Baltimore Jewish Home - 3-21-24

Dear Readers,

Recently, I had a conversation with someone who shared his unease about celebrating Seudas Purim. He’s not one for drinking or singing and prefers a more subdued celebration similar to his Shabbos meals. He’s not alone in this sentiment. Many find the traditional raucous Purim seudah challenging, whether due to a change in personal energy levels over the years, a mismatch with their personality, or the daunting nature of social interactions at such lively gatherings.

For years, my father, a Rebbe, faced the monumental challenge of hosting his bachurim for the Purim seudah. Hoping to maintain order without dampening the festive spirit, he devised a Purim-themed game that kept everyone engaged and the festivities structured. Here's a snapshot of his innovative approach:

1. Cut paper into 4” x 4” squares.

2. On each square, write a prompt— actions like, “Stand on a chair and sing a song”, “Serve the next course solo,” Feed the person to your right,” “Deliver a Dvar Torah,” or “Time for a L’chaim” etc. etc. etc.

3. Roll the squares into scrolls and seal

them with tape.

4. Place all scrolls in a bowl.

5. During the seudah, pass the bowl around, letting each participant draw a scroll to read and perform the task written on it.

This game transforms the seudah into an engaging, structured celebration. Participants of all ages find themselves actively involved, contributing to and enjoying the festivities. The diverse prompts ensure a balance between fun and meaningful activities, making the meal uniquely memorable. The Purim seudah, while a source of anxiety for some, can be transformed into an inclusive, joyous occasion with a little creativity. My father’s approach illustrates how integrating structured, engaging activities can cater to varied personalities and preferences, ensuring that everyone not only participates but also contributes to the Simchas Purim. With some thoughtful planning, the essence of Purim joy can be universally accessible and enjoyable.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful Shabbos!

Aaron Menachem

Baltimore’s Jewish Educational Services Hosts Early Childhood Educator Conference

By: BJLife Newsroom

On Monday, March 4th, Jewish Educational Services hosted its annual Early Childhood Educator Conference at the Owings Mills Jewish Community Center. JES understands that high quality early childhood education and care offers children the best start in life by providing important opportunities to learn and develop. Therefore, they are committed to supporting these outstanding and dedicated early childhood professionals through consultation services, professional development, and conferences such as this one.

With the theme of “Touching Hearts, Teaching Minds”, over 325 educators from 14 local Early Childhood programs gathered to learn and be inspired. Featuring the Appelbaum Training Institute, participants enjoyed a full day of informative sessions, dy-

namic speakers, educational vendors, a catered lunch by Seven Mile Market, and fun swag and snacks. This day was an amazing opportunity for the valued teachers to connect and grow. See what they had to say:

“This was my first conference ever and I have to say I was definitely impressed! I love that I had the opportunity to learn new tactics & strategies to use in the classroom.”

“It was very successful, and teachers were engaged in the sessions I attended. Lots of great energy.”

“Lots of laughs!”

“Every little detail did not go unno-

ticed! The day was really enjoyable.”

“Thank you for a fabulous day and conference. My staff were engaged and happy with their sessions. It was well organized, and lunch was delicious!”

Another important aspect of JES’s commitment to the EC educator community, extending to all educators teaching in Jewish schools, is expressing gratitude and appreciation through various programs. Teacher Feature is a monthly program that highlights two wonderful teachers in our community schools on our Facebook page, awarding them with gift cards.

Todah Teachers Teacher Appreciation Week, coming up the week of May 6-10, offers daily raffles and valuable prizes. Additionally, the endof-year Educator Awards, which recognizes outstanding teachers in all divisions, including the esteemed Sam Kahan Distinguished Educator for Excellence in Jewish Education Award, is taking place on May 29 this year to honor and celebrate all educators in the community.

“Tzipora

with me to create a balanced diet and

that is easy to maintain. She enabled me to cultivate a healthy lifestyle not only focusing on diet, but my relationship with food. Thank you Tzipora!”

"Tzipora was a pleasure to work with. She listened to my goals and challenges, and put together a workable game plan to achieve my goals. Highly recommend!”

ANONYMOUS

Around the Community

Believe & Achieve Basketball League (Sponsored by BJL & BJH) Week Eight and Playoffs News

Wow what an amazing season of basketball.

The boys had so much fun and learned so much from their coaches this season. Thank you to the 40 coaches who volunteered their time to mentor and lead our kids. Your dedication day in and day out is appreciated by the league and all the parents. We have gotten many emails about your dedication and patience, and we look forward to seeing you all next season.

Thank you to the referees for providing such a professional and balanced game for the kids to learn and compete. Thank you to all our 21 sponsors for helping make this season amazing! Thank you, TA, and the JCC for hosting us so graciously. Thank you, parents, grandparents, family members, and fans for supporting our players and volunteering for some of our halftime contests! The season would not have been possible without Elchanan Wertenteil. He was exceptional, organized, and responsible far beyond his years. Eliezer Katz who joined the team after the season started is appreciated as well for his hard work in managing the games in our two TA gyms. Thank you to the

parents that donated to our scholarship fund, because of you we were able to give out close to 10 full scholarships for the basketball season!

There have been 12,173 points scored this season so far (we still have the championships on Sunday, March 31). We made a few changes to our younger divisions to encourage more passing and scoring, such as no double teams, no grabbing the ball out of the offensive players hands, and no zone defense. We also added two divisions this year 1st grade and 2nd grade. In these divisions we had a Believe & Achieve staff member (Yonatan Yousie and myself) running some drills and running our patented modified rules. Some of these rules include free shots in the paint, 2 free shots for each player at the end of the game, and included coaches into the offense to be more hands on in distributing the ball and helping when kids were stuck. All are invited to the Championship games, Sunday March 31, at TA (High School Gym).

Playoff Scores

5th Grade: Clothier -35 vs. Goldbergs Bagels – 30, Fired Up- 51 vs. Jtap Tennis League-37

6th Grade: Jtap Tennis League- 54 vs Tov Pizza- 49, Rentals of Distinction- 54 vs. The Patch Boys- 44

7th Grade- Clothier-55 vs. Jtap Tennis League- 42, The Club- 43 vs. MDSC- 37

8th Grade- MDSC- 57 vs Clothier50, Rentals of Distinction-59 vs. The Hat Box- 56 (OT)

Around the Community

First Ever Educator Expo in Baltimore Hosted by Jewish Educational Services

Jewish Educational Services (JES), an agency of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, hosted the JES Educator Expo, a first of its kind event in Baltimore, on Sunday, March 10 at the Weinberg Park Heights JCC. “One of the most effective ways to conduct professional development is through peer-to-peer coaching,” explained Faye Friedman, director of educational services at JES, who helped to organize the event. “JES is committed to not only raising the profile of teachers, but to show our appreciation. We want teachers to feel that we recognize and value them for the amazing work they do.” The Expo was planned to do just that by giving classroom teachers the opportunity to showcase their work, learn from colleagues, select from free classroom materials, along with the many giveaways and raffles, generously sponsored by The Candy Store, Wolf

Cuts, Playa Bowls and Shabsi’s.

Featuring over 25 presenters from 10 schools in the Baltimore and Silver Spring areas and showcasing a diverse range of innovative teaching strategies and activities, over 50 educators and others came to the Expo to “Connect, Learn and Inspire,” while viewing the exhibits and collaborating with their colleagues. Several mini workshops on focused topics were also scheduled throughout the expo.

Rena Einbinder, Director of Academic Support at Ohr Chadash Academy, was a presenter and participant and was thrilled to be a part of the expo, “I really love the idea of this expo and there were so many worthwhile posters and presentations. I hope word gets out and it grows even bigger next year! Thank you for organizing it!”

TA’s Annual Bar Mitzvah Dinner Celebration

Our annual Bar Mitzvah Dinner was a remarkable celebration dedicated entirely to our Talmidim. From the meticulously arranged tables to the carefully selected menu, countless hours of planning and preparation were invested to ensure the evening was nothing short of magnificent. The transformation of the gym into a simcha hall, the creation of an outstanding video, and the careful selection of a speaker all exemplify the dedication poured into making this event unforgettable. Every detail, from seating arrangements to musical performances, was orchestrated with their joy and appreciation in mind.

We are deeply grateful for the dedication of all involved, from the volunteers who tirelessly worked behind the scenes to the families who joined us in celebrating this milestone for our Talmidim. The evening was a testament to the importance we place on their growth and success. As they continue their journey, may they carry with them the knowledge that they are cherished and supported by a community that believes in them wholeheartedly.

The Expo also featured a Torah U’Mesorah pop-up facilitated by Donna Zeffren and Chumi Levitansky, both of Chinuch.org Expo attendees appreciated the opportunity to see materials sourced specifically for Purim and Pesach, that were all available at no cost. The appreciation was mutual as Chumi and Donna noted, “We met the most wonderful educators. The commitment of the crowd to continuously learn and grow is remarkable.”

The Expo concluded with a talk

from Leah Sokol, author of several biographies and works of historical fiction for children. She discussed her biography for children, “Yosef Mendelevich: Leader of Soviet Jewry” published by Menucha Publishers and “You Choose: The British Escape,” published by Judaica Press, a choose your own adventure novel. The audience was amazed by Leah’s description of how she writes these books and were excited to page through the samples she brought along. One lucky participant won a package of three of her most popular books.

With the success of the inaugural Expo still buzzing, plans for next year’s Expo are already underway, with hopes to feature even more presenters and workshops. Stay tuned for more information and details on how to apply as a presenter.

The Rebbe Who Encouraged and Uplifted the Postwar Generation

The Life and Legacy of RAV YISROEL ALTER OF GUR

by YISROEL BESSER

Rav Yisroel Alter, the Beis Yisroel, became the Rebbe of Gur at a time of deep darkness. Just a few years earlier, tens of thousands of Gerrer chassidim had perished in the Holocaust, and the few who’d survived faced the daunting challenge of beginning new lives

Rav Yisroel became the Rebbe — and he rebuilt a world, miraculously leading Gerrer chassidus to almost unimaginable levels of greatness

At the same time he was a loving, empathetic, wise shepherd, gently and patiently giving people the time and space they needed to grow

Written with the flair and emotion that have made Yisroel Besser’s biographies so beloved, The Beis Yisroel tells both stories — the story of the Rebbe’s immeasurable impact on a nation still reeling, and the individual stories of how he was able to heal, encourage and uplift

As his tens of thousands

Around the Community

Baltimore Chesed League by Columbia Group Midseason Update

With half of the 2024 BCL season now in the books, the boys were treated to an exciting midseason outing at “Monster MiniGolf” where all league participants

had use of the entire facility while enjoying a delicious dinner from Tov Pizza. A great time was had by all!

Below are some highlights from Weeks 3 and 4 of the season:

Team Pit Stop Tire Shop helped delivering shalach manos for the The Friendship Circle of Baltimore!

The Quarry Orthodontics team assisted AIM in delivering meals to new parents. The collaborative effort ensured that new parents received the necessary support during this special time.

Team CBT Baltimore got a wonderful tour of the Jewish Library of Baltimore. The boys then helped re-shelve books and clean up after an author event.

Team King David Nursing and Rehabilitation worked hard to sort, organize, and fold costumes for the Keren Reva Costume Gemach.

Team Sage Ventures had a great time visiting with the Menucha boys. Team Advanced Root Canal Specialists had the honor of helping Yitzchok’s Toy Box Gemach inventory special sensory/learning toys and organize boxes.

Team Owings Mills Podiatry visited with the residents of Aventura Assisted Living Baltimore.

Team DC Dental brought a lot of simcha and Purim ruach to the boys and girls of The Friendship Circle of Baltimore Team Donny Ankri Architects, participated in the Jewish Volunteer Connection Casserole Challenge.

Team Erez Seiferas spent the afternoon sorting and bagging Shaimos at the Agudah.

Team Winner Insulation baked cookies for Bikur Cholim of Baltimore.

Team Keren Reva Costume Gemach sang, danced, told jokes, performed magic tricks, for the residents of King David Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Team Pikesville Remodeling did a great job assisting a local Chesed organization with organizing food packages.

Team Kineged Glass spend some quality time at the Hebrew Friendship Cemetery helping to clean and maintain the grounds.

Team RenoSafe Homes helped put on a Purim Carnival for the residence of North Oaks.

Team WesBanco Israel Bonds serenaded the residents of Sterling Care Assisted Living.

Team Union Bridge Family Dentistry enjoyed sorting through all of the various Scrip donations for all of the incredible schools and Shuls in Baltimore.

Team Kelemer Brothers Replacement Windows brought joy, fun, and the Purim spirit to the residents of the King David Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Team Flamm Insurance Group helped clean up accumulated trash around the Cross Country Falls.

Team Tucker and Meltzer Valuation Services got a tour of Hatzalah of Baltimore and built pushkas for community donations.

Team JTAP Tennis did a great job at the Agudah of Park Heights, unboxing holy books and then organizing them in the catacombs under the Agudah building.

Team Naomi Center enthusiastically assisted Chai Lifeline prepare Pesach care packages for Chai Lifeline families.

Around the Community

Torah Together Holds Megilah Learning Evening

Torah Together sponsored a Megilas Esther study group at Shomrei Emunah. A warm atmosphere of learning and camaraderie were palatable where close to sixty women gathered to delve into the Megilah on March 13th. For a study partner custom-fit to your needs or for more information please contact Mrs. Toby Friedman, director of Torah Together. tpfriedman@gmail.com, 443-468-4598.

Excitement at the CIJE Baltimore Robotics Tournament

Cheers from 130 boys filled TA’s auditorium on last week for the annual CIJE Baltimore Robotics Tournament.

Middle school boys from TA, TI, and Cheder Chabad of Baltimore were also joined by boys from YBH who drove in from Passaic, New Jersey for the occasion. Mr. Joseph Saltzman, CIJE Maryland Program

Manager, welcomed everyone to the tournament. “I’ve been privileged,” he says, “to work with the local schools in developing and growing the Baltimore robotics program.” And, he points out, “just building a robot and being able to participate in a tournament is a tremendous accomplishment for all the students.” Having spent months learning about robotics and building

Reading Dif culties

Dyslexia

ADD / ADHD

Social Awkwardness

Poor Memory

Math Dif culties

Writing Dif culties

Disorganization

Clumsiness

Easily Overwhelmed

their robots, the teams were geared up for the tournament and eager to see what the competition had in store.

CIJE, the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education, is known for pro-

moting innovation and engineering in Jewish schools. The popular CIJE Robotics League brings engineering education into a fun environment.

Around the Community

Baltimore Celebrates New Sefer Torah in Memory of Irving Spivack and Nechemya Finkelstein, Z’L

By: BJLife/Isaac Draiman

In a heartfelt and memorable event, the Baltimore community came together this past Sunday for a special Hachnasas Sefer Torah, welcoming a new Sefer Torah commemorating the memory of two remarkable men: Irving J. Spivack and Nechemya (Nick) Finkelstein, Z’L.

Irv (or as known to many, Zaidy) was a true role model, living a life full of tremendous emunah and guiding his family towards a strong Jewish path alongside his wife, Miri. His dedication to living a life filled with Torah values made him a giant among us. Nechemya, or Nick as we knew him, was a young man whose time with us was cut way too short. Known for his joy in seeing others succeed and his generosity, Nick’s absence is deeply felt by all who knew him.

