VISIT US ON THE WEB! WWW.THEBJH.COM Vol. 10 Issue #3 | Feb. 8 - 21, 2024 |
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Bais Yaakov Impressions Auction 2024: Celebrating Education and Community
39
The Joys of Fatherhood
40
When Pizza is More Than Just Sauce and Cheese
61
י״ב אדר א׳- כ״ט שבט
Recency Bias: How our Behavior Impacts our Money
B R R E E T A N K I ! W
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FEBRUARY 8, 2024
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THE BALTIMORE KEHILLA We l c o m e s
o f M o n s ey Who will be visiting our city from February 7 through February 14, 2024, giving us the opportunity to experience an uplifting week in his presence.
Shabbos Schedule for
SHABBOS PARSHAS MISHPATIM
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
THE SKULENER REBBE SHLIT”A
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
שבת קודש ש י ה שו ו
ביום
שמחו
ב ע ז ה ש י " ת
A l l t e f i l l o s a n d t i s c h e n w i l l t a ke p l a c e i n
Bais Hamedrash Mercaz Torah u’Tefillah 6500 Baythorne Road
Mincha and Kabbalas Shabbos…… 5:15 PM
Friday Night Tisch…… 9:00 PM Shacharis…….. 8:50 AM Mincha…….. 5:00 PM
Havdalah after Maariv Right after Havdalah, the Rebbe shlit”a will be escorted to his host’s home accompanied by lively singing and torches for the children
R’ Elie Miller 65 1 3 d e a n c rof t Rd . To schedule a private appointment to see the Rebbe shlit”a, please call 914-587-0832
We look forward to seeing you,
The Baltimore Welcoming Committee
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The Rebbe shlit”a will be staying at the home of
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Contents
Dear Readers,
WWW.THEBJH.COM
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
COMMUNITY
Around the Community
6
Community Calendar
36
Weekday Minyanim Guide
37
JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Zvi Teichman
34
PEOPLE 613 Seconds - Tova Taragin
19
FEATURES
When Pizza is More Than Just Sauce and Cheese
40
HUMOR & ENTERTAINMENT Centerfold
50
Notable Quotes
52
Kids Coloring Contest
68
LIFESTYLES Headlines & Halacha
33
To Raise a Laugh
39
Mental Health Corner
43
Bikur Cholim
44
Tech Triumphs
46
Voice Notes
47
Inspiration Nation
48
Dating Dialogue
56
Forgotten Heroes
60
Common Cents
61
Parenting Pearls
62
Your Money
66
In the Kitchen
71
As we welcome the month of Adar, we are guided by the famous Gemara in Taanis, which teaches us, “— ”משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה “When Adar arrives, we increase our joy.” The Gemara comments that just as when Av arrives we reduce our joy, so too when Adar arrives we should increase our joy. It also signifies a profound shift from a period of ( גלותexile) and mourning to one of joy and ( גאולהredemption). The Gemara’s insight, as elucidated by Rashi and further expanded by Rav Yaakov Emden, reveals that Adar is not merely a time of increased joy, but marks the beginning of a season of miracles and divine intervention, from Purim to Pesach, signaling an era of גאולה. This message of transformation from sorrow to joy, from גלותto גאולה, holds deep relevance for our community today. As we navigate the aftermath of October 7th following a brutal winter of tough news from Israel, or face economic challenges that are unfortunately cropping up throughout Jewish communities everywhere, or confront our personal tribulations, we seek solace with the arrival of Adar standing as a beacon of hope. It reminds
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us that joy and redemption are not distant dreams but imminent realities, fostered by our collective memory, faith, and actions. This year, with an extra month of Adar, we have even more opportunity to cultivate joy, prepare for redemption, and strengthen ourselves and community. Let us, therefore, embrace the spirit of Adar with open hearts. May this time inspire us to see beyond our present trials, to uplift one another, and to actively participate in our own story of redemption. As we are personally “מרבים בשמחה,” let us also spread it, transforming our challenges into victories, our sorrow into happiness. To the Jewish community of Baltimore and Jews everywhere, we pray that this Adar be a turning point towards joy, unity, and גאולה. Let us welcome this season of miracles with Emunah and hope, paving the way for a future filled with peace, prosperity, and enduring joy. Wishing everyone a Gut Chodesh and peaceful Shabbos! Aaron Menachem
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The Drawing Will Be On
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$1000 TO
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
NEW DATE!!
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Around the Community
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
The Associated Announces Redevelopment of Park Heights Complex By: The Associated
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e are pleased to announce an exciting redevelopment of our Park Heights complex in Northwest Baltimore City. This investment will implement the final phase of an 18-month strategic plan growing out of The Associated’s 2020 Centennial Anniversary. The 10-acre campus will be renamed the Goldsmith Campus in recognition of a major donation by the Goldsmith Family. Using data from the 2020 Baltimore Jewish Community Study, an evaluation of its real estate and campus usage, and real-time trends from its agency network, this strategic plan focused on positioning The Associated and its agencies for their next century in serving the Jewish community while also strengthening its commitment to the Park Heights neighborhood, Pimlico area and the City of Baltimore. With more than a dozen Associated agencies to be located on the campus, the redevelopment will also foster a more efficient and collaborative environment for Associated network clients, community members
and employees. The redevelopment of the 60+ year location will result in a completely renovated Center for Sports and Wellness for the JCC, the Jewish Library of Baltimore, offices for The Associated’s headquarters and the creation of multipurpose and conference spaces for the community. All these objectives were identified as key needs for our communal future. Marc B. Terrill, President of The Associated, shared, “This is an exciting chapter for The Associated and our entire agency network. This is the first time in our 100-year history that The Associated’s headquarters will be housed alongside the majority of its agency partners. Enhancing the Park Heights campus and streamlining our Associated network on the Goldsmith
campus is a win for the Jewish community and the entire Park Heights area. Leveraging our collective resources offers long-term savings of community dollars and also an efficient mode of working and building community.” Yehuda Neuberger, Chair of the Board of The Associated, said, “We have an obligation to address the realities of the day, while planning for the future of the community. This exciting project enables us to have a more efficient, effective, and secure environment for the members of the community that we serve as well as our talented professional team. This project will extend The Associated’s substantial investment into this important region of Baltimore City and the Park Heights community. We are grateful to the donors that have sup-
ported this project, as well as the State of Maryland which provided significant funding for this project.” “For the members and users of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore (JCC), this redevelopment transforms a place that has served as our organization’s cornerstone for more than 60 years. The Park Heights JCC, which will be renovated in its entirety, anchors our presence in northwest Baltimore City. Words cannot adequately express how thrilled we are to have this investment into a beautiful new facility, for our members and the entire community.” Construction on the project is expected to start in early spring 2024.
Baltimore’s Elman Retina Group’s Dr. Sid Schechet Heroically Restores Sight to Wounded Israeli Soldier
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By: BJLife Israel Newsroom
S
id Schechet, M.D. of the Elman Retina Group, took two weeks off from his busy practice to volunteer as a retina surgeon at the Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva. Soroka is the major trauma center for wounded soldiers. Since arriving on Monday, Dr. Schechet has been operating non-stop for more than twelve hours daily, helping to restore vision to severely wounded soldiers and anyone else in need. He has shared innovative surgical techniques he developed with the excellent staff in Israel. Dr. Schechet also arranged
for a special laser valued at $200,0000 to be shipped to Israel, which allows for the repair of retinal tears in the ICU in soldiers that cannot be moved to the Eye Clinic. Periodically, he shares his experiences with the Elman Retina Group staff members. Here is one such story. “I hope all is well on the home front. Today was another doozy but filled with miracles in so many ways. Here’s a nice quick story: This young hero is a soldier who sustained a bilateral open globe with metallic foreign bodies. He was blasted by Hamas while sleeping with his team, and unfortunately, they all died. He was the lone survivor, with injuries from top to bottom. I honestly didn’t
know what would happen to him after I repaired his severely damaged eyes earlier in the week. I was scared for when he’d first awaken to hear what happened to his team and to then to open his eyes only to realize he had no vision. He woke up last night and realized what happened to his team and that he couldn’t see. Despite this, he immediately requested to return to his battalion to continue fighting against the terrorists. Today, when I examined him again, he miraculously could see parts of the letters I brought from my kids made for wounded soldiers. We both cried. It’s been stuff like that every second, exhausting but very uplifting.”
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Around the Community Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Celebrates Leadership and Legacy By: BJLife Newsroom
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Photo Credit: Creative1080 Shlomo Rotberg
B
altimore, MD - On Motzei Shabbos, January 20, 2024, Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion was filled with almost 250 people celebrating BJSZ’s Special Event, which honored Phil and Rivka Bogart, and Andrew and Lenie Singer and Family. The theme of the special event was “Tapestries of Leadership and Legacy”. Our evening’s honorees exemplify leadership and commitment to the shul and the Baltimore community. The Bogarts are role models of initiative, thoughtfulness, and dedication.
The Singers are role models of commitment to family and community, and they have imbued their children with the same commitment. BJSZ was delighted to honor these two wonderful families. The evening began with a buffet reception and then continued with a dinner, at which the guests were entertained by the wit of BJSZ’s favorite MC, Shimon Marciano. The program included a dynamic and uplifting performance by well-known performer, Eitan Katz. There was also a beautiful video tribute to the evening’s honorees; the video included remarks by Rabbi Rose, given with his hallmark grace and warmth. After the video,
the evening concluded with a dessert buffet, a round of spirited dancing, and an uplifting kumsitz. This special event concluded an unforgettable, special Shabbos at BJSZ during which Eitan Katz led the tefillos with passion and inspired song. Despite the inclement weather,
Shabbos also included a ruach-filled oneg at the Reitberger home. It was a Shabbos and a special event to remember, in our classic BJSZ style. If you have not experienced it, we invite you to come join us at BJSZ and see what our Shul is all about!
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Around the Community Bais Yaakov School for Girls Impressions Auction 2024: Celebrating Education and Community
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
By: Mrs. Dassi Atanelov Photo Credit: Portraits by Shayna
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n Wednesday evening, January 31st, a vibrant and diverse community came together for a night of celebration, camaraderie, and giving back at the Impressions Auction for Bais Yaakov School for Girls of Baltimore. Hosted in the elegant halls of Martin’s West, the event was an evening to remember, filled with delectable cuisine, captivating entertainment, and the warmth of community spirit. As someone that did not grow up in Baltimore, I have always appreciated the beauty in having a community school that shines as a beacon of true ahavas yisroel. Bais Yaakov teaches our girls the value and strength in achdus. The hanhala and staff of the school teach our girls, by example, how to embrace and accept each and every family whatever their background. As I entered the hall and mingled with women from many areas of the Baltimore Jewish community, I was reminded of the privilege I benefit from each day because my daughter is a Bais Yaakov student. More than just a fundraising event, the dinner was
a celebration of community and the importance of education. It brought together families, friends, and supporters, united in their commitment to providing quality education and love Torah and Mitzvos for the girls of Bais Yaakov. As guests entered the venue, they were greeted by an atmosphere of elegance and enchantment. The space was transformed into a scene of beauty, with exquisite floral arrangements, and tasteful decor throughout the space. The ambiance was one of sophistication and warmth, setting the stage for an unforgettable evening. Every detail, from the tablecloths to the lighting, was carefully curated to create an atmosphere that was both inviting and refined. It was a testament to the dedication of the organizers and their commitment to making every guest feel welcomed and appreciated. The culinary centerpiece of the evening was undoubtedly the delectable spread provided by The Knish Shop. Guests indulged in a delightful array of appetizers, main courses, and desserts, each bite a celebration of kosher cuisine. Whether savoring classic dishes or exploring innovative twists on traditional favorites, there was
something to tantalize every palate. In addition to the culinary delights and stunning decor, the Impressions Auction was filled with entertainment that engaged and delighted guests with Panoply. A lively trivia game that kept everyone on their toes, testing their knowledge and sparking friendly competition. Questions flew and the answers flowed; the room came alive with excitement and energy, as everyone became fully immersed in the game. From picture rounds to audio clues, the trivia game offered an array of challenges designed to engage all participants. Whether testing their recall of famous quotes or identifying iconic landmarks, attendees found themselves fully engaged in the pursuit of victory. Despite the competitive nature of the trivia game, the atmosphere remained lighthearted and convivial. Unable to contain the excitement of finding the answers, laughter rang out as women shouted out answers. As the final round drew to a close, it became clear that the true prize lies not in the number of points earned, but in the bonds forged and memories created. Through moments of triumph and moments of defeat, participants came together in a shared appreciation for the
joy of intellectual engagement and the spirit of friendly competition. The evening drew to an end as the winners of the auction were picked. With humor, delight and anticipation we listened as each prize winner was chosen. The prizes were generously donated by local businesses and community members. From every day necessities to luxury gift items, there was a prize for everyone to root for, with all proceeds going towards supporting Bais Yaakov School for Girls. Through their generosity and support, attendees demonstrated the power of collective action in making a positive impact on the lives of others. Their contributions will help ensure that Bais Yaakov continues to thrive, providing a nurturing environment where young women can grow academically, spiritually, and personally. As I left the hall, I felt a sense of gratitude and fulfillment in the air. It was a testament to the strength of the community and the power of coming together for a common cause. With hearts full and spirits uplifted, guests left inspired and energized, ready to continue supporting Bais Yaakov and the incredible work it does in shaping the future leaders of tomorrow.
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
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Around the Community
Brachos Bee at Yeshivas Toras Simcha
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Photo Credit: Dovid Kapenstein
R
abbi Shai Scherer directed a brachos bee program for Yeshivas Toras Simcha students. Students were given packets with which listed various foods and their corresponding brachos. The difficulty of the brachos increased the older the grade. Over the last two weeks the students studies these packets. Two students were chosen to represent each class for the final bechina. Rabbi Dovid Heber, Rav of congregation KAYTT and Star-K administrator treated the students with a story about his visit to the Kellogg’s and Kemach factories. Rabbi Heber explained why the bracha on cornflakes depends on which factory it was made in and based on a psak from Rav Moshe Feinstein, z”l. Rabbi Heber then quizzed the class representatives and prizes were given to the students who scored highest.
OCA’s New Group of Participants in the Truman Scholars Program
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CA’s new Seventh Grade participants have been accepted into the Tikvah Fund’s Truman Scholars Program for advanced Middle School students! Congrats to Ilana Bakaev and Zach Neuman are joining 8th Grader Elan Levi. The Truman Scholars 18-month program is designed for outstanding seventh-graders from select Orthodox Jewish schools across the country. Beginning this February, OCA students
will join peers from 20 schools across 10 states under the guidance of an incredible faculty, including: Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik, Director of the Zahava and Moshael Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought at Yeshiva University Professor Ruth Wisse, who recently retired from her position as Martin Peretz Professor of Yiddish Literature and Professor of Comparative Literature at Harvard Dr. Leon Kass, the Addie Clark
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founding of Modern Israel. They will explore and learn from religious, political, and intellectual leaders who transformed the Zionist longing— through strategy and struggle—into the re-born homeland of the Jewish people. Students will spend an hour each week studying biblical and rabbinic sources in addition to historic speeches, stories, and court decisions that have crafted two great nations. We are so proud of the OCA students for participating in this enriching learning experience!
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
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Around the Community
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Post Oct 7th - RAJE Poland-Prague Trip More Relevant than Ever Before By: Staff
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s the world celebrates the 79th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, 38 RAJE students from across the U.S. including students, staff & board members from Baltimore, returned from a life-changing 7 day journey visiting Jewish heritage and Holocaust sites throughout Poland and the Czech Republic. The trip began in Warsaw, journeyed throughout Poland to Lublin, Lizensk, Lancut, and Krakow and concluded with a lively Shabbos in Prague. The trip was led by RAJE Maryland Rabbi Gavriel Horan along with RAJE NY staff and an expert tour guide. The group participated in Torah learning in the famed Yeshivas Chochmei Lublin, the Ramah shul in Krakow, and the Alt-Neu (Old-New) shul of the Maharal in Prague. The group also engaged in a lively Chassidic-style tisch at the grave of the esteemed Reb Elimelech of Lizensk. The “post-October 7th,” trip to Poland was an altogether different and more relevant experience. “While seeing the remaining Warsaw Ghetto wall, Majdonek, deserted shtetls, mass graves, Schindler’s factory, the bulldozed Plaszow concentration camp, and Auschwitz/Birkenau would be difficult and emotional any day – it was viscerally potent in 2024,” Lizzy Solovey of Pikesville, said. Many students are experiencing anti-Semitism for the very first time in their lives. Their parents and grandparents told them about the struggles they faced in the FSU and in Europe. They never believed it would happen here in America. The group visited the grave of Sara Schenirer just days after it was vandalized! The gravestone still remained where it had been knocked onto the ground (see photo). One of the trip highlights was the visit to the Auschwitz and Majdonek concentration camps. There, students lay tefillin in the barracks, said a heartfelt recitation of the Shema in the gas chambers where over one million Jews said their final prayers before being murdered al Kiddush Hashem, and danced while singing Am Yisrael Chai. In Birkenau, the group was
fortunate to meet Simon Gronowski, a Belgium Holocaust survivor, who uttered the inspirational message to remember that “life is beautiful,” despite standing near the gas chamber where his family was murdered. Students concluded the trip with promises to light candles, learn Torah, don tefillin, observe Shabbat, and raise a Jewish family. The group has been forever changed and moved to ensure a bright and proud future for the Jewish people. “The trip impacted me by showing me the sacrifices that other Jews made for their Judaism,” Vlad Borisenko of Pikesville said. “I was able to put on tefillin for the very first time – and did so every day of the trip. I’m getting my own pair now and looking forward to empowering others to follow in my footsteps!” Thanks to RAJE, the 38 students returned home with a renewed connection to their Jewish heritage, to each other, and a desire to continue learning more. “I grew up religious,” RAJE board member, Dov Ocken, said to the group of students at the end of the trip, “but this was one of the most impactful and inspiring Jewish experiences I have ever had. The most powerful part was seeing you guys connect to Judaism – many for the very first time. I hope I can bring that passion and newness into my own spirituality from now
on!” “The ultimate revenge on the Nazis is when we live proudly as Jews,” RAJE Maryland Director, Rabbi Horan, said. “That’s the mission of RAJE. Never Forget means not only that we never forget the Holocaust – but also that we never forget what it means to be a Jew. Never Forget is
Now! The spiritual Holocaust is stronger than ever before - but we can stop it - one Jew at a time! Over 6 Million Jews have disappeared over the past 50 years in America due to assimilation. If one person can kill 6 Million of our people - imagine what one person can do if they try to bring back 6 Million!”
