Baltimore Jewish Home - 2-16-23

Around the Community

Yeshivas Toras Simcha (YTS) is completing its seventh year of service to the Baltimore Jewish community. We interviewed a few parents about their experiences at the yeshiva, in preparation for their imminent matching campaign to raise much-needed funds:

What made you choose YTS?

Rabbi Mordechai and Miriam Salzberg (MMS): We were truly impressed with the warmth, attention and care given to each talmid. The focus on each boy and teamwork to provide the best chinuch was extraordinary.

Yisroel Moshe and Avigayil Kraines (YAK): Excitement and simcha were in the air! Aleph Beis, singing shorashim and the sweet sounds of Chumash filled the school! It was clear each boy has the ability to shine at YTS.

Adam and Kayla Rubin (AKR): We wanted a small school with a focus on developing each talmid as a unique individual, bringing out his unique middos and emphasizing both kodesh and chol learning in a professional way. Please share with us a person story about YTS that illustrates its unique qualities

MMS: A group of boys craved to learn more mishnayos, so a thrice-a-week chabura was created to further their learning.

AKR: Our boys JUMP out of the car every morning and run into school as fast as they can. They are so excited to see their rebbe or morah! The strong relationship between teacher and talmid is indicative of the warmth and personal touch of YTS!

YAK: Our son in Nursery ran over to say Hello to the first grade rebbe, Rabbi Tessler. Rabbi Tessler gave our son the biggest smile and greeted him by his name! We were floored! How did the first grade rebbe know our Nursery son by name? That is YTS. The rabbeim even know children in the younger grades. They greet each child with genuine warmth and simcha. Each boy is an individual not just one in a crowd.

Shlomo and Shira Khalili (SSK): When school was closed due to the virus, it was so beautiful that the rabbeim visited each family to keep the connection by playing music, delivering treats and dancing, while remaining socially distant. It was an unforgettable example of going out of the way and thinking out of the box to bond with each student.

Please tell us about the quality of the general studies program at YTS

MMS: The teachers are very exciting. They use an array of tools and modalities to really ensure the boys grasp the material.

AKR: The boys are so excited to share what they’ve learned. Morah Cohn comes up with exciting science experiments that tickle the brain of first graders. When one of our sons had an idea to make the daily math “addition” practice more exciting for the whole class, Morah Adina Itzkowitz let him and a friend develop a whole game.

The teachers facilitate an environment where the boys can grow, try new things, fail (an important thing to experience!), and succeed.

YAK: General Studies at YTS is great. They teach using Centers in the younger grades. Computer classes and hands on science experiments help keep the older boys engaged. Describe your son’s relationship with his rebbe

MMS: Our sons look up to their rebbeim as loving role models who embody much of what we hope our boys will become.

AKR: Rebbe knows best! Our second grader comes home with a fountain of information from Rabbi Mandel, and before that Rabbi Tessler and Rabbi Goldstein. The rebbeim give over not only the required information from the curriculum, but stories and interesting tidbits that stick in the boys’ brains. We’ll frequently be surprised that our son remembers a random thing in great detail. He’ll even be able to recount the source story or lesson. The rebbeim make learning easy and memorable!

YAK: The rabbeim at YTS really really care about each boy. My son is very into coins so his Rebbe added coins into his prize system. They make the learning and davening so exciting and special! When they learn something new in tefilla, they “get to add it on” in an exciting and special way. Each rebbe

is unique in their own way and brings so much to the table. They are present during recess and very aware of what is going on socially as well. YTS has an amazing rebbe and morah staff team who genuinely care about each talmid.

SSK: The way my children look up to the rabbeim is apparent from twinkle in their eyes when they share and even mimic the lessons they learned in a cute or humorous down to earth way. My children feel free to ask their rabbeim whatever is on their minds, as the rabbeim make themselves very approachable, and show a genuine care to help them grow.

Please tell us any other information that feel is important for our community to know about YTS

AKR: We are so grateful for the experiences we’ve had so far at YTS. The nature of a small school combined with an excellent teaching staff as well as organized and efficient administrative support has been perfect for our sons. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for YTS. We hope that your boys are a part of it!

SSK: YTS is a small school with small classes, giving the children more of the attention they need to thrive. Every step of what is taught and how it’s taught is measured and reevaluated and not taken for granted as just the way things have always been done.

Dear Readers,

In this week’s Torah parsha, we receive the mitzvos that are considered to be rational and easily comprehended by human intellect. Interestingly, these commandments present a unique challenge to the oved Hashem, a person who tries to serve the Creator. When the believer does a religious act such as keeping kosher, observing Shabbos, or sitting in a Sukkah, there is an obvious spiritual dimension and divine connection. Following the laws of business, however, or making sure to be 100% honest – while the morally correct thing –may feel mundane and, at most, secondary to more obviously “spiritual” aspects of religious observance.

This is not the case. In fact, it was for this reason itself Hashem didn’t command us to live moral lives and leave us to figure out “good” for ourselves – as the Gemara says, “If the Torah would not have been given, we would have learned modesty from a cat.” If the Torah wasn’t given. Now that it was given, we don’t learn it from nature, but rather as a directive from Above. Once the Torah was given, we don’t lead ethical lives only because it feels right for society. It’s much more than

that. These are G-d given laws through which one connects to Him just as one does on Yom Kippur.

We don’t repay a loan simply because it feels right. We do so because the Creator willed it in the Torah and put it in the very DNA of creation.

This doesn’t mean that we abandon all attempts to rationally understand or relate to these mitzvos. On the contrary, an important aspect of Mishpatim is to understand and relate to these laws as much as we can. In a sense, you can say the purpose of creation was precisely these mitzvos. It is through these commandments that we involve our human intellect and moral compass, schlepping them along in our service of the divine.

May we strengthen our resolve to become more scrupulous in the mitzvos bein adam l’chaveiro, ushering in the time when we will all feel spirituality in the mundane, for it will reveal that Hashem echad

Have a restful Shabbos!

Aaron Menachem

CHINUCH IN 2023

YAAKOV BENDER

AHARON FELDMAN

ARON A A ON RONFELDMFELDMAN A AHA ONFELDNFELDMAN N M NRONFEONFELDMA

Event Chairman:

Mr. Paul Volosov

Campaign Chairman:

Mr. Nechemia Weinreb

WRITTEN QUESTIONS WILL BE TAKEN FROM THE AUDIENCE, OR CAN BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL IN ADVANCE.

For more information, call 410.505.0058 or email Baltimore@ChinuchAtzmai.org

Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshiva Darchei Torah of Far Rockaway

Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshivas Ner Yisroel of Baltimore

Can the Maryland General Assembly solve the “Carpool Crisis”? Two Of Our Community’s State Legislators Take Up The Fight

In the ever-busy lives of Orthodox Jewish day school parents, few items occupy the collective focus like that of school transportation. Whether one has children attending only one school or children attending multiple schools, trying to arrange who gets where and when is a formidable challenge for even the most organized homemaker. And while the MTA (Maryland Transit Administration) does offer the “92 Route” bus option for the larger schools that are slightly more distant from the general community, a variety of reasons makes this option somewhat less practical for the majority of households who instead choose carpool (whether they drive their turn or hire someone) as their means of school transportation.

A recent survey conducted by Agudah Maryland of families with children enrolled in the “MTA schools” (TA, TI, and Bais Yaakov) found that only ten percent of households viewed the MTA as their choice for school transportation, and almost seventy percent of parents reported that the strain of ineffective school transportation has caused either “significant stress”, a noticeable increase in financial output, or employment-related challenges.

In addition to the aforementioned struggles, the swell of vehicles on the community roads during carpool rush

hour in the morning (and, to a lesser extent, the afternoon) causes indescribable challenges for all commuters, most notably the traffic delays and the not-so-infrequent episodes of fender-benders.

To some, beyond what happens on the roads is what is happening to the environment. The non-commercial vehicles most effective in transporting a dozen or so kids at one time do not yet offer a “green option”, consume enormous amounts of gas, and when idling in traffic during carpool rush hour are definitely NOT improving air quality. In the future, when theses oversized vehicles will become environmentally friendly their price tag will likely be out of reach to most households.

While a variety of efforts to address this issue have been put forth over the last number of years, a brand new legislative effort currently underway in Annapolis is giving people newfound optimism.

House Bill 486, sponsored by Delegates Dalya Attar (41st district) and Dana Stein (11th district), and its cross-filed Senate Bill 324, sponsored by Senator Jim Rosapepe (21st district), would provide a state tax credit of up to $1,500 per student to refund a household’s output for school bus transportation expenses.

As drafted, schools or a system of schools would arrange bus transportation for their students and the Mary-

land resident paying for its use would be entitled to claim a credit of the amount paid up to $1,500 per school student.

As a tax credit, this proposal would join dozens of other comparable programs and initiatives that tap into state tax revenues, but the short- and longterm gains of such a program undoubtedly deem it worthy of becoming law.

Delegates Attar and Stein share their feelings on the bill.

Delegate Attar: “As a parent and a community member, I know firsthand the struggles we experience with carpools. School busing is a necessity - for our safety along with environmental and practical reasons. I therefore have sponsored this bill and have taken it upon myself to fight to make this the law in Maryland. Although this will not be an easy task, this bill is a very important first step, and I look forward to continuing the fight.”

Delegate Stein: “Relief from the challenges of carpooling students to and from school is a top priority for me and my constituents. Our bill to provide tax credits for parents will enable schools to provide a school bus transportation program, and in the process will provide carpool relief for families and help reduce traffic congestion. Maryland would be joining the many other states that provide transportation support for all students.”

Rabbi Ariel Sadwin of Agudah

Ohel Moshe Clears The Way For Its New Mikdash M’at

By: BJLife Newsroom

Mazel Tov to Cong. Ohel Moshe (Rabbi Zvi Teichman) on knocking down its old building, a first step in clearing a path to the long-awaited expansion of their Mikdash M’at which is in design and permitting phases. May it be with tremendous hatzlacha.

Maryland said that his office’s efforts over the years to address the challenges of school transportation have led them to look at the numerous models of nonpublic school transportation that exist in communities across the country. Despite all that, the conversations with Delegates Attar and Stein, and their conversations with their colleagues in legislative leadership led to embracing the tax credit model found in this bill, a fairly unique approach to the topic. Rabbi Sadwin commented, “Our primary goal is to enact a program that provides the flexibility needed to make bus transportation work effectively throughout our neighborhoods and to all of our schools. We applaud the ingenuity of the tax credit model proposed by Delegates Attar and Stein, and we truly hope the effort sees success in its first legislative session, to begin bringing relief to the families in our community.”

Please be on the lookout for updates and action alerts on the progress of House Bill 486 and Senate Bill 324, as they make their way through the Maryland General Assembly.

Photo Caption: Delegate Dana Stein and Delegate Dalya Attar holding the official draft of House Bill 486 before it was formally filed as legislation in the Maryland General Assembly.

Around the Community

BJSZ Annual Special Event Celebration

By: BJLife Newsroom BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

Photo Credits: Creative 1080

On Motzei Shabbos, January 24, 2023, the social hall at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion was filled with over 250 people celebrating BJSZ’s annual event, which honored Drs. Sam and Lorna Durso, and the fellows of the BJSZ Kollel: R’ Yehuda Leib Birnbaum, R’ AJ Esral, R’ Nosson “Nate” Miller, R’ Mordy Pollock, and R’ Zvi Spiegel. The Dursos have been an integral part of BJSZ for many years, and they are treasured role models. The Kollel fellows enrich our shul nightly with their inspired shiurim and learning.

The evening began with a buffet reception and then continued with a dinner, at which the guests were entertained by the wit of the MC, the inimitable Shimon Marciano. The program included a dynamic and uplifting performance by well-known performer, Yehuda Green. There was also a beautiful video tribute to the evening’s honorees; the video includ-

ed remarks by Rabbi Rose, given with his hallmark grace and warmth. After the video, the evening concluded with a dessert buffet and a round of spirited dancing.

The theme of the special event was “Forward Together,” demonstrating our focus on building a strong future for BJSZ and the broader Baltimore community. BJSZ daily enhances the lives of its members, as well as many others, with Tefillah and Torah. This

special event concluded an unforgettable, special Shabbos at BJSZ during which world famous singer & composer Yehuda Green led the tefillos with passion and inspired song. Shabbos also included a ruach-filled oneg at the Reitberger home. It was a Shabbos and a special event to remember, in our classic BJSZ style. If you have not experienced it, we invite you to come join us at BJSZ and see what the Shul and the Kollel are all about!

Around the Community

A Single Impact’s Parsha & Pizza

49 individuals attended A Single Impact’s Parsha & Pizza on Wednesday, February 8th. Frum single, divorced, and widowed women and men of ALL AGES heard an inspiring Dvar Torah from A Single Impact Board Vice President, Dr. Leslie Klein and then enjoyed some pizza and mingling. For info about upcoming Parsha & Pizza speakers and our Purim Event on March 6th, go to asingleimpact.com/ events.

A Serendipitous Meeting, If There is Such A Thing

By: Hillel Fuld

Iwas at a concert last night and was approached by a “Stranger” named Frank Storch from Baltimore. He told me a crazy story. He had heard of Ari’s murder but before that, he didn’t know him. Frank has been working in security helping educational institutions with their security needs for 50 years.

He’s also a tremendous philanthropist. He had been building a synagogue and as soon as he heard about Ari, he decided on the spot to dedicate the synagogue in Ari’s memory. Somehow he felt a strong connection to Ari and his legacy. He created a plaque for the synagogue and hung it up. A few months ago, the plaque fell so he created a new one. He then decided to bring

the old plaque to Israel to “Somehow get it to the family.” Anyway, in a long chain of events, he met me last night and gave me the plaque.

It reads:

“This building is dedicated in loving memory of Ari Fuld. Terror victim Ari Fuld sanctified Hashem in life and in death. His relentless advocacy, defense, and love of the Jewish people, Torah, and Eretz Yisroel exhibited the heroism he lived every single day and even in his last breath.

With the strength of a lion, Ari unleashed his unyielding passion to defend the right of every Jew to live in their homeland. He fought evil and lies not only with the physical strength in his body, but with his mind, mouth, and neshama.

Larger than life, he ran towards

danger instead of away from it and ensured the safety of those around him. His mission, strength, and exemplary character are his legacy which serves as an inspiration for his family and all of klal Yisroel.

Shul Building Dedication

Erev Yom Kippur, September 18, 2018

Frank & Danielle Sarah Storch and Family”

This was probably the first of many dedications made in the memory of my bro, Ari Fuld.

Glad I went to the concert last night and glad I was able to get a back stage pass where I met Frank and he was able to tell me this story and give me the plaque.

Hillel Fuld, named Israel’s top marketer and “The man transforming Startup Nation to Scale up Nation” by Forbes, is a tech journalist, startup marketer, and technology expert. Hillel works with technology companies and accompanies them from idea to revenue. He also works with many leading tech brands as an influencer.

Yeshivas Toras Simcha Welcomes Rabbi Hillel Shepard as Menahel

By: The YTS Board of Directors

We are excited to announce that the new menahel of Yeshivas Toras Simcha, starting with the 20232024 school year, will be Rabbi Hillel Shepard, currently menahel of the Mesivta of Cincinnati.

Rabbi Shepard, a talmid of Philadelphia and Ner Yisroel, brings significant chinuch experience to Yeshivas Toras Simcha, including teaching

the eleventh grade at Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Monsey for nine years and serving as menahel of the Mesivta of Cincinnati for several years. Rabbi Shepard’s amazing combination of Torah, mesorah, personality, skills, experience, simcha, expertise, and leadership, make him an amazing fit for Yeshivas Toras Simcha. He has enjoyed success with a broad range of talmidim, many of whom retain a close connection with him many years later. Rabbi Shepard has the enthusiastic support of the Search Committee, Board, and Vaad Hachinuch.

First and foremost we would like to thank Hashem for guiding us to this point. We also wish to thank our Vaad HaChinuch, Search Committee,

staff, and parents for their efforts and support throughout this process. We would not have reached this amazing milestone without the leadership of our interim menahel, Rabbi Hillel Mandel, and the assistance of Rabbi Yisroel Rubinfeld and Rabbi Yehoshua Levy of Torah Umesorah, and Rabbi Heshy Glass of the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. Finally, please join us in extending our gratitude by welcoming Rabbi Shepard and his family (back) to Baltimore and to the Yeshivas Toras Simcha family.

Milestone: Yeshivas Toras Simcha Begins New Shacharis/Mincha Minyanim

By: BJLife Newsroom

BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

Photo Credits: Rabbi David Kapenstein

Yeshivas Toras Simcha, now in its seventh year of service to the Baltimore community, started a Shacharis minyan this morning. “Baruch Hashem that we have reached the milestone where we now have enough bar mitzvah boys to have a daily shachris minyan,” commented Rabbi Dovid Kapenstein.

The boys were so very excited to dance the sefer Torah to our beis medrash. The school has 140 boys in grades nursery through seventh and recently purchased a new building on Sudbrook Lane. YTS focuses on meeting the individual needs of every student in a warm, nurturing and “simchadik” environment.

The community is invited to take part in any or all the Nusach Ashkenaz minyanim: Shacharis at 7:45AM, Monday - Friday on school days. Mincha at 1:45PM (Mon-Thurs)

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Anyone coming into Tiferes Yisroel will appreciate the feeling of warmth, friendship, and belonging in the kehillah. How have you fostered that feeling?