The day was a mix of joy and remembrance. As the Sefer Torah was escorted down Fallstaff Road, amidst leibidika dancing and singing, there was a strong sense of community and connection. The new Sefer Torah, now in the Aron Kodesh at Rabbi Zvi Weiss’s Beis Haknesses of Baltimore, carries with it a tremendous legacy. It’s a tribute to the lives of these two men and the positive impact they had on those around them.

The ceremony was more than just adding a Sefer Torah to the shul; it was about remembering two souls

who deeply touched our lives. It was a day filled with emotion, reflection, and celebration of their contributions to our community. This Torah will serve as a lasting memory of Zaidy and Nick, inspiring us to live by the values they embodied.

Summing it up, Rabbi Weiss commented: “This was truly a momentous occasion for our kehilla, as we reached the shul’s corner of Fallstaff and Clarks Lane. I recalled how our shul began 25 years ago, a small group of families in April of 1999, right across the street in the Myerberg Senior Center.

And today, B’H, our kehilla has grown, in no small part due to the dedication of families like the Finkelsteins. Mr. Spivak, “Alter Zayde,” as he was known to all of us, davened in the shul for over 20 years, reaching the milestone of having 5 generations

davening with him at the shul. And Nechemya, who exemplified chessed and willingness to do for all. We are honored to have this Torah in our shul and may it be an aliyah for their Neshamos.”

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Rabbi Arieh Visits Yeshivas Toras Simcha

Photos by Dovid Kapenstein

Rabbi Rouben Arieh spoke to the students of Yeshivas Toras Simcha last week. The rabbi asked, “How do we destroy Amalek in our days when he can no longer be identified?” Rabbi Arieh explained that Amalek now comes to

destroy us in a different way than he did many years ago. In the past, people were proud not to have a TV in their homes, and that remains true today. However, Amalek has outsmarted us, and now he is in our pocket! The cell phone exposes a person to all societal ills, and it is all too easy to access. Rabbi Arieh told the students that their Torah studies, like those of

Yeshivas Torah Simcha School Wide Talent Show

Yeshivas Toras Simcha held a school wide talent show in honor of rosh chodesh Ddar Sheini. Our talmidim got a chance to shine, showing the entire school their unique skills, magic tricks, singing, playing musical instruments, and much more. YTS is proud of all our performers and of the great audience who responded with thunderous applause for their friends, giving them great confidence and Simcha!

the children at the time of Mordechai and Esther, are the means to combat the Yetzer Harah, who champions

STAR-K ‘s Shatnez Lab Welcomes Yeshivas Toras Simcha’s Second Graders

By: Margie Pensak/ STAR-K

Learning session on the mitzvah of shatnez was the impetus for Yeshivas Toras Simcha’s program director, Rabbi Shai Scherer, and second grade rebbe, Rabbi Eliyahu Mandel, to accompany his class to STAR-K Kosher Certification’s shatnez lab, last week. Rabbi Emanuel Golfeiz, who tests for shatnez on the premises, let the boys peek through his microscope so they could see exactly what wool and linen look like.

“Rabbi Mandel felt that seeing is believing; a hands-on experience is much more meaningful and brings a lesson to life, literally,” explains Rabbi Scherer. “Rabbi Golfeiz was unbelievable, not just keeping them on their toes and joking with them, but really

teaching them about shatnez -- which is so complicated to teach such young boys. He did it phenomenally; it was a great experience.”

Second grader, Nosson Lebovits, mentions, “I liked it because it was fun and because everyone there was nice.” His classmate, Shimmy Saidowitz, shares, “My favorite parts were looking into the microscope and seeing the polyester in the suit. Also, seeing the ladder in the microscope.”t

Rabbi Golfeiz explained to the

boys that if you see the shape of a ladder in the material of the garment being tested under the microscope, it contains linen.

Refoel Gabay’s favorite things about the trip were, “looking through the microscope and hearing Rabbi Golfeiz’s jokes.”

Rabbi Golfeiz was equally amazed by his young visitors. “The boys were full of a ruach chayim. They were very polite, very well behaved, and I was very impressed with them. Their reb-

Amalek’s message. The Torah learned by children is a great zechut for Klal Yisrael.

be did a very good job teaching them so much about shatnez before their visit. The only thing that was left was to show them, under the microscope, how each different fiber is constructed. How HaKadosh Baruch Hu made each fiber to look different, the same way He made each person’s fingerprint to look different. That’s Niflaos HaBora – the wonders of G-d. The same way my fingerprint and yours are different, each fiber looks different when you look at it under the microscope.”

ished home, where we raised our three sons and immersed ourselves in various community organizations, contributing to the active Jewish life here.

BJH: Your community involvement is impressive. How have these

Jewish community and the specific programs you offer?

Donna Wach: Aventura is deeply rooted in the Jewish community, offering fully certified kosher living and a range of Jewish programming.

spired in your work?

Donna Wach: What inspires me most is seeing the impact of our work on the lives of our residents. Knowing that we’re providing a safe, nurturing environment where seniors can thrive

and connect with their heritage is incredibly rewarding. Additionally, the stories and experiences of our residents enrich my life and the lives of our staff, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that goes beyond the

Before we conclude, is there a piece of advice or a motto that has guided you through your career and

A guiding principle for me has been the importance of kindness and the power of a smile.

“Be the reason someone smiles today” is a motto I live by. It’s simple yet impactful, reminding us that our actions, no matter how small, can significantly affect others’ lives. This ethos is something I bring to Aventura every day, striving to create an environment where smiles are abundant, and every-

Your dedication to fostering such a positive atmosphere is truly commendable. Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences with us

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss my role at Aventura and the incredible community we serve. I’m excited about the journey ahead and the difference we can make together.

For more information, to book a tour, or to volunteer at Aventura at the Heights please call 410-3188000.

The Week In News

IDF: Terrorists Killed Those Waiting For Aid

Hamas has claimed that Israeli soldiers shot into a crowd of Gazans who were waiting for aid at Kuwait Square

late Thursday. The terror group had alleged that the IDF opened fire from “tanks and helicopters,” killing 21 Gazans and injuring 150 more. However, the Israeli army has found, after performing an “intensive preliminary review,” that “the IDF did not open fire at the aid convoy at Kuwait Square.” Rather, it was Palestinian terrorists who killed Gazan civilians waiting for the arrival of 31 trucks filled with food and humanitarian aid.

“As aid trucks were entering [the corridor], the Palestinian gunmen continued to shoot as the crowd of Gazans began looting the trucks,” the Israeli military said, adding that the aid trucks also ran over a number of Palestinians.

“A review of our operational systems and IDF troops [on the ground] found that no tank shelling, airstrike or gunfire was carried out toward the Gazan crowd in the area of the aid

convoy,” the IDF said, backing up the assessment with aerial footage of Palestinian gunmen shooting the crowd of civilians.

“[While the IDF] continues its humanitarian effort to supply food and humanitarian aid to the civilians of the Gaza Strip, Hamas terrorists continue to harm Gazan civilians who are seeking food, and Hamas is blaming Israel for it,” the army said in a statement. “As a result, on the first Friday of the month of Ramadan, a smear campaign was created with the aim of spreading baseless misinformation for the sake of instigating violence in other arenas.”

Weeks before the killing of 21 Palestinians in Kuwait Square, 100 civilians were allegedly killed near aid trucks in Gaza City. While Hamas has blamed Israel for the incident, an investigation into the matter found that the IDF only shot at those who were threateningly approaching the soldiers.

Abbas Appoints New PM

Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, has appointed Mohammad Mustafa, a business leader and one of Abbas’ closest allies, as prime minister of the new Palestinian government. Abbas designated Mustafa as prime minister amid international calls for a reformed Palestinian Authority.

On Friday, Hamas, the terrorist organization that controls Gaza, condemned Abbas for his “unilateral” designation of the PA’s new prime minister, with the terror group adding that it was disappointed that it had no say in the decision.

“We express our rejection of continuing this approach that has inflicted and continues to inflict harm on our people and our national cause,” the terror group stated. “Making individ-

ual decisions and engaging in superficial and empty steps such as forming a new government without national consensus only reinforces a policy of unilateralism and deepens division.”

Mustafa takes the place of Mohammed Shtayyeh, the former prime minister of the PA, who stepped down in February along with the entire Palestinian government. According to the designation letter, Mustafa will be responsible for leading the relief and rebuilding effort in the Gaza Strip and will overhaul the PA’s institutions.

Hamas has insisted that any effort on the PA’s part to marginalize the terror group from the political landscape after the Israel-Hamas war ends would be “delusional.” The terror group added that it would treat any acts of cooperation from clans or community leaders with Israel as “treason” which would be responded to with an “iron fist.” Despite its threats, Hamas has denied recent reports that it executed a Gaza City clan leader who allegedly stole aid and had connections to Israel.

Although Arab and international parties have tried to unite Hamas and Fatah, Abbas’ party, such attempts have failed. The Palestinians’ vision of an independent state, however, would require that the West Bank and Gaza be united under Palestinian control.

Over Half of Southern Evacuees Back Home

According to an official from the Israeli government, over half of the people who evacuated from southern Israel in the wake of the October 7th terror attacks are now back home. Of the 60,000 evacuees who lived within 4.3 miles of the Gazan border, 32,000 have returned, while 22,000 currently reside in hotels paid for by the government, and the rest are renting homes

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and receiving around NIS 6,000 ($1,650) per adult a month from the government.

To those who returned prior to March 7, the Israeli government has pledged NIS 15,000 ($4,100) per adult and NIS 62,000 ($17,000) per family. For each week, the repopulation grant will be decreased by 50%, until July, at which point, the evacuees will no longer be receiving accommodations. No return deadline has been set for the 60,000 people who evacuated from communities near the northern border that Israel shares with Lebanon.

The Tekuma Authority, a group within the government that has been tasked with rehabilitating the south, will have until March 18 to finalize its five-year rehabilitation plan and send it to the government. The Israeli government will supply around NIS 18 billion ($5 billion) towards the plan.

A draft of the plan has outlined the construction of an amphitheater, beach strip, research and development center, two medical facilities, and more. NIS 1.35 ($370 million) would be used towards the reconstruction

and renovation of damaged homes and towards providing temporary living places to evacuees, according to the draft. Around 30% of the construction budget would be used on public facilities.

“We’re investing heavily in cultural and pastime activities because community, belonging, and, by extension, the resilience this creates, come from more than just having a roof over one’s head,” said one official. “The cultural community events are the glue that keeps the fabric of society together.”

As part of the plans, Zikim Beach will likely be renovated and an amphitheater in Kibbutz Gvaram that has been closed for decades will be reopened to the public.

According to the draft, NIS 512 million ($140 million) would go towards agriculture and industry, while NIS 2 billion ($550 million) would go towards education. Another NIS 600 million ($165 million) of the budget would be used for health, and around NIS 720 million (approx. $200 million) would go towards security.

Biden Hails Schumer’s Anti-Bibi Speech

On Thursday, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer delivered a speech in which he urged Israel to elect a new prime minister to succeed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The following day, U.S. President Joe Biden asserted that Schumer “made a good speech.”

“He expressed serious concerns, shared not only by him but by many Americans,” the U.S. president said.

John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman, said that the choice of holding new

elections is “up to the Israeli people.”

“We [the community of Jewish Americans] love Israel in our bones,” Schumer declared. “What Israel has meant to my generation, within living memory of the Holocaust, is impossible to measure. The flowering of the Jewish people in the desert from the ashes of the Holocaust, and the fulfillment of the dream of a Jewish homeland — after nearly two thousand years of praying and waiting — represents one of the most heartfelt causes of my life.”

He then went on to express the fact that he understands Israel’s struggle in fighting Hamas and other enemies in the Middle East, adding that he is “anguished by the plight” of the Israeli abductees who are still in Hamas captivity. Schumer then said that, while the number of Gazan casualties is tragic, Israel is not entirely to blame, as Hamas “knowingly invited an immense civilian toll during this war.”

He then went on to speak of what he believes to be four obstacles to Israeli-Palestinian peace, including Hamas, far-right parties in Israel, Palestinian

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Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and, last but not least, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom Schumer says, “lost his way.”

In response, the Likud Party, which is led by Netanyahu, said, “Israel is an independent and proud democracy that elected Prime Minister Netanyahu, not a banana republic… It is expected of Senator Schumer to respect Israel’s elected government and not undermine it.”

Michael Herzog, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Minister Benny Gantz, and other Israeli officials issued similar statements against the American politician who has called himself “shomer Yisroel.”

by the Israel Defense Forces.

Daniel was from Yad Binyamin, a settlement in central Israel. He fought as a platoon commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion. He was born in South Africa and made aliyah with his family at age thirteen. He was killed after trying to fight off the invading terrorists on October 7, and his body was dragged to the Gaza Strip.

than 1,200 people and kidnapping 253 others, Daniel’s brother, Yonatan, was also injured by terrorists. Two weeks later, with Daniel’s fate still unknown, Yonatan got married.

The fallen soldier’s father, Rabbi Doron Perez, is the executive chairman of World Mizrachi Movement. Following news of Perez’s death, World Mizrachi’s acting CEO, Rabbi Danny Mirvis, said, “Over the past 163 days, we have desperately davened [prayed] for better news. Throughout that time, the Perez family has inspired us and strengthened us as we have sought to strengthen them. The global tefillot for his well-being will now become global wishes of comfort.”

Experts say that 130 people whom Hamas abducted on October 7 are still

100K Gun Licenses Approved Since Oct. 7

This week, the National Security Ministry announced that it had approved 100,000 gun licenses since Oc-

Daniel’s death was confirmed by

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armed.”

“In fact, out of 299,354 applications submitted since the war…more than 100,000 citizens have already been approved to arm themselves, because weapons save lives,” he added.

“We have seen throughout the last months how much a weapon saves lives,” he continued, stating “the dimensions of the [October 7] disaster were less” in places where “civilians could protect themselves.”

“We have also seen this in recent [terror] attacks, and I think that the work at the National Security Ministry is proving itself,” he said.

Responding to concerns that domestic violence may increase with the influx of guns, Ben Gvir said that his ministry is working to make sure that weapons only end up “in the right hands.”

Women were assaulted and murdered on October 7 “because there were not enough weapons,” he argued, adding that he had given out permits to “tens of thousands of armed women who can now defend themselves.”

Requests for gun permits surged

following Hamas’s massive attack on southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 people were slaughtered, many amid brutal atrocities. The National Security Ministry also granted temporary authority to approve gun license applications to Ben Gvir’s personal staff appointees, Knesset employees, and others.

Between October 7 and mid-November, more requests for gun permits were filed than in the previous 20 years.

“Elchanan’s Team” Awarded Prize

Education Minister Yoav Kisch an-

nounced that the Israel Prize for civilian bravery would be awarded to Menachem Kalmenson and Itiel Zohar, who have become known as “Elchanan’s Team.”

“Menachem Kalmenson, along with his brother Elhanan and nephew Itiel Zohar, left their house in Otniel on October 7 to save lives in the Gaza region. Despite being told that they were unneeded, they made their way to [Kibbutz] Be’eri and went into the besieged town again and again saving dozens of the inhabitants. In the last house they entered, a terrorist was waiting, who killed Elchanan.”