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This unique event provides medical professionals with the opportunity to meet with representatives from across the Israeli medical establishment.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
March 10, 2024 | New Jersey
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
MedEx is the can’t-miss event for medical professionals considering Aliyah!
MedEx is the only place where you can: • Have your documents certified in person • Begin the process of transferring your medical license • Interview for a job • Discuss your Aliyah plans – all under one roof!
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WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP TO BUILD A STRONGER ISRAEL THROUGH ALIYAH Ministry of Health
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For more information and registration:
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Around the Community
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Believe & Achieve Basketball (Sponsored by BJL & BJH) Week Three and Four News and Awards
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e are at the half way point in our season! With four games to go the older divisions are heating up as they play for the four playoff spots. Some highlights from this coming week. We welcomed our new cocommissioner Eliezer Katz (from SBL and CCC legend). The coaches have been going above and beyond utilizing the practice time before games to run fun, educational, and important basketball drills! The kids are improving in front of our eyes! If you want more training, we offer an array of sports classes for kids ages three-18. We have trainers who do one on one training at your house as well. Check out our website: www. basportsmd.com for details and to book. Thank you to our division sponsor MDSC (Maryland Softball Competition) which is and a once in a lifetime, dream come true, softball experience for adults, make sure to stay tuned for what they have in store for MDSC summer 2024! Week 3 Middos Awards: Mikey Lazar (1st) Lazar Real Estate for playing legit PG and passing to everyone. Alex Kanner (2nd) Jtap Tennis League for offering to sit 1st! Yehuda Eskin (2nd) Rentals of Distinction for amazing teamwork. Akiva Grove (3rd) MDSC for great enthusiasm. Ari Lazewnick (8th) MDSC for dedication. Hillel Davids (6th) GB&I Jewelers for his great attitude. Reuven Newman (6th) GB&I Jewelers for his amazing attitude. Shmuel Kosoy (4th)- put his team first to help them win! Play of the Week: Avi Parry (3rd)
Mamah Leah’s with the game winning shot with seconds to go. Doni Poretsky (1st) Clothier for his step back shots. Shua Richter (3rd) Clothier for his drive and score past three defenders. Binyamin Spatz (2nd) Jtap Tennis League with the game winning free throw. Zalmy Lockman (2nd) Jtap Tennis league for his amazing shot. Inkredible Comeback Kids Game of the Week: Jtap (4th) Led by Coach Naftali Langer was down 20-10 at the half. The boys went on 18-4 run and won 32-24 in the end. Even when they were down by a lot, the whole team had a great attitude and continued to encourage each other to play harder! Great job, enjoy your ice cream from Sprinkles. Week 4 Middos Awards: Yossi Gutow (2nd) Clothier giving up a shot. Noah Daniel Clothier (2nd) offered to sit first. David Levinger (6th) Holy Smokes BBQ Although his team was down, he kept hustling and encouraging his teammates. Binyamin Spatz (2nd) Jtap Tennis League for cheering for the success of his teammates. Solly Kelman (4th) Orshan Legal Group putting his team first. Yehuda Orshan (4th) Orshan Legal Group for being sensitive to his teammates and putting his team first. Aylee Zaslow (6th) GB&I Jewelers for is positive attitude. Zachary Wynn (4th) Orshan Legal Group putting his team first. Nosson Sonnenblick (4th) Jtap- An incorrect call was made that the ball was last touched by the other team, but Nosson was honest and he said that he touched it last and ball belonged to the other team. Ari Samet, (8th) MDSC for always smiling. Shlomo Snyder (8th) Clothier for being a team player. Avi Steinberg (8th) Hat Box
JTAP TENNIS LEAGUE
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for boosting his teammates. Play of the Week: Akiva Kaplan (4th) Benz Cuts for the smooth layup. Yaakov Danziger (5th) Goldbergs Bagels for the steal and tough layup. Shua Graber (3rd) Inkredible Kids with a few inkredible passes. Eli Brodie (2nd) Jtap Tennis League with a half court buzzer beater. Avi Steinberg (8th) Hat Box with an incredible full court shot at (“after”) the buzzer. Inkredible Comeback Kids Game of the Week: MDSC (4th) led by Coach Gary Guttenberg (veteran coach and pretty good baller they say) pulled away from the opening tip and quickly went up 11-1 But Clothier led by Coach/Singer/Baller- Binyamin Guttman, valiantly fought back behind a balanced offensive attack and defensive hustle, and even took the lead heading into the final few min-
utes! Alas, MDSC got a late basket and was up by two. With three seconds left Clothier got the ball back on a turnover and had a chance for one final play. Ahron Levinger pulled up from deep…and hit the rim as the buzzer expired! What an effort. Great job, enjoy your ice cream from Sprinkles.
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Yehuda Fairs, in the NY tri-state area. After thousands of people flocked to these fairs, Suzanne realized the importance of continuing to support Israel. In 2004, she founded ACHI, with the mission of instilling love for Israel in this generation and the next. With the onset of COVID and Israeli merchants struggling once again, Suzanne sprang into action and created the ACHI online marketplace with the help of four high school friends, including myself. The organization makes no money from marketplace transactions; our website is merely a conduit to the websites of our merchants. Now that Israel is at war, ACHI’s mission is to host more merchants than ever. Any Israeli shopkeeper can sign up on-line at no cost. BJH: What can we buy at the ACHI marketplace? Tova: We are continually expanding our merchant roster, selling Judaica, jewelry, ceramics, art, fashion, home décor, spices, food, and wine, among other items. We also offer toys, books, and puzzles for children. ACHI has designated 2024 as “The Year of the Store,” so we will be strongly publicizing the marketplace all year. For example, ACHI’s home page featured vendors selling gifts appropriate for Tu Bishvat, and we will soon do the same for Purim. BJH: Recently, I noticed something new on the ACHI website: Shabbat Shalom cards. What are these, exactly? Tova: We are selling cards featuring beautiful
artwork by some of our vendors. Each card represents a Shabbat meal provided by Lema’an Achai Israel for families of active soldiers and evacuees, and bereaved families of soldiers and others who lost their lives on Oct. 7. Shabbat Shalom cards may be used as hostess gifts when invited for Shabbat or to commemorate any other occasion. More information is available on the home page of our website, www. achi613.org, or by contacting us directly at team@achi613.org. BJH: What specifically are you doing for Purim? Tova: Every year, ACHI sells Purim e-cards for $2.50 apiece. More details will be on our website soon. BJH: Finally, what does ACHI mean to you? Tova: My husband and I were devastated after Oct. 7. We couldn’t go to Israel to volunteer because our apartment in Ramat Bet Shemesh was being used by great-nieces and nephews who were temporarily displaced by the war. So, I have put my heart and soul into ACHI, mainly working on the website and recruiting new vendors. I am also happy ACHI has given me the opportunity to reconnect with former classmates and get to know new ACHI recruits. We are a true sisterhood! If you’d like to get involved, please contact us at team@achi613.org. BJH: Keep up the good work! ACHI’s mission is truly a mitzvah!
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BJH: Today, I am speaking with Tova Taragin, a Baltimore resident for over 50 years. She is a driving force behind American Communities Helping Israel, (ACHI), a nonprofit, grassroots organization that promotes small businesses in Israel. Check out the ACHI website at www.achi613. org. Good morning, Tova! Please tell our readers a little about yourself. Tova: Good morning, thanks for having me. I grew up in Queens, NY, where my father was a congregational Rabbi, and I attended Yeshiva University High School (class of 1965) and Stern College for Women (YU). After settling in Baltimore with my husband, I taught Judaic Studies and more recently, Technology, for 46 years, mainly at Bais Yaakov, Yeshivat Rambam, Ohr Chadash Academy and Ner Tamid Hebrew School. BJH: You obviously have a lot of energy! How do you stay active in retirement? Tova: Well, I am still running my home-based graphic design business, and
of course, volunteering my time and expertise to ACHI, which is very close to my heart. BJH: Please describe ACHI for our readers. Tova: American Communities Helping Israel (ACHI) is a nonprofit advocacy organization that packs a counterpunch to the BDS movement by hosting an online marketplace featuring close to 300 Israeli vendors. Our motto is “Support Israel—Buy Israeli.” In the wake of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack and the resulting war in Gaza, Israel needs our help more than ever. Buying Israeli goods is one way to bolster Israel’s economy. Many ACHI vendors ship to America and deliver within Israel, so you can send gifts and food baskets to Israeli family and friends. The direct link to the marketplace is www.achi613.org/ achi-market. ACHI has also organized concerts and magic shows, held tag sales, created craft projects, and designed greeting and gift cards to sell. All fundraising proceeds benefit Israeli causes, such as Lone Soldiers, evacuees, equipment and food supply, and Shabbat meals for wives and families of the IDF. You can also donate directly to ACHI or its Israel Emergency Fund on the website. So far this year, we have raised and donated over $15,000. BJH: How did ACHI get started? Tova: During the Second Intifada in Israel in 2000, Suzanne Weilgus, an old YU High School acquaintance, felt the need to do something constructive for Israeli merchants whose businesses were suffering from the lack of tourism. She organized Israeli Fairs, then called Ben
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The Week In News
Biden Sanctions Israeli Settlers
With an executive order signed on Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden declared Israeli settler violence a “national emergency” and sanctioned four Israelis for allegedly perpetrating violence against West Bank Palestinians. No U.S. president has gone this far in penalizing the actions of Israeli “settlers,” with Biden implementing travel bans and monetary repercussions for four Israelis who reside in Judea and Samaria. Since October 7, the U.S. president has been under intense pressure from progressives to denounce Israel’s actions in Gaza and to demand an immediate ceasefire. “The situation in the West Bank — in particular high levels of extremist settler violence, forced displacement of people and villages, and property destruction — has reached intolerable levels and constitutes a serious threat to the peace, security and stability,” said Biden. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Biden’s sanctions, asserting that “the vast majority of residents of Judea and Samaria are law-abiding citizens, many of whom are fighting right now in active and reserve duty to protect Israel.” “Israel acts against all violators of the law in all places,” Netanyahu’s office continued. “Therefore, there is no place for drastic steps on this matter.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called Biden’s settler violence campaign an “antisemitic lie that enemies of Israel disseminate with the goal of smearing the pioneering settlers and settlement enterprise and to harm them and thus smear the entire State of Israel.”
“This is an immoral BDS campaign that turns victims into attackers and sanctions the spilling of settler blood. It’s too bad the Biden administration is cooperating with these actions,” Smotrich said. David Chai Chasdai, Eitan Tanjil, Shalom Zicherman, and Yinon Levi have been named by the U.S. State Department as the four sanctioned settlers. Chasdai has been accused of leading a rampage in Huwara last year that killed one Palestinian; Tanjil allegedly hit Palestinian farmers and Israeli activists with stones and clubs, causing injuries; Zicherman purportedly blocked Israeli activists from driving down a West Bank street and tried to break some car windows; and Levi has been accused of assaulting Palestinian and Bedouin residents. According to Joel Braunold, the managing director of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace, Biden has “built a tool that can cut off the entire settler movement from U.S. financial services” in an effort to eliminate threats to the prospect of a two-state solution.
Argentina’s Milei Visits the Holy Land
On Tuesday, Argentinian President Javier Milei landed in Israel, where he announced that he would be moving Argentina’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Milei took office in December. During his campaign, he had pledged to move the embassy. The Hamas terror group blasted Milei’s statement, saying it viewed the move as “an infringement of the rights of our Palestinian people to their land, and a violation of the rules of international law, considering Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian land.” Currently, the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Papua New Guinea and Kosovo have embassies in Jerusa-
lem. Other countries, including Hungary and the Czech Republic, have embassy branches in the capital. It is expected that Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish, Milei’s “personal rabbi,” will become the nation’s envoy to the Jewish state. He also joined Milei on this week’s trip. Foreign Minister Israel Katz met Milei at Ben Gurion Airport and thanked the Argentinian leader for supporting Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza and for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “You are a person of values who is committed only to the truth,” Katz told Milei, “and it is no wonder that you chose to come to Israel right away to support us in the just struggle for the defense of the Jewish people against the murderers of Hamas.” Milei scheduled to visit the Kotel during his visit and to meet with President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his war cabinet on Wednesday. He will also visit the Kibbutz Nir Oz, which was decimated during the October 7th attacks. Argentinian citizens are still being held hostage in Gaza, including brothers Eitan and Yair Horn, who were kidnapped from Nir Oz.
In response to the report, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that it was told by the IDF ahead of the article’s publication that 31 of the hostages, not 32, had died. “According to the official data we have, there are 31 victims,” the Forum said in a statement. “Before the article was released, an official message was given to all the families of the abductees by the liaison officers that there is no change in the situation assessment.” Of the 253 hostages captured when thousands of Hamas terrorists slaughtered more than 1,200 people across more than 20 communities in southern Israel on October 7, it is believed that 132 are still in captivity. A weeklong truce in late November saw the release of 105 people. Four hostages were released prior to the truce, and troops rescued one other. The bodies of eight hostages have also been recovered and three others were mistakenly killed by the military. Tuesday’s report came amid ongoing efforts by negotiating parties to secure the release of the remaining hostages and a new temporary truce in the fighting in Gaza, through which Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas and end its 16-year rule of the Palestinian enclave.
NYT: 32 Hostages Have Died According to the New York Times, 32 of the more than 130 hostages still held captive by Hamas are no longer alive. The Times cited an assessment made by Israeli intelligence officials that more hostages have been killed than previously thought. Until now, the IDF had only confirmed the deaths of 29 of the captives still in Gaza. In addition to the 32 confirmed deaths, the IDF is assessing “unconfirmed intelligence” that at least 20 additional hostages may have also been killed, the report said, quoting four military officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The families of the deceased have all been informed of their deaths, the officials said and confirmed that the majority of the dead were killed during the deadly Hamas terror onslaught on October 7 and their bodies were taken to Gaza.
Congress Tech CEO Hearing
If there’s one thing that Republican and Democratic lawmakers agree on, it’s holding tech CEOs accountable for the effects their social media platforms have on the younger generation and society as a whole. Last Wednesday, five CEOs testified in front of the U.S. Senate Judi-
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ciary Committee: Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Linda Yaccarino of X, Evan Spiegel of Snap, Shou Zi Chew of Tiktok, and Jason Citron of Discord. Their testimonies focused on how their social media platforms impact children and teenagers. Unlike other hearings, this one had an audience of family members of people who are said to have died or suffered directly because of social media. At certain points of the hearing, relatives jeered and laughed at the CEOs and held up pictures of their harmed loved ones. Zuckerberg, when addressing the families directly, said he was sorry for the harm Facebook has done. “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through,” said Zuckerberg. “No one should go through the things that your families have suffered, and this is why we invest so much and we are going to continue doing industry-wide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer.” Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, in response to Zuckerberg’s apology, urged him to “compensate” the families, making a direct reference to the Facebook founder’s billions of dollars of wealth. Democrat Sen. Laphonza Butler of California requested that Spiegel apologize to those whose children died after using Snapchat to buy drugs. “I’m so sorry that we have not been able to prevent these tragedies,” the Snapchat CEO said, mentioning some of his company’s plans to make his products safer for children. Internal documents in Meta have indicated that the company values each of its teen users at around $270 in terms of their lifetime contribution of data to the platform. “How could you possibly even have that thought? It is astounding to me,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn asked Zuckerberg of the “$270” statistic. “Children are not your priority. Children are your product.” “You have convinced over 2 billion people to give up all of their personal information — every bit of it — in exchange for getting to see what their high school friends had for dinner Saturday night,” Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana told Zuckerberg. “You’re in the foothills of creepy. You track people who aren’t even Facebook
users… I just wonder if our technology is greater than our humanity in the interest of this funnel.” Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar shared stories of teenagers who killed themselves after being targeted by predators on social media and expressed her dissatisfaction with the Senate’s failure, thus far, in passing any bills to protect children from online harm. Chew, a Singaporean, asserted that there is little connection between TikTok and the Chinese Communist Party, which holds a 1% stake in the video entertainment service’s parent company, ByteDance. Chew said it was “a coincidence” that he became chief executive one day after the party bought a stake in Tiktok’s parent company. “Elizabeth [Warren] and I see an abuse here that needs to be dealt with. Sen. [Dick] Durbin and I have different political philosophies, but I appreciate what you’ve done on this committee. You’ve been a great partner. To all my Democratic colleagues, thank you very, very much. To my Republican colleagues, thank you all very, very much,” said Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, pointing out this rare display of political unity. “I am tired of talking. I’m tired of having discussions,” Graham added. “Open up the courthouse door. Until you do that, nothing will change. Until these people can be sued for the damage they’re doing, it is all talk.”
FCC Wants to Illegalize Robocalls Two weeks ago, thousands of voters from New Hampshire received phone calls with a voice that sounded like President Joe Biden, urging them to not vote in the state’s primary. However, it wasn’t the president’s voice that they were hearing; it was an AI voice trained to sound almost exactly like the commander-in-chief.
According to YouMail, a company that provides robocall-blocking ser-
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celebrities, political candidates, and close family members,” the FCC stated on Wednesday. “By taking this step, the FCC will provide new tools to State Attorneys General across the country to go after bad actors behind these nefarious robocalls and hold them accountable under the law.” In 2023, the FCC fined Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, two fraudsters who used robocalling technologies to scare people into not voting in the 2020 election. The two were fined $5 million, which was, at the time, the largest fine ever issued under the TCPA.
Category 6 Hurricanes? Currently, hurricanes are measured from Category 1 to 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Scientists are now considering adding Category 6 to the list, according to a study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.
A Category 5 hurricane is a storm that has sustained winds of 157 mph or greater. The new scale would cap Category 5 storms at 192 mph and anything above 192 mph, would become a Category 6 hurricane.
The study’s authors, Jim Kossin and Michael Wehner, argue that as “climate change” leads to soaring ocean temperatures, the potential wind intensity of hurricanes – also known as tropical cyclones or typhoons in oceans outside the Atlantic and East Pacific – is increasing. Of the 197 tropical cyclones that reached Category 5 between 1980 and 2021, five of them would have fit into the new, proposed threshold for Category 6 storms. All five occurred
since 2013, including 2015’s Hurricane Patricia, which hit Mexico, and Super Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the Philippines in 2013. The Saffir-Simpson scale, which has been around since the early 1970s, also has limitations in that it is only a wind scale and does not include the impacts of storm surge and rain-induced flooding, which can be the most deadly and damage-causing aspects of landfalling storms.
Chicago Mayor Wants Gaza Ceasefire
Brandon Johnson, the mayor of Chicago, broke a 23-23 tie at the Chi-
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vices, about 58.5 billion robocalls were made in 2019. In 2023, around 55 billion robocalls were placed. While scam calls have always been an issue, new AI technologies make robocalls more dangerous and believable. Today, voice cloning is a relatively accessible technology, allowing people to, for instance, generate near-perfect recordings of politicians or celebrities saying things that have never actually been said. Experts say that artificial intelligence poses a risk to the 2024 election, as it can be used to potentially misinform and lie to voters. Following the Biden robocall scam, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) began work on illegalizing “voice cloning [technologies] used in common robocalls scams targeting consumers,” under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which was passed in 1991, allowing the FCC to regulate scam calls. “The rise of these types of calls has escalated during the last few years as this technology now has the potential to confuse consumers with misinformation by imitating the voices of
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The Week In News cago City Council last week and voted for a resolution demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The vote made Chicago – which followed Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Oakland and San Francisco – the largest city in the nation to support a ceasefire, CBS reported. “Today, a divided Chicago City Council adopted a highly controversial resolution calling on Israel to engage in an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” stated the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest. “This resolution undermines the position of the Biden administration, the International Court of Justice and the European Union and the overwhelming majority of Americans, who understand that the release of all the hostages held in Gaza and dismantling Hamas’s terrorist infrastructure are preconditions to any ceasefire,” the consulate said. It added that the resolution “will have no impact in the Middle East” but “will create more division among communities in Chicago and inspire more antisemitism, as we saw on the floor
and in the galleries of City Hall today.” The debate got so heated that the mayor “cleared the public gallery after repeated interruptions from protesters, just as he did in October during a contentious vote on a resolution condemning the Hamas surprise attack that sparked the war,” per CBS. “The Chicago City Council on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cast the tie-breaking vote. Skeptics wonder when the mayor will support a ceasefire on the West Side,” wrote The Wall Street Journal editorial board. The editorial board noted that the Chicago mayor has cited casualty numbers from “the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry” and that the vote caused a “flag-waving ruckus in Chicago City Hall Tuesday but has zero effect on Israel or Hamas.” The board added that Chicago Public Schools aided the resolution by letting students walk out for a ceasefire and that the mayor said he is “incredibly proud” of the students. “We hope those students got home
safely from the walk-outs. Chicago had 617 murders in 2023, and its murder rate is five times that of New York City. On some weekends in the warmer months, dozens of people are killed by gunshots or stabbings,” the Journal’s editorial board wrote. “Two high school students were killed in the Loop last week in the early afternoon.” “Amid national notice of this mayhem last summer, Mr. Johnson said critics had to live in Chicago before they had the right to criticize,” it added. “Israel might ask the same of Mr. Johnson.” The Chicago Tribune editorial board wrote that one of the mayor’s largest mistakes “can be summed up in one sentence: He seems to have decided to speak only to his base.” “Everyone else? Either a sworn enemy or chopped liver. This is the kind of thinking that can cleave a city,” the Tribune board added, referring to Johnson’s “ridiculous posturing” on the resolution. “On Wednesday Johnson became, in the tortured syntax of one report, ‘the biggest city mayor now calling
for a ceasefire,’ as if the size of a Midwestern metropolis is a measure of its likelihood of affecting the trajectory of a war 6,000 miles away,” the board wrote. “After flicking away the Hamas atrocities, Johnson discussed the crucible of the Middle East in terms of Black ‘liberation,’” and “in stark terms of the oppressor and the oppressed.” (JNS)
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fidavit promising to spend the money on the cards only on food and baby supplies, otherwise they will be removed from the program. The size of the family will affect the amount provided on the pre-paid cards, with a family of four set to receive around $1,000 per month. Adams’ office says that the program will save the city money in the long-run. At least 172,000 illegal migrants have come to New York City in the past year.
Hero of 9/11 Dies
Bob Beckwith, who famously stood with President George W. Bush on the rubble of the 9/11 terrorist attacks just days after the Towers fell, died this
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week. He was 91. Beckwith had already retired before the attacks in which 2,753 people were killed when the planes crashed into the Towers. Another hijacked plane crashed that day into the Pentagon, killing 184 people, while 40 passengers and crew aboard a fourth hijacked plane died when their plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Like many retired firefighters, Beckwith rushed to the scene of terror in Lower Manhattan – and he soon became a symbol of strength and resilience. “When the terrorists attacked, Bob suited back up and, like so many brave first responders, raced toward the danger to save and search for others,” Bush said on Monday in a tribute to Beckwith. “His courage represented the defiant, resilient spirit of New Yorkers and Americans after 9/11. I was proud to have Bob by my side at Ground Zero days later and privileged to stay in touch with this patriot over the years.” Beckwith was 69 years old at the
i
goal is to expand access to financial resources for individuals excluded from banking, such as asylum seekers, while helping the local economy.” New York City Councilman Joe Borelli was vocal about his opposition for the program and echoed many New Yorkers’ sentiments when he said, “We’re just giving this migrant population more free stuff at the expense of New York City taxpayers.” The news also comes as taxpayers in New York City face sharp cuts to services like policing and education because the city has had to divert money to cover expenses associated with the influx of illegal immigrants to the Big Apple. It also comes just days after videos of illegal immigrants beating up police officers and running people down have been circulating. According to Mayor Eric Adams’ office, “We will provide pre-paid debit cards to an initial 500 migrant families with children who may use the prepaid cards exclusively at bodegas, grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores to ensure the money is spent on food and baby supplies.” Recipients will have to sign an af-
Bu
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
gal immigrants in the Big Apple will soon start receiving pre-paid debit cards. Supposedly, the illegals need to pledge to use the cards to only buy food, under the $53 million pilot program. New York City has awarded a $53 million contract to a company called Mobility Capital Finance (MoCaFi), which will create and distribute the pre-paid cards, called Immediate Response Cards. Under the program, MoCaFi will begin delivering the cards to the Roosevelt Hotel, which is the first touchpoint for newly-arriving illegal immigrants in New York City, where MoCaFi staff will hand the cards out “directly to asylum seekers receiving financial assistance.” The first to receive the cards will be families with children under the care of NYC’s Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) agency. “MoCaFi looks forward to partnering with New York City to disburse funds for asylum seekers to purchase fresh, hot food,” MoCaFi CEO and founder Wole Coaxum said. “MoCaFi’s
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! m i ives of Others this Pur
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The Week In News time and was living on Long Island when he heard the news on September 11, 2001. “I told my wife, ‘I’m going down,’” Beckwith recalled in a 2005 interview with CNN. His family tried to stop him from going to Ground Zero. But after Beckwith learned one of his colleague’s sons was among the hundreds of firefighters missing, he put on his old uniform, strapped on his helmet and rushed out the door. “I go start digging with the guys in the North Tower, and we come across a pumper with a 76 Engine,” Beckwith said. “And we’re working because we’re looking for survivors and we’re looking for people, and we’re hoping they found an air pocket or something.” During that devastating first week of horror, heartbreak and hope, word trickled down among rescuers that Bush was going to visit Ground Zero. Beckwith climbed atop the charred hull of a fire engine to try to get a better look at where he thought the then-president might
speak. Beckwith was alone atop the truck when a man he assumed was Secret Service approached him. It turned out to be Bush’s deputy chief of staff, Karl Rove. “He comes over and he dusts off (the spot) next to my foot and he says, ‘Is this safe?’” Beckwith recalled. “And the president came, and he is shaking hands with all the ironworkers and all the cops and all the firemen that were down there … and I figure he’s going over to the microphones, but he makes a quick right, and he puts his arm up and I said, ‘Oh my G-d!’” After helping Bush onto the truck, Beckwith started to crawl down – but the president stopped him. “He says, ‘Where are you going?’ I said, ‘Uh, I was told to get down.’ He said, ‘No, no, you stay right here.’” As chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A” settled down, Bush started speaking. Still, someone from the crowd yelled they could not hear him. Bush draped his arm around
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Beckwith, then said, “I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.” The crowd erupted in cheers. Images of Beckwith – stoic but resolute – with the president’s hand on his shoulder became an iconic symbol of fortitude.
A Nose Knows All dogs go to heaven. But a bulldog might find itself headed there years before a border terrier, according to a new study of nearly 600,000 British dogs from more than 150 breeds. Large breeds and breeds with flattened faces had shorter average life spans than smaller dogs and those with elongated snouts, the researchers found. Female dogs also lived slightly longer than male ones. The results were published in the journal Scientific Reports on Thursday. There are exceptions to those broad trends, and the findings might not apply to dogs outside Britain, where breeding practices — and gene pools — may be different, the researchers noted. More research will be needed to determine why some breeds have shorter life spans than others. “Now that we have identified these populations that are at risk of early death, we can start looking into why that is,” said Kirsten McMillan, an author of the new study and the data manager at Dogs Trust, a dog welfare charity in Britain that led the research. “This provides an opportunity for us to improve the lives of our dogs.” The study is based on a database of 584,734 British dogs, which the researchers assembled from breed registries, pet insurance companies, veterinary companies and other sources. Across all dogs, the median life span was 12.5 years, the researchers found, but average life span varied “quite spectacularly” among breeds, McMillan said. Lancashire heelers, a breed of petite herding dogs, were canine Methuselahs, living 15.4 years on average. The much larger Caucasian shepherd dogs, though, had an average life span of just 5.4 years. As a group, small breeds lived 12.7 years on average, compared with 11.9 years for large breeds.
Flat-faced breeds lived 11.2 years on average, while medium- and longfaced breeds had average life spans of 12.8 and 12.1 years. As a group, small, long-nosed breeds, such as miniature dachshunds and whippets, lived 13.3 years on average — roughly 2½ years longer than large, short-nosed breeds such as boxers and bull mastiffs, which together had an average life expectancy of 10.7 years. The researchers also found that purebred dogs, as a group, had average life spans of 12.7 years compared with 12.0 years for crossbred dogs. (© The New York Times)
CA Wrecked by Mudslides
At least 307 mudslides and debris flows have been reported in Los Angeles, as of Monday. Officials have also said that they are determining if 35 structures that were damaged in the storms that have been slamming the area are safe. All across Southern California streets were filled with mud and gushing waters were enveloping parked cars. Some people’s homes were also filled with mud. Large boulders and tree branches littered the streets. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass declared an emergency on Monday after the storm dropped nearly 1 foot of water in some areas, triggering mudslides, evacuations and rescues. “As the storm continues, there are many water-soaked hillsides that have the potential to slide,” noted Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley on Monday. “We would like to reiterate to use extreme caution if you live or travel in these areas.” Two evacuation orders remained in place Tuesday – one at the Owen Fire burn scar in Topanga Canyon and one at the Agua Fire burn scar
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The Week In News near Acton. Record-breaking rain was recorded across Southern California on Sunday and Monday. Some of the most jaw-dropping totals unfolded across the greater Los Angeles area. Downtown Los Angeles had its third-wettest two-day stretch on record Sunday through Monday, receiving 7.03 inches of rain, or 49% of its average yearly rainfall. New daily record rainfall amounts were set on both days when 4.10 inches and 2.93 inches fell, respectively. A few areas of Los Angeles outside of downtown picked up even more rain. Two-day rainfall totals in the city’s Bel Air neighborhood fell just shy of a foot. Los Angeles was not the only city that saw record-breaking rainfall this week. Nearby Long Beach smashed its daily record rainfall amounts both Sunday and Monday, while Santa Barbara eclipsed its daily record Sunday. More than 150,000 customers across California were without power early Tuesday morning, particularly in the northern parts of the state, where violent winds knocked down trees and power lines over the weekend.
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Soaring High
Ava Shelly is reaching great heights. The Port St. Lucie teenager is now the youngest female pilot to complete three solo flights. She already had high aspirations when she was ten years old and learned the craft from her grandfather. “He was an airline pilot, so for my 10 birthday, he got me a Discovery Flight, and ever since, I kind of stayed hooked,” she said.
Her grandfather was accomplished in the cockpit. “He was also triple-rated, so he had his helicopter, glider and pilot’s license,” Shelly said. She idolized her grandpa and wanted to become triple-rated, so at 13, she embarked on her aviation journey in his honor. Over the past six years, Shelly has completed more than 125 hours in multiple aircraft. On her 16th birthday, Shelly completed her first glider flight, making her the youngest woman in history to complete a glider, helicopter and powered flight. “It was pretty amazing, honestly,” Shelly said. “I was nervous, but in a good way, because I was confident in what I was doing. I knew I was safe, and I knew everything was going to go well. I just still had those butterflies.” Sounds like she’s soaring high.
thought to hide the ticket in the math book. The winning numbers were drawn at random. “Our math teacher and assistant principal pulled them out of a hat,” one winner explained. “At first, we didn’t have the right amount of numbers to choose from, so we drew again. Thank goodness we did.” Each member took home $24,000 after taxes. “We always have so much fun. It’s just cool to win as a group and share this experience.” What’s a million dollars between friends?
Rarest of All
only around 500 of the diplomatic passports in circulation – making it the rarest passport in the world. The passport is only for members of the Sovereign Council and leaders of diplomatic missions and their families. It’s adorned with gold lettering stating the organization’s name in French, “Ordre Souverain Militaire de Malte,” and a crest. “The Order grants passports to members of their government for the duration of their mandate,” Daniel de Petri Testaferrata says. Grand Masters’ passports are valid for the longest period as they’re elected for 10 years, can serve two terms, and must retire by 85. Other passports are valid for four years and are only used for diplomatic missions. Sounds too good to pass up.
Spy Bird
Pick a Winner
When a group of employees won the $1 million Powerball prize, they found the perfect spot to hide the winning ticket: a math book. “No one looks in a math book,” one of the winners said. “I knew it would be safe there – page 200. I have checked this a thousand times.” The group of 30 current and former workers at the Kentucky middle school has been playing the lotto together with the same numbers since 2019. “We all taught at the same school at one point or another,” a member of the group told Kentucky Lottery officials. “We’ve got counselors, admins, special-ed teachers, the school nurse ... Some have moved on or retired but we still continue to do it. We’ve remained buddies for all of these years.” The group’s organizer discovered the ticket for the January 27 Powerball drawing was a $1 million second prize winner. She was the one who
If you’ve never been to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, we understand. Although the Knights of Malta has a 1,000-year-old history and is a sovereign nation with its own stamps, currency, and passport, it is a country without any land. Yes, that’s right. The Knights has UN observer status and its own constitution but there are no buildings, trees, or grass to its name. It’s also a multi-million-dollar-budget humanitarian aid organization, with operations including refugee camps and disaster relief programs in some 120 countries around the world. The Knights originated as a chivalric order in Jerusalem around 1099 and were gifted the Maltese archipelago in 1530 by the King of Spain. Napoleon Bonaparte forced the Knights out of Malta in the French invasion of 1798, and these days the Order is headquartered in Rome. The first passports for the nation were issued by the Order of Malta in the 1300s when its diplomats traveled to other states with documents attesting to their role as ambassadors. After World War II, the use of the diplomatic passport took on characteristics of passports used in other countries. Today, there are
Indian authorities cried foul when a pigeon was captured near a port in Mumbai last May with two rings tied around its legs. Thinking it was a spy sent by China, the police held the bird in detention for eight months. This week, authorities confirmed that the twolegged feathered creature was not a spy for China and released it into the wild. At the time, authorities said that the rings around the bird’s legs had words that looked Chinese. It arrested the pigeon and sent it to Mumbai’s Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals. This is not the first time a bird has come under police suspicion in India. In 2020, police in Indian-controlled Kashmir released a pigeon belonging to a Pakistani fisherman after a probe found that the bird, which had flown across the heavily militarized border between the nuclear-armed nations, was not a spy. In 2016, another pigeon was taken into custody after it was found with a note that threatened Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sounds like a bird-brained scheme.
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Headlines
Halacha
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman
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The Mishna Brurah’s View
Imagine, chalilah, the loss if this wonderful attempt to save children did not exist.] Perhaps as a slight indication that three times is preferable, the Bach writes that on a two-day Rosh Chodesh
Ovadiah Vol. I #8, he writes that one can fulfill two mitzvos with the same kezayis. However, the Mishna Brurah clearly indicates that for medakdekim, there should be a recognizable difference – unlike Rav Ovadiah Yosef’s
If we can afford it and it won’t cause us to go into debt, it would be worthwhile to add an extra dish or item to each of the three meals.
that occurs on Shabbos and Sunday, it would not be sufficient to merely add to the Shabbos meal since it would not be identifiable that it is being done for Rosh Chodesh. On the other hand, the Yaavetz writes that one could just have a larger Melaveh Malka than one is accustomed to have which would indicate the other way.
Rav Ovadiah’s View Rav Ovadiah Yosef, zt”l, has a different approach. In Responsa Chazon
view. It would seem that this would be a debate between Sefardim and Ashkenazim as to whether even medakdekim should do this or not. For those who follow Rav Ovadiah, there is no need. For those who follow the Mishna Brurah, it should be done.
Suggestion There is an important Gemara that may weigh in on this question. The Gemara (Beitzah 15b) tells us that money we spend for Shabbos is excluded from
This article should be viewed as a halachic discussion and not practical advice. The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@ gmail.com.
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What many people do not necessarily know, however, is that the Mishna Brurah writes (419:2) that when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos the medakdekim – those that are careful in mitzvos – add a special dish beyond what one normally does on Shabbos on account of Rosh Chodesh. He cites the shaarei Knesses Hagedolah, the Eliyahu Rabba and the Chayei Odom. The Mishna Brurah, however, is not clear as to whether it should be done just once on Shabbos or for each of the three meals on Shabbos. The question perhaps is predicated upon the notion that Shabbos might be different because there is an obligation for three meals on Shabbos. Whereas, on Rosh Chodesh, there is no obligation of a night meal. Indeed, the author of the Shmiras Shabbos K’hilchasa (54: footnote 151), Rav Yehoshua Neuwirth, zt”l (19272013), raises this question and remains with no answer. When Rosh Chodesh falls during the week, it is sufficient just to have extra food during the day meal. But it is not so clear whether this is true for when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos. [As an aside, Rav Neuwirth, zt”l, was born in Berlin and escaped Nazi Germany on the Kindertransport.
the predetermined sum we are destined to make that year. In other words, Hashem covers our Shabbos expenditures. In light of this Gemara, the Mishna Brurah and the aforementioned Tur say that if we can afford it and it won’t cause us to go into debt, it would be worthwhile to add an extra dish or item to each of the three meals. We see something fascinating from Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzatto’s explanation of honoring Shabbos in his Mesilas Yesharim, chapter 9. He writes that Rav Nachman would contemplate what he would do according to hivs means to honor another person. The operative term is “according to his means.” So based upon this Mesillas Yesharim, here are some suggestions: For the night seudah – it could be a nicer meat (but mention that it is for the honor of Rosh Chodesh) such as ribs or London Broil. If money is somewhat tighter, adding another type of fish in addition to gefilte fish such as salmon can do the trick. If money is even tighter, preparing a second choice of gefilte fish with a different recipe is sufficient. For the Shabbos day meal, adding a deli platter or just adding something to the salad that one normally doesn’t do. For Shalosh Seudos, one can add sushi, or salmon or even an extra fruit platter. During longer Shabbosim, if one is milchig, a cheesecake can do the trick. If money is tight, one can add ice cream for dessert. Let us keep in mind that thinking of possible suggestions like we are doing in this article is actually a mitzvah of vechibato, honoring Shabbos. This is clearly seen from the Mesilas Yesharim’s explanation of Rav Nachman. Wishing everyone a gut Shabbos and a gutten chodesh.
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t is Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Adar Rishon this coming Shabbos. And when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos, there is a fascinating yet unresolved halachic question: Is it for one meal or for three meals? As a preface, we know that Rosh Chodesh is a special and festive occasion that symbolizes the renewal of the Jewish people. It is for this reason that the Shulchan Aruch rules that it is a mitzvah to add food on the seudah of Rosh Chodesh. The Tur (Siman 419) cites a psikta that states in regard to Rosh Chodesh that if one adds to Rosh Chodesh [in a seudah] then that person receives additions from Heaven.
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One Meal or Three?
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Torah Thought
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Unfair, But Just
By Rabbi Zvi Teichman
I
f you take your fellow’s garment as security, until sunset shall you return it to him. For it alone is his clothing, it is his garment for his skin — in what should he lie down? — so it will be that if he cries out to me, I shall listen, for I am compassionate. (Shemos 22, 25-26) The Torah here is dealing with a debtor who couldn’t pay what he owed by the due date, thus compelling the creditor to act by confiscating an item as collateral to secure his loan. If the article is clothing the debtor needs during the day, or a blanket he utilizes at night, not possessing anoth-
er, though the creditor may generally hold on to it, he must return it to the debtor during those times of the day the debtor needs them. The last part of the verse describing the cries of the debtor, seems to be referring to a situation where the creditor refuses to return it temporarily to the needy debtor, causing the debtor to call out in anguish to G-d to save him from the hands of the insensitive creditor, with G-d assuring him that he hears his plaint and will respond in kind to exact punishment against the cruel creditor. Is it G-d’s compassion that prods His response? Isn’t it rather G-d’s at-
tribute of justice that demands a reaction? Additionally, the verse merely appeals to the creditor to note the plight of the debtor who possesses merely one garment to cover his ‘skin’, encouraging the creditor to exhibit kindness in allowing the debtor to make use of it in his time of need. There is no evidence that he didn’t take the advice. Why are there cries? The Baal HaTurim (as well as the Daas Zekeinim) offers a remarkable interpretation of this verse. The cry here is not in complaint against the callous and indifferent creditor, but rather in response to the noble action of a compliant creditor who kindly and with sensitivity absorbs G-d’s entreaty to him, returning dutifully, day in and day out, the collateral the creditor needs, until such time as he is able to make full restitution. The debtor ‘cries’ out to G-d in
prayer on behalf of his generous creditor asking of G-d to bestow blessing upon him. The most startling discovery in this interpretation is that when one senses gratitude towards another it is insufficient to merely thank the person but one must pray on his behalf as well. Furthermore, in an unusual departure from the norm, the Torah attests that G-d guarantees He will hear his request. What is so powerful in this prayer of the debtor that warrants so mighty of an assurance from G-d? Even more perplexing is the strangeness in the use of verb — צעק crying. So, it will be that — כי יצעקif he cries out to Me, — ושמעתיI shall listen ()כב כו One generally doesn’t cry out when petitioning G-d to reward someone’s kindness. One weeps in stress
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When man displays this greater consciousness of the hand of G-d in every encounter of life, accepting his reality even while he still cries out to improve his lot, that is when one senses the presence of the Shechinah in life. No wonder G-d promises in this exquisite moment of clarity and acceptance of G-d’s compassion even while experiencing difficulties, to answer the prayers on behalf of the creditor, as the earlier quoted verse so beautifully concludes, for — חנון אניI am compassionate. It is recorded in the name of the Rokeach, the Twelfth century illustrious rabbinic leader, Talmudist, and Kabbalist, points out that in Chumash there are eighteen references to the verb — שמעhearing, in the context of G-d listening to the pleas of those who call out to Him, which correspond to the eighteen blessings of the Amidah, the Shemoneh Esrei. Our verse — ‘So it will be that if he cries out to Me, I shall listen’ — is the thirteenth reference, which corresponds to the thirteenth blessing of ולירושלים עירך ברחמים תשוב ותשכון בתוכה — And to Yerushalayim, Your city, may You return in compassion, and may You rest within it. When we accept with equanimity the circumstances of our life; perceiving the blessings of good fortune we merit as tools to be utilized towards improving the lot of our fellow man; viewing the difficulties we face — that at times require us to be on the receiving end from others — as the hand of justness and providence, that summons us to be appreciative of, and pray on behalf of those who generously assist us — that is when we experience the presence of G-d, the Shechinah. In the merit of seeing and sensing the just amidst the ‘unfair’, will we merit to see the Divine Presence in its full manifestation, with its return to the holy city of Yerushalayim!
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and anguish over situations that seem helpless, without any solution in sight. Why the — צעקהthe cries, the shouting? Let us analyze more carefully the circumstances of this law. The debtor borrowed money and couldn’t keep his obligation to repay. The creditor fears that unless he somehow secures his money the debtor may be recalcitrant in ever paying up. The Talmud teaches that even if the sole garment the debtor owns is worth much more than what he owes, and he could verily sell it and pay back his due and still purchase a cheaper — though adequate — replacement, he doesn’t have to sell it. The creditor, for all we know, may be poor as well and in great need too, but he must nevertheless relent and accept the reality of this seeming imbalance and injustice. There exists a tremendous tension between the ‘rights’ of the creditor and the ‘needs’ of the debtor. The debtor feels the world is unfair, here he is impoverished and desperate, and in stark contrast his creditor is blessed with plenty. The creditor too questions the equity of the situation, why should he lose out and permit his debtor to keep his goose down jacket or fur coat while waiting for his rightful due? The Torah though instructs us that although the world may seem at times unfair, it is nevertheless always just. The creditor must view his stance here as an opportunity to utilize his gain to create world of compassion, accepting his fate dutifully as a fulfillment of the playing out of a divine providence. The debtor still cries out to G-d to improve his lot, as he still desires to climb out of his poverty and repay his loan, but at the same time appreciates the hand of G-d that placed him in the gracious embrace of a benevolent creditor who happily and with full understanding and sensitivity returns with a smile each day as he hands him the items he needs, without a taint of resentment. So, the debtor cries out in need even as he acknowledges the magnificence of his creditor pleading to G-d to bless him.
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7:05 AM Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) 7:15 AM Kedushas Yisrael Kol Torah Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah Ner Israel Rabbinical College
M, TH S S S, T, W, F S-F S-F
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7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Beth Tfiloh Congregation Kol Torah Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Shomrei Emunah Congregation
M, TH M-F M-F M, TH M, TH
7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring Agudath Israel of Baltimore Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation Chabad of Park Heights Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh Darchei Tzedek Kedushas Yisrael Khal Bais Nosson Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Shomrei Emunah Congregation
S S, T, W, F S S-F S-F S S S S S-F S S-F S S-F S-F S, T, W, F T, W, F
7:45 AM Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation Talmudical Academy Darchei Tzedek Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah Mesivta Kesser Torah Mesivta Shaarei Chaim 7:50 AM Derech Chaim Ner Tamid Ohel Moshe
M-F S-F M-F S-F S-F S-F S S M-F
8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Beth Abraham Darchei Tzedek Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek Kehillas Meor HaTorah Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Ohel Yakov Ohr Yisroel Pikesville Jewish Congregation Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation The Shul at the Lubavitch Center Tiferes Yisroel Tzeirei Anash Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah
S-F S S S S S-F S S S S S-F S S S S-F
8:15 AM Kehilath B'nai Torah Kol Torah Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim 8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Ohel Moshe Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Shomrei Emunah Congregation Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh 8:45 AM Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 9:00 AM Aish Kodesh Agudath Israel of Baltimore Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Beth Tfiloh Congregation Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Shomrei Emunah Congregation Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim 9:15 AM Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 9:30 AM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 9:45 AM Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 10:00AM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
S S S-F S-F S-F S-F S-F S S S-F S S-F S S-F S S S S-F S S-F S-F S-F S-F S-F S-F
Mincha
Mincha Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Gedolah
Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek 12:30 PM Kol Torah 12:50 PM One South Street, 27th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202 1:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) 10055 Red Run Blvd Suite 295 Milk & Honey Bistro 1777 Reisterstown RD 1:25 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim 1:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) 1:45 PM Ohel Moshe 2:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room Kol Torah Market Maven Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Reischer Minyan 15 Walker Ave 2nd Floor Snider Law Firm 600 Reistersown Rd 7th floor 2:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (Sunday) Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan Ner Israel Rabbinical College Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building) Shearith Israel Congregation 2:45 PM Kollel of Greenspring 3:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F) Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 3:05 PM Kedushas Yisrael 3:15 PM Hat Box 3:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (Sunday) 4:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th) Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah
Mincha/Maariv Before Shkiah Aish Kodesh Agudath Israel of Baltimore Agudah of Greenspring Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Beth Abraham Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation Darchei Tzedek Kehillas Meor HaTorah Kehilath B’nai Torah Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek Machzikei Torah (Sternhill’s) Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Ner Tamid Ohel Moshe Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Ohr Yisroel Pikesville Jewish Congregation Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation Shomrei Mishmeres Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel The Shul at the Lubavitch Center Tiferes Yisroel
Maariv
6:00 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 6:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 7:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah 7:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 8:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 8:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah 8:45 PM Darchei Tzedek Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) Ohr Yisroel
Maariv continued
8:50 PM Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building) 8:55 PM Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh 9:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Arugas Habosem Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah Shomrei Emunah Congregation Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim 9:20 PM Kol Torah 9:30 PM Agudah of Greenspring Agudath Israel of Baltimore Kedushas Yisrael Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 9:40 PM Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] 9:45 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim Kollel Erev Birchas Yitzchok (Luries) Kollel of Greenspring Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah 9:50 PM Aish Kodesh Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh Ohel Moshe 10:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Darchei Tzedek Kehilath B'nai Torah Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation 10:05 PM Kol Torah 10:10 PM Ner Israel Rabbinical College 10:15 PM Derech Chaim Khal Bais Nosson 10:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah 11:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah Agudah of Greenspring - 6107 Greenspring Ave Agudath Israel of Baltimore - 6200 Park Heights Ave Ahavat Shalom - 3009 Northbrook Rd Aish Kodesh - 6207 Ivymount Rd Arugas HaBosem - 3509 Cwlarks Ln Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim - 3120 Clarks Ln Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore - 6823 Old Pimlico Rd Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh - 6618 Deancroft Rd Beit Yaakov - 3615 Seven Mile Ln Beth Abraham - 6208 Wallis Ave Beth Tfiloh Congregation - 3300 Old Court Rd Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation - 6602 Park Heights Ave Chabad of Park Heights - 3402 Clarks Ln Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh - 3800 Labyrinth Rd Darchei Tzedek - 3201 Seven Mile Ln Derech Chaim - 6229 Greenspring Ave (Weekday) Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue 6611 Greenspring Ave. Kedushas Yisrael - 6004 Park Heights Ave Kehilath B’nai Torah - 6301 Green Meadow Pkwy Kehillas Meor HaTorah - 6539 Pebble Brooke Rd Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek - 6811 Park Heights Ave Khal Bais Nosson - 2901 Taney Rd Kol Torah - 2929 Fallstaff Rd Kollel of Greenspring - 6504 Greenspring Ave. Machzikei Torah - 6216 Biltmore Ave Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah - 6500 Baythorne Rd Mesivta Kesser Torah - 8400 Park Heights Ave Mesivta Shaarei Chaim - 3702 Fords Ln Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah - 7000 Rockland Hills Dr Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber One South Street, 27th Floor Ner Israel Rabbinical College - 400 Mt Wilson Ln Ner Tamid - 6214 Pimlico Road Ohel Moshe - 2808 Smith Ave Ohel Yakov - 3200 Glen Ave Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] - 6813 Park Heights Ave Ohr Yisroel - 2429 Lightfoot Dr Pikesville Jewish Congregation - 7644 Carla Rd Shearith Israel Congregation - 5835 Park Heights Ave Shomrei Emunah Congregation - 6221 Greenspring Ave Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh - 2821 W Strathmore Ave Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim - 7504 Seven Mile Ln Talmudical Academy - 4445 Old Court Rd The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel - 5915 Park Heights Ave The Shul at the Lubavitch Center - 6701 Old Pimlico Rd Tiferes Yisroel - 6201 Park Heights Ave Tzeirei Anash - 6706 Cross County Blvd Wealcatch Insurance - 37 Walker Ave 2nd floor Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah - 6819 Williamson Ave
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7:00 AM Aish Kodesh (upstairs Minyan) Agudath Israel of Baltimore Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek Kol Torah Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh The Shul at the Lubavitch Center Tiferes Yisroel
T, W, F S S S M-F
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
6:20 AM Agudah of Greenspring M, TH Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S-F Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M-F Kehilath B'nai Torah M, TH Shomrei Emunah Congregation S, M, TH 6:25 AM The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel T, W, F 6:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring T, W, F Chabad of Park Heights M-F Darchei Tzedek M-F Kehilath B'nai Torah T, W, F Khal Bais Nosson M-F Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek M-F Kol Torah T, W, F Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah M-F Ohr Yisroel M-F Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F 6:35 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) M, TH Ohel Moshe M, TH 6:40 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) T, W, F Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M, TH 6:45 AM B”H and Mesivta of Baltimore (Dirshu Minyan) S-F Beth Abraham M, TH Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue M-F Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F Ner Tamid M-F Ohel Moshe T, W, F Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim M-F 6:50 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] M, TH Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh M, TH Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation T, W, F Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh M, TH Derech Chaim M-F Kol Torah M-F Ohel Moshe S Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH The Shul at the Lubavitch Center M, TH 6:55 AM Beth Abraham T, W, F Kol Torah M, TH
7:15 AM Shearith Israel Congregation Shomrei Emunah Congregation Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel Tzeirei Anash
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Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] Ohel Yakov 6:00 AM Shomrei Emunah Congregation 6:10 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore 6:15 AM Kol Torah Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah Shearith Israel Congregation The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel Neitz
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reading books and relaxing.
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By Mordechai Schmutter
The Joys of Fatherhood
T
his week is Presidents’ Day, when we celebrate our great country in which we have all the freedoms we can want, most importantly the freedom to practice our religion until we’re perfect at it.
- George Washington was our first president to wear pants. - He was also our first non-Jewish president. Ever. - George Washington was a friend of the Jews, but not all the Jews. There were some Jews he didn’t even know. Even I’m not a friend of all the Jews. - The color of George Washington’s white horse was brown. Like his teeth.
But we’re going to start with one of the only presidents that most people can name, aside from Abraham Lincoln and our current president, Whatshisname:
- Although Washington was against the British, he felt that the Boston Tea Party was a juvenile act of vandalism, and that, quote, “Somebody owes somebody some tea.”
George Washington.
- Despite numerous requests by the British to hold more of the Revolutionary War battles closer to where they lived, Washington would not give in, on the grounds that his horse could not swim. He wouldn’t even agree to meet at a halfway point in middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
- George Washington was a man of many talents – president, general, honest politician, woodcutter, and I think he built a bridge between New York and New Jersey for some reason, which— wouldn’t you believe it? Is currently for sale. - George Washington ran for president under the slogan, “Make America.” - When George Washington was elected president, he set up the nation’s first capital in New York City, because it creeped him out to live in a place called Washington. - Eventually, he decided to move he capital out of New York City, because of traffic. In fact, he spent so much time sitting still on the GW that they decided to name it after him.
- In George Washington’s days, there were no news broadcasts. He found out most of his news from his sheitelmacher. - Actually, George Washington did not wear a wig. He just powdered his actual hair to look like one, for some reason. Whenever he sneezed, he powdered the whole room. - That said, George Washington was our first president who had a ponytail. Come to think of it, I
- It took them three weeks to pose for that boat painting, during which several of his boatmates froze in that position. - In the famous Delaware painting, George Washington was wearing his pants tucked into his socks because there was water at the bottom of the boat. - Known as the father of our country, George was the first child born to Mary Ball Washington, the grandmother of our country. - When he was six, George confessed to chopping down a cherry tree, which we have chosen to use as a story about telling lies instead of a story about letting six-year-olds play with hatchets. - Washington’s father died when George was 11. His cause of death is uncertain, but I would not rule out falling trees. - Washington inherited the famous Mount Vernon Estate from his brother, Larry Washington, the weird uncle of our country.
- George Washington had a plantation in which he mainly grew wheat and tobacco. And yes, the tobacco stained his teeth, but then he’d just buy new ones. - Over his lifetime, Washington had over 30 dogs. In case you wonder how he went through so many, the dogs’ names that we have on record are Drunkard, Taster, and Tipsy. - Another true fact that may be related was that he made his own whiskey. - George was also one of the most successful liquor salesmen of the new nation, which might explain why everyone kept electing him. - George Washington’s dentures were not made of wood. That’s gross. They were made of his own teeth that had fallen out, some animal teeth, and some human teeth that he’d paid people for. Don’t be disgusting. - The Washington monument looks nothing like George Washington. - Washington died in December of 1799 when he came down with something after refusing to change out of his wet clothes. When he took ill, several doctors were brought in, and the general consensus was to try bloodletting. They let out about 5 pints (80 ounces) of his blood that day, but weirdly it didn’t help. - Doctors were not the best back then. Before he died, Washington requested that he not be buried for three days after his death, just in case. - Everybody liked George Washington as president, possibly because they had no previous presidents to compare him to. He might have also been good, but we’ll never really know.
Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writer and a humor columnist for Hamodia and other magazines. He has also published eight books and does stand-up comedy. You can contact him at MSchmutter@gmail.com.
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- For a while there, in an attempt to avoid bridge traffic, he just moved to Washington Heights, after which he was somehow always on time to work. It must be something about Washington Heights.
- Everyone knows that George Washington crossed the Delaware, but what everyone doesn’t know is that he crossed a lot of other rivers too. He just didn’t always stop to be painted.
- George Washington’s “cannot tell a lie” business would get him into a lot of sholom bayis issues, which is why he chose to spend so much time on the road.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
So I think that maybe we should celebrate by brushing up on our presidential facts. My plan is to cover one president per year until I run out of presidents or until this country hurtles into the sun, whichever comes first.
could do this “first” thing a lot and fill the whole article.
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To Raise a Laugh
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
When Pizza is More Than Just Sauce and Cheese TJH Speaks with Sruly Lieber, Who Has Been Facilitating Thousands of Pizza Deliveries to the IDF Heroes
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Sruly, we hear that you have been facilitating the delivery of almost 4,000 pies of pizza to IDF soldiers inside Gaza since the war started on October 7. Sruly Lieber: That’s mostly true. Part of those deliveries went to IDF units in other areas, not just inside Gaza. We sent pizza as a thank you to soldiers fighting at the Egyptian border in the South, the Chevron region, the Jerusalem area, northern Samaria, Jordan Valley, the northern border, up to the Lebanese border, and the Golan Heights. How is it possible to deliver pizza inside Gaza and in the middle of a war? Are you the Uber Eats for the IDF or what?! Not quite, but suffice it to say, the risky delivery fee is included. There is an incredible chayal named Elisha Kuchar; he’s a reservist currently stationed in the north. He runs an organization called PizzaIDF. He took it over from his father who started it during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002. Elisha is very well connected in the IDF and handles the logistics. Every delivery is arranged with the army and cleared with each commander before delivery is set up. We don’t just show up unannounced. The backend is run by his awesome wife Tanya from their home in Ranana, where she is the mom to their four kids and is also in United Hatzalah. I’m just helping them out with their mission. The
main goal has been the same since his father Menachem started it all those years ago: to allow people all over the world to send love, thanks and support in the form of, yes, delicious, fresh kosher pizza! Maybe this is a weird question coming from a New Yorker, but why pizza? Well, the IDF feeds the soldiers mostly items like canned tuna and canned corn. We love our IDF heroes and want to send love and thank them for their sacrifice in other ways. The logistics of pizza are easy, much easier than a BBQ, and much less expensive. A pie is only $18 and it feeds four soldiers. You don’t need to set up or cook anything, it’s not a huge production, and they eat it immediately on delivery. Also, did you know Israelis love pizza?! The kitchen staff at the bases told us that the IDF is so strict with kashrus that all their kitchens are exclusively fleishig. They said pizza was genius because they have so many meat-based meals that this occasional alternative is a “real treat” and “breath of fresh air” for the soldiers. What kind of units have you sent pizza to? Well, my personal involvement is a drop in the bucket. Elisha himself has received worldwide donations and facilitated delivery of over 35,000 pies since the war started! Together with what we raised they have cov-
ered just about everyone – commandos, special forces, artillery, tank units, K9 squads, counter-terrorism units, the air force, Mishtara, and many others. We also made deliveries to volunteer border patrols and injured soldiers in hospitals. We even delivered to IDF bases all over Israel and beyond, some of them personally. I’ve arranged deliveries for friends and their families (and continue to) to be able to deliver the pizza themselves. My extended family and I did this twice at two different bases over Chanukah during a trip for my son’s bar mitzvah. I will tell you firsthand, yummy food aside, they are so touched by the gesture and really feel the support. All these deliveries were beyond meaningful and hard to put into words. I’m happy to set this up for anyone who emails me. What’s it like for the soldiers when they get delivery of the pizza in the field? We’ve seen the videos of the army in Gaza, so readers might find it hard to imagine a pizza delivery with bullets flying and explosions going off. How does it work? It’s crazy. The soldiers are shocked almost every time they get the pizza. I give the order details to Elisha, and he calls one of the pizza shops in his database that he has used for many years, which is closest to that area. It’s always a shop he can personally vouch for – vouch for their quality and reliability, hechsher, and, of course, clearance with the IDF. If it’s a location outside of Gaza
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Sruly with his son on Chanukah delivering pizzas to soldiers
Are the deliveries random, or can you pick what kind of unit you want to send it to when you place your order/make your donation? Great question! Elisha makes things happen. He’s just good like that. And everyone knows him and PizzaIDF. They will take small, random orders, no problem, but for medium-sized and larger ones, not only can you request it go to a specific unit, but he can track down specific soldiers and deliver to him/her and their units. This is where I made it more personal on my end. Elisha helped me get pizza to my cousins’ units, to units of my friends’ relatives who are serving, and even for strangers who called or emailed me who wanted to set up an order and delivery for their own relatives or friends’ kids. Baruch Hashem, we made it happen every time. No matter where their mission took them, the pizza followed. Usually, they don’t think we can do it and donors are always shocked when they get back a video from the war zone, in the middle of hell, with a bunch of soldiers eating what they sent, saying, “Thank you to my…friend, family, school or camp – by name – for the pizza, thank you for thinking of us! It means so much, we love you guys! Am Yisrael chai!” It brings both sides so much joy. It keeps us connected. They can’t believe we care. But that’s really only part of it.
And what’s the other aspect most overlooked? Parnassah! And the Israeli economy. When the war broke out, many businesses and, of course, pizza shops around the country had to close or began to struggle mightily. Elisha has texts from pizza shop owners who sounded borderline suicidal. One was a very young entrepreneur who had just opened days before the war! Elisha told him, “Stop. Don’t worry. Go open your brandnew shop. Fire up the ovens. I am ordering 200 pies from you. Per week!” It is everyone’s donations that helped keep these pizza shops afloat these last few months. We are feeding Israeli families from multiple angles.
That’s amazing. What do you mean just a part of it? What else is there? Well, there is the “feeding” of the soldiers. There is the show of support and showing them you are thinking of them. But two more aspects are very much overlooked. The first is the boost in morale. It’s just pizza, but you can’t imagine what kind of change comes over them when an army truck or Humvee pulls up to them full
Many people around town know you as the person who constructs their kitchen cabinets. What’s your connection to this? Is there any profit in this for you? Another great question. The short answer is no. Zero. The longer answer is that we all see guys going on missions and making barbecues for soldiers all the time, right? Well, I can’t do that. So this is my barbeque. This, I can do. I can juggle this chessed in my not-so-spare time. Initially, I really just wanted to do something after October 7, anything to be involved, to help. I was awestruck by the 400K strong, running to fight and protect Am Yisrael. I just wanted to say thank you! This fell into my lap… No, it was sent my way, and with Hashem’s help, and the help of awesome friends, relatives,
schools and local businesses, it really took off. We have done some very meaningful things, like feeding multiple brigades l’zecher nishmas loved ones, donations for a refuah sheleimah, and tracking down three brothers, nephews in three separate units in Gaza for one uncle and aunt, just to send some love and support. We have made some really interesting deliveries and many crazy things have happened along the way – so many I could write a book. Can you tell us one or two of the most interesting or meaningful deliveries? Sure. One interesting delivery was for 100 pies that a group of my awesome friends donated collectively to a brigade in Gaza. The commander of these 400 soldiers set up the delivery with Elisha for a specific time for a surprise dinner. The pizza was made and boxed, loaded in vans and brought to the border. It was halfway to their location in Gaza when the commander called and said, “Turn around, we can’t take it. We had a mission and ate a late meat-based lunch. I’m sorry, but it won’t be six hours for a while and so I cannot give the pizza to these guys.” The pizza ended up in the hands of basically any units or soldiers scattered along the route back to the border. “Mi
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of pies of pizza and they tell them a bunch of New Yorkers sent them, with tons of love and support. The whole atmosphere transforms in an instant. A pizza party in a hellish war zone is a real thing. PizzaIDF makes this happen.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
or near the border, the delivery is made in a normal fashion. If it’s inside Gaza, it’s usually handed off to the soldiers who transport it to its further and riskier destination – Jabalia, Khan Younis, even the West Bank in areas like Jenin.
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FEBRUARY 8, 2024
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Elisha, head of PizzaIDF, with the mayor of Shomron
Moishy, on top, with his unit, holding the boxes of pizza delivered with love
k’amcha Chalav Yisrael!” Another story was really touching. My wife’s friend contacted me. Her friend in Israel had a son in the IDF. Moishy was allowed to go home for 24 hours, because he was switched out of his unit that day with his close friend, who was pulled back in from his own 24-hour leave – another frum fighter. Unfortunately, the friend was killed on that mission. Moishy felt that his taking the 24-hour leave caused this to happen. He thought it should have been him! His whole unit was distraught. Morale was at its lowest. Moishy and his unit were in aveilus. Moishy’s mom had heard about what kinds of things we were doing with pizza for the soldiers. She wondered what we could do and thought maybe it could help in some way. This friend didn’t hesitate. She made the donation for the unit, and we set it up for a day or two later. The video and pictures this mom got back, of her son and his friends in Gaza, with boxes of fresh pizza was incredible. They were smiling, and they were truly uplifted by this delicious distraction, delivered with a simple note saying, “We are with you! all the way from ‘Kfar Rockaway,’ NY!” The mom wrote us a letter of thanks that really chokes me up when I think about it. That is so beautiful! I don’t think I’ll ever look at pizza again the same way and can’t wait to buy the book! But where are all these donations coming from? Mainly through my small group of friends, clients and contacts using mainly my WhatsApp status. But I’ve had some help along the way. My son’s class in Yeshiva Darchei Torah raised money, my nephews’ and nieces’ class and other classes in HAFTR; multiple classes in YKLI and North Shore Academy did the same. Camp Lavi sent pizza to many former staff currently serving. They fed entire units and platoons. We have also fed entire brigades with the help of incredible corporate sponsors like Electric And Beyond, SDF-A Architects, Extreme Vent Cleaners, Fruit Platters & More, as well as Mittman Electric. These companies jump to lift the spirits and fill the bellies of our IDF heroes.
Sruly Lieber personally delivering pies of pizza to IDF heroes
Wives and families of soldiers receiving a delivery of support in the form of pizza
You raised about $100K in three months. For a hardworking cabinet guy with no fundraising experience, that’s not bad at all. How have things changed three months later? Well, yes and no. We are still taking orders anytime someone asks to send pizza to soldiers. But we pivoted two weeks ago to a bit of a spin-off: pizza for the families of the soldiers.
“It’s just pizza, but you can’t imagine what kind of change comes over them when an army truck or Humvee pulls up to them full of pies of pizza and they tell them a bunch of New Yorkers sent them, with tons of love and support.”
That’s sounds amazing. Tell us more. We are focusing on the Shomron right now. Through the mayor, Elisha was given a list of how many fami-
lies in each yishuv have a father or husband fighting in the war. We decided to give those moms and kids some thanks and support as well. We want these moms to get a night off from making dinner, and so we are bringing them pizza. It’s also a night off from the cost of making dinner while their husbands aren’t working. With help from my Five Towns and Queens friends, clients, and friends, we already raised enough to feed 103 IDF families in “Migdalim”! The mayor came to the event and thanked us. The soldiers’ wives were in tears that we thought to do this for them. We also raised enough to feed 105 IDF families in “Itamar,” 50 IDF families in “Riyhan,” and my cousin in Montreal raised enough for 78 IDF families in “Gilad.” Those deliveries will be over the next week or so. We are hoping more people will help us deliver fresh support to more of these yishuvim, with donations for these IDF families who sacrifice so much. Incredible stuff! So simple, yet so powerful. Anything else on the horizon? Yes. Purim is going to be amazing. Sending mishloach manos to soldiers, their kids and/or their families is going to be important, and we have some special things planned to make it a Purim sameach for them. Stay tuned! For general donations or to set up random unit deliveries, you can contribute at www.PizzaIDF.org. If you want to send pizza to a specific chayal, email me at slieber7@gmail.com. If you, your friends, shul, camp, school, etc., want to take on a yishuv and collect for a delivery on your own or to sponsor one (it’s tax deductible), email me at the address below. We can set up a team page for you. Or, if you want to visit an IDF base and hand-deliver your own pizza, email me as well. B’yachad n’natzeach. Am Yisrael chai!
To donate, visit PizzaIDF.org or email Sruly Lieber directly at SLieber7@gmail.com. For the special Purim deliveries, visit PizzaIDF.org/purim.
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Mental Health Corner The Bully’s Victim veloping and trying to figure the world out. For many of them, their role as a bully was a result of their immaturity and they grow up to deeply regret the bullying they committed when they were younger. Other bullies are victims of abuse themselves and they need us to help them and not to criminalize them. Another important point we must make is that although this article is written about school children, it is not limited to children at all. It happens all the time in high schools and beyond, and can even happen in the workplace amongst adults. Additionally, bullying is not gender-specific, and can happen both amongst boys and girls. With that introduction, let us begin. Bullying can be caused by a variety of factors including jealousy, feelings of inferiority, choosing easy targets, and threats to their popularity. For this reason, the typical profile of a victim can vary. Success: Someone in school who is successful in a specific area, such as academics or sports, can cause a po-
ance: Human beings tend to group people based on their outward appearance. This is one of the main causes of racism, which is an adult form of bullying. As such, anyone with a distinct appearance can be a target for bullying, whether it is due to skin color, a physical disability, or illness. Knowing how bullies work can empower us as bystanders to help the victim. Even if you do not have the courage to confront the bully, you can immeasurably help the victim by befriending him or her. The success of a bully is to the degree that his or her victim is isolated and degraded. When the bully sees that people are being friendly with their victim, they see the futility of their actions and the bullying behavior is often stopped in its tracks. When someone is being a bully, it is your job to become a buddy. 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
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
School bullying is an unwanted and aggressive behavior between school-aged children that is repetitious (or has the potential to be repetitious) and involves an imbalance of power. The bullying can be verbal, physical, or social. The imbalance of power can be the result of an age difference, superior physical strength, or higher social status. There are many aspects to confronting the problem of bullying in schools, and in this article, we will focus on the typical profile of the bully’s victim. Before we begin, we must point out that any discussion about the victim is in no way meant to convey that it is the victim’s fault. The sole responsibility of bullying rests with the bully. The purpose of this discussion is to enhance our understanding of the nature of bullying as part of the process of coming up with ways to prevent bullying behavior. Furthermore, sometimes discussions of bullies are conveyed in ways that makes the bully sound sadistic or evil. These are young kids who are de-
tential bully to feel inferior. The bully might also be concerned that the attention given to another student might draw attention away from them. For this reason, gifted students are commonly bullied. Vulnerability: Some children are naturally introverted or anxious and are easy targets for a bully as they are less likely to fight back. A bully who is trying to feel powerful by putting down others will search out those children who are the low-hanging fruit in their school. Isolation: Bullies are only successful when their victims are isolated and others do not come their aid. When someone is isolated to begin with and does not have that many friends, the bully will notice this. Popularity: This might be counterintuitive, but some victims of a bully were actually popular kids before the bullying began and their popularity was the trigger for the bully. Even if the popular kid is not especially vulnerable, the bully will try to find whatever vulnerabilities that are there in order to dethrone the threat to their own perceived popularity. Distinctive Physical Appear-
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By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman
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CAST BACK TO EARTH By Rabbi Moshe Dear
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Executive Director, Baltimore Bikur Cholim
M
y senses are jarred each year as we transition from parshas Yisro to Mishpatim. For weeks, the story of Bnai Yisrael kept us on a high! We left Mitzrayim with great anticipation, we experienced the splitting of the Yam Suf and belted out the Shiras HaYam. Then we encircled Har Sinai, like one person with one heart, and accepted the Torah as we were privileged to experience Hashem’s revelation like no other time in history, before or ever! We are in the heavens, so holy and sublime! Turn the page and wait a week, and we are cast quickly back to earth. The holy and sublime existence is transformed to the mundane and pedestrian. Where the Torah was describing the miracles at Yam Suf, we now hear
about slaves, and damages by pits and fire. A week ago we heard Hashem’s voice and this week we learn the laws of punching our fellow, and cursing our parents. Why do these parshiyos treat us with such a jarring and stark change of topics and moods? I feel that, perhaps, an intended message for us is that holiness and spirituality cannot be fully achieved without a true application of the Torah values within our families, communities, and indeed, the entire world. Going from the Har Sinai experience to learning what I pay for my goring cow, is in reality, taking it up a notch because now our acceptance of Torah is focused on how to apply these values towards my communal obligations. Striving for individual spiritual attainment while neglecting our inter-
personal duties and responsibilities in entirely missing the boat. Hashem has enough angels to take care of heaven. He needs Bnai Yisrael to take care of those on earth. This idea may answer another question. In Yisro, Moshe Rabbeinu already relayed Bnai Yisrael’s response regarding their willingness to accept the Torah. “Naaseh! We will do!”, they responded. Why then in this week’s parsha, does Bnai Yisrael need to reply yet again but this time with “Naaseh V’Nishma- We will do and hear”? I believe that a message here is to instill in us that it is not sufficient to merely be a nation of individual DOers. We also must commit to the Nishma, to be a nation of listeners, who are
sensitized and aware of the plight of others, our neighbors pain, the cries of the needy, and the loneliness of those who have nobody who cares. As we dedicate ourselves to our own spiritual growth and accomplishments, we must be equally cognizant of the fact that sometimes our own road to spiritualty may be through my neighbor’s home, the sick person’s bedside, or across our community member’s dining room table, offering a listening ear and an empathetic heart. So, each year as we experience this jarring contrast within the parshiyos, and become transitioned from heaven to earth yet again, I believe it is to serve as an annual reminder that our holy mission is only complete when we extend ourselves to others.
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New Building Main Entrance Adjacent to the Spiritual Care offices - Room 3281
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LOCATION CHANGE!
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Tech Triumphs Smart Move As Told to Rebbetzin Sara Gross
M
y journey from an avid smartphone holder to a proud flip phone owner began in the summer of 2022, following the incredible TAG women’s event, Nekadesh. My Rav felt it was a good opportunity to capitalize on the inspiration from the event by encouraging people to give up their smartphones. I on my own decided to take on a Chizuk in technology and got rid of the browser on my smartphone. But with time I was approached about getting rid of my smartphone completely, and I pushed back hard. I simply could not understand what was wrong with my smartphone, as it was completely protected. My Rav spoke about breaking the addiction to the smartphone, but at the time I could not recognize how addicted I was. The one point, however, which really resonated with me was the Chinuch aspect. My Rav argued that it’s only a matter of time until my children get older and request a smart
device of their own. I instinctively understood that this is not something I wanted my children to have (at least not while still being kids or teens), and I also understood that it would come across as hypocritical to say that it was okay for me to have one but not for them. So after a few weeks of grappling with this question, I found myself in Lakewood and begrudgingly bought myself the first generation Sunbeam flip phone and committed to trying it out. Let me tell you – the first couple days were torture. I experienced some real withdrawal, not having the comfort of the smartphone with me at all times. This made me realize how addicted I really was. But after just a few days I started tasting a newly found freedom, and it was exhilirating! Although I use my flip phone quite a lot, I no longer felt that urge to regularly pull it out to check for new content or notifications. And I discovered a new ability to use my mind to focus and think
about Hashem, my life, and the world around me when I have downtime like standing in line waiting, sitting at a Simcha, etc., whereas previously I would have pulled out my phone to check my email or the news. Looking back now, I can confidently say that getting rid of my smartphone was one of the best decisions I made in my life, and I am immensely grateful to my Rav for gently pushing me in this direction. To be clear, the goal here was not to disconnect from technology completely but rather to simply not have a smart device always on me. I still own a tablet that I keep in my
car which I use for all my apps, and I check it periodically throughout the day. There’s much to be said from a technical standpoint about how it all works out, but the important thing to understand is that there are solutions to the technical challenges and whatever inconveniences do come along with the lack of a smartphone are well overshadowed by the freedom of not being bonded to one’s device. I am happy to share more of my experience as well as practical tips for making a flip phone/ tablet combination work for whoever is willing to give it a try. I strongly believe making the switch will be well worth your while! Sincerely, Shaul Edelman This is a service of TAG Baltimore. TAG Baltimore is an organization that provides technology awareness, education, and support. They can be reached at 410-449-1824 or help@ tagbaltimore.org.
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Voice N
tes
By Kylie Ora Lobell
(Pa sca l) cohen
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Pho to by Mir iaM
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Being Jewish Is a Gift
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random assortment of events that made no sense. i frequently had devastating panic attacks in college, where i’d lie in bed all night, staring up at the ceiling until sunrise, worried about my future. i had no way of giving up control, no source of comfort and no gratitude for all the blessings in my life. then, when i met my husband and he took me to chabad for Friday night din-
bask in the glory of spiritual calm. and of course, i gained a relationship with hashem, which gave me a purpose. “Why would you want to become a Jew?” Why wouldn’t i want to become a Jew? the Jews are the chosen people because hashem took the torah to all the other nations, and none of them wanted it. We chose to take it on. We chose the
We chose the responsibility to communicate Hashem’s presence to the world and spread love and light.
ner, i felt hashem’s presence – there was a warmth in my chest that i’d never previously felt. My soul was sparked. i knew he existed. When i started converting, i gained the torah, a guidebook for life. i gained a community full of wonderful people whose mission in life was to give to others. i gained shabbat, a day when i could turn off that anxious part of my brain and
responsibility to communicate hashem’s presence to the world and spread love and light. We are obligated to follow the torah and teach the other nations about the noahide laws and why it’s important to have a relationship with hashem as well. What an honor. We choose to take the moral high ground, to do what’s right even if others are mischaracterizing us. What other
army alerts residents that there are going to be airstrikes like the iDF does? or rushes to provide lifesaving assistance to other countries when there is a disaster, like israel does? or helps other minority groups as much as the Jews? What a blessing. We have endless texts we can study to become closer to hashem and form a special relationship with him. We know the right path to take to live a meaningful and fulfilled life. We have direction on what true happiness is and how to attain it. What a gift. in a time when the entire world seems to be going after us, we must remember our purpose and higher calling. if hashem made you a Jew – or you converted like me – there’s a reason. We learn in the torah that hashem can turn curses into blessings. right now, if you feel like it’s a burden to be a Jew because of what’s going on in israel, because of all the hatred of Jews, remember: hashem can turn it around in an instant. in the meantime, your job is to be thankful, every single day, to be a Jew. Don’t take that precious gift for granted. Do you feel blessed to be Jewish? Email me: Kylie@koldigitalmarketing.com.
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hile i was still in the process of converting, my husband Daniel and i were sitting at kiddush when an orthodox Jewish man asked me, “Why would you want to become a Jew?” “What do you mean?” i said. “being a Jew is such a hassle. it’s so much work, and everyone hates you. i don’t know why anyone would choose to be a Jew.” i was taken aback and surprised to hear this from someone who, on the outside, seemed so sure of himself and his faith. i’ve thought back to that conversation often since october 7 and how there must be other Jews out there who feel exactly the same as he does. How sad that is. i recently attended a talk with rabbi noah Farkas, and he said something that stuck with me: “being Jewish is a gift.” i totally agree. being Jewish is a wonderful gift. in fact, becoming Jewish may have just saved my life. Prior to converting, i was a depressed atheist who was obsessed with pop culture, who learned her morals from television and movies. i thought that when you died, that was it – just eternal darkness – and that life was a
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FEBRUARY 8, 2024
nspiration Nation
Judge Ruchie Freier Be True To Yourself By Eliyahu RosEnBERg
P
eople often portray life as if it were a series of either/or decisions: I must do this or I must do that, but I can’t do both. We may sometimes even feel disadvantaged by the commitments we’ve made and the morals we’ve adopted, convincing ourselves that we are limited by the rules of life. Some completely abandon their morals, go off the path, and rebel against the ways of the past – all in an attempt
to free themselves from a prison that exists only within their minds. Others succumb to the opposite extreme and thus shy away from any opportunities for growth or change, opting to live passively in fear of violating their most sacred values. And yet, there exists a middle ground that few dare to explore. Although it’s simpler to just float to extremes, the world is not binary, and true success can only come from em-
In His Words… all you have to do is stretch out your arm, do your hishtadlus, and let hashem do the rest.
”
if you share your values with people, you will get respect. Don’t think that to succeed in the corporate, the legal, the
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outside secular world, you have to compromise your values. Whatever connects you to hashem, keep that as tight as you can because that is what will help you.
”
The Torah values which someone may think are going to hold them back from succeeding will do just the opposite. The rabbis who wrote the gemara knew what they were talking about. What applied thousands of years ago still applies today, because human nature doesn’t change.
”
bracing a life of balance. To pursue your dreams, to unlock your true potential, while refusing to abandon your values, is the only way to become a true leader. We live in a world where rebels are often touted as the greatest, most courageous individuals. To leave your life behind, abandon your values, and slander the community you once belonged to is almost in style now; you can star in your own TV show, be featured in magazines, and even write an autobiography. Now, I am not at all referring to people who went off the derech after going through trauma and abuse; those people should never be judged, but rather, should only be cared for and loved. Rather, I am speaking of people who have a false victim mentality and, in an effort to gain fame and wealth, invoke and promote negative stereotypes, fuel drama, and misrepresent entire communities through over-exaggeration and falsehood. Contrary to popular belief, courage is not found in those who discard morals; it’s found in those who keep their values and are still able to achieve greatness. In 2016, Ruchie Freier made headlines as the very first chassidish woman to be elected as a judge in the United States of America. Born and raised in Borough Park, where she and her family reside till this very day, Judge Freier credits much of her accomplishments to her ultra-Orthodox upbringing, lifestyle, and values, which, according to
her, have done anything but limit her potential. “My mot her, a n incred ible, open-minded, very frum woman, always told us [me and my sisters], ‘Girls, you could do whatever you want, so long as it isn’t illegal, immoral, or against the Torah,’” explained Judge Freier. “Here we were, growing up ultra-frum, ultra-Orthodox in Borough Park, but I never felt restricted or confined. I knew that whatever I wanted to do within the parameters of Torah, I could do it.” After graduating from Bais Yaakov High School, Ruchie Freier started working in the law field, and over the decade that was to follow, she found herself employed as a legal secretary and assistant in several prestigious law firms. One day, she realized that the satisfaction she felt in working as a legal assistant had begun to fade away. She hadn’t made any progress in her career, she wasn’t moving anywhere, and she feared that there would one day come a time when she would have to explain to her grandchildren why she didn’t push herself to become a lawyer when she knew she could. She decided, at age thirty, with three children and a fourth on the way, to go to college. Six years later, Ruchie Freier, with six children and with endless support from her husband and family, graduated from Touro College. Although she was surrounded by voices of encouragement from her loved ones, everywhere she
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was told that they would need to hire a lawyer to work pro bono if they wanted to get anywhere. They compiled a list of five lawyers, and the only one to answer their call was Ruchie Freier. “I interviewed women and I realized that there’s a need for this, and I said: ‘If I went to law school for this cause alone, it was worth it’,” Judge Freier said. Before this incident, Ruchie Freier had zero medical experience and she had never envisioned herself in the field. And yet, she felt so strongly about the cause that she went through EMT and paramedic training in order to start her very own volunteer ambulance service: Ezras Nashim. While there are people who fiercely oppose Ezras Nashim and accuse Ruchie Freier of having a “radical feminist agenda,” she says that the organization is not at all about women’s rights; it’s about women’s dignity and modesty.
“I embrace the role of the traditional Jewish woman with pride. The irony is that I always tell people that I am not a feminist,” asserted Judge Freier. “The problem I have with genuine feminism is that having a family is always on the back burner. I have a profession, but my family comes first.” When she was in her early fifties, Ruchie Freier became a civil court judge. For the first time in her life, she had to campaign for a job; she had entered the public eye. But with help from her husband, children, mother, and others, she was successful. In 2023, she became a New York State Supreme Court justice. Who knows what’s next for Judge Ruchie Freier? Judge Ruchie Freier’s message to the world is as follows: Never compromise on your values, because your values can only push you forward. Being true to yourself will never hold you back.
This article is based on a podcast, “Inspiration For the Nation,” hosted by Yaakov Langer. To catch more of this conversation, you can watch it on LivingLchaim.com or YouTube.com/LivingLchaim or listen wherever you listen to podcasts (just search for “Inspiration For The Nation”) or call our free hotline: 605-477-2100.
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coming a lawyer, she became involved in helping at-risk chassidish teenage boys and went on to start a support group and a high school equivalency program for those in need. “Not too long after that, I got a phone call from a random group of women, saying that they wanted to join Hatzalah; they were EMTs and doulas, and they wanted to help primarily when women were having emergency labor,” said Ruchie Freier. “And I asked myself: who are these women? I mean, who needs them anyhow? But, I had a deal with G-d, so I had to at least go and see what it’s all about.” Who was at the meeting? Some of the frummest, most chassidish women Ruchie had ever seen; principals, teachers, and other important community members stood before her. They explained to her how, early on in Hatzalah’s life, three hundred women were trained as part of the organization’s women’s division. However, due to concerns with men and women working together, the women’s team was immediately disbanded. “When the women reached out to me, which was around 2010, the Rebbe in New Square had started to incorporate women in Hatzalah of New Square because women there, who would give birth in Manhattan, would very often give birth enroute to the hospital, and they went to the Rebbe, and said: ‘We’re very embarrassed when we deliver babies by the hands of our nextdoor neighbors. As well-intentioned as they are, it’s embarrassing,’” Freier explained. “Then the women from Borough Park woke up and they said, ‘Hey, maybe now the rabbanim from Borough Park will let us start again.’” But it wasn’t so simple. The group
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went, she would encounter naysayers who would predict that she would fail. “The biggest fear that people instilled in me was: ‘Ruchie, if you go on to higher education, you won’t be as frum, you won’t be as chassidish. You’re going to let go.’ And that really bothered me,” she said. “Why? Why does having a profession and being chassidish have to be mutually exclusive? Why can’t I have both?” Of course, Touro, where classes aren’t mixed and nearly everyone is frum, didn’t present any challenges to Ruchie in terms of religion; she was concerned about the unknown, mysterious world that lay ahead. Having been admitted into Brooklyn Law School, a new world with mixed classes and liberal, non-religious professors, Ruchie was concerned of the possibility that her naysayers may just be right: that she couldn’t become a lawyer without becoming less religious in the process. Conflicted about what she should do, Ruchie made a promise to Hashem. “I turned to Hashem, and I said: ‘Gd, I’m going to make a deal with you. Help me get through law school without compromising my standards, and when your children come to me for help, I’ll help them,’” Judge Freier recalled. In fact, instead of becoming less religious in law school, Ruchie somehow found herself more connected to Judaism, as she became involved in kiruv and began organizing all sorts of events for secular Jews and professors on campus. According to Judge Freier, through her efforts, two lawyers even became religious. When Ruchie Freier was forty years old, she graduated from Brooklyn Law School, and in her words, “G-d wasted no time in testing” her. Shortly after be-
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1. *
TJH
San Francisco 49ers v. Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Trivia 1. He owned the Kansas City Chiefs and brought the team from Dallas to Kansas City in 1963. He also coined the phrase “Super Bowl.” Who was he? a. Vince Lombardi b. Lamar Hunt c. Andy Rooney d. Wellington Timothy Mara 2. How many Super Bowls have the 49ers won so far? a. 2 b. 4 c. 5 d. 6 3. When was the last time the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl? a. 1959 b. 1969 c. 2021 d. 2023 4. Which team drafted more Super Bowl-appearing quarterbacks? a. Detroit Lions b. Detroit Tigers
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Centerfold
5. In what way did the Kansas City Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium make history on September 24, 2014? a. Their quarterback Matt Nagy threw 5 interceptions before making one completion. b. The game was played in blizzard conditions with 7 inches of snow falling during the actual game. c. There was a blackout, and the game had to be postponed.
d. The loudest crowd roar ever was recorded. 6. In the waning seconds of the 1981 NFC Championship Game, played between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park, Joe Montana completed a pass to Dwight Clark in the end zone, winning the game for the 49es, ending the Cowboy’s 1970s dynasty, and giving the rise to the 49ers’ run of Super Bowls. What is that play referred to as today? a. The Catch b. The Reception c. The Knockoff d. Alabama Joe Montana 7. What is Patrick MaHomes’s Super Bowl record? a. 2-1 b. 2-2 c. 1-0 d. 2-0 8. Which pick in the 2022 NFL draft was 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy? a. 1 b. 105 c. 204 d. 262 Answers: 1-B 2-C 3-B 4-B (Kansas City quarterback Patrick
Mahomes was drafted by the Detroit Tigers as a pitcher; the Detroit Lions never made it to the Super Bowl and never had a quarterback that did.) 5-D (According to the Guinness World Book of Records, the loudest crowd roar at a sports stadium of 142.2 dbA was achieved by fans of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium with 8 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The Chiefs defeated the New England Patriots 41-14. 6-A 7-A 8-D (Purdy was the last pick in the 2022 draft, earning the nickname “Mr. Irrelevant,” until Trey Lance and primary backup Jimmy Garoppolo each suffered season-ending injuries, resulting in the irrelevant rookie being called on to lead the team.) Scorecard: 6- 8 correct: You win a pair of Super Bowl tickets!! (Just send me the $2,500 mailing fee.) 3-5 correct: You are right in the middle. You are pretty much Utah— smack between Kansas City and San Fran. 0-2 correct: You probably think that the Kansas City Chiefs play in Kansas, right? Check again! It’s a long story…there’s a Kansas City in Kansas and one in Missouri; the Chiefs play in Missouri. Why? Probably just to confuse people like you.
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You are from Kansas City if…
You keep a list of companies to boycott in your wallet.
The only companies that your wallet supports are Burger King, McDonalds, Arby’s and Stewart Gas Station.
The only Republican you know is your great uncle in Missouri
The only Democrat you know of is some lady from San Francisco, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and you are happy that you don’t know her personally.
You believe that everyone should be free to do whatever they want to do, except engage in capitalism, but you can.
You think that capitalism is a system of touring the U.S. Capital. You come from three generations of military men who gave peace a chance and fought so that “them folks in San Francisco can run around talking about ‘how we don’t give peace a chance.’”
Your Cooper Mini runs on vegetable oil.
Your pickup truck car runs on diesel.
You think that the words “to promote the general welfare” in the Constitution mean to promote welfare generally.
You think that when the Constitution said “to promote the general welfare” it is referring to a doc in a box company.
You often kill passionate conversation by wondering out loud, “Why can’t we all just get along?”
You responded to someone wondering why we can’t all just get along by saying, “Get along out of here before I kick you to that barn.”
You are intolerant of people who don’t agree with your ideas of what constitutes tolerance.
Your idea of tolerance is being friends with a dude who drinks Budweiser rather than Coors.
You think that kids in elementary school should be exposed to everything under the sun but prayer should be banned.
The only way you got through school was with prayer, “L-rd, help me figure out what two plus two is.”
You think that counseling is the answer to every crime.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
You think we never gave peace a chance.
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You are from San Francisco if…
You remember when Bubba was your “camp counseling.”
A bus with 24 people was crossing the Gold Gate Bridge in San Francisco. When they reached the other side, not a single person was left. What happened to the people?
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Riddle me This Answer: They were all married.
Notable Quotes “Say What?!”
No one looks in a math book. I knew it would be safe there – page 200. – The organizer of a group of 30 employees at a Kentucky elementary school who won a $1 million Powerball, disclosing where she stored the winning ticket
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FEBRUARY 8, 2024
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I remember saying, “Guys, what are the chances that dozens of terrorists would get to the border and the IDF wouldn’t have any indication of it? That they wouldn’t be shot down? They’d be killed before they got close, surely.” - Avi Issacharoff, creator of “Fauda,” which is a show about Israel and Hamas, disclosing to the UK Jewish News that he rejected a plot line that included a Hamas invasion of Israel
Let me tell you something, what … is the world coming to if you could be from another country, beat up a cop in New York City and walk out with no … bail? What … is the world coming to? Can’t explain this I’m stuck maybe TRUMP is the answer. - A well-known rapper posting on social media in response to New York City’s plan to distribute $53 million to city migrants in pre-paid credit cards
– Liberal comedian Michael Rapaport in a social media video post
On the same day that that happens, Cadaver Joe Biden issues an executive order about four … “settlers” in Judea, Samaria – aka the West Bank. Some troublemakers, three of the four have already been arrested. You’re talking about that, but you’ve got nothing to say about … beating up cops in New York City?
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– Ibid.
This is why when I say voting for pig … Donald Trump is on the table, voting for pig … Donald Trump is on the table! - Ibid.
I have no answer. - Left-wing activist Aybee Binyamin, after stating that the hostages must be “released regardless of the cost,” when asked whether he would agree to a hostage deal if one of the conditions were that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would remain prime minister for the next five years
53 Biden’s strategy is very simple:
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1. Get as many illegals in the country as possible. 2. Legalize them to create a permanent majority – a one-party state. That is why they are encouraging so much illegal immigration. Simple, yet effective. - Tweet by Elon Musk
This explains why there are so few deportations, as every deportation is a lost vote. As happened this week, you can literally assault police officers in broad daylight in New York, be released with no bail…and not be deported!! – Ibid.
I just stopped doing politics in my act altogether. You know, when I did “The Tonight Show,” the idea was you made fun of both sides equally… they’d both be angry. And I’d go, “Oh, that’s good.” You know, they both think you’re supporting the other guy. Now, you’ve gotta take a side, and people are angry if you don’t.
- Ibid.
- Jay Leno in an interview with Piers Morgan
No military fighting an entrenched enemy in dense urban terrain in an area barely twice the size of Washington, D.C. can avoid all civilian casualties. Reports of over 25,000 Palestinians killed – be they civilians or Hamas – have made headlines. But Israel has taken more measures to avoid needless civilian harm than virtually any other nation that’s fought an urban war.
I live in frustration. Every loss truly traumatizes me in my stomach and in my heart.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
A few other things you probably don’t know: illegals in America can get bank loans, mortgages, insurance, driver’s licenses, free healthcare (California & New York) and instate college tuition. What’s the point of being a citizen if an illegal gets all the benefits, but doesn’t pay taxes or do jury duty?
– Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor speaking at Berkley School of Law about the frustration of being in the liberal minority on the Court
- John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute (MWI) at West Point, writing in Newsweek
- Ibid.
The sole reason for civilian deaths in Gaza is Hamas. For Israel’s part, it’s taken more care to prevent them than any other army in human history. - Ibid.
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In fact, as someone who has served two tours in Iraq and studied urban warfare for over a decade, Israel has taken precautionary measures even the United States did not do during its recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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54 The Chicago City Council on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cast the tiebreaking vote. Skeptics wonder when the mayor will support a ceasefire on the West Side [of Chicago]. - The Wall Street Journal editorial board
Chicago had 617 murders in 2023, and its murder rate is five times that of New York City. On some weekends in the warmer months, dozens of people are killed by gunshots or stabbings. – Ibid.
Amid national notice of this mayhem last summer, Mr. Johnson said critics had to live in Chicago before they had the right to criticize. Israel might ask the same of Mr. Johnson. - Ibid.
It’s just like riding a bike. - Charles Baldwin, 102, who flew a fighter jet in World War II, after he flew solo last weekend in Texas
If Osama bin Laden was in the hospital and his thumb was injured, do you go in and kill him? The answer is yes. - Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on CNN, when questioned about Israel eliminating three Arab terrorists who were receiving treatment in a hospital
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Dating Dialogue
What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
I started dating a guy from across the country on Zoom, and everything was going well for the first two months. We got along well, and we enjoyed talking. We decided that we had to meet in person, so I got a plane ticket and flew out to meet him. Instead of the wonderful time I
was expecting to have, I had the worst time ever! He treated me like one of his buddies, not like a girl, let alone a date! For example, not only did he not hold the door open for me, but he also didn’t even wait for me to walk though! When I held the door for another group who was right behind us, he just kept on walking and didn’t even notice I wasn’t with him and I had to run to catch up to him. I told this to the shadchan, who relayed the message and told me he would be better. The next day, we met again, and it
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was exactly the same! I want to end it, I have no interest in him at all anymore, but the shadchan and my mother are pushing me to continue. What should I do?
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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FEBRUARY 8, 2024
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FEBRUARY 8, 2024
The Panel The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. ou are not telling us what worked between the two of you, even as you tell us that things went well. Do pay attention to what does work when you date. Now, to respond to your question. You seem very irate about the young man’s manners and you are not going to change your emotional reaction. You don’t have room for connection with this level of reaction, so I would say, trust your gut. If you invested so much in traveling to meet this young man and he was not courteous enough to try to put you at ease with respect, say goodbye.
Y
The Shadchan Michelle Mond he same shadchan who encouraged a two month Zoom relationship and who encouraged you to fly out to him is now encouraging you to continue after you are clearly sure that the boy you are dating has a clear diagnosis of bad middos. I usually try to avoid run-on sentences; however, this run-on situation warranted one. While there can be excuses for what this guy did, such as being clueless (twice!), it does not give you an excuse to drown your intuition and forego your self-respect. I’m all for being dan l’kaf z’chus; don’t get me wrong. If you had made an informed decision to keep going based on the things you had appreciated about this guy despite his actions, that is one thing. However, you are saying in plain English that you’re done, and your mother, plus the shadchan, are pushing you to continue. Gather the courage to make your own decision based on basic feelings and facts and stick to it. This will not only help you with this guy but will help you in the future as well. As an aside, I would like to mention that I am not a fan of long-winded Zoom relationships. Zoom, in many cases, is a cop-out. It’s an easy way of saying you tried. “I gave it a shot, but it’s not sha-
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T
yach.” If one must, due to geographic limitations, have two Zoom meetings – maximum – before going on a real in-person date. Imagine, you could have known these things months ago, had you just had one in-person experience with him. There is no replacement for an in-person date. Hopefully, you will also adapt to this mehalach in the future as well.
would be concerned. Middos is number one, and they are very, very difficult to see through Zoom dating, unfortunately. Although you didn’t ask this, I would first encourage you to have a conversation with him to see if he understands the moments lacking respect for you or if that’s his nature. If he still isn’t receptive or a mensch about it, then it sounds like you know what’s best for you. Nobody’s going to honor your gut better than you!
The Mother The Zaidy Ariella Weinstock t’s funny, because you’re not telling us anything else about this gentleman that you are dating except that he doesn’t hold doors for you. I concede that holding a door for someone is just plain courtesy, but there must be something about him that you connect with, since you have been chatting for two months on Zoom. Still, perhaps it’s your gut that is telling you, in the form of a “slamming door,” that this boy is turning you off. Sometimes it’s helpful to write things down to give you clarity. I would suggest you make a list of things that are “going for” for this guy and things that bother you about him. You can show that list to your mother and shadchan to help them understand why you don’t want to continue dating him. Yes, I know you invested time and money and effort into dating him. It’s frustrating to you (and your mother and the shadchan, too) that this is not going to work out. But I don’t suggest you spend any more time or effort or money pretending that this relationship has a future.
I
The Single
Dr. Jeffrey Galler ait. Who would be marrying this guy? Your mother, the shadchan, or you? It is YOU who would be spending the rest of your life with him. If they cannot accept a simple, “No,
W
Perhaps it’s your gut that is telling you, in the form of a “slamming door,” that this boy is turning you off. thank you,” as your answer, then there is something wrong with them, not with you. If they refuse to get the message, try: “I would agree to go out, but then I’d have to spend time with him.” Or, “I would totally go out with him, but I can’t. I try to avoid dating people who creep me out.” (You can’t choose another mother, but you can choose another shadchan.) Be firm! You can, and you will, do better than this guy.
Some thingS only an expert can detect. like differenceS in inSurance policieS.
Tzipora Grodko
O
h man, that sounds so disappointing. I am so sorry you had that experience and would feel equally confused and frustrated. If these small examples that you gave reflected further moments where he lacked beautiful middos, then I
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The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
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you around a sser t ing you r sel f to your mother and the shadchan. “No” is a complete sentence. Them pushing you, considering how awful these dates were, is bordering on unboundaried and dangerous advice. No one is respecting you. Creating a boundary is necessary right now. “Thank you for setting us up. I won’t be seeing him again.” I imagine
You are allowed to have wants and needs that are different from your mother’s.
You are allowed to have wants and needs that are different from your mother’s. If she is upset, you are not responsible for that. You get to live your life, and girl, good for you for seeing that this guy is one giant, flapping red flag of a disaster. Bright woman! All the best, Jennifer
Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
hank you for writing into the panel. This guy is something else. His rudeness and lack of etiquette and manners seem almost too extreme to be real. What is more concerning than his behavior is that your mother and the shadchan are encouraging you to keep seeing him. I would reconsider taking dating advice from either of them. I think you know what you need to do, and I’m wondering what comes up for
both will keep pushing the boundary at this point. And you can simply double down: “I have already told you why I won’t be seeing him again. I can repeat it again. He is rude, insensitive, and disrespectful. I won’t be seeing him again.” Another tactic to use is to ask questions. “I’ve told you how disrespectful this guy is to me and how much I don’t want to see him again. Why would you encourage me to see someone like this?” To anyone struggling with boundaries, I recommend The Big Book of Boundaries by Melissa Urban. If you struggle with making and holding boundaries and worry how others may feel after saying what you want or need, please know that you are not responsible for any reaction anyone has to you if you have expressed your boundary politely and respectfully.
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Forgotten Her es
Winter Warfare Heroes By Avi Heiligman Simo Hayha, also known as White Death
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old weather can be the worst enemy of a military, but sometimes, it can be used to their advantage. Historically, many armies will camp for the winter and wait until the spring to begin campaigning again. For the Continental Army in 1777-1778, this encampment was at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and they remained there for six months. However, for other armies, winter campaigns have proven successful, and some soldiers have demonstrated bravery on winter battlefield with heroic actions. The Winter War was an early World War II campaign that saw Russia invade Finland in late November 1939. The Red Army had more soldiers and was eager to regain Finnish land they thought belonged to Russia. The Winter War ended in March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty but not before both sides suffered heavy casualties. The Russians, in particular, were ill equipped for the harsh conditions and were at a disadvantage since they didn’t know the Finnish terrain. The Finns, on the other hand, outfitted their soldiers to blend in with the snowy background, and many troops used skis as an effective mode of transportation. One Finnish soldier from the Winter War who stands out as historically the best in his field is sniper Simo Hayha. The Soviets called him the “White Death,” and he is believed to have killed over 500 enemy soldiers. Born in 1905, on the Finnish-Russian border, Hayha was a natural farmer, and even more important to the military, he was a skilled hunter. Temperatures during the 1939-1940 Winter War ranged between -4° and -40° Fahrenheit, and Hayha used that to his advantage. He wore an all white winter military outfit to camouflage with the snow and used a M91 Mosin-Nagant rifle that was great at long distances. Instead of using a scope like most other snipers, he only used the iron sights on the rifle. These sights are quite small and placed near the trigger and the muzzle. Only a skilled marksman can hit a target hundreds of yards away, but that’s what Hayha did hundreds of times. Hayha used the iron sights because a scope would reflect the sun and create a glint. By not using a scope, he didn’t reveal his position as many Soviet anti-snipers teams that were sent to look for him couldn’t find him because there was no glint from the scope. He also packed his mouth with snow and placed more snow at the end of the rifle to prevent the muzzle flash from being seen. On May 6, 1940, after killing many of the enemy, Hayha was hit by a counter-sniper but survived the war. There were other freezing battlefields of World War II, including the Battle of Stalingrad and Siege of Leningrad on the Eastern Front. For the American troops, they would have to fight on remote Alaskan Islands and through the bitter winter of 1944-45 in Western Europe. In mid-1944, the Japanese were expanding their em-
pire, and as part of their plan to take Midway Island in the Pacific, they sent a divisionary force to the Aleutian Islands. The islands of Attu and Kiska, near Russia, were invaded by the Japanese. Much of the Aleutian Islands were uninhabited and unexplored because of the rough conditions. Colonel Lawrence Castner knew that having a scouting team would prove invaluable to the American forces. The Alaskan Scouts, otherwise known as Castner’s Cutthroats, were created. They were trained to live off the land and would face rain, snow, and blizzards and winds up to 120mph. Led by Captain Robert Thompson, the unit’s first mission was to report on enemy troop movements and tactics on Kiska and Attu. They were sent on reconnaissance missions, including operations to find suitable landing zones for counter attacks. They were also instrumental in scouting and building a temporary landing strip for airplanes on Adak Island in preparation for the landing on Attu and Kiska. These landing strips shortened the flights for the planes and allowed them to land in bad weather. The 37 scouts were dropped off on the deserted island by two submarines, USS Triton and USS Tuna, and created the landing strip by damning up a lagoon. They used steel mats to complete the landing strip. During the American landings on Attu and Kiska to retake the islands, the scouts were used as guides and messengers. For their leadership and courage in the harsh conditions, Private Raymond Conrad and Corporal Bagby were awarded the Silver Star. The last major mission of the Alaska Scouts was the retaking of Kiska Island, which had been abandoned by the Japanese. The harshness of winter weather made regular road vehicles impractical, and troops from many countries turned to using skis for transportation. The American 10th Mountain Division was trained specifically for their mission to the mountains of Italy. They were in combat for 114 days and kept five German divisions in check. Since the 10th Mountain Division fielded approximately 20,000 men in total during that time, they were able to capture several mountain peaks while fighting alongside Brazilian units. World War II winter battlefields were some of the harshest, most inhospitable terrain that was ever contested. Those that serve in the units trained and tasked to fight in those conditions proudly defend their country in a professional manner. The missions that they undertook continue to be the trendsetters for future operations.
Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.
A plane landing on the Aleutian Islands
A younger photo of Simo Hayha
The Alaskan Scouts in World War II
An army building on Aleutian Islands, 1944
American troops carrying a wounded soldier on Attu, May 1943
The Allied invasion of Kiska
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Common
Cents
By Elliot Pepper, CPA, CFP®, MST
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always align with what is needed for a long term investment plan. After all, for the majority of our time on earth we were more focused on basic survival, not managing a 401k. I want to share some of the more interesting ideas that I learn about and in proper “Common Cents” form, try to provide actionable ideas to improve your financial life. Recency Bias - what is it and why should I care about it?: Recency bias is a common cognitive bias that can have a significant impact on personal investing. It occurs when people make decisions based on their most recent experiences or memories, rather than considering a more broad and diverse range of information. In the context of investing, this can lead to overconfidence in recent investment successes, or an increased fear of risk following a string of losses. The stock market is inherently unpredictable, and relying on recent performance as a guide for future investments is not a reliable strategy. The stock market may very well not act rational over shorter periods of time, but does tend to be an excellent wealth creator for those who stick with it. This makes recency bias particularly tricky for investors. For example, let’s say that you’ve recently made a number of successful investments, and you feel confident in your ability to pick winning stocks.
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Addressing Recency Bias - what can you do about it? Write down a plan & stick to it: This can help you stay focused on your goals and avoid being swayed by recent market trends. After all, who wants to have to re-draft a new investment plan if it isn’t really necessary. Stay Diversified: This can reduce the risk of extreme loss, as different types of assets tend to perform differently in various market conditions. Get another opinion: A qualified financial advisor can provide objective insights and guidance on your investment decisions, and can help you stay focused on your long-term goals. They can help you work through rough markets and manage not just your investment portfolio, but your behavioral portfolio as well! In addition to seeking professional guidance, there are a few other steps you can take to avoid falling victim to recency bias: • Educate yourself about investing: The more you understand about the stock market and how it works, the better equipped you’ll be to make informed investment decisions.
•
Be patient: It’s important to remember that investing is a longterm endeavor, and it can take time to see significant returns. Don’t get caught up in short-term market fluctuations, and try to stay focused on your long-term goals. • Avoid following the crowd: It can be tempting to follow the advice of friends, family, or financial gurus, but it’s important to do your own research and make investment decisions that are right for you. It is a reality to acknowledge that human behavior plays a role in investment outcomes. Focus on developing systems and processes that will establish guardrails, ensuring your investment plan will not veer from course as a result of human psychology. Once you accept the powerful impact that human behavior has on your financial plan, the easier it will be to do something about it! The decision to start saving and investing is yours, but the “how” can be hard. We suggest speaking with a “fee only” financial planner operating as a fiduciary - having a CPA or tax background is a huge plus. Email commoncents@northbrookfinancial.com to schedule a free financial planning consultation with our team. Elliot Pepper, CPA, CFP®, MST is Co-Founder of Northbrook Financial, a Financial Planning, Tax, and Investment Management Firm. He has developed and continues to teach a popular Financial Literacy course for high school students.
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You might be tempted to put more of your money into the market, believing that you have a good track record and a strong understanding of how the market works. On the other hand, if you’ve recently experienced losses in the market, you might be more riskaverse and less likely to invest in the future. Recent bias is a two way street.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
uman behavior has a greater impact on financial returns than most people realize. It’s more fun, exciting, and easier to listen to investment ideas from endless YouTube gurus and Tik Tok financiers. Taking the time to understand how cognitive errors and behavioral biases impact our investment performance just isn’t as exciting as learning about the sure fire way to generate passive income for life by simply “getting into real estate” or “speculating in crypto”. There is a difference between investment returns and investor returns, and for the most part, people (i.e. the investor) tend to get in their own way with investment performance suffering. One of my favorite Financial Planners, Carl Richards, calls this “The Behavior Gap”. He wrote a phenomenal book of the same name which I strongly recommend. The economy is not just charts and graphs, it is people, families, cultures, politics, and all the emotional baggage that comes with it. One of my best friends for nearly 20 years, and a client of our firm, practices professionally as a psychologist. I have been spending more and more time discussing the impact of human behavior in financial planning with him, and the deeper I dive, the more I realize how impactful our behavior is to our personal financial outcomes. While many of humanity’s cognitive shortcuts we use are essential to survival, they don’t
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Recency Bias: How our Behavior Impacts our Money
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FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Parenting Pearls
Whatchamacallit
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By Sara Rayvych, MSEd
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“C
an you please pass that thing to me? I need to write something down.” “Please give this to the man that sits next to Tatty. I forgot his name, but he always wears a gray tie.” We often forget the names of things. Sometimes, we can’t even remember the name of someone we know very well. We may describe it or use some other method to convey what we are referencing. Often, it’s the silliest things we can’t remember, and it can make us feel a little embarrassed. What if we never learned the name for an item? We could probably describe its function or appearance to clue in the other person. What if we never even understood what the word meant? We’d certainly find it challenging to express our intentions. There are so many assumptions we erroneously make about our child’s or teen’s ability to understand a word or comprehend a concept. One area where this comes up is regarding emotions. We incorrectly assume children can both
identify or isolate their feelings and label them. Describing our feelings and naming them is a challenge even for adults. But, at least we know what the words mean. “Anger,” “frustration,” “excitement,” and “pride” are vague to one who isn’t familiar with naming them. Anger is different from frustration – it’s nuanced but indicates a completely different emotion. It’s only by consistently pairing a feeling with its name that we learn to recognize the uniqueness of each feeling. Our children enter this world without any language. They begin by learning concrete objects: Mommy, Tatty, milk and cookies. Other words, such as love, anger and joy, are abstract and more difficult to learn. Children will usually, on their own, quickly learn the concrete words, such as “cookie” (it’s a childhood favorite). Words that identify abstract concepts need to be more actively taught and require greater time to acquire. Once something has a name, it can remove some of the fear that surrounds
it. Only once we can identify something can we then begin to accept it and work with it. Teaching children to name their emotions is an important step in helping them to navigate their world and the many interpersonal relationships they will encounter.
Give It a Name Being able to label our feelings gives us an effective means of communicating both our emotions and our needs. Children find it challenging to express themselves and can resort to ineffective means such as violence, tantrums or screaming. When a child can say “I’m so mad,” they can express themselves verbally and not just physically. It takes time to learn this skill, and even a highly verbal child may forget their words when they’re extremely emotional. We can’t always understand exactly what we’re feeling, and even teens may find it challenging to accurately name their emotion. We can name a child’s emotions for
them as they are being experienced. “I can see you’re disappointed you didn’t win the raffle.” “You look frustrated trying to button your shirt.” “I can see you’re excited for your first day of school.” It’s often the negative emotions that can be extra challenging for a child and where they will require the greatest assistance. This is also when they are most likely to find it hard to use words instead of acting out, such as throwing things. It takes a certain amount of calm and focus to be able to stop and tune into our inner feelings. There are many labels for emotions, and each expresses a slightly different feeling. Negative feeling emotions can include anger, frustration, jealousy, hurt, embarrassed and anxious. Positive feeling emotions can include happy, excited, proud, cheerful, respected and satisfied. Children can even learn to name feelings they can’t fully categorize, such as uncertainty and confusion. The more developmentally advanced the child, the more likely they are to be
63 cued into their feelings and recognize the more nuanced ones.
Teaching children to name their emotions is an important step in helping them to navigate their world and the many interpersonal relationships they will encounter.
emotion. Each child is unique, and you want to find the method that your child will connect with.
Our Chinuch It’s important to remember that during this time of intense feelings, it is not the time to judge their feelings or criticize them. We are just helping them put a label on their inner reality. We are
ing that they are deeply feeling that anger in this moment. We are not specifically encouraging them to feel angry, disappointed, or jealous, but at this moment, we’re not judging them or berating them for having those feelings. We would quickly stop confiding in our spouse or close friend if each time we shared our feelings they told us we shouldn’t feel that way. Our children are no different and
will quickly shut down if we criticize them each time they verbalize their emotions. The goal here is to give our children and teens a tool for recognizing and expressing themselves. Chinuch and middos are crucial to a child’s development, but our attempts to educate them will be more effective once they’re feeling calmer and more stable. Trying to have a serious conversation when they’re emotionally heated is only going to make them even less receptive to our teachings. But allowing them a little time to get past their initial negative feelings can give them an opportunity to really absorb our chinuch. As our children grow, so will the complexity of their emotions. Helping them to understand and acknowledge the many feelings they will encounter is one step towards building healthy adults. May our children experience many positive feelings for us to teach them.
Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at Rayvych Homeschool@gmail.com.
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
I was reading a Jewish book on marriage, and the author saw fit to describe what “love” means. I realized how appropriate it was to take a few paragraphs devoted to an explanation. While it seems obvious to most of us what “love” means, not everyone has the same definition. Sadly, not every child is raised in an environment where feeling love was natural, and the concept may be foreign to them. It’s easiest for children to connect the meaning to a word while they’re experiencing it, but sometimes, they need more help to understand. We want to keep our explanations simple and practical. Children, particularly the youngest ones, will get lost in long descriptions and become confused by big words. Many older children and teens can appreciate a more complete explanation, but we always need to remember to educate to the child’s needs. There are many charts and flash cards available online to help children recognize the difference between var-
acknowledging their feelings and their experience, not blaming or putting them down. Acknowledging their feelings doesn’t mean we think they’re correct for wanting to smack the boy who took their ball, it means we are understand-
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Describe the Emotion
ious feelings. These helpful tools are often used by therapists and educators. The named emotion is frequently accompanied by a smiley (or unsmiling) or child displaying the facial expressions that often accompany the labeled
Engagements Yaakov Schochet (Baltimore) & Chana Esther Zelikovych (Monsey) Ezra Bistritz & Leah Kleiner Shamshon Gershenfeld (Passaic) & Zarie Wealcatch (Baltimore) Avromi Chaifetz & Masha Treuhaft Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!
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Yehuda Yosef Steiner & Adina Bracha Ehrlich
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FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Revolutionizing Healthcare in Israel, One Oleh At a Time In its third year, Nefesh B’Nefesh’s ‘MedEx’ is more than a career leap, it is meeting a critical national demand
A
s we move further into 2024, the shadows of war still loom large in our collective consciousness, serving as a powerful reminder of the need for resilience and unity in challenging times. It’s in this spirit of renewal and commitment that the Olim community emerges as a beacon of hope and progress for the State of Israel. With March on the horizon, Nefesh B’Nefesh is gearing up for its annual ‘MedEx’ event, a transformative opportunity for doctors and medical professionals who dream of making Israel their home. This annual gathering isn’t just an event; it’s a chance to make a tangible difference in Israel’s healthcare landscape. Together with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL), and the Jewish National Fund-USA, alongside Israel’s Ministry of Health and the Israeli Medical Association, Nefesh B’Nefesh launched MedEx as a stand-alone event to enable medical professionals to take major steps towards transferring their North American licenses before making Aliyah. The event is offered to physicians, nurses, physician assistants (PA’s), occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, audiologists, dietitians/nutritionists, dental hygienists and medical laboratory professionals. Last year’s MedEx, held in Te-
aneck, NJ, was a resounding success, drawing hundreds of attendees. As a one-stop shop for medical professionals interested in making Aliyah, MedEx streamlines the immigration process to ensure they’re able to practice medicine as soon as they touch down in Israel. Already in its third year, MedEx has become a pivotal platform for healthcare workers, both those in ad-
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vanced stages of Aliyah and those who are just beginning the process. The MedEx experience is multifaceted. Participants delve into the Israeli medical licensing process, guided by on-site representatives from Israel’s Ministry of Health and experienced Nefesh B’Nefesh Aliyah advisors. It’s a unique chance to cut through red tape and make significant strides towards practicing medicine in Israel. Additionally, networking opportunities with Israeli hospitals and medical facilities are abundant, paving the way for a seamless transition to the Israeli medical workforce. By reflecting on both the success of last year’s event and the current conflict in Israel, it is clear that MedEx has become part of a larger narrative. The collaboration between Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Israeli Ministry of Health during the Iron Swords War is a testament to the power and impact of the medical community. At the onset of the war, Nefesh B’Nefesh launched an initiative to immediately address
the country’s healthcare emergency by arranging and facilitating the arrival of hundreds of highly skilled physicians who volunteered their time and expertise throughout Israel. This program was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of The Marcus Foundation, an organization committed to making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities. “Addressing Israel’s escalating physician shortage, particularly amidst wartime challenges, is of the utmost importance, and MedEx has emerged as an effective response to this crisis,” said Tony Gelbart, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh. “Witnessing the profound impact that our wartime initiative had on the State of Israel reinforces our commitment to continually finding solutions for the most pressing challenges facing our nation. It is our hope that this year’s MedEx will help pave the way for hundreds medical professionals to turn their Aliyah dreams into a reality and start their meaningful work.” In times of peace and in times of crisis, the strength and resilience of Israel’s healthcare system are paramount. MedEx is not only the opportunity to take a step in your career, but it’s an opportunity to become a part of a vital mission to ensure top-tier medical care across Israel. The future Olim who leave MedEx and make their way to Israel will embark on a journey where they will leave a lasting imprint on the health and well-being of the Jewish state. About Nefesh B’Nefesh (www.nbn.org.il): Founded in 2002, Nefesh B’Nefesh in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael and JNF-USA, facilitates the process of making Aliyah from North America by minimizing the financial, professional, logistical, and social obstacles. The support and comprehensive social services provided by Nefesh B’Nefesh to its over 75,000 new immigrants have ensured that 90% have remained in Israel.
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Money
By Allan Rolnick, CPA
A
merica has always been a land of opportunity, but most Americans don’t seem very good at managing those opportunities. The average American has just $87,000 saved for retirement, dimming hopes for endless days of pickleball in the sun. Nearly 4 in 10 can’t cover $400 in an emergency, which explains a landscape littered with dollar stores, pawnshops, and payday lenders. Those depressing numbers create an opportunity for personal finance gurus to make a buck or two helping the rest of us save a buck or two. Folks like Suze Orman, Dave Ramsay, and Dave Bach understand that the difference between what we make and what we spend is the fuel that powers long-term growth. Widening that gap puts more to work for the future. And so, to create more savings, they’ve taken dead aim at America’s coffee cartel. That’s right—blame Starbucks and their endless imitators for your retirement insecurity. Suze Orman is especially snide about the future poverty brewing in your morning java. “I wouldn’t buy a cup of coffee anywhere, ever — and I can afford it — because I would not insult myself by wasting money that way,” she told CBNC.
That’s because takeout coffee is a “want,” not a “need.” Instead, she says, you should put that money to work in the market! Just how much does your caffeine habit cost your future? “You need to think about it as: You are peeing $1 million down the drain as you are drinking that coffee,” she fumes. And where does
man’s 12% return is a fantasy. Even if we assume you put your entire account in stocks, the average long-term return of the S&P 500 is just 10% per year. Third, inflation eats away at the long-term value of that return. So, let’s assume a more realistic 30year timeframe and an after-inflation
That’s right—blame Starbucks and their endless imitators for your retirement insecurity.
she come up with that million dollar figure? Let’s say you spend $100 on coffee each month. If you were to put that $100 into a Roth IRA instead, after 40 years, the money would have grown to around $1 million with a 12 percent return. The problem here is that Suze has loaded up her cup with a couple of shots of “lying with statistics.” First of all, most Americans don’t have 40 years left to grow their savings. And if they did, Or-
real return of 7%. Now, that monthly $100 grows to just $122,000. And how much pickleball will that pay for? Well, one common rule of thumb holds that you can spend 4% of your nest egg every year to keep up with inflation and never run out of money. Four percent of $122,000 means…hey, look at that, a whopping $93 per week! At least you’ll finally be able to enjoy your coffee without guilt!
The coffee scolds aren’t afraid to be hypocrites, either. Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary agrees that Starbucks is an unnecessary splurge: “I never buy a frape-latte-blah-blah-blah-woof-woofwoof.” But O’Leary is one of America’s biggest wristwatch collectors, with millions of dollars of wrist candy. Surely, he doesn’t need more than a dozen Rolexes. Yes, it’s important to weigh needs against wants, especially when it comes to balancing tomorrow’s big needs against today’s fleeting wants. But no one looks forward to a spartan lifestyle of necessities only. Besides, have you ever turned on a TV and seen how much stuff there is for sale? Saving for retirement doesn’t have to mean cutting out everyday luxuries like your morning joe. If you’re like most Americans, you spend way more on taxes than coffee. Call us, and let’s take a look at cutting that bill first!
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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FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Kids Coloring Win $10 Corner
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thebjh.com/kids to enter a raffle for a chance to win $10 to The Candy Store! See your picture in print the following week! Submissions due Sunday, February 25th
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME FEBRUARY 8, 2024
Malka Hollander, 8
Ruthie Greenberg, 6
Akiva Gerstenfeld, 7
Ari Rosenbaum, 7
Baila I, 10
Basya Weissmann
Eliana Kushner, 4
Eliana Lewis
Emma Artman, 11
Leah Katz, 9
Leah Seidel, 5
Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!
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Adina Abrahams, 5
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Eitan, 2
Elisheva Lewis
Gabby Vanderwalde, 5
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Jojo Dollman, 8 and Zevi Dollman, 6
Leah Levinger ,8
Leba Priluck, 4
Libby Bennett ,7
Lipa Schapiro, 12
Maya Palmer, 4
Rachel Gradon, 5
Rachel Z, 5
Rafael Abramson
Rikki Hollander, 7
Rivka Rosenbaum, 7
Sara, 10
Sarah Winner, 6
Shira Kramer, 7
Shua Rosenstein, 3
Shua Rosenstein, 3
Simcha K, 5
Tehilla Rosenbaum, 7
Tzipora Loewy, 4
Yehudis Reiner, 5
Zev Rosenstein, 6
Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!
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Stuffed Dates with Lamb in Pomegranate Sauce By Naomi Nachman
FEBRUARY 8, 2024
I was recently asked to do a cooking class for an Israeli and Middle Eastern cooking class as a fundraising event. I prepared for the class this incredibly delicious date and la mb recipe. It has so many great flavors coming together and presents so beautifully. If you don’t like la mb, you can use chopped meat instead.
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In The K tchen
Ingredients
◦ 24 large, pitted dates, preferably medjool Lamb Mixture ◦ 1 pound ground lamb
◦ 1 tablespoon silan
◦ 1 small shallot, finely minced
◦ 1 tablespoon tomato paste
◦ 2 cloves garlic, minced
◦ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
◦ 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
◦ Crush black pepper
◦ ½ teaspoon cumin
◦ 2 cups boiling water
◦ ½ teaspoon allspice
◦ 1 cup red wine
◦ ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ◦ 1 teaspoon kosher salt ◦ 2 tablespoons pine nuts
Mix the ground lamb with all the ingredients. Gently fill the dates with the meat mixture. Set aside. In a large wide saucepan, add sauce ingredients on a medium-low heat until
Sauce
ingredients are dissolved. Add the stuffed dates to the sauce and simmer on low,
◦ 1/3 cup pomegranate molasses
covered for an hour, basting halfway through.
◦ 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
Garnish with pomegranates and fresh parsley.
Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.
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◦ 1 ⁄8 teaspoon pepper
Preparation
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