Rebbetzin Goldberger: I think that feeling flows down from Rabbi Goldberger, whose approach to all people is one of genuine respect. It is a special kind of respect that is built upon respecting the integrity of another person. This is an exceptional trait that I experienced in both my father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rabbi Daniel and Rebbetzin Ida Goldberger, of blessed memory. So, Rabbi Goldberger had wonderful teachers and is a wonderful teacher. I believe the example he sets has a ripple effect in our shul.

It’s no surprise that our fundraiser this year is subtitled A Dance with the Torah. Outward signs that music abounds at TY include the logo design with its musical notes, your Lecha Dodi nigun that is sung

while having in mind how that will blend in a beautiful way with what is outside oneself. That music carries the mesorah of warmth, friendship, and belonging.

Did others in the long line of rabbis in your family have music as a primary interest?

Rabbi Goldberger: My father had a love for music, especially singing zemiros at the Shabbos table, but I wouldn’t say that it was a primary interest of his. I did not know my predecessors before him, so I don’t know about their musical interests. My mother was a skilled piano player and had a very nice voice. My maternal great-grandfather was a composer of nigunim including one for “Mechalkel chaim,” which I wish I knew. It’s quite interesting because, unaware of that, I also composed a nigun for “Mechalkel chaim.”

Rebbetzin, though women’s role in singing and dancing is circumscribed in shul, what makes the

to absorb and participate in an experience in a way that perhaps is more easily uplifting. Less active does not mean less involved. It’s how we’re involved. More active participants will have more of a struggle with “self” involvement, which is not good spiritual fuel. So maybe women are adding that help toward “Hashem” involvement over “self” involvement. In any case, joy of davening is an experience that we all—men and women—need to cultivate. There’s a joy that’s easy to feel at Kehillas Tiferes Yisroel as we come together to praise Hashem, to turn to our Father, to lose sight of our burdens as we sing and hear the same words of praise and thanks that have been sung and heard for thousands of years.

We know you were tremendously influenced by your rebbe, Rabbi Shloime Twerski. What aspects of Tiferes Yisroel remind you most of him?

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Goldberger: The warmth, the friendship, and

nurturing home. Also, the nigunim we sing and the diverse nature of our membership. A unique blend of unique people. The integrity of individuals is left intact.

What Chasidic works have influenced you?

Rabbi Goldberger: Some of the Chasidic works that have influenced me are the Meor Einayim, Sefer HaTanya, the PriTzadik, Sfas Emes, and Bnai Yissoschor.

How does the mesorah of TY today match what you expected it to be?

Rebbetzin Goldberger: BH, I think I left expectation a while ago. What I find today gives me joy and a place that I absolutely love davening in. Not much else I’m looking for, but I’ll take more of the same and, hopefully, an ever-growing respect and appreciation of one another.

You have a phenomenal memory for people’s names. How does that ability demonstrate your emphasis on and respect for individuals?

Rabbi Goldberger: It’s just a gift from above that I can’t take credit for. Yet, it is a gift that helps demonstrate the high regard that I have for each individual.

Baltimore County Council Passes Plastic Bag Ban; Key Amendment to Spare Many Local Businesses

Our readers may remember the op-ed printed in our January 19 issue discussing the proposed plastic bag ban in Baltimore County (Baltimore Jewish Home Jan 19, 2023, p. 64, “Baltimore County Wants YOU to Be a Reusable Bag Lay”). After a long period of discussion, and a huge amount of feedback from Baltimore County residents and business owners, the Baltimore County Council approved a modified “Bring Your Own Bag” Act, restricting the distribution of plastic bags at stores in in the county.

Many readers are familiar with

the concerns our community had regarding the impact of the bill on the stores in our area where we do our food shopping. These concerns were heightened by the impact a plastic bag ban would have on those with larger families who fill up shopping carts worth of food items, large and small, each time they go out the shop. Readers may have seen a petition circulated asking for the ban to be defeated, or to contact their county councilmember to express their opinion on the matter. And they may remember other concerns voiced by Seven Mile Market Manager Moshe Boehm and Market

Maven Manager Eli Siegel, as discussed in the Jan. 19 article.

Fortunately, however, a key amendment was suggested for consideration, one that would allay many of the concerns. After prolonged discussion with community representatives, including City Councilman Yitzy Schleifer, Rabbi Ariel Sadwin of Agudah Maryland, and several local business owners, Councilman Izzy Patoka successfully introduced a compromise exception geared to protecting small businesses without dismissing the ban entirely. Patterned after a similar law in Colora-

do, stores with less than four locations are defined as mom-and-pop stores and are exempted from the ban, striking a balance in an attempt to protect the environment without unduly burdening small businesses and the common consumer.

Community households and business owners applauded the leadership of Councilman Patoka for taking the community’s input so strongly into account and for seeing this resolution through.

As we sat down with Mrs. Beth Pasternak to understand more about her important work in Bais Yaakov, it was immediately apparent why she has already become a much beloved and invaluable member of the Bais Yaakov team. Her open and warm manner and easy smile, along with her vast teaching expertise and insight into human nature, make her the perfect leader of an exceptional team of teachers working together with the shared goal of enabling every student to succeed.

Tell us a little bit about your educational background and your current role as General Studies Coordinator for Bais Yaakov Lower Elementary School.

I have really loved every stage of my career. My background is in special education, which I taught for close to fifteen years, and enjoyed immensely. At that point I was approached to teach in a typical classroom and I absolutely loved that as well. I was thrilled to be able to take the concepts and methodologies from my smaller classroom experiences and use them to positively impact so many more students. Over the course of my teaching career I have taught almost every subject in almost every elementary and middle school grade. Now, in my capacity as General Studies Coordinator for Lower Elementary School, my primary focus has largely shifted to the teachers, instead of the students. In a certain sense, the teachers are my class; my role is to make sure they are properly supported and best equipped to reach every student.

Please tell us about the teachers who are members of your team.

That’s exactly right! It’s important to understand that we function beautifully together as a like-minded team. I am so fortunate to be working with some of the most fabulous, dedicated,

one another, maximizing learning potential in a fun and exciting way. The girls are enjoying themselves so much that they often don’t even realize how much they are gaining. Of course, teachers are mindful that classrooms retain structure with appropriate quiet time. Incorporating all of this gives the girls so many different opportunities and they are excelling!

Can you give an example of something you have instituted that helps support your teachers and enhances the learning experience for our children?

talented and caring women. Our community is lucky that these exceptional individuals are the ones who are responsible for the educational development and growth of our children. With their creativity, selflessness and eagerness to always improve, they consistently go above and beyond to provide our girls with the richest experience possible.

How would you describe your teaching philosophy?

What was always important to me in my classrooms and is pervasive in our department is an atmosphere of absolute positivity. Of course, students are held accountable for their actions; but, with our nurturing philosophy, we guide our girls to a place where they want to make good decisions and where they see that it benefits them when they make good choices. I encourage a classroom environment that incorporates open and spontaneous yet purposeful discussion among the girls, allowing them to engage with each other. With this type of dynamic and focused interaction between students, there is so much more learning going on. Teachers collaborate with each other to create games and projects and constantly share ideas with

As I mentioned, I am part of a phenomenal team of teachers who constantly seek to better their teaching methods and keep things fresh and exciting for their students. Each is blessed with certain abilities and has different educational and life experiences that she brings to her classroom. All are so talented in so many different ways. One is a master of creative cross curricular programming, while another is an expert in pedagogy, and yet another is exceptionally gifted in creating activities in which girls work independently and are given the opportunity to make individual choices. Recently, I instituted an initiative in which teachers not only share ideas, but are able to actually observe each other in the classroom. This allows for a deeper and more complete understanding of new teaching processes and implementation. By enabling teachers to observe each other in action they are able to fully incorporate new and exciting methodologies, expand their teaching repertoire and enhance the experience for our girls.

Please give us a glimpse into some exciting programming in your division.

A very special new initiative that is just underway is individualized reading enrichment for all of our students. Modeled after the highly successful kriah program in our Limudei Kodesh department, this initiative affords every student, regardless of her ability, opportunities to read one on one with a teacher or assistant under the guidance of a reading specialist. With such targeted and individual attention, every child will progress and each will be given the tools necessary to succeed.

Mrs. Beth Pasternak

The Week In News

was eight. Alter Shlomo Lederman, a 20-year-old man who had married two months ago, was also killed in the attack.

Avraham was brought to the hospital and is sedated and has yet to recover. He is unaware that his two sons were taken from this world.

An Unfathomable Tragedy

Hussein Qaraqa, the terrorist, was killed at the scene.

Devorah Paley, Avraham’s wife, is now sitting shiva for her two special boys. She says that they were “happy children, good children who loved to help.” She is pregnant.

supposed to accompany his brothers on the bus, had not yet joined them when the terrorist’s car slammed into those waiting at the stop.

Qaraqa was a resident of East Jerusalem. Because he was renting his apartment, police sealed his parents’ home in A-Tur, in East Jerusalem.

As a matter of policy, Israel regularly demolishes or permanently seals the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out deadly terror attacks.

The two boys and Lederman, Hy”d, were laid to rest on Har Hamenuchot.

Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that Ramallah will seek the passage this week of a United Nations resolution granting “Palestine” full membership at the international body, according to the official Palestinian Wafa news agency.

Speaking at an Arab League summit in Cairo, Abbas emphasized that the Palestinians remain committed to confronting the “racist” and “extremist” Israeli government, which he claimed was “targeting Al-Aqsa Mosque and all our sanctities.”

As Avraham Paley was waiting for the bus with his sons on Friday, a Palestinian slammed his car into the bus stop in Ramot, killing Avraham’s two sons, Yaakov Yisrael, who was six years old, and Asher Menachem, who

According to Devorah, the two boys and their father had been on their way to a family celebration and were planning to travel by bus, as there was not enough room in the family car for all of them. An older brother was also with them. Her husband, Avraham, had taken the three to the nearby stop at Ramot Junction so that the three boys could catch a bus together.

Avraham and the two younger boys exited the family car and were at the bus stop. Her other son, who was

Palestinians Want Membership at UN

“The battle raging over Jerusalem did not only begin on the day of its occupation in 1967, but several decades prior to that, and even before the Balfour Declaration which was issued by the colonial powers, led by Britain and America. The declaration was aimed at getting rid of the Jews in Europe and establishing the so-called Jewish national home in Palestine, to be an outpost to safeguard the interests of these colonial countries,” said the P.A. chief.

The 1917 Balfour Declaration

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spelled out London’s support for the establishment of a “Jewish national home” in what was then British-ruled Mandatory Palestine. Signed by then-British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour, the declaration is considered the historic precursor to Israel’s creation in 1948.

“Supporting Jerusalem and strengthening the steadfastness of those staying there and in its environs is a religious duty and a humanitarian and national imperative,” said Abbas.

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“Just as our people rejected the Balfour Declaration and its results, we also rejected all attempts to liquidate our cause or falsify the facts about it. We rejected [former U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace] deal of the century, and we refused— and we still refuse—to move the U.S. embassy or any other embassy to Jerusalem,” he added.

The U.N. General Assembly in late December approved a resolution, at the behest of the P.A., calling on the International Court of Justice to “render urgently an advisory opinion” on what it called Israel’s “prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of Palestinian territory.”

The ICJ announced on Wednesday a July 25 deadline for state bodies and organizations to submit documents pertaining to Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria.

In response to the U.N. resolution, the Israeli Security Cabinet decided, among other measures, to withhold taxes and tariffs collected on behalf of the P.A., in an amount equal to that which Ramallah paid to terrorists and their families in 2022 under its “payfor-slay” policy.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has since signed an order doubling that amount.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his governing coalition will this week pass legislation in the Knesset to strip the citizenship of terrorists and expel them from the country.

The Security Cabinet would convene to prepare for a more wide-ranging operation against “those who carry out terrorism, and their supporters, in eastern Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, while avoiding—as much as

possible—harm to those who are not involved,” he added.

The comments come after a deadly terrorist attack in Jerusalem claimed the lives of 6-year-old Yaakov Israel Paley, his 8-year-old brother, Asher Menachem Paley, as well as 20-year-old Alter Shlomo Lederman.

Among the measures being considered by Israel are seizing assets belonging to the families of terrorists, erecting barriers against vehicles at bus stops and additional security checkpoints between predominantly Arab and Jewish neighborhoods in the capital, and a general crackdown on online incitement.

Following Friday’s attack, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a major operation in eastern Jerusalem in the vein of the IDF’s 2002 “Operation Defensive Shield,” which was launched during the Second Intifada to uproot terrorist infrastructure in Palestinian urban areas across Judea and Samaria.

However, a senior government official said that Ben-Gvir lacked the authority to approve such a decision, which would need to be made by the Security Cabinet.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly requested during his visit to Israel earlier this month that Netanyahu temporarily freeze construction in Judea and Samaria and halt demolition of illegal Arab structures in those territories as well as the eastern part of Jerusalem, in a bid to de-escalate tensions amid rampant Palestinian terrorism.

Washington also requested that the P.A. fully resume security coordination with Israel and postpone any additional steps against it at U.N. institutions and other international bodies. (JNS)

Israel Lobbyist Dies

“The name of the game, if you want to help Israel,” Morris J. Amitay once said, “is political action.”

Those are defining words for the lobbyist who spent decades rallying financial, military, and moral support from the U.S. government for the state of Israel. Amitay, who died on

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February 10 at the age of 86, helped transform the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) into one of the most effective advocacy organizations in Washington.

Amitay became executive director of AIPAC in 1974, succeeding Isaiah L. Kenen, who had founded the organization in the early 1950s.

Under Mr. Amitay’s six-year leadership, AIPAC undertook an expansion that would ultimately make it the most influential member of a constellation of groups lobbying the U.S. government on behalf of Jewish and Israeli causes.

FM Cohen Lands in Turkey

hen, Cavusoglu said that he brought up Ankara’s “expectations for the reduction of the escalating tension in the Palestinian issue.” He added that he stressed the importance of preserving the status quo on the Temple Mount.

Threats Force UH Team to Leave Turkey

This week, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen headed to Turkey in a show of solidarity with the Turkish people after the recent devastating earthquake that left 35,000 people dead in Turkey and Syria.

Meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, Cohen raised the issue of Israeli civilians and the bodies of IDF soldiers being held by Hamas in Gaza.

In a 2006 profile of Mr. Amitay published in The Washington Post, a reporter wrote that “even among his peers his success is something of a legend.»

Amitay was deeply connected on Capitol Hill, with sources in Senate and congressional offices who kept him apprised on legislative matters of concern to Israel. He was in close touch with the Israeli ambassador to the United States. And he astutely marshaled AIPAC’s resources to promote legislators who supported Israeli causes and challenge those who did not.

Led by Mr. Amitay and his successor, Tom Dine, “AIPAC was transformed from an intimate, low-budget operation into a large, mass-based organization,” professors John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt wrote in the 2007 book “The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy.”

After he left AIPAC, he worked privately as a lobbyist.

Amitay was born in Manhattan in 1936. His father was born in pre-State Israel; his mother, a Ukrainian immigrant, was a homemaker. Amitay went to Ramaz and then went on to Columbia. He received his law degree from Harvard.

Hamas is holding two Israeli men, along with the remains of two soldiers killed during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014. Erdogan has fostered a close relationship with the Hamas terror group, which took power in the Gaza Strip in 2007.

In addition to providing financial and logistical support to the group, which is considered a terrorist organization by much of the West, Turkey is home to senior Hamas officials, including Saleh al-Arouri, a long-time Istanbul resident. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and former chief Khaled Mashaal also visit Turkey.

In addition to speaking about the captives, the two men discussed Iran’s nuclear program.

Turkey and Israel reestablished full diplomatic ties in August of last year after more than four years of icy relations.

After the earthquake, scores of Israeli rescuers headed to Turkey to provide aid and offer their expertise at rescuing those trapped in the rubble.

Israel’s top diplomat also met with his counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, for the first time on Tuesday morning.

“Israel stands with Turkey,” said Cohen in Turkish at the end of his remarks.

Speaking in Turkish alongside Co -

message,” the spokesperson said.

On Saturday, Austrian military and German civilian rescue workers suspended their search operations in Turkey, in nearby Hatay, due to a worsening security situation, their representatives said.

A spokesman for the Austrian army said that there had been “clashes between groups,” without giving details. He said that the 82 soldiers from the Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit were sheltering in the southern Hatay province “in a base camp with other international organizations, awaiting instructions.”

A similar decision to halt rescue operations was made in Germany by the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (TSW) and an NGO specializing in helping victims of natural disasters, ISAR Germany, according to an NGO spokesman.

After the earthquake in Turkey, United Hatzalah sent around 40 volunteers to help with the search and rescue in southern Turkey. Although they were set to stay in the area for ten days, their stay was cut short after an unspecified “concrete and immediate threat,” according to Dovi Maisel, the vice president of operations for the organization.

A spokesperson for the organization said there was not necessarily one specific threat driving the decision but that there were two more general concerns: proximity to the Syrian border and the Turkish city of Gaziantep, which has seen Islamic State activity over the years, and growing unrest among Turkish citizens over their government’s poor response to the earthquake.

Residents of Marash and the surrounding area, where over 10,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the tremors, are growing increasingly frustrated with the government’s handling of the earthquakes — particularly a decision to rapidly bury victims in mass graves — and there are concerns that this may result in violence.

“There were threats against different international delegations to kidnap people and hold them ransom so the government would not be able to fulfill its plan. Not just the Israeli team is wrapping up, but a lot of other teams have started to wrap up because of this as well, because of the way that the locals are taking the government

Separate from the security concerns, the Israeli military announced that it was ending its search-andrescue efforts on Sunday but that its medical teams would remain in the country to assist in ongoing earthquake relief.

The United Hatzalah team flew back to Israel on Sunday morning. Because of a lack of planes to bring them home, Dr. Miriam Adelson generously donated her private jet for their use.

Settlement Approval Draws Condemnation

This week, Israel authorized the construction of 10,000 new housing units in nine communities in Judea and Samaria, drawing the ire of nations around the world.

“We – the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Italy, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, and the Secretary of State of the United States – are deeply troubled by the Israeli government’s announcement that it is advancing nearly 10,000 set-

The Week In News

tlement units and intends to begin a process to normalize nine outposts that were previously deemed illegal under Israeli law,” a joint statement between the nations said. “We strongly oppose these unilateral actions which will only serve to exacerbate tensions between Israelis and Palestinians and undermine efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution.

“We continue to support a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East, which must be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties. Israelis and Palestinians both deserve to live in peace, with equal measures of freedom, security, and prosperity. We reaffirm our commitment to helping Israelis and Palestinians fulfill the vision of an Israel fully integrated into the Middle East living alongside a sovereign, viable Palestinian state. We continue to closely monitor developments on the ground which impact the viability of the two-state solution and stability in the region at large,” they said.

The European Union and the U.S. had separately condemned the Israeli government’s decision over the weekend to legalize nine communities in Judea and Samaria.

“We are deeply troubled by Israel’s decision yesterday to advance reportedly nearly 10,000 settlement units and to begin a process to retroactively legalize nine outposts in the West Bank that were previously illegal under Israeli law,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Monday.

“Like previous administrations, Democratic and Republican, we strongly oppose such unilateral measures, which exacerbate tensions and undermine the prospects for a negotiated two-state solution,” he added.

“As I have previously stated, anything that takes us away from the vision of two states for two peoples is detrimental to Israel’s long-term security, its identity as a Jewish and democratic state, and to our vision of equal measures of security, freedom, prosperity, and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike. We call on all parties to avoid additional actions that can further escalate tensions in the region and to take practical steps that can improve the well-being of the

Palestinian people,” Blinken concluded.

Policeman Stabbed and Then Dies

A police officer was killed in a stabbing attack at a checkpoint near the entrance of the Shuafat refugee camp on Monday evening.

government’s fascism with courage and violence,” the spokesman said.

NYC Truck Tragedy

Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, announced her candidacy for president in a video, becoming the first major challenger to former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination.

Two years ago, Haley had said she wouldn’t challenge Trump for the Oval Office. But in recent months she has made an about-face, citing, among other things, the country’s economic troubles and the need for “generational change,” a stab at Trump’s 76 years of age. Haley is 51.

“You should know this about me. I don’t put up with bullies. And when you kick back, it hurts them more if you’re wearing heels,” Haley said. “I’m Nikki Haley, and I’m running for president.”

One person was killed in Brooklyn, NY, on Monday when a U-Haul truck hit and injured nine people, including a police officer.

The Border Police officer and another civilian security guard boarded a bus that arrived at the checkpoint in order to question the passengers heading into Jerusalem, in a routine inspection, when a teenage suspect pulled out a knife.

Police said the Palestinian, Muhammed Bassel Fathi Zalbani, 13, managed to stab the officer and wound him. The civilian security guard then opened fire at the alleged stabber inside the bus, but accidentally hit the Border Police officer.

The officer, Staff Sgt. Asil Sawaed, 22, died of his wounds at the hospital. He was from the northern Bedouin village of Hussniyya and was a non-commissioned officer in the force after completing his mandatory service.

The attack came just hours after a 14-year-old Palestinian, also from the Shuafat refugee camp, y stabbed and lightly wounded an Israeli teenager in Jerusalem’s Old City.

A spokesman for the Hamas terror group welcomed the two attacks in Jerusalem as “heroic operations” and as a reaction to Israel’s decision to legalize nine outposts in the West Bank.

“Our youth will deal with the occupation’s aggression and the extremist

The incident took place in Bay Ridge around 10:50 in the morning. Authorities eventually stopped the vehicle near the entrance of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and took the driver into custody.

A 44-year-old man who was riding on a moped died in the rampage.

Police say that they don’t think the incident is connected to terrorism.

Weng Sor, 62, was the driver of the truck. Sor’s criminal record in Nevada includes a 2015 case for felony battery and a citation last month for speeding over the traffic limit. In the 2015 case, he was found guilty and sentenced to one to three years in jail, records show. He was also ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

In January, Sayfullo Saipov, 35, was convicted of killing eight people in a similar attack in 2017. Saipov drove a truck into a bike path on the West Side Highway and then told the FBI that he “felt good” about his actions.

Nikki for President

On Tuesday, it became official.

Nikki Haley, the former South

Haley is the first of what is expected to be many to throw their hat into the Republican ring for president. Among the probable contenders are Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.

President Joe Biden has said he intends to seek reelection in 2024, stalling any jostling for the Democratic nomination.

Haley has regularly boasted about her track record of defying political expectations, saying, “I’ve never lost an election, and I’m not going to start now.”

If elected, Haley would be the nation’s first female president and the first U.S. president of Indian descent.

In the three-and-a-half minute video, Haley referenced being a person of color in a small South Carolinian town, saying she grew up “not Black, not white — I was different.”

Haley never mentions Trump by name in the video, instead saying “the Washington establishment has failed us over and over and over again,” Haley leans into a call for “a new genera-

The Week In News

tion of leadership,” which has become the refrain of her messaging leading up to the launch.

Haley was the nation’s youngest governor when she won her bid for governor of South Carolina at the age of 38. She was also South Carolina’s first female and minority governor. She earned a speaking slot at the 2012 Republican National Convention and gave the GOP response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union in 2016.

Haley became the first Indian American in a presidential Cabinet when she became Trump’s ambassador to the UN.

During her nearly two-year tenure, Haley feuded at times with other administration officials while bolstering her own public persona.

One of her most memorable moments as UN ambassador came in 2018 after National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow suggested Haley had suffered “momentary confusion” when she said Russian sanctions were imminent.

“With all due respect, I don’t get confused,” she responded. The first half of the quote became the title of her 2019 memoir.

Have a Safe Flight

205,552, compared with 1 in 102 in a car. Even so, our minds start to whirl when we hear about a plane crash in Nepal. The car crash in the next neighborhood garners less of our attention.

According to a TIME investigation that looked at 35 years of aircraft accident data, the middle rear seats of an aircraft had the lowest fatality rate: 28%, compared with 44% for the middle aisle seats.

risk, but because of “clear air turbulence” that can be experienced at any time at high altitudes. It is this weather phenomenon that can cause the most damage to passengers and aircraft.

Want to book the safest spot on your next flight? You may not be happy sitting in it, though.

According to experts, the middle seats in the last row are the safe seats on an airplane.

Air travel is one of the safest methods of transport. According to the U.S. National Safety Council’s analysis of census data, the odds of dying in a plane are about 1 in

Pilots are trained to minimize potential risk in an emergency event as best as they can. They will try to avoid hitting mountains and look for a level place, such as an open field, to land as normally as possible. The technique for landing in water requires assessing the surface conditions and attempting to land between waves at a normal landing angle.

Aircraft are designed to be very robust in emergency situations. In fact, the main reason the cabin crew remind us to keep our seat belts fastened is not because of crash

Additionally, manufacturers are designing new planes with more composite materials capable of handling in-flight stress. In these designs, the wings are not rigid and can flex to absorb extreme loading to prevent structural failure.

An Early Bloom

It seems that the flowers can’t wait to bloom. Some parts of the

EARLY BIRD

MARCH 1

DEA D LINE

Three Siblings in Two Months!

28, 26, 25, 23, 21. These aren’t just numbers; they are the ages of my children. My unmarried children. Every one of them. Waiting, trying, hoping. But it’s as if the clock has frozen. There is nothing on the horizon.

I remember how I mouthed the words, “L’Torah, l’chuppah, u’l’maasim tovim,” at the bris milah of each of my sons. I had tears in my eyes then as I hoped for their future. My eyes are still filled with tears for my children, but they are no longer tears of joy. For some odd reason, it seems as if those joyous times I dreamt of will never arrive.

Why? I don’t know. We are davening, calling shadchanim, working on our emunah, yet no shidduch has taken root. We are living on an island of loneliness.

Several times, my wife broached the topic of Tehillim Kollel. “You have to hear the stories,” she would say, waving the newspaper in her hand.

“I’m not interested,” I’d say. “Don’t believe everything you read.”

But my wife was persistent, begging me to try. “The worst that could happen is we’ll lose a few dollars… On the other hand, if it is true, we only stand to gain. Why not look at it that way?”

I was never much of a believer in the various segulos out there. I’m a practical person. I began to be swayed. If Tehillim Kollel effects such concrete results as she claims, it may have merit, I thought.

I finally agreed. My wife immediately signed up all five of our grown children in Kollel Meron. Just 20 days later my oldest, Sarah, got engaged.

Two weeks later, Moshe!

Two weeks after that, Eliyahu!

Yes! Seven weeks after we signed up, three of my children had found shidduchim. I could hardly believe I was experiencing my own miracle! No words could do justice in expressing my emotions of joy and gratitude. I proved to myself the power of Tehillim, and I learned an important lesson along the way… always listen to what your wife has to say!

The Week In News

South and Southeast are seeing their earliest spring on record this year, with leaves already budding on trees as much as three weeks early. Other parts of the South and Southeast are seeing their earliest spring in 40 years. On the other hand, in southern Arizona, they are seeing their latest start to spring in 40 years.

The National Phenology Network, which keeps track of the arrival of spring, maps the locations where it believes spring has already arrived. It does this by tracking the bloom of two plant species typically among the first to leaf out each year and are also “common across much of the country.”

Much of the “early spring” has to do with the warm start to 2023. Much of the South and Southeast are off to their top-10 warmest years on record, and several cities are seeing their top-five warmest: Houston, Jackson, Nashville, and Atlanta.

It is even more dramatic in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Philadelphia and New York City are experiencing their warmest start to the year on record, so the early bloom will most likely expand into the Northeast in the weeks ahead.

“Plants are really sensitive to temperature, humidity and rainfall. They’re sensitive to photo periods – the sun and things like that. They’re responding to these kinds of triggers in the environment, these cues that the climate is giving them, and they respond to that,” Megan O’Connell, a research associate with the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, explained.

It’s not always a good thing when spring comes early. Pollinators –like bees and butterflies – depend on certain plants. If the blooms appear early, they could already be gone by the time pollinators appear, creating what scientists call “ecological mismatch.”

One example is the monarch butterfly. Scientists have seen the milkweed they depend on to lay their eggs bloom earlier and earlier, but the butterflies are still showing up on time to fields where milkweed has already finished blooming and is gone.

“One out of every three bites of food that we eat” is directly con -

nected to a pollinator, noted Ron Magill, communications director and wildlife expert at Zoo Miami. Around 30% of the food on our tables gets there because of things like butterflies, bees, and bats.

Architect of the Capitol Fired

President Joe Biden on Monday fired J. Brett Blanton, the federal official responsible for the maintenance and operation of the Capitol complex, amid bipartisan calls for his resignation, after an investigative report accusing him of misusing his position and revelations that he avoided the Capitol during the January 6, 2021, attack. Blanton, who was appointed in 2019 as the architect of the Capitol, had been under scrutiny since last fall after a report by the inspector general of his office documented evidence supporting serious allegations against him. Among the accusations were that he had misused government-issued vehicles, misled investigators, and impersonated a police officer on multiple occasions.

But concerns among lawmakers in both parties intensified at a 90-minute hearing on Friday in which Blanton gave noncommittal and at times contradictory answers about his conduct, including his decision to stay away from the Capitol during the January 6 riot.

On Monday morning, Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Twitter that Blanton “no longer has my confidence to continue in his job” and should resign or be removed by Biden.

A White House official said that after conducting due diligence on the matter, the president had directed that Blanton be fired.

Rep. Joseph D. Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, which over-

COLUMN OF RECENT EPISODES BY TEHILLIM KOLLEL

WE ARE HIRING!

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sees Capitol operations, said in a statement that he agreed with the decision.

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“President Biden did the right thing and heeded my call for action,” he said. The inspector general report found that Blanton and his family had repeatedly made personal use of government-issued vehicles intended for day-to-day operations at the Capitol and official emergencies.

At the hearing last week before the administration panel, as he tried to justify the use of his government car, Blanton further infuriated lawmakers when he admitted that he was not present during the January 6 attack. He said he had been coordinating with his team over the phone and via a radio system installed in his official vehicle instead of going to the Capitol that day because he thought it would not be “prudent” to drive to work as thousands of protesters blocked access to the complex. That drew indignant responses from lawmakers in both parties. (© The New York Times)

Failing Math in Baltimore

After analyzing data from Maryland’s State Department of Education from 2022, Project Baltimore concluded that 23 public schools in Baltimore are failing their students in a major way – not one student at the institutions reached the required level in math.

There was not one student among the 2,000-strong student body was reaching the required math standard in 10 high schools, eight elementary schools, three Middle/High schools and two Elementary/Middle schools.

School funding in Baltimore has been historically low, and although its recently received a large injection of cash, results are yet to be seen.

In August last year Baltimore City Schools committed to spending $21,000 per student thanks to a huge funding increase. The change, brought about by a bill passed two years prior, made Baltimore the fourth most funded large school system in the country.

The three districts that spend

more than Baltimore are New York City, Boston, and Washington, DC. All three have significantly better national test scores and double the number of students proficient in reading compared to Baltimore.

According to 2021 census data, Baltimore’s poverty rate was 20.3 percent.

Remote Work Costs Billions

New York is feeling the hit of employees working out of their home.

According to a Bloomberg analysis of a WFH Research study, it’s costing the Big Apple more than $12 billion as workers stay out of offices.

Office workers are spending $4,661 less per person in the areas near their offices than before the pandemic began.

The Big Apple has seen the largest reduction in spending across the country, with a deficit of $12.4 billion a year.

“Less spending by workers in the central areas means a lot less sales tax revenue,” Jose Maria Barrero, a professor at Mexico’s Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo and a member of the WFH Research group, noted. “If you have fewer commuters, that means less revenue.”

That figure was calculated by multiplying the annual inflation-adjust loss in spending per worker by the U.S. Census Bureau›s nearly 2.7 million commuters and residents who worked in Manhattan in 2019.

“If less income tax is being paid in New York City,” Comptroller Brad Lander told Bloomberg, “then it’s hard to figure out how to capture enough value to maintain the subways and invest in the schools and keep the city safe and clean and all the things that really matter.”

Notably, a recent Partnership for New York City survey showed just 52% of Manhattan office workers are at their place of work on an average weekday and just 9% of employees are back in the office for five days a week.

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Torah Thought

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

This week we read a long list of laws primarily related to civil life and welfare. In what seems as a potpourri of many diverse topics, the commentators toil to explain the divine logic behind the sequencing of these many statutes.

In what seems one of the more glaring contrasts, is the series of laws discussing striking or cursing a parent and the crime of kidnapping.

The Torah records: One who strikes his father or mother shall surely be put to death. One who kidnaps a man and sells him, and he was found to be in

his power, shall be put to death. One who curses his father or mother shall surely be put to death. (זיוט אכ)

The insertion here of the ordinance regarding kidnapping so starkly out of context — and it being planted smack in-between two laws that are so naturally related — screams out for elucidation.

The Sifsei Cohen, the sixteenth century Kabbalist, the Holy Rav Mordechai HaKohen of Tzfas, peels away the superficial reading of these verses to reveal for us a mystical and powerful underlying message.

The Sifsei Cohen ponders, how is it possible that a father who provided with purposeful dedication for his child, and a mother who suffered through pregnancy and childbirth, nursed so lovingly, tenderly bathed and clothed her son, could beget offspring so ungrateful that he physically assaults his parents.

The Torah intimates this question in providing an answer by referring us to the laws of the kidnapper.

Who is the ‘kidnapped child’ the Torah speaks of?

The Sifsei Cohen writes: Parents who conceive a child while wrapped up in their selfish passion, focusing solely on their own personal needs and expectations, forgetting the third partner that is present from the moment of conception throughout the child’s entire life, are not allotted their

‘designated’ natural child. The parents selecting to go it on their own, are virtually ‘kidnapping’ an external soul from the ‘other side’.

This is precisely the scenario the verse is addressing.

A parent is bewildered, wondering, “How could this child possibly attack me after all I’ve done?”

The Torah responds בנגו — ‘in your self-centeredness you have kidnapped this soul, this is not the child that was destined for you were you to have partnered and considered ‘My’ role in the equation’. רכמו — you have bartered it for an ‘external soul’. אצמנו ודיב — it was ‘found’ in your hand, not assigned — you snatched it.

In earthly terms, perhaps we can understand this mystical idea in the following rational way.

A child is not merely the realiza-

Torah Thought

tion of a personal dream, a quest for progeny to make parents proud in seeing their own reflection in their child. It is the opportunity to partner with G-d in having the privilege to raise a neshamah — a pure soul and affording it the ability to come close to G-d in its own special way, that is uniquely suited to it.

The moment we forget of our responsibility to the ‘Silent Partner’ is the instant we ‘kidnap’ a child’s neshamah

A child who senses it is merely here to fulfill its parents’ expectations is ultimately bound to feel resentment. If the child, however, perceives that the love and attention directed towards him or her is through the objective lens of the ‘third partner’, seeking to allow the child to develop and attain what is in its best interest, it would indeed be impossible for this child to ever strike out at the parent.

The next verse in succession, the Sifsei Cohen continues, describes this ‘kidnapped’ child. He is one who resents those who raise him to be a prototype of themselves, ignoring the child’s needs and desires, who eventually feels contempt towards them and curses those that bore him.

The Sifsei Cohen goes on to state that despite this justified resentment, the contemptible cursing is inexcusable and punishable by death. He has no need to lash out to resolve his angst. There is recourse and a healthier path towards the restoration of his identity.

The Talmud teaches us that man can alter his fate through םוקמ יוניש,

changing one’s place, name, and actions. (זט הנשה שאר:)

These correspond to the three partners — ‘G-d’ who is referred to as מה םוק — for He occupies every space, םש — name, alludes to the ‘father’ who designates the child’s name, and השעמ — action, for through the ‘mother’s’ actions the child develops.

Perhaps the implication here is that a child who lacks a healthy ‘triumvirate’ working in unison, is left with a diminished sense of self, after all the child is just the shadow of his parents’ interests. He is missing the confident ambition, purposeful direction and sense of place and belonging. A healthy functioning home is the םוקמ — breeding ground, that anchors one’s growth. A mother instills the self-confidence that is critical to development

— השעמ. The father helps sets the goals wherein the child will make his mark, his םש — his reputation.

Man, however can discover his place by acknowledging that he is always in the company of G-d — םוקמה.

With an awareness that G-d believes in him as no other can and accompanies him wherever, man can reignite a belief in himself, and the inherent qualities bequeathed to him — השעמ. With that renewed motivation he can begin to find his compass and objective in life — םש

An indentured servant, who after six years of service declares a love for his limited life as a bondsman, must undergo a boring of a hole in his ear to symbolize his failure to internalize the message he heard at Mount Sinai

when G-d declared — בנגת אל, You shall not steal. (ו אכ)

This alludes to his initially having entered servitude because of having stolen and not being able to repay, thereby forcing the need to be sold to use that money to pay his debt.

Why do we commemorate this weakness first now, six years later, and not when he first sold himself as a consequence of his having stolen?

Additionally, this injunction, אל בנגת recorded in the Decalogue is referring to the more heinous crime of kidnapping, not merely stealing property. Why not refer to the verse — אי טי( ובונגת אל, that more accurately deals with simply stealing property?

An individual who can placate himself by remaining a servant, is one whose self-confidence to forge one’s own path in life was kidnapped He seeks the easy comfort of blending into the background of another’s home. He indeed has not absorbed the lesson of the kidnapped soul who represents lost ambition and drive, that can be restored with an abiding faith in God.

There was one individual in history who was kidnapped and sold, by brothers who usurped the confidence and leadership his father instilled in him, and took advantage of this motherless child — Yosef HaTzaddik.

At that young and vulnerable age he was stripped of his self-assurance, torn from his elevated position and thrust far from the warmth of his home.

Yet, rather than descending to bitterness, he found solace with the omnipresent God, even while in a pit filled with snakes and scorpions, traveling in a caravan of foul smelling Arab merchants and cast in the darkness of a dungeon.

That consciousness allowed him to exhibit unparalleled poise no matter what situation he faced, rising with that faith to a position of great purpose.

Yosef found his םוקמ — place, even in Egypt. He displayed magnificent השעמ — deed, in the face of the greatest of challenges. He gained a םש — name and reputation, that all were in absolute awe of.

The Midrash states that one of the rationales for the annual com-

mand to give the Machtzis HaShekel, a half-shekel, is that it serves as an atonement for the sin of the kidnapping of Yosef.

(חי דפ ב)

Yosef was sold for a total of twenty pieces of silver, equivalent to five shekalim, as there are four pieces of silver per shekel. Being that ten tribes benefited from the proceeds, it turns out each brother received a half-shekel, five divided by ten.

When the brothers sought to impose their understanding of the true value of Yosef, they hijacked his destiny for greatness. By placing an exact price on his head, they were in essence reducing his priceless worthiness to being a mere material and finite object as a slave.

We offer a half-shekel, for it in its incompleteness it symbolizes that the coin represents just the tip of the iceberg of our inestimable worth.

This dangerous attitude is not only something that parents are susceptible to. A teacher towards a student; an employer with his employees; colleagues who work side by side, are all capable of commandeering those they influence. When we don’t see the other beyond our own expectations of them, we are kidnapping their souls.

We assert by collectively each contributing a half-shekel, that we appreciate our own, as well as other’s limitless greatness. We affirm our awareness that we can only flourish in an environment of common validation of one another’s uniqueness.

In this self-discovery lies our attaining true החמש — happiness.

This is the key to restoring the Achdus, the unity that we sensed in the times of Mordechai, that brought about a new and thrilling acceptance of Torah.

We are poised for great times ahead.

It is evident that Heaven is summoning our attention to gather once again and herald this final redemption we so desperately need.

May we release ourselves and others from captivity and merit an everlasting joy upon our heads.

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

Baltimore Weekday Minyanim Guide

Shacharis Mincha

Neitz Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] M-F

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek M-F

Ohel Yakov S-F

6:00 AM Shomrei Emunah Congregation M-F

6:10 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, Th

6:15 AM Kol Torah M, TH

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah M-F

Shearith Israel Congregation M, TH

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel M, TH

6:20 AM Agudah of Greenspring M, TH

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S-F

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M, TH

Kehilath B'nai Torah M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S, M, TH

6:25 AM Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation T, W, F

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel T, W, F

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

Chabad of Park Heights M-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Kehilath B'nai Torah T, W, F

Khal Bais Nosson M-F

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek M-F

Kol Torah T, W, F

Ohr Yisroel M-F

Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

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

Ohel Moshe M, TH

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

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M, TH

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

Beth Abraham M, TH

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Ner Tamid M-F

Ohel Moshe T, W, F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim M-F

6:50 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] M, TH

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh M, TH

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation T, W, F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh M, TH

Derech Chaim M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M-F

Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center M, TH

6:55 AM Beth Abraham T, W, F

Kol Torah M, TH

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

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh T, W, F

Beth Tfiloh Congregation M-F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh T, W, F

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek S

Kol Torah T, W, F

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah S-F

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S

Shearith Israel Congregation S, M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh M-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center T, W, F

Tiferes Yisroel M-F

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

7:15 AM Kedushas Yisrael S

Kol Torah S

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

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Ner Israel Rabbinical College S-F

7:15 AM Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F Shomrei Emunah Congregation S

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel S

Tzeirah Anash M-F

7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Kol Torah M-F

Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH

7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] S

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore S-F

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh S

Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S

Chabad of Park Heights S

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh S-F

Darchei Tzedek S

Kedushas Yisrael M-F

Khal Bais Nosson S

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) S-F

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S-F

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

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

Talmudical Academy S-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Mesivta Kesser Torah S-F

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim S-F

7:50 AM Derech Chaim S

Ner Tamid S

Ohel Moshe M-F

8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Beth Abraham S

Darchei Tzedek S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek S

Kehillas Meor HaTorah S

Ohel Yakov S

Ohr Yisroel S

Pikesville Jewish Congregation S

Shearith Israel Congregation S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center S

Tiferes Yisroel S

Tzeirah Anash S

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah S-F

8:15 AM Kehilath B'nai Torah S

Kol Torah S

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Beth Tfiloh Congregation S

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh S

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

9:00 AM Aish Kodesh S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F

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

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

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Mincha Gedolah Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek

12:30 PM Kol Torah

12:50 PM Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber

1:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

10055 Red Run Blvd Suite 295

Milk & Honey Bistro 1777 Reisterstown RD

1:25 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

1:45 PM Ohel Moshe

2:00 PM Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room

Market Maven

Reischer Minyan 15 Walker Ave 2nd Floor

Snider Law Firm 600 Reistersown Rd 7th floor

2:30 PM Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh

Ner Israel Rabbinical College

Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)

Shearith Israel Congregation

3:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

3:05 PM Kedushas Yisrael

3:15 PM Hat Box

4:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Mincha/Maariv

Aish Kodesh

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Agudah of Greenspring

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Darchei Tzedek

Kehillas Meor HaTorah

Kehilath B’nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill’s)

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Ner Tamid

Ohel Moshe

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Before Shkiah

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

8:55 PM Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

9:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh

Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi]

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

9:20 PM Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Kol Torah

9:30 PM Agudah of Greenspring

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Kedushas Yisrael

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

9:45 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Kollel Erev Birchas Yitzchok (Luries)

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's)

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah

9:50 PM Aish Kodesh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Ohel Moshe

10:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Darchei Tzedek

Kehilath B'nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Ohr Yisroel

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

10:05 PM Kol Torah

10:10 PM Ner Israel Rabbinical College

10:15 PM Derech Chaim

Khal Bais Nosson

10:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

11:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Agudah of Greenspring - 6107 Greenspring Ave

Agudath Israel of Baltimore - 6200 Park Heights Ave

Ahavat Shalom - 3009 Northbrook Rd

Aish Kodesh - 6207 Ivymount Rd

Arugas HaBosem - 3509 Clarks Ln

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim - 3120 Clarks Ln

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore - 6823 Old Pimlico Rd

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh - 6618 Deancroft Rd

Beit Yaakov - 3615 Seven Mile Ln

Beth Abraham - 6208 Wallis Ave

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center

Maariv

6:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

7:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah

7:15 PM Shomrei Emunah Congregation

7:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

7:45 PM Talmudical Academy

Ohel Moshe

8:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Pikesville Jewish Congregation

8:10 PM Kol Torah

8:15 PM Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

8:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi]

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

8:45 PM Darchei Tzedek

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina)

Ohr Yisroel

Beth Tfiloh Congregation - 3300 Old Court Rd

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation - 6602 Park Heights Ave

Chabad of Park Heights - 3402 Clarks Ln

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh - 3800 Labyrinth Rd

Darchei Tzedek - 3201 Seven Mile Ln

Derech Chaim - 6229 Greenspring Ave (Weekday)

Kedushas Yisrael - 6004 Park Heights Ave

Kehilath B’nai Torah - 6301 Green Meadow Pkwy

Kehillas Meor HaTorah - 6539 Pebble Brooke Rd

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek - 6811 Park Heights Ave

Khal Bais Nosson - 2901 Taney Rd

Kol Torah - 2929 Fallstaff Rd

Machzikei Torah - 6216 Biltmore Ave

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah - 6500 Baythorne Rd

Mesivta Kesser Torah - 8400 Park Heights Ave

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim - 3702 Fords Ln

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah - 7000 Rockland Hills Dr

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

Ner Israel Rabbinical College - 400 Mt Wilson Ln

Ner Tamid - 6214 Pimlico Road

Ohel Moshe - 2808 Smith Ave

Ohel Yakov - 3200 Glen Ave

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] - 6813 Park Heights Ave

Ohr Yisroel - 2429 Lightfoot Dr

Pikesville Jewish Congregation - 7644 Carla Rd

Shearith Israel Congregation - 5835 Park Heights Ave

Shomrei Emunah Congregation - 6221 Greenspring Ave

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh - 2821 W Strathmore Ave

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim - 7504 Seven Mile Ln

Talmudical Academy - 4445 Old Court Rd

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

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center - 6701 Old Pimlico Rd

Tiferes Yisroel - 6201 Park Heights Ave

Tzeirah Anash - 6706 Cross County Blvd

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah - 6819 Williamson Ave

Hakhel Gatherings for Jewish Women in Pikesville

by Rochel Kaplan

This entire year גפשת is a Hakhel year. The term Hakhel means to gather. Torah commands Deuteronomy 31:10-12: At the end of every seven years, at an appointed time, in the Festival of Sukkot [following] the year of Shemitah. When all Israel comes to appear before the Lord, your Gd, in the place He will choose, you shall read this Torah before all Israel, in their ears. Assemble the people: the men, the women, the children.

Practically speaking (without the Temple), we seek to applicate the message of Hakhel to affect the community with this enduring teaching.

Moshe Rabbeinu upon turning 120,

aware that he would no longer lead the Jewish people as they entered the land of Israel, was concerned. He was eager to leave them a legacy as a united people, similar to Matan Torah to carry them through exile. Matan Torah was a sensorial experience (according to Midrash the Jews saw the thunder and heard lightning) followed by their devotion to Torah study. The beloved shepherd of Israel, Moses, left his people with Mitzvat Hakhel to observe on Sukkot but to follow throughout the Hakhel year with an imprint to inspire, uplift and unite the Jewish nation until the ultimate Hakhel with Moshiach.

Our program spans six months JanJune 2023. Each month features a dif-

ferent topic. On January 24, 2023, the first of six in the presence of approx. twenty women, the program began with a Hakhel introduction by Rebbetzen Kaplan. Afterward, we focused on the theme of the evening “Song”, featuring a live singer, as well as a video of the Zushe band. Each attendee began filling out her personal “Soul Passport” which included their Jewish name, Hebrew birthdate, and occupation while sharing the soul power within each. At each subsequent gathering, the passport travel log will be continued with her life journey and travels, altogether divinely set by Hashem.

Hot homemade soups, cheese, and cracker board displays alongside

wine and Nespresso was a welcoming touch.

Bruriah Herman Schechter, one of the attendees, described the evening as soul-stirring: My soul was astir from all five senses: the taste and smell of delicious food; the sights of beautiful decor; women with open hearts and hugs; and the sounds of two marvelous musicians.

We are taking reservations for our second Hakhel Event set for Tuesday 2/21, 8 pm. in Pikesville, MD. You may contact Rochel Kaplan, Aleph Learning Institute 4432209124, email chabadpikesville@gmail.com

Health & F tness Sugar-Free

By Tehila Soskel, RDN, CDN

Sugar-free sounds like the best option when you are monitoring your sugar intake, although that does not necessarily mean the food product is healthier.

Many foods contain naturally occurring sugar such as fruits and dairy products. Fructose is the name for the sugar found in fruits, and lactose is the name of sugar in milk products.

Added sugars are incorporated during the processing or preparation of the food item, as the name implies. Consuming too many added sugars can lead to numerous health problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. A 20-ounce sugar-sweetened beverage like lemonade or soda can contain around 65 grams of sugar – to put that into perspective, that’s around 16 teaspoons of sugar! More so, it’s usually high fructose syrup that is used as the sweetener. You wouldn’t add 16 teaspoons of sugar to your coffee or tea so why drink a soda or beverage with that much sugar?

When you are reading the nutrition facts on the food label, you want to look out for the added sugars. The most common names for added sugar are corn syrup, high fructose concentrates, molasses, sucrose, and more. According to The American Heart Association , they recommend a limit of 24 grams of sugar for women and 36 grams of sugar for men daily.

As with most things, sugar in moderation sugar can be OK, but it’s crucial to limit added sugars as they only contribute extra calories to the food item with no nutritional benefits. By reducing the amount of added sugar in your diet, you decrease a significant amount of calories consumed and it may help with weight loss as well as improving your heart health.

Reducing Added Sugar

Try drinking mostly water, natural seltzer, and tea, and limit or avoid sugary drinks. Another easy swap is choosing plain yogurt and adding your own fruit and a dash of cinnamon instead of the fla-

vored yogurts that usually contain lots of added sugars. With baking, you can try reducing the amount of sugar you usually use in a recipe or substitute the sugar with mashed banana or unsweetened applesauce.

The more consistent you are with reducing your sugar intake, the more you may start to notice less sugar cravings, as well as certain foods becoming too sweet for you. Our taste buds can adjust to the sweetness levels!

Health Claims

A food item claiming to be sugar-free means there is less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving. Less or reduced sugar means that compared to the similar product, there is 25 percent less sugar. As it sounds, no added sugars means the only sugar is from the food itself – there’s no sugar added. It’s helpful to be familiar with what these claims mean when we’re looking at the nutrition labels as well as the labels on the packaging.

Artificial Sweeteners

Let’s shift into a popular topic: artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes.

Seeing that delicious fluffy cake or

crispy cookie and hearing that it is sugar-free sounds great because you may think that makes it “healthy.” Well, that’s not always the case.

Artificial sweeteners add intense sweetness to food items with almost zero calories. Some can add up to thousand times the amount of sweetness than table sugar.

The most common artificial sweeteners are aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, and a few others. Aspartame, also known as Equal, is 200 times sweeter than table sugar. Saccharin is sold under the name Sweet’N Low and is 700 times the sweetness than table sugar. Sucralose, or Splenda, is 600 times sweeter than table sugar. Because these artificial sweeteners are so much more sweet than table sugar, only a little bit is really needed.

While many people choose artificial sweeteners when they are trying to lose weight, there are studies that found that consuming too much may cause weight gain, increased risk for obesity, diabetes, and other serious diseases. Cutting out added sugars may help your body crave sugar less but that doesn’t mean we should replace it with artificial sweeteners. There have been studies that suggest consuming

artificial sweeteners may actually cause an increase in hunger as you may need more of a food item artificially sweetened than the naturally sweetened one.

Nevertheless, foods with artificial ingredients containing less calories may reduce your total calorie intake for the day as opposed to consuming food with added sugar.

Individuals who have diabetes and need to monitor their blood sugar may benefit from sugar substitutes like Truvia or monk fruit instead of table sugar as those sweeteners shouldn’t cause a rise in blood sugar levels like table sugar would. With that being said, it doesn’t mean you should choose to drink diet sodas, as there is no nutritional benefit and they are full of additives.

A healthy functioning gut is super important to your health. Some effects of poor gut health are weakened immune system, weight gain, lack of blood sugar control, and disrupted sleep. What you eat affects your gut, especially certain artificial sweeteners. While not everyone gets affected, common side effects of artificial sweeteners are bloating and gas.

Artificial sweeteners are tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Association to make sure they are safe to consume. If you find that you do not react well to them, then avoid them. If you’re looking for alternatives to artificial sweeteners, then try using natural sweeteners like maple syrup or agave nectar instead.

A little bit of sugar as well as a little bit of artificial sweetener may be fine for some but test yourselves and see how you can make some swaps to decrease your overall sugar intake. You might be surprised!

Tehila Soskel is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a private practice in the Five Towns. She sees clients for weight loss, diabetes, and other various diseases. Appointments can be made for in-person or virtual sessions: 516-457-8558, tehilasoskelrd@gmail.com, tehilasoskelnutrition.com.

Teen Talk

By Daniella Quinn

Dear Teen Talk,

I have a twin sister who I am very close to. We share a lot of things – clothes, a room, friends, etc.

We are now in tenth grade. Recently, I have found that she is spending a lot of time with one of our friends without me. I don’t think this is because they are deliberately leaving me out but I am feeling left out.

Teen Talk, a new column in TJH, is geared towards the teens in our community. Answered by a rotating roster of teachers, rebbeim, clinicians, and peers (!), teens will be hearing answers to many questions they had percolating in their minds and wished they had the answers for.

I generally would just talk to my sister about this but I feel uncomfortable because I don’t want her to think that I am “jealous” about this.

What can I do to make myself feel better about this and find out what’s going on?

Iwant to start off by telling you that it is totally normal that you feel left out. It is not something you have to be embarrassed about. When someone you are very close to, especially a sibling, begins spending more time with other people it can be hard.

The way you described your relationship with your sister tells me that the two of you are very close. It may feel weird and may even hurt to see her do things without you. When you are so used to doing things together and that begins to change, it can be really hard. So of course, it’s frustrating to be in this situation, but I think your attitude about it is something to be proud of.

It’s not easy to feel left out by a friend, and it’s definitely not easy to feel left out by a sister that you are close to. It might make you feel hurt and upset in a way that makes you want to be mad at her. But what I find so impressive is that you never once say that you are angry, which alone is something to be proud of. It’s harder to make yourself feel better when you are stuck feeling angry and resentful because it makes you feel like they are in the wrong. And when you let yourself think that the only way you could feel better is when the other person changes their actions, you’re putting them in control of your happiness.

But we are not going to do that. I think the most important thing for you to take away from

this is that a change in your own mindset is what will make you feel better. It’s easy to put the blame on others and say that if they change then you will feel better and then there’s nothing left for you to do but wait. However, what will make the biggest difference is the choice you make in how to deal with and even how to feel about this situation.

You and your sister have always been close, and it may feel like that has changed as she spends more time with this other friend, without you. But I think we can look at it from a different angle.

When you get older, and, yes, this includes high school, relationships change. The fact that they change can be scary and uncomfortable, but more than anything, frustrating because you liked how they were before. However, the reason they change is that we, the people that make up these friendships, are changing and growing. It’s an amazing thing to grow into the person you are and the person you want to be, and high school is a big part of that.

While it sounds like you and your sister have always shared friends, that might not always be the case. You are two different people, who have a beautiful relationship as sisters and as friends, but you are still two different people.

The idea of your sister becoming close to someone without you may be a scary thing if it’s not something you’re used to, but that doesn’t make it a bad thing. In the same way that you would spend time with a friend you enjoy hanging out with, she is doing the same. It doesn’t mean she is choosing to leave you out to hurt you, rather she, just like you, is her own person and that means she will have friends outside of what the two of you share. And on the flipside, you too will have people that you are closer to, or people that you are friends with that she has nothing to do with at all. Does this mean that either of you are being left out of something? Not at all!

As you learn more about yourself you may find that you like hanging out with a certain type of girl and she likes to hang out with a totally different crowd, and that is completely healthy!

Yes, the idea that you won’t always have the same friends may be a scary one, but it’s a part of growing up, and I mean that in the best way possible!

As a quick example, growing up, my best friend and I shared all the same friends. Then something crazy happened. We went to the same seminary but walked out with completely different friend groups. She is still my best friend to this day, but the reason we ended

up with different friends is because we are different people. I am so happy that she was able to make new friends while we were in Israel even if it meant we no longer shared the same friend group because these girls were people who she herself enjoyed spending time with.

What I want you to see is that this is a situation that has real potential for growth. As you and sister are growing up, the two of you may find that you appreciate different types of people. You should embrace the fact that the two of you are dif-

Are you a teen with a question?

If you have a question or problem you’d like our columnists to address, email your question or insight to editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com , subject line: Teen Talk.

ferent but also remember that it doesn’t take away from the close bond you share. I think you would feel a lot better choosing to be happy for your sister that she is making such good friends rather than letting yourself think that she is trying to leave you out. And you may surprise yourself and find that you will too begin to make new friends, ones that you may share with her and

ones that you may not.

To answer your question about how to find out what’s going on, I think the answer is very simple: she’s building new friendships as she learns more about herself, and kol hakavod to her! But it’s important for you to see as well that it’s okay to build friendships outside of what the two of you have.

Hatzlacha!

Daniella is originally from Houston, Texas, and recently moved to Baltimore, Maryland. She currently works in a school while studying for a degree in psychology.

Mental Health Corner

Deinstitutionalization and Homelessness

By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman

Homelessness is a growing problem in the United States and as of 2018 over half a million people were homeless. Of those, about 200,000 homeless people suffer from mental illness such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Amongst the prison population, it is estimated that approximately 300,000 inmates in the United States are suffering from mental illness. It didn’t used to be this way. There used to be government-run “insane

asylums” that provided long-term or lifelong care for individuals with severe mental illness. In the 1950s, there were over half a million beds nationwide in these institutions. This article will explore the causes of the closing of these institutions and what it means for us today.

Before we begin, we must note that until the 1950s there were no medications at all for treating mental illness and therefore the presentation of an individual living with chronic

mental illness bears no resemblance to what we see today. The advent of medications that can treat psychotic disorders and other mental illness has transformed the landscape of psychiatric disorders.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, we begin to find a rise in institutions that housed individuals with mental illness. The costs were covered by families, who were often too ashamed to have the individual living with them. Patients were often restrained with shackles, and abuse and neglect were rampant. In the 19th centuries, the public began to recognize the abuse that occurred in these facilities, and many asylums started to treat their residents more humanely and shackles became less common.

At this time, we start finding the creation of government-run institutions. These buildings tended to be majestic and therapeutic. Additionally, many were located on large grounds where residents could take walks and even tend the gardens. Nevertheless, many abuses remained. Overcrowding was rampant, and this led to poor living conditions, lack of hygiene, abuse of residents, and even starvation.

In the 1950s, partially as a result of the publicity of the horrific conditions in these institutions, the sentiment of the public changed dramatically. Until that point, it was common to believe that mentally ill individuals should live out their lives in an institution. Additionally, at this time medications were discovered that were able to treat many individuals who until then were considered untreatable, and governments became unwilling to pay for the high cost of life-long institutional care.

A movement, known as deinstitutionalization, emerged that called for the closing of the long-term care facilities and treating patients through short-term stays in the hospital, homebased treatments, and halfway houses that helped them integrate into society.

Deinstitutionalization has its pros and cons. The pros are that rather than having society send the mentally ill into lifelong institutions, they were forced to develop ways to treat them in their home environment and to allow them the opportunity to be a productive member of society. New legislation that made it extremely difficult to commit someone against their will meant that individuals struggling with mental illness did not have their rights stripped from them.

The cons are that there is a subset of individuals who need more help than just a few weeks in a hospital or a halfway house and their needs are not being met. The result has been a sharp rise in the homeless and prison population.

As a society, we have made tremendous strides in the care of mental illness. However, we still have a long way to go. Innovative ideas are needed to develop interventions that have the best of both worlds; allowing every human being to maintain their dignity and self-respect, and interventions that can treat and care for individuals with severe mental illness.

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

Neuro Clics is a research-based, multi-sensory program designed to target core behaviors and skills to correct learning struggles.

Learning is easier for me now that I can lter out distractions and focus on the teacher.

I no longer bump into everything and now I love to play sports with my friends.

Neuro Clics helps people struggling with the following symptoms:

NeuroClics helped make reading easier for me. Now I love to read!

While here in Baltimore, exciting preparations are underway for the upcoming May 21st, Ishay Ribo Unity Concert, on Motzae Shabbos, February 5th, at the Yad L’olim, Ishay Ribo Concert in Jerusalem, Frank Storch, director of The Chesed Fund & Project Ezra, actually met with Ishay Ribo. “It was a great sold-out show,” said Frank, “the joyful energy and achdus at an Ishay Ribo concert, where there are so many different types of Jews, is unique and we are so excited to bring him to Baltimore.”

More importantly, however, is the focus of Frank’s trip to Israel, which was to increase safety and security for American and English-speaking students and tourists. The Chesed Fund & Project Ezra provided free and informative Stay Safe in Israel workshops to many yeshivas and seminaries based on the guide distributed to thousands

By Dr. Edo Lavi

Our sages teach us that “when the (Jewish month of) Adar arrives, we increase our happiness, when Av arrives, we reduce our happiness.”

On the surface, the psychological implications of this statement seem impractical. How can we be expected to control our level of happiness?

Are we even capable of modulating our emotions that way? Fascinating research indicates that most healthy people can control their mood, and it’s easier than you would imagine. All it takes is a smile!

In 2002, Professor Daniel Kahneman received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for the work he did with his partner Amos Tversky at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Amazingly, Daniel Kahneman wasn’t even an economist! He was a psychologist, but his research was so fundamental in explaining human behavior that it was applicable to any field of study, including behavioral economics, hence the Nobel Prize in economics.

Kahneman published the essence

annually. Frank also had the opportunity to distribute thousands of free Stay Safe in Israel emergency cards, which list emergency phone numbers for first responders and has already proven to be a life-saving resource. An Aish Hatorah student, Shmulie Vladimirsky, whom Frank randomly ran into, shared about a frightening incident where his friend who was having a severe allergic reaction stopped breathing. Because of the pressure of the moment, he did not know how to respond. He then suddenly remembered he had the emergency card in his wallet and was able to call first responders. They came immediately and saved his friend’s life!

Additionally, after the shocking and deadly terror attack in Neve Yaakov on Friday night, January 27, Shomrim of Neve Yaakov and community leaders reached out to Frank to review their security measures and

discuss important ways to tighten the security at their institutions and shuls. They were very appreciative of the meeting and the extensive list of ideas provided which detailed simple and cost-efficient immediate steps to take. The meeting was then followed up with another meeting with Neve Yaakov policemen to discuss various ideas to implement as well.

Frank also met with representatives of several major Israel-American organizations to further The Chesed Fund & Project Ezra’s reach in Israel. One dedicated advocate he met with was Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz, Director of the Eretz Hakodesh Party and the Igud for Yeshivas and Seminaries, who helped thousands of international yeshiva and seminary students enter Israel during the Covid-19 pandemic. They discussed their shared interest in keeping seminary and yeshiva students as safe as possible and plan to

Beyond Baltimore - The Chesed Fund & Project Ezra’s Israel Impact A Smile is a Curve That Sets Many Things Straight…

work together in the future.

In the midst of all of this, The Chesed Fund & Project Ezra also distributed trademark reflector belts to many to help them remain visible and safe at night. Frank noted, “All of this is just a drop in the bucket. There is so much more we need to do to help all our communities and I can’t wait to share some of The Chesed Fund & Project Ezra’s goals at the upcoming unity concert. The concert will also benefit our critical community organizations, Ahavas Yisroel, CHANA, Hatzalah, Shomrim, and Tikvah House.”

To download a free copy of Stay Safe in Israel, and to view other important safety, security, and community initiatives and literature visit, chesedfund.com. For sponsorship opportunities for the Ishay Ribo May 21st concert, email ishayriboconcert@ gmail.com

of his research with Tversky in 2011 in a book titled “Thinking, Fast and Slow”. In it, Kahneman describes a wide array of experiments designed to illustrate the way our minds naturally and instinctively influence our actions more powerfully than we realize.

One series of experiments involved the psychological effects of smiling. In smiling, Kahneman described a “reciprocal link”: Being amused tends to make you smile, and smiling tends to make you feel amused.

The study design was simple but brilliant. College students were asked to rate the humor of cartoons while holding a pencil in their mouth. One group was asked to hold the pencil with their lips pursed around the eraser end of the pencil in a forced frown, the other group was asked to hold the pencil between their teeth with the tip on the right and the eraser on the left and the entire length of the pencil propping up their mouth into a forced smile. In this and other similar experiments, the data was unmistakable. The students who were forced into a smile (without even realizing it!) reported that they

found the comics much more amusing, whereas those who were forced into a frown found the same comics less amusing, and had exaggerated negative emotional responses to sad imagery. The clear conclusion of these experiments was that, if we “force ourselves” to smile, we will actually react in a happier way to our surroundings.

How Smiling Affects Your Brain

The act of smiling does not only make our own lives happier, but also leads to longer healthier lives for us and for those around us.

For starters, smiling has been shown to trigger the release of natural dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. The total effect is that a smile relaxes your body, reduces stress, lowers heart rate and blood pressure, and serves as a natural anti depressant with only positive side effects. The endorphins released from smiling also have a pain reducing effect, so that people who smile simply feel better overall.

Perhaps the most remarkable benefit of smiling is that it is the only health promotion strategy that is actually contagious, in a good way.

In a Swedish study, subjects were shown pictures of several emotions: joy, anger, fear and surprise. When the picture of someone smiling was presented, the researchers asked the subjects to frown. Instead, they found that the facial expressions went directly to imitation of what subjects saw. It took conscious effort to turn that smile upside down. So if you’re smiling at someone, it’s likely they can’t help but smile back. This means that, in a “smiley” environment, happier healthier people are coaxing each other to keep smiling, which benefits everyone.

This is just one more reason why a beautiful healthy smile is so beneficial to quality of life. Many orthodontic patients enter orthodontic treatment unwilling to smile because they are ashamed of the way their smile looks. By creating beautiful healthy smiles, we can truly increase the number of smiles in our environment, thus making our surroundings a happier healthier place to be.

This Adar, may we be successful in our personal and collective quest to increase happiness.

Forgotten Her es Jewish Medal of Honor Awardees

By Avi Heiligman

Not all battlefield heroes were awarded the Medal of Honor and had their stories printed on front pages of newspapers. Other medals and honors were awarded in small ceremonies or just handed to the honoree. Many of these awards for valor were recorded and stored in databases or out of print books, making it possible for historians to do research into the heroes’ stories. Here are some accounts of Jewish battlefield heroes whose stories are rarely told.

The story of Lieutenant Colonel Bertram Sheff from Salem, Oregon, was recorded in a book printed in 1944 by the Jewish Welfare Board. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, but the citation is not readily available online. Sheff was a regimental S-2 officer with the 361st Regimental Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, nicknamed the “Red Bull” Division. In mid-1944, they were a part of Lieutenant General Mark Clark’s Fifth Army push into the heart of Italy.

On June 9, 1944, Sheff was on a reconnaissance mission when, after rounding a curve, his jeep came face to face with a German armored car. The two vehicles stopped within three yards of each other. The Germans then opened fire with their machine gun, but Sheff quickly got out of his jeep. He climbed on top of the armored car and unloaded his .45 caliber pistol into an open port, killing the

crew. After jumping down from the vehicle, he realized that it was still moving. The driver of the car was still alive, and Sheff once again jumped on the car. This time, he killed the driver, eliminating the German threat. General Clark personally awarded Sheff the Distinguished Service Cross. Sheff was also awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for other actions.

Private Nathan Greese from Chicago was sent to fight on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands with the 1 st Battalion, 132nd Infantry Regiment, 23rd Infantry Division (known as the Americal Division). On January 2, 1943, near Mount Austen, Greese’s platoon was pinned down by machine gun fire. He singlehandedly wiped out the Japanese machine gun nest by crawling forward and tossing hand grenades into the enemy position. Then, with his automatic rifle, Greese killed five enemy snipers. For his extraordinary heroism, Private Greese was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Nathan Greese was later killed while fighting on Bougainville.

Both army infantry and marine units fought on Guadalcanal in a battle that lasted from August 1943 until February 1943. Captain Howard Goodman of New York was fighting on the island with Company, M, Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, 1 st Marine Division. On November 3, the Marines were launching an

assault on Japanese positions when they ran into heavy machine gun and mortar fire. Goodman then led his men on three bayonet charges and threw grenades into Japanese positions while advancing through enemy lines. His charge led to the destruction of a Japanese battalion with minimal American casualties. For his courageous actions, Goodman was awarded the Silver Star. Goodman was beloved by his men and was the company’s bugler, even though he was a captain. Later in the war, Goodman’s unit captured an airfield during an assault on Cape Gloucester in New Britain, Territory of New Guinea. On January 7, 1944, he was killed on Hill 660 during the same battle.

Pilots were needed in large numbers and becoming a fighter pilot was more desirable than flying bomber or transport aircraft. Carrier pilots were specially trained to take off and land on a short runway. Sometimes heavy seas and night landings complicated the mission for an already exhausted pilot. Commander Sam Silber of Baltimore was a carrier fighter pilot in the navy and was credited with shooting down seven Japanese aircraft during the war. The ace pilot earned his wings in 1936 after joining the navy a year earlier. He flew F6F Hellcats and F4U Corsairs and was an executive officer with two fighter squadrons. He was stationed on both land bases and several aircraft

carriers including USS Tarawa (CV-40) and USS Bunker Hill (CV-17).

On New Year’s Day 1944, Silber shot down three enemy planes in a span of three minutes while en route to attack Japanese shipping. Later that year, he led his squadron of Hellcat fighters in an attack over Truk. Five Japanese planes were shot down. In a reconnaissance over Guam, his squadron shot down planes in the air and eight more on the ground. They discovered an airfield whose location had previously been unknown. Over Tinian, his unit shot down four Japanese planes and around thirty on the ground. His record is proof that he was an excellent pilot, and accounts recall that his leadership was extraordinary. Silber’s awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, two Gold Stars, and the Air Medal.

These men are just a few of the many Jewish servicemen who were decorated for bravery during World War II. Their medals and decorations are a testament of heroics on the battlefield. While they are rarely talked about today, they are Forgotten Heroes.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

The Americal division fought on Guadalcanal Captain Howard Goodman receiving his Silver Star

A signed photograph of aces Jim Billo, Jim Pearce, and Sam Silber

TJH Centerfold

Mr. President, Your Face

Rings a Bell…

You know what Lincoln and Nixon look like. Let’s see if you can recognize some of the others. Match the U.S. President with his picture.

Presidential Report Cards

These are actual excerpts from various presidents’ grade school report cards. Match the excerpt with the president.

A. “He will surely one day be a great professor, or who knows, he may become even President of the United States.”

B. He is casual and disorderly in almost all of his organization projects. [He] studies at the last minute, keeps appointments late, has little sense of material values, and can seldom locate his possessions.

C. A very solemn child who rarely ever smiled and laughed.

D. When you grow up, you’re either going to be a governor or get in a lot of trouble

E. An upstanding lad with great self-confidence. It appears, however, that he may be somewhat eccentric.

F-John Tyler; G-Franklin Pierce; H-Benjamin Harrison

Alan Arthur; D-James Buchanan; E-William McKinley;

A-Calvin Coolidge; B-Martin Van Buren; C-Chester

Kennedy; C-Richard Nixon; D-Bill Clinton; E-George H.W. Bush

A-Theodore Roosevelt; B-John F.

1. John F. Kennedy

2. Bill Clinton

3. George H.W. Bush

4. Theodore Roosevelt

5. Richard Nixon

A.

C.

E.

G.

B.

D.

F.

H.

Presidential Peculiarities



Calvin Coolidge, 30th President (1923-1929) He was known to be fragile with his words. At a dinner party, a guest turned to him and said that she bets that she could get at least three words of conversation from him. Without looking at her, he quietly retorted, “You lose.” I could one-up him with one word: Rude!



Martin Van Buren, 8th President (1837-1841)

He was born in Kinderhook, N.Y., and carried the nickname “Old Kinderhook.” Supporters used the shortened “OK” in rallies, and it took off from there and became one of the most widely used idioms until this day. “How are you doing?” “Thanks for asking, I’m feeling MAGA today!”



Chester Alan Arthur, 21st President (1881-85)

His middle name is pronounced a-LAN. Now you know everything there really is to know about Chester a-LAN Arthur.



Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President (19531961) He had five brothers who were all nicknamed “Ike.” Imagine when mom got frustrated at them “Ike!Ike!Ike!Ike!Ike!”…OK, you are obviously not feeling so MAGA today, mam.



James Buchanan 15th President (1857-1861)

Though he was engaged once in his late twenties, the engagement was broken off. He became the only president who was a lifelong bachelor. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is not too shabby a bachelor’s pad.

Riddle

me This

 William McKinley, 25th President (1897-1901) He had an Amazon parrot which could sing the song “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” The president would whistle the first few notes, and the parrot would finish it. The parrot’s name? Washington Post. Not much has changed – one former president still uses a little bird to communicate, with some of those tweets even aimed at the Washington Post.

 John Tyler, 10th President (1841-1845) He had 15 children. He actually has a grandchild that is still alive. He was 63 when son Lyon Tyler was born. In 1928, when Lyon was 75 years old, he had a baby boy, Harrison, who is still alive today. With 15 kids, just about the only affordable trip is a visit to the White House. “OK, kids stand against the gate and smile.”

 Franklin Pierce, 14th President (1853-1857)

During his presidency, Pierce was arrested for running over a woman with his horse. Charges were later dropped due to a lack of evidence. Glad to see that lack of evidence once meant something in Washington.

 Benjamin Harrison, 23rd President (1889 to 1893) He was the first president to have electricity in the White House. However, he was so scared of getting electrocuted that he would never touch the light switches himself. “Honey, you mind shutting that light.” Seriously, Benjamin? You make the French

What was the president of the United States’ name in 1984?

Ronald Reagan)

Answer: Joe Biden (Who was the president of the U.S in 1984?

Notable Quotes “Say

What?!”

I spend billions of dollars on climate innovation. So, you know, should I stay at home and not come to Kenya and learn about farming and malaria anyway? I mean, I’m comfortable with the idea that not only am I not part of the problem — by paying for the offsets, but also through the billions that my Breakthrough Energy group is spending – that I’m part of the solution.

- Bill Gates, when asked in a recent interview if he is a hypocrite for flying private even though he is a climate activist

On China, what Joe Biden did tonight by not taking on China more aggressively was politically courageous, if you will, in terms of the domestic support.

- MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, commenting on President Biden’s failure during his State of the Union address to show strength against China, a country that is becoming increasingly hostile to the U.S.

You had to deal, Terry, with another issue when you were playing, and this was the rap that you were, forgive me, dumb. And Hollywood Henderson famously said, you know, “He couldn’t spell cat if he was spotted a C and an A.” Did it get under your skin?

– Chris Wallace in an interview with former NFL great Terry Bradshaw

Yes. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. The dumb image, I have yet to figure out. Um, a lot of interceptions my rookie year but my rookie interception record initially was broken by Peyton Manning, considered one of the smartest quarterbacks. I threw 25, he threw 28. So I am upset. I do get upset by the dumb image. I don’t like it being brought up. And I think probably some of my anger and frustration with it is I didn’t get enough support.

– Bradshaw, in response

At least two dead as driver rams bus stop in east Jerusalem.

- Headline in the New York Times , referring to the Arab terrorist who killed two beautiful little boys and a newly married man as a “driver”

I wish I could go to Target sometimes and walk into Starbucks and have my name on the cup just like regular people.

- LeBron James in an interview with the New York Times

I can’t even…express in words the amount of satisfaction I feel knowing that Twitter’s former chief of censorship @yoyoel is triggered by this account’s existence. And the best part is, there’s absolutely nothing he can do about it!

- Tweet by Libs of Tik Tok – a popular conservative Twitter account (run by an Orthodox woman) which points out the left’s absurdities— in response to Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and former Twitter executive Yoel Roth commiserating at a Congressional hearing about how horrible it is that Libs of Tik Tok is not banned by Twitter

The White House today announced they formed an interagency team to look into what’s going on. After initially refusing to rule it out, today, they said they do not believe these are extraterrestrial visits, which is exactly what they say at the beginning of every movie about extraterrestrial visits.

- Jimmy Kimmel

There’s a hemorrhaging of our Latino community, our AAPI [Asian American and Pacific Islander] communities, that’s leaving the traditional Democratic base because we’ve allowed the loudest and those who consider themselves to be “woke” to set the Democratic agenda.

– New York City Mayor Eric Adams on MSNBC

Well, you know, I told people, I have a Ph.D. in White trashology, and you saw real White trash on display. Let me say something about Congressman Marjorie Taylor Greene; she dresses like White trash. She really needs a fashion consultant.

– Democrat strategist James Carville commenting on Republicans after the State of the Union address

I’ve heard what everyone else has heard: that they’re not happy with me. I hear things from people who are maybe more neutral — that they’re taking a lot of heat from their fans. I kind of look at that like, you’re looking at the wrong person. They’re putting it on me. Maybe they need to look more at themselves.

– Mets owner Steve Cohen on ESPN responding to a story that other MLB owners are upset by the amount of money that he is spending on the Mets

I’m not responsible for how other teams run their clubs. I’m really not. That’s not my job. And there are disparities in baseball. We know that to be true. I’m following the rules. They set the rules down; I’m following them.

- Ibid.

What is needed is to move to the next stage, the stage of war, and war is not waged with speeches. War is waged in a face-to-face battle, head-to-head and hand-to-hand, and that is what will happen here.

- Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in an interview with DemocraTV, calling for civil war to stop judicial reform in Israel

It’s good to see 100,000 people, but that’s not what will lead the real fight. The real fight will break through these fences and enter into a real war.

- Ibid.

Really? Does anybody in this country think that someone working at the Chinese embassy here in Washington, D.C., should be voting in the presidential election? Absolutely not. It’s insane what they did.

As always, we appreciate OSHA’s collaborative approach to working with us to conduct the after-action review.

- Statement by Mars Wrigley in response to being fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration after two workers fell into a vat of chocolate last year at an M&M factory in Pennsylvania

- House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) commenting on the Washington, D.C., city council passing a bill to allow even non-Americans to vote

I understand if people [disagree] and everybody can have their opinion, but for me and my family and my house, that’s the way I see it, and I think we should be able to say that.

They were in Manhattan, living in the freest country you can imagine, and they’re saying they’re oppressed? It doesn’t even compute. I was sold for $200 as a … slave in the 21st century under the same sky. And they say they’re oppressed because people can’t follow their pronouns they invent every day?

– North Korean defector Yeonmi Park talking about her fellow “woke” Columbia University students, in an interview with the New York Post

I never understood that not having a problem can be a problem. They need to make injustice out of thin air or a problem out of nowhere, because they haven’t experienced anything like what other people are facing in the world.

- Ibid.

The left has no sense of humor at all, nor do they have any sense of humor about themselves. Somebody in power who can’t even laugh at themself, that’s a dangerous human being.

- Hall of Fame NFL coach and current NFL analyst Tony Dungy, on Fox News, responding to criticism for being vocally pro-life

- Comedian and actress Roseanne Barr in an interview with Fox’s Tucker Carlson

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

As the married friend of a single 29-year-old girl, I’m growing increasingly worried about her. In her low 20’s, she just wasn’t ready for marriage and that was totally OK. In her mid-20’s she consistently chased after the wrong guys and avoided the guys that actually would have been good for her. Essentially, she liked the “bad boys” and didn’t find the nice guys very appealing. Now, in her late twenties, she’s taken on a bit of a snobby persona, and while she still professes that she wants to get married very badly, I feel that she’s actually further away from reality than she was a few years ago.

To date, she has not had any long-term dating relationship, either in the shidduch world or meeting guys her own. And the guys she seems to like tend to dump her almost immediately. I feel like she doesn’t understand herself at all, and even though she is in therapy, it doesn’t seem to be working.

I’m too scared to tell her any of this for fear that she’ll get angry at me and not take my words to heart. She has a hard time with criticism, and she often perceives that she’s being criticized when nobody is actually attacking her at all! I’m told she’s been getting a reputation as a snob and “holier than thou” from outsiders, and I’m having a really hard time defending her reputation lately. I love her and want what’s best for her, but I’m frozen in place... what do I do?

Sincerely, A Friend Indeed

Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.

The Panel

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Lisa Babich

Hi “A Friend Indeed,”

I hear your concerns and really understand your fears and what you are conveying. I think the first thing you need to realize is you don’t need to feel that this responsibility is all on your shoulders. Hashem can guide her on the right path, and you don’t need to feel its fully in your control. She also is a person with free choice at the end of the day who has to make her own decisions and live with the consequences – whether good or bad.

I start with that because I sense a heavy weight you are carrying when sometimes we need to let go of a situation and the lack of control that we have in it.

That being said, I do feel that there is a kind way to help guide friends without it sounding critical. You can offer her some

amazing resources and tell her you heard these resources have really helped people shift their perspectives. Two such books that come to mind are “I Only Want To Get Married Once” by Chana Levitan and “Marry Him” by Lori Gottlieb. There are also incredible dating coaches out there and perhaps suggesting one of them to her can be helpful.

Bottom line, this situation does not fall entirely on you, and as a friend, you can help guide her to the right places so that an “outsider” can be direct with her and tell her all the things you wish you can say.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

Thanks for taking the time to ask a great question.

You are a good friend and have the best intentions of helping out. I am sure this is not new to you, but I will say it nonetheless. Not all singles want their married friends to come and “save” them. It can not only feel uncomfortable but patronizing and out of place. From what you write, I venture to say you are not the right delivery person for dating advice. You mentioned that communicating with her will lead to anger in addition to ignoring your comments altogether. You also mentioned that she does not take criticism from friends very well. Many people have a hard time accepting criticism – are you completely innocent of that yourself? Do you know how badly she wants to get married? Do you know how hard it is getting rejected time after time by the guys she actually likes? Do you know how hurtful it is for someone going through an obvious challenge to get unsolicited advice?

Why conjure up theories about why

she is still single, or what kind of guys she is running after? Even if it is true, she will not change unless she wants to change. This is her life, after all. Work on your friendship with this friend whom you love. Get closer and bond over other things besides her singlehood. Find ways to chill together and build memories. If she asks you for advice, you may then give it in a loving way.

The Single Tzipora Grodko

Dear Friend, I’m struggling to answer your question as I have many points I want to share.

Firstly, it is extremely difficult to be an “older” single in the Jewish community. Please consider that your friends “snobbiness” or “holier than thou” attitude is most probably the simplest expression of pain, loneliness, and self-preservation amongst all the inappropriate, rude, and harsh judgments and comments that people make towards her. I share this because I don’t think

further steps can be taken without having extreme compassion for your friend and noticing the pain she’s likely in.

Secondly, this is your friend’s process. You may need to exercise patience and support while she takes this journey of growth. Sometimes details may seem to indicate that THIS is the reason why someone is single when, in reality, it just may not be the right time.

Lastly, with extreme compassion and kindness, (once again) approach your friend and ask : how can I be a good friend for you while you’re navigating through the struggles of dating? She may respond by asking you for advice or appreciate that you are there when she is ready. It’s very difficult for

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Hi Friend Indeed, Ooooh... you are in such a tough situation. Without knowing your friend and solely based on your perception of things, it seems like your friend may be somewhat of a “difficult” person. And until she will allow herself to see this or until she wants to see it, all the therapy in the world will be of no avail.

I’m wondering if she is making her dates feel the same way you do...scared to be real and honest with her because of her defensiveness and anger. It can be very difficult for the people who love difficult people because true intimacy cannot be had. If you can’t share how you feel with your friend, on a general day-to-day basis, I’m wondering how

you are man - aging in this relation - ship. Do you feel like you need to walk on eggshells around her so she will not be mad at you? I know you aren’t writing in about your friendship, but I just wanted to check in with you and see how you’re doing in the friendship.

I cannot tell you what to do, but we can explore together potential outcomes and how each outcome might make you feel. Every friendship is different. In my opinion (which is not fact), when you are very close with a friend, we can’t necessarily come out and bluntly state a criticism, but we can certainly offer

someone to integrate unsolicited advice if they didn’t ask for it, even if it’s from someone they love. Communicate and exercise patience as you create a safe setting. She’s lucky to have such a caring friend.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

My granddaughters are currently very busy, teaching me how to effectively communicate with millennials and GenZ teenagers, through the use of texting abbreviations. Consequently, I have learned that “LOL” means laughing out loud, “IDK” means I Don’t Know, and “IMO” means In My Opinion.

So, my unequivocal answer to your question is “MYOB” – Mind Your Own Business. No one appreciates unsolicited advice.

Your friend already understands that she has a problem and is seeing a therapist. Your only role here is to be a good friend, a good listener, and a good example of proper, adult behavior.

concern, conversation, and an invitation to explore what it is you are seeing. You can ask a good friend if it would be welcome or alright to share something that has been weighing on you because you genuinely love her and want what’s best. It is true that some friendships cannot withstand this, and this kind of concern is just not welcome. If it isn’t welcome, that can be OK too as long as we respect the wishes of our friend and it lands well on us.

Should you decide to say something, your friend may very well not take well to it because she interprets feedback and concern as criticism. She may pull away from you or turn against you or end the friendship. When people do not want to see something (denial), they can shut down, gaslight you and turn the tables on you, or become overtly aggressive.

Alternatively, she also may be appreciative. Let’s not forget that as a possible outcome.

Your other option is to say nothing at all, which a lot of people might choose as well.

Should you say something to your friend in a kind and gentle manner, and she “turns” on you, then she was not a true, lifetime friend. Lifetime friends value and cherish each other, and welcome feedback. She may not like what you have to say, and she may even think you were “wrong” for sharing your concerns with her, but she will love you just the same and come to realize you truly were acting in her best interest out of love. Just my two cents.

You are a good friend, indeed!

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.

You may need to exercise patience and support while she takes this journey of growth.

“INSPIRATION”

A Snippet From Judaism’s Number One Podcast

THE BJH PRESENTS... A BOOST OF “INSPIRATION”

Yossi Hecht: Life After a Life-Threatening Tumor

Six-foot one. Basketball player. Sports lover.

And then, suddenly, at the age of 19, Yossi Hecht’s life drastically changed. Diagnosed with a tumor in his spine, Yossi underwent several long surgeries that left him without the use of his lower body.

In our interconnected world, the power of the media cannot be overestimated. Internet websites, social media, radio, newspapers, and magazines increasingly control the fate of politicians and governments, world finances and morality. In the chareidi world, the messages conveyed by religious media can shape and strengthen emuna, enrich charitable efforts, and ferment new shul and yeshiva policies. Therefore, it was a great privilege to interview the highly influential Rabbi Eli Paley, owner of Mishpacha Media Group and publisher of the Mishpacha Hebrew and English weekly magazines.

a Kabbala in the yeshiva on his behalf. Rabbi Keilson responded later with an idea from Rabbi Shimshon Pincus: “Say Asher Yatzar with kavana.”

ELI PALEY

Sadly, besides the tumor and surgeries, Yossi unfortunately lost his mother very suddenly in the midst of his tribulations. When he was first hospitalized for 3½ months, his mother never missed a day of spending time with him. Her death at 58 was a massive loss.

Eli Paley is a businessman and social activist. He is chairman of the Paley Family Foundation which supports and promotes Torah Centers and social initiatives in the Charedi community. A member of the Jewish Funders Network, he is active in several philanthropic organizations.

We discussed the Mishpacha’s origin, the challenges he is faced with policy decision making, and the overall goals he hopes to attain through the publication.

The next day, Rabbi Keilson addressed the talmidim in yeshiva and approximately 250 boys committed to gathering in an appointed spot once a day for two weeks, from 3 Tammuz until Shiva Asar b’Tammuz to say Asher Yotzar with kavana. Miraculously, just two days later, Yossi was able to go to the bathroom. At that moment, Yossi says, he saw Hashem’s hand and he knew, deep down, he would be okay.

Eli was born in in the Mattesdorff neighborhood in Yerushalayim. His great-grandfather and grandfather arrived in Eretz Yisroel in 1925 to establish the Slabodka Yeshivah in Chevron. Later his grandfather became the assistant to Rabbi Herzel, the chief rabbi of Israel.

What gave Yossi the chizuk to continue to adopt an attitude of being thankful to Hashem, and set him on a campaign to inspire others through his “Asher to the Yatzar” organization, spreading so much meaning throughout the Torah world?

CEO OF MISHPACHA

Eli himself is an alumni of Chevron yeshiva. When he married his wife, a graduate of Michlala in Bayit Vegan, his dream was to continue learning. However, a few months after his marriage, his brother mentioned a new monthly publication called Mishpacha was looking for someone to work as a distributor in Yerushalayim for a day and a half once every 5 to 6 weeks. With flex hours like that, Eli took the job, earning twice as much as he would be for an entire month in a kolel. Financially independent, he continued to learn diligently.

In June 2019, Yossi started feeling tingling pain in his left leg. When his left leg started dragging on the floor, he went to see Dr. Lightman who sent him directly to the emergency room where an MRI of the spine showed the tumor. The tumor was at level T10 which is in the middle of the spine. Everything below that level of the spine was affected.

With the guidance of his Rabbeim, he embarked on a campaign for individuals to have more concentration on the bracha of Asher Yatzar. Since he saw literally saw personal miracles, he has made it his mission to inspire others to be more thankful, using the blessing as a conduit to appreciate all of the good bestowed upon us.

His father, Rabbi Yehuda Paley, bought the Mishpacha Magazine business. To help his father, Eli got involved in the editorial angle of the magazine figuring out how it could make a unique contribution to the field of journalism. He left learning to pursue his new mission to inspire and influence the Chareidi community. It is that idealism that still drives him in his work so many years later.

yingeman from receiving Kollel benefits if he had any other source of income. Therefore, he was forced to register his side job under his wife’s name, a desperate solution used by many. In his publication, he attempts to broker a better solution.

Another example of difficulties that Israeli chareidim face is the draft. Mishpacha discussed population statistics -- one out of four children is Charedi– and how the army and Charedi society can possibly reach a solution.

Unfortunately, Yossi then developed an infection and required further surgery and further catheterization. Yossi decided to make a video about Asher Yatzar because it had worked so well before and he thought that perhaps disseminating videos about the importance of Asher Yatzar would help to heal him yet again.

‘Asher’ refers to praise, and ‘Yatzar’ refers to the Creator of the world. Hence the motto; “Praise to the Creator.” Using a play on words of the bracha, Yossi’s program brings a whole new perspective and meaning to this most powerful blessing that we repeat so many times daily.

The paper is faced daily with Hashkafa decisions that have far-reaching effects on our society. The issue of printing pictures of women in the magazine has been debated back and forth in many forums. When Hilary Clinton was running for President, Mishpacha shocked many readers by publishing a blurry photo of Donald Trump and Hilary on the cover. “We just wanted to see how people would react,” Eli confides.

While Mishpacha is well-received around the world, the goal of Mishpacha is to serve, elevate and be the voice of the Chareidim, particularly in Eretz Yisroel. The real customers are not the advertisers but the audience. Mishpacha seeks to portray an independent voice which is unaffiliated with any political party. In the early years, in the chareidi world of pollicization, this was perceived as a weakness. However, the years have passed, and this freedom has become one of the most salient factors of its success.

Upon hearing the diagnosis, Yossi never thought he was going to die but he did not immediately realize that he would never walk again. He also didn’t realize that sometimes such invasive surgery can affect one’s ability to go to the bathroom. A few days after the surgery, he realized that he was going to be reliant on a catheter. After everything else, this was more than he could handle. He could not imagine having to self-catheterize at all, let alone be reliant on it for the rest of his life.

Mishpacha was the first Charedi publication to give the same respect to the Sephardi and Ashkenazi societies, attempting to create a sense of unity. Over time, this adherence to equality and ahavas Yisrael became the secret to the business’ success.

Mishpacha’s quest in elevating frum society is done through sincere, honest writing. Mishpacha does not engage in pretending that society is perfect. While recognizing the great achievements and accomplishments in the frum world, Mishpacha will tackle even unpleasant issues, albeit in an extremely sensitive way.

Moshe Bree, a cousin of Rabbi Keilson, makes professional videos. He visited the hospital and took a professional video of Yossi himself that was widely disseminated. The feedback was amazing.

Yossi got in touch with his Rebbe, Rabbi Keilson, and asked him to make

When Yossi came home from the hospital, he believed that the Asher Yatzar campaign should be continued. Under the guidance of Rabbi Keilson, he made more videos and printed Asher Yatzar magnets to make people aware of the famous segula of saying this bracha. “Asher to the Yatzar” was launched.

The core message of the campaign is to be mindful of all the good that we have, primarily, the fact that we have a functioning and healthy body that can serve the Creator. Although Yossi has lost use of his lower body, he still has full use of his upper body for which he is very thankful.

When people ask him how he carries on, his answer is simple. “I did not want this but obviously, everything happens for a reason and that’s what Hashem wanted. The changes in my life happened. I lost my mother and had five surgeries and chemotherapy. No one would have asked for all this but at the end of the day, nobody could change it. This is how it is; this is the situation. And I focus on what to be thankful for.”

The office did receive some complaints, but the Gedolim the magazine consults advised them to include her since there was a real possibility Hilary would indeed become president. However, in Israel, an anti-Mishacha publication blasted Mishpacha , claiming they were breaking the rules of modesty and Torah by publishing a picture of Hilary Clinton.

This became a real issue because it was very hard for Eli to justify in his mind why they could not print modest pictures of women, particularly considering how hard it seems to be to explain to ba’alei teshuvah why women are “ignored.” In order to make Mishpacha, often one of their first exposures to Yiddishkeit, more palatable, Eli is comfortable with his decision.

Yossi is occasionally accused of using dark humor about himself and his situation as a coping mechanism, but he explains that any mechanism a person uses to gain acceptance and maturity is valid.

He’s on a big mission: to expose our brothers to true Torah values, and he bears the responsibility seriously. He often employs a different way of thinking, a creative model, a stretch and a twist, that can support our lifestyle while at the same time show that we care about the Israeli economy, security, and its welfare system. “Instead of just complaining about why we are not understood,” Eli explained during the interview, “we must ask what we can do in this field. While we have to make sure that our kids are not too exposed to the big world, the (outside) world exists, and we have to face reality and come up with practical solutions. “

For Yossi, things are by no means easy. Being confined to a wheelchair and having lost his mother at such a crucial time in his life could have left him depressed and complaining. But here is where his emuna shines through the darkness. “This is Hashem’s way; there is no other choice,” he says.

Yossi’s recommendation for people who are struggling is to try to choose simcha. “No one will stop you from being miserable but once the challenge is real, ride with it and make it count. You can either go the right or the left. It’s not easy but just try to do the best and at the end of the day, being happy is a choice.” Yossi himself is trying to choose that path and prays that Hashem should give him the koach to continue on that path without veering.

Rather than hiding his head in the sand, he is ready to take on the problems in our neighbourhoods and cities, working with the authorities instead of against them. Slowly, he believes, we will be able to build better trust.

Eli is proud that Mishpacha does not try to be sensationalist. Rather he makes an effort to keep his editorial policies responsible and sensitive. “If you’re going to do it le’shaim shamayim” Eli ended, “you’ll have disyata d’shmaya to do it right.”

May Hashem grant Yossi the strength to rise above his nisyonos and continue to inspire others, live a fulfilling life, and give nachas to the Creator.

Tech Triumphs

Chanukah Light

Last year Chanukah, we took upon ourselves not to use our devices for an hour after candle lighting. I remember wishing I could take pictures and videos of my family lighting their menorahs and dancing together during Maoz Tzur. It was a struggle to watch and not to record, but I had taken on that kabbalah, and stuck to it.

Half a year ago, I got rid of my smartphone after many years, and switched to a flip phone. The transition was hard at first, but gradually I

as I watched my children lighting their menorahs, I felt no tug to record it at all. The calm and focus on the ruchniyus was so much more reachable for me. I actually focused on the brachos each child said and felt the tug to daven and tap into the moment, davening for the nissim we need in our lives. I felt so lucky to be free of the tugging of last year’s technology pull, and to be able to focus on the special moments. May we be zoche to see nissim and yeshuos in our personal lives and

get on the device, it has to be with your knowledge and permission. When choosing a password, be careful not to use anything that your child can easily figure out, such as family names, ad-

is to use a combination of words. This is called a “passphrase”, for example, #noLeftover$allow3d or Mommyi$TH3best!. Keep in mind that a longer password is more secure. It is also prudent to change your password (as annoying as it is) periodically, as sometimes kids can figure out the code and keep it to the themselves for a while.

To share a tech triumph or story of chizuk, please email Techtriumphs@ tagbaltimore.org.

Your Money Strange Coincidences

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

Right now, crypto scammer Sam Bankman-Fried, the Millennial Bernie Madoff, is wearing an ankle bracelet and cooling his heels in his parents’ $4 million house on Stanford University’s leafy campus. People who know a thing or two about crypto are divided on whether his fall marks a temporary reset for the market or a sign of a broader problem with the asset class. But people who know a thing or two about fraud agree on a couple of things. One: SBF is headed for a place where his arbitrage and trading opportunities are limited to cigarettes and commissary scrip. And two: we’ll be planting tomatoes on Mars before he gets out.

Right now is also the start of tax season, America’s annual exercise in financial self-flagellation. (Last week, Punxsutawney Phil crawled out of his hole, saw his shadow, and predicted six more weeks of red tape.) And would you believe there’s a strange coincidence between SBF and those IRS forms we love to hate?

Filing taxes may not feel like going through “several bear attacks” to get concert tickets. But for millions of taxpayers, it’s way more complicated than it needs to be. That’s because the government already has all the information, from the W-2s, 1099s, and other forms, that they

need to get it done. So why not just let the government prepare the return, let the taxpayer check for any mistakes, and have the taxpayer sign off? It works fine in places like Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and the U.K., and it would cut out a lot of pricey middlemen that help taxpayers with simple returns.

ly don’t hear much in California.

Bankman and his colleagues went to the Legislature to turn their popular, proven idea into law – and found one constituent that didn’t like it at all. How surprised will you be to learn that it was Intuit, the California-based company that makes TurboTax? Bankman even

cluded code to hide the Free File landing page from search engines. And even today, they use “dark pattern” design tricks to exploit fear, uncertainty, and doubt over the tax system to upsell customers into more expensive services.

Of course, if you ask Intuit, they’ll say they’re all for tax simplification. They just think programs like ReadyReturn minimize taxpayer engagement. That sounds a lot like your -8year-old saying, “I’m all for broccoli, I’m just saving room for dessert.” Minimizing engagement was the whole point of the program!

SBF’s father, Joseph Bankman, teaches tax at Stanford Law School. He says, “Our filing system is the worst.” And he’s not wrong! In 2004, he helped create a pilot program called ReadyReturn that let the California Franchise Tax Board prepare state returns for 11,000 residents. Users loved it – 99% of them said they would do it again. One user even commented that the “government’s finally doing something to make my life better for a change.” That’s something you real-

dropped $35,000 of his own money, hiring a lobbyist to push it through. But he was no match for Intuit’s might, and the program failed by a single vote.

Don’t worry. It gets worse. It turns out Intuit has spent millions stifling tax simplification everywhere. (Internally, they call it “encroachment.” Orwell would be proud.) They joined the IRS’s Free File program only so they could stop the Agency from creating a government-run competitor. At one point, their website in-

Unfortunately, none of this will help taxpayers with more complicated returns who need to report information the government doesn’t already have. That’s not Intuit’s fault, either – blame the Congress that writes the tax laws. The good news is that complication creates opportunity. So think of us while you’re watching TurboTax ads during the games this weekend, and remember that we’re here to help you pay less!

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.

Last week, Punxsutawney Phil crawled out of his hole, saw his shadow, and predicted six more weeks of red tape.

What Will Become of a ll the Memories?

transmitting the tragedy of the holocaust to the Next Generation

By Malkie Schulman

Thefirst personal contact Tova Rosenberg, creator of Names, Not Numbers, Inc. – Holocaust Oral History Film Documentary project, had with a Holocaust survivor was when she met family members for the first time in Israel.

“I come from St. Louis and there weren’t too many survivors there when I was growing up,” Tova shares. “Certainly, no one that I knew had a number on their arm.”

Tova majored in European History, and as part of her graduate studies at Hebrew University, she studied the Holocaust era with renowned Holocaust scholar, Professor Yehuda Bauer. This was her first in-depth exposure to the Holocaust.

Upon finishing her degrees, Rosenberg became an Adjunct Lecturer at a College of Education in Israel and trained Israeli teachers to teach in the Jewish Educational systems in the Diaspora. Tova had been a Day School principal and is currently Director of Hebrew Language and Special Programs at Yeshiva University High School for Boys in New York. Over the years, she has constantly sought experiential projects that would leave a mark on students and motivate them to want to learn, whatever the subject, not necessarily the Holocaust.

Tova’s quest for hands-on learning became focused on Holocaust studies 19 years ago when, as principal in a Central Pennsylvania Day School, she received a letter from the State inviting her school to apply for an intergenerational grant.

“That was when the idea for an experiential Holocaust documentary project first came into my mind,” Tova says. “On my faculty, I had a computer teacher who made film documentaries.”

These two factors – the funding and expertise –were the catalyst for Tova’s vision of first-hand learning through having students personally interview Holocaust survivors and then produce an oral history film documentary about it.

Thus began the Names, Not Numbers, Inc. project. For nearly 20 years now, together with husband, Dov Rosenberg, Tova has been actively spreading her worthy work throughout the U.S., Canada, and Israel.

Bequeathing MeMories

Shockingly, in a 2019 study, polls showed that 66% of Millennials could not identify Auschwitz as a concentration/death camp and 31% of all Americans

believe that 2 million Jews or fewer were killed in the Holocaust.

In the famous words of George Santayana in The Life of Reason, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Names, Not Numbers is about educating today’s youth about what happened in the Holocaust, in all its horrific detail, so that the world community will remember and make sure it never happens again.

“Our strongest hopes,” shares Tova, “especially,

lay in our youth because they are tomorrow’s leaders. They are the ones who can be inspired to stand up to and act against oppression and ultimately act forcefully to prevent prejudice, hatred, anti-Semitism and further attempts at genocide.”

Names, Not Numbers offers an integrated, multidisciplinary curriculum, combining research, specialized interviewing techniques, documentary film tools, and editing. Throughout the project, the selected students work with professionals – journalists, newspaper editors, filmmakers, and Holocaust scholars.

“Our program,” Tova explains, “is furnishing young people with the proper tools to succeed in education and in life. These are the tools of effective journalism, film capture and portrayal, and tools of interviewing and meaningful research.”

Names, Not Numbers is a project which bequeaths the memories, stories, and lessons of the Holocaust to students and inspires future generations to combat anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred and intolerance.

Rabbi Yoni Fein, Head of School at Brauser Maimonides Academy in Hollywood, Florida, is an enthusiastic proponent of the program. He comments on the many ways his students have gained from the project.

“The students learned new skills, connected disciplines, learned about themselves and their heritage, connected that history to their world, and took on global responsibility. All the while, they built relationships with survivors and learned to capture perspective and articulate a point of view.”

Students, educators, and survivors who have participated in this program remark on the title – Names, Not Numbers. Each Holocaust victim, they say, were entire worlds before the Nazis attempted to reduce them to mere numbers. As one Holocaust scholar commented in a lecture to participating students, “The number six million means nothing to me. It only means something when I see it as the number one – six…. million… times.”

Tova points out, “The interviews with the Holo -

caust survivors show that we honor their stories, as well as value the importance of passing them down to the future generations.”

Academic book learning cannot be compared to experiential, hands-on learning, especially when dealing with a topic like the Holocaust. Virtually every student walks out of their interview session with the survivor a different person. Through speaking to and hearing the stories directly from the survivor, they have now become the closest you can get to knowledge of what went on during those years. They know that and feel that in the deepest sense.

“Our goal is to get the student to be the ‘witnesses

shares Tova.

“One of the preliminary steps is reaching out to survivors to explain the project to them and ask if they’re interested in participating. If they are interested, we ask them to send us a short bio about their life before, during, and after the war. The next part of the program consists of prepping the students. Each school offers sessions about the timeline of the Holocaust and historical detail of this era.”

Concurrent to the history lessons, the students are learning how to conduct an oral history interview and how to produce a documentary. In fact, two documentaries are being produced simultaneously. One is of the survivor’s story and the other one is the students’ testimonials both before and after the survivor interview.

“From day one,” says Tova, “we are interviewing the students to obtain their insights and reflections. We ask them what they are learning from the project and what they want to do with their newfound knowledge in the future.”

to the witnesses,’ to carry on the legacy. We want them to clearly understand that wars do not begin with guns; they begin with words,” maintains Tova.

Through the interview process, the students learn where hateful words can lead and why it’s so important not to allow hate to flourish. They learn how damaging it can be to keep silent when vicious words and actions are exchanged. They learn the truth of Winston Churchill’s remonstrance: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing.”

a shared history

There are a number of phases to the program,

In the oral history documentary, the viewers only see and hear the interviewee. They don’t see the student interviewer, and they don’t even hear the questions that the interviewer is asking. This means that the interview questions must be phrased in a way that the viewer will understand the interviewee’s response without knowing what the question was. The student interviewer learns to elicit the survivor’s story without using names they wish the survivor to use.

The students are learning history through the people who have lived through it. They learn about life before the war. The idea is to get the survivor’s memories activated from 80 years ago (or more).

“To obtain a complete and accurate picture of what happened to them during the war, we have to know what they lost from before the war,” shares Tova.

Tova will often encourage the students to ask the survivor to describe their Pesach seder before the war. Recalling happy occasions with family members is a great way to jog the memory. Discussing the Pesach

“My voice is fading and soon will be heard no more; it’s up to you kids to make sure the world does not forget.”

Tova Rosenberg

seder accomplishes both. Where did your grandfather sit at the table? Where did your grandmother sit? What food was served? The survivor will visualize his relatives at the table, he will smell the food being served. What melodies did you sing? Can you sing it for me?

“The stories and memories these survivors share are priceless,” contends Tova. “In one interview, I recall,” continues Tova, “a student asked the survivor what his favorite subject in school was. He answered that he did not like parshat hashavua. ‘What did you do then during the lesson?’ the student asked. ‘I drew pictures of the parsha that my rebbe was discussing.’ Later on, in the interview when the survivor shared his experience leaving on the Kindertransport, the student asked, ‘What did you take in your suitcase with you?’ ‘My drawings from parsha class,’ the survivor answered. After the war, the survivor went to New York. ‘What did you bring with you to New York?’ asked the student. ‘My parsha drawings from cheder.’”

Another interviewee brought her doll with her to Theresienstadt (concentration camp). Her doll made it through all the war years and today resides in a glass case in a Washington, D.C., museum. Often the survivors bring pictures and artifacts to the interview.

“The students are mesmerized,” says Tova. “History becomes alive. It’s not just a picture in a book. They understand that they’re sitting across from heroes who lived through this historical period.”

Tova admits that all the stories mesmerize and inspire her as well. Personally, she shares that one of her most inspiring stories was when, at the end

of an interview, the student asked a Polish survivor of various concentration camps from 1939 to 1945 what he did on the day he was liberated. The survivor responded, “I went to a movie.” The eighth grade interviewer was astute and understood what he had been taught that as a good journalist, his job was to follow up on interesting comments of the interviewee even if he hadn’t prepared for it. So, he pressed

An important question the student will ask a survivor is – “What is your message to my generation?” Every survivor, of course, will have a different response. Some will say, “Your job is to teach the world (about what happened).” Another will say, “Philanthropy is the most important, to give back to the Jewish world.”

It’s interesting to note, observes Tova, that about one-fifth of the students participating in this project are not even Jewish. Nevertheless, the participating public, private or Catholic schools feel strongly that children from all walks of life learn about the Holocaust and get a chance to speak to a survivor. In the words of Mr. David Abbott, principal of BELL Academy in Queens, NY, “The question we, as educators, often ask ourselves is how we can engage students in such controversial topics of hate, discrimination, and racism. One thing we can say for certain is that ignoring the past, and not confronting the painful realities of today, will only permit feelings and attitudes fueled by hate, to flourish. We need to empower, we need to educate, and programs like Names, Not Numbers is an effective way to engage our students in experiential learning on such important issues.”

Steven Spielberg, Academy Award Winning Director, agrees. Speaking to the students at Manhattan Day School in New York, he notes, “I’m inspired by these students in their outreach and compassion. Together with the survivors, each one has become a teacher of history that must be remembered. It is also so gratifying that you – in your own way – have shown us that this and future generations will not stand aside when they have a chance to tell a story that can make a difference for the good of all of us.”

The other participants of the Names, Not Numbers project are students in day schools and JCCs of all affiliations across Canada, the United States, and Israel. Occasionally, a public school will collaborate with a day school on the project.

“I find it particularly inspiring,” shares Tova, “to see minority students in public schools so involved in a Holocaust project.”

After the interviews are finished, there is a final community event to showcase the work that was done by the survivors and the students. The students talk about what they’ve learned from their experience, and they present the survivors with a gift. Hugs are exchanged and pictures are taken together.

“I love watching the intergenerational connection that’s been formed,” says Tova.

further and asked, “What movie did you see?” And “why did you choose to go to a movie?” The survivor responded that before the war his favorite activity was going to a movie so now that the war was over, that’s what he wanted to do.

“This survivor went through hell from the very beginning of the war to the very end of the war,” shares Tova, “yet he hadn’t lost his joie de vivre, and at the first opportunity to do what he liked best, he did.”

Besides for the warmth and love that’s in the room at the final event, sometimes there are surprises as well.

“We have had more than once that two survivors at the final event will discover after watching the documentary and hearing other survivors’ stories that they were in the same concentration camp or on the same ship coming together to the United States. That will also be very moving,” she shares.

“ the number six million means nothing to me. it only means something when i see it as the number one – six…. million… times.”

Tova helping a student prepare for the interview

“At one event,” she continues, “a group of students interviewed a man who had liberated Buchenwald concentration camp. Another interviewee, a survivor of Buchenwald, was present at the final event. He stood in front of the audience and read aloud a poem in which he thanked the liberator for what he had done.

“Now that was an incredibly emotional moment!”

a transforM ative e xperience

Initially, at the advent of the project, the students may experience trepidation. Many have never met a survivor before, and they’ve certainly never produced a documentary, so their concerns are quite normal, maintains Tova.

Another important aspect of the interview and something the students are concerned about is what to do if either they get overwhelmed by the stories and/or the survivor breaks down in the retelling.

“In our experience,” Tova discloses, “the students usually remain calm, but sometimes a survivor will break down and then we teach the student to pause, wait and show empathy before moving on. We also explain to the students that if the survivor breaks down, it’s not because of something they said/did wrong; it’s just from the pain of re-living their story.”

Which, of course, begs the next question. Why would any survivor be interested in being part of a project like this?

“In fact, most of the survivors we speak to are very interested in sharing their story,” says Tova. “But it wasn’t like that 19 years ago when we started this project. Now, the survivors are cognizant of the fact that they’re the last generation of survivors, and if they don’t pass on their story, who will? Today, telling their story has become a mission for them. They understand that they are passing the torch to these kids.”

As one Holocaust survivor poignantly commented, “My voice is fading and soon will be heard no more; it’s up to you kids to make sure the world does not forget.”

Nevertheless, often it comes with a price to pay. Some survivors share that after the interview, they have a week of sleepless nights because of nightmares they experience.

“We find that both for the survivors and the students, the experience is transformative,” says Tova. “The survivors just want to hug the kids and the kids feel the same. After the interview, the survivors view the students like their own children. It’s no longer just their personal family that is telling their story but their ‘new’ children as well.”

Chaim Weiser, a Holocaust survivor, wrote after the final event, “I am forever grateful for being chosen alongside such distinguished guests. Not a day goes by that I don’t cherish the wonderful experience. I cannot imagine a more urgent undertaking that will

perpetuate to the world the memory of the great tragedy that befell the Jewish people.”

Tova will direct the project coordinators to tell the students from every group to call and wish the survivor a good Shabbos every Friday even if the survivor is not religious. Before holidays, Tova will also encourage the participants to call. Sometimes, she shares, they hear that the survivor receives food through the Meals on Wheels program, and they ask if they can be the ones to deliver it. If a survivor passes away soon after an interview, the students will pay a shiva call.

One recurring theme is the awe the students feel for the survivor that after all they’ve gone through, they can still be happy.

“And a comment we hear over and over,” shares Tova, “is the feeling of how can we complain about anything? Our problems are so trivial compared to what these people have gone through. There’s more of a sense of being grateful for their lives, even with all its imperfection.”

Truth to tell, admits Tova, she is also in awe of these heroes. Every survivor has an inspiring story to tell, she claims, but the fact that they can pick up their lives and move forward is truly awe-inspiring.

Perhaps more than anything, though, is the sense of inspiration and motivation these young adults feel now that they so deeply understand what apathy and silence can do to humanity when morality goes astray. The memories of the survivors, their stories and lessons of the Holocaust inspire the students to strive to combat anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred and intolerance.

At the culminating event for a public high school in Miami, one of the students spoke to the audience and said: “Understanding history, respect for humanity and intolerance of hate are timeless lessons. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to learn directly from living survivors. As young students and the future leaders of tomorrow, we need to continue to share a story that cannot be forgotten and we must make sure an event like this never happens again. “Ladies and gentlemen, our lessons today are the hope for tomorrow’s world.”

naMes not nuMBers in nuMBers

• To date, over 7,000 students in several countries from grade 8 through college have successfully interviewed, filmed, and edited the testimonies of over 4,000 survivors and World War ii veterans.

• The more than 550 documentary films produced by the project have been viewed by over 150,000 people and are archived in major museums and academic institutions in the united states and israel.

• DESCRIPTION OF achieveMents and aWards:

Names, Not Numbers was the Premiere film of the Miami Jewish Film Festival in 2020.

one documentary appeared on over 260 ABC affiliates from OctoberDecember 2020.

Names, Not Numbers won the 2021 Wilbur award from the religion Communicators Council (RCC), recognizing the work of individuals that communicate about values and themes with professionalism, fairness, respect, and honesty. past winners include Morgan Freeman, Oprah Winfrey, The New York Times, etc.

tova rosenberg received the Baumol award from yeshiva university for the Names, Not Numbers project in 2006.

For more information, visit www.namesnotnumbers.org.

Common Cents

Is the 60/40 Portfolio Dead?

What is a 60/40 portfolio & why is it popular?

A 60/40 portfolio is an investment strategy that involves allocating 60% of a portfolio to stocks and 40% to bonds. The stocks in the portfolio provide the opportunity for growth, while the bonds provide a source of income and a hedge against market downturns.

The 60/40 portfolio is considered effective because it has historically provided a balance of risk and return that is suitable for many investors. Stocks have the potential for higher returns, but also higher volatility, while bonds have lower returns but also lower volatility. By allocating 60% to stocks and 40% to bonds, the portfolio can potentially capture some of the upside of the stock market while also providing a degree of downside protection in the bond market.

Having bonds in a portfolio can reduce price volatility that comes from stocks because bonds have historically been viewed to have lower price volatility than stocks, and a negative cor-

from the carnage, returning their worst performance ever on record according to Edward McQuarrie, a professor emeritus at Santa Clara University who studies historical investment returns. The total bond index in 2022 returns a negative 13% in 2022, so much for that negative correlation between stocks and bonds!

But is the 60/40 portfolio dead? I don’t think so, and here is why I am not giving up on a balanced stock/bond portfolio and some actionable ideas you might want to consider within your own portfolio.

Last week, I wrote about Recency Bias which is the tendency for people to make decisions based on their most recent experiences or memories rather than considering a more broad and diverse range of information. It is important to understand the factors that contributed to 2022’s dismal market returns and contrast that with the goals of a long term focused investor. A few points to consider:

By Elliot Pepper, CPA, CFP®, MST

be less attractive to a buyer than a newly issued bond paying a higher interest rate. I would much rather collect 4% than 2%. With the Federal Reserve increasing rates at such a high pace, it is not surprising that existing bonds lose value. At the same time, new bonds paying higher interest rates are a great way to boost income in your portfolio.

2. Stock Prices & Interest Rates: Stock prices are heavily influenced by the expectations about future profits. That’s a lot of fortune telling and guess work, so models are created and stock analysts do their best to determine a current fair value for stocks today. Additionally, when interest rates are low, investors increase their allocations to stocks to try to improve returns. The excess demand for stocks helps drive up prices that support prices that simply don’t hold true when interest rates go up or the economy slows down. Both of those headwinds are front and center, so a drop in stock prices is not surprising.

3. Bonds are back! As interest rates go up, the price of bonds goes down, and we all know the rules, buy low and sell high. New bonds that are being issued are offering interest rates not seen in years. Investors can actually earn meaningful interest income in their portfolios now. Coming out of 2022, the playground has changed and stocks no longer dominate the whole jungle gym, bonds are back and providing meaningful income to investors.

Elliot’s Take:

I am not giving up on the 60/40 portfolio. I continue to believe that younger investors with longer time horizons would want to be weighted more heavily toward stocks and older investors with shorter time horizons will want to make sure bonds play a meaningful role in their portfolios. The split of 60/40 is investor specific, but the idea of diversification applies across the board.

2022 was a very hard year, but I am a long term optimist and therefore will stay invested for the long term and focus on not falling victim to Recency Bias. Investing isn’t easy and the cost of admission to high returns is often riding a rough roller coaster.

Stay invested and make sure your balance of stocks, bonds, cash, and alternative investments is on the same page as your financial plan and nerves.

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.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST EDITION’S RAFFLE WINNERs!

Tehilla Rosenbaum, 6

Shira Basya Edelman, 10

Rus Tehilla Edelman Rivka Rosenbaum, 6

Rena Bracha Edelman, 13

Michal Charner, 9

Meira Tova Edelman, 7 Alter Chaim Edelman

Rikki Cohen, 9

Yaakov Bondar, 3

Rena, 3

EVEN MORE SUBMISSIONS

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

Elazar Shitrit, 4

Davi Lane, 5

Chava Yonteff, 6

Avraham Moshe, 6

Atara Ament, 7

Aryeh Kushner, 7

Ariella Berger, 5

Alexander Fogel, 7

Aharon Dovid, 3

Adiel Shemuel, 4

Yona Jessurun, 8

Yaakov M, 4

Uriel Nachum, 5

Tehilla H. 8

Tani Feld, 4 ¾

Sara, 9 Pearly, 6

Nechemia N Silverman Moshe Javaherforoush, 6

Miriam H, 2

Mindy Miller, 7

Gee Jessurun

Eliana K, 3 Elisheva, 4

Sally Fogel, 5

Want to show off your mad mascot-making skills? Look no further!

The BJH is holding a contest for the best and most outrageously awesome newspaper mascot (and it’s name)!

The winner will not only have their creation featured as our official mascot, but will also receive a prize that would make Willy Wonka jealous. Whether it’s a furry friend or a fun character, we want to see your unique designs!

thebjh.com/mascot

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY BY

FEB 26

The BJH reserves the right to improve and refine the mascot design of the winning entry.

In The K tchen

Chicken and Vegetable Sheet Pan Dinner

By Naomi Nachman

I love the idea of a sheet-pan dinner. It is easy to make, bake and serve all on one pan. I love how quick it is to prepare, and it comes with a built-in side dish. You can use any kind of vegetable as long as it is cut thin for faster cooking. You can also swap out the chicken for salmon for a parve option.

Ingredients

◦ 8 pieces chicken pargiyot

◦ 1 cup cornstarch

◦ 1 teaspoon salt

◦ Pepper, to taste

Sauce

◦ ½ cup teriyaki sauce

◦ ¼ cup honey

◦ 4 cloves garlic

◦ 1 teaspoon kosher salt

◦ 2 tablespoons olive oil

◦ 1 large red onion, chunked

◦ 1 package brown mushrooms

◦ 1 zucchini, cut into 1-inch slices

Preparation

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 400°F. Mix cornstarch and salt and pepper in a bowl and dredge chicken on both sides. Place the chicken on the baking sheet. Place vegetables on top and around chicken. In a small bowl, mix sauce ingredients and pour over vegetables and chicken, making sure they’re well coated.

Bake for 45-60 minutes uncovered or until brown.

Remove from oven and mix well.

Serve and enjoy!

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

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