Elchanan Kalmenson made history after his death as well. His headstone is the first one in the history of Israel’s fallen to bear the symbols of two different arms of Israel’s security services – both that of the Mossad and the IDF.

Minister Kisch decided that due to the war, the Israel Prize – Israel’s most prestigious award – would be awarded to civilians who showed exceptional brotherhood and friendship, demonstrated unusual courage, or brought exceptional hope to Israel, while con-

tributing significantly to the recovery from the October 7th massacre.

Minister Kisch recounted his conversation with the winners, saying, “I had the honor of speaking this morning with the families of Menachem Kalmenson and Itiel Zohar, and announcing to them that they had won the Israel Prize. I thank them for the amazing family and the great heroes they had produced, who are a lighthouse of bravery for all of us and a source of unity and national pride. We are a nation of heroes, and the winners are part of a long line of heroes who risk their lives for the nation and the land. We cannot forget that.”

Hamas Leader Killed in Strike

Marwan Issa, a top commander of Hamas’ military wing and one of the masterminds of the October 7 massacre, was killed last week in a Israeli airstrike.

Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national se-

The Week In News

curity advisor, told reporters this week that Issa, one of the highest-ranking officials in Hamas, had been killed. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said on March 11 that Israeli military warplanes had targeted the terror leader and another senior Hamas official in an underground compound in central Gaza.

So far, Issa is the senior-most Hamas leader to have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war. Israeli officials have characterized the strike as a breakthrough in their campaign to wipe out the Hamas leadership in Gaza.

Issa had served since 2012 as a deputy to Mohammed Deif, the leader of the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing. Supposedly, Issa was an important strategist in the terror group who played a key role as a liaison between Hamas’s military and political leaders. According to Maj. Gen. Tamir Hayman, the former Israeli military intelligence chief, Issa was simultaneously Hamas’s “defense minister,” its deputy military commander, and its

“strategic mind.”

Although his death deals a significant blow to Qassam Brigades, it is certain that another terrorist will take his place in the organization.

There’s No Place Like Home

Almost two decades ago, the iconic ruby-red shoes from “The Wizard

of Oz” were stolen by two men from the Judy Garland Museum in Minneapolis. This week, the shoes were finally brought back home after the FBI charged two men in the theft.

During the ceremony, the famous footwear was placed on their original pedestal. The FBI said that when the owner, Michael Shaw, accompanied by his niece, laid eyes on the slippers for the first time in nearly two decades, he likened the experience to a heartfelt reunion with a long-lost friend.

“It was incredibly rewarding and fitting to see Mr. Shaw reunited with the Ruby Slippers, at Judy Garland’s home, accompanied by his friends on the museum staff,” said Special Agent Christopher Dudley, one of the investigators who worked on the case.

“It is a privilege for the FBI and our Art Crime Team to work alongside law enforcement partners who truly value the importance of protecting our nation’s cultural heritage.”

Not only did Special Agent Dud -

ley return the ruby slippers to Shaw, he also presented a single red sequin that was left at the scene of the crime nearly two decades ago.

The Judy Garland Museum was rocked by the theft, as the slippers were there on loan from Shaw. Although they were insured for $1 million, museum leaders say the theft shattered a long-standing friendship with their owner and tarnished the organization’s credibility.

“The Judy Garland Museum survived the impact of this violation and is grateful to be a part of the homecoming,” reflected John Kelsch, who was director of the museum at the time of the heist, noting that it negatively impacted operations for many years. The return of the slippers to Shaw, if not the museum, promises a fresh start.

For his part, Shaw introduced representatives from Heritage Auctions at the reunion ceremony, announcing that he is partnering with them to launch a worldwide tour of

The Week In News

the slippers so people can see them before they are auctioned off later this year. Officials at the Judy Garland Museum say they are “working diligently” to find a way to buy them and keep them in a place where Garland’s life and legacy is celebrated.

We’re not in Kansas anymore.

On Speed

Better watch your speedometer when driving in Norway.

A Frenchman who had been in Norway for just over a month was been handed a 21-day prison sentence for amassing 25 speeding tickets – in just 19 days.

The 23-year-old, who traveled to Norway in search of a job, was caught speeding 25 times between February 6 and 25.

He was first caught speeding on February 20 while driving 113 km/ hr in a zone with a speed limit of 70 km/hr.

The man “represents a danger in traffic,” the Oslo district court said.

Still, because he confessed, his sentence was reduced from 24 days to 21 days in jail. His license is also going to be suspended for a year.

It may be hard for him to find a job while behind bars.

Toothy but Not Tame

Tony Cavallaro is mourning the loss of his pet. The 11-foot, 750-pound pet alligator was removed by conservation officials from his home in up -

state New York last week.

Cavallaro, of Hamburg, NY, had put in an in-ground swimming pool on his grounds so his gator “Albert” could swim and cool off.

Albert the alligator is around 30 years old, is blind in both eyes, and has spinal issues.

According to officials, Cavallaro allowed members of the public “to get into the water to pet the unsecured alligator.”

They say that Cavallaro had had a permit to keep the reptile in his home, but he did not renew it in 2021. The lack of a permit, the access given to visitors and the alligator’s

health caused the DEC to remove Albert “in the interest of public safety and the health, safety and protection of the alligator,” the agency said.

According to Cavallaro, he had been complying with regulations that including taping Albert’s mouth shut when he was around humans and installing a fence around his property.

Albert’s removal surprised Cavallaro, who had come home from running errands on Wednesday, only to find Albert being removed from his home.

But Cavallaro is angry that his beloved friend is now gone. He is seeking to regain custody of Albert and said that he was treated “like a terrorist” when officers removed him and hauled him away in a truck. A petition that circulated online to reunite Cavallaro with Albert garnered 20,000 signatures within 24 hours.

“He’s like family,” he said. “Everybody loves him. He has thousands of people, as you see, that love him.”

See ya later, alligator.

Ben & Chany Abrahamowitz

Josh Adler

Shuie & Rivky Anisfeld

Binyomin & Sossie Ansbacher

Arieh Sisters

Dovid & Chava Miriam

Bacharach

Ava Barer

Belsky Family

Shira Berkowitz

Yehudis Berlin

Shlomo & Adina Berman

Natan & Leah Berry

Yehuda Leib & Rachel Birnbaum

Bloom Family

Bushwick Family

Rocky Caine

Y. Caplan

Chazan Family

Cohen, Klainberg, Taragin and Verschleisser Families

Zevi Daniel

Elisheva Danziger

Leib & Fran Davids

Davidson Family

Leah Efron

Shira Ely

Efraim Eshaghian

Tzvi & Raisey Feigenbaum

Team Feinberg

Feintuch Family

Chaya Feldman

Nisa & Ryan Felps

Yossi & Devorah Fisher

Shlomo & Gila Fixler

The Fogels

Tzipora Shuvalsky Frager

Yosef & Aliza Fried

Shlomit & Avrumie Friedman

Kenny & Marla Friedman

Mordy & Miri Friedman

The Friedman Girls

Doni and Estie Froehlich

Moshe & Bracha Frohlich

Shulamit Gartenhaus

David & Sara Gibber

Yaakov & Chani Glazer

Leeba Gold

Yitzy & Malki Goldberg

SG Goldenberg

Dana Goldman

Ora Goldman

Devorah Gradon

Yosef & Layah Greenfield

Aaron & Devora Gross

Avrami & Ayala Gross

Dana Goldman

Chana Grove

Bassie (Rosensaft) Guttman

Adina & Avi Hersko

Shulie & Avigayil Hochman

Adina Hollander

Gil Horwitz

Tendler Sisters

Ezras Nashim of the IT Department

Yael & Shlomo Kanner

Kaplowitz Family

Yitzy & Adena Katz

T. Katz

Yehudah Leib & Yehudis Katz

Shimon & Sarah Devorah

Kerzner

Baila & Mordechai Kiewe

Chanie Kranz

Bayla Kroll

Morah Shoshana Kruger

Ari Krupp

Naftali Langer

Yaakov Langer

Daniel Levy

Shoshi Lewin

Yechezkel M Lewis

Yaakov & Yocheved Lieder

Faigy & Dovid Meir Loeb and Family

Toni Loeb

Rachel Lowenthal

Yossi & Tova Lurman

Esther Mahgrefteh

Aryeh Malitzky

Mark Family

Moshe & Chani Mayer

Rabbi Doniel Meltzer

Mikeladze Girls

Milworm Family

Tzvi & Daniella Moskowitz

Saara & Moish Moskowitz

Chaim Shimon & Chanie

Neuberger

Mrs. Judy Neuberger and Family

Sheffie & Rochel Neuberger

YK & S Neuberger

Michael & Zipporah Neuman

Schnitzer & Nissel Families

Yossi & Shevi Oberstein

Sarah Ottensoser

Pickett Family

Tzipora Plotnik

Adeena & Zevie Polsky

Leah Posner

Aryeh & Shira Rabinowitz

Eli & Ahuva Rappaport

Shoshana Rappaport

Shira Rosen

Elana Rosenbaum

Elana Rosenberg

Rivka Rothman

Liz Rothstein

Pessi Sadwin

Yedidya & Malkah Bracha

Safren

Aliza Samet

Shira Schachter

Tova & Shmuel Schachter

Shai & Aliza Scheller

The Schoemann Family

Dovid & Shani Schwartz

Feintuch & Schwartz Families

Efrona Shane

Miriam Shapiro

Moshe Dov & Sorah Shurin

Sruli & Esty Slansky

Sobol Alumnae

Baila Soloff

Eli & Malkie Sonnenblick

Yaakov & Esther Spatz

Stein Family

Rabbi Yochanon Stein

Rena Steinberg

Stieglitz Family

Nosson & Tamar Suffin

Sarala Tendler

Mosi Treuhaft

Miriam Trout

Tsadok Family

Shira Wealcatch

Ari & Leah Weber

Weil Family

Aliza Wein

Nechama Weiner

Chani Weisbart

Rivkah & Mordechai

Weissmann

Peretz & Sarala Wertenteil

Gedalia & Shani Winchell

Yonatan Ziegler

Zweig Children In honor of Rabbi Zweig

Camp Bais Yaakov

Class of 1990

Class of 2019

Class of 2020

*COMPLETE LIST AS OF TIME OF PUBLICATION

Torah Thought The King and I

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

Reb Meir Simcha of Dvinsk suggests the motivation behind this choice might be due to the sinner’s willingness to be publicly shamed for his having erred, displaying his remorse openly, thereby effecting a greater atonement in return. In fact, he points out, it is precisely because of this added factor that the Torah only states by the burning of the fats of the she-goat, in contradistinction to those of the sheep, how it alone will present -

transgression. His offering will then always be disguised as a possible Elevation-offering, which may also consist of a he-goat, without any other option to demonstrate that he has erred.

Why would this opportunity be denied to a King of the nation of all people? Could you imagine the powerful message his courageously displaying his weakness and expressing his responsibility in taking ownership of his misdeeds would make in the eyes of the nation?

ly create a ‘satisfying aroma to G-d’ is availed only to an individual sinner, but not to the King who may have -

tently sinned has only the option to present a he-goat as atonement for his

When a person sins there is a grave danger. One who has attained greatness and spiritual accomplishment could become so dejected in his personal failure that he will descend to depression and grievous desponden-

Torah Thought

cy. On the other hand, one of lesser or diminished stature might never sense genuine guilt or regret, thinking erroneously, ‘who am I in G-d’s eyes that makes any difference in the greater scheme of things anyway.’

To the one who has so puny of a view of himself, G-d conveys, ‘I care about you’, encouraging the sinner to hide his failing by offering a sacrifice that, ‘no one will ever know but you and Me that you’ve sinned’, yet still leaving the option open to him to display before G-d that despite his lessened stature he is still embarrassed for what he has done and yearns to restore the relationship.

The king though, who has climbed the heights of self-perfection is in greater danger of sensing profound disappointment with himself that can

will hopefully prevent the king from lapsing in poisonous self-flagellation and incrimination.

The portion that discusses the Sin-offering of a king begins with the description, אישנ רשא — when a ruler, אטחי— sins, implying its inevitability of happening at some point and it is only a question of ‘when’.

In contrast when the Torah portrays the special Sin-offering of the מה ןהכ ־ חיש — the ‘anointed Kohen’ or that of the לארשי תדע — the ‘entire assembly’, the Sanhedrin, either of whom ruled mistakenly in the matter of an action that requires the bringing of an atonement, it introduces the subject with the term, םא — if indicating its possibili- , ty, not a certainty.

the danger of becoming ingratiated by our ‘positions’ and flexing our muscles mindlessly.

The key to our success in not falling into these pitfalls is to remain ever aware of G-d’s presence.

The Degel Machaneh Efrayim, the grandson of the holy Baal Shem Tov, offers a magnificent interpretation of the verse regarding the sinner king, in light of one of his grandfather’s teachings.

King David says, םדא ירשא — Praiseworthy is the man, ןוע וד בושחי אל — whom G-d does not ascribe to him iniquity... (

man remains connected to G-d.

It will prevent us from lapsing in arrogance. It is what will buoy us when we find ourselves desperately disappointed in ourselves. It will be a lifesaver that will extend even to those who have come up short, to sense some healthy shame in their inadequateness compelling them to return to His waiting embrace.

Timna, the mother of Amalek, who sought to enter the family of Avraham, was shunned. Rather than seeking G-d’s help and improving her character, she senses dejection and despair, seeking personal fulfillment within the family of the wicked Esav, marrying his son Elifaz.

The Zohar sees in this emphasis

The simple reading extols the value of a man who G-d ascribes no sin to — a קידצ, a righteous man.

The Baal Shem however reads the verse creatively as praising the man who, ד בושחי אל — who considers the momentary lapses in his consciousness of G-d, ןוע — a sin!

In that vein the grandson expounds on our verse: אישנ רשא When a ruler, אטחי — sins,תחא השעו and commits one, ויקלאד תוצמ לכמ — from all the commandments of Hashem, his G-d, רשא — that, הנישעת אל — may not be done... םשאו — and becomes guilty, in the following manner:

רשא — praised is, אישנ — the ruler,[referring to one’s heart which rules all man’s limbs], אטחי, who sins, השעו — when it takes, תחא that singular, ד תוצמ לכמ — of all commands of G-d, [that of cleaving and being mindful of Him constantly], אל רשא הנישעת — considering the lapse of that consciousness, םשאו — as a sin.

If we live with that attitude we are guaranteed to get back on track. It is by that measure that

Elifaz accepts his lowly station in life, aligning with the misguided philosophy of his evil father Esav, who senses only distance from G-d, conveniently convincing himself that G-d really doesn’t care anyway. In that world one can convince oneself that taking his Uncle Yaakov’s life is a fulfillment of honoring one’s father.

The product of that union produces an Amalek whose motto is: אל םיקלא ארי — he fears not G-d, for he is incapable of believing that G-d is present and truly cares. He develops a shield of arrogant entitlement that would deny G-d’s beloved children the right to exist.

May we raise our consciousness of G-d’s love, concern, and appreciation for each one of us, no matter where on the stratum of His service we find ourselves, for with that belief we can conquer the forces of Amalek that seek to destroy us physically, and more potently, emotionally.

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

RubyLaskerDesigns

Baltimore Weekday Minyanim Guide

Shacharis

Neitz Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] M-F

Ohel Yakov S-F

6:00 AM Shomrei Emunah Congregation M-F

6:10 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, Th

6:15 AM Kol Torah M, TH

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah M-F

Shearith Israel Congregation M, TH

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel M, TH

6:20 AM Agudah of Greenspring M, TH

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S-F

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M-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

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

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh T, W, F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh T, W, F

Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek S

Kol Torah T, W, F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah M-F

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

Shearith Israel Congregation S, M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh M-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center T, W, F

Tiferes Yisroel M-F

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

7:15 AM Kedushas Yisrael S

Kol Torah S

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

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Ner Israel Rabbinical College S-F

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7:15 AM Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel S

Tzeirei Anash M-F

7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Beth Tfiloh Congregation M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH

7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] S

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore S-F

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh S

Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S

Chabad of Park Heights S

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh S-F

Darchei Tzedek S

Kedushas Yisrael S-F

Khal Bais Nosson S

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) S-F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

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

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

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

Talmudical Academy S-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Mesivta Kesser Torah S-F

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim S-F

7:50 AM Derech Chaim S

Ner Tamid S

Ohel Moshe M-F

8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Beth Abraham S

Darchei Tzedek S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek S

Kehillas Meor HaTorah S

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Ohel Yakov S

Ohr Yisroel S

Pikesville Jewish Congregation S

Shearith Israel Congregation S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center S

Tiferes Yisroel S

Tzeirei Anash S

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah S-F

8:15 AM Kehilath B'nai Torah S

Kol Torah S

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S-F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh S

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

9:00 AM Aish Kodesh S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S

Beth Tfiloh Congregation S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F

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

9:30 AM

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

9:45 AM

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

10:00AM

Mincha

Mincha Gedolah Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek

12:30 PM Kol Torah

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

1:00 PM 10055 Red Run Blvd Suite 295

Milk & Honey Bistro 1777 Reisterstown RD

1:25 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

1:45 PM Ohel Moshe

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

Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room

Kol Torah

Market Maven

Reischer Minyan 15 Walker Ave 2nd Floor

2:30 PM Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan

Ner Israel Rabbinical College

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)

Shearith Israel Congregation

2:45 PM Kollel of Greenspring

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

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

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

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

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

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

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

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

6:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th)

14 Min Before ShkiAh Kol Torah

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

8:00

8:30

8:45

8:50

Maariv continued

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

Ner

To Raise a Laugh

By Mordechai Schmutter

You Get What You Get (and You Don’t Be Upset)

Everyone loves Purim, but no one loves cleaning up FROM Purim. Yet the night after Purim, you have to sort through what you got for mishloach manos and figure out what to do with it. It’s like putting away groceries, if you bought minute amounts of hundreds of different foods – mostly unhealthy – and put no thought into grouping like things together in the same shopping bag. (“Why did we buy unwrapped jelly beans?” “Why is every can of soda in a different bag?” “Is this for Shabbos, or…?” “Why did we buy this thing if we don’t even know what it is?”)

Or maybe it’s like unpacking from a vacation, where you’re no longer excited, and you’re like, “Okay, what did we forget to eat or refrigerate earlier today?” And everything is crushed and a reminder that Pesach is coming.

In my house, we make a whole ceremony out of unboxing, because people have themes, and if we’re not all there when we take it apart, someone won’t get to witness the theme. Sure, sometimes you try to start going though it ON Purim – making piles and so on – but then it gets annoying, because people keep bringing you stuff, and you’re like, “Can you stop! I’m running out of room on the table here!”

The issue is that, by the end of Purim, most of the mishloach manos we’ve gotten has been separated from the card that explains how it all goes together or who it’s from. If you’re giving something that has to go in the fridge, for example, your package is going to be intact for about five seconds. But that doesn’t mean everyone’s going to hit the brakes on their day so we can admire your theme before it all comes apart. People go crazy figuring out a theme, but to be honest, we’re not going to all gather around your mishloach manos and gaze at it in admiration and immediately start debating about where it should go in the breakfront. A theme would work a lot better if you were the only one giving shalach

manos today. We’d be like, “And there’s even a theme!”

And even if there’s a note that explains your theme, there’s no way that note will still be around by the time Purim is over. You best shot at having us understand what you’re doing is to write on each individual item, so that some Shabbos in the near future, one of our guests is going to ask, “Why did someone write, “Shushan Ha” on your beer?”

When the kids get mishloach manos, they don’t have to worry about stuff like this. Kids say, “I’m going to eat a little bit of this at a time for the next thirty days,” and by the time the next morning rolls around, it’s all gone, except the pretzels.

We start off making piles:

-Things we need to finish by Pesach.

-Random drinks.

-Things that people left on our front porch without a name.

-Foods we forgot to put in the fridge earlier today.

-Unidentified hamantaschen.

-Mishloach manos we made but forgot to give out.

-Fruit.

And then each pile grows bigger than the area we allotted for it, and there’s fake grass everywhere, and I don’t know if this is a kugel or a cake!

There are some things we specifically like getting. When I was a kid, I had a friend who gave out the best candy, and I stayed friends with him for years at least partially because of that. Nowadays, my wife and I like people who give out veggie platters. Do you know how long it takes to cut veggies? And we don’t have to fight with the kids for these things either. My kids say, “You like the salad people? Wow, that’s sad.”

No, when it comes down to it, I like candy more. But on Purim, I have plenty of candy, and no time to make salad. I basically just

like what I can’t have.

We don’t eat the hamantaschen, though. I know it’s a lot of work for you to make them, but we don’t remember who made which hamantaschen anyway, and there are only about two recipes of hamantaschen that I’ve liked in my entire life, and one of them is my wife’s, and I don’t get shalach manos from her, because she’s a girl, and if we exchanged mishloach manos, then according to halacha, we might be married.

I eat most of the other homemade foods, though. If you’re close enough to me that you’ve made my mishloach manos list, I’ve probably eaten in your house.

But, for example, I know somebody who, if you give them anything homemade at all, they throw it out. And I’m sure they have their reasons. But then they always give out something homemade.

And even when we’re done sorting all the food, we have to sort the packages they came in. Which bags can we reuse for next year? I’m not rewrapping your pre-cut size of cellophane around a plate.

There’s so much guilt in reusing the bags, though. All day long, people are regifting foods. We just regift bags. But we’re terrified that anyone should know. We’re scratching off tags, re-attaching the handles… Bags aren’t germs! Was the original person’s intention that we should keep the bag forever? And do what with it?

In short, my favorite mishloach manos to get is something nice that I can eat for lunch on Purim itself, plus a chocolate that I like but my wife does not, in a bag that we can reuse next year. And no sticker. If you write on the sticker, the only person I can give this bag to next year is you. And you probably won’t even remember it’s yours. You’d be like, “Hey! They got the From and To mixed up!… In our handwriting.” Mordechai

Mental Health Corner

The Golden Child

By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman

Narcissism is a word that is tossed around to refer to people who are self-centered. The broadening of the term makes us all feel as if we are all narcissistic on some level, and the truth is that we are. In a clinical setting, the term narcissism is reserved for people whose actions and behaviors harm and damage the people around them, especially members of their own family.

In a nutshell, a narcissist is someone who has very low self-esteem and attempts to control others’ views of

them for defensive purposes. They are interpersonally rigid, easily offended, self-absorbed, blaming, and find it difficult to empathize with others.

If someone has a narcissistic parent, they might be experiencing a parent who puts down their child, puts their child on display for their own fulfillment, manipulates their child, is inflexible with their child, lacks empathy for their child, wants their child to be dependent on them indefinitely, bears feelings of jealousy toward their child, and neglects their child. A nar-

cissistic parent views their child as an extension of themselves, and therefore they are both overly intrusive and extremely neglectful. They are intrusive when they are trying to enhance themselves through their child, and they are utterly neglectful to their child’s actual needs.

How does one survive a childhood when on the receiving end of this kind of a treatment? By developing coping mechanisms that might work during their childhood, but then come back to haunt them when they reach adulthood. One such mechanism is becom-

A narcissistic parent will often have one child who is the black sheep who can do nothing right, and another child who is the golden child who in their eyes can do no wrong. In truth, the golden child is merely someone who subconsciously decided that in order to survive, they should be on their parent’s good side at all times. This feeds the needs of the narcissistic parent and it keeps the child out of trouble. This can have devastating

The child of a narcissist who needed to meet the needs of their parent in order to please their parent, also needed to ignore their own personal needs, as they were not going to be met anyways. This may create a pattern in their own personal life where they are always trying to please others and not realizing that they have their own needs. Additionally, since their thoughts and feelings never mattered, they tend to doubt their own views and opinions, and therefore have a hard time even developing their own thoughts and ideas. This often leads to

An additional emotional injury is in relationships. Our first real rela-

tionship is with our parents, and our ability to create healthy relationships with others is built on our relationship with our parents. What exactly is a relationship? Most people would tell you where each member of the relationship cares and respects the other, and that they are someone you can count on when you have a need. Relationships are by their definition reciprocal. That is not the case with a narcissistic parent. You are there to serve them and they are not responsive to your needs at all unless it is serving their self-interest. This can unfortunately become the paradigm for all of the child’s future relationships, which may be a recipe for disaster.

Therapy for the golden child of a narcissist is not a quick process. Many layers must be worked through in order to heal the emotional wounds and then to recreate themselves into a new kind of a person. The child (who by now is an adult) must gain insight into the ways that their upbringing molded the way they presently are. Additionally, the relationship with the therapist can serve as a model of a healthy relationship.

It may be very hard work, but the rewards are self-worth, self-compassion, and meaningful relationships. These are priceless gifts that will not only enhance your life immeasurably enhanced, but also your children’s and the generations that follow. The future is in your hands.

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

N’shei

Year Upcoming: Help for a Smoother Pesach

N’shei Agudath Israel of Baltimore has been having an amazing season: Our Summer Lecture Series and our Teshuva shiur were very well received.  Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Rav of Agudath Israel of Baltimore, has been giving a valuable Hilchos Shabbos shiur for women every other Monday night.  This year, our Welcome Newcomers Night was successfully combined with a Chanukah shiur and celebration. At this event, N’shei officially welcomed the women who are new to Baltimore and provided the newcomers the opportunity to meet and get to know other women of the community.

On March 13, N’shei hosted a Purim shiur and celebration at the home of Mrs. Chaya Dachs. Mrs. Shira Hochheimer, a popular educator and lecturer, gave a terrific Purim lecture, and our hostess provided a delicious

and beautiful spread. The women in attendance really enjoyed the event.

The women in the community are looking forward to the next two events that will be hosted by N’shei:

On Wednesday, March 27 at 8:00 p.m. N’shei will present a special Zoom event. Professional Organizer Tanya Klein will present “Don’t Worry, It Will Be Beseder! Tips for Preparing for Pesach Proactively.” We have so much to learn from Tanya! She always provides valuable information to assist us in becoming more organized.

On Wednesday, April 10 at 8:15 p.m. Rabbi Moshe Heinemann will give his annual Pesach shiur at Agudath Israel of Baltimore, 6200 Park Heights Avenue (also accessible via Zoom). The community benefits greatly from the halachic guidance the Rav provides. We will learn how to prepare for and celebrate Pesach, as well as which products are recommended for

Pesach this year.

To obtain the Zoom link and phone number for these events and for recordings, please email nsheibaltimore@gmail.com or call or text Mrs. Chavi Barenbaum at 410-935-3010. ADA accommodations are available upon request.

N’shei Agudath Israel of Baltimore is part of an international organization of women dedicated to achdus, community service, education, and charity. Our members include women from different shuls, schools, and organizations. N’shei provides the women in our community with quality programs to enhance their homes and their families, including halacha and hashkafa shiurim and lectures. Our Welcome Newcomers Night and the summertime Evening of Stars program, which honors members of our community, provide the women of Baltimore an opportunity to come together in a

more social event.

All shiurim are free of charge, but there are sponsorship opportunities. You can sponsor a shiur or you can sponsor an ad. Please call or text Mrs. Chavi Barenbaum or email nsheibaltimore@gmail.com for more information. We greatly appreciate N’shei dues and donations, so we can continue to bring you quality programs. Dues are still only $25 and can be sent to: Mrs. Sandy Cohen at 6314 Cross Country Blvd. 21215 or donated at shiurim or online. Email nsheibaltimore@gmail. com for the donation link.

We are always grateful for volunteers to help with our programming. We especially need help with publicity, phone calls, and computer graphics. We look forward to having you join our lectures and events.

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Tech Triumphs

Neither Here nor There

Sitting through in-service meetings is not my idea of fun. Mandatory meetings with no daycare provided can be frustrating, especially when I don’t always gain much from them. Yet, I make an effort to pay attention, and occasionally I find something useful to apply in my classroom.

This particular meeting was community-wide, so educators from various local schools filled the room. Having recently given up my smartphone, I’ve become more aware of others using their phones around me. It’s like when you get a new pair of glasses—for a few weeks, you can’t help but notice everyone else’s glasses. I was doing the same, observing with interest as fellow teachers used their smartphones during the meeting. It made me uncomfortable to watch. Was I once like that with my phone? Probably.

One teacher nearby seemed bare-

As Told to Rebbetzin Sara Gross

ly engaged with the meeting, her attention consumed by her phone throughout the entire speech. I’m sure she was attending to important matters, but I couldn’t help but feel sad for her. It’s true that we didn’t choose to come to the meeting but she missed out on any potential benefits because her focus was elsewhere. The meeting wasn’t groundbreaking, but I felt she lost the opportunity to be present, connect with fellow teachers, and absorb the educational insights being shared.

DID YOU KNOW: Practically all internet-capable devices have the ability to set a password. This is good news, as requiring a password to access the device is a highly effective method for monitoring and controlling who uses it. By setting a password, you can ensure that only authorized users with the password can access your device, which is particularly useful when there are children or others

in your household whose access you want to limit.

Passwords not only help maintain security and safety but also allow you to better manage screen time for younger family members. If your laptop or phone is password protected, you will know when your child has accessed it, allowing you to more effectively monitor their activity and protect them.

However, children often view passwords as just obstacles preventing them from accessing games or other activities on your device. As a result,

they may go to great lengths to discover your password. To prevent this, be cautious when entering your password in front of your child, as even the most well-behaved and innocent children can be curious and mischievous. Don’t assume they aren’t paying attention.

Additionally, we recommend changing your passwords periodically - perhaps every few months - to ensure your device’s security, especially if you suspect your child might have caught a glimpse of your password or figured it out. By taking these steps, you can better safeguard your devices and maintain control over their usage within your household.

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.

Sun-Wed

Fri

The angels sing the praises of G-d, and so did our ancestors three thousand years ago when they crossed the Yam Suf. Today, the Jewish nation still sings songs of joy and thanksgiving to the One Above, whether in shul, around the Shabbos table, or at a kumzits. Music is special, for it can reach the soul in a way nothing else can. A song can bring smiles, laughter, or tears to its listeners. A melody can trigger feelings of nostalgia and sentimentality, bringing back memories long forgotten. Music can change everything.

Jewish music has never been more popular or widespread than it is today. With new hits coming out regularly, the frum music genre is developing at a very fast pace, but the classics still remain relevant decades later. In fact, many “oldies” still have a special place in the childhood soundtrack of Jewish boys and girls to -

In His Words…

Abie Rotenberg A Musical Journey

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

day. But few songs have captured the hearts of the masses as strongly as those written by Abie Rotenberg, one of the pioneers of American Jewish music, whose compositions have stood the test of time and have indisputably helped shape the Jewish music industry into what it is today.

Born and raised in Queens, New York, Abie Rotenberg grew up in a musical home. His father enjoyed singing and playing piano, and his mother could sing as well. Both of Abie’s parents had fled from Europe before the war, and much of their family was murdered in the Holocaust. The majority of adult Jewish New Yorkers at the time were people who had escaped from Europe, and many Holocaust survivors, who had endured the concentration camps, lived in Abie’s childhood community. America was a new world for everyone.

“We were in America. Life was great.

i hope that i ’ve been able to enhance people’s lives – not just from an entertainment basis – but by inspiring them to grow and to examine the subjects that are spoken about or taught in the Journeys songs.

i don’t know why he [hashem] picked me as a shliach for those songs, but he did, and i’m very grateful for that because there’s no greater feeling when a musician hears his music being played, walks down the street and hears somebody in the car playing his song, or goes to a wedding and the chassan and kallah are walking down to his niggun. There’s really no feeling like it. it’s a sense of accomplishment. it’s gratifying.

a niggun is something special. a niggun can lift you up, it can make you laugh, it can make you dance, it can make you happy, it could make you cry. a niggun can be simple; it doesn’t have to be too complicated to be meaningful.

There was baseball and there were hot dogs, and it was a whole new world that was never seen before for the Jewish people,” explained Mr. Rotenberg.

The Rotenbergs had a record player at home, and music played a big role in young Abie’s life. As a young boy, Abie found himself deeply influenced by the music of Shlomo Carlebach. He also found himself listening to classic folk, rock, and pop music. Besides for a few piano lessons, he taught himself how to play the instrument by ear, and he also picked up guitar along the way. By the mid1970s, Abie Rotenberg had released his first few albums.

Initially, he exclusively composed melodies to accompany the words of Tanach, Chazal, and davening. In fact, he hadn’t begun writing his own lyrics until he was 32 years old, in the early 1980s. At the time, Jewish songs with English lyrics were hard to come by, as most popular songs were written in Hebrew or Yiddish.

Inspired by the high-quality English songs of Megama, Abie Rotenberg decided to try his hand at writing English lyrics, motivated by two things in particular: 1) having been involved in kiruv, he felt that the masses would derive more benefit from music they could understand; and 2) since much of the Jewish people had settled in the United States, English had become the language most were able to connect to and understand best.

And so he set out on a songwriting journey. By 1984, he had crafted the highly successful Journeys Vol. 1, an album about transition and growth. Each song on the album, in some way, contains a story or an idea that pertains to the concept of moving from one place to another, hence the title “Journeys.” From the Sefer Torah – brought from Europe to America – that longs to return to the little wooden shul where it was once cherished (“The Place Where I

Belong”), to the “bums” from the East Side whose love of Torah was born after their rebbi helped them win a Lag B’Omer baseball game (“The Ninth Man”). Or the song about the incredible miracles Hashem has done over the years for his people – from Noach being able to fit all the animals in the teivah to the tiny land of Eretz Yisroel being able to survive and thrive in the face of challenges that seem absolutely insurmountable (“Fantastic Amazing Miracle”). In later iterations of the album, listeners hear the story of Rochel Imeinu (“Mama Rochel”), the tale of a neshama who is scared to go down to Earth and is even more frightened when it comes time for its return to Heaven (“Neshomele”).

“My music was always more about the ideas, the lessons, the concepts, especially my English music,” said Mr. Rotenberg. “I don’t know why He [Hashem] picked me as a shliach for those songs, but He did, and I’m very grateful for that because there’s no greater feeling when a musician hears his music being played, walks down the street and hears somebody in the car playing his song, or goes to a wedding and the chassan and kallah are walking down to his niggun. There’s really no feeling like it. It’s a sense of accomplishment. It’s gratifying.”

Abie Rotenberg has released five volumes of the beloved Journeys album. Most recently, in 2022, he released the fifth iteration of Journeys, eighteen years after the fourth. But aside for Journeys, he has released several other albums, including six volumes of Dveykus, two volumes of Lev V’Nefesh, three volumes of Aish, and four volumes of a children’s audio series titled The Marvelous Middos Machine, which he produced in collaboration with Moshe Yess, a talented musician who was part of the popular Megama Duo and was one of Abie’s greatest friends. In addition to his music, Abie Rotenberg has worked on other creative projects, including a book called

The Season of Pepsi Myers, which is an introduction to Judaism in the form of an entertaining baseball-centered novel, and a sefer on the life of Eliyahu HaNavi.

In terms of his career as a musician, Abie views himself as more of a songwriter than a performer. However, with regard to the music itself, he is arguably far more a teacher than a lyricist. Abie Rotenberg has always strived to infuse meaning into his music, with the goal of teaching people how to act as a Jew should.

“I hope that I’ve been able to enhance people’s lives – not just from an entertainment basis – but by inspiring them to grow and to examine the subjects that are spoken about or taught in the Journeys songs,” he explained.

“I remember Avraham Fried asked me recently, ‘Which song of yours, when you heard it, made you cry?’ And I told him the answer: When those three boys were kidnapped and we were still hoping that there would be a positive resolution, I saw that there were thousands of people at the Kotel, singing my song “Acheinu.” When I first heard that, it made me cry because I saw that people connected to my song… and that they felt that the music was something that would bring their tefillos closer to the Kisei HaKavod,” Abie Rotenberg recalled.

Abie Rotenberg has written hundreds of songs and has released over twenty albums over the past fifty years, but despite his dedication to the art of songwriting, music has always been his side job.

“I feel very fortunate that I never

needed to come out with an album in order to survive financially. If I didn’t want to come out with the album or if I didn’t feel it was ready before Purim, I’d wait until Chanukah. I didn’t care, I wasn’t doing it for parnassah…and I feel blessed for that,” Mr. Rotenberg said.

Always hiding behind his piano, Abie has long resisted adopting the persona of a performer. In fact, at the beginning of his musical career, he was very nervous on stage and would rehearse extensively before concerts in fear of disappointing his audience.

Today, Abie Rotenberg lives in Toronto and enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren. Although he is now retired from his family business, he hasn’t stopped putting out music, and he doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.

He hopes to make a Journeys Vol. 6 once he has enough material for the album, and he continues playing concerts now and then.

“As long as there has been a Jewish nation, music has been an integral component of its history and culture. From the shira sung by our ancestors at the Yam Suf to the brilliant compositions of Dovid Hamelech,” said Abie Rotenberg in his song “We’ve Got The Music.”

“From the exquisite harmonies of the Leviim in the Beis Hamikdash to the musical expressions of faith contained in the melodies of the great chassidic Rebbes of Europe. But in this century, and even more so over in the past thirty years, we have witnessed a virtual explosion of creative Jewish songs…

“Yes, we’ve got the music.”

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.

Flashes of Insight Purim Through the Ages

By Mrs. Toby Friedman

You’re looking for a friend in the dark. If you’re fortunate enough to have a flashlight, there’s no problem. What if you don’t have a flashlight?

Rabbi Yitzhak Hutner, in his book, Pachad Yitzchak, explains the Jewish nation’s relationship with Hashem with the metaphor of a flashlight. There are times in our history when Hashem made Himself very visible to us, and we had no problem recognizing Him. When Israel was in Mitzraim (Egypt), and Hashem brought the ten makos (plagues) upon the Egyptians, those were flashes of light. From the Exodus from Egypt to the splitting of the ףוס םי Red Sea, the Manna from Heaven, the miracles in the desert until they entered the Holy Land were periods of great illumination. Hashem’s Hand in history was apparent from the time of the Prophets, the Kings, the building of the first Beis Hamikdash, until its destruction. The Jewish People learned valuable lessons about Hashem’s conduct vis a vis His nation to carry into the future, into the nighttime of Galus.

The story of Megilas Esther took place in the period known as סרפ תולג

ידמו the 70 years of exile between the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash and the rebuilding of the second one. It was a transitional time when there were still prophets, such as Mordechai and Esther, but Hashem’s Guiding Hand was becoming more obscure. Darkness was falling, and we were compelled to seek other ways and methods to find Our Friend by taking lessons from the past. Even though there was a glimmering of prophecy, it was time for us to learn how to cope in Exile. This was a time of רתסה םינפ Hashem’s hiding His Countenance. In fact, Esther’s name alludes to this fact: ‘’יכנאו' ?ןינמ הרותה ןמ רתסא ינפ ריתסא רתסה ” “Where is there an al- ’ lusion to Esther in the Torah? “And I will hide My face” (Devorim 31:18). Indeed, Hashem’s name is not mentioned once in the Megilah to instruct us that Hashem is orchestrating seemingly disparate events for His purpose and our benefit.

The Jewish People understood from history that when Hashem is “hiding”, it’s because we weren’t connecting to Him as we should…bluntly put, because of our sins. If there is strife among us Hashem that is another rea-

son for Hashem to “distance” Himself from us. As we know, the second Bais Hamikdash was destroyed because of םניח תאנש baseless hatred. To secure that special bond between us, Hashem gives us reason to call out to Him...not only as individuals but together as a nation. The broken relationship with Him and the broken relationships with each other are the backdrop when the curtains part with the opening scene of the Megilah, Ahashveirosh’s feast.

What exactly is Ahashveirosh celebrating? According to his calculations or miscalculations, the prophesized seventy-year period of the Jewish People’s exile came to an end. This had great ramifications for the heads of states. It posed a real threat. Israel was a country to be reckoned with, and “heads” would possibly roll.

chai overhears the plot to kill the king. Esther unexplicitly makes two parties. Hashem brewed the perfect storm to achieve His goals while also setting the plot for Jewish People’s salvation. The decree shakes awake the Jewish people, and they now turn to Mordechai, the head of the Sanhedrin, for his sage guidance. He propels them to do teshuva. Before Esther goes to the king to plead on their behalf, she demands that the people gather to pray and fast as a means for them to teshuvah. In fact, the Fast of Esther spur us on to teshuvah,and the mitzvos of Purim, mishloach monos and presents (money) for the poor. תונמ חולשמ and םינויבאל תונתמ reflect our unity…a unity to be carried on for ages.

If we don’t learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. As we read in the Haggdah, “In every generation they threaten to annihilate us”. The consistent result is our uniting and sometimes teshuva as a nation and certainly as individuals.

Everybody was invited to Ahashveirosh’s garish feast, and he was willing to make accommodations for the Jewish people…Kosher Food! Erroneously, many think that the Jewish people’s sin was eating treif. There are various explanations given but one to contemplate is the tragedy of them celebrating the occasion of their still being in exile while Ahashveirosh is brazenly wearing the clothes of the Kohen Gadol! Is that not a disconnect from Hashem and even from their identity?

Bear in mind that approximately another nine years pass before Ahashveirosh issues the decree on Haman’s behest to annihilate the Jewish people. Mordechai warned his people not to attend the banquet. They didn’t listen. Although lightning didn’t strike, the consequences came years later. Here there are dots to be connected and odd events to be explained. Vashti is killed and Esther taken hostage by the malicious, evil Ahashveirosh! Haman becomes second to the king. Morde-

We are living in ominous times. When Israel was being torn apart by strife, Hamas took note as Haman did in his times. We united not only in Israel but in the world, as well, in the face of hatred and destructive forces. Israeli soldiers donning tefillin, and an unpreceded desire for tzizis is a sure sign of a greater teshuva around the corner. יאולה (we hope and wish)

Purim is almost here and Pesach, the time of redemption, closely follows. We have no prophets to connect dots and to interpret today’s distressful, chaotic events. But in the darkness of Galus we’ve learned that Our Friend is looking through the cracks and perhaps now the faint steps of Mashiach are getting louder. ’ה תעושי ןיע ףרהכ Hashem’s salvation can come in the blink of an eye… We know that.

Forgotten Her es The “Real Purim Story” by Midrash Avi

By Avi Heiligman

It’s that time of year again, when we delve in the annuls of history and dig up previously unknown records. This time, we have found a sefer called “Bein Hashuros – Between the Lines” that quotes Midrash Avi which somehow only gets quoted once a year around Purim time. Well, this time, we will delve into until-now-unidentified Purim characters as well as side gigs from some of our favorite people from the Megillah.

The first person we have to mention is the father of Achashveirosh, who is only referred to as “Sleepy Joe.” He waited many years to become king, and most people knew that his cholent was missing a few beans, if you know what I mean. It was his love for chocolate chip ice cream that compelled Achashveirosh to make it the kingdom’s official ice cream flavor and to serve it at all functions including Kiddush Club. Achashveirosh was always playing tricks on his father by switching words on his cue cards and adding steps into random parts of the palace, causing his father to trip and fall.

Achashveirosh himself had been the head cheerleader for his favorite soccer team, the Shushan Shakshukas. However, he was dropped from the squad when he put on too many pounds eating doughnuts.

The official social media representative of Shushan was Hagai. This was in addition to his role as head of the department for getting the queen candidates ready for the king’s contest. He was constantly making TikToks and posting play by play on Twitter under the username #HashtagHeyGuy. He was also the public address announcer at all royal parties. Together with his sister, Chatterbox Smith, they came up with a line of cosmetics called HeyGirl. Their cousin, Rich Guy, was the official treasurer of the king, and was it Rich that got Haigai his job, because, as you know, money is a powerful influencer.

Mordechai’s roommates in yeshiva were always making late night phone calls so he stayed up learning all night. Mordechai be-

came the gadol hador while they became their local shul’s candy men. Mishmar in yeshivas has been attributed to Mordechai because he stayed up all night learning.

Other bochurim joined him for Thursday night but mainly stayed up for the cholent.

On Shabbos, they wanted everyone to stay in shul during davening, so they started a Motzei Shabbos program called the Kiddush Levanah Club. These bochurim became lesser known gedolim coming out with seforim like the “Lechaparas Pasha,” which was only learned seven out of every nineteen years, and the “Kil-achar Yad,” who only moved things with the back of his hand.

Esther was sent to a faraway land for seminary at Bnos Esther which was named after because of her stellar middos. Her madricha had had to convince her parents to let her stay for shana bet and helped mold Esther into the true bas Yisroel that she would become. Before she became Queen of the Persian Empire, she was known as the Challah Queen. On the other hand, Vashti was a drama queen.

Bigsan and Seresh ran a music studio that also doubled up as a radio station for

Shushan Radio. Their band in the studio was quite eclectic and had members like flutist Mosley Sharpe, organist Paige Turner, trumpet player Howie Spits, and guitarist Rex Yurears. The other guards at the king’s palace got their start as keyboard warriors and were hired as part of the DEI initiative by the palace after a money laundering scheme was caught by the FBI – Farsi Bureau of Inevitability.

Even before Haman rose to become second to the king, it was popular to have a body-double. History records his name as Stinkalicous, but professional wrestling fans knew him as the Stinker with his signature move being the stink bomb. Stinkalicous’s descendant was not only was the main body-double for Saddam Hussein, but he was in the palace eating overnight baked beans when the Americans found him.

The original architect of Haman’s gallows was Bill Ding, but Haman had him fired when he found out that he was a secret Mossad agent reporting back to Mordechai. Haman then hired soldiers from the Revolutionary Guards Ancient Persian Unit as construction workers but the money they were given somehow always disappeared.

Then, they tried hiring pro-terrorist groups, but they insisted on blocking traffic as people were trying to get to work and weren’t doing any actual work themselves. After that came illegals but they insisted on getting paid in cash. Left without much choice, Haman and his sons did the work themselves, but the work was so sloppy that the first attempt was rejected by the Royal Persian Safety Commission led by their Chinese counterpart Sum Ting Wong. It was finally fixed by UN workers who had to take a break from their important work of building tunnels under hospitals.

Zeresh was the regional director of the HOA and was the local Karen. Her sidekick, Nora Morse, sincerely enjoyed fining neighbors for having uncut lawns. Zeresh and her crew wore a mask both outside and inside a horse and buggy, even though no one else was around. She hated when anyone asked to speak to her boss whose name was Mike Romanage.

There are several rumors and conspiracy theories circulating around yeshiva coffee rooms worldwide so let’s clear off the dandruff on the davening jackets and get to the truth. First, there were shluchim from the Rebbe in Shushan at the time of the Purim story. Next, Donald Trump’s ancestor was Achashveirosh’s political opponent to become king but Achashveirosh stole the election by allowing undocumented slaves to vote. Also, Charvona started off as ancestor Trump’s speechwriter but left when he refused to read off of the script. The official royal chronicles’ reader for the king in the middle of the night, Kent Reed, failed reading class in elementary school.

Well, there you have it, folks. Another edition of Midrash Avi is in the books. Have an uplifting, safe and healthy Purim!

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.

Jewish History

The Unmentionable Jew, Then and Now

By Rafael Medoff

Acollege dean’s demand that Jewish students remove the word “Jewish” from their event honoring the victims of October 7 has sparked outrage, and rightly so. Sadly, however, the dean’s action was not unprecedented.

On October 10, 2023, students at Middlebury College, in Vermont, showed Dean of Students Derek Doucet their poster for an upcoming vigil honoring the 1,200 Jews massacred, tortured, assaulted and beheaded by Palestinian Arab terrorists three days earlier. The poster’s headline read, “Stand in Solidarity with the Jewish People.”

That was too much for Dean Doucet, according to emails obtained by the Washington Free Beacon. He told the students to stop focusing so much on the Jews and be “more inclusive.” The vigil should “honor all the innocent lives lost,” the dean asserted. It should refer to “tragedies that have struck Israel and Gaza.” The dean added a dark note: calling for solidarity with the Jews might cause “unhelpful reactions,” he warned.

Doucet does not seem to have objected when the Muslim Students Association at Middlebury held a “Vigil for Palestine.” It does not appear to have been a particularly inclusive event, according to the extensive coverage by the student newspaper, The Middlebury Campus. The vigil attendees did not mourn for the Jews slaughtered by Hamas. To add insult to injury, Middlebury’s Vice President of Equity and Inclusion, Khuram Hussain, attended the “Vigil for Palestine” but did not attend the Jewish vigil.

There was a troubling precedent for Dean Doucet’s actions during the Nazi years, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his administration repeatedly downplayed or denied the Jewish identity of Hitler’s victims.

In September 1933, Henry Morgenthau, Jr. visited the White House to request a public statement about the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany. FDR

told Morgenthau, his longtime friend and soon-to-be Treasury Secretary, that he preferred to say something about human rights abuses in Germany in general, without focusing on the Jews. In the end, however, the president made no statement at all.

In the eighty-two press conferences President Roosevelt held in 1933, the subject of the oppression of Jews in Europe arose just once, and not at Roosevelt’s initiative. It would be five more years, and another 348 presidential press conferences, before FDR would again say anything publicly about the Jews.

Even at the peak of the Holocaust, Roosevelt and his administration avoided mentioning that Jews were being targeted by the Nazis. The U.S. statement announcing a conference in Bermuda in 1943 to discuss the Jewish refugee crisis emphasized: “The refugee problem should not be considered as being confined to persons of any particular race or faith.”

Senior American, British, and Soviet officials, meeting in Moscow in late 1943, issued a statement threatening postwar punishment for Nazi war crimes against “French, Dutch, Belgian or Norwegian

hostages...Cretan peasants...[and] the people of Poland”—but not Jews. President Roosevelt did not use the word “Jews” even in his 1944 statement commemorating the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto revolt.

Early in 1944, officials of the U.S. War Refugee Board drafted a proposed presidential message to the people of Axisoccupied countries, warning them not to collaborate in atrocities against Jews. White House aides informed the Board that President Roosevelt “wanted the statement rewritten so as to be aimed less directly at the atrocities against the Jews.”

The final version deleted the reference to Jews being murdered “solely because they were Jews.” It removed three of the statement’s six references to Jews. And it added three opening paragraphs naming various other nationalities who were suffering because of the war.

In September of that year, the War Refugee Board ran into a similar problem with General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe. The Board drafted a leaflet which it wanted U.S. planes to drop over Europe, warning civilians to refrain from participating in Nazi atrocities

against Jews. Eisenhower insisted on deleting the leaflet’s reference to Jews. The final version urged readers not to “molest, harm or persecute” any of the “great many men” being held by the German authorities, “no matter what their religion or nationality may be.”

Arthur Szyk, the famous artist and Jewish activist, charged that the persecution of Europe’s Jews was being “treated as a [inappropriate] subject – you cannot discuss it in polite society.”

There was a reason behind the Roosevelt administration’s policy of downplaying or denying the Jewish identity of Hitler’s victims. The president and his advisors were concerned that if they publicly recognized that the Jews were being singled out, then “the various [Allied] Governments would expose themselves to increased pressure from all sides to do something more specific in order to aid these people,” as one State Department official explained in an internal discussion.

The action by the Middlebury College dean stems from a similar mindset. Focusing attention on the Jews who were murdered and assaulted on October 7 could increase pressure on the dean to do something about the campus extremists who are cheering the murderers and rapists – just as focusing attention on the Jewish victims during the Holocaust risked creating pressure to do something about their plight. Eighty years have passed, and the names and places have changed, but it seems the tragic phenomenon of “the unmentionable Jew” is still with us.

Dr. Medoff is founding director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies and author of more than 20 books about Jewish history and the Holocaust. His latest is America and the Holocaust: A Documentary History, published by the Jewish Publication Society & University of Nebraska Press.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia

My Israel Home Modern Day Miracles

By Gedaliah Borvick

Purim is a holiday of hidden miracles. In the Purim story, one can observe the Al-mighty’s Hand stealthily moving the pawns across the global chessboard, delivering salvation to the Jews.

Many street names across Israel serve as a testament to the Purim miracles and G-d’s active, albeit hidden, role in our lives. Take a stroll in Rishon Lezion, and the colorful Purim story will come alive. Some examples of these Purim-themed streets include “Shushan Habira,” the capital of the Persian empire where the story unfolded, the month of “Adar” in which the miracles took place, the heroes “Mordechai Hayehudi” and “Esther Hamalka,” and “Hapur,” the lots which the wicked Haman cast to determine which day to exterminate the Jews.

Today, we continue to experience miracles; let’s focus on two of them.

Despite the slaughter and unspeakably barbaric actions that Hamas terrorists perpetrated against our citizens on October 7 and the agonizing pain that countless people have endured, we have experienced a major miracle, which is arguably the key to Jewish continuity. Achdut, or unity, is an exceptional miracle, especially as we have been known as

a stiff-necked, or stubborn, people.

Throughout the millennia, we have had difficulty remaining united. It is no coincidence that there are so many jokes of the “two Jews, three opinions” genre. And most recently, the terrible rift emanating from the judicial reform issue threatened the very fabric of our nation. The numerous demonstrations and threats did more than merely rattle the country; it emboldened our enemies. Our enemies understandably thought that this division in our country was real, and therefore they were unprepared for Israel’s surprising unity and unwavering national resolve. The positive side of being a stiff-necked nation came to the fore, revealing our united and unrelenting resolve to protect our families and homeland.

Another manifestation of this miracle has been the vast majority of our nation uniting in support of the abducted hostages, our soldiers, and the families forced to relocate during the war. The myriad Jews doing so much for Am Yisrael – such as going on missions, attending rallies, donating funds, advocating on social media, picking vegetables, returning to serve in the army, sending gear, making tzitzit, purchasing tefillin,

and saying Tehillim – all serve as the glue that is bonding and unifying us in these challenging times.

Last week, I had the privilege to watch our national resolve and unity firsthand at the Israel housing fairs in Teaneck and the Five Towns. Outside, the commotion generated by hundreds of Pro-Palestine protesters, many of whom were chanting hate-filled slogans, and proud Pro-Israel counter-protestors, plus a gigantic police presence, all combined to create disturbing mental images. Inside the fairs, I heard things that I never thought I would hear in my lifetime. I met dozens of people comparing these days to Germany in 1933. I met children of survivors who see the writing on the wall, and I met the granddaughter of a survivor who recently passed away at the age of 97 and right before he took a turn for the worse pleaded with her to move to Israel.

This shocking experience helped me – and I’m sure many others – appreciate the remarkable miracle of the State of Israel.

In 1939, British Mandatory Palestine implemented the infamous White Paper to impede Jewish immigration, and most of the ships that attempted to smuggle

Jews into the Holy Land to escape the Nazis were forced to return to Europe, where almost all of these people perished along with over six million of their brethren in the Holocaust.

Today, Israel’s borders are wide open to welcome Jews back to their homeland where our two Temples proudly stood until almost 2,000 years ago, and where the third and eternal Temple will be built. This safe haven for all Jews is truly a miracle. My great-grandparents who fled Russia and its state-sponsored pogroms in the early 1880s could never have imagined in their wildest dreams that, less than a hundred years later, we would establish the State of Israel and build a flourishing country and thriving economy.

Thankfully, the biggest difference between 1933 and 2024 is the miraculous State of Israel, which welcomes home all Jews with open arms.

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

TJH Centerfold Dear Underlings,

How many boring pictures do you have on your phone? News flash– - if you take a photo of an inanimate object, there’s no reason to take more than one picture. But you are addicted to options. One day, you will sit down and go through each picture to winnow down your pictures to the best ones. Guess what? That’s not happening. Look through your camera roll now have you ever deleted the duplicates? No. So what’s gonna change? You are going to be more bored than you already are. How do I know that you are really bored? Because you are still reading this letter!

Just kidding. I am not boring. I am very exciting. I am not AI. I am a funny person.

Anyway, let’s keep the spirit of Purim going for a while. Send in a picture or two or three to TJH and be included in our Purim Photo Album, which will come out the weekend after Purim. (Did you guess when it is coming out on your own? If so, you are really smart.)

Send your photos to editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com and write “picture” in the subject. (You do not have to include the quotation marks if you don’t want to but you can include them if you insist.) We definitely want your picture because you look funny all the time, kal v’chomer on Purim. (If you don’t know what kal v’chomer means, you obviously don’t speak Russian.)

Have a happy, healthy, safe, enjoyable, meaningful, candy-ful Purim!

Forever your Centerfold Commissioner, Me

(P.S. I accept mishloach manos from everyone, unless your name happens to be Vladimir Putin.)

Pu im Personality Quiz

1. When “Haman” is read in the Megillah, do you feel like you need to be the guy/girl who won’t stop making noise once everyone else stops?

a. I bring a cowbell to Megillah and make sure to hit it as soon as it gets quiet again.

b. I bring a big wooden gragger and as soon as the lainer is about to continue reading ….gggrrrr.

c. we gotta get that obnoxious person out of here. What nerve he has. This is gonna take forever.

3. You sing “V’nahapoch”:

a. All day non-stop.

b. At least 55 times.

c. I don’t know that song.

d. I bring earplugs with me because the graggers and cowbells are too loud.

2. When a group of collectors surrounds you and starts singing and dancing:

a. You dance with them and have a blast.

b. You say, “Wow, that’s an amazing cow costume you are wearing. The most unbelievable thing about it is that you even smell like a cow!”

c. You say, “Excuse me, please, would you guys please get out of my way.”

Picking on Vayzusa

Vayzusa walks into a bar in Persia…

4. When you get sprayed with disappearing ink:

a. You whip out a supersoaker and shoot the person with gallons of Hawaiian Punch.

b. You feign shock and make believe you don’t know what it is… Then you laugh and say, “Fooled you last!”

c. You scream at the kid and say, “You are going to pay for my cleaning bill. This stuff really doesn’t come out.”

5. When you deliver mishloach manos to someone and then two minutes later they present a beautiful mishloach manos in return – the only problem is it’s the mishloach manos you just gave them:

a. You laugh and say, “I knew you would do that… Isn’t that what Purim is all about?”

b. You say, “Thank you so much.

A guy says to him, “What’s your name?” He responds, “Vayzusa.” The guy says, “Do you hang here often?”

A guy says to him, “What’s your name?” He responds, “Vayzusa.” The guy says, “Hey, man!”

I actually think my mishloach manos is the best. I look forward to eating it.”

c. You frown and say, “That is quite insulting. I really worked hard on this mishloach manos.”

6. When you are stuck in serious Purim traffic, you:

a. Roll down your windows and blast your favorite Purim song.

b. You beep your horn…beep. Beep…. beep.beep.beep….beep.beep.beep. beep…beep.beep.

c. You get out of your car and scream, “Some of us need to get places!”

PU IM PERSONALITY KEY

If you answered A or B to all 6 questions: You are fun to be with on Purim….for 5 minutes or less.

If you answered A or B to 5 or more questions: You are made for Purim and will have a blast.

If you answered C to 2 or more questions: Sorry, Charlie. I guess this holiday was not meant for you. Can we offer you some marror?

A guy says to him, “What’s your name?” He responds, “Vayzusa.” The guy says, “Wow! That name takes my breath away!”

A guy says to him, “What’s your name?” He responds, “Vayzusa.” The guy says, “Gosh, what happened? All the cool names like Parshandasa were taken?”

Notable Quotes “Say What?!”

At this stage, I don’t have any expectations from the Secretary-General. He has already proven that he is not worthy of heading an organization which is supposed to fight terror and prevent wars. He has turned into an accomplice of Hamas.

- Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan talking about UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

Our big plan to cancel student debt doesn’t apply to everyone. Just yesterday, a defeated-looking man came up to me and said, “I’m being crushed by debt. I’m completely wiped out.” I said, “Sorry, Donald, I can’t help you.”

- Pres. Joe Biden at the Gridiron Dinner joking about a judge who levied a $395 million fine on Trump for allegedly inflating the value of his real estate to get bank loans

I think you desperately want censorship. You want censorship so bad, you can taste it.

– Elon Musk in a contentious interview with Don Lemon

I believe that the stronger one is the one who sees the situation, who thinks of the people, who has the courage of the white flag, to negotiate.

- Pope Francis calling on Ukraine to negotiate an end to the war with Russia

Our flag is a yellow and blue one. This is the flag by which we live, die, and prevail. We shall never raise any other flags.

- Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in response

The strongest is the one who, in the battle between good and evil, stands on the side of good rather than attempting to put them on the same footing and call it “negotiations.”

- Ibid.

Let me tell you something, to China, if you’re listening, President Xi … those big, monster car manufacturing plants that you’re building in Mexico right now, and you think you’re going to get that, you’re going to not hire Americans and you’re going to sell the cars to us? No, we’re going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and you’re not going to be able to sell those guys if I get elected. Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole…that’s going to be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country. That’ll be the least of it.

- Donald Trump at a weekend rally

Trump says some migrants are “not people” and predicts a “bloodbath” if he loses.

- New York Times headline

My last name is Schumer, which derives from the Hebrew word shomer, or “guardian.” Of course, my first responsibility is to America and New York. But as the first Jewish Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the highestranking Jewish elected official in America ever, I also feel very keenly my responsibility as Shomer Yisroel — a guardian of the People of Israel.

- How Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began his speech that called for a two-state solution and that essentially equated Netanyahu with Hamas as obstacles to peace

Chuck Schumer is a total disgrace. Not only isn’t the man who says that Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t fit to lead Israel not fit to lead the Senate. He isn’t fit to lead a synagogue’s Men’s Club. He deserves to be primaried by AOC. She’s a more convincing anti-Semite.

– Tweet by Caroline Click

It is grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader of Israel. This is unprecedented. We should not treat fellow democracies this way at all.

- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell responding to Schumer’s speech

There are those in the international community who are trying to stop the war now, before all of its goals are achieved. They do this by hurling false accusations against the IDF, against the Israeli government, and against the Prime Minister of Israel. They do this by trying to bring about elections now, in the midst of the war. And they do this because they know that elections now will stop the war and paralyze the country for at least six months.

- Prime Minister Netanyahu in response to Schumer’s speech

So let’s be clear: if we stop the war now, before all of its goals are achieved, it means that Israel has lost the war, and we will not allow that. Therefore, we must not give in to these pressures, and we will not give in to them. No international pressure will stop us from realizing all the goals of the war: eliminating Hamas, freeing all our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat against Israel.

- Ibid.

I don’t think guns are the issue. I think we need strong fathers in the home that are being great examples.

- Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker in a recent interview responding to those pushing for more gun control after a shooting at the Super Bowl parade

The minute we came in, all the nurses were standing there and going like this [cheering]. They were all so happy that they came back with prey, with Israeli-Jewish prey.

- Released hostage Judith Raanan in a recent interview

Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion, they hate everything about Israel, and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed.

- Donald Trump in a recent interview

Bye. Don’t come back.

– Tweet by Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) in response to some bands pulling out of Texas’s SXSW Festival because of the war in Gaza and because the U.S. Army was one of the sponsors of the festival

The best way to oppose fake news is for people to watch MSNBC where you report real news all the time.

- Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA)

Sorry so late!! It’s been a long, strange trip.

- A note posted in a book titled Psychedelics that was returned to a library in Colorado this week 37 years late

It happens. There is nothing you can do about it. It’s life.

- Russian President Vladimir Putin talking about opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death last month in prison, while denying involvement

Health & F tness

Fasting and Feasting On Purim

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

In the month of Adar, when joy does bloom

We celebrate Purim dispelling the gloom

With costumes bright and spirits high

We remember the past, uncovering secrets we try

In the shadow of Esther’s tale, under Purim’s moon

A fast of reflection, before the feast after noon

A story of courage, of triumph and jest

Prepare for this fast and you will pass the test

Adequate hydration is key to the success

Avoid diet sodas; they cause a bodily mess

Water will be your companion the day before

Lean protein, healthy carbs, and veggies galore

As the fast concludes, a feast awaits

Don’t overeat, please slow down, mate!

Instead, let us break our fast with care,

With nourishing choices, light and fair

A warm vegetable soup is a great way start

It’s gentle on your stomach and good for the heart

Add fish or eggs with a side of whole grain toast

Finish off with some fruit, a healthy meal to boast

Purim day brings us many delightful sweets

Especially hamantashen, triangles of joyful treats

Cakes, candy and wine, oh, how we cheer

Please mindfully indulge, in moderation let’s adhere

Don’t abandon regular meals on Purim day

For resulting hunger will lead you astray

Get breakfast in your belly before going to shul

Bring lunch on the road, while driving carpool

Select one or two favorite treats, and enjoy the day

Donate all surplus to the poor, it’s the right way

Avoid leaving the mishloach manot lying around

Too great a temptation, not smart, wise or sound

But amidst the feast, let’s not forget

Healthy foods on our table set

Fruits and vegetables, fresh and bright

Adding color to the festive night

Challah and cake, already an abundance of starch

Make most sides carb-free, ready, set, march

Roast varieties of veggies, spiced just right

Adding fiber and flavor to the Purim night

Nuts and dark chocolate, a healthy treat

In our celebration, they will find a seat

Paired with fine wine, but just a sip

Ensuring our health doesn’t take a dip

To feast with joy, and yet to heed

The body’s needs, don’t eat with greed

So let us dance in Purim’s embrace

With healthy choices, we grace this place!

In the spirit of Purim, a lesson so dear

About balance and health, year after year

To enjoy the feast, with laughter and song

But remember our well-being, all life long

The day after Purim, it’s time to get back on track

Having some trouble? Don’t worry, I got your back!

Wishing all of my readers a freilichen Purim!

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I know this is not a “dating” question per se, but I would appreciate the columnists’ wise advice.

My son is just about to get engaged. We are so excited. He is our oldest and the first child to be getting married.

We are from a middle-class family. My husband and I work hard and we B”H make ends meet, but we are not rich by any standards. My future in-laws are probably on the same level as us, economically.

Here’s my question: I am realizing that there are many, many expenses that come along with making a wedding. When we met our future mechutanim to discuss a few things before the kids got engaged, we both decided to try not to make an ostentatious affair and to try to keep it “baale batish” and tasteful but not outrageous.

I am hearing that some people buy their kallahs lab-grown diamonds to help defray costs. The diamonds look completely real and are almost indiscernible from “real” diamonds. I have asked around, and some of my friends are enthusiastic about the idea of us buying our kallah a lab-grown diamond. Other friends are horrified that I even bring it up.

Here’s my question: what do you think about the idea? Is it something we can consider? It would really help with keeping our costs much more reasonable, and it’s doubtful that it would make a difference to the kallah (who is amazing, by the way!!!).

Thank you for your time.

The Panel

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

See if you can find out from someone in the social circle of the mechutanim to see if this is done in their circles. Depending on the answer, you may consider asking the mechutanim how their daughter would feel about buying her a ring with a lab-grown diamond.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

Although my grandfather, R’ Izzy Langer (may he live and be well ad meah v’esrim), is a diamond schleifer, I personally do not know a thing about the trade. Since I put the columnists together every week, I am bringing in a guest panelist you will see below. He is a knowledgeable jeweler in the Baltimore community, and he will discuss his experiences with lab-grown vs. natural diamonds.

All I have to add is that you should discuss this with your son’s kallah personally. It feels unpleasant to be given something as monumental and sentimental as an engagement ring and to not be consulted as to preferences regarding how it looks, quality, etc. Once she is given the ring, it is too late to communicate and ask. Make sure you do all of this beforehand, so she feels good about it.

Mazal tov!

The Jeweler

Itzik Golfeiz, Gabe & Rubens Jewelers

Hey, first off, mazal tov! I sell both lab-grown and natural diamonds. These days, about 40% of the new engagement rings I make use lab-grown diamonds. They’re legit dia-

monds, with the same chemical makeup as natural ones. The main difference is that lab-grown ones don’t hold their value because they can keep making more. That’s why they’re way cheaper.

But which one to go for depends on the person buying the ring. I usually give the kallah two options based on budget: a smaller natural diamond or a nice lab-grown one. That usually settles things pretty fast.

There was a lot of debate among jewelers about lab-grown diamonds, but it’s clear there’s a big market for them. They’re becoming more and more popular, especially in the younger generation.

So, for a couple looking to spend under $3,000, lab-grown is worth considering. But if the budget is over $10,000, I’d stick with natural diamonds. Spending that much on lab-grown would be a waste. But for under $3,000, why not go for a nice lab-grown ring? You’re not gonna get a really nice natural diamond for that price anyway (unless it’s really small), so you might as well give her the choice of a smaller natural one or a bigger lab-grown one.

From a non-logical and more emotional standpoint, I don’t think diamond rings should be viewed as a checklist for the wedding. A diamond ring is a chosson telling his kallah I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and that diamond is a symbol of the unbreakable bond they will hopefully have for many, many years. There’s a certain beauty to that when you truly view it that way. So I would like to think that most kallahs want to know that the boy went slightly above his means to show how much she means to him. The question is, “How much is slightly above your means?” I think for people with tight budgets, a few thousand dollars is a sure sign of going above your normal expenses to make her happy. That can be achieved with lab-grown as well because it’s still not a cheap purchase.

In conclusion, let’s say you have $3,000 to spend on an engagement ring. You can offer to get her a small natural diamond (around half a carat) or a gorgeous 2 carat lab-grown diamond.

As long as you’re giving her that choice, you’re showing her that you want her to be happy and you’re also working within your means.

I hope I clarified this for you, if you have more questions, feel free to reach out.

The Single

Tzipora Grodko

How exciting, mazal tov! Please, please, please, don’t discuss your concerns with other people and friends. It turns an insecurity or doubt into drama and manipulates your clarity. When it comes to finances, you always need to do what works best for you, because that will ultimately be the best solution for you and your family.

That diamond is a symbol of the unbreakable bond they will hopefully have for many, many years.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

What a great question! Here are some thoughts.

Background

Lab-grown diamonds are manufac -

tured, using high pressure and temperature, and have the exact same chemical, physical, and optical qualities of natural diamonds. They look identical to natural diamonds, and only an expert, using advanced equipment, can tell the difference. Both types need to be shaped by an expert diamond cutter.

However, there is a huge cost difference: An average one-carat natural diamond might cost $5,200 while a similar lab grown diamond might cost only $1,500.

I was surprised to discover that in 2023, over half of the engagement rings sold in the United States featured labgrown diamonds.

Ethical Considerations

On one hand, human rights groups claim that natural, mined diamonds should be avoided and should be called “Blood Diamonds,” because the process causes massive amounts of environmental destruction, often utilizes enslaved, underpaid, and underage workers, and is of-

ten controlled by vicious rebel groups and warlords.

On the other hand, today, professional diamond dealers claim to only deal with “Ethical Diamonds,” that ensure fair, safe working conditions, environmentally sound practices, and no human rights abuses.

Moreover, proponents of lab-grown diamonds point out that mined diamonds often originate in war-torn areas and help finance savage conflicts.

But, proponents of natural diamonds point out that the manufacture of labgrown diamonds require generating temperatures that are close to 20% of the sun’s surface, are usually manufactured in India and China, and require massive amounts of environmentally harmful, coal-burning electricity.

Expenses, Expenses

We can probably all agree that the process of marrying off our children has become very overpriced. That is why some local community leaders have

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Thank you for writing into the panel! I don’t think there are any clear or easy answers here. It boils down to two competing factors. The first is your budget. Weddings are a fortune, and I can understand the necessity of saving money. On the other hand, a diamond ring has become a symbol of a couple’s love. It is something a woman wears proudly on her ring finger, symbolizing their union. I

can un - derstand how a young woman may be very dis- appointed receiving a fake di- amond. And yet, on another hand (a third one, I guess), if lab diamonds are becoming the norm, perhaps people will not be disappointed with them.

After doing a little internet research, it seems that in 2021, nearly

come up with more sensible, modest, wedding guidelines.

Consider, for example:

How often does anyone actually look at their wedding albums or videos?

What is the value of very expensive, magnificent, floral arrangements, after the five-hour affair?

Do you remember hearing anyone comment that having three extra band musicians made all the difference in the world?

Does anyone actually remember which foods were served at their friend’s wedding ten years ago? (Actually, my good friend, “A,” probably does.)

HOWEVER, even though it’s a good idea to save on unnecessary expenses, the diamond engagement ring is in a very different category.

Symbols are Powerful

In my neighborhood, many women own a nice selection of jewelry. They will wear some pieces frequently and some pieces infrequently, but virtually none of them ever go anywhere without their engagement rings.

Like it or not, in our culture, the diamond ring has very strong sym -

one in three engagement rings were now lab-grown. In 2022, this figure rose, with now over 72% of engagement rings being lab-grown. And lab-grown diamonds are nearly 60 to 80% cheaper than the real thing.

With all that being said, I’m going to offer you my intuitive, instinctual opinion. And it is only that...an opinion.

An engagement ring is very personal. It will be on your future daughterin-law’s hand for the rest of her life, G-d willing. I might sit down with her and your son and tell them your quandary. Talk to the couple about the pros and cons of both a lab-grown diamond and

You might as well give her the choice of a smaller natural one or a bigger lab-grown one.

bolic value, and the phrase, “diamonds are forever,” is permanently embedded in our brains.

The diamond engagement ring has come to represent “enduring, unbreakable, eternal love.” For that powerful symbol to be artificial, would be an aberration that would, I believe, not sit well with most women.

Even if a very good-natured woman would agree that it makes sense to save money and buy a lab-grown diamond, I fear that over time, disappointment would grow into a permanent seething resentment.

So, when considering lab-grown diamond engagement rings, don’t do it!

a natural diamond. Give them an idea of the type of ring she can have if she goes natural and the type of ring she can have if she chooses lab-grown. Involve the couple. If she wants a natural ring (and it really is such a personal thing, isn’t it?), it will be a ring you can afford, and maybe you will go easier on the flowers or the food or the music. If she wants a lab-grown diamond, then that’s perfect.

All the best. It sounds like you got a real winner, and that’s the most important part of all of this!

Mazal tov, 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.

Headlines Halacha

The Ten Sons of Haman

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It is eerie. It is also what can be called an “emunah builder.” One could perhaps suggest that it is coincidence, but the combination of all of these coincidences in one area, particularly when they are otherwise unexplained, is perhaps too much of a coincidence.

Let’s look at the listing of the ten sons of Haman as they are being hanged at the end of the Megillah. There are two columns – the names are to the right side. On the left side is a series of ten of the same words – “v’es.”

But why? Why not just have the connecting vav appear before each of the ten names? Why the ten extra words?

To answer this question, we go to one of the Tannaim. It is either Shimon HaAmasuni or Nechemiah HaAmasuni, a debate in the Talmud. Either way, he was a second generation Tanna and perhaps even the person known as Nachum Ish Gamzu, according to some sources. The Gemara in Psachim (22b) and in Kiddushin (57a) both discuss him and his method of exegesis. He looked at every “es” in the Torah and stated that it comes to include something else. But what? Or who?

The Four Strangely-Sized Letters

Now let’s take a deeper look at the letters of the handwritten Megillah itself. There are four unexplained irregularities in the orthography of the letters. Three letters are written in a significantly smaller size. One letter is written in a much larger size.

In the listing of the ten sons of Haman found in the Megillah (Megillah 9:7-9), there are three letters that are written smaller: the taf of Parshandasa, the shin of Parmashta, and the zayin of Vayzasa. The Gematria value of these smaller letters is 707.

In that last son of Haman, Vayzasa, the vav is written much larger. Rav Michel Dov Ber Weissmandel, zt”l, a tzaddik who saved thousands of people during the Holocaust and who tried to save hundreds of thousands of others, made the following discovery:

If this vav represents the sixth millennium of creation, and the other three smaller letters represent the years, the total is 5,707. 5707 corresponds to the year 1946 – the year that ten Nazis were also hanged at the Nuremberg trials.

The Hanging Date

Although the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg delivered its verdicts sentencing the leaders of the Nazi party to death by hanging on October 1, 1946, they were hanged on October 16, the 21st of Tishrei. That date corresponds to the final judgement day of the Hebrew year – the point of no return – Hoshana Rabbah.

The Bizarre Declaration

Kingsbury Smith of the International News Service, who was chosen by random lot [ pur in Hebrew] to represent the American press at the execution of the ten Nazis wrote as follows:

…Julius Streicher made his melodramatic appearance at 2:12 a.m.

While his manacles were being removed and his bare hands bound, this ugly, dwarfish little man, wearing a threadbare suit and a well-worn bluish shirt buttoned to the neck but without a tie (he was notorious during his days of power for his flashy dress), glanced at the three wooden scaffolds rising menacingly in front of him. Then he glanced around the room, his eyes resting momentarily upon the small group of witnesses. By this time, his hands were tied securely behind his back. Two guards, one on each arm, directed him to Number One gallows on the left of the entrance. He walked steadily the six feet to the first wooden step but his face was twitching… He was pushed the last two steps to the mortal spot beneath the hangman’s rope. The rope was being held back against a wooden rail by the hangman.

Streicher was swung suddenly to face the witnesses and glared at them. Suddenly he screamed, “Purim Fest 1946.”

This is very strange. Why would he scream Purim fest 1946?

The Request

“And the king said to Esther the Queen, ‘The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the capital, and the ten sons of Haman…Now whatever your petition, it shall be granted; whatever your request further, it shall be done.’

“Esther responded, ‘If it pleasing to the King, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do tomorrow also as this day, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.’” (Megillas Esther 9:12-14)

Our sages tell us that every place in the Megillah that it mentions the king, it also refers to Hashem – the King. Esther’s request, or prayer, was also directed to Hashem Himself, the Ultimate King.

Who Were the Original Ten Sons of Haman?

1. Parshandasa

2. Dalfon

3. Aspasa

4. Purasa

5. Adalya

6. Aridasa

7. Parmashta

8. Arisai

9. Aridai

10. Vayzasa

Who Were the Ten Future Sons of Haman?

1. Wilhelm Frick, ym”sh , Reich Minister of the Interior of Nazi Germany and then the last governor of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

2. Alfred Jodl, ym”sh, Chief of the Operations Staff of the Armed Forces High Command. He also signed the surrender documents of Nazi Germany.

3. Ernst Kaltenbrunner, ym”sh, Obergruppenführer (general) in the SS. He was also the chief of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (Reich Main Security Office).

4. Wilhelm Keitel, ym”sh, Field Marshal and chief of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht – the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces.

5. Joachim von Ribbentrop, ym”sh, Nazi Germany’s Foreign Minister.

6. Alfred Rosenberg, ym”sh, chief Nazi theoretician and ideologist. He was also the head of the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories, where he oversaw the establishment and administration of the extermination camps.

7 Fritz Sauckel, ym”sh, Gauleiter of Thuringia and the General Plenipotentiary for Labour Deployment from 1942 until the end of the war.

8. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, ym”sh, an Austrian Nazi politician who worked with Hitler to create the Anschluss. After Germany invaded Poland, he served in the General Government of Poland. He was also Reichskommissar in Holland.

9. Julius Streicher, ym”sh, early member of the Nazi Party and founder and publisher of Der Stürmer, that encouraged the hate toward Jews.

10. Hans Frank, ym”sh , Hitler’s personal lawyer and Nazi Germany’s chief jurist in German-occupied Poland.

Is There a Correlation Between These Nazis and the Original Ten?

There was a great Kabbalist named Sason Ben Mordechai Shanduch (1747-1830) who lived in Iraq. In his sefer entitled Davar B’Ito, he provides a Hebrew root that indicates the specific evil quality inherent in each of the original ten sons of Haman. Based on Rabbi Shanduch’s writings, we can perhaps conjecture which each of the sons of Haman comes to include:

1. Parshandasa is one who is mafrish a person from the religion (dasa). This possibly refers to Alfred Rosenberg whose ideology and theology was directed against Judaism. In his 1920 book, Immorality in the Talmud, Rosenberg identified Jews and Judaism as evil incarnate. Publicly, Rosenberg attributed what was wrong with Christianity as due to the influence of Judaism. He initiated many of the anti-Jewish laws.

2. Dalphon is a person who is a deles, a door, to pnios ra’os, bad directions or steps. Possibly this refers to Alfred Jodl who signed the Commissar Order of 6 June 1941 (in which Soviet political commissars were to be shot) and the Commando Order of 28 October 1942 (in which Allied commandos, including properly uniformed soldiers as well as combatants wearing civilian clothes were to be executed immediately without trial if captured behind German lines).

3. Asafta is a gatherer. Ernst Kaltenbrunner was a committed anti-Semite. According to former SSSturmbannführer Hans Georg Mayer, Kaltenbrunner was present at a December 1940 meeting among Hitler, Goebbels, Himmler, and Heydrich where it was decided to gas all Jews incapable of

heavy physical work. Under Kaltenbrunner’s command, the genocide of Jews picked up pace as “the process of extermination was to be expedited and the concentration of the Jews in the Reich itself and the occupied countries were to be liquidated as soon as possible.” He oversaw the rapid gathering of Jews in order to exterminate them.

4. Porasa alludes to untoward an unchaste behavior. While overseeing the

like a lion. Possibly this refers to Wilhelm Frick who used ruthless methods to counter any dissent.

7. Parmashta is one who rips apart ( porem) the inner fabric, the shasi (the crisscross of the garment) of the Jewish nation. This could possibly reference Wilhelm Keitel who issued a series of criminal orders from April 1941 The orders went beyond established codes of conduct for the military and broadly

Suddenly he screamed, “Purim Fest 1946.”

Dutch, Arthur Seyss-Inquart behaved in a manner that compromised many Dutch women.

5. Adalia refers to one who lifts himself up with arrogance and haughtiness – likely being Joachim Von. In his arrogance, he added the fake title Von to his name. When he was an ambassador to England, virtually everyone commented about his complete arrogance.

6. Aridasa is one who scares others

allowed the execution of Jews, civilians and non-combatants for any reason. Those carrying out the murders were exempted from court-martial or later being tried for war crimes. The orders were signed by Keitel.

8. Arisai is one who possesses the venom (aras) of a snake. Perhaps this refers to the venomous nature of Julius Streicher – publisher of the venomous Der Stürmer.

9. Aridai is one who subjugates people (rodeh). This best references Fritz Sauckel who worked directly under Göring through the Four Year Plan Office, directing and controlling labor. In response to increased demands, he met the requirement for manpower with people from the occupied territories. Voluntary numbers were insufficient and forced recruitment was introduced within a few months. Of the five million foreign workers brought to Germany, around 200,000 came voluntarily, according to Sauckel’s own testimony at Nuremberg.

10. Vayzasa is one who symbolizes the bitter and warped judgment of an olive. It is likely that this references Hans Frank who served as the warped judge that allowed many Nazi goals to become law.

The ten prominent v’es es in the left column of the Megillah when talking about Haman’s sons do indicate that it comes to include specific people, possibly referring to the correlation between the original ten sons of Haman to the future sons of Haman.

The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@ gmail.com

O

C

Life C ach Peek a Boo –Who Are You?

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

Am I putting on a mask so you don’t see me? Are you putting on a mask so I don’t see you?

The Sages say we’re putting it on so we can see ourselves. Does that make sense to you?

We dress up like anyone but ourselves – and that’s exactly when we are supposed to see ourselves.

Talk about the v’nihafochu of Purim –everything turning upside down, nothing making sense.

But guess what? This one does make sense!!

So let me tell you how it works.

If people recognize you, they have expectations from you. Then you think you have to live up to those expectations. And that puts us all in a dilemma. Because what happens if we want to be a new version of ourselves, and we want to explore a new and improved version? You may feel stuck!

Only if we block out all the pressures, the noises, the preconceived notions we and other people have of us can we truly ask the question: who are we? And are we who we want to be?

And on Purim, we are supposed do just that!

Why?

Because that’s what the Jews in Persia

needed to do.

They needed to find out if they are the Jews who only connect to G-d when they see the outright proofs. The blunt miracles: outrageous plagues, splitting seas, the cost-free food. Or can they see G-d everywhere? In all that happens around us.

When we get hung up on the obvious, the things that are showing or what we are used to, then we think that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We don’t realize that it’s a daily gift – not a norm.

We have a hard time seeing beyond it.

But if we block out the normal and natural – in other words, what we are used to seeing – then maybe we free ourselves up to look with a new and more perceptive eye, to really tap into what’s been hidden behind all this.

So, load on those costumes. And start seeing yourself and the world anew.

Happy Purim.

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

Istart these missives with the premise that nobody should pay more tax than they have to. Then, I launch into a story about someone finding a way to pay less. Usually, the story involves federal income taxes, which are the biggest tax bills most of us ever face. Sometimes, the story involves estate taxes, which can reach well into the millions. But people in other countries hate paying taxes, too.

So, this week, let’s spend spring break in Paris, where a French appeals court just told a billionaire he has to live by the same rules as the rest of us. Sort of.

For five generations now, the Wildenstein family has been buying, selling, and collecting some of the most precious works of art in Western history. Nathan Wildenstein founded the Wildenstein Gallery in Paris in the 1870s before moving the operation to New York in 1903 and opening branches in London and Buenos Aires. Since then, Nathan’s son Daniel and Daniel’s sons Alec and Guy, grew a $10 billion empire selling and collecting works by artists like Raphael, Cezanne, Caillebotte, and Van Gogh. Guy filled one room of his family’s New York mansion with 10 paintings by French impressionist Pierre Bonnard. (What, you

Your Money Art, Not Science

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

don’t have a room in your house dedicated to the work of a single painter?)

The Wildensteins are regulars in the art world press. But they’re no strangers to the media, either. Alec’s wife Jocelyne drew headlines for a series of plastic surgeries designed to make her look like a

Islands, a 66,000-acre ranch in Kenya, and various artworks, including Caravaggios, Gaugins, and Monets. Unfortunately for Guy, his stepmother Sylvia didn’t appreciate being swindled out of her inheritance. So she and her attorney went to French authorities to narc on the

Of course, “house arrest” means something different when the “house” is a hotel particulier in the 16th Arrondissement.

cat, which led to nicknames like “Catwoman” and “The Bride of Wildenstein.” (Seriously.)

Anyway, back to Paris, and our tax story already in progress. When Paris-based Daniel died in 2001, his son Guy reported the value of his estate at just €41 million. Apparently, he “forgot” to include assets held in a series of trusts. These included a compound in the Virgin

“maze of trusts and shell companies” Guy used to hide Daniel’s wealth.

French prosecutors accused Guy of perpetrating “one of the longest and most sophisticated frauds of the Fifth Republic.” In 2017, a court found he clearly tried to avoid tax. However, the judge acquitted him because there was no law in effect at Daniel’s death requiring estates to report foreign trusts. An ap -

peals court upheld that verdict; however, France’s top court overturned it in 2021. That court found Guy had managed the trusts for his own benefit, meaning they should be included in Daniel’s estate.

Last fall, prosecutors retried Guy, seeking four years in jail and a €250 million fine. Last week, the court convicted him. He’ll pay a €1 million fine and spend two years wearing an ankle bracelet under house arrest. Of course, “house arrest” means something different when the “house” is a hotel particulier in the 16th Arrondissement. (In other words, a “mansion” in “the high rent district.”)

Fortunately, you don’t need a maze of trusts and shell companies to pay less tax. You just need a proactive planner with a menu of legal deductions, credits, loopholes, and strategies. Like us. You don’t even need to speak French to win big!

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.

Aaron Katz, 5 Yaakov Sonnenblick, 2

Tamar Berkowitz, 6

Rosie Shimanovich, 5

Rachel Sonnenblick, 6

Ariella Dancziger, 6

Yisroel Michel, 4 Boaz Klein, 5

Bentzy Slatkin, 9

Bracha Dina Salazar, 7

Asher L, 8

Aida klein

Ahuva Malitzky, 7 Chayala Liebes, 8

Aliza R, 7

Yehuda Hollander, 10

Rikki Hollander, 7

Nachman L, 6

Meir S, 8

Meir Rappaport, 7

Manny, 10

Malka Hollander Eliana Dassy, 5

Shana Malitzky, 4

Rachel Zuber, 5

Mattie Sonnenblick, 4

Tzippi Brookmyer, 9

In The K tchen

Brisket Fries

By Naomi Nachman

I am sharing one of my most popular recipes from my cookbook Perfect Flavors. It is literally “Perfect” for your Purim seudah.

When I gave a cooking demonstration at Chabad of Memphis, I visited the local sights with my friend Angie. We ate at the JCC, where I ordered brisket fries. The owner, Shelley Ostrov, sat with me, and we chatted about kids, recipes and Jewish life in Memphis. I became obsessed with the brisket fries and went back again before I returned to New York to have another plateful. After I got home, I developed my own version that would be perfect to serve to my family at a Shabbat dinner or even at a Purim seudah.

Ingredients

Brisket

◦ 1 (3-4-pound) second cut brisket

◦ 1 cup barbecue sauce

◦ 1 teaspoon garlic powder

◦ 1 teaspoon paprika

◦ ½ teaspoon kosher salt

◦ 1 large onion, sliced

Fries

◦ 8 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges

◦ ¼ cup olive oil

◦ 2 teaspoons kosher salt

◦ 2 teaspoons dried minced onion

◦ 1 teaspoon paprika

◦ 1 teaspoon garlic powder

◦ 1 Tablespoon seeded mustard

◦ Garlic mayo, for serving

Preparation

1. Prepare the brisket: Preheat oven to 325°F.

2. Place onion in a roasting pan large enough to hold the meat.

3. In a small bowl, mix spices together; sprinkle them all over meat.

4. Place seasoned meat onto onions.

5. Cover; roast for 3 hours, until tender.

6. Cool slightly; using 2 forks, shred meat. Set aside until ready to assemble brisket fries.

7. Prepare the potatoes: Preheat oven to 425°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

8. In a large bowl, toss together potato wedges, oil, spices, and mustard until combined.

9. Divide potatoes between prepared baking sheets. Roast for 40 minutes, or until brown.

10. Assemble the brisket fries: Arrange potatoes on a platter. Top with pulled brisket; drizzle with Garlic mayo.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The

catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on

gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey

featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal

Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

and

Five Towns

neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach

the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi

Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been

chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit