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mar. 27
- apr. 10 . vol 1, #4
Ner Yisroel Mechina Melava Malkah With WorldRenowned Singer and Composer Baruch Levine PAGE 10
Read Across America at OCA
PAGE 5
Howard Tzvi Freidman Keynote Speaker at Parnassah Expo PAGE 13
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COMMUNITY
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
CONTENTS
PARSHA
Around the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
JEWISH THOUGHT Springing into Pesach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Insights on the Pesach Haggadah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
HUMOR & ENTERTAINMENT Centerfold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Notable Quotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Kids Fun Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
COVER STORY How to Secure our Homes Properly. . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Why Making Your Children Work Matters. . . . . . . . 38
LIFESTYLES Kosherology - Is Quail Kosher? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 In the Kitchen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
EDUCATION Forgotten Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
NEWS
Dear Readers, It’s officially spring! Hopefully that means the snowfall of this past Tuesday was the last snow we will be seeing until next winter, but hey, you never know. Pesach is upon us and, ready or not, we will soon be eating at the Seder with our families, recounting our peoples’ slavery and subsequent exodus from Egypt which led to our becoming a nation and receiving the Torah. Our featured article is about how cleaning for Pesach can help develop your child’s self-esteem. A must-read for parents and children, there is a lot to gain from it. As I always say, we are happy to receive suggestions for articles. I have been asked by fellow readers to interview a security company on how to keep our homes safe and secure. Ephraim Rosenbloom, owner of Serious Security, graciously gave of his time to help us understand the risks, and ways to keep our homes safe. Of course, we have also provided some delicious kosher l’Pesach recipes to get you in the Pesach spirit! Enjoy! Hope you enjoy our pre-Pesach issue. Have a great Shabbos and happy Pesach cleaning,
Global News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 National News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 That’s Odd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Yaakov
ISRAEL
Israel News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
The Baltimore Jewish Home is an independent bi-weekly newspaper. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Baltimore Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The BJH contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.
Community
Read Across America at OCA Mrs. Mary Sue Rubenstein
and were quite enamored with our special reader. Grades 5-8 did a terrific job with their reading activity! They visited the JCC preschool to read to the 2, 3, and 4-year-old children. The preschoolers and the OCA readers were so engaged in the reading activity that no one wanted it to end. The interaction between the groups of children was an amazing sight. OCA is proud of our students who showed their very special qualities throughout their visit. Our reading celebration was greatly enjoyed by our students and faculty. Many thanks to everyone who participated!
MARCH 27, 2014
Red, white, and blue could be seen throughout OCA on February 28th. That is the day we celebrated READ ACROSS AMERICA, honoring the great author Theodore Seuss Guissel, better known as Dr. Seuss. All of our students, along with the JCC preschoolers, took part in an exciting reading activity that morning. What a special experience it was! Grades K-4 were treated to a visit from a surprise reader, The Cat in the Hat (alias Rabbi Margolese), who read several Dr. Seuss selections to the students. Everyone was excited to participate. The children had a wonderful time with those creative, humorous books
Torah Institute Announces Milestone Energy Efficiency Achievement OWINGS MILLS, MD. Mar. 20, 2014— Torah Institute is pleased to announce their completion of a comprehensive lighting component upgrade, which will yield $2,350 in savings a month. Funding came from leveraging generous BGE utility rebates through partnership with The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore’s Green Loan Fund and The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore Sustainability Initiative’s Energy Efficiency Projects for Schools funded through AVI CHAI. “We are very proud to be a model of energy conservation for schools,” said Yaakov Goldstein, Executive Vice President of Torah Institute. “This project is consistent with the efforts of our finance office to eliminate waste in all forms- in time, in spending, and now we can include energy as well. It not only fulfills the mitzvah of baal tashchis (broadly applied to the prohibition of all forms of waste), but also results in significant annual savings for the school.” Until now, nearly half of the school’s electric bill was spent on lighting. To improve this inefficient situation, 850 light fixtures were relamped and re-ballasted. The change included transferring fixtures from a
four-bulb fixture at 62-percent efficiency to a two-bulb fixture at 87-percent efficiency. New components use 55 percent less energy to operate and produce more light than the original four bulbs. This project cost $45,000, but was completely covered by a BGE rebate program. The initial cost of the project was covered by an interest-free loan provided by The Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore’s Green Loan Fund. In addition to the approximate $28,000 per year in savings, the new bulbs should last more than ten times the life of the replaced bulbs, resulting in additional savings of cost and labor associated with changing light bulbs every summer over the next 12 years. On top of that, the school earned $1,500 in scrap metal sales from the old fixtures. The replaced bulbs that were only a few months old were donated to local non-profit organizations, along with information on the project that Torah Institute undertook. Some of those non-profits have started their own lighting projects to copy the success that Torah Institute has achieved. “On top of the significant cost savings associated with this project, the school is able to impart a series of valuable lessons to its student body,” said Yehuda Neuberger, Co-chair of
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The Associated’s Day School Task Force. “Not only is conservation a Torah value, such a project models responsibility and inculcates an appreciation of the need for careful allocation of funds by communally-supported institutions. I applaud Torah Institute for exercising leadership and finding creative opportunities to further some
of the more indirect elements of its educational mission.” Future projects include retro-commissioning out the existing HVAC systems to allow them to operate 1520 percent more efficiently, and replacing the 26 250-watt metal halide outdoor parking lot light fixtures with high efficient LED pole lights and wall packs, reducing the energy consumption by 20 percent. The added bonus from these two projects is that the school will reduce the expected maintenance costs on the HVAC system by 25 percent over the next 10-15 years and will drop the annual maintenance
on the outdoor fixtures to no cost for the next 25 years or more. Torah Institute participated in the Sustainability Initiative’s Energy Efficiency Projects for Schools funded through AVI CHAI, and through this project, coordinated the funding from the state for the audit that identified the completed and potential/future projects. “Torah Institute is taking a serious step forward in efforts to save money and protect the environment through its high-efficiency lighting upgrades,” said Alexander (Brett) Weil, LEED AP, VP of Energy Solutions at greeNEWit and an active parent volunteer. “I commend the facility’s professionals and executive leadership who recognized the benefits of the projects and the cost savings which could be achieved at negligible upfront cost. Though incentives vary by project type and scope, for this project BGE rebates funded over 100 percent of the fixture costs. All local mosdos should seriously consider taking action NOW to follow Torah Institute’s leadership. The EmPOWER MD rebates are only guaranteed to be funded to their current levels through the end of 2014.”
6
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MARCH 27, 2014
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Mesivta N’eimus HaTorah Annual Purim Mesiba One of the highlights every year at Mesivta N’eimus HaTorah is the annual Purim mesibah, and this year was no exception. In the days leading up to the eagerly anticipated event, held the night before Taanis Esther, the yeshiva was abuzz with decoration purchasing, poster hanging, song writing, and of course, costume designing. The boys, not wanting the hanhalah to feel left out, graciously allowed the hanhalah to take care of providing the food and prizes. Thanks to Yehudah Greenfield, Michoel Hastings, Zevy Hirsch, and Menachem Weil for the beautiful set-up in the Bais Medrash. Special mention must be made of the talented Ephraim Seiff for composing the world‘s longest grammen (of 40plus stanzas) portraying life in MNH in a humorous fashion, as well as producing a comical video presentation. The mesibah began with the rebbeim and talmidim joining together for lively singing and dancing. Everyone then sat down to enjoy some refreshments while Rabbi Schulman
spoke about the importance of utilizing Purim as a springboard for Avodas Hashem. After the speech, volunteers were chosen to take part in the Purim competition, which included hilarious races such as feeding someone a jar of baby food while blindfolded, and wrapping up a partner in a roll of paper from head to toe. Following the races, the room was punctuated with good-natured joking and laughter as the boys sang their grammen. Even Rabbi Lipsky joined the fun with his own composition. There was time for a bit more singing before cleanup and Maariv, which was a nice end to a most enjoyable evening. The most special part of the mesibah was the feeling of achdus and friendship that was present the entire time. Thank you to the members of the hanhalah for all their efforts, and a special thank you to the inimitable R’ Nechemya Jakobovitz (who had a great costume!) for leading the singing and dancing, and for the overall ruach he always provides.
Special Learning Program for Mr. Hackerman’s z”l Shloshim As Baltimore mourned the loss of Mr. Willard Hackerman ז”ל, a renowned supporter of Torah and chesed in the community, the fourth grade in Yeshivas Kochav Yitzchak/ Torah Institute of Baltimore made a special program in the niftar’s zechus. Noach Hackerman, Mr. Willard Hackerman’s ז”לgreat-grandson and a fourth grader in the yeshiva, worked with his rebbe, Rabbi Boruch Atlas, to create a beautiful learning program in time for Mr. Hackerman’s shloshim. Each fourth grader chose to learn a perek of mishnayos in Mr. Hackerman’s zechus. Within the span of one week, the boys completed approximately 135 perakim of mishnayos l’iluy nishmas Paltiel ben Noach,
Mr. Hackerman ז”ל. On Wednesday, March 19th, ‘ב אדר ‘י, the day of the shloshim, the Hackerman family came to Yeshivas Kochav Yitzchak/Torah Institute for a special mesiba. The family was presented with a certificate enumerating each boy’s name who participated in the program. Noach’s grandfather and father, Mr. Mordechai and Mr. Gamliel Hackerman, spoke to the
fourth grade, thanking the boys for the beautiful zechus in Mr. Hackerman’s honor and telling the boys about Mr. Hackerman. Rabbi Eisgrau, the menahel, spoke as well, explaining how much Mr. Hackerman ז”לdid for Yeshivas Kochav Yitzchak/Torah Institute and the entire Baltimore community. The fourth graders were given
donuts for participating in the learning program. They enjoyed the treat as well as the feeling of satisfaction that they had the opportunity to be involved in such an important zechus. May the boys’ learning be an aliyah for the neshama of Paltiel ben Noach ז”ל.
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Shloshim Siyum for Mr. Jack Boehm z”l Yeshivas Kochav Yitzchok/Torah Institute of Baltimore had the zechus of hosting the shloshim siyum l’iluy nishmas R’ Yaakov ben R’ Avraham Yitzchok, Mr. Jack Boehm z”l. Shortly after Mr. Boehm’s petirah, two of his great-grandchildren who are talmidim in the Cheder, Dovid and Aryeh Boehm, brought a shloshim mishnayos chart to school and their friends quickly filled up the entire sheet!
On Tuesday, Tes-Zayin Adar Beis, Mr. Boehm’s son and Cheder alumnus Reb Hershel Boehm davened Shacharis at the Cheder. Following Shacharis, Dovid and Aryeh Boehm made a siyum on Shisha Sidrei Mishna. Rabbi Eigrau and Reb Hershel Boehm then delivered divrei zikaron about the niftar. Refreshments were served to all the middle-school talmidim in honor of the siyum. Mr. Boehm, a Holocaust survivor,
was influential in helping develop the Baltimore Jewish community into the flourishing city that we now have and was one of the individuals who, under the leadership of Rav Sternhell zt”l, founded the Cheder. It was therefore most befitting for the Cheder’s talmidim to learn Shisha Sidrei Mishna l’iluy nishmas Mr. Boehm. Yehi Zichro Baruch.
Ner Yisroel Mechina Melava Malkah With World-Renowned Singer And Composer Baruch Levine On Shabbos Parshas Shemini-Parah, the boys of the Ner Yisroel Mechina were treated to a Shabbos graced by world-renowned singer and composer Baruch Levine. Rabbi Levine, who has released five hit solo albums, is one of today’s top composers in the Jewish music world. He has composed many famous and much-loved songs that are sung throughout the Jewish world at simchahs, Shabbos tables, and kumzitzes. In addition, Rabbi Levine is a beloved and esteemed rebbe and the sgan menahel of the Yeshiva K’tana of Waterbury, Connecticut. Over Shabbos, the boys of the mechinah were privileged to hear a beautiful Kabbalas Shabbos as well as an Oneg Shabbos led by Rabbi
Levine. On Motzei Shabbos, hundreds of bochurim gathered for a Melaveh Malkah where divrei chizuk were given by Rabbi Benzion Melman and the menahel, Rabbi Simcha Cook. The highlight of the evening was when Baruch Levine, accompanied by one of Baltimore’s top musicians, Yehuda Mond, treated the bochurim to a lively Melaveh Malkah performance. The energy was palpable as the rebbeim and bochurim danced and sang along with tremendous kavanah and hisla’avus. It was clear that Rabbi Levine and Yehuda Mond were inspired and energized by the crowd’s dancing and singing just as much as the crowd was inspired and energized by their music.
Jeff Cohn;Baltimore Jewish Life
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or ltim a s B d rs, Nee
re ing Caticee & Cater r e v h r Kos d Se
o shel our Fo O’Fi For All Y
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Gargantuan Gastronomic Gala Pre-Pesach Potpourri
O’Fishel’s Mitzvah Motivators
Pre-Pesach-Give-TheBalabusta-A-Break Buffet
for all Completers & Sponsors of our Brachos Out Loud Contest 5-6:30pm: Dinner 6:35pm: Dvar Torah 6:45pm: Maariv
4-7pm at MMAEGJCFKAlJC 7000 Rockland Hills Dr.
5 or More Club Members* join us FREE!
Chickens • Pasta & Meat Sauce Hot Dogs • Burgers • Turkey Shnitzel Sesame Chicken • Deli Subs • Fries Salads • Soups • Etc.
6:57pm: Special Screening of Megillas lester (Like everything else in life, viewer discretion is recommended!)
Most items available most of the time
...vfuz (rjtn ut) osuev kfu
moms: this is a great opportunity to get some pesach prep done! Dads: watch with the kids or grab a sefer and learn in the shul!
Adults: $18
FRi. ApRil 11
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sHABBOs HAGAdOl ApRil 11-12 י’ב ניסן
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Family** Max: $79
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36 Shabbos Hagadol M.A.S.S.ive Special!
$
ohskh ,ufurc ,ujpank vjbv Card-Carrying or Apron-Wearing Members of the 5 or More Club Eat FrEE**, of Course! Members of the 10 or More Club are Welcome to Bring Extended Progeny***!
** 2 Parents happily married to each other and all of their children under age 18. *** Ad biyas goel tