Baltimore Jewish Home - 2-6-20 by Moshe Rubin

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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

THOUSANDS

q COLLEGE STUDENTS

q YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR TWENTIES

OF ETZ CHAIM’S STUDENTS ARE STUDYING IN ISRAEL IN

extended learning programs LASTING OVER 3 MONTHS

q YOUNG FAMILIES

Jewish world’s most dynamic speakers

DELIVERED ADDRESSES TO VARIOUS ETZ CHAIM

Wine & Wisdom

q CHARLIE HARARY

WITH A SOCIAL TWIST.

q YAKOV MARCUS

ALUMNI OF THE MOMENTUM TRIP TO ISRAEL AND YEAR-OF-GROWTH PROGRAM ARE PART OF THE

Jewnity Committee

WHICH PRODUCED AN AMAZING CALENDAR OF EVENTS THAT HAS INSPIRED

1,500+ Jews this past year

q SHLOMO FARHI q RAV GAV q DOV BER COHEN q RUCHIE KOVAL

WITH CREATIVE & RELEVANT JEWISH EXPERIENCES

50+

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

q ADRIENNE GOLD

THE COLLABORATIVE LEARNING PROGRAM

q SENIORS

OF THE

PROGRAMS THIS YEAR:

PEOPLE ATTENDED OUR DECEMBER

q EMPTY NESTERS

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

inspired by Etz Chaim programs from all demographics

TWENTIES WERE FELLOWS IN OUR

J-Care volunteering and learning program

2019

OF RABBI EFY & PENINAH FLAMM’S STUDENTS WENT ON A

IN JANUARY

PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS ETZ CHAIM PROGRAMS

80+

PEOPLE TRAVELED TO NEW JERSEY TO EXPERIENCE SHABBAT AT THE

Aish/Project Inspire Body & Soul Retreat

HUNDREDS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ATTEND

Etz Chaim’s college programs AT TOWSON AND UMBC

3 mega-events 400+ participants WITH

70+

moms & dads ARE ENGAGED IN REGULAR

EACH TOOK PLACE THIS YEAR:

EDUCATIONAL

q RAV GAV’S PRE PESACH TALK

PROGRAMMING

q CHARLIE HARARY’S PRE-HIGH HOLIDAYS LECTURE

AND INSPIRING

q THE GREAT BIG BALTIMORE CHALLAH BAKE

THEIR FAMILIES

INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN THE YEAR-LONG

Jewish journeys program WHICH INCLUDED A TRANSFORMATIONAL TRIP TO ISRAEL AND MONTHLY JEWISH LEARNING, RESULTING IN EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH IN JEWISH LITERACY AND COMMITMENT FOR THEIR FAMILIES

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

Return & Learn Israel trip

100+ Young Professionals

By the numbers

CONTENTS

COMMUNITY

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Around the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

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

PEOPLE 613 Seconds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

FEATURE

A Secret Savior. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Why It’s Crucial To Vote In The WZO Elections . . . . 62

HUMOR & ENTERTAINMENT

Centerfold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Notable Quotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

LIFESTYLES

Dating Dialogue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Health and Fitness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Mental Health Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Gluten Free Recipe Column. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Life Coach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Your Money. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

NEWS

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Israel News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 That’s Odd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Dear Readers,

What is it about cynicism that’s so appealing? For some people, it’s almost like a drug beckoning us to ride its high. Is it the false sense of strength of being able to say, “I think it didn’t happen,” or “Who said it’s a good thing?” In reality, cynicism is poison. It poisons us from appreciating people and things around us. I would argue that cynicism shouldn’t be used even against wrong ideas. This is what Amalek was about. He knew he would lose the war, but it wasn’t about winning. He wanted to pour cold water on the hot panic and awe the nations of the world had towards the Jewish people. Once he started up, the appearance of invincibility that the Yidden had acquired during the makkos and at the Yam Suf disappeared. For that reason, we are commanded to remember and destroy Amalek for all eternity. Amalek is the archenemy of truth. He doesn’t argue with logic; he says, “So what?” or “Big deal!” or “Who said?” Once he pops his cynical question, the aura of absolute truth has faded. The strength to win against Amalek comes from the Moshe Rabbeinu in each generation. When His hands are raised which leads to Yidden look up to Hashem, v’gavar Yisrael. May we experience the ultimate truth with the coming of Mashiach. Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos, Shalom

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

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Around the Community

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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Newly Installed President Of Maryland’s State Senate Gets Warm Introduction To Baltimore’s Orthodox Jewish Community By: BJLife/Isaac Draiman BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

ith the 2020 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly already underway in Annapolis, Maryland’s new legislative leaders are making their mark and ushering in a new era of Maryland politics. After last month’s historic gathering at TA, where the leaders of Baltimore’s Orthodox Jewish community’s schools and organizations gathered to meet new House Speaker Adrienne Jones, her counterpart from across the State House lobby was given the same opportunity. On Monday, January 20th, Bnos Yisroel played host as the leaders of the community’s schools and organizations once again gathered to introduce themselves and the remarkable work that they do - to the new president of Maryland’s Senate, Bill Ferguson. The event, once again organized by Agudath Israel of Maryland’s Rabbi Ariel Sadwin, brought together the community’s leading rabbis, heads of Jewish day schools, and leaders from nearly every community organization, in an effort to familiarize Senate President Ferguson with one of the most

cohesive, proactive, and impressive communities across the state of Maryland. Also honoring the gathering with their presence was Senator Jill Carter, Delegate Shelly Hettleman, Delegate Sandy Rosenberg, and Councilman Izzy Patoka. As in last month’s event, the gathered leaders of organizations ranging from schools and synagogues to financial service providers, and from health and wellness entities to safety and security services, and everything in between, took their respective turns to introduce themselves and to briefly explain what their organization does to impact the community. Many of the leaders took the opportunity to thank the Senate President and his Annapolis colleagues for the state programs that are providing benefits to school families and to bolster the safety and security in the community. Despite the rigors of the legislative session and the heavy demands on his time and focus, Senate President Ferguson welcomed the opportunity to engage with the leaders, and was amazed with what he heard as to the array of services that are provided to the community and its members. He said, “after learning of all of the remarkable activities that go on in this

community, there is no wonder that the Jewish people have lasted through the many the challenges it has faced throughout history”. Additionally, he

offered his “open door” to continue the engagement with the community and looks forward to a sustained relationship.

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Around the Community

Gov. Hogan Highlights Violent Crime Efforts In Meeting With Baltimore Community Leaders By: Staff Reporter BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

head of his sixth State of the State address, Gov. Larry Hogan met Monday with Baltimore City community leaders to discuss violent crime. “They’re concerned about the violence in the city and the fact that we’ve got 1,000 people shot last year and 348 people murdered and despite a lot of efforts from a lot of people, we haven’t been able to solve that situation,” Hogan said. Present at the Broadway Diner breakfast in southeast Baltimore were Union Baptist Church pastor Rev. Al Hathaway; Ministers’ Conference of Baltimore president Bishop J.L. Car-

ter; Union Baptist Missionary Convention president Rev. Cleveland Mason; Jules Howie and Wanda Best, of the Upton Planning Committee; Arch McKown, of the Patterson Park Neighborhood Association; and Alex Smith, president of Atlas Restaurant Group. Hogan talked to them about his latest violent crime proposals. He said during his time as governor, he’s invested more than $1 billion into public safety efforts in Baltimore City, including funds for State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s office as well as federal prosecutors. “We have to do more to prosecute violent crimes in the city,” he said. He said he’ll press the legislature in Wednesday’s speech.

“If they [lawmakers] do nothing else, if they forget about the other 3,000 bills and they do nothing else, they have to address this violent crime situation in Baltimore City,” Hogan said. While much of the discussion centered around violent crime in the city, he said the issue of the so-called

“squeegee kids” was part of the conversation. “It’s a problem,” Hogan said. “One of the ministers has a program where they try and employ some of these squeegee kids, but the problem is they are making $40 and $50 an hour harassing people on the streets, so it’s hard to replace that.”

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Baltimore’s Rabbi Moshe Hauer Sends Important Notice to Membership of Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation By: BJLife/ Rabbi Moshe Hauer BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

ear Friends: I hope this note finds you all well. I am writing to share with you that at last night’s meeting of the Orthodox Union’s Board of Trustees I was named the organization’s next Executive Vice President (EVP). Approximately three months ago, I was first approached by the Executive Committee of the Orthodox Union (OU) and asked to consider assuming this position. The Orthodox Union is a significant organization whose programs and voice have national and global impact. As such, the proposal to serve them in this capacity was not something I could ignore, as it provides an opportunity to serve Klal Yisrael on a different level. Mindi and I have spent these

months carefully and painfully considering this proposal. While we will not relocate from Baltimore, the position will carry great responsibility and require a significant amount of travel. Accepting the position will preclude me from being able to continue in the role I have had at the shul, where I have been consistently present, teaching dozens of shiurim weekly, and have tried to be available at all times to you and the community for personal and communal issues. That role will need to be assumed by someone else. I have discussed this matter at length with the current and past leadership of the shul, as well as with Rabbi Rose. This juncture should be seen as an opportunity for the shul to continue to grow and flourish, and we must seize that opportunity. I am deeply committed to support and encourage that growth in any way that I can. And – with the support of the OU – I am committed to help make this a

smooth transition that will be sensitive to the needs of our community. The twenty six years Mindi and I have spent with you have been incredibly formative and rewarding. Your support, encouragement and partnership have enabled us to work together to build a strong and vibrant shul community that occupies a unique and important place in Baltimore’s Jewish communal landscape. The values and

the “ruach” that characterize our shul are shared by all of us, and cherished by all of us. I am very hopeful that we will all pull together to ensure that this is maintained, and that our shul family remain united. While we have often spoken of how the shul is our extended family, the deep truth of that has only become clearer to us as we have gone through this very difficult decision making process. We treasure BJSZ and what it stands for, and we cherish our relationships with each and every one of you. I hope that we will have your love and support as we approach this significant step that will be very challenging for all of us. And I hope that you will continue to be committed to the future of BJSZ. It is our hope and fervent prayer that the future will bring meaningful and positive outcomes for all of us, and for Klal Yisrael. B’ahava, Moshe Hauer

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R’ Moshe Aharon (Martin) Stampf, z”l; A Modern Parallel to The Story of Rebbe Akiva By: lakewoodshopper.com / Rabbi Gershon Hellman BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

Approximately 7 years ago, an older, clean-shaven man wearing a colorful yarmulke entered the BMG Alumni Bais Medrash holding an Artscroll Gemara. He approached Rav Moshe Segal, who happened to be the first person he made eye contact with, and asked in a slurred voice, “Can you please learn the Daf with me?” Upon arrival in Lakewood, he made his way to Alumni, where he approached anyone he saw learning alone and asked them to learn the Daf with him. At that time, no one in Alumni or the Bais Sholom Bais Medrash knew Martin Stampf. Over the course of the next seven years, however, he would touch the lives of hundreds of people and, in a story paralleling that of Rebbe Akiva’s rise to greatness later in life, he would inspire many people with his mesiras nefesh to make up for lost time and become a talmid chochom, despite never having been fortunate enough to receive a Jewish education when he was young. Martin was born into a completely non-religious home in Virginia. Even as a young man, he was drawn to spirituality and mitzvah observance. He would relate that he tried to build a Sukkah when he was a teenager and continued laying tefillin after his bar mitzvah, which was unheard of in his non-religious circles. He related that some relatives were not just non-religious, they were actively anti-religious, going so far as to take down his Sukkah and hide his tefillin from him. Despite growing up in this environment and having no Jewish education as children, both Martin and his sister eventually became fully shomer Torah u’mitzvos. After his father passed away at a young age, Martin and his mother and sister moved to Baltimore, where he would marry and live for many years. While in Baltimore, he worked at Tov Pizza Shop, where his good nature and affable personality made him beloved to all. During this time, he meticulously kept all the mitzvos he knew, although he had not found a means to learn much Torah yet. Seven years ago, he and his wife

moved to Lakewood, settling in the Eleanor Levovitz Senior Apartments on Clifton. He was about 60 years old at that time. One of the maspidim at the levaya related that when Martin told his friends in Baltimore that he moving to Lakewood “to learn”, some tried to discourage him, telling him that Lakewood is a big place and it would be hard to find an appropriate shiur there. He answered, “I want to learn and I am sure that I will find someone who will learn with me.” Upon arrival in Lakewood, he made his way to Alumni, where he approached anyone he saw learning alone and asked them to learn the Daf with him. Rav Segal and others learnt with him, helping him at the start of his journey in Torah. When he began learning, he barely was able to read Lashon Hakodesh, and he struggled with the Hebrew and Aramaic words. But he would not be deterred. He soon made his way into Bais Shalom, where he found the chaburah of Rav Yisroel Newman, shlita, which sits closest to the front door on “the stage” of the bais medrash. Again, he repeated his mantra of asking yungaleit to learn the Daf with him, and a number of them gave him their time. In this way, learning 20 minutes with one yungerman, a half hour with another etc., he finished the Daf every day, and then reviewed it himself a number of times using his Artscroll. He could be seen in Bais Shalom for hours every day, spending the bulk of his time learning with no interruptions. In short order, Martin became an integral part of the chaburah. When he was learning, usually for 5 hours straight or more each day, he would not allow anything to interrupt him. If someone wanted to ask him or his chavrusah something not related to learning, he would motion to him that he could not talk now. He was in the

middle of learning and could not be disturbed. Over the next few years, he finished numerous masechtos of Daf Yomi, reviewing every page many times. He also became a genuine member of the chaburah, growing a beard and payos for the first time. A few years ago, he decided that, in addition to Daf Yomi, he wanted to learn more in-depth. At that point, he began learning with a steady chavrusah during Second Seder, with whom he learned several masechtos b’iyun cover to cover. Rav Newman’s chaburah finishes every masechta it learns b’iyun, and Martin proudly took part in a number of siyumim the chaburah made at the completion of masechtos as one of the mesaymem. Martin suffered from a plethora of physical disabilities; yet he never allowed them to affect his learning. Perhaps most notably, he had extremely weak eyesight. To overcome this, he would use a magnifying glass to read the words of the Gemara. It was truly incredible to see him holding up the glass and passing it over each word, line by line, as he went through an amud of Gemara. He also had a hard time walking, but still insisted on walking by himself from his apartment to Bais Shalom. He only asked people to pick him up and give him a ride if it was icy outside and he was worried that he might slip. Every day, he could be seen shuffling down Clifton, sometimes with the help of a cane, while wheeling a small suitcase containing his sefarim behind him. Additionally, he suffered from arthritis and various other aches and pains, which he did not allow to affect his leaning schedule. Finally, he had a difficult

time enunciating words, but still made himself understood to learn with his chavrusas. His nephew related that he found a tape of Martin saying the words of the brachos over and over again. He was practicing saying and pronouncing the words clearly to ensure he said each bracha properly. Although he never interrupted his learning to schmooze, Martin was a wonderful conversationalist, with a quick wit and keen sense of humor. He always had a good word for everyone he met. He possessed a certain charm and grace that made him beloved by all who got to know him. He and his wife were often invited to Shabbos or Yomtov seudos by chaburah members who lived in the area. Their visits were highly anticipated as Martin would regale the hosts with interesting stories and anecdotes, as well as poignant observations and quips. The Rosh Hayeshiva Rav Yeruchim, shlita, who delivers regular va’adim to the chaburah, relates that Martin would approach him before the va’ad and ask, “Can you please speak in English? I don’t understand Yiddish and don’t want to miss out.” Out of respect to this great mevakesh, the Rosh Hayeshiva would accede to the request. Rav Yeruchim said, “He was moser nefesh for mitzvos his entire life, He had a tremendous ahavas Hashem and love for mitzvos, and, in the last years of his life, he was moser nefesh for Torah. It didn’t come easily to him, but he put in the efforts to learn. And he merited becoming ‘echad m’bnei hachaburah’ of such a choshuve chaburah. He became a demus of mesiras nefesh for Torah that we can all learn from. We can all learn from what it means to have the power of bikush for Torah and mitzvos.” Rav Yeruchim added, “He did not grow up in a yeshivishe environment. He did not have a father who raised him with learning. Yet he became fully attached to Torah.” The Rosh Chaburah, Rav Newman stated, “After he began learning with a chavrusah b’iyun, he told me that he hopes to be able to finish 10 masechtos like this. A few months ago, he told me, ‘Now, I hope that I’ll be able to go through all of Shas in-depth with this Cont. on pg 14

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Around the Community chavrusah.’ During Bain Hazemanim, he learned with a chavrusah in a shul near his home, learning the entire seder just like he did during the zeman. On Shabbos, he would come to Bais Sholom in the afternoon and remain there learning until the night. He once ate a seudah with me on a Friday night. After the seudah, I asked him if he wanted to go home. He answered that he wanted me to come with him to a shul to learn, and he stayed there learning until late at night. A few years ago, he was sick for a few weeks and was going back and forth to the hospital. Whenever anyone would visit him in the hospital, he would ask them to learn part of the Daf with him. “The Gemara says that Hillel is mechayev aniyim to learn. Martin is mechayev all of us.” Rav Moshe Blomberg, a distinguished member of the chaburah, relates, “R’ Moshe Aharon came over to me to discuss his learning almost every day without fail. He would chazer over and over every blatt he learnt each day. Everything he spoke about revolved

around the Gemara. He loved the blatt, and he lived the blatt. His biggest concern was having steady chavrusas to learn with him. Anyone who knew him before he moved to Lakewood could not believe it when I told them where he is holding today as a member of the chaburah. I spoke to people who knew him in Baltimore and told them how he does not leave the Gemara and how when I speak to him, he quotes Gemaras literally throughout Shas. They could not believe their ears. This is an unbelievable lesson of ‘ain dovor omed b’fnei haratzon.’ If someone believes he can do it, he can do it. He had every excuse in the world. He did not have the clarity of eyesight or speech that most people have. His feet could not carry him like most people’s do. But that didn’t stop him.” Rabbi Yechiel Tauber, his chavrusah, relates, “He used to tell me that his greatest joy is learning through a masechta. He would say, ‘You make me young. You’re like a fountain of youth.’ He would add that when he learns, he forgets all his aches and

pains and doesn’t feel the discomfort he usually feels. You could see a huge smile on his face whenever he learned. Especially when the learning was lebedig, he would become overcome with joy. His wife said that she noticed that when he learned at home, he automatically started humming the words of the Gemara in a happy tune.” Martin’s beloved wife passed away three months ago, on Motzoei Yom Kippur. This loss was a tremendous blow for him, but he continued his learning schedule unabated. This month, he completed Shas with the Daf Yomi cycle, having learned each Daf at least 4 times. He made a private siyum in honor of the simcha, inviting his friends from the chaburah. At the siyum, he asked someone to bring him a Gemara. “Which Gemara?” he was asked. “Any Gemara will do,” he answered. He opened the volume of Gemara and exclaimed, “Look at this page? The words are shaped like a brick. This indicates that every page of Gemara is like a brick that we use to build a

palace of Torah! With every Daf, you are building!” Indeed, Martin built a beautiful Torah palace over the past seven years. On Monday morning, the lights in the front of the stage in Bais Shalom, where Martin learned for many hours every day, suddenly and inexplicably went out and would not turn back on. It was soon learned that Martin had been found unresponsive in his apartment that morning. He merited fitting kovod acharon. His levaya in Bais Shalom was attended by hundreds of bnei yeshiva who came to pay their final respects to this unique and incredible individual who could barely read Lashon Hakodesh seven years ago but left this world as a genuine talmid chochom. Martin and his wife did not merit having children. Everyone is asked to learn and do mitzvos in memory of R’ Moshe Aharon ben Shraga Feivel z”l. May his memory be a blessing.

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Tell us a bit about yourself and how you became involved with SHEMESH: I’ve lived in Baltimore most of my life and so has my husband Jon. We have three children, each attending different schools to meet their various learning styles. I initially became involved with SHEMESH as a parent of a child enrolled in the Learning Center. The high-quality assistance made academic success possible. We have another child who does not need the Learning Center, but receives SHEMESH assistance to help keep pace with the dual language program. As a Speech and Language Pathologist, I’m passionate about helping children with learning challenges. I wanted to give back in some way and that led me to join the SHEMESH Board a few years ago. Even as a service recipient, there was so much I didn’t know about the incredible work SHEMESH does. It’s been very fulfilling for me to work with committed, caring Board members and with the com-

pletely devoted staff of SHEMESH. I came to realize that SHEMESH exists because of The Associated and its understanding of the need to help our children who have learning differences. Beyond the substantial yearly allocation to SHEMESH, The Associated provides guidance, financial direction, assistance with local funders and foundations, low rental space and help in so many other ways. I’m truly grateful for the special partnership SHEMESH has with The Associated. What do you wish people knew about SHEMESH? Our mission is to help children with learning differences who are in our Jewish day schools. People don’t realize that we offer many services to enhance that mission. We provide professional development for general classroom teachers, special educators and administrators. We host a CHADD meeting (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit) the first Wednesday of every month throughout the school year; we provide year-round programming for ALL parents, with expert speakers addressing issues that concern everyone involved with children. We field questions from parents and teachers about

how to deal with specific challenges; we attend IEP meetings, offer guidance and even speak with pediatricians on behalf of families. Our early childhood educators offer behavior intervention and model new ways to help children acquire self-control and live up to their potential. Simply put, I want parents to know: We are here for you! How does your family feel about your involvement with SHEMESH? My entire family is tremendously supportive! They see the value and meaningful connections in the work I do for SHEMESH. In fact, this month we are honoring my father-in-law’s memory on his first Yahrzeit by offering SHEMESH Chefs. Mr. Rodney Kaplan A”H, used to help us with this event in the past – working in the kitchen, packaging the food or giving it out to the people – and always with a smile. We provide a Friday night dinner – with Challah rolls (donated by Motti Margalit of Pariser’s Bakery in memory of his mother, Rachel bat Rivka A”H), chicken thighs, roasted vegetables, roasted potatoes and chocolate chip cookies – made by my husband Jonathan Kaplan under the O-U with sous chef assistance from SHEMESH Board members – all for only $45. People order for themselves, as a break from Shabbos preparations and then order more to give someone

else a break, as well. Anyone can order the meals by calling 410-925-8677 or online at associated.org/shemesh, starting now until February 17. Then they can pick up their order at the Park Heights JCC on Thursday, February 20, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and enjoy a great Friday night meal! We heard you had almost 300 people at last year’s Parent Lecture, in partnership with Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School. What do you have planned for this year? That’s right – we had people from all parts of Baltimore who came to learn new ways of helping their children. This year we are featuring Dr. Pat Friman, a world renowned, dynamic speaker who will give us “TEN Tips for Nurturing Happier, Healthier, Better-Behaved Children.” Dr. Friman is an expert on behavior pediatrics and he knows how to guide parents of children of all ages. I think he’s just what we need in these confusing times, when parents aren’t sure how to set standards and limits for their children and instill values that ultimately bring deep happiness and strong emotional and social health. Dr. Friman is coming on Wednesday, February 26, at the Rosen Arts Center of the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School. (See our ad on page 24 ) People can make reservations at shemeshparentlecture. eventbrite.com. Anyone and everyone who attends will walk away ready to implement practical ideas to help their children develop into healthy and happy adults. I hope to see a lot of Baltimore Jewish Home readers there!

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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The Week In News

Naama Yisaschar Returns Home

Naama Yisaschar’s ordeal in a Russian prison came to an end last week after Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned the Israeli backpacker on Thursday. Yisaschar returned home to Israel on a plane together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had jetted to Moscow from Washington, D.C., following his meeting with President Donald Trump. Landing to

a media circus, Yisaschar said that she would spend the next few days at her family home in Rehovot. “I just want to say thank you to everyone,” Yisaschar said at Ben Gurion Airport. “I’m still in shock because of the whole situation. Thank you for everything.” Yisaschar, 27, had spent the last 10 months in a Moscow prison after border guards found 10 grams amount of marijuana in her luggage during a stopover. She denied the charges, noting that she had no access to her luggage during the layaway and later claimed that she was forced to sign a confession written in Russian, a language she does not speak. A few months back, a judge sentenced her to 7.5 years behind bars, an unusually heavy sentence for a foreigner caught with such a small amount of narcotics. The sentence came amid reports that Yisaschar was being held at the orders of Putin in order to pressure Israel on a variety of things. Shortly after meeting Trump at the White House, Netanyahu suddenly

announced that he would be making an unscheduled stopover in Moscow on the way back to Israel. Coming only a week after Putin visited Israel for the World Holocaust Forum, the detour raised speculation that the two leaders had reached a deal to free the Israeli tourist. Speaking at the Kremlin together with Yisaschar’s mother who had flown out to Moscow for the occasion, Netanyahu thanked Putin for agreeing to her early release. “I want to thank you in the name of the entire Israeli people for your quick decision to grant a pardon to Naama Yisaschar,” said the Israeli leader. “This moves all of us and our gratitude is on behalf of all Israeli citizens, from the heart.”

Israel Tackles Coronavirus Fears Amid a mounting death toll from

the coronavirus worldwide, Israel banned all Chinese tourists from its soil until the pandemic gets under control. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Health Minister Yaakov Litzman said that no Chinese nationals would be admitted “for the time being.” He added that any Israelis who recently returned from visiting China would need to be quarantined before returning to their homes. The policy was put into effect for the first time on Saturday when Israeli border officials refused entry to dozens of Chinese tourists at Ben Gurion Airport. Fearing that they were infected with the deadly virus, the Chinese travelers were sent on the return flight to Moscow. “During the last 24 hours we stopped the flights from China to Israel. The Minister of Health was the first to do so and joined by other countries,” announced Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Siman Tov on Saturday evening. “We have closed the land crossings and we are working to ensure that

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At a press conference in Tel Aviv, Dai Yuming told reporters that the “errors to limit or even ban entries of Chinese citizens” reminded him of “the old days, the old stories that happened in World War Two, the Holocaust, the darkest days in human history.” Dai said: “Millions of Jewish were killed, and many, many Jewish were refused when they tried to seek assistance from other countries. Only very, very few countries opened their door, and among them is China.” The Chinese Embassy in Israel hastily later issued a statement to assuage Dai Yuming’s comments, “There was no intention whatsoever to compare the dark days of the Holocaust with the current situation and the effort taken by the Israeli government to protect its citizens. “We would like to apologize if someone understood our message the wrong way,” the embassy added. The global fallout from the coronavirus outbreak has seen numerous nations, including the U.S., Canada, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and others imposing stringent travel restrictions on people travelling from China in an effort to contain the disease. In China, the virus has killed more than 300 people; the global tally of those infected has passed 17,000.

Liberman Helped Charedim Avoid IDF A new bombshell report has found that Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor

Liberman willingly helped a slew of haredim avoid the IDF draft despite his virulent anti-religious platform. Over the past year, Liberman has distinguished himself for his radically anti-haredi stance. Throughout Israel’s three electoral cycles, the Moldovan-born MK insulted haredim as “parasites” while members of his party alleged that religious people posed a greater threat to the country’s wellbeing than Iran. Ruling out any coalition that included the haredi Shas and UTJ factions, Liberman’s consistent refusal to negotiate was a major cause of Israel’s current political impasse. Throughout the year, he repeatedly lashed out at what he called the “freeloaders” who studied Torah instead of enlisting into the IDF.

However, a new report suggests that Liberman’s anti-haredi bellicosity was nothing more than a sham. According to a new expose, not only didn’t Liberman crack down on yeshiva students while serving as defense minister, he personally pulled out all the stops to gain draft exemptions for children of senior haredi personalities. As detailed in Haaretz, Liberman personally intervened as defense minister in order to get the coveted exemptions for the relatives of Shas and UTJ lawmakers. During the two years in which he held the office, haredi legislators, pop stars, and businessmen enjoyed open access to his office with his aides receiving instructions to cater to their every demand. The beneficiaries of Liberman’s largesse included the very politicians that he today lambasts, such as Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, Knesset Finance Committee Chairman Moshe Gafni, and Shas MK Yoav Ben Tzur. In addition, Liberman also assisted members of the radical Yerushalmi Faction to shirk military service, de-

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The Week In News spite his long history of public vitriol against them. The person responsible for catering to his powerful friends was Avi Abuchatzeira, a senior Defense Ministry advisor for matters relating to the ultra-Orthodox community. “The haredi Knesset members or their aides would contact Abuchatzeira by direct call, a message or an email, and he would immediately come on board to help,” one source told Haaretz. “It was routine; no one concealed it.” Reached for comment, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit promised to look into the matter but called the allegations “problematic.” Liberman denied the report, saying through a spokesman that the allegations were false and that he never personally helped ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students avoid military service. “The former defense minister has never intervened in any case concerning the exemption from recruitment. Not any by implication,” said Liberman’s office. “Inquiries from the haredi sector regarding enlistment matters,

just like inquiries from the rest of the population, are handed without intervention and in accordance with the professional echelon’s decision’s.”

Arab League Rejects Trump Peace Plan Saying that it failed “to meet the minimum rights and aspirations of Palestinian people,” the Arab League roundly rejected President Trump’s plan for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A highly influential body representing 22 Arab nations, the Arab League convened in Cairo over the weekend to discuss Trump’s plan known as the “Deal of the Century.” Trump had said earlier in the week that the plan was broadly supported by the Arab world, raising speculation that the League would endorse its parameters.

The Arab League unanimously condemned the plan, however, agreeing in a Saturday meeting that it would not adopt the Deal of the Century in any way. In a statement, all of the League’s 22 members said that the plan “does not meet the minimum rights and aspirations of Palestinian people” and pledged “not to ... cooperate” with the U.S. administration to implement this plan. The League added that any solution needed to include a Palestinian State established on Israel’s pre-1976 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. Before voting whether to approve the plan, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas implored the

League to reject its parameters, which he said ended any hope his people had of getting their own state. “They told me Trump wants to send me the deal of the century to read, I said I would not,” Abbas told the assembled Arab foreign ministers. “Trump asked that I speak to him over the phone, so I said, ‘No,’ and that he wants to send me a letter, so I refused to receive it.” The Arab League’s rejection was condemned by a senior U.S. official, noting that continuously rejecting any solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would hurt the Palestinian people. “It is only by having a wiliness [sic] to try a new approach that we will make a breakthrough in a conflict that has left the Palestinian people to suffer for decades,” said the official. “Past Arab League resolutions have placated Palestinian leadership and not led to peace or progress, and it is important to try a new approach or the Palestinian people’s fate will not change.” All of the Palestinian factions immediately opposed the propose peace

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The Week In News plan after Trump unveiled the initiative two days before. While calling for a Palestinian State, the plan conditioned it on the PA recognizing Israel as a Jewish State and demilitarizing Gaza – two conditions the Palestinians adamantly refuse to fulfill. Other parameters unpopular with the Palestinians include keeping Jerusalem united under Israel control and annexing all of the settlements in Judea and Samaria.

ernment official told Channel 12 last week that the mass aliyah would probably take place prior to the Knesset elections in March. As the government officially decided to allow these families to immigrate over a year ago, the money for the operation will not come out of the current budget. With Israel being run by a caretaker government for over a year, there has not been a new budget passed since 2017, resulting in monetary constraints in almost every ministry.

400 Falash Mura to Make Aliyah Israel announced that it will allow 400 Ethiopian Jews to make aliyah despite questions regarding their Jewishness. The 60 families had been divided due to differing opinions regarding their halachic status, with some children residing in Israel while their parents were stuck in Ethiopia. While no timetable was given, a senior gov-

Warming Ties Between Israel & Sudan

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has been headed by Immigration and Absorption Minister Yoav Gallant and Ethiopian-Israeli MK Gadi Yevarkan. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Interior Ministry have also been involved. Under Israel’s Law of Return, all Jews are entitled to receive Israeli citizenship. However, the Interior Ministry has not recognized the Falash Mura tribe as Jewish due to their forced conversion to Christianity two centuries ago, leaving 8,000 Ethiopian Jews unable to move to the Holy Land.

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Dramatically improving ties with a former bitter foe, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the transitional leader of Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on Monday during a whirlwind visit to Uganda.

Netanyahu and Burhan met secretly in Entebbe at the residence of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and agreed to gradually normalize relations, according to The Times of Israel.

The meeting marks a sharp turnaround for the two countries, once sworn enemies and still technically at war. Sudan – a Muslim-Arab country in northeastern Africa – has recently moved away from Iran’s influence over the latter’s involvement in Yemen, and ousted longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir a year ago.

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Netanyahu said after the meeting that he believes Sudan is moving in a new and positive direction. The Sudanese leader had expressed interest in modernizing his country and moving it out of international isolation. On Sunday, Burhan was invited to visit Washington by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a phone call, in what would be the first such trip by a Sudanese leader in three decades. Leaving for Uganda on Monday morning, Netanyahu said he hoped to strengthen ties with Uganda, “and I hope that at the end of today, we will have very good news for Israel.” Netanyahu has made expanding ties in Africa a central plank of his foreign policy. In 2019, he re-established ties with Chad and hinted during a visit there that he was working to establish ties with other countries, reportedly including Sudan. According to a report at the time, Israel’s diplomatic push in Africa was driven in part by a desire to ease air travel to Latin America. Using the airspace of traditionally hostile African countries – namely Chad and Sudan – would allow airlines to offer faster, more direct flights between Israel and the continent. Sudan currently does not have a sitting president, as the country is in the middle of a transition process since longtime ruler Bashir was deposed in April 2019. In 2009, Bashir was indicted by the International Criminal Court for atrocities committed in Darfur. Burhan is the chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council, an 11-member group that is running the country until November 2022, when democratic elections are scheduled.

Candy Bar War

If you like chocolate, there’s a lot going around. On Friday, Hershey’s came out with a massive Reese’s Take 5 candy bar that weighs a whopping 5,943 pounds. The giant confection measures 9 feet long by 5.5 feet wide by 2 feet high. Guinness World Records declared it the world’s largest chocolate nut bar just a day before the Super Bowl. It’s been a race to a sugar-high between Hershey’s and Mars. Just two weeks ago, Guinness declared Waco, Texas, home to the world’s largest chocolate nut bar when Mars produced a Snickers bar the size of 43,000 single size candy bars put together – more than 4,700 pounds of ooey, gooey goodness. Guinness noted that it’s become “quite competitive” between the two companies, although we all know it’s good fun. “The Reese’s team believes records, even those just a few weeks

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old, are meant to be broken,” said Veronica Villasenor, senior director of the Reese’s brand. The Reese’s bar took five days to create and was presented at Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania. A team of more than 40 people from The Hershey Company’s research and development center and manufacturing facilities helped bring the chocolate bar to fruition. The candy bar will be distributed to Hershey’s employees, according to Guinness World Records guideline requirements, which says all food-related records have to be donated or consumed. You know, I never met a chocolate I didn’t like.

Groundhog Guesses He’s just a groundhog but maybe he knows more than us when it comes to the weather – or maybe he doesn’t. On Sunday, February 2, thousands of people gathered in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to watch Punxsutawney Phil emerge from his burrow early in the morning. As he peeked out around 7:25 a.m., the famous woodchuck didn’t see his shadow, predicting spring for the bystanders wearing their winter coats. “Now my forecast on a day that’s a palindrome [02/02/2020] will cause some to cheer and some to moan. So do I hope you think it’s neighborly, for there is no shadow of me, spring it’ll be early, it’s a certainty,” a member of Phil’s Inner Circle read from the

groundhog’s prediction scroll to the cheers and applause from the crowd. As the legend goes, if Phil sees his shadow, he considers it an “omen” of six more weeks of bad weather and heads back into his hole. If it’s cloudy and he doesn’t, you can put away that winter coat sooner than expected. But of course, his predictions aren’t always correct. Groundhog Day predictions have been going back more than 130 years. In the past decade, Phil has predicted a longer winter seven times and an early spring three times. He was right about 40% of the time, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which says the groundhog shows “no predictive skill.” “You’re better off trying to decide what the rest of February and March will look like by flipping a coin,” noted CNN meteorologist Judson Jones. Others are supporters of the buckteethed rodent. A.J. Dereume, one of the groundhog’s handlers, insists Phil’s predictions have a 100% accuracy rate – they just get lost in translation. According to lore, the president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club is the only person who can interpret Phil’s message. Every year, the groundhog sits on his tree stump and conveys his prediction to the club president, who then directs the vice president to read from a scroll that corresponds with the year’s forecast. “Phil is the one deciding whether or not he’s seen the shadow,” Dereume says. “It’s not up to us. All we do is deliver his message.” It’s hard to understand groundhog-speak.

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JANUARY 30, 2020 | The Jewish Home

The Opportunity of the Century

n Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his administration’s long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan before an enthused audience at the White House and with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by his side. The U.S. leader hailed the plan as “a big step towards peace” for Israel, adding that “we have an obligation to humanity” to get the deal done. Trump underscored that the plan was supported by Netanyahu and by his rival in the upcoming elections, Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz, noting that “peace transcends politics in Israel.” Almost every U.S. administration has tried to bring the Israelis and Palestinians together to the negotiating table – but without success. President Trump said that his deal differs than the others and contains many details, ensuring that nothing is left up for questioning. “This vision for peace is fundamentally different from past diplomacies,” Trump said. “Even the most well-intentioned plans were light on factual details and heavy on conceptual framework.” He added that his plan was 80-pages long, calling it “the most detailed proposal ever.” Trump noted that making peace between Israel and the Palestinians “may be the most difficult challenge of all.” He asserted, “But I was not elected to do small things or shy away from problems. We will be there every step of the way. It will work. If they do it, it’ll work.” Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior advisor, had been actively working on the deal for the past three years. It was his “peace vision” that is woven into the plan, which calls for a two-state solution and includes detailed maps of territory. “It is time for the Muslim world to fix the mistake it made in 1948 when it chose to attack, instead of recognize, the new State of Israel,” President Trump said. Jerusalem will remain Israel’s “undivided” capital, although the Palestinian state will have its capital within eastern Jerusalem. The U.S. will open an embassy there. The other part of a future Palestinian state would be “contiguous,” with trans-

portation provided for Palestinians from the state to the capital. Trump said that the plan more than doubles the territory currently under Palestinian control but also that the United States would “recognize Israeli sovereignty over the territory that my vision provides to be part of the State of Israel” – a reference to West Bank settlements. The U.S. president added that the U.S. will “reject terrorism” when it comes to peace. “We will not allow a return to the days of bloodshed, bus bombings, nightclub attacks, and relentless terror. It won’t be allowed. Peace requires compromise, but we will never ask Israel to compromise its security,” he stated. “As everyone knows, I have done a lot for Israel,” Trump said. “Moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem; recognizing the Golan Heights and, frankly, perhaps most importantly, getting out of the terrible Iran nuclear deal. “Therefore,” the president added, “it is only reasonable that I have to do a lot for the Palestinians, or it just wouldn’t be fair…. I want this deal to be a great deal for the Palestinians.” Although Israel has been onboard with the plan – Trump thanked Netanyahu “for being willing to take this bold step forward” – the Palestinians have summarily rejected the proposal, with PA President Mahmoud Abbas calling for resistance a day before the plan was unveiled. During the announcement, Trump thanked representatives of the Arab states of Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates for being in attendance, which possibly means that these countries will be asked to support it. Regarding Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, Trump said that the status quo will be preserved there in coordination with Jordan, which will maintain its special role in managing Al-Aqsa Mosque. Referring to the Palestinians, Trump said he was “saddened by the fate of the Palestinian people. They deserve a far better life – they deserve a chance to achieve their extraordinary potential.” “We are asking the Palestinians to meet the challenges of peaceful coexistence,” Trump said, calling on them to pass laws enshrining human

rights, “stop the malign activities” of the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other terror groups, “end incitement” against Israel, and “halt financial compensation to terrorists.” He added that the plan would “end the cycle of Palestinian dependence on charity.” The plan builds on a 30-page economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza that was unveiled last June and which the Palestinians have also rejected. After President Trump spoke to the audience, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the assembled. He thanked President Trump and his team for the dogged determination that they had in ensuring that this deal come to fruition. Netanyahu recalled a historic day in Israel’s history. “We remember May 14, 1948,” the premier said, “because on that day, President Truman became the first world leader to recognize the State of Israel after our first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, declared our independence. That day charted a brilliant future. “Mr. President, I believe that down the decades – and perhaps down the centuries – we will also remember January 28, 2020, because on this day, you became the first world leader to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over areas in Judea and Samaria that are vital to our security and central to our heritage. “And on this day, you too have charted a brilliant future – a brilliant future for Israelis, Palestinians, and the region – by presenting a realistic path to a durable peace.”

Netanyahu added that President Trump’s deal “strikes the right balance” between Israeli and Palestinian interests. “Your peace plan offers the Palestinians such a future. Your peace plan offers the Palestinians a pathway to a future state.” “If the Palestinians are genuinely prepared to take that path,” Netanyahu said, “if they’re genuinely prepared to make peace with the Jewish State, and if they agree to abide by all the conditions you have put forward in your plan, Israel will be there. Israel will be prepared to negotiate peace right away.” He added, “Mr. President, I hope the Palestinians embrace your vision of peace… I hope that they seize the opportunity offered by your sweeping economic plan. “I also hope that our other Arab neighbors embrace your vision and forge a path of reconciliation with Israel that can create for all of us a brilliant future.” Netanyahu noted that the president has “been the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House.” He ended his remarks by invoking President Truman’s “fateful decision” made decades ago. He said that both Truman and David Ben-Gurion “seized the moment, and they changed history.” “Like you, Mr. President, I understand the magnitude of this moment. With you, Mr. President, I am prepared to seize the moment and change history…. “Your deal of the century is the opportunity of the century. And rest assured Israel will not miss this opportunity.”

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Torah Thought

Land Ahoy! By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

This upcoming week we have a convergence of three powerful events. It is Shabbos Shirah, the Shabbos we recall the greatest of miracles, the splitting of the sea and the joyous outburst of song that erupted from that experience. Tu B’Shvat, the New Year for Trees, falls out on Monday. Tu B’Shvat is numbered among the days of joy that are celebrated by refraining from reciting Tachanun and abstaining from fasting. We also find ourselves thirty days prior to the jubilant Yom Tov of Purim and its association with joy. Is there an inherent connection between these three ‘happy’ events? At the splitting of the sea two remarkable things happened. Our enemy met its doom as the water crashed down upon them, tossing them about until the sea spat them out upon the dry shore. More amazingly is the fact that the Children of Israel miraculously walked, on dry land amidst the sea. The verse reports how when our enemies heard of the decimation of Pharaoh’s army they became agitated and gripped with terror. Edom was confounded, Moav trembled and Canaan dissolved. This fear was echoed years later when prior to entering the Holy Land, Yehoshua dispatches two spies to scout out the land who hear a firsthand report from Rachav, the innkeeper at their lodgings, who gets wind of their true identity, telling them how ‘your terror has fallen upon us... for we have heard how G-d dried up the water of the Sea of Reeds before you when you came out of Egypt...’.)‫(יהושע ב י‬ Why does she emphasize the miraculous ‘drying up’ of the riverbed rather than the more significant devastation of Pharaoh’s troops? Wasn’t it the fear of retribution and punishment that they truly dreaded? Who calms the roar of the seas the roar of their waves and the multitude of regimes? Awed are the inhabitants of the furthest ends by Your signs.)‫ט‬-‫(תהלים סה ח‬

The Midrash explains this equation between the mighty waves that are calmed and our enemies who are quelled with the following observation: just as the waves that roar mightily, prostrate themselves quietly before the sand on the shore, so too will our enemies who stand up to us be humbled in kind. )‫(שוח"ט תהלים ב‬ On the third day of creation G-d said, “Let the waters be gathered... and let the dry land appear. The ‘Song of the Day’ for Tuesday begins, A psalm of Assaf: G-d stands in the Divine assembly. The Talmud ).‫ (ר"ה לא‬tells us that this refers to the moment in Creation when He gathered in the water and ‘He revealed the land and prepared it for His assembly.’ There is something unique to this very moment that points to His assembly, the Jewish nation, and their firm stand and secret to survival in this world. )‫(רש"י‬ There is a tension and conflict that exists between the ‘waters’ and the ‘shore’ of the land. The natural force of water should inundate the world, encompassing it and flooding it. But G-d infused the granules of sand at the edge of the sea with the ability to stifle the water’s overwhelming power. It is only by the recognition of that ultimate power, the Almighty that invested the shore with its might, by which we deserve to exist. The moment we deny that reality, the waters will indeed naturally deluge a world that refuses to accept that truth. Wasn’t that the fate of the Generation of the Deluge, and the army of Pharaoh that were overcome by this ‘natural’ consequence to their rejecting a pledge of allegiance to the Creator of the world? G-d responded to Moshe’s desperate entreaty to Him as the nation was struck with fright upon seeing the enemy approaching, by saying, “Why do you cry out to me?” The Midrash explains that G-d was simply enlightening Moshe that there is

no need for prayer, ‘for just as I gathered in the water revealing dry land for one singular man, Adam, at Creation, how much more so will the waters recede naturally for the sake of the entire Holy Assembly who will declare “This is my G-d and I will build Him a Sanctuary”!‫(שמו"ר‬ )‫כא ח‬ He transformed the sea into dry land through the river they passed on foot there we rejoiced in Him.)‫(תהלים סו ו‬ Joy is the emotion one feels when there is no opposition to one’s existence. When one’s sense of being is complete, free from any fear of loss, one experiences absolute joy. ‘Matchmaking is as difficult as the Splitting of the Sea’ because when trying to unite two opposite entities, man and woman, the innate tension betwixt the two is as strenuous as that between the force of the sea and the shoreline. When each one will willingly bend its nature, accepting the direction of G-d’s Divine guidance in each one’s reactions and instincts, will they achieve the exquisite joy of finding one’s soul mate. ‘Providing sustenance is as hard as the Splitting of the Sea’ since from the time man was cursed due to his sin, with the decree that ‘thorns and thistles it will sprout for you’, the land will naturally resist man’s efforts and man will experience the hardship of procuring a livelihood. Only perforce man’s happy submission to the guiding hand of Providence will man succeed in providing joyously from His fruits and bounty. The Jewish nation is likened, to the sand on the seashore. Water bonds well, but it has no individuality. Every granule of sand, although miniscule, stands independently. Its collective strength lies in the joining of numerous individual particles. Our strength as a nation is contingent on each morsel of ‘sand’, however minute it may be, to assume its unique role. The nations that seek our destruction, like the waves of the ocean, break when it faces the reality of the ‘dry shore’ that G-d uncovered; His Holy Assembly, who declare with every step that they take, ‘this is my G-d’, causing the crashing waves to ebb! The splitting of the sea was thus the reenactment of that moment in Creation when G-d gathered the water, allowing for the dry land to appear. Perhaps that is why it was necessary for there to have been twelve distinct paths for each of the tribes to traverse. Others allege there were 600,000 individual channels for every Jew who was numbered, to travel through. The united strength of the ‘sand upon the seashore’ empowered them to

break the overpowering waves. (Based on a remarkable essay entitled ‘More than the Roar of the Waters’ written by Rabbi Rephael Menachem Shlanger, a disciple of the great Gaon, Rav Moshe Shapiro zt’l, in his book Shivtei Nachlasecha) The Torah describes how, The Children of Israel were, ‫ חמושים‬, armed when they went up from Egypt. Alternately Rashi quotes from the Midrash that the root of this word is ‫חֹ ֶ ֹמש‬, a fifth, alluding to the opinion that only a fifth of the nation actually left, as the other four fifths died during the plague of darkness. The Midrash records other opinions that suggest either one out of fifty, maybe one out of five hundred, or perhaps only one out of five thousand merited to leave. That would mean that before the plague of darkness there were either 30,000,000, or 300,000,000, or perhaps 3,000,000,000 Jews, of whom only 600,000 exited from Egypt. May I boldly suggest that perhaps what the Torah is telling us is that although the Jews had descended to the lowest depths of impurity there was still a healthy percentage, a ‘granule’ of purity that was unscathed, each one of them were prepared to do battle against the waves of impurity, in restoring that pure morsel to its full expression and strength. It is interesting to note that the varying opinions all revolve around the number five. The Maharal teaches that whereas the number four represents the four scattered directions of the world, the number five symbolizes that dot in the center of those four directions that unifies them all into one. As long as we ‘arm’ ourselves to do battle with those inner forces that seek to flood us with its brutal force, by focusing on that aspect within ourselves that instinctively cries out ‘this is my G-d’, we are assured that G-d will gather the waters exposing the dry land that is filled with the fruit of our arduous efforts. The teacher of the illustrious Sh’lah, Reb Shlomo of Lublin, known as the Maharash M’Lublin, points out that the word used here implying armed/fifth, ‫וְ חַ ֹֻמ ִשים‬, contains the same letters as ‫ּושְֹ מֵ חִ ים‬, and they were happy! When we identify our enemies both from within and from without, and are ready to accept the power of the ‘granules of the shore’ we each personify, declaring with absolute faith, “This is my G-d and I will build Him a Sanctuary”, that is the moment we will quash our enemies and exhilarate with utter joy over the privilege we have to be his Holy Assembly!

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Monday Shevat 8

Shevat 15

Adar 6

Shevat 29

Shevat 22

Shevat 10

Shevat 17

Shevat 24

Adar 1

Adar 8

Shemesh Parent Lecture @Beth Tfiloh 7:30-9pm see page 24

Mikvah of Baltimore Dinner @DoubleTree 7pm see page 19

Wednesday

March

Tuesday Shevat 9

Shevat 16

Shevat 23

Adar 7

Shevat 30

The Shidduch Center of Baltimore: Rabbi Shaul Engelsberg @6301 Greenmeadow Pkwy 8:30-9:15pm

Etz Chaim Matching Campaign etzchaim.thechesedfund.com see page 2

SHAS for Shidduchim ShasForShidduchim.org see page 41

Simchas Esther Annual Purim Shpiel @BYHS 7pm see page 27

Friday Shevat 12

5:15 PM

Shevat 19

5:23 PM

Shevat 26

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Adar 3

5:39 PM

Adar 10

5:50 PM

Shevat 13

Saturday

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Shevet 20

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Adar 11

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Adar 4

6:33 PM

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6:25 PM

OCA Parent Teacher Melava Malka @Ner Tamid 8-11pm

Kol Torah Ladies Melava Malka 8-11:30pm

Yeshivas Teferes Hatorah Melaveh Malkah @BJSZ 8:30pm

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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DIRSHU WORLD SIYUM THIS SUNDAY, FE B RUARY 9, 2 0 2 0

LO C ATI ON S

TR AFFIC & SECURIT Y

B USING

Prudential Center 25 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ 07102

Heavy traffic is expected throughout the area. Please make sure to head out early for your punctual arrival.

Dirshu will be providing transportation to the siyum.

NJPAC 1 Center St, Newark, NJ 07102 Newark Symphony Hall 1020 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102

S CHE DULE 4:30 pm

Security Checkpoints Open

5:30 pm

Arena Doors Open

6:15 pm

Tefillas Maariv

6:30 pm

Event Begins

10:30 pm

Program Concludes

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TICKE T S & E NTRY You will not be able to enter the event without a physical hard copy ticket. Rabbonim, VIP, and event staff will also need a ticket to gain entry. The siyum has a no re-entry policy. Once your ticket is scanned, you will not be able to leave and re-enter the venue. Children under the age of 8 will not be allowed into the stadium.

Security will be tight around the venue and inside the event in order to ensure your maximum safety. All buses and cars will be inspected with k-9 units upon arrival. Screening Policy: All patrons will be subject to a metal detector screening and complete security check prior to entering the arena. Guests will be asked to remove any attire or apparatus that conceal their identity. The lengthy security check may delay the entry process, we therefore ask all siyum participants to plan accordingly. Bag Policy: Bags will be prohibited. Handbags, purses and clear bags smaller than 12” x 16” x 6” will be allowed into the venue. All bags will be required to pass through security.

Monroe & Lakewood: $35 / round trip All Other Locations: $30 | round trip Bus tickets must be reserved at 973-319-4319 or DirshuTransportation.com A free shuttle will be available and circling between all three venues and Newark Penn Station every 15 minutes.

PARKING Parking at Prudential Center: Prudential Center is one of the most easily accessible arenas in the country, with over 3,500 parking

FO OD At Prudential and NJPAC, no outside food is allowed. At Newark Symphony Hall, outside food is allowed in clear bags only. Everyone will be receiving 2 complimentary danishes and 2 bottles of water.

spaces within two blocks of its location. Highways surrounding the arena include 280, 78, NJ Turnpike, 1 & 9, 21, 22, Garden State Parkway, 80 and NJ 3. Parking lots will be open from 10:00am. Price for parking at the stadium is $45.00. There are several additional parking facilities within close proximity to Prudential Center. Parking at NJPAC :

PUB LIC TR ANSP ORTATION Prudential Center is easily accessible by NJ Transit trains, PATH, Amtrak, Light Rail and Bus.

Due to the large scale of this event, we will be working on a punctual schedule. Please take care to ensure a timely arrival, so you can fully participate with the siyum program.

Newark Penn Station is located a short two blocks east of the arena. To exit Prudential Center towards Newark Penn Station, use the Investors Bank Tower by heading to the northeast corner of Prudential Center near Sections 20-22, 130-133 or 231-233.

There will be ushers and signage to help you find your seat. Please do not sit down in a seat that does not belong to you.

To access public transit buses to Broad Street Station, exit onto Edison Place or Lafayette Street and go ½ block west to Broad Street.

• Surrounding Streets • NJPAC Parking Lots A AND C: 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102 • Military Park Garage: Located across the street from NJPAC: 633 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102 Price for Parking: $25.00 Parking at Newark Symphony Hall: • There will be sufficient street parking surrounding the venue. • A heavy security and police detail will be present to ensure your safety and protection.

Questions? Contact us at Questions@DirshuWorldSiyum.org or 888-5-DIRSHU

The Dirshu World Siyum will mark the monumental accomplishments of the individuals in the Dirshu ranks who have dedicated years to the Dirshu mission of elevating the Torah landscape. Forever.

KOL MEVASER: 212-444-1100 KOL BERAMA: 107.9 FM - Lakewood / NewYorkJewishRadio.com JROOT: 88.7 FM - Brooklyn / JrootRadio.com HAMODIA.COM • DIRSHU.CO.IL • C-LIVE.CO.IL

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In order for the tzibbur at large to participate, the inspirational program will be broadcast live:

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The upcoming Dirshu World Siyum on Sunday, February 9, 2020, will be an unforgettable celebration of the bond between Klal Yisrael and our beloved Torah.

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‫ב‬ ‫ט‬ ‫א‬ ‫א‬ ‫ל‬ ‫ר‬ ‫מ‬ ‫ב‬ ‫יו‬ ‫נן‬

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Storming the Heavens on Behalf of Klal Yisroel’s Singles Shas for Shidduchim is coming up this Sunday evening, February 9, 2020 When considering the state of Klal Yisroel’s singles, solving the shidduch crisis is on the top of everyone’s mind. Dating is a hard tekufah, with many challenges facing frum singles today. Chicago Chesed Fund is dedicated to supporting the Klal and its singles through this trying time. Building on their previous successes, Chicago Chesed Fund is holding their third annual Shas for Shidduchim campaign to amass zchusim for those that have yet to find their bashert. This Tu B’Shvat – beginning this Sunday evening, February 9, 2020 – lomdim will harness the power of Limud HaTorah by finishing the

PESACH 2020

entire Shas in one day. As the Ben Ish Chai explains, Tu B’Shvat is a parallel to Tu B’Av; both are special days for finding one’s zivug. “When I heard about Shas for Shidduchim, I thought, ‘This is an opportunity I need to take advantage of.’ Limud HaTorah is not your typical segulah, it’s an actual zchus that can hopefully bring me closer to finding my other half,” said Meira, a 21-yearold girl from New York. Meira sponsored a daf for our first ever Shas for Shidduchim campaign. Baruch Hashem, by the following year, she was busy planning her wedding which took place only one month

AT THE BEAUTIFUL

after our second Shas for Shidduchim campaign. Meira was happy to sponsor a daf again, this time in the zchus that her friends should have the opportunity to walk to their own chuppahs soon. Following the completion of all 2,711 blatt, the entire Chicago community is invited to participate in this beautiful Siyum HaShas along with the lomdim and sponsors of the annual event. The siyum will take place on February 10, 2020 at the Veitzener Cheder Yeshiva Ohr Boruch. R’ Moshe Tuvia Leiff, Morah D’Asra of Agudath Israel Bais Binyomin of Brooklyn, will be addressing the mi-

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saymim and their family and friends with divrei chizuk and praise for their great accomplishment. Iy”H there will be a separate address with divrei chizuk for women. The siyum is fast approaching! Join us by sponsoring a daf in the zchus of a single! B’Ezras Hashem, we will see many more simchos in Klal Yisroel. Hurry! Time is running out to sponsor! Visit Shas4Shidduchim.org to sponsor a daf in zchus of a single.

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STORMING THE HEAVENS ON THEIR BEHALF.

ITIA

TU B’SHVAT, 2020

Starting Sunday evening, Feb. 9th, hundreds of lomdim will gather in Chicago to complete

All proceeds go toward Chicago Chesed Fund’s many programs that help singles

FIND THEIR BASHERT.

SPONSOR A DAF IN THE ZCHUS OF A SINGLE

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ed a sk od o w to ake nk in L e li r h t e irls sis t h er eg My n gl en d i er s s to ork th e me cow ith ge d r w e re n ga .H e e c t ” sha f fi go oy ! er o er b an d z d e in h e re “f re ll m nso oa o fi t t sp o t r e gh sis t t ni s! my la s d n ew l d to o e o Sh eg n th in o

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Shas in 24 hours in the zchus of Klal Yisroel’s singles.

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Eretz Yisrael Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada Chile England France Germany Gibraltar Holland Mexico Panama russia South Africa Switzerland Ukraine United States Venezuela

This campaign, l’zecher nishmas the Manchester Rosh Yeshiva,

Harav Yehuda Zev Segal,‫זצ״ל‬ founder of Shmiras Haloshon Yomi, culminates on his yahrtzeit, February 17, ‫כ״ב שבט‬

no family in the world who studies the laws of loshon hora “There isaccording to the schedule of two Halachos a day who has not seen some sort of yeshuah in their lives. ” –

CCHF.Join Global Learning.9.25x11.indd 2-3

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THE MANCHESTER ROSH YESHIVA

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join 10,000

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

a global learning campaign to sign up p e o p l e

to learn Shmiras Haloshon 1-5 minutes every day.

chofetz chaim heritage foundation.org Whatsapp Email Phone book teleconference call

845.352.3505 ext.5 Hashem said: “ ‘I can save you from all harm provided you distance yourself from loshon hora.’ ” –

The Chofetz Chaim, zt”l

QUOTING FROM THE MEDRASH

2/4/20 11:13 AM

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

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T E R C E S A R O I SAV How Dr. Julius Kuhl Saved Thousands from Death By Susan Schwamm

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

hen Dr. Julius Kuhl walked onto the shores of North America in 1948, there was no one there to greet him or his

family. There were no awards, no dignitaries, no expressions of appreciation for the man who saved thousands of Jews from the Nazis’ clutches. Dr. Kuhl was carrying a briefcase. In that briefcase was a handful of watches. And that’s all he brought from his years in the Polish consulate saving Jews. That, and the memories of those frantic years in which he had a hand in helping to snatch his fellow brothers and sisters from certain death.

ulius – also known as Yechiel – was born in Sanok, Poland, and was the only surviving child to his parents, who had lost their other children to illness before the war. He also experienced the loss of his father at a young

age. His mother, Sima Pessel, sent him to live with his uncle in Switzerland, with whom she felt he would have the integral guidance of a father figure in his life, when he was only nine years old. Julius eventually learned shechita from the rosh yeshiva in Zurich and took a job at an old-age home where he shechted chickens and was the baal koreah and the shamash for the residents there on Shabbos. Even though he struggled to make ends meet, Julius made sure to present himself as neat and orderly to others. He wore one suit from his bar mitzvah until his wedding and kept it under his mattress at night to keep it pressed for the next day. He was a determined young man, unafraid of hard work and doing what was right. In August 1939, a neutrality pact, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was signed between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Essentially, this agreement divided Poland between the two countries. Jews

caught on the Nazi side were trapped in what became a certain death. Jews who found themselves under the Soviet Union were more fortunate – although they wouldn’t have known it at the time. The Russians distrusted the Jews and deported almost a half a million of those Jews to Siberia. Of those who were deported, at least two-thirds of them lost their lives to frostbite and to slave labor. Only a third of them managed to come out alive. Dr. Kuhl’s mother, who was living in Poland at the time of the pact, was sent to Siberia to live out the duration of the war. After World War II broke out, the consulates for the Polish government in exile were located in London and Switzerland. The consulates mainly dealt with the Polish refugees who were locked under Russian rule and who were stranded in Nazi Poland. Letters between those sent to Siberia and their families in Poland went through the consulate, although some of them took a year to arrive.

Before World War II, Julius spent time at the University of Zurich and obtained his PhD in economics in 1939. It was during this time, while studying for his degree at the library in the Polish embassy in Switzerland, that he became involved in diplomatic work. He was smart and knew many languages – Polish, French, Yiddish, English, and German. In fact, Dr. Kuhl was not the first person in his family to earn a PhD; he came from an educated, refined family – his mother had taught in Sarah Schenirer’s bais Yaakov. Dr. Kuhl caught the eye of officials in the embassy who were looking for a smart Jew to help them deal with the Jewish refugee situation emanating from Poland. By March of 1940, the 30-year-old Dr. Kuhl was employed by the Polish consulate in Switzerland as an auxiliary employee. He was the only Jew working in the exiled Polish government in Switzerland. In addition to other duties, Dr. Kuhl

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Dr. Kuhl’s diplomatic service passport that enabled him to visit the internment camps in Switzerland, and later to visit the concentration camps that were liberated by the Allied armies

A letter signed by the papal nucio, Philippe Bernardini, recommending that Dr. Kuhl be given every cooperation and assistance he was needed. Documents like this one provided Dr. Kuhl with access to strategic locations throughout Europe

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

Permission granted to Dr. Kuhl by the Swiss police allowing him to visit refugee internment camps

was able to issue passports to those in need. Dr. Kuhl worked under Ambassador Alexander Lados, who supervised Stefan Ryniewicz and Konstanty Rokicki in addition to Dr. Kuhl. Under Lados’ supervision, Dr. Kuhl and the other diplomats were able to obtain hundreds – possibly thousands – of blank passports from neutral countries and hand-filled them with the names of Polish Jews who were desperate to leave to safer shores. These lifelines were smuggled into Poland and given to Jewish organizations that helped to orchestrate the escape of thousands of Jews. It is estimated that almost 4,000 of these passports were issued to Jewish

families during the war. During his time in the consulate, Dr. Kuhl would cozy up to ambassadors from other countries, hoping to obtain passports that would help fellow Jews reach safety. He often played chess with the American ambassador. After losing gracefully, he would ask for a passport or two from the American diplomat. Other times, he would play ping pong with an ambassador from another country. After letting that ambassador win handily, Dr. Kuhl would ask his “friend” for a few passports that he could use to save others. Evelyne Singer, Dr. Kuhl’s daughter who currently lives in Lawrence, NY, with her husband, Israel Singer, asserts

that her father did what had to be done. “My father was a big believer in ein davar ha’omed b’fnei ha’ratzon,” she shared in a recent interview with TJH. “He knew this is what had to be done, and there was nothing that was going to get in the way of doing what was right.” Israel Singer agrees that his fatherin-law knew that it was a time of desperation and need – and that anything and everything needed to be done to save the Jews. “No one was helping us,” Dr. Kuhl once told Mr. Singer. “No one. No one was saving Jews. It was the loneliest feeling to sneak into the embassy at night and take out two or three visas – afraid I was going to get caught,” Dr. Kuhl recalled. Mr. Singer adds, “My father-in-law was a committee of one. He had no organization, no funding, no people with him. He did it all on his own, a loner, but loners can get things done – and that’s what he did.” Israel noted that his father-in-law was, by nature, a quiet, more introverted person. It wasn’t his natural disposition to broadcast his deeds or even be the leader of a movement to save Jews, but when the situation presented itself, Dr. Kuhl did what had to be done at great risk to his position and even his life. Evelyne notes that her mother, Yvonne, would give her father sardines before he had to attend a party at the consulate. Those parties were essential for Dr. Kuhl – many connections were made there – but many people left the parties drunk, as the alcohol would be flowing, even during wartime. The oil in the sardines would help Dr. Kuhl stay sober and keep his head as his colleagues would be stumbling home drunk. During his years at the consulate, Dr. Kuhl was involved in the hundreds of illegal passports to Latin American countries that were bought to save the lives of Polish Jews. Many of these passports and passes were bought from consuls from Honduras, Haiti, Bolivia, El Salvador, and Paraguay. These passports came to Dr. Kuhl and his superiors blank; the diplomats would then enter the names and pertinent information of Polish and Dutch Jews who could then claim that they were citizens of neutral countries. Cit-

izens of neutral countries were exempt by the Nazis from being sent to extermination camps. The passports saved these Jews from the gas chambers. Many of those incarcerated in the Warsaw Ghetto were able to escape the fate of the death camps with these “neutral” papers. One of the visas that Dr. Kuhl was instrumental in obtaining was for the Belzer Rebbe, Rav Aharon Rokeach, zt”l. After living in a series of ghettos in Poland to avoid the Gestapo, in 1943, the Rebbe and his half-brother escaped to Budapest disguised as Russian generals. But then, non-Hungarian citizens were being rounded up in Hungary, and the Rebbe once again needed to flee. Dr. Kuhl heard that the Rebbe needed a diplomatic visa and worked to obtain the needed passports for the Rebbe and his half-brother. Once the Rebbe reached Istanbul, Turkey, he wrote Dr. Kuhl a letter on hotel stationary thanking him for his efforts in saving him. (Years later, the current Belzer Rebbe, who is a nephew of Reb Aharon, insisted that they put the salvation of the Belzer Rebbe on Dr. Kuhl’s matzeivah when he passed on.) Dr. Kuhl was helpful to famed rescuer Recha Sternbuch in her mission to save Jews during the war years. A frum woman living in Montreux, Switzerland, Mrs. Sternbuch was responsible for saving more than 2,000 Jews. She would smuggle Swiss visas and Chinese entry visas to Jews living over the border and personally help them to safety. One Shabbos, the Sternbuch family was celebrating the bar mitzvah of their son. Dr. Kuhl was an invited guest but was only there for a short time until he was pulled away. During the bar mitzvah, Mrs. Sternbuch received a call that there were two children at the border who were being deported. She ran over to Dr. Kuhl and urgently told him to come with her. “Come where?” he asked. “To the border,” she answered. “We need to go immediately.” “But it’s your son’s bar mitzvah,” he argued. “My husband, Yitzchak, will take care of it. We need to go to the border now,” she insisted. Both Dr. Kuhl and Mrs. Sternbuch raced to the border that Shabbos and saved those two children.

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Dr. Julius and Yvonne Kuhl

Rothmund famously liked to use the expression, “the boat is full,” when dealing with Jewish refugees. (In fact, a book written in 1967 about Switzerland’s shameful response to Jewish refugees during World War II is entitled, The Lifeboat is Full.) Rothmund used that phrase self-importantly when refugees desperately requested entry into neutral territory. “The boat is full, the boat is full, the boat is full,” he would systematically respond to any request. Dr. Kuhl was privy to Rothmund’s insolence at a bus station one day.

himself jobless and stateless, stuck in Switzerland with his wife and two daughters. He was in limbo, required to check in with the police every two weeks, and ironically needing those very same passports that he so selflessly obtained for countless Jews through the war years. Eventually, the Kuhl family was able to immigrate to Canada. Evelyne recalls that her father kept his role in saving Jews during the Holocaust very quiet. He wasn’t one to ask for accolades or awards. “In very modest terms we knew

“For my father, there was nothing that stood in the way.”

n 1945, after the war ended, the Polish-free government collapsed. The Soviet Union took over Poland, turning it communist. Dr. Kuhl suddenly found

that he worked in the consulate,” she recalls, “and we knew he was friends with ambassadors, but he didn’t speak a lot about what he did.” “He did his part,” Israel notes. “When he came to Canada, he felt that it was his business to take care of his family and succeed in the new world in which they found themselves in. He believed that he did his part back in the consulate – no more and no less than anyone else in his position would have done. He was humble about his role in rescuing his fellow Jews.” A lot of what Dr. Kuhl did during those war years is still not known. Slowly, more information is coming to light, as the family has unearthed information from the Red Cross and

n Toronto, Dr. Kuhl began his new life selling Swiss watches. He eventually ended up in the construction industry but his desire to help others never waned. Instead of working on a macro level – saving Jews on a grand scale – Dr. Kuhl’s compassion pushed him to help others on a more personal level. Evelyne recalls that her father once saw a young widow buying tefillin for her bar mitzvah boy. When Dr. Kuhl saw that, he quietly went to the storeowner and gave him the money for the tefillin. His family only found out about this chessed when the boy’s grandmother told them what had transpired. One woman in Toronto had lost her husband and was about to lose her home. Hearing of the plight of the young mother of five, Dr. Kuhl and his wife, Yvonne, organized a tea for the city to help contribute money to save the woman’s home. No one except the Kuhls knew to whom the money was going; they managed to give the grateful widow a check to cover her whole mortgage. Together, Dr. Kuhl and Yvonne were instrumental in helping to support Jewish educational centers in the cities in which they lived. “For my father, there was nothing that stood in the way. He was always determined to help in any way he could,” Evelyne states.

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

When Dr. Kuhl saw that there would be room for others aboard the bus to safety, he nudged Rothmund, asking him to let a few more children onto the bus so they could be saved. But the Swiss official looked at Dr. Kuhl and shrugged indifferently, “The boat is full.” Decades later, Dr. Kuhl would have nightmares of Rothmund’s apathy towards the Jewish plight. Echoes of “the boat is full” would swirl around his dreams.

Polish archives. Still, people would come up to Evelyne and Israel and their family members and recall what Dr. Kuhl did for them, even producing visas with his signature on it – lifesaving pieces of paper that ensured their survival.

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

A letter from the Belzer Rebbe, written in his hotel in Istanbul, thanking Dr. Kuhl for saving his life

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t’s interesting to note that Switzerland was perhaps the least-hospitable neutral country during World War II towards Jews. In his position, Dr. Kuhl had to deal with Heinrich Rothmund, head of the Federal Immigration Office in Switzerland at the time. Indicative of the Swiss attitude, in 1942, Rothmund spoke at a conference in Montreux, Switzerland, and proclaimed that Switzerland had little need for more Jews. “Here, as elsewhere, it is undesirable for the Jewish population to exceed a certain proportion. Switzerland does not intend to let itself be led by the Jew, any more than it would like to be led by any foreigner.… The Jew is not easily assimilated.… Nor must one forget that many of them pose a danger to our institutions, being used to conditions in which the Jewish instinct for business has a tendency to run free.” Another Swiss official, Daniel Odier, who was a military police officer of the Territorial District of Geneva, wrote a letter just a few days before Rothmund’s speech which echoed the Swiss’s animosity towards Jewish refugees. “Many Jews newly arrived in Switzerland wish to start up businesses immediately and also want to engage in trade. These people’s correspondence clearly shows that they tell their friends and acquaintances to come join them in this paradise that is Switzerland, and the mere fact of accepting one in Switzerland gives ten others the chance to follow him here and get so settled in that we will have a lot of trouble getting rid of them.” Lest one think that these anti-Jew sentiments were those of just Swiss individuals, consider that on August 13, 1942, the Swiss government slammed their border doors closed to Jews. “Political refugees, that is, foreigners who declare themselves as such when first questioned and can also provide proof, are not to be expelled. Those who seek refuge on racial grounds, as for example, Jews, are not considered political refugees,” the government declared. Thousands of Jews were turned away from the Swiss border during the war years. It’s certain that almost all of those who were denied entry perished in the ensuing years.

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020

TJH

Centerfold

The Real Reasons That Prince Harry and Meghan are Giving Up Their Royal Titles They are sick of visiting grandma in Buckingham Palace; it’s way cooler to experience visiting a grandmother in Tower 41.

kidding

The Queen of England was due to arrive at a state dinner in Washington, D.C. Her plane was delayed due to weather conditions, and she was 40 minutes late. Traffic was light, though, and she thought she could make up the time, but the driver was the slowest she ever had. “Could you drive a bit faster?” she asked. “No, Your Highness. I cannot speed.”

How would you feel if your last name was Duke of Sussex? Seriously? What does that mean anyway?

“I am in a bit of a rush. I’m sure it’ll be fine,” she implored.

They don’t want to give their next baby a royal name like Bedminster Arthur Polo Rupert Cricket Alexander Lacrosse the Third.

“Fine, pull over, and let me drive!” she commanded.

They wanted to see how many times the media can say “abdicate” in one news segment.

Not wanting to refuse a direct order from the Queen, the driver traded places with the aging monarch.

Nobody like crumpets anyway! They are craving garlic. (The Queen hates garlic, and it is banned from all royal recipes.) Being a peasant in America beats being a prince in England.

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

You gotta be

The royal tiara messed up Meghan’s hair. They prefer the heavy metal version of “G-d Save the Queen.” They find the fur hats worn by royal guards to be offensive... Squirrels are people too! Because the line of succession for Harry is longer than the line at Trader Joe’s on erev Shavuos. Prince Harry was tired of being called “the prince with the orange hair and big ears.” Harry wants to be known as “The Harry, formerly known as Prince.” Meghan was jealous of her sister-in-law Kate always making a better challah than her…I mean, being future Queen! They want to move to the U.S. to open up an H&M.

“Ma’am, I cannot.”

She immediately opened the throttle of the provided Rolls-Royce. Soon they were going 130 mph down the beltway. Red and blue lights flashed; the car was pulled over. A rookie cop called in the speeding ticket but asked for backup. Dispatch said, “Seems pretty routine. What seems to be the problem?” “It’s a very important person, sir, I don’t know what to do.” “Who is it?” dispatch asked. “Not sure,” the rookie said, “but they got the Queen driving for them.”

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

a. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary

c. Elizabeth Victoria Isabella d. Elizabeth Eleanor 2. What does Queen Elizabeth II eat for breakfast every morning? a. Corn Flakes b. A bowl of oatmeal, a banana, and two pieces of toast c. A sunny side up and French toast

6. B

3. D

5. B

2. A

4. C

1. A

 Wisdom Key 5-6 correct: You are the Duke of Knowitall 2-4 correct: You are slightly royal, like Meghan Markle. 0-1 correct: You are an embarrassment to the royal family... like Prince Harry!

a. $250 million b. $770 million c. $2.2 billion d. $88 billion 4. Which one of the following is not a title of one of the Queen’s four children? a. Duke of Cornwall

c. Prince of Badteith d. Earl of Wessex e. Duke of York

prince is this referring to? a. Prince William b. Prince Charles c. Prince Philip

5. According to the documentary “Serving the Royals: Inside the Firm,” there is one current prince who is certainly far from a commoner. “His pajamas are pressed every morning, his shoelaces are pressed flat with an iron, the bath plug has to be in a certain position, and the water temperature has to be just tepid.” And, if that’s not enough, he “has his valets squeeze one inch of toothpaste onto his toothbrush every morning.” Which

d. Prince Edward 6. How did Queen Elizabeth ascend to the throne? a. Her brother died b. Her uncle abdicated c. Her father appointed her over her older brother d. Her mother refused to be queen so Elizabeth got the title instead

Riddle me this? It’s 1856, and the Queen of England gives birth to twins, although it’s impossible to tell who was born first. Now the twins are adults and ready to rule. One is totally mediocre and unlikable, while the other is highly intelligent, well-loved, and charismatic, yet the unintelligent one is chosen as the next ruler. Why? See answer below

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

 Answers

3. Forbes Magazine estimated the royal family’s worth based on a figure including their assets (i.e. Buckingham Palace, crown jewels, etc.), earnings, royalties, etc. Can you guess how much they are worth?

b. Princess Royal

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

b. Elizabeth Chrysanthemum

d. Soda bread with a splash of butter and two pieces of cheese

Answer to Riddle Me This: Only one of the twins (the mediocre one) is a male. (Until 2011 males were first in the line of succession to the throne.)

1. What is the Queen of England’s full name?

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Long Live the Queen

Notable Quotes

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

“Say What?!”

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Is she the chief economist, or who is she? I’m confused. It’s a joke – after she goes and studies economics in college she can come back and explain that to us. - Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in Davos when asked by a reporter about “climate activist” teenager Greta Thunberg’s call for public and private sector divestment from fossil fuel companies

Congratulations on your retirement, and a great career, Eli! Not going to lie, though – I wish you hadn’t won any Super Bowls. My daughter’s getting out of school, I saved all my money, so she doesn’t have any student debt. Am I going to get my money back? - A man in Iowa to 2020 presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who promised to cancel all student debt if elected

Of course not.

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

- Warren’s response

So, we end up paying for people who didn’t save any money…. My buddy has fun, buys cars and goes on vacations, but I saved my money. He made more than I did, but I worked a double shift and did the right thing [by paying for my daughter’s college] and I get [messed over]? - The man’s follow-up question to Warren, who walked away without answering him

They called me from Washington, and I did not pick up the phone. I said no, and I will continue to say no…. We are going for difficult days and we are beginning to bear the consequences of the refusal. Resistance must be escalated at all points of friction. All young people must be encouraged.

- Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who lost two Super Bowls to Eli Manning and the Giants, congratulating Giants quarterback Eli Manning upon his retirement

At 6-5 in the final set, during the changeover, I asked the ball girl to peel the banana for me as I had put some cream on my hands in order not to sweat. She had done it once before at the beginning of the match. But the second time the chair umpire stepped in and told me that the ball girl was not my slave and I had to peel the banana myself. I could not believe that the umpire said that and I find it incredible how this situation got out of control on social media without people knowing what really happened on court. - Tennis player Elliot Benchetrit responding to a social media backlash after he asked the ball girl at the Australian Open to peel his banana for him, only to have the chair umpire step in and prevent her from doing so

- Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas addressing U.S. President Donald Trump’s attempts to reach out to him before releasing the new peace plan

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The industrial mass murder of six million Jews, the worst crime in humanity, was committed by my country. The terrible war, which cost over 50 million lives, originated in my country. The Eternal Flame at Yad Vashem does not go out. Germany’s responsibility does not expire. We want to live up to our responsibility. By this, you should measure us. Seventy-five years after the liberation of Auschwitz, I stand here as the president of Germany, laden with guilt. -German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier addressing world leaders at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp

Israel is eternally grateful for the sacrifice made by the Allies. Without that sacrifice there would be no survivors today. But we also remember that some 80 years ago, when the Jewish people faced annihilation, the world turned its back on us. –Prime Minister Netanyahu, addressing the gathering

This is probably not going to get a good review, but I’m going to say ‘Adolf Hitler.’ It was obviously very sad and he had bad motives, but the way he was able to lead was second-to-none. How he rallied a group and a following – I want to know how he did that. Bad intentions, of course, but you can’t deny he was a great leader.

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- Grand Valley State University offensive coordinator Morris Berger, when asked by the school’s student newspaper to name three historical figures that he would want to take to dinner, resulting in his suspension

If you’re a billionaire today, the thing that you need to do is give up control and power. So, I don’t want your money as much as we want your power. - Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) during an interview

That is why we are here, Mr. Sekulow. If you don’t know, now you know. - Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), one of the Democrat impeachment managers, turning to a lyric from a rap song when responding to a question from Jay Sekulow, an attorney on President Trump’s impeachment defense team, who asked, “Why are we here?”

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with both the prime minister of Israel and a man that’s working very hard to become the prime minister of Israel in the longestrunning election of all time – Benny Gantz of the Blue and White Party. - President Trump, during a joint appearance with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Tuesday, unveiling the new peace plan

Under this vision, Jerusalem will remain Israel’s undivided – very important – undivided capital. But that’s no big deal, because I’ve already done that for you, right? We’ve already done that, but that’s okay. It’s going to remain that way. - Ibid.

It is time for the Muslim world to fix the mistake it made in 1948 when it chose to attack, instead of recognize, the new State of Israel. - Ibid.

It was all white men today, there are allegedly two white women on the team – we’ll see if they’re allowed to argue… But I think, you know, in a visual medium, when you have one side that has a very diverse team and the other side that’s all white men, that says something in and of itself. - CNN Chief Legal Analyst Jeffrey Toobin arguing that President Trump’s all-white impeachment defense team highlights how Democrats care more about diversity

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54 Remember the dishwasher? You’d press it, boom! There’d be like an explosion. Five minutes later, you open it up, the steam pours out, the dishes… now you press it 12 times! - President Trump at a rally talking about water restrictions for dishwashers that he just got rid of through cutting regulations

I would never consider diversity in matters of art. Only quality. It seems to me that to do otherwise would be wrong. - Writer Stephen King, who usually agrees with those who call for diversity in medicine, education and all other fields, tweeting that it’s not wrong that all of the Oscar nominees are white because art must not be subject to diversity rules

Well, I look at all the votes that I got. Trying to get that many people to agree on something is pretty difficult to do. So that’s not something that’s on my mind.

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- Longtime shortstop and captain of the Yankees Derek Jeter talking to reporters after getting 396 of 397 votes to enter the Hall of Fame, one vote short of being unanimous, a feat only accomplished by his teammate Mariano Rivera

He will be remembered as the legume who always brought people together for nutty adventures and a good time. - Samantha Hess, Planters’ brand manager, after it was announced that Planters “spokesnut” Mr. Peanut “ has died at 104” and will no longer be the company’s mascot

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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Dating Dialogue

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

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Dear Navidaters, I came home from seminary two years ago, and my parents keep pushing me to start dating. Personally, I’m in no rush. I have a good job and great friends – we enjoy our singlehood. I’ve been successful pushing things off until now, but my aunt has a boy she thinks is “perfect for me.” She is saying he’ll be grabbed up soon, and if I push off dating him I’ll regret it. She makes a solid case, and it’s not like I don’t think I am ready, I just don’t want the responsibilities yet. Is it okay for someone to go into dating without actually being serious about marriage, but with the mindset that a great guy might be the catalyst that makes one feel ready? I don’t want to pass up a great opportunity, but I also don’t want to waste anyone’s time. Thanks in advance! Pnina

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.

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CONCERNS LITTLE CONCERNS

It’s my job to advocate on behalf of the community.

staiman.com

I was told of Chanoch’s request and contacted the Maryland Stadium Authority, which runs the 21st Century Schools Program.

staiman.com

Last fall, Chanoch Bamberger had a simple request: Can the playground at Cross Country School remain open during construction?

The response: the playground can remain open until construction begins and dust is generated, making it unsafe for children to play there.

Authority: Citizens For Sandy Rosenberg, Jean S. Fugett, Jr., Treasurer

PROVIDING STATE FUNDING FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Maryland’s Jewish community takes pride in making education one of its foremost priorities. A substantial number of families commit to educating their children in dual-curriculum schools. For many in the Orthodox Jewish community, this has become, essentially, a religious imperative. This expense is a substantial financial burden on the many families that cannot really afford their tuition payments.

THIS IS WHY I’VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR STATE FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS SINCE IT BEGAN IN 2000. I was at Bnos Yisroel recently when State Senate President Bill Ferguson paid a visit. Rabbis representing the schools where families benefit from this aid were present and made a powerful argument for this funding. Leaders of volunteer groups described the benefits they provide for community members. I will continue to work with the leadership of the community and my 41st District colleagues, Senator Jill Carter, and Delegates Dalya Attar and Tony Bridges, as we seek to maintain this vital resource.

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KEEPING THE LOCAL PLAYGROUND OPEN

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

BIG

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The Panel The Rebbetzin

The Shadchan

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. ood for you for your frankness about yourself and the seriousness with which you pose your question. Although there are occasionally situations where a girl is swept off her feet by a guy and decides to marry him even before she thought she would pursue marriage, I don’t know the inside story years later. People have told me that they got married too young, unprepared, and not serious about the commitment and responsibilities of marriage. I am familiar with several situations where people regret not having the strength to stick to their goals when others talked them into dating, despite their lack of interest in settling down soon. I generally believe in thinking and keeping to your resolve not to date if you have done the introspection and deliberation and concluded that you are not ready for marriage and its responsibilities. I think that FOMO is what is motivating you and that’s not healthy. But I understand that there is a lot of dating talk in the air and that your aunt is pressuring you. Dating someone without being seriously ready for marriage is neither fair to the guy nor to yourself. Marriage is work and responsibility and finances and decisions. Prince Charming will not make you ready for it; he may be appealing and you may want to commit to him but that doesn’t mean that you will find him worth it to do something you are not ready for. You need to be ready to invest, work, and struggle for a marriage out of your own motivation; a guy will not do that for you and change your readiness for the responsibilities of marriage. Don’t let the environment or your aunt push you into the next stage of life when you are not motivated to do so. It will not be a healthy thing.

Michelle Mond rom your letter, it seems like you are clearly enjoying the freedom of singlehood, which is healthy! You have been back from seminary for a few years, and it seems like you have gotten into a great routine. You mention your wonderful job and close friends, but I am sensing fear in that statement. Deep down, you are afraid to lose your friends and your work ethic. You are scared to lose what you now have to marriage, and are so scared to do so that you don’t want to start dating. I am not here to convince you to start if you are not emotionally ready, however, it could be that this is the right time and you are just scared to jump in. I believe nobody is ever truly ready when they begin dating for marriage. Dating is a process, and like many processes, it is the journey that helps a person develop. Look at it like the process of learning to bake. First you have to know what ingredients to buy. Then you prep the ingredients properly. Then you bake it at 350 degrees for just the right amount of time, take it out of the oven, and let it cool. When you first start dating, it feels a bit like shopping for ingredients – you compare and contrast (who knew there were 20 different types of parve chocolate chips!?). Everything looks better in the fancy packaging. After a while, you get to know the quality ingredients, and which ones are just hyped up in fancy outer trappings. You learn which “ingredients” you feel you need and which you don’t necessarily need. Once everything is prepped and ready to be baked, the oven must be preheated. It’s scary to jump into a hot oven, but that’s the only way the cookies bake properly. The dating journey undoubtedly helps you learn more than anyone can actually prepare you for. For many, making the leap even with the right one will be like jumping into that oven, but if you let yourself bake for just the right amount of time, you’ll come out ready.

Everyone is different, only you knows how long you will need to “bake,” so don’t stress out about what number date means what. Give yourself time, and don’t forget: let cool. Enjoy the process, and let yourselves chill. Only then will you truly be able to relax and let yourself feel. In the end, you will iy”H have a perfect product – and you will be glad that you took the leap and started somewhere. “Life is like a game of chess. To win, you have to make a move. Knowing which move to make comes with insight and knowledge, and by learning the lessons that are accumulated along the way.” ― Allan Rufus

The Single Rena Friedman nina, it’s a bracha that you feel at peace and enjoy your time as a single. I know many men and women who genuinely struggle with the fact that they are single. Hold onto this, but know that you and your friends are fooling yourselves. By the time you all wake up from the comfort and ease of singlehood, you might find yourselves in a very difficult dating situation. It’s not okay for someone to go into dating without being serious about marriage. It’s OK for someone to go into dating without being entirely sure what they need in a husband. The process of dating teaches you about yourself, what you are looking for, and your relationship with Hashem. If you cannot pinpoint exactly what you need in this moment, that is OK. The process will help you discover what makes sense for you. Marriage is a huge responsibility. If you’re not up for the challenge, then you’re not ready to be dating. When you agree to be dating for marriage, you are signing up for taking another person into your life, being emotionally vulnerable, paying bills, cooking, and doing the laundry. Getting married is an extremely exciting, happy, and new time, but it is also an extremely stressful, scary, and intense time. You have to

If I had a dime for every time someone had a boy who is “perfect for me,” then I’d be able to pay for my own wedding. be willing and able to accept all parts of being married before you sign up for it. If I had a dime for every time someone had a boy who is “perfect for me,” then I’d be able to pay for my own wedding. You are going to hear this from everyone and anyone. If you do agree to hear your aunt’s suggestion, I would advise that you look into the boy and do your research. This will allow you to gauge how perfect he really is and make a decision that is best for you. If your relationship with your parents allows for it, you should have an open and honest conversation with them regarding where you are holding. Your parents might be onto something for pushing you to start dating. However, I hope your parents understand who you are and what you, Pnina, need and are not doing what would make for the best kiddush conversation at shul. Contrary to popular belief, you are not a carton of milk. You do not have an expiration date. You need to do what is best for you. Think about what is typical in your community, when do people start dating, how the process works, etc. Think about where you stand hashkafically, emotionally, and your level of maturity. Then think about where you fit in within the confines of your dating circles. Each person has his or her own journey that is right for them. We are not all cookie cutter, which is both beautiful and frustrating at the same time. Do what is best for you with proper guidance from a rav, mentor, or your parents.

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

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

know yourself. The reality is that in the world of shidduchim, at a certain point, prospects do begin to dwindle. I dislike this reality as much as the next guy, but it doesn’t make it any less of a reality. If you were more modern and were OK with dating for an extended period of time, my response would be different. My understanding of your situation is that you would be dating for a somewhat fixed amount of time with the goal of getting married. This would be the goal of the man you are dating. If this is truly not your goal at this point in your life (which is FINE by the way), then you may want to think about how fair this is to him. Your aunt’s Mr. Wonderful has a right to be dating girls who want to get married. Getting married is one of the biggest life events/transitions during a person’s lifetime. It comes with all sorts of responsibilities. I think it’s a

good idea to feel ready to date before you start dating. All the best, Jennifer Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. She

it changes your entire outlook and instantaneously converts you into a marriage-minded young lady. To answer that question, ask yourself how you’d feel if the question were reversed. When you’re ready for serious dating, how would you feel if your date wasn’t marriage-minded unless you were so incredibly impressive and remarkable that it completely changed his view about marriage? It doesn’t seem very fair, does it? What to do? Fortunately, you are not faced without any imminent, serious, highly consequential deadlines. So, my advice is to take your time but not too much time. And, when you are ready, “Look out, world, here comes Pnina!”

also teaches a psychology course at Touro College. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 516-224-7779, ext. 2. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email thenavidaters@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

Hi Readers! Receiving your enthusiastic emails wanting to participate in the Reader’s Respond section has been wonderful! Just a reminder about how Reader Response works. Email thenavidaters@gmail. com with the subject line “Reader Response.” We will then ask you, in the order we receive your email, if you would like to respond to the coming week’s email. If you would like to respond to an already printed Navidaters Panel, please submit your answer to the editor at editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com. You can also join us on our FB page @thenavidaters on Sunday evenings to post your response to the week’s column. Interacting with you has been a pleasure! Thank you for all of your feedback. Jennifer

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

ear Pnina, Thank you for writing in! There are no absolutes in life nor is there one right way. “Do this and life will be grand!” (Wouldn’t that be nice?) Your situation won’t be the exception to the rule. Could it be that after meeting Mr. Wonderful you will have a complete change of heart? Maybe yes, maybe no. What I can offer you comes from my years of experiencing and witnessing different individuals in your shoes. Dating before you want to date often leads to heartache and confusion for both parties involved. Does this happen all the time? Certainly not. Does it happen enough to take pause and think about waiting? YES! I love that you are enjoying your life; doing your thing...not absorbing the ridiculous amount of pressure that is put on single people today... even from well-intentioned people like your aunt. I am guessing that you are about 20 years old. 20 years old. You are so young. How wonderful that you are taking your time to relax and get to

You are not a carton of milk; you do not have an expiration date.

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Dr. Jeffrey Galler hen I first read your letter, I had a very positive reaction and thought, “What a very reasonable young lady, with a great sense of self.” Then, I re-read your letter, and, upon further reflection, had some slightly negative observations. The positive No one understands you better than you yourself. It you’re not ready for dating and marriage, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Enjoy this phase of your life, because readers’ letters to the “Navidaters” make it clear that dating, today, is not all fun and games.

ed works of art. She was distraught over the prospect of leaving the sandbox behind and having to sit on a chair, at a desk, with a neat pencil and crayon box. She wanted to stay in nursery school for a few more years and cried over being forced into the next phase of life. They explained to her that she simply could not postpone this painful transition for another few years because eight-year-old girls simply don’t blend into the regular kindergarten population. Why am I telling you this? Please consider the story as a gentle reminder that, for you and for my friend’s granddaughter, sometimes it’s simply time to move on to the next phase of life. Next, you wonder if it’s okay for you to go on a one-sided date, where only the boy is marriage-minded. You question if it’s fair to date him when you’re not interested in marriage unless he somehow turns out to be such an incredible Prince Charming that

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The Zaidy

So, enjoy yourself and wait until you’re good and ready. (By contrast, when folks my age dated, five decades ago, dating was very pleasant and enjoyable. Of course, my memories might be skewed by Golden Age nostalgia. But I digress.) The negative(s) Then, I read your letter a second time. And, it made me think of a friend of mine, who has a pre-school granddaughter. Last September, when the little girl discovered that she was done with nursery school and was moving on to kindergarten, she was very upset. She really, really enjoyed being able to play all day in the sandbox and create giant, messy, abstract finger-paint-

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Health & F tness

Coronavirus Everything you need to know and then some By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH (SA), FAAP

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FEBRUARY 6, 2020

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

owadays, you would have to have your head in the sand simultaneous with living under a rock not to have heard about the coronavirus. Loads of information and misinformation are swarming about as scientists across the globe are grappling with how to deal with and arrest it. Here is your guide to what you need to know. The new coronavirus, which is also known as 2019-nCoV, is an upper respiratory virus that has grabbed world headlines for its virulence, lethalness, and fast-spreading pace. Its symptoms typically include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Rooted in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, the virus has already spread to more than 17,300 people in 24 countries across the world. As of this writing, there are eleven confirmed cases in the United States. The novel coronavirus has been categorized by WHO (World Health Organization) as a pandemic – a new disease strain spreading beyond a local epidemic into a large regional or worldwide event. Examples of 21st century pandemics include SARS, H1N1, and MERS. How did 2019-nCoV come to be? Scientists believe the genome se-

quence of 2019-nCoV was 96% identical to coronaviruses found in bats. In other words, bats are the likely hosts of the disease. Interestingly, it is supposed that SARS developed from bats, although it spread to civet cats before infecting humans during the 2003 outbreak. Most of the initial cases of coronavirus occurred in people who worked at or visited the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, China, where a variety of wild animals were sold. Usually coronavirus spreads from mammal to mammal and it is rare that animal coronaviruses infect people. It has happened before, though. What’s particularly concerning about 2019-nCoV is that it has become a human-to-human transmitted virus. Typically, human-to-human transmission occurs when people are among close contacts, usually within 6 feet of one another. It spreads mainly through respiratory droplets which occur when a person coughs and/or sneezes. This is similar to how flu and other respiratory germs are spread. At present, it is not clear if a person can get 2019-nCoV by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. Interesting side note: the virus remains active up to 48 hours on contact

surfaces and up to 7 days in carpets. An insidious point about 2019nCoV is that there are reports of the virus spreading from an infected patient with no symptoms to a close contact. This differs from most respiratory viruses when, typically, people are thought to be the most contagious when they are at their sickest. Now one understands the fear of the coronavirus and the monitoring of travelers for fevers or placing those travelers originating from China in quarantine. I emphasize here how easily viruses can spread from person-to-person albeit with variability. Some viruses are highly contagious (measles: remember that from last year?), while others are less so. Scientists globally are working 24/7 to learn more about the transmissibility and severity of 2019-nCoV. Most people present initially without any symptoms. In 2002, the virus mutated in China and was the causative agent of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) with a 10% mortality of those infected. In 2012, it resurfaced as the cause of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) with a 30% mortality rate. Then, camels played a role. How does one protect themselves and their loved ones from the coronavirus?

Getting the flu shot is the first line of defense. The coronavirus differs from the flu virus which is a serious virus itself. Yes, there has been a lot of flu even with the flu vaccine this year. The vaccine nonetheless mitigates the flu and symptoms are less. Practice good health habits. These include (and are not limited to): • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when washing isn’t an option. Send small bottles of hand sanitizer to school with your children. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Consider wearing a disposable face mask. • Stay home when you are sick. Many parents work outside the home and don’t have child care lined up when children are home sick. I’m sorry but please don’t send your sick children to school or daycare. You don’t want other people sending their sick children into school and exposing your children to nasty germs. Staying home also includes work, errands (you can shop online), and travel. • Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then immediately throw the tis-

can be cleaned at increased intervals throughout the day. Bring Lysol or other disinfectant wipes wherever you go and send your children with wipes so all can wipe before and after using objects, bathrooms, etc. • Be vigilant about rest, sleep, and eating nutritiously. Drink, drink, drink water (hot and cold).

• About cellphones (again) – clean them regularly with an alcohol swab! • For those with younger children who have siblings in schools, please change the clothes of the school-going children upon returning home from school. • Separate family members’ toothbrushes into different holders.

As always, daven.

Dr. Hylton I. Lightman is a pediatrician and Medical Director of Total Family Care of the 5 Towns and Rockaway PC. He can be reached at drlightman@totalfamilycaremd.com, on Instagram at Dr.Lightman_ or visit him on Facebook.

Washing Your Hands the RIGHT Way (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice. Why? Determining the optimal length of time for handwashing is difficult because few studies about the health impacts of altering handwashing times have been done. Of those that exist, nearly all have measured reductions in overall numbers of microbes, only a small proportion of which can cause illness, and have not measured impacts on health. Solely reducing numbers of microbes on hands is not necessarily linked to better health. The optimal length of time for handwashing is also likely to depend on many factors, including the type and amount of soil on the hands and the

Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. Why? Soap and friction help lift dirt, grease, and microbes – including disease-causing germs – from skin so they can then be rinsed off of hands. Rinsing the soap away also minimizes skin irritation. While some recommendations include using a paper towel to turn off the faucet after hands have been rinsed, this practice leads to an increased use of water and paper towels, and there are no studies to show that it improves health. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. Why? Germs can be transferred more easily to and from wet hands; therefore, hands should be dried after washing. However, the best way to dry hands remains unclear because few studies about hand drying exist, and the results of these studies conflict. Additionally, most of these studies compare overall concentrations of microbes, not just disease-causing germs, on hands following different hand-drying methods. It has not been shown that removing microbes from hands is linked to better health. Nonetheless, studies suggest that using a clean towel or air-drying hands are best.

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Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Why? Lathering and scrubbing hands creates friction, which helps lift dirt, grease, and microbes from skin. Microbes are present on all surfaces of the hand, often in particularly high concentration under the nails, so the entire hand should be scrubbed.

setting of the person washing hands. For example, surgeons are likely to come into contact with disease-causing germs and risk spreading serious infections to vulnerable patients, so they may need to wash hands longer than a woman before she prepares her own lunch at home. Nonetheless, evidence suggests that washing hands for about 15-30 seconds removes more germs from hands than washing for shorter periods. Accordingly, many countries and global organizations have adopted recommendations to wash hands for about 20 seconds (some recommend an additional 20-30 seconds for drying).

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Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. Why? Because hands could become re-contaminated if placed in a basin of standing water that has been contaminated through previous use, clean running water should be used. However, washing with non-potable water when necessary may still improve health. The temperature of the water does not appear to affect microbe removal; however, warmer water may cause more skin irritation and is more environmentally costly. Turning off the faucet after wetting hands saves water, and there are few data to prove whether significant numbers of germs are transferred between hands and the faucet. Using soap to wash hands is more effective than using water alone because the surfactants in soap lift soil and microbes from skin, and people tend to scrub hands more thoroughly when using soap, which further removes germs. To date, studies have shown that there is no added health benefit for consumers (this does not include professionals in the healthcare setting) using soaps containing antibacterial ingredients compared with using plain soap. As a result, FDA issued a final rule in September 2016 that 19 ingredients in common “antibacterial” soaps, including triclosan, were no more effective than non-antibacterial soap and water, and thus these products are no longer able to be marketed to the general public. This rule does not affect hand sanitizers, wipes, or antibacterial products used in healthcare settings.

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sue in the trash. Alternatively, sneeze or cough into your sleeve (and be sure to put the top in the laundry when you get home). • Clean and disinfect often-touched surfaces like doorknobs, doors to toilet stalls in schools, cellphones, and keyboards. Perhaps respectfully ask your children’s schools if school bathrooms

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

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5 Minutes for $5 Billion

WHY IT’S CRUCIAL TO VOTE IN THE WZO ELECTIONS

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By Susan Schwamm

rom the time that we received the Torah until today, Israel has been at the core of who we are as a nation. In the modern era, we are fortunate that it is not just a place we pine for – it is our home country that we can live in or visit from time to time. But, even though to some extent we have our land, it comes with its hardships. There are so many things about Israel that are not

in our control, and we yearn for the day that will come very soon when it will fully be our land. Nowadays, though, there is so much about Israel that we can control, if we simply choose to do so. The power is in our hands. We can control whether the egalitarian movement of Women of the Wall will gain access to the larger Kotel plaza, changing its character forever. We can control whether a little girl in Sederot has to squirm in fear every

time she walks to school or whether she can feel more secure knowing that the proper defense systems are in place. We can control whether the face of Israel to the world is a beach in Tel Aviv or a Jew praying at a holy site. We can control how matters of geirus and marriage are defined. We can control what our army looks like and who is conscripted into the army. And the list goes on. At this point you may get a sense

that this article is going to be a grandiose call to action – a call for you to become an activist, askan, organizer, fundraiser or a spokesman for your local pro-Israel advocacy group. But it’s not. There is a much simpler way for you to have an immediate impact on the State of Israel. All you need to do is vote in the WZO elections. This opportunity comes around every 5 years and takes just 5 minutes to do.

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

The WZO & Why It’s Important

YEAR’S ELECTIONS, YOU WILL BE DECIDING WHO WILL BE DISTRIBUTING MUCH OF THE WZO’S IMMENSE BUDGET.

Three Branches Keren Hayesod is essentially the worldwide fundraising organization for Israel – operating in more than 40 countries around the world. It was founded in 1920 and is recognized today as a National Institution with special legal status. Throughout the years it has focused on aliyah and has supported the establishment of certain

organizations such as El Al, the Israel Electricity Company, and Hebrew University. When the millions of immigrants come to Israel, many of them are welcomed into Keren Hayesod’s absorption centers. They are taught Hebrew in its ulpans and turn to them when they are looking for career advice. Keren Hayesod also endeavors to help build up communities in the Negev and Galilee, offering incentives to graduates to stay in those communities after graduating and helping those as they start their businesses in the regions. Around 14,000 Lone Soldiers complete their army service every year in Israel. Upon completion, they turn to Keren Hayesod for help with planning their future and for help in returning to civilian life. Keren Hayesod also has a program that is very relevant for Americans who send their children to yeshivos and seminaries in Israel. Years ago, students going to Israel for the year eceived a few thousand dollars each year from Keren Hayesod towards their yeshiva or seminary experience through its Masa program. But now, because Keren Hayesod is controlled by those who don’t value yeshivos and seminaries, the stipend has dwindled down to a mere $200 a year. The Jewish Agency for Israel is the largest Jewish nonprofit organization in the world. It’s best known as helping to foster aliyah and bringing families from the diaspora into Israel. It also serves as a link between the Jewish communities in Israel and around the

How the Congress Works The WZO holds its Congress every five years. While 190 of the delegates elected to this Congress come from the Knesset, a large amount – 152 delegates – come from the United States. These delegates are then involved in distributing the WZO’s annual budget of almost $800 million. With elections only coming around every five years, this October, delegates at the WZO Congress will essentially determine the future of almost $5 billion. But truly, the power is yours. The only way that these delegates can come to the table in October is if you give them a voice. You determine who will be sitting at the table and which fac-

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working the holy soil. Working hand-in-hand, the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency – which was founded in 1929 – drove to create educational, social, and health institutions for Jews under British rule. As Jews streamed into the land, the groups endeavored to help them with settlement and with funding to support their immigration. Finally, on May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was established. David Ben Gurion, who was the chairman of the Jewish Agency, became the fledging state’s first prime minister; Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who was president of the WZO, was elected president of Israel. Despite the passage of time and a well-established government of the modern state of Israel, the World Zionist Organization continues to play a key role in the Jewish homeland, with around $800 million in funds allocated each year. There are three particular organizations that are funded by the WZO: Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal; Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael; and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

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The World Zionist Organization (WZO) was founded in 1897 at the First Zionist Congress, which was convened by Theodor Herzl in Basle, Switzerland. At the time – half a century before the founding of the State of Israel – the goal of the organization was “to obtain for the Jewish people a publicly recognized, legally secured home in Palestine.” When Herzl declared his vision for a Jewish state, there were only around 40,000 to 50,000 Jews – most of them religious – living in the Holy Land. They were living under Ottoman rule. Jerusalem had an overall Jewish majority, and people were starting to speak Hebrew in the Holy Land. Herzl died in 1904. Thirteen years later, his vision began to take wing when the Balfour Declaration of 1917 announced British support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. The declaration, which was a letter dated November 2, 1917, was written by Britain’s Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothchild, one of the leaders of the British Jewish community. “His Majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people,” the letter read, “and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object.” During this time, the World Zionist Organization had begun to take concrete steps in founding a home for the Jewish people. Through its subsidiary, The Jewish National Fund – still in existence today – it began to acquire land in Palestine as early as 1905 upon which those making aliyah could settle. Subsequently, kibbutzim and moshavim took root on the lands that were purchased. By the time 1970 rolled around, they had ballooned in number from 22 to 707 settlements with a whopping 272,000 inhabitants

BY VOTING IN THIS

world. The Jewish Agency also works on giving young Jews “Israel experience” trips and sending out Israeli “shluchim” to set up summer camps and day school programs around the world. It is up to the board of directors of organizations like the Jewish Agency that determines who these “shluchim” are. Whether or not the person running these summer camps in Ukraine or Kiev are believers in Torah Judaism are essentially up to them. Another organization under the WZO umbrella is the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemet L’Yisrael (JNFKKL). Founded in 1901, this organization raises monies to purchase land in Israel “for the Jewish people as a whole.” Did you know that a large portion of the State of Israel’s land is not owned by the Israeli government per se, but is actually owned by JNF-KKL? JNF-KKL made its first purchase of a parcel of land in 1903 – 50 acres in Hadera. Eventually, JNF-KKL started purchasing land for kibbutzim and farms and set up agricultural stations. By 1927, 50,000 acres of land with 50 different communities were owned by JNF-KKL. By the time the state was established in 1948, there were 650,000 Jews living in 305 towns across the country; 233 of those towns were built on JNF-KKL land. Nowadays, the JNF-KKL continues to develop the land of the State of Israel but is also involved in creating new reservoirs, erecting parks and building security roads along Israel’s borders.

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You may abashedly be thinking to yourself, “WZO? Sounds familiar. I think I may have heard of that organization once before but I really don’t know what it is...” So let’s talk about the WZO, its role in the foundation of the State of Israel, and its continued importance in shaping Israel today.

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

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tions of Jewry they represent. By voting in this year’s elections, you will be deciding who will be distributing much of the WZO’s immense budget. Only 56,000 Americans voted in the WZO’s last election in 2015 – that means only 1% of eligible Jews in the United States voted. Want to know who garnered the most votes and had the largest delegation from the United States in the WZO Congress five years ago? Reform received 56 spots; Conservative grabbed 25. The Orthodox parties – that’s me and you – took in a measly 24 slots in last elections. So really, it’s up to you.

Anti-Torah Slates There are 15 slates vying for American Jewish votes in this integral election. It’s important for us to understand who are behind these slates and what they represent so that we can understand what the frum world is up against this time around. Let’s take, for example, Hatikvah. Hatikvah is supported by groups like J Street and New Israel Fund. Its platform pledges to take away funding from entities such as the West Bank settlements which play a role in the “occupation” of the Palestinians. Hatikvah proudly says that it stands to “end to discrimination against women’s full participation in public events, both military and civilian. We stand with Israelis fighting against vigilante ‘modesty patrols’ and other acts of harassment against women.” It supports “full legal and social equality” for people in all communities – including marriage rights for those who flout a Torah lifestyle. One of the most recognizable names on the Hatikvah slate is editor of The Atlantic Peter Beinart. Beinart is unapologetic in his pro-Palestinian views. A few months ago, on CNN, Beinart asserted that it was a “shattering” experience when he first went to the West Bank. He stated, “The only thing I could imagine that could be similar for an American would be going to visit the Jim Crow South…. The consequences are more brutal than we could imagine sitting here.” In an article written by Beinart in The Forward in November 2019, Beinart writes, “Fundamentally, the problem with settlements is neither legal nor geopolitical. It is moral. Israeli

settlements in the West Bank are institutionalized expressions of bigotry. The American and Israeli politicians who legitimize them are the moral equivalent of those politicians who legitimized Jim Crow. It’s time they be treated as such.” He adds, “The West Bank isn’t like New York in 2019. It’s like Mississippi in 1959. It is a territory segregated by law, separate and hideously unequal.” When making these statements, Beinart proudly declares that he is Jewish— a relevant point for only those naïve enough to believe that there is no such thing as a self-hating Jew. If Beinart and his ilk are elected to the WZO Congress, you can bet that any funds that could be allocated to Jews living in settlements will be diverted to pro-Palestinian causes. After all, according to Beinart, the Jews are the ones imposing tyrannical laws on innocent Palestinians. Essentially, Beinart and those like him are opposed to a Jewish Israel. They’d prefer to see Palestinians take over the land that was promised to our forefathers. It’s not just Beinart and J Street who are vying for a seat at the table. There are other nefarious groups as well. Consider MERCAZ USA, which represents the Conservative/Masorti movements. Led by Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin of Northfield, Illinois, it envisions an “open pluralistic Jewish society that celebrates Jewish values and embraces multiple streams of Judaism including the growth of Conservative/Masorti kehillot throughout Israel.” One of its main platforms is how to define marriage and – perhaps even more importantly from a halachic perspective – what the laws of divorce should be.

Dorshei Torah V’Tzion is also running in this year’s WZO election. Don’t be fooled by its name. This group is affiliated with organizations like the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and others on the most liberal end of the “Orthodox” Jewish spectrum – what some would call “Open Orthodoxy.” Rabbi Avi Weiss of YCT (number one on the slate) and Rabba Sara Hurwitz, who is Rabbi Weiss’ first female graduate, are both on this slate. Dorshei Torah V’Tzion’s platform calls for “choices” in numerous matters such as “kashrut supervision, halakhic paths to conversion, weddings, and prayer spaces for all at the Kotel.” In other words, given the opportunity to sit at the negotiating table, Dorshei Torah V’Tzion would work to make sure that kashrus and matters of marriage and geirus in the Holy Land would be radically changed. Additionally, the days of davening at the Kotel with the dignity and tznius that we always had may be washed away by the movement to remove mechitzos between men and women and the requirement to adhere to all of the liberal ideals of wokeness. Rather than walking down the Old City steps and taking in the awesome site of thousands of men dancing Lecha Dodi on Friday night, you may be treated to a view of bongo circles and the waving of diversity flags.

Who Represents Us For those looking to ensure that the Jewish state maintains certain standards with regards to Yiddishkeit, there are a host of slates that are running for seats in the upcoming elections that are in-line with the values of the American Orthodox Jewish community.

The Orthodox Israel Coalition is comprised of nine Modern Orthodox organizations in the U.S. including Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi, AMIT, the Orthodox Union, Yeshiva University, Touro College, Bnei Akiva, Torah MiTzion, National Council of Young Israel, and the Rabbinical Council of America. Among many of its platforms, the OIC pledges to support Orthodox-affiliated institutions worldwide including those in shuls, summer camps and schools. Additionally, it will work to strengthen yeshivot and seminaries aligned with the religious Zionism movement. Masa, a subsidy program that helps to fund yeshiva and seminary post-high school learning, has seen a decrease in funding by the WZO. OIC endeavors to change that and help alleviate the financial burden shouldered by parents sending their children to Israel after high school. OIC supports the development of Israel – including communities in Judea, Samaria, and the Golan Heights – and looks to send vital funds to the IDF and Sheirut Leumi programs. Rav Doron Perez, chief executive of the Mizrachi worldwide movement, is leading the charge for the OIC this year. He notes, “The contributions of Orthodox Jews to communal organizations and institutions bring to bear an influence far beyond our relative numbers. Success in these elections will greatly bolster the standing and influence of the Orthodox Torah voice.” The ZOA Coalition is comprised of the Zionist Organization of America along with Aish HaTorah, American Friends of Ateret Cohanim, NORPAC, and One Israel Fund, among other organizations. Its goals are to protect Jews worldwide from anti-Semitism, combat BDS, help to settle Judea and Samaria, and strengthen Jewish and Zionist education in Israel and around the world. Among those listed in the ZOA slate are Morton Klein, Mark Levenson, Rabbi Steven Burg, Liz Berney, Steve Orlow, and Shani Hikind.

Eretz Hakodesh & Rabbi Pesach Lerner This year, there is another frum slate running in the WZO elections as well. Eretz Hakodesh was established

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• Select the slate that you want to vote for. • Submit!

The Power in Your Hands

Voting is Quick & Easy The election period for the WZO Congress has already begun. From January 21 until March 11 (Shushan Purim), any Jew living in the United States who did not vote in the Knesset

elections and will turn 18 by June 30, 2020, can vote. Voting is quick and easy. • Go to azm.org/elections. • Click on the button to “Vote Now.” • If you are not registered in the election, fill out your name, address, and email address to register. • There is a $7.50 fee for those older than 26 years of age. Anyone between the ages of 18 to 25 pays a $5 fee. • The site will send you a verification/pin number to use when voting. • Enter your email address and pin number to vote.

RATHER THAN WALKING DOWN THE OLD CITY STEPS AND TAKING IN THE AWESOME SITE OF DANCING LECHA DODI ON FRIDAY NIGHT, YOU MAY BE TREATED TO A VIEW OF BONGO CIRCLES AND THE WAVING OF DIVERSITY FLAGS.

Have five minutes? Scan here to vote:

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THOUSANDS OF MEN

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

enhance kedushas Ha’aretz and Torah life in Eretz Yisrael.” Rabbi Weiss ended his message urging the charedi world to vote for the Eretz Hakodesh slate. “Please vote for Eretz Hakodesh – that will hasten and bring forth b’yas moshiach tzidkeinu.”

Truly, the power is yours. The only way that delegates can come to the table in October is if you give them a voice. You determine who will be sitting at the table and which factions of Jewry they represent. Remember, only 56,000 Americans voted in the WZO’s last election in 2015 – that’s only 1% of eligible Jews in the United States. If every one of us makes it their business to take five minutes of their time to vote for the future of the Holy Land, then we can shape the future. So really, it’s up to you. Want to see $5 billion of funds in Israel allocated to frum causes and communities? Take out your phone and vote. Don’t want to have atheism being taught in the name of Judaism in a Jewish state? Take out your phone and vote. Want to silence voices like Peter Beinart and J Street, who are running for the first time this year for the WZO Congress and want to see a “post-state” Israel? Take out your phone and vote. Want to ensure that the Kotel remains a place where the sanctity of the holy site is protected? Take out your phone and vote. Want to protect frum communities over the Green Line and prevent terrorists from infiltrating? Take out your phone and vote. Want to make sure that kashrus, geirus, and divorce are maintained under Orthodox standards? Take out your phone and vote. The power is in your hands. Five minutes. Five billion dollars. You can make a difference. Vote now.

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by Far Rockaway resident Rabbi Pesach Lerner, who saw that much of the charedi world was being left out of these important elections and was galvanized to act upon the direction of gedolei Yisroel. “The charedi world doesn’t realize how important these elections are,” he says. “They define so much of what goes on in Israel. It’s frightening – if we don’t show up and vote, then the Reform or Conservative or J Street will be at the negotiating table and will be diverting funds to their causes. “We need to be vocal and we all need to vote. We don’t have a choice to stand back,” Rabbi Lerner states. Rabbi Lerner points out that the charedi world has as much – maybe even more – at stake as any other faction in the Jewish community. Towards that end, he has been in touch with rabbanim in the community and has received the backing of many prominent rabbanim who support the Eretz Hakodesh slate and are urging the charedi world to vote in the elections. Rav Elya Brudny spoke about the importance of the charedi world voting in the WZO elections and supporting the Eretz Hakodesh slate at the 2019 Agudah Convention. Rav Asher Weiss, who recently spoke at the Siyum Hashas in Chicago, has been vocal in his support of the Eretz Hakodesh slate. “It is of extreme importance that every Jew that really cares about what’s happening in Eretz Yisrael, Eretz Hakodesh, should participate in the upcoming elections to the congress,” Rabbi Weiss said in a video message. “This congress has tremendous influence about what’s happening in Eretz Yisrael.” Rabbi Weiss noted that just recently hundreds of thousands of Torah Jews came together for siyumum of daf yomi in hundreds of cities in the United States. “If all those Jews would participate in these elections,” Rabbi Weiss noted, “it could have a tremendous impact on Eretz Yisrael.” He concluded, “So I call upon all of you – everybody – she’yesh b’yado to do whatever it is within your power to see to it that the Torah community has greater representation and the influence of the funds will go to those projects in Eretz Yisrael that will really

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Mental Health Corner

Job Satisfaction and Occupational Burnout By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman

Occupational burnout is when one’s job stops providing the satisfaction that it once did, leading to symptoms such as physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism towards one’s work, a sense of detachment from one’s work, and feelings of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment. Frequently, the slow development of these symptoms is ignored and by the time they are dealt with, the individual has already reached severe levels

of burnout. Although burnout is not an official mental health diagnosis, it can still make going to work feel torturous, and sometimes the symptoms can be so severe that one may qualify for a diagnosis of depression. At that point, it can be very helpful to seek to help of a psychotherapist who can guide you into retrieving that lost spark. Another approach would be to follow the adage, “the best defense is a good

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offense”, and try to prevent burnout from developing in the first place. One way to preemptively deal with burnout is to ensure that one has a high level of job satisfaction. The question therefore becomes what are the factors in an occupation that increase one’s job satisfaction? Researchers have investigated this question extensively, and here are some of the factors that they have discovered can contribute to higher levels of satisfaction and contentment. Please note that in this article we will focus primarily on a workplace environment with both employers and employees and not when one is working by oneself. A Sense of Achievement and Purpose: When one feels that his job is achieving something important it can lead to greater satisfaction. The teacher who feels accomplished by how much the students have learned, the tailor who knows that people are wearing clothing that he tailored, and the financial adviser who helps people get their finances in order are all examples of feelings of achievement and purpose that one can receive from an occupation. Job Control: The level of autonomy one has in his job can greatly affect the level of job satisfaction. When one is working for someone else, the more autonomy and decision-making power the he is given can make him feel more connected and satisfied with the work. Recognition: When there is continual recognition of one’s productivity, the level of job satisfaction can be significantly increased. This should be a wakeup call to employers and managers. Do not forget to give credit where credit is due! It might be the glue that keeps your employees satis-

fied with their jobs! Feedback: People feel much more accomplished when they receive feedback on how they can improve their job performance. This can come from employers or from colleagues. When workers feel that there is an environment of excellence and performance, it becomes easier to feel excited about one’s job. Sometimes feedback can be delivered negatively, which can be extremely detrimental, but when properly delivered it can be a very positive factor in job satisfaction. Equity: Most people are sensitive to being treated unfairly. When employees feel that they are not being treated with fairness and equity, it can easily poison the workplace environment. Relationships: It is quite common to spend most of one’s waking hours in the workplace. When one develops healthy and meaningful relationships with other people in the workplace, it is much easier to look forward to going to work every morning, day in and day out. Work-Life Balance: Even the most fulfilling job can lead to burnout if one does not balance his personal life and occupation. The inability to detach one’s self from work during off-time can be extremely detrimental in the long-term. The maintenance of overall satisfaction is much easier to maintain when the different parts of one’s life are each given their due focus. 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

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Lemon Bars

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What You Will Need: Crust: 3 sticks of margarine- very soft ¾ cup confectioner’s sugar ½ tsp. salt 2 cups gluten-free cake meal 1 cup potato starch Filling: 8 eggs 3 cups sugar ½ cup potato starch ¾ cup fresh lemon juice ¼ tsp. salt

Preparation: 1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 11 x 17 inch sheet cake pan with parchment paper. 2. In electric mixer, beat margarine until creamy. Slowly add confectioner’s sugar, salt, and gradually add the cake meal. Mix in the potato starch and beat everything together, forming a dough. If the mixer doesn’t do a good enough job, you may need to do it by hand. 3. Press dough into prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes. 4. While crust is baking, beat all filling ingredients until combined. Remove pan from oven and pour filling into crust. 5. Bake another 30 minutes. Refrigerate until cool. Cut into squares or rectangles. Sprinkle with additional confectioner’s sugar before serving. Enjoy!

OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home

Life C ach

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The Timeless Struggle By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., MFT, CLC

phone with her! I’ve seen guys, dressed in threepiece suits, clutching their phones for dear life as if the biggest deal was going down, who are actually shopping in Walmart and discussing every feature of what’s in the baby aisle. Four weeks ago, I was in Maryland for the weekend. A friend introduced me to a guy involved in the school there. He told us that his wife had asked him to get three items for her and requested that he write it down. He said that he responded that that was insulting and that he didn’t need to write it. She re-

told her he met endless parents from the school body and couldn’t get the shopping done. He just couldn’t admit how stressbased the shopping was for him. Two weeks later, I saw a guy I know standing in the candy aisle at a giant grocery store I shop at. The shelves were stacked top to bottom with endless choices. The guy was hunched and focused with such intensity he could have been preparing a legal brief. I innocently said, “Hi,” thinking he’d promptly pop up out of his stupor. Surprisingly, he totally didn’t hear

quested he do it anyway. And he said he told her that that was ridiculous and left for the store. When he got there, though, his mind went blank. However, the last thing he wanted to do was admit that she was right. So, he spent an hour going up and down the aisles till his mind was stimulated by the items he saw and he remembered what he needed. He felt so proud of himself but couldn’t think of how to account for the hour. When he arrived at home, she asked him what took an hour. And he said he

me. Then, jokingly, I quipped, “Wow, you really like concentrating there.” And then he turned and said, “I am, I didn’t even see you. If I go home with the wrong thing, I’ll never hear the end of it.” Both men mentioned that this is the single most stressful chore they ever have to do. So, here’s a new career someone may want to capitalize on. I discussed it with both these men, and their faces lit up like a kid getting a new dump truck. (Which, by the way, I gave to my

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@ rosenwalds.com.

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I discussed it with both these men, and their faces lit up like a kid getting a new dump truck.

daughter’s two-year-old this week and he exclaimed, “Oh, my G-d!” like he had won a trip to Hawaii or something! Trust me, this is big!) So back to the career idea. How about a woman who greets a man at the door of the store and accompanies them through this ordeal? Without ever knowing what their wife is planning to cook, these men truly believe a woman will know exactly what their wife is looking for. And I’m not doubting that they might. The ingredients on the list may somehow hint to the shopper where the wife’s going with this. While these men may be seeing individual items on the list, the woman may see a flow at work here. Just the thought of that savior brought amazing relief to these two guys. Therefore, even if someone there didn’t help him get it right, at least someone could talk him through the stress and that might be a worthwhile experience. All I can say to most frustrated men who feel plagued by the mysteries of this errand is: you are not alone! (And maybe you can gain some solace knowing you are doing better than some other guy.) All I can say to most frustrated wives, who keep unpacking what I will call this “creative list fulfillment,” is: you, too, are not alone! (And maybe you can even try embracing this as an opportunity to invent some new recipes!)

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

ere’s how it works. Or doesn’t. This article will probably be appreciated, specifically, by most husbands. A man can get through college, then complete graduate school, land an awesome job, or start his own successful company, even, manage to impress a woman – enough to get her to marry him. But – and here comes the big but – he can’t be trusted to bring home the right stuff from the supermarket. The most stressful job you can delegate to a husband is to pick up the shopping list. I’m thinking: ask them to do twenty miles on a treadmill or this chore and most guys would say that the latter would be the more realistic stress test. It seems women just don’t understand that there are 40 choices of tomatoes in the market because a woman goes right to the one she wants. But every one of those tomatoes looks right to a guy. That is, until he gets home! Then there’s the barrage that takes place, ranging from “what kind of tomato is that?” to “have I ever bought anything but grape tomatoes. What were you thinking?” And the guy’s thinking: Well, what I was thinking was that you asked for a tomato, I got you a tomato. How could that be wrong? Oddly, I’ve seen this become some of the most connected moments a couple has – even with him in the store and the woman at home. Because, only with her complete guidance, him checking in on the accuracy of each product, and skyping down every aisle, does he feel he has at least a 50% chance of getting things right. So he refuses to get off the

The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015

Your

Money

FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Careful What You Wish For

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

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t’s 2020, and yet in today’s Disneyfied America, little girls still dream of becoming princesses. Really, what’s not to like about it? You get all the pomp and circumstance of the royal court without the inconvenient stress of actually running the country. You get to show off the crown jewels. You even get to lead the paparazzi everywhere you go, so they can compete to make snarky comments about your dress or snap a pic of you picking out groceries. Actress Meghan Markle got to live the dream when she married Prince Harry to become Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex. Apparently, though, princessing is a lot like Season Three of The Crown — it overpromises and underdelivers. Now she and Harry are giving up their “Royal Highness” titles, vacating the palace to become working blokes and planning to spend more time in North America. Next stop, Canada: out with the Royal Philharmonic, polo and high tea, in with Nickelback, hockey, and poutine. Naturally, the big move means big changes for the couple’s finances. People like us spilled gallons of ink writing about how Megan’s mar-

riage would affect her taxes. So now that the Sussexes have announced “Megxit,” you get to spend hours reading about them all over again. Spoiler alert: they’re still going to be a royal pain. The couple have been drawing 95% of their state income — esti-

Meghan (built on her acting career). The move will mean giving up their Sovereign Grant income, and possibly the Duchy as well. So, off to work they go! Fortunately, they’re expected to command six-figure speaking fees. As a U.S. citizen, Meghan will keep paying U.S.

Out with the Royal Philharmonic, polo and high tea, in with hockey and poutine.

mated at around $2.5 million per year — from Prince Charles’s Duchy of Cornwall income. They draw a few more quid from the tax-free Sovereign Grant, which the government pays the Queen for royal family operations. They also earn income from their own assets, estimated at $25 million for Harry (built on inheritances from the Queen Mum and Princess Di) and $5 million for

tax no matter where in the world she speaks. However, if she spends more than six months abroad, she can exclude $107,600 of foreign income from her U.S. tax. That may sound like a lot to us — but for a princess, it barely covers the ladies’ maid and gas for the Bentley. Meghan also needs to consider state taxes. (You probably thought princesses are too pretty to worry

about that.) They were still deductible when she left but now that deduction is capped at $10,000 per year (£7,665). She’s already moved her company, Frim Fram Inc., from California to Delaware, where she’ll avoid the Golden State’s 8.84% corporate tax. Harry remains a Brit, which gives him more ways to plan where he lives and works. His British income is taxed at 45% on anything over £150,000. If he spends enough time in Canada, he’ll pay 33% on his Canadian income over $214,368. But if he spends too much time here, in the United States, everything becomes subject to our tax. (Don’t get too used to the California sun!) We realize you aren’t making room in your family budget for tiaras and scepters. But you don’t have to be a royal to take advantage of planning to pay less tax. That’s where we come in. So count on us to help, without shipping you off to Canada! Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

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