? After the massive rate increases in 2014-2015, the last few years have seen somewhat of a stabilization in rates. Healthcare costs continue to rise on an annual basis and with it, health insurance premiums. While I don’t have a crystal ball, I don’t see any indicators in the market to assume rates will precipitously decline. However, we have seen a tremendous rise in employer contributions towards groupbased health insurance as well as a rise in government subsidies on the individual market. Subsidies allow for families that are above the Medical Assistance threshold to still get financial assistance in paying their monthly premiums. Subsidies are determined based on family size and family income. Of course, health insurance is a highly politicized item and changing tax legislation, employment regulations, and insurance mandates are all elements in the political arena that could have an impact on healthcare.

So, we constantly keep our ear to the ground to try and get ahead of any legislative changes. I see all your company advertisements discuss Open Enrollment. What is Open Enrollment? Open enrollment is the one time a year when anyone can purchase health insurance. Throughout the year, a person would have to have a qualifying reason to purchase health insurance (involuntary loss of other coverage, marriage, divorce, etc) but from November 1 – December 15th, anyone can purchase health insurance for the upcoming year. This year, open enrollment is extended to January 15th for those seeking a February 1 effective date. If someone needs assistance with their insurance, how can they contact you. They can call my office at (410) 483-8888 and one of our insurance specialists will be able to assist them. Alternatively, we developed a site in conjunction with CareFirst (www. quotebymyself.com) where consumers can shop on their own and still be able to have my team assist them with any questions. Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers? Yes. Please consider supporting JEWELS School in their upcoming campaign!

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Please tell us a little about yourself My name is Aryeh Gross but many know me as Ari. I was born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ. I moved to Baltimore right when I got married to my wonderful wife Goldie. When we came to Baltimore, we knew a total of two people. We followed the Baltimore minhag of starting in Pickwick Apartments and slowly began to meet people. We quickly got enveloped by the warm and unified aura of Baltimore and decided to settle here. We’ve been living in Baltimore for 16 years now, and we couldn’t think of a better city to live in and raise our children.

learning what I needed to know for myself, I started sharing my newfound knowledge with others. I would call insurance companies for my friends to get them signed up and a nice customer service lady quipped “You could do this for a living”. I laughed it off, as I thought that selling insurance for a living is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. One thing led to another, and the Columbia Group was born. My first office was in Columbia, MD which was the genesis of the name. My office is currently located in Pikesville.

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The Week In News

Russia: Explosion in Coal Mine Kills 52

An explosion in a Siberian coal mine on Thursday left at 52 people dead. Russian officials said the explosion occurred approximately 820 feet (250 meters) underground. Rescuers recovered 14 bodies immediately but were forced to stop their search due to a buildup of carbon monoxide and methane. At least 239 people – of the 285 present in the mine at the time of the blast – were rescued. Forty-nine suffered injuries. Later that day, six rescuers died while searching for anyone who might be trapped in the mine. Emergency officials were quoted as saying that there is no chance of finding additional survivors in the Listvyazhnaya mine, which is located in Siberia’s Kemerovo region. According to Interfax, which quoted a regional administration representative, the 52 who perished died of

carbon monoxide poisoning. The site noted that miners usually have oxygen supplies sufficient for six hours, which can last for another few hours if necessary. According to Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Dmitry Demeshin, the fire that caused the explosion was likely ignited by a methane explosion caused by a spark. Russia’s Investigative Committee launched a criminal probe into the incident and said that the mine’s director and two senior managers have been detained. The country’s President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to the families of the victims, and ordered the government to offer any necessary assistance to the families of the injured. Regional officials have declared three days of mourning. In 2016, following a series of mine explosions, Russian authorities analyzed the safety of the country’s 58 coal mines and declared 20 of them, or 34% of those in the country, potentially unsafe. According to media reports, the Listvyazhnaya mine was not included in that list. In April of this year, Rostekhnadzor, Russia’s state technology and ecology watchdog, inspected the mine and found 139 violations, including breaching fire safety regulations.

ment on Wednesday of last week. This week, she was reelected to her position of prime minister. Andersson, a Social Democrat, said she was forced to resign after her budget bill failed and the Green Party quit the coalition. The government rejected its own budget proposal in favor of one presented by the opposition (which includes the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats). That prompted the Green Party to leave the two-party minority government. Andersson later said at a news conference that she did not “want to lead a government where there may be grounds to question its legitimacy.” On Monday, though, she won her second election in less than a week. She made history on Tuesday when she became the country’s first female prime minister. Of the 349-member Swedish parliament, known as the Riksdag, 101 members voted yes to Andersson, 173 voted no and 75 abstained. The country’s constitution allows prime ministers to be appointed as long as a parliamentary majority (175 people) does not vote against them, a slim margin for Andersson. After the vote, Andersson told reporters that she’s ready to “take Sweden forward” with a platform focused on welfare, climate change, and crime.

Swedish PM Taliban Murdered Resigns and Then Afghan Security is Reelected Forces Magdalena Andersson, Sweden’s first-ever female prime minister, resigned seven hours after her appoint-

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A few report reveals that the Taliban had executed dozens of members of the Afghan security forces after they surrendered following the militants’ seizure of Afghanistan in late summer. The report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) detailed “the summary execution or enforced disappearance” of 47 former members of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), including military personnel, police, intelligence service members and para-

military militia, who had surrendered to or were apprehended by Taliban forces between August 15 and October 31. The findings of the investigation knock the Taliban’s previous claims to the international community that it would lead a more inclusive government than it did two decades ago. Its leaders had promised a reprieve for those who collaborated with US forces during the American presence in the country. The report focuses on Ghazni, Helmand, Kandahar, and Kunduz provinces, but HRW notes that “the cases reflect a broader pattern of abuses reported in Khost, Paktiya, Paktika, and other provinces.” A Taliban deputy spokesman rejected the HRW report, saying that the Taliban established a general amnesty on their first day of power in Afghanistan. “Based on that all military and non-military personnel of the former government were forgiven and told they could live normally in Afghanistan, that no one could harm them,” Bilal Karimi said. Even so, Bilal did acknowledge that there were events when “some former forces were harmed,” but not as many as reported, adding that any “limited incidents” in which security forces were hurt were “due to personal enmity,” rather than Taliban policy. HRW’s research indicates that Taliban forces have killed or forcibly disappeared more than 100 former security forces members in just these four provinces in the three months since their takeover of the capital Kabul, on August 15. HRW researchers add, “They have also targeted family members of former security force members.” A man from Kandahar described to HRW what happened when the Taliban knocked on his door searching for his brother, a former member of the ANSF. “There was a knock on the door. The [Taliban] asked: ‘Is [your brother] home?’ I said no. ‘Do not be scared, tell him, we want to talk to him.’ I said no, he is not home. A couple of days later, they took my brother from the street. We looked everywhere. We went to the Taliban, who denied involvement. Two days later we found his body.” One Taliban fighter described a former prison official who was al-

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The Week In News legedly executed after being called back to work in August. “The commanders called him back to the job after a few days [after taking control of Kunduz]. They said, ‘Your job is here; you know this job.’ The prison has three gates. [‘Muhammad’] crossed the first gate. He was shot dead between second and the third gate.” “In the weeks before the Taliban overran Kabul, revenge killings, including the targeting of government officials, were already on the increase in major cities and along key highways,” HRW says, adding, “The Taliban, through their intelligence operations and access to employment records that the former government left behind, have identified new targets for arrest and execution.” HRW alleges information that was collected as part of a so-called “amnesty program” that would guarantee the safety of surrendering ANSF forces was used “to detain and summarily execute or forcibly disappear individuals within days of their registration, leaving their bodies for their relatives or communities to find.”

North Korean Recaptured 40 Days After Escape

A North Korean man was recaptured Sunday morning after evading authorities for 40 days following his escape from a Chinese prison. Zhu Xianjian, 39, was jailed in China’s Jilin province after fleeing North Korea in 2013 and being sentenced for entering China illegally, larceny, and robbery with intent to cause serious injury, in 2014. He was due to be released from prison and deported back to North Korea in 2023. A statement from the city of Jilin’s public security bureau said that the es-

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capee was caught by local police from the Fengman district. According to the Global Times, Zhu had hidden in a local abandoned tourist attraction. Zhu escaped the Jilin City prison complex on October 18 by climbing on a shed and vaulting over the outer wall. That month, Chinese authorities issued a bounty notice for $23,400 if he was captured alive. Later, the reward for information leading to his capture increased to $109,000.

Canada Releases 50M Lbs. of Maple Syrup

The Quebec Maple Syrup Producers are releasing 50 million pounds of maple syrup from their strategic reserves.

The government-sponsored Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) controls approximately 70% of the world’s maple syrup supply. It is a consortium of over 11,000 Canadian maple syrup producers. According to QMSP this week, this past spring, which was warmer and shorter than expected, led to a 24% year-over-drop in maple syrup production. This, combined with increased demand as people spend more time at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, led the company to release 50 million pounds from its strategic reserve. That is the largest amount released in a single season since 2008, and it equals about half of the entire reserve. QMSP spokeswoman Helene Normandin said the group will authorize more production of syrup next season in order to make up for the shortfall this year. Over 70% of the world’s maple syrup is produced in Quebec. “What we can figure at this moment is maybe the season here in Quebec will start a bit earlier in February, instead of March, and end earlier also,” she said.

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The Week In News Preserving or Denigrating Jewish Property?

Jozef Gucwa is the owner of a small ice cream shop in a small town in Poland. Now, though, he is offering up something more than a cold, sweet confection. In the store adjacent to his shop, Gucwa has opened up a makeshift museum filled with a gallery of items once owned by local Jews, including the family that lived in the building before the Holocaust. Gucwa opened the “museum” in Bobowa, a town near Krakow, in 2019. Poland’s main Jewish museum, Polin, in Warsaw, has shortlisted him

for an award for preserving Jewish heritage. But an advocate for preserving Jewish sites says Gucwa should instead be penalized for illegally appropriating Jewish property. On display at “Beit Landau” are silver items including a Chanukah menorah, a gragger for Purim, a Torah scroll, finials that adorn the top ends of the rollers of a Torah scroll, kiddush cups, an elaborate fish-shaped statue, a knife opener with a Star of David adorning the handle and a jewelry box. Several dreidels are also on display. Gucwa named his museum “Landau House,” which is the name of the family that lived in the building during the war. He charges museum-goers $2 admission. Meir Bulka has emerged as a leading advocate for preserving Jewish heritage in Poland, after he saw cemeteries in disarray during a trip to see his ancestral home there. Bulka says items on display at “Beit Landau” were illegally appropriated in violation of Poland’s monuments laws, which generally places historically

significant finds in the possession of the state. The items on display were found during renovations to the building aimed at expanding the ice cream parlor. According to Bulka, Gucwa has declared his shop a museum in order to avoid having to give up the valuable property.

Earthquake Shakes Peru Peru’s President Pedro Castillo Terrones has promised support for those affected by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake which shook the country on Sunday morning.

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The quake caused structural damage in the northern part of the country. No casualties were reported, but buildings and roads have sustained damage, government officials said. The epicenter was in the Amazonas region and had a recorded depth of 112 kilometers (69.6 miles). In a tweet, President Terrones wrote, “All my solidarity with the people of Amazonas in the face of the strong earthquake. I have arranged for the ministries and agencies of the executive branch to implement immediate action. You are not alone, brothers. We will support those affected by structural damage.” He added that he would soon visit areas affected by the quake. Earlier on Sunday, an earthquake measuring 5.2 struck Lima, Peru.

U.S. Navy Rescues Iranian Seamen The U.S. Navy has rescued two Iranian seamen who had been afloat on a fishing boat for eight days.

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In a statement released on Sunday, the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) confirmed, “A U.S. Navy vessel rescued two Iranian mariners (on Saturday) from a fishing vessel after it was adrift for eight days in the Gulf of Oman.” Navy cargo ship Charles Drew arrived with food, water, and medical care six hours after a distress call from the mariners. The men were then transferred to an Omani coastguard vessel near Muscat. “The mariners were in good health and spirits at the time of the transfer,” the U.S. navy said. NAVCENT Commander Vice Admiral Brad Cooper added, “We appreciate the government of Oman for its assistance and support in helping us return the mariners home.”

Ancient Roman Coins Found in Germany

They are being analyzed at the University of Tübingen. According to Sebastian Gairhos, the head of city archeology in Augsburg, “A soldier earned between 375 and 500 denarii in the early 3rd century. The treasure, therefore, is the equivalent of about 11 to 15 annual salaries.” “The new finds now allow numerous new statements — not only about the function of the place, the origin and composition of the troops and civilians, as well as replenishment logistics — but above all to its dating.” He added, “We assume that the treasure was buried outside the city of Augusta Vindelicum near the Via Claudia running there in the early 3rd century and was never recovered.” Augsburg Mayor Eva Weber stated, “Augsburg’s rich history just got richer. Again, the importance of Augsburg during Roman times has been made abundantly clear.”

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A cache of 5,600 silver coins dating from the Roman Empire nearly 2,000 years ago has been found in Germany. In a statement, the Augsburg Art Collections and Museum noted that the discovery last week was the largest-ever found in the state of Bavaria. The coins, weighing 33 pounds in total and minted in the denarii currency, were uncovered in an old gravel riverbed near what was once a military base. They were discovered during excavations after the town of Wertach was flooded. The oldest of the coins were minted in 54-68 CE, under Emperor Nero, and the newest were minted just after 200 CE, under Septimius Severus.

A Canadian medical researcher who became the country’s top expert on indigenous health has been fired from her government position and university professorship after she was exposed as a fraud. Public health expert Carrie Bourassa, who served as scientific director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health, was suspended on November 1, just days after the CBC published an expose on her true background. Bourassa, who claimed to be of the Métis nation, is actually descended from immigrant farmers who hailed from Russia, Poland, and Czechoslovakia. Initially, doubts surfaced when Bourassa began to claim she was also of Anishinaabe and Tlingit heritage

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The Week In News and began dressing in a stereotypical indigenous fashion – including wearing an electric blue shawl and a feather in partially-braided hair for a 2019 TEDx Talk at the University of Saskatchewan. At that time, she told the crowd, “My name is Morning Star Bear. I’m Bear Clan. I’m Anishinaabe Métis from Treaty Four Territory.” Winona Wheeler, an associate professor of Indigenous studies at the college and a documented member of Manitoba’s Fisher River Cree Nation, began investigating Bourassa’s heritage, taking her findings to the media. When Bourassa was asked to provide proof of her heritage, she claimed she had been adopted into the Métis community by a friend of her deceased grandfather, Clifford Laroque. “Even though Clifford passed, those bonds are even deeper than death because the family has taken me as if I was their blood family,” she insisted in a statement. “In turn, I serve the Métis community to the best of my ability.”

Relatives of Munich Massacre Victims Demand UN Compensation

Family members of the 11 Israeli athletes who were slaughtered in the 1972 Munich Olympics are demanding compensation from Libya, Ger-

many’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday. The 21 family members are demanding 110 million euros from United Nations-administered Libyan funds that were frozen due to embezzlement allegations. According to them, then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi supported and actively assisted the terrorists after they escaped Munich. In addition, some of the terrorists entered Germany on forged Libyan passports. The survivors and the victims’ families also noted that Gaddafi gave then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat $5 million as a gift for the attack, and the three terrorists who survived the attack flew to Libya after they were released from prison. In Libya, they received a hero’s welcome and went into hiding with Gaddafi’s assistance. According to the report, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan assisted the families in presenting the UN with documents proving Gaddafi’s involvement.

Did Israel Hack Iran’s Gas System?

Israel carried out a cyber-attack against Iran’s gas system last month, two U.S. defense officials told The New York Times. According to the Saturday report, the Israeli attack was followed by an Iranian attack on an Israeli dating site, releasing the details of the site’s users. In the Israeli attack, which began October 26, gas pumps and the country’s 4,300 fuel distribution stations shut down, as digital messages blamed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Some of the

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The Week In News gas pumps were fixed within several days, but the prices remained high and the system did not fully recover for two weeks. At the time, at least one Iranian official blamed Israel and the U.S. for the incident. Speaking to The New York Times, an Iranian Oil Ministry official and an oil dealer confirmed that the attackers took over Iran’s fuel storage tanks and may have accessed data on international oil sales. The Ministry’s servers, however, are not connected to the internet. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the gas attack, nor has Iran claimed responsibility for the Black Shadow group’s attack on the Israeli dating site..

New Findings on COVID and Pregnancy New Israeli research has uncovered one reason why intrauterine deaths are

twice as common among COVID-19 patients than among the general population, Arutz Sheva reported. The research, led by Professor Eran Barzilay of Assuta Hospital in Ashdod, focused on women who had experienced the stillborn death of their fetus shortly after contracting COVID-19. Researchers looked at the following parameters: pathological tests for the placenta and PCR test results for mother, baby, and placenta. They also compared groups of PCR-positive and PCR-negative mothers and babies at the time of birth. In some of the cases of stillbirth, there was a higher level of virus in the baby than in the mother, and in all cases of stillbirth, there had been significant damage to the placental tissue. The researchers concluded that the reason for intrauterine death was damage caused by COVID-19 to the placenta, which impeded the transfer of oxygen and other vital matter to the fetus. Commenting on the results, Prof. Barzilay said, “Research has already suggested that a woman who is sick

with coronavirus is twice as likely to deliver a stillborn baby than a woman who is not sick with COVID-19.” “In our study, we attempted to find the reason for this phenomenon. What we discovered is that the coronavirus can infect the fetus and the placenta, causing substantial damage to the fabric of the placenta. It appears that this is the cause of the higher intrauterine mortality rate.”

No Public Transportation for New Visitors

Israel’s Transportation Ministry on Sunday evening announced that those landing at Ben Gurion International Airport will no longer be allowed to travel by public transportation, due to concerns over the new Omicron COVID-19 variant.

The Ministry added that transportation from the airport will be by private vehicle only. At the same time, longterm parking at the airport will cost 50% less, the Ministry said. So far, Israel has identified four cases of the variant, and 34 others are suspected of carrying it. The new rules began on midnight on Sunday, and include a three-day quarantine for the vaccinated, with a second PCR test on day three after arrival. The quarantine rules for the unvaccinated have not changed. In addition, those arriving in Israel from “red” countries – a list which includes all African countries other than Morocco and Egypt – must quarantine in a government-run hotel until a second PCR test performed days after their arrival comes out negative.

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According to a study conducted by 10Bis, Haifa’s falafels have been rated the best in the world, with a 9.07 rating. While only four percent of the city’s eateries serve falafel, those restaurants seem to offer the best falafel dishes. Following close behind, Tel Aviv nabbed the second-tastiest spot with a score of 8.7. The city boasts 13 falafel joints for every 100,000 people – more than Haifa. Outside of the Holy Land, Beirut was gifted third place, with a score of 7.92. 9.36% of Beirut’s restaurants serve the Middle Eastern fare. Amsterdam, Brussels, Athens, Berlin, Lisbon and Copenhagen rounded out the rest of the top findings. Pass the chummus, please

Stuck in a Bar Thousands of Ethiopians OK-ed to Immigrate

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The Israeli government on Sunday voted to allow thousands of Ethiopians, who claim to be Jewish, to immigrate to Israel. The decision comes as Ethiopia faces rising concerns of a civil war. Despite the green light, recent evidence has shown that some of the Ethiopians brought over have no connection to Israel and no Jewish ancestry, and others have committed war crimes.

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ernments.” The Jewish Agency for Israel Acting Chairman of the Executive Yaakov Haogel said, “This government decision will put an end to the suffering of many families who will finally be reunited after years of waiting to make aliyah.” Jewish Federations of North America Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mark Wilf added, “Today’s announcement is an exciting and important step to reunite families and strengthen the Jewish people.”

All of those included in the current plan have first-degree relatives already in Israel and were declared eligible to immigrant in 2015. They will be brought to Israel in “the near future.” In a statement, Immigration and Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata (Blue and White) praised the decision, saying, “Today, we are correcting an ongoing injustice done to those waiting for their immigration to be approved from as early as 2015, but not implemented in previous gov-

For three days, scores of people were forced to stay in a pub when the United Kingdom was hit by a snowstorm. At least 60 people went out to the Tan Hill Inn in Sawledale in northern England, thinking they’ll enjoy a pint or two. But by Friday night, the storm had brought down a power line and blocked roads – forcing the patrons to stay in the bar for three nights.

“They’re all in good spirits, they’re all eating and drinking well,” said Andrew Hields, 36, who co-owns the bar. Guests were entertained by a band, who had been booked to play on Friday night, as well with quizzes, table games, karaoke and sing-along carol sessions. There are three routes to the isolated pub, which sits at an altitude of 1,732 feet above sea level. Two of them were blocked by snow drifts, and a downed power line shut the third, said Hields, who has been prevented from getting to the pub. A mountain rescue team was called in to evacuate one man who is undergoing dialysis treatment, but the rest of the patrons stayed for a unique experience.

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Torah Thought

Good Spirits

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

ne of the earliest discoveries of an allusion in the Torah to the holiday of Chanukah is recorded by the 16th century Italian scholar, Rav Yehoshua Boaz in his work Shiltei HaGiborim. When the brothers return for a second time, this time with Binyamin, Yosef directs the man in charge of his house to bring the brothers in to dine with him. Yosef then instructs him: ‫ — )וטבח טז‬And slaughter, ‫טבח והכן‬ — meat and prepare it

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The last five letters in this phrase ‫ח והכן‬, are the letters that comprise the name of this holiday, ‫חנוכה‬, Chanuka. Additionally, the remaining letters in this phrase, ‫וטבח טב‬, are numerically equivalent to the number of candles one uses during the eight days of Chanuka, ascending from one on the first day to eight on the last for a total of 36. (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8) If one also adds the letter ‫ח‬that appears at the end of the second word to the previous ones, the total is 44, which represents the total number of candles including the ‫שמש‬, the extra light we add to the ascending number of candles on each of the eight nights, that serves as the ‘utility’ candle we use to ignite the others every night. Is this merely a ‘clever’ observation? It would seem totally out of any context with the theme of the holiday. Truth be told, the Shiltei HaGiborim suggests that the placement of this reference specifically here is to emphasize the custom to celebrate the holiday with a festive meal, even though it is not mandatory as it is by virtually every other holiday. This portion indeed is always read

in proximity to Chanuka, making this ‘hint’ very relevant. But we still may wonder whether there is any significance in the story of Yosef and his brothers at this juncture, other than their being engaged in the activity of eating, that is germane to Chanuka. The Talmud explains that the ‘slaughtering’ and the ‘preparation’ mentioned here refers to two separate details. Yosef firstly told his aide to display to the brothers the severed part of the animal’s neck so that they may observe that it was ritually slaughtered properly in accordance with Jewish tradition. He then told him to ‘prepare’ the meat by extracting the ‫גיד הנשה‬, the sciatic nerve, in their presence, for that too was prohibited to them for consumption in commemoration of the victorious battle Yaakov had with the angel of Esav, who wounded Yaakov in that area of his body. The Talmud brings proof from the need to remove the sciatic nerve before they could eat, as evidence that the prohibition to eat this nerve was in force already then, even though the Torah wouldn’t be given for hundreds of years later. Tosafos poses a challenging question to this premise: Clearly, they were also shown the neck having been slaughtered in accordance with the laws of ritual slaughter even though everyone agrees that the implementation of those laws was only mandatory after the receiving of the Torah at Sinai. Nevertheless, although they weren’t ‘obligated’ to uphold that law they voluntarily abided by it. By the same virtue, perhaps although they weren’t obligated to observe the prohibition to refrain from eating the sciatic nerve, they chose to keep it anyway. How then can the Talmud prove

they were indeed already mandated to refrain from eating it? Years ago during my Kollel days I heard a most fascinating answer in the name of the Brisker Rav. It begins with a true story. There once was a woman in the town of Brody who brought a ritually slaughtered chicken to the local kloiz, the informal local study hall where great Torah scholars would quietly pore over tomes of Talmud with great devotion and effort for hours on end, to pose a halachic query regarding the kosher status of the chicken. There were two scholars there who would become legends; Rav Yechezkel Landau, popularly referred to by the name of his masterful collection of responsa, the Noda BeYehuda, who became a great halachist and community leader; and the Holy Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidus movement. She presented it to the Noda BeYehuda who asked her a few questions and proceeded to declare it kosher. After the woman left happy and relieved, the Baal Shem commented to the great Rav that he knew as soon as she walked in that it was kosher as he had observed a ‫רוח טהרה‬, a ‘spirit of purity’ emanating from the bird. The Noda BeYehuda who was an outspoken antagonist of the Baal Shem’s mystical teachings responded sharply and asserting firmly that when it comes to adhering to the letter of the law in our obligations one must rely on hard facts and knowledge alone and one may not base decisions on mystical and heavenly devices or instincts. With this principle the Brisker Rav suggested the following solution to the question of Tosafos.

The Talmud states that Yosef’s aide merely displayed the freshly slaughtered neck to the brothers while the sciatic nerve he removed in their presence. Why didn’t he slaughter it as well in their presence? Why did he remove the nerve in front of them and not just present the nerve extracted leg? The answer is that since the prohibition to refrain from eating the sciatic nerve is mandatory it must be clear that it was removed. The fact that they could observe a ‘spirit of purity’ hovering over it could not be relied on when dealing with obligatory law. However, regarding the laws of ritual slaughter which were to first go into effect after the giving of Torah at Sinai, and their observing its laws now was merely a voluntary choice, they could merely look at the slaughtered neck and rely on the evidence of the ‘spirit of purity’ that enveloped it! Whether we are on the level of the sons of Yaakov or the Baal Shem Tov and able to sense the ‘spirit of purity’, there is a vital lesson to be derived from this very notion. So often we get bogged down in the details of fulfilling properly our obligations but forget about the spiritual essence and objective in all that we do. A case in point: The brothers were so convinced of their righteous decision to dispatch with their younger brother and the halachic justifications of their argument in determining that Yosef was an existential threat to the legacy of Yaakov. Yet they allowed this absorption in the process to blind them to the instinctive kindness that should have guided them as well, that is equally part of our heritage.

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Torah Thought

DECEMBER 2, 2021

Wasn’t their very first expression of remorse when they admitted “we saw his heartfelt anguish when he pleaded with us, and we paid no heed”? (‫)מב כא‬ There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.

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That is the legacy of the teaching of chassidus, to invest each act and moment not only with the proper conduct but emotion as well.

Each night we sing: ‫לעת תכין מטבח מצר המנבח‬ When You will have prepared the slaughter for the blaspheming foe ‫אז אגמור בשיר מזמור חנוכת המזבח‬ Then I shall complete with a song of hymn the dedication Altar These words that reflect on the ‘prepared slaughter’ clearly echo the words in our portion ‫טבח והכן‬, slaughter and prepare.

The slaughtering we pine for is the reduction of our physical enemies and their life force, the evil inclination. Perhaps the only way we can guarantee we will be successful in dispatching these ‘barking dogs’ is by living inspired, infused with a ‘spirit of purity’ that is evident in our enthusiasm in carrying out His will. The Saintly Divrei Chaim points out that we refer here to the dedication of the entire Tabernacle and Temple as the ‫חנוכת המזבח‬, ‘Dedication of the Altar’, and not more appropriately the ‫חנוכת הבית‬, ‘Dedication of the House (Temple)’. The word ‫מזבח‬we use for Altar is rooted in ‫זבח‬, slaughter, alluding to the animal sacrifices we bring upon the Altar. Yet the Altar of Incense is also called a ‫מזבח‬, even though no animals are slaughtered for it and only incense is placed upon it. The Zohar

explains that the beautiful fragrance of the incense that burned on this Altar represents the exquisite ‘spirit of purity’ that figuratively will slaughter the Sitra Achra, our archenemy, the evil inclination, and all its minions. It is for this ‫מזבח‬, this symbolic slaughter; we quest for and dedicate our lives. Only if we echo the message to live inspired, expressing the ‘spirit of purity’ in all that we engage in will we succeed in raising our families successfully and be able to invigorate our world with G-d’s presence. May the ‘fragrant’ beauty of our exuberance finally bring the evil inclination to its defeat. ‫אז אגמור בשיר מזמור חנוכת המזבח‬ Then I shall complete with a song of hymn the dedication Altar!

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Perhaps it is precisely this allusion to the holiday of Chanuka and this custom, and specifically not an obligation, to celebrate with a festive meal.

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Certainly, the Baal Shem Tov too was aware that when deciding whether an item is kosher or not we must base our decision on clinical information and knowledge. But one must never lose one’s sense of the ‘spirit of purity’ that must be ever present in all that we do.

One who is infused with an emotional attachment and sensitivity to the greatness of the miracle of Chanuka and the deepened bond it created between our nation and our Father in Heaven, will instinctively burst out in festive eating and song, without any need for a command to do so, allowing the ‘spirit of purity’ that burns deeply within us to ignite the atmosphere with excitement.

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Kislev/Teves

Teves 16

Teves 9

Chanuka

Teves 2

Chanuka

Kislev 25

Monday 29

Teves 23

Reb Rubashkin Lecture @9:30 see page 23

Kislev 26

Teves 24

Teves 17

Teves 10

Teves 3

Chanuka

Tuesday Tuesday Kislev 27 Chanuka

Teves 25

Teves 18

Teves 11

Teves 4

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2021 November/December

Teves 22

Teves 15

Teves 8

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Chanuka

‫ראש חודש‬

Teves 1

Kislev 24

Sunday

DECEMBER 2, 2021

Friday Friday Kislev 29

4:25 PM

4:35 PM

Teves 27

4:30 PM

Teves 20

4:27 PM

Teves 13

4:25 PM

Teves 6

Chanuka

Saturday Saturday

‫ראש חודש‬

Kislev 30 Chanuka

‫פרשת מקץ‬

Teves 7

5:28 PM

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Teves 14

5:28 PM

‫פרשת וארא‬

‫פרשת שמות‬

5:30 PM

Teves 21

5:39 PM

Teves 28

5:34 PM

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‫פרשת ויחי‬

WIT Melava Malka @8:00 see page 35

‫פרשת ויגש‬

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Chanuka

Teves 26

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Next BJH Issue

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Teves 5

Next BJH Issue

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Parenting Pearls

Thoughts on Educational Testing By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

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recently spoke to a few parents who expressed misgivings about getting their child tested to check for educational disabilities and determine if their child qualified for therapeutic services. This was not the only time I’ve seen these concerns, as this is something many parents hesitate with. As this is clearly on the minds of parents, I thought it would be an important topic to address. It may not be a glamorous one, but it is a necessary one when it comes to parenting. I would like to mention in advance that I have an inherent bias due to my professional training. All the information in this article is accurate to the best of my knowledge, but there is always the possibility that something will differ in your child’s particular school or district or that policies will change. No article can accurately cover every scenario, and the best answer will depend on your personal situation. Others may have different opinions than me, but what follows are some of my thoughts on this issue. Parents, along with their child’s teacher or others the parents trust, are the most appropriate and informed people to decide what best meets their child’s needs.

When to Think about Testing Usually, parents will consider testing if they see their child is not succeeding to the degree the child should be, the child isn’t able to do the work at all, or the child is having to work too hard to learn. For most parents, they will probably hear the suggestion from their child’s teacher but it may be the parent that first expresses concerns. Parents know their children best and naturally may be the first ones to spot a potential issue. Parents see their child at home and know whether their child flies through their math homework or cries through every example. Parents will also be the ones to recognize if the child takes far too long to finish the evening assignments. (As a related side point, parents should speak to the appropriate teacher if homework takes too long or is too frustrating. It could mean the child is having trouble or that the material isn’t being taught sufficiently in the classroom. Respectfully communicating with the teacher can give valuable feedback.) Teachers often have years of experience and see many children your

child’s age and developmental level. An experienced teacher may be the first to recognize an issue is brewing because they can mentally compare your child’s strengths and weaknesses against the other children his/her age and quickly see when a child is struggling. Even in a classroom full of kids, a teacher can see who is having difficulties. Please remember that when a child struggles in school, it isn’t a symptom of failure or a judgment on you or your child. Many children have challenges for any number of reasons, and an experienced teacher recognizes this without judgement. I personally find it irritating when people use the phrase “bad baby.” “Oh, is she a good or bad baby?” they ask. Babies can’t be “bad” because they don’t have the capability. They cry because that’s how they express themselves. Some babies have more needs than others and may present more challenges, but that’s not a function of being “good” or “bad.” Young children, too, aren’t “bad” when they struggle in school. Young children generally struggle or act up because of influences beyond their control. They lack the ability to think about their actions first and then follow through

with the appropriate self-control. We need to educate them to behave in a more acceptable fashion but that’s chinuch; they’re not expected to suddenly be able to control themselves without intervention.

The Benefits There are a number of benefits to testing. Having an accurate diagnosis can greatly assist your child’s educational team in best meeting his/her needs. As much as someone might assume they know the problem, quality testing can yield surprising results and the issue may not be what you assumed. Without accurate information, you cannot effectively solve the problem. You need testing to qualify for therapeutic services such as speech therapy, resource room, occupational therapy, or physical therapy. Testing results may also mean your child qualifies for a number of different options such as assistive technology or accommodations for testing. Children who qualify for services receive them free through the school district. Children may also be able to get some services through their health insurance plan. Therapy services can help address

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any core issues your child might have. Rather than continuously putting on a band-aid, therapy can help solve the issue. Think of therapy as addressing the root cause or as removing a potential blockage that is preventing them from learning. Alternatively, therapy may help a child learn to compensate for their weaknesses. As adults, we often compensate for deficiencies without even realizing it. As an example, adults with sensory issues may avoid uncomfortable fabrics. There are many options available that your child can only benefit from if there is an accurate description of the concerns and a well thought-out plan to concentrate on those core issues. Whatever difficulties your child is experiencing are most likely something the testers have seen time and time again. It can be emotionally beneficial for parents and children to know they are not alone and that whatever is happening has a name and a way to manage it. It’s usually scarier to face the unknown than to have something concrete to work with. For one of our children, their diagnosis was key to helping us understand why he/she was having trouble reading. Having a formal diagnosis, along with a clear explanation, was very helpful in normalizing, rather than stigmatizing, the problems. I’ve heard it’s far easier to get accommodations for the SAT or other high stakes testing when there is already a paper trail showing need. Parents that have avoided testing until just before college have often found it’s nearly impossible to get accommodations, since it seems like the child has no history of learning issues.

The Hesitations I personally feel there are far more benefits than disadvantages to testing when necessary, but I do want to lay out any possible hesitations parents may have. Since testing can be long and tedious, it isn’t something done without cause. Testing can be frustrating for children, as many of the tests require a child to fail a certain number of tasks to stop the testing. Children can become discouraged being asked to complete tasks that are too easy or too difficult for them. While I personally don’t think this should deter parents from testing if

their child is struggling, it is a potential reason to not test “just because.” Parents have often expressed a concern of how a diagnosis will affect their child’s life and are hesitant to have their child “labeled.” Along with this, parents are concerned that others outside the school may find out

child but that doesn’t take away from their immense worth and your love for them. There is a concern that children will feel different after being formally diagnosed. My guess is that most children in this situation already suspect something. Children are very percep-

Think of therapy as addressing the root cause or as removing a potential blockage that is preventing them from learning.

that their child is receiving services. Any information found from testing is entirely confidential and can’t be shared without your permission. It’s really not that different from any other medical information. Any information gleaned from these evaluations should not follow your child unless your child chooses to bring them along. Parents do have the option of getting neuropsychological or psychoeducational testing done privately. This testing is generally more thorough, and parents may have more privacy in who accesses the information. The downside is that this testing is often more expensive and not all parents can afford the out-of-pocket costs. For those interested in private testing but unable to pay the full price tag, they may be able to get it done by a college, such as Adelphi, that has psychology PhD students. The future doctorates are overseen by an experienced PhD supervisor. A friend of mine went this route and found it helpful. This may be an option for parents whose hesitation is having the district or school involved. The overwhelming majority of families choose to go through the district, but it’s nice for parents to know their options. Emotionally, it can affect parents to hear that their child has a “diagnosis” but that should not be a reason to avoid testing. What it does mean is that you should prepare yourself for the possibility you might have a painful, emotional response to the results. It’s often hard to hear something negative about your precious

tive and realize when they’re having trouble in school. They also recognize if the teacher has to continuously stop because they’re acting inappropriately in class. Getting tested shouldn’t make a child feel much more different than they may already be feeling. Any extra negative feelings that a child

may experience should hopefully be mitigated by the benefits of getting the issues addressed. Additionally, many children in any given school receive services, and there is no longer a stigma attached. While every case is different, if the child seems fine, then there is no need to pursue testing. But, if your child is having issues, then ignoring those issues won’t stop the problems. In fact, ignoring issues long enough will often exacerbate the problem. If testing can yield practical benefits for the child, then I personally think the pros outweigh the cons. The most important thing is to remember how wonderful your child is and appreciate the gift that Hashem gave you. Daven for their success and see nachas.

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

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The Beauty and Mystery of Israel’s Olives

The Founder of Galilee Green, an Olive Oil Company, Shares His Story BY RABBI SHMUEL VEFFER, AS TOLD TO SARA LIEBERMAN

ost people know me as the inventor of the Kosher Lamp and founder of Kosher Innovations. In 2009, I sold Kosher Innovations to my partner and moved back to Israel. Eventually, I settled in the Moshava (village) of Yavne’el in the Galilee, southwest of Tiveria. On a balmy day in November 2013, my neighbor invited me to harvest some olives from the trees on our shul’s property. We picked armfuls of green, fragrant olives all day, and some local children helped us. We drove 15 minutes to the nearby Kibbutz Degania to press the olives. They were so helpful and kind. It was close to midnight when we returned to Yavne’el with jerry cans ﬁlled with oil. The local rav came over and helped us take trumos and maaseros – it’s a mitzvah d’oraisa to take tithes on olive oil. Then we tasted the most incredible olive oil ever! It was light, fruity, and fragrant, with just the right balance of tart and sweet. The oil was so pure and exquisite I knew we needed to share the wealth, so I founded an olive oil company, Galilee Green. My background was in kiruv and marketing, therefore I worked out an arrangement with nearby Kibbutz Degania. They provided us with olive oil made from their own groves, and we did the marketing. The olive trees are located on the portion of land that was allotted to the tribe of Naftali. The strength of the

harvest is directly intertwined with prophecies and blessings from the Torah. Naftali’s bracha was: “Naftali is a deer let loose: he gives goodly words” (Bereishis 49:21). Rashi elucidates that this refers to the Ginosar valley in Naftali’s portion. Similarly to the natural grace and alacrity of the deer, the fertile land in this region will ripen exceedingly fast. Naftali’s bracha embraces most fruits, and farmers plant whatever crop proves most rewarding. In the early days of Israel, citrus and cotton were commonly grown. Currently, many farmers consider mangos to be a lucrative crop. The blessing holds true today, as the eye can behold the ﬂourishing, fertile crops thriving in the Lower Galilee. The bountiful growth of this region of Eretz Yisroel sends a powerful message. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a) states that Mashiach is near when the prophecy of Yechezkel comes true. “But ye mountains of Yisrael ye shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Yisrael; for they are at hand to come” (Ezekiel 36:8).

In a manner that transcends nature, the relationship between the Jews and the land of Israel is so powerful that, according to the prophecy, the land was to remain barren until the Jews returned, at which point it was to give forth abundant fruit. And this is indeed what has happened in recent history. I merited to see Yaakov’s bracha come true in my own backyard! When I harvested my date tree, I was shocked to see the sheer amount of fruit this one tree bore. There was 440 pounds of fruit! This was more than enough for me and my family for an entire year. Similarly, our olive oil is among the highest quality and tastiest extra virgin olive oil around. It is an exceptional product, and our customers are discerning and know their olive oil. Over 80 percent of our customers are non-Jewish supporters of Israel in the U.S. and Canada. We sell via our website, to countries around the world, including New Zealand, Norway, Alaska, and Australia.

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happy Chanukah

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

esides for our secret ingredients of the kedusha and blessings of Eretz Yisroel, what else makes our oil so extraordinary? Initially, we cold-press the Barnea and Coratina varieties of olives. Both species are grown in the Galilee and nourished by the Jordan River. Cold-pressed oil retains its high nutritional content and contains numerous health benefits. Then, we fuse the two kinds of oil into a special blend that is smooth and mild with a slightly tangy kick after a few seconds. That peppery tang indicates that the oil is 100% extra virgin. Our oil is certified kosher under the supervision of Rabbi Shlomo Didi of Kinneret-Emek HaYarden Rabbinic Council and is also certified by Badatz Beit Yosef. The olives are only picked from trees that are over three years old (orlah) and all biblical tithes are taken. We bring the olives directly to the olive press the same day that they are harvested. As part of the kosher supervision, the machines are washed and cleaned before our oil is cold-pressed. The oils are extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). This means that we coldpress the olives once, and they must be less than 0.8% in acidity. Additionally, our oil is unfiltered, so there may be some sediment, but is healthier because it contains the maximum polyphenols and antioxidants. Processed oil uses heat to extract more oil. In fact, Israeli oil facilities are not built to create lower quality oil that requires 2nd or 3rd processes of refinement. When you buy our oil, you are supporting a small business in Israel. You are helping Israel prosper after 2,000 years of exile and helping the Land bring forth her fruits! Finally, we have customers in Italy and Spain (two of the most famous olive oil exporters), and our

clients around the world rave about the taste and quality of our oil. Israel does not produce enough olive oil for the needs of the local population. We are a net importer of olive oil. Spain boasts the highest production of olives and olive oil. They provide 40% of olive products around the world. That’s why you won’t see much Israeli olive oil outside of Israel. Chanukah use does not affect our sales because 80-90% of our customers are non-Jewish and they enjoy the flavor of our oil in their food. Also, most people will not use such high-quality oil for kindling lights. A word about Shemittah. Shemittah for olives becomes relevant for next year’s harvest. The olives will be flowering and budding this spring during a Shemittah year which gives them kedushas sheviis. The olives that were harvested in November and early December of this

Shemittah laws come into eﬀect for olives in the eighth year.

istorically, during the Roman Empire, the currency and economy of Israel was based on its olive oil. We exported oil throughout the Roman Empire. It was our liquid gold. If you go to an archeological dig in the Galilee, what’s the first thing that you are likely to find? A small olive oil lamp. They are everywhere. You can also find ancient olive presses. In Biblical times, olives were grown for oil, and not for eating whole. The oil was used in food, like it is today, but also in lamps as the best source of lighting. Olive oil has significant biblical meaning and is one of the seven special species of fruit of Eretz Yisrael enumerated in the Torah. However, the most important role for the olive oil was to ignite the menorah in the

“Jews are likened to olive oil. When faced with unfathomable challenges and crushing heartbreak, we don’t crack – we produce this beautiful, pure substance that lights up the world.” year, which was after the Shemittah year started, don’t have the kedusha of shviis because they ﬂowered and budded last March, before the Shemittah year, in the sixth year, so they have the status belonging to the sixth year. Thus, we can harvest them and sell them around the world. In the spring, there will be a new crop budding and that will have kedushas shviis, so even though we will be harvesting them after the Shemittah year ends, they still have kedushas shviis. All the relevant

Temple. On Chanukah, it is hiddur mitzvah to light with shemen zayit zach. Our sages tell us that light represents Torah. “Ner mitzvah v’torah ohr.” Ner is a mitzvah, and Torah is ohr. Torah is the big vessel (menorah) that emanates light. It is our instruction manual for living. Jews are likened to olive oil. When faced with unfathomable challenges and crushing heartbreak, we don’t crack – we produce this beautiful, pure substance that lights up the world. We are indestructible. Also,

olive oil represents our mission; we are the light onto the nations, here to spread the knowledge of Hashem and the wisdom of His torah. “Ki mitzion tetzey Torah, u’dvar Hashem m’Yerushalayim.” The rabbis teach us that the words “teytzey Torah” is the actual Torah and “u’dvar Hashem” was the words of our prophets. We lit the menorah to symbolize lighting up the world with Torah. R’ Zev Leﬀ said that the Jewish people are like olive oil and the nations are like water. If you take even a few drops of oil, pour it on water and place it in the sun, the water can’t evaporate because it’s protected by a sheen of oil. The oil is supported by the water and the water is protected by the oil. It’s a symbiotic relationship. If you shake it up and put it outside – it evaporates. That’s the relationship between the Jewish and non-Jewish world. If we forget who we are and start adopting the customs of the “Greeks,” we are in trouble. But if we stay the course to spread light and remain pure in the ways of the Torah, we will bring blessing and geulah to the world.

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

My Israel Home

Chanukah Symbols – And One Resilient Flag

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By Gedaliah Borvick

M B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M

y colleague recently contacted me regarding a property for sale on Menorah Street in Herzliya. I did not find the property particularly interesting, but I was absolutely thrilled by the street name, as I sensed the makings of a Chanukah article. The Menorah, a 7-branched candelabra used in the Mishkan (Tabernacle), and later in the Temple’s permanent residence in Jerusalem, has been a Jewish symbol for over 3,000 years. Today, the Menorah, surrounded by olive branches, serves as the emblem of the State of Israel. The olive branches hearken back to the Biblical story of Noah and the flood and are a symbol of peace. In addition, olives played a prominent role in the Chanukah story, as a jug of pure olive oil, barely sufficient to light the Menorah for one day, miraculously lasted for eight days. Dozens of streets across Israel are named HaZayit in honor of the venerated olive tree. Outside of Israel, the 9-branched lantern kindled on Chanukah is also called a menorah. In Israel, it is

known as a Chanukiah. In addition to Menorah, other streets related to Chanukah include Maccabeem, found in several Israeli cities, which is named for the Maccabean warriors who led the revolt against the Greek armies and the Hellenistic influence on Jewish life. Half a dozen cities have streets named for

Magen David, also known as the Star of David. Magen David literally means David’s Shield because the star was similar to a design that was emblazoned on King David’s legendary shield. For many years, the 6-pointed star was primarily used as a Kabbalistic symbol. However, in 1354, King Charles

in 1354, King Charles IV of Bohemia presented the Prague Jewish community with a red flag with the Star of David.

Yehudah Hamaccabi, who led the Maccabean revolt. One of these cities is Modiin, which is named after Judah’s father, the priest and leader Matityahu. The Menorah got me thinking about another street in Herzliya that is named in honor of an arguably more famous national symbol, the

IV of Bohemia presented the Prague Jewish community with a red flag with the Star of David. The Praguers became the first Jewish community to use the hexagram as their official crest, and this symbol slowly spread to other Jewish communities. By the 17th century, the Star of David’s use was so widespread that it became the

international symbol of Jewish houses of worship. The Israeli flag proudly displays the Star of David flanked by two blue stripes, which were inspired by the stripes on the tallit. This design was originally adopted at the first Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897, and over time became universally accepted as the emblem of the Zionist movement. Ironically, in the 1930s, the Nazis took the Star of David’s symbol of strength and courage and cruelly transformed it into a badge of shame, dishonor, and death. Perhaps it was most fitting that the newly established Jewish state, which rose from the ashes of the Holocaust, used the selfsame Magen David to demonstrate the eternal and inextinguishable flame of the Jewish people.

Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home (www.myisraelhome.com), a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel. To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@gmail. com.

47 Hate and Antisemitism Is on the Rise

DECEMBER 2, 2021

Join us to Shine a Light On Antisemitism. Learn more at associated.org/shinealight

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As the Jewish holiday of Chanukah begins, people around the country are shining a light on antisemitism in their communities, at work and on social media. Antisemitism and all forms of racism and hatred are unacceptable, and it is incumbent on us to counteract its vicious spread. This rise in antisemitism should worry everyone because it creates a broader license to hate – targeting various races, faiths, gender identities and more. All of us must come together and support each other in our fight against hate in all its forms.

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Finding The Eternal Spark This Festival Of Lights

B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

DECEMBER 2, 2021

By Alanna Apfel There is something incredibly alluring about Chanukah for Jews of all ages. I’m not referring to the gelt, the sufganiyot, the dreidels, or the gifts. We don’t call it the festival of lights for nothing after all. We enjoy neiros each week when we light Shabbos candles. The light of the neiros Chanukah, however, is different. We learn as children that there is a minhag to stay by the candles for at least 30 minutes after lighting. Each night when I gaze into the flames, each night the light of the menorah stronger and more powerful than the night before, I feel a deeper and deeper sense of spiritual and emotional healing and restoration. What is it about the ohr of the Menorah that gives it this unique quality? Although two miracles occurred over Chanukah, winning the war against the Greeks, and the miracle of the pach shemen, our Sages clarify that it is for the miracle of the oil that Chanukah was established and is celebrated throughout Galus. We are familiar with the story recounted in the gemara– we won back the Temple only to discover that everything was destroyed and contaminated by the Greeks. Miraculously, one pach shemen was found with the Kohen Gadol’s seal intact. Although there was only enough oil for 1 day, the oil burned for 8 full days. The Netivot Shalom points out, that if the essential nes of Chanukah is the oil, the beginning of the miracle surely has its own significance worthy of exploration. The event that set the Chanuak miracle in motion was the discovery of the

pach shemen. The Netivot Shalom compares the pach shemen to the kernel of a seed, which if intact, enables a plant to regenerate and grow even after the plant has died. However, if that seed is destroyed completely, rebirth and renewal is impossible. This comparison sheds light on our understanding of the miracle of Chanukah. While the Persians attempted to wipe us out physically, the Greeks attempted to destroy us spiritually. So thorough was their attempt to wipe out all traces of our Yiddishkeit, they even contaminated every vessel of oil. They destroyed everything ruchani they could find. Except for one pach shemen, referred to Kabbalistically as “Kusta D’chayusa”, or, the “eternal spark. When the last pach shemen was discovered, it was that only remaining shred of purity. Against all odds, and defying literally the laws of nature, from that small pach, from that small spark, began the journey of rebirth and renewal. Chanukah is the last chag that was established l’doros to be observed throughout exile until the coming of Mashiach. Chazal was sending us a powerful message. Anytime we as a People find ourselves on the brink of destruction where the end seems certain, it is within us to remember and believe that G-d is our Protector. G-d always leaves us with a small spark, the “Kusta D’chayusa”, from which we will again grow, rebuild and be renewed. This is the lesson of the pach shemen, and that which we can take with us this year when we light neiros Chanukah. When we light the neiros, we follow the custom of Beis Hillel, adding an additional flame each night, just like the spark, which starts out small, and is barely visible, but grows and gets steadily stronger. Rambam refers to the mitzvah of ner Chanukah as “beloved, more than any other, chaviva hi ad meod, an attribute that he gives to no other mitzvah. The Netivot Shalom explains that the mitzvah of ner Chanukah is of course deserving of this description – the ner and ohr of Chanukah is the source of our unique strength. Whenever we find ourselves in a period of darkness, whether as a nation or as individuals, we still have within us the eternal spark from which we can rebuild and be reborn anew. This message of renewal, the message of the kusta d’chayusa, the eternal spark, that each and every Jew has within them, is the message in the nes of Chanukah, whose start was in the discovery of the single pach shemen. It is from this eternal spark found within each of us, that we can experience rebirth and renewal no matter how dark our current circumstances may appear to be. When we understand that the driving force behind our eternal spark is our emunah, our uncertain and unwavering belief in G-d’s eternal love and support, we realize that we have the strength within us to sustain and overcome any and all of life’s challenges, big or small. As long we have even a shred of Emunah, or our eternal spark, we will discover the strength within ourselves and we will prevail. May we each connect with the kusta d’chayusa that lives within each of us when we light the neiros this year. Wishing you and yours a Chanukah Sameach. Alanna

Alanna Apfel is the founder and patient advocate at AA Insurance Advocacy, which helps therapy patients, individuals, couples, and children, save thousands of dollars annually on their out of network mental health therapy bills. In the months that AA Insurance Advocacy has been advocating on behalf of patients, clients have collected anywhere from $5,000 to $45,000 a year in reimbursements, depending on the cost and frequency of therapy. If your preferred therapist doesn’t take your health insurance, we can help negotiate with your plan to cover your out-of-pocket therapy costs. For further information, please contact aainsuranceadvocate@gmail.com.

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

DECEMBER 2, 2021

By Elliot Pepper, CPA, CFP®️, MST

Year-end Money Moves

s 2021 draws to a close, now is a good time to consider smart money moves. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint” may be an overused phrase, but behind every overused cliche there is some element of truth. The majority of financial outcomes are a function of consistent actions and behaviors as opposed to stellar stock picking. While luck, unknown events and variables certainly play a huge role in our lives, small, repetitive, and deliberate actions have an outsized effect on finances. This goes both ways: a series of strong financial decisions compound into a much larger positive result, while a series of poor financial decisions will compound to a much poorer result. There is nothing like a good old checklist to provide an action plan for this last month of the year, so you can end 2021 strong and be well positioned to an even stronger 2022! Let’s consider the following categories and actionable steps to implement before the end of the year:

you have the ability to add more to HSAs, 401k/403b, IRA, ROTH-IRAs - do it. Your future self appreciates it!

Cash Flow Review Spending Audit: Between email overload and automated payments, it’s easy to lose track of subscriptions that you do not use anymore. Take a look at your past year’s credit card and bank statements and “audit” the outflows. By doing so, you have just given yourself a raise equal to the subscription fee. You won’t even miss said subscription, since you aren’t even using it! P.S. - Using an online app such as Mint.com can make this very easy. Emergency Fund Checkup: Make sure your emergency fund is full. It should have between 3 - 6 months’ worth of expenses.You may find that you have had to draw on that balance during the year, or your monthly expenses may have simply increased. Deploy Excess Cash: If you find yourself with additional cash (due to your awesome cash flow management during the year!), consider allocating to accounts that can be invested for growth and provide tax benefits. If

Tax Planning: Expect your income to increase in the future? If so, consider the following strategies to minimize your future tax liability: Make Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) contributions and Roth conversions. If offered by your employer plan, consider making after-tax 401(k) contributions. If you are age 59.5 or over, consider accelerating traditional IRA withdrawals to fill up lower tax brackets. Expect your income to decrease in the future? If so, consider strategies to minimize your current tax liability, such as traditional IRA and 401(k) contributions instead of contributions to Roth accounts. Tax Bracket Management: Consider the following important tax thresholds: If taxable income is below $164,925 ($329,850 if MFJ), you are in the 24% percent marginal tax bracket. Taxable income above this bracket will be taxed at 32%. If taxable income is above $445,850 ($501,600 if MFJ), any long-term capital gains

Investment Review: Harvest Losses: Do you have unrealized investment losses in your taxable accounts? If so, consider realizing losses to offset any gains and/ or write off $3,000 against ordinary income. Be careful not to trigger the dreaded IRS “Wash Sale” rules. Speak to your tax advisor or financial planner about ways to harvest losses without triggering “Wash Sale” treatment. Rebalance: Investments go up and investments go down, but rarely do all of your investments go up and down in perfect sync with each other. What typically happens is your target split between stocks and bonds will drift over time, and you will need to rebalance your portfolio by selling some assets and purchasing others. In addition to keeping your investments and goals on the same page, rebalancing is a great way to make sure you are “selling high and buying low.”

will be taxed at the higher 20% rate. If you are on Medicare, consider the impact of IRMAA surcharges based on MAGI. Child Tax Credit & Advanced Payments: There are concerns about the upcoming tax year - especially navigating the complexities of advance payments that were made by the IRS. Basically, the IRS made advance payments for 2021’s tax year based on information from 2020 tax forms. These

are not stimulus payments, they are simply an advance of the credit you will otherwise claim when filing taxes this year. If you are worried about what this might mean for your taxes in 2021, reach out to your CPA ASAP! Better to be prepared than caught off guard. Charity: For taxpayers who claim the standard deduction, you are allowed a deduction of $300 ($600 if MFJ) for cash contributions to certain qualifying charities in 2021. Explore tax-efficient funding strategies, such as gifting appreciated securities. If you expect to take the standard deduction ($12,550 if single, $25,100 if MFJ), consider bunching your contributions (or contributing to a donor-advised fund) every few years which may allow itemization in specific years. Insurance: FSA: Don’t lose it!: Will you have a balance in your FSA before the end of the year? If so, consider the following options your employer may offer:

Some companies allow up to $550 of unused FSA funds to be rolled over into the following year. Others offer a grace period up until March 15th to spend the unused FSA funds. Many companies offer you 90 days to submit receipts from the previous year. If you have a Dependent Care FSA, check the deadlines for unused funds as well. Health Insurance Deductible: Did you meet your health insurance plan’s annual deductible? If so, consider incurring any additional medical expenses before the end of the year, after which point your annual deductible will reset. Estate Planning Issues: Changes: Have there been any changes to your family, heirs, or have you bought/sold any assets this year? If so, consider reviewing your estate plan. Gifts: Are there any gifts that still need to be made this year? If so, gifts up to the annual exclusion amount of $15,000 (per year, per donee) are gift tax-free. Beneficiary Designation: Go through all of your accounts (like banks and investments) and insurance policies to make sure that the listed beneficiaries are correct. Family changes or new accounts often result in incorrect beneficiary designations. Here’s to a strong finish to your 2021 and great start to 2022! The decision to start saving and investing is yours, but the “how” can be hard. We suggest speaking with a “fee only” financial planner operating as a fiduciary - having a CPA or tax background is a huge plus. Email commoncents@northbrookfinancial. com to schedule a free financial planning consultation with our team. Elliot Pepper, CPA, CFP®, MST is Co-Founder of Northbrook Financial, a Financial Planning, Tax, and Investment Management Firm. He has developed and continues to teach a popular Financial Literacy course for high school students.

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WITH ALL THE MONEY SHIMON SAVED ME ON INSURANCE, WE'RE GOING TO MIAMI FOR SHABBOS CHANUKAH

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

DECEMBER 2, 2021

TJH

Centerfold

Money Trivia Now that you are counting your Chanukah gelt, let’s see what you really know about money. 1. What materials are used to make paper currency? a. 50% wool and 50% linen b. 25% linen and 75% cotton c. 90% polyester and 10% wool d. 80% cellulose and 10% cotton 2. Who was on the front of the once-circulated (1928-1934) U.S. $10,000 bill? a. Abraham Lincoln b. Salmon P. Chase c. Dovid Hamelech d. Thomas Jefferson 3. The $100 bill has an image of Independence Hall. What time is it on the clock in the image? a. 6:00 b. 12AM c. 12PM d. 4:10 e. 9:45

Answer Key: 1-B 2-B 3-D 4-A 5-B 6-C 7-D 8-$1 – 6.6 years; $5 – 4.7 years; $10 – 5.3 years; 20 – 7.8 years; $50 – 12.2 years; $100 – 22.9 years Cash out 7-8 correct: You are the big winner.

4. The $1 bill features a pyramid. What object rests atop that pyramid? a. A weird eye b. A scale c. The Statue of Liberty d. The Capitol 5. When was the last time that the government printed $1,000 bills? a. 1840 b. 1934 c. 1975 d. 1990 6. The $1 bill features the words “Annuit Coeptis,” which means what in Latin? a. To have and to give

I would give you one of my many $1,000 bills, but I had a little cold today and I keep the bills in my front pocket. When I was taking out a tissue, a bunch of my $1,000 bills must have fallen out of my pocket. I was in Grant Park at the time, but I didn’t realize until I got home. It’s totally fine, because I have a ton more of them anyway. If you want, you can go search

b. Official currency c. Providence favors our undertakings d. Can’t even buy a Coke with it! 7. What was the largest denomination ever printed in U.S. currency? a. $1,000 b. $5,000 c. $10,000 d. $100,000 8. Match the bills with their average lifespan, according to the Federal Reserve: Denomination

Lifespan

12.2 years

4.7 years

$10

22.9 years

$20

7.8 years

$50

6.6 years

$100

5.3 years

in Grant Park. If you find them, they are yours. I probably had around 15 of them. 4-6 correct: Not bad. You know a bit about money. You are right, though – paper currency is made out of wool and linen, which makes it shatnez. If you want, you can drop all of your money off at my house and I will make sure that it is destroyed for you. 0-3 correct: Well, you obviously don’t work in Chase Bank.

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Now that you won all of those coins playing dreidel, it’s time for you to learn a thing or two about coins, so you can put in your two cents. One way coin collectors grade coins is on a scale of 1 through 70. The coin’s grade depends on its condition – dull or shiny, worn or crisp, nicked and scratched or clean. It currently costs 2.06 cents to make each penny and 7.53 cents to make each nickel.

The phrase “In G-d we trust” first appeared on money in 1864, when, based on the recommendation of a priest, it was placed on the two-cent coins. It eventually was placed on all other coins and paper money. Mint marks show what minting facility your coins came from – “P” for Philadelphia, “D” for Denver, and “S” for San Francisco. This mark can be found to the right of the subject’s face on the obverse side of each circulating coin—with the exception of the “Philadelphia” Lincoln cent, which has no mint mark. George Washington refused to appear on a coin while he was alive because kings often put themselves on coins. In 1932, his face was placed on the quarter.

In 1909, President Lincoln appeared on a one-cent coin and became the first real person – as well as the first American president – to have his face appear on a regular-issue American coin. For 10 years starting in 1999, the Mint released a quarter design for each of the 50 states, in age order – oldest first – according to when they ratified the Constitution or joined the Union. The Mint produced its first circulating coins – all $111.78 worth of them – in March 1793. That first batch consisted of 11,178 copper cents. Soon after, the Mint began issuing gold and silver coins as well. Paul Revere – yes, the “British are Coming” Paul Revere – was a silversmith, and his metals company once supplied the Mint with rolled copper for the production of early cents. The life expectancy of a circulating coin is 30 years, while paper money usually only lasts for…well…you will have to do the Money Trivia on the next page to get that fact!

Rose is annoyed, picks up her phone, and calls Moishe.

“Hi Moishe,” she says, “this is Rose. My husband is not paying you back the money that he owes you!” She then slams down the phone and declares, “If we are not sleeping, he is not sleeping either!”

B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M

You Gotta Be Kidding Me! It’s 3AM. Poor Yankel is twisting and turning in bed. His wife Rose asks him why he can’t fall asleep. He explains to her that he owes Moishe a lot of money in a deal gone bad, and he doesn’t think he will be able to pay him back.

DECEMBER 2, 2021

The nickel is the only U.S. coin that is called by its metal content – even though the metal alloy in a nickel is only 25 percent nickel; the rest is copper.

The New Jersey quarter has George Washington on both sides.

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Cha-Ching!

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

DECEMBER 2, 2021

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

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I should be prosecuted? What happened on Jan. 6, senator? - Dr. Anthony Fauci on “Face the Nation” responding to Sen. Cruz’s (R-TX) assertion that Fauci should be prosecuted for lying to Congress

If you’re attacking me, you’re really attacking science. I mean, everybody knows that. - Ibid.

Fauci is an unelected technocrat who has distorted science and facts in order to exercise authoritarian control over millions of Americans. He lives in a liberal world where his smug “I REPRESENT science” attitude is praised. Biden spent his birthday in Wilmington, Delaware, and went to a 5 o’clock Mass. Man, does this guy know how to party or what? I mean, even Mike Pence was like, “Ever heard of Chuck E. Cheese?”

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- Jimmy Fallon

We will not back off from the annihilation of Israel, even one millimeter. We want to destroy Zionism in the world. - Spokesman for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces, Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi , in an interview with the Iranian Students News Agency

Nu’ is too easily confounded with new; Xi’ was not used because it is a common last name. - Tarik Jasarevic, a spokesman for the WHO, explaining why the new Covid variant is named Omicron, skipping over the next two letters in the Greek alphabet (Xi also happens to be the name of the Communist leader of China, where Covid was created)

I am considering changing my name. Growing a beard maybe, losing some weight — I gained it all back during this stressful time. - Kyle Rittenhouse in his first post-acquittal interview with Tucker Carlson

– Tweet by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), in response

Anthony Fauci is a disturbed and disturbing man. An unelected bureaucrat who is consistently wrong about things (going back to AIDS), who used taxpayer money to help develop the COVID that plagues us, and who has funded indescribably cruel animal research, he is threatening to shut America down again, throwing mud at elected officials, and anointing himself as the embodiment of “science” in America. Never in American history has a megalomaniac had so much power and been so destructive. - Andrea Widburg, The American Thinker

Vaccine - Websters Dictionary’s word of the year, after searches for the word vaccine soared by 1,048% since the start of the pandemic

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

58 Here comes the MEV – the Midterm Election Variant! They NEED a reason to push unsolicited nationwide mail-in ballots. Democrats will do anything to CHEAT during an election – but we’re not going to let them! – Tweet by Representative Dr. Ronnie Jackson (R-TX), who served as Pres. Obama’s personal doctor

My favorite part about these self-satisfied, overindulged, busybody fascists is how they want us to forget that all the horrors heaped upon the American Indian came from one place: the federal government. And what do these same silver-spooned, emotionally damaged, infantile Thanksgiving-haters all want? They want this very same federal government in charge of our health care and banking; they want a federal police force to end rural America. They want us all disarmed and put on a Trail of Tears as we’re herded onto the federal reservation of “Green Utopia” and forced to eat bugs, drink our own [urine], and live in 200 square feet of “Sustainability.” - John Nolte, Breitbart News, in an article titled, “I’m Thankful Thanksgiving Offends All the Worst People”

Last Friday, Kyle Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges against him in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Just two days later, a Black nationalist BLM supporter drove an SUV through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It was a slaughter… As of tonight, Brooks has not publicly explained why he committed mass murder. Instead, the media and local authorities have decided to speak for him, and the main thing they want you to know is that these killings had absolutely nothing to do with the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict just two days before. Nothing whatsoever. The timing is just one of those amazing coincidences. -Tucker Carlson, Fox News

Palestinian Shot Dead After Holy Site Killing

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- Headline of the Manchester Evening News after a Hamas terrorist murdered Eli Kay, HYD, and wounded four others in the Old City

Probably by the end of this winter, as is sometimes cynically said, pretty much everyone in Germany will be vaccinated, cured, or dead. - Germany’s health minister Jens Spahn as coronavirus infections increase in the country

I regret and should not have made that comment. I was trying to emphasize the strength and longevity of our company. - J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon apologizing to China’s Communist Party for saying last week that “the Communist Party is celebrating its 100th year. So is JPMorgan. And I’ll make you a bet we last longer”

So the question remains, why did Darrell Brooks commit mass murder in Waukesha? The media don’t seem interested in finding out, not even a little bit. So they’ve decided to ignore the story completely. And they are. Subpoenas to Roger Stone from some fake congressional committee are apparently more important than six deaths. - Ibid.

As the Bay Area grapples with a wave of seemingly organized smash and grab robberies this weekend, policing and journalism analysts are cautioning against the use of the term “looting.” - Race and social justice reporter Julian Glover on the looting in California

MORE QUOTES

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

– Bill Maher, HBO

- China’s foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responding to President Biden’s inclusion of democratic Taiwan in his forthcoming online democracy summit, with no invitation extended to Beijing

– Tweet by the official twitter handle of the Women’s March movement, sent out at 2:33PM on 11/23

RIP, satire. Time of death: 2:33 p.m ET, 11/23/2021. Satire succumbed peacefully after realizing it could no longer compete with reality. – Tweet, in response

You should hire at least ten more indigenous female staffers immediately. If it’s any less than ten staffers with full benefits and a living wage, you aren’t seriously sorry, and are still harming people. – Tweet, in response

Should have had a man do the math. - Tweet, in response

DECEMBER 2, 2021

We solemnly urge the U.S. to … stop providing a platform to Taiwan independence forces. Those who play with fire get burned.

We apologize deeply for the email that was sent today. $14.92 was our average donation amount this week. It was an oversight on our part to not make the connection to a year of colonization, conquest, and genocide for Indigenous people, especially before Thanksgiving.

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If Don, Jr. had done what Hunter Biden had done, it would be every night, all night on MSNBC. But the fact that it’s Hunter Biden and Joe’s on the blue team…that’s the problem with America, everything is so binary… So, you know, every democratic politician has to wear on his sleeve every silly, stupid woke thing that the fringe left does. And the red team has to wear kids in cages and, you know, lock her up and all that kind of stuff.

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Mental Health Corner The Roseto Effect

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman We find something very peculiar about the Purim story. There seems to be a strong emphasis on unity. When Haman slandered the Jewish people to Achashveirosh, he said, “There is a certain people that is scattered and dispersed” (Esther 3,8), which can be understood to mean that they are not unified amongst themselves. Then, when Esther declared a fast for three days, she said, “Go, assemble all the Jews who live in Shushan” (Esther 4, 16). Later, we are told that Purim should be celebrated with, “sending gifts to one another (Mishloach Manos) and presents to the poor (Matanos L’Evyonim)” (Esther 9, 22). Why are the themes of comradery, friendship, and unity so prominent in the celebration of Purim? The Sfas Emes explains that in order to merit Hashem’s miracles, the Jews first needed to achieve unity amongst themselves and therefore we celebrate Purim with actions that bring us closer to our families and friends. Included in this is anoth-

er lesson that the joy and happiness of Purim is only possible when we are unified and celebrate with each other. The Roseto Effect is a real-life demonstration of this concept. Roseto is a town in Eastern Pennsylvania that researchers realized in the 1950s had an extremely low rate of heart disease. Men, ages 55 to 65, had almost no heart attacks, and men over 65 had half the national average. The first assumption was that they must live a very healthy lifestyle. However, the researchers quickly discovered that this was far from true. Many residents smoked cigars and they ate an extremely high cholesterol diet including meatballs and sausages fried in fat. The Mediterranean diet was unheard of in Roseto and obesity was common. The researchers were mystified. They then began looking at social factors. They noticed that homes usually contained three generations and they revered the older generation. Additionally, people never displayed any

wealth, so there was no “keeping up with the Joneses”. The houses were built very close to each other and people were frequently in front of their homes talking with their neighbors. There were almost no applications for public assistance since everyone took care of each other. Roseto had achieved an unusual level of harmony and comradery. The entire town was truly one big happy family. Thirty years later, in 1989, researchers returned to Roseto and discovered that the rates of heart disease were now the same as the national average. The old lifestyle of Roseto had declined as people started building larger homes with fences around their property that kept them isolated from each other. The culture became more modern and Americanized. The material wealth increased but their health declined as they were no longer benefiting from the therapeutic effects of community cohesiveness. The Roseto Effect teaches us a

powerful lesson. All of our lives we are told by the western culture to pursue happiness. Often, that means seeking more comfort and pleasure in our lives. However, the fact that people in Roseto lived longer was not due to material comforts, but to the cohesiveness of their community. Contentment and fulfillment requires that we live outside of ourselves and connect ourselves to other people. One cannot have true joy through loneliness, no matter how much material wealth one has acquired. Happiness happens; it cannot be pursued. Instead, pursue peace, harmony, and meaningful friendships. Happiness will follow. 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

Translated phrase-by-phrase in the study ow of the Artscroll Schottenstein Shas.

* In-depth notes Translated and annotated by Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation. Designed and published by Artscroll.

DECEMBER 2, 2021

* Many Halachos clariﬁed with real-life scenarios

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The Chofetz Chaim’s words.

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Dating Dialogue

What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I am friendly with a family in my neighborhood. We daven in the same shul and have children around the same ages. One of their sons, I’ll call him Chaim, is about to start shidduchim. He is 23 years old and is learning and going to college part-time. The family is a wonderful family, and I know that they are starting to “listen” to shidduchim for Chaim. I have one concern: Chaim has issues with alcohol. I won’t call him

an alcoholic, but he drinks a lot at shul kiddushim, and any time we are at their Shabbos table, he spends the meal takes shots and then ends up at the end of the meal on the couch. To me, that is very concerning.

B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M

So I have two questions for the panel: do you feel that I should broach this subject (very delicately – and I would need advice on how to do that) with my friends and mention that their son’s behavior is something that’s not normal and should be addressed? Do I ask someone else to talk to them about it? Additionally, what should I do when people call me for information on Chaim? Do I tell them my concerns? Do I only mention it if they ask me? I’d like to hear your thoughts. Sincerely, A concerned neighbor

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 Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

The Shadchan Michelle Mond

ou know the term, “Good fences make good neighbors”? The reason for this adage is that nosey neighbors are never appreciated. If you have observed Chaim’s kiddush and Shabbos table drinking habits, I assure you that his parents and loved ones have, too. Do you think his

The Single Tziporah Klein

ear Concerned Neighbor, Everything you reported is your perception of what is taking place. That being said, I am not denying your concerns but rather am highlighting how extraordinarily cautious one needs to be when making assumptions about another’s behavior, attitude, and image. A person’s reputation is the most valuable thing they have. There are multiple stories of people’s lives that have been negatively affected by rumors starting based off perceptions and even well-intended concerns. I am assuming this boy has a parent who sees his behavior and will address it if it’s concerning. I strongly believe that it is not your responsibility to get involved in his life based on your admitted assumptions. I hope it’s fair for me to assume that you don’t live with him, you don’t

The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler

t’s kind of ironic that you gave your neighbor the name “Chaim” when his problem is that he overly enjoys drinking a “l’chaim.” Your very important letter raises two fundamental issues. First, is the question about discussing your concerns with the boy’s parents. On the one hand, it’s hard to believe that the parents are not already quite aware that their son’s drinking is excessive and clearly surpasses acceptable norms. Furthermore, you are certainly aware that unsolicited advice is generally not appreciated. On the other hand, as a good friend and neighbor, how can you ignore trying to be helpful? My suggestion is to follow the advice of Rabbi Avigdor Miller, zt”l, who often extolled the potential value of anonymous letters. Write an anonymous note to your neighbors, advising something like, “When your son starts to date, make sure that he doesn’t get a reputation for drinking excessively.” Second, is the question of what to say and what not to say when called

The best advice I can give you and our readers is to stay in your own lane (you’re less likely to get into an accident that way!).

for a shidduch reference. The all-too-easy answer would be to ask a rabbi for his halachic ruling. The problem with that solution, however, is that it wouldn’t be a fair question for the rabbi, because there is absolutely no way to provide him with a full, clear, and accurate report of the situation. The situation has many subtleties, and what you observed was filtered through the lens of your own preconceptions. This is a far more nuanced and complex question than asking a rabbi if a chicken is kosher, or if you can trust the mashgiach at your cousin’s bar mitzvah. My suggestion is, when asked, to extol the positive qualities of the young man and his family. Then, unless the person asks you directly about the boy’s drinking, do not bring up the subject; if they do ask about the boy’s drinking, you can say something like, “After davening, he does join others at the shul kiddush.” Your letter underscores the value of a young couple spending a few Shabbosim in each other’s homes before making any commitments. There is no substitute to actually observing how potential mates interact with their own families, in their own homes. Personal observation is far more valuable than the “recommendations” of well-meaning friends and neighbors.

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ou are right. Chaim’s consumption of alcohol is very concerning. I am pretty sure that the parents, if they are as wonderful as you describe them, are concerned as well. Responsible parents are not passive about an alcohol problem – ever. Therefore, I would not bring it up. They are trying to deal with it, perhaps unsuccessfully. If they bring it up, then you can respond carefully with sensitivity. Be supportive, not confrontational. Now as to the question about responding to questions in connection with shidduchim for Chaim. There is a halachic issue here. I would therefore consult your rabbi, as this is both a medical issue and a bad habit/addiction issue (depending on severity, which seems serious). He may know more than you do about Chaim’s problem and what his parents are doing about it. He may advise you to punt the question to him. You should definitely ask him for another reason beyond your own response to people who inquire about Chaim. Asking the rabbi of the shul you both attend will also alert him to the fact that you see a problem as a neighbor, not just in shul, and it’s not small.

spend Shabbos there every week, and you may not know the culture of his circles. Is the behavior healthy? No. Is it possibly common in his social group? Yes. Does that mean he is an alcoholic? Definitely not. Of course, when it comes to answering questions directly from shidduch calls, I always say to ask a rabbi to get the halachic response. My main intention in responding to your question is to highlight the importance of how careful one needs to be when judging others and making assumptions.

DECEMBER 2, 2021

parents don’t see this at their Shabbos table if it happens every week? It is not the job of a neighbor to make calls (or judgments) – not to mention, it is socially inappropriate. What Chaim does to relax is his business, and if, indeed, it is excessive, his family is already on the case. The last thing a family wants is to have the embarrassment of a phone call alerting them to something they already know. The past few weeks we have received quite a few letters addressing the topic surrounding making other people’s business your business. If there is ever a question, you can ask a rav, but as a general klal, the best advice I can give you and our readers is to stay in your own lane (you’re less likely to get into an accident that way!).

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The Panel

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

Pulling It All Together The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

ear Concerned Neighbor, Thank you for writing into our panel. You’re in a very delicate position. With all sorts of addictive behaviors and tendencies increasing at an alarming rate, our community is not exempt. It is wise of you not to jump to conclusions and label Chaim an alcoholic, however, you have seen enough to strongly believe that Chaim has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, and you are probably right. On the one hand, if you say something to Chaim’s parents you stand to lose the friendship. On the other hand, if you do not say something to his parents or to Chaim’s potential future in-laws, you may feel responsible for any future strain or hardship in the young woman’s life brought upon by your omission. I wish there was a simple answer and I could offer you some clear cut advice, but I can’t. You may want to consider consulting a rav about this. He may be able to guide you and give you the answer you are seeking. Rebbeim are often very familiar with all sorts of issues affecting their congregants and can be intimately involved and/ or helpful in giving you a halachik/ hashkafic perspective on the matter. There are so many people in your uncomfortable shoes, and many rebbeim have heard it all and will tell you, “There is nothing new under the sun,” and offer you a practical, Torah-guided answer. Getting involved in an area of a friend’s life that she has not invited you to participate in can be very tricky. Parents are often protective of their children and can become

highly defensive, even when a wellintentioned friend airs a true concern with the best interest of the child in mind. If your friend has never said anything about Chaim’s drinking to you, she has decided not to include you in this area of her life. And if it weren’t for shidduchim, you most likely wouldn’t say anything. Should you decide to broach the subject with your friend, you need to be prepared that, at worst, you may lose the friendship. When alcoholism and addiction is present in a family, there is often a lot of very strong denial (which can look very ugly and get very extreme), rationalizations (the justifications and excuses), and avoidance (never speaking with you again because you held up a mirror to a reality that doesn’t want to be seen). Your friend may have no idea Chaim has a problem, she may know and be furious you brought it up, she may know and politely dismiss you, or she may melt into your arms so happy that she has someone to speak with. There is so much unknown, and no way to predict the outcome. The readership will most likely be divided on this one. Here are the two camps of thought: 1. Do not get involved! Do not say a word. It is not your place. This is a private family issue and getting involved will only upset your friend. When someone calls about a shidduch for Chaim, you can: a. Speak highly of the family and say you don’t know the

boy well. Or, b. Tell your friend that you prefer not to be involved in shidduchim. Sometimes a little white lie is OK. It is a healthy boundary that you are allowed to have in place. If your friend asks why, you can deal with the answer and the possible repercussions then. 2. If this is a good friend, lovingly approach her about her son, Chaim. After all, you have been privy to this painful and uncomfortable situation many times over. (She has exposed you to it.) Are you supposed to ignore her son’s pain? Here is a potential script: You know I adore you and your family. There is something that has been weighing heavily on me, and I haven’t known how to bring it up to you. If this isn’t my place, please accept my sincerest apology and know I will never bring it up again. Is Chaim OK? I noticed that he drinks at shul and Shabbos meals, often to the point of excusing himself and falling asleep on the couch. I have been worried about him and also worried about you. Please know that I am here for you if you ever want to talk. So Concerned Neighbor, you definitely have what to be concerned about: Chaim’s wellbeing, your friend’s wellbeing, and your role in all of this. Ultimately, as anyone who has to been to AA and Al-anon will tell you, you did not create this problem, you are not responsible for this problem, and you cannot cure this problem. You can only do what feels comfortable and right for you. Will you make a boundary for yourself, as in option 1a and 1b? Or, will you put your heart on the line in the name of friendship and concern, risking your

You did not create this problem, you are not responsible for this problem, and you cannot cure this problem.

friend’s negative reaction? Alcoholism destroys marriages and friendships. It is often a response to trauma and a way of disconnecting from pain. Acknowledging the alcoholism is welcoming back the pain and deeply intolerable feelings the individual needs protection from. Alcoholism can run in families, and often there are other family members abusing as well, though others may keep it hidden. If you decide to say something to your friend and she, in turn, cuts you out, please know that that is a direct result of her trying to protect her son and herself from a reality she doesn’t want others involved in and a reality that she may not be able to herself acknowledge. Whatever you decide to do, know that you have been put in an impossible situation and feel good about having tried your best to be a loving friend. What happens after is not in your control. Feel good about yourself and know that some situations in life are larger than us and that there is no perfect answer. 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. She also teaches a psychology course at Touro College. 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.

YAPCHIK LATKES

Upgrade your standard potato latke to something truly special. Once you try this, you will have a hard time going back to your original recipe. Yield: 12-15 latkes Meat

• 3 large potatoes • 1 small onion • 2 eggs • 1 tsp salt • ¼ cup matzah meal • 2 Tbsp mayonnaise • 1½ Tbsp mustard • 6 Tbsp duck sauce • 9 oz pastrami or corned beef, cubed • Oil for frying

DECEMBER 2, 2021

Ingredients

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Recipe by Tova Lowenthal Styling and photography by Faigy Murray

Preparation

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1. In a food processor or in a bowl using a hand grater, shred potatoes and onion. 2. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Add salt and matzah meal. Add the grated potatoes and onion. 3. In a separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, mustard, and duck sauce. Add diced meat and mix well. 4. In a frying pan, heat oil over mediumhigh heat. Place an overflowing Tbsp of potato batter into the frying pan. Place a tablespoon of meat mixture above it. Then place another tablespoon of potato batter to cover the meat mixture. Fry until the bottom is browned (about 4 minutes). Flip over and fry until the other side is also browned. Repeat for the rest of the latkes. 5. Line a plate with paper towels. Remove latkes from frying pan and place on the plate to drain.

Around the Community

Hundreds Join in Eretz Hakodesh Shabbaton

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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

DECEMBER 2, 2021

By Susan Schwamm

s frum Jews, we pray three times a day for our Holy Land. Our brothers and sisters in Israel are always on our minds. Living in the United States, though, we sometimes wish we could do more to help preserve the sanctity of Eretz Yisrael. And we sometimes wonder if there was more we could do for our brothers and sisters in Israel. Rabbi Pesach Lerner, of Far Rockaway, NY, had those same questions – and he decided to act on them two years ago. It was then that, sitting in the office of a prominent activist, Rabbi Lerner noted that the charedi community in

the United States was not included in the World Zionist Congress. Although the World Zionist Organization may sound like an obscure organization, like many others which were created to improve Israel’s standing in the world, it is anything but that. Yes, it was established with the goal of uniting all Jews around the world with the shared mission of advocating for the Holy Land and for Jews worldwide. But, in order to make the organization viable, when it was created in 1897, it was used as the primary tool to distribute funds necessary to advance Israel as a Jewish state. In 1948, when the modern state of Israel was formed, the WZO was not disbanded. Rather, it was made

stronger – the Israeli government sanctioned it as the outreach arm of the State. Backed by the State of Israel, it became even more important and powerful. Even so, for many years, the WZO flew under the radar of charedi communities. While we at times watched with dismay how certain cultural phenomena were taking place in Israel, we didn’t realize that, often, the organization that can effectuate positive and negative change is not necessarily the Israeli government but the WZO. Recently, progressive movements have been attempting to hijack the Holy Land with their left-wing value systems. Although this theological

battle has been fought in America for years, and the left is slowly losing the fight in spirit – if not in numbers as well – it is a battle that is only now taking shape in Israel. With the left gaining power in the WZO, they asserted to the leaders in the Holy Land that they represent world Jewry and their value systems should reign supreme in Israel as well. And so began Rabbi Lerner’s quest to put together a charedi slate in the

Around the Community

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efforts over the last two years. Hundreds joined in the spirited Shabbaton held in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, where Schwebel, Litov and others spoke of Eretz Hakodesh’s accomplishments. Yaakov Hagoel, chairman of the World Zionist Organization and acting chairman of the Jewish Agency, also attended the weekend. Hagoel, with his white-knitted kippah, is a supporter of EHK and was effusive in his praise of the group’s efforts over the past two years. R’ Nechemya Malinowitz, who is the director of EHK in Israel, impressed upon attendees how he has access to Israeli leaders who are committed to hearing his requests because of the revolution that EHK created. He spoke about his successful efforts to bring thousands of yeshiva and seminary students into Eretz Yisroel during Covid. Without EHK, all those boys and girls wouldn’t have been allowed into the Holy Land during those months of lockdown. R’ Yitzchak Pindrus, member of the Knesset, spoke of his love of Eretz Yisroel over Shabbos. He highlighted

the importance of maintaining the kedusha of Eretz Yisroel. Traditional Jews, he noted, have some semblance of Yiddishkeit. But there are many Jews in Eretz Yisroel who, sadly, are very far removed from their Jewish heritage. It is for all Jews that we need to fight to maintain the holiness of the Holy Land, especially those removed from tradition because they are the most vulnerable to being influenced by changes proposed by progressive movements. Rabbi Lerner, in his remarks over Shabbos, spoke highly about the dedicated EHK team in Israel, who work tirelessly for the cause. He marveled at the overwhelming amount of votes EHK managed to garner over such a short time in last election and set his sights on an even more lofty goal: 100,000 votes in the upcoming election. With such a dedicated team and with so much accomplished in just two years, EHK is intent on tipping the balance in an even more powerful way – ensuring the advancement of kedushas Ha’Aretz for years to come.

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slant all the way to the left. For example, when left-wingers attempt to get the support of a member of the Knesset to support a policy change in geirus or kashrus or the Kotel, there is now a loud voice in the room reminding policymakers that many Jews in the Diaspora do not support – and oppose – those progressive changes. Eretz Hakodesh’s 25,000 votes also earned them key seats on certain committees in major agencies in Israel. Now, charedi members of EHK sit on the board of the American Zionist Movement, ensuring that charedi voices are heard when programs and funds are being allocated. Yisroel Schwebel represents Eretz Hakodesh in the World Zionist Organization. According to Schwebel, “The voice of religious Diaspora Jewry is finally being heard.” Programs such as trips for yeshiva and seminary students, festive events over chol hamoed Sukkos, and a Shabbaton for new olim to Israel were instituted because of EHK’s voice in the WZO. Not only that, but EHK has representation in KKL-JNF, which owns vast amounts of land in Israel. Shmuel Litov is the vice chair of the JNF Education Committee. Because of EHK’s efforts, for the first time, all JNF lands are observing Shemittah this year. Additionally, JNF funds are being used to purchase lands over the Green Line – purchases that were not allowed when the liberal camps were in the majority in the JNF. Last Shabbos, Parshas Vayeitzei, was a celebration of Eretz Hakodesh’s

DECEMBER 2, 2021

U.S. to run in the upcoming elections for the World Zionist Congress. Rabbi Lerner, of course, faced an uphill battle. The word “Zionist” is not always palatable to the charedi community. But armed with the brachos and encouragement of gedolei Yisroel – among them Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Gershon Edelstein, and Rav Elya Brudny – Rabbi Lerner set out to create a charedi slate of ohavei Eretz Yisroel. The gedolim expressed that even though participating in the WZO may have negative, semantic connotations for some, it is an available vehicle to advance our paramount cause of enhancing Kedushas Ha’Aretz and fighting a theological battle that is only beginning. Named Eretz Hakodesh, Rabbi Lerner’s slate generated a revolution when, just months after being formed, EHK managed to secure 25,000 votes in the World Zionist elections in 2020. Nabbing third place behind Reform and Mizrachi, Eretz Hakodesh – with 25 delegates to the Congress – tipped the balance of the World Zionist Congress in favor of the “right-wing” parties, who are aligned in their mission to preserve traditional Judaism and values in Israel. But even more than tipping the balance, Eretz Hakodesh highlighted how important, energized, and influential charedi Jews are in the United States. No longer could the liberal, left-wing, progressive movements boast that they represent American Jews. It was clear to members of the Knesset and Israeli leaders that the makeup of American Jewry does not

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Life C ach

DECEMBER 2, 2021

Be a Winner!

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By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M

hanukah is ONE-derful. Chanukah is TWO few days. Chanukah is such a THREE-ling time. Chanukah is fun FOUR everyone. But, Hope we can sur-FIVE all the parties. Hope we don’t get SIX of food. Hope we don’t misS EVEN if we have too many… Help! I think I EIGHT too many latkes! Gifts, wrapping, eating, lighting, joining, partying, singing, celebrating, commemorating! Eight busy, wonderful days and nights of light and levity. Whatever your mood, as you light up each night, you are reminded there can always be flickers of light in all situations. From the midst of darkness, with our subtle but active involvement, we bring a little more light into our lives each night. We build up! But who says we need to stop after night number eight? We’ve learned some things. Let’s keep them going: Getting together feels good.

Giving to others makes them happy. Receiving is a nice feeling, too. We can bring more and more light into darkness. We don’t have to be a bright light all at once – we can start slow and build up. Therefore, even though we stash the menorahs away and stop the ac-

packed up and packed away when they are done but rather to leave us with the lessons they bring with them. So, I guess that means we have to make life a series of parties! What does that take? Planning, sharing, including, and influencing our moods so we get up

Our holidays are not meant to be packed up and packed away when they are done.

tive kindling, let’s keep going with the lessons we’ve learned. For instance, that it’s important to stop each and every night and join with the people in your life. To value and connect with those within your immediate world. To enwrap them with love and warmth and gifts of appreciation. Also to reach out and share your light with others. To build up in intensity your warmth and your glow. Our holidays are not meant to be

for the days of our lives. When Chanukah departs, We don’t want to say I EIGHT my fill. Now I’m done. That’S EVENtually going to deplete us. We want to remember one of life’s baSIX. The best way to sur-FIVE is to be aware of our blessings; also living with and FOUR others in our midst. Can be THREE most rewarding feeling.

Then, they TWO will live for us in return. And then life’s anything but a ONE way street. So COUNT those blessings. ADD a dash of awareness each day. DIVIDE your gifts among those around you. SUBTRACT out your worries – they just darken you. And watch your happiness MULTIPLY! Ask yourself each day: how many candles did I light on my internal Chanukiah tonight?! And thus, you will NUMBER yourself among the memorable Maccabees, who took an active stand, fought the difficult battles, and came out glorious winners!

Rivki Rosenwald is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with both couples and individuals and is a certified relationship counselor. Rivki is a co-founder and creator of an effective Parent Management of Adolescent Years Program. She can be contacted at 917705-2004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail. com.

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Your

Money

DECEMBER 2, 2021

Gobble, Gobble

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By Allan Rolnick, CPA

B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M

our hundred years ago, a group of 50 pilgrims sat down with 100 Wampanoag guests for a three-day feast that we now celebrate as the first Thanksgiving. It was a mostly young, mostly male group that survived the colony’s harsh initial year in New England. The menu featured venison and shellfish — while Governor William Bradford reported sending four men “fowling” to stock up for the meal, there’s no evidence actual turkeys ever made it to the table. There were no potatoes or pumpkin pie, and Thanksgiving football didn’t appear on TV until 1953. (The Lions actually beat the Packers!) Thanksgiving marks the “official” start of the winter holiday season. But the real action kicks off with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. (Although, the peculiar thing about that holiday is, there’s no Charlie Brown Black Friday special. Can you really call it a “holiday” if there isn’t a Charlie Brown special?) Millions of bleary-eyed shoppers suit up early and brave the predawn traffic to line up outside their favorite bigbox store to compete for doorbuster specials. With any luck, they’ll avoid those occasional Black Friday riots!

You’re probably not thinking about taxes when you hit your local outlet mall to load up your carts with presents. (This year, you’re probably worried the gifts you want are stuck on one of those container ships you’ve seen anchored just off Los Angeles!) But read on, and you’ll see why tax collectors across

about 19% of the total for the year. Retailers will hire between 500,000 and 665,000 seasonal workers this year, assuming they can find enough people to work! Love it or hate it, Black Friday has become as important a part of the holiday weekend as carving the turkey and finding the wishbone.

Retailers will hire between 500,000 and 665,000 seasonal workers this year, assuming they can find enough people to work.

the country get excited about Black Friday, too. The term “Black Friday” refers to the day when retailers see their books move from red (losses) to black (gains). The National Retail Federation estimates that holiday sales should hit $850 billion for 2021, or about 10% above last year. Holiday sales typically make up

Naturally, the bargain hunters at the IRS are delighted to see retailers making all that money. If there isn’t any income, there won’t be any taxes to pay. Uncle Sam also collects income and payroll taxes on everyone involved in moving your presents from those container ships to warehouses to retailers to their final destination in your home. Higher

wages this year should mean even higher collections, too — a welcome development after nearly two years of pandemic-fueled disruptions. State and local governments love Black Friday, too. States collect their own share of income taxes on those earnings. Sales tax revenues typically spike at the end of the year, too. That means places like Texas and Florida that don’t levy income taxes get to join the celebration, too — even if we all know it’s a big commercial racket. (“It’s run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.”) Speaking of Black Friday, did you know the IRS offers a “Black Friday” sale on tax bills? Well, not really… but proactive planning lets many of our clients save huge amounts on their taxes! If you’re willing to wake up early and fight the crowds instead of enjoying leftover turkey, then why wouldn’t you be willing to call us to save even more?

Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

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DECEMBER 2, 2021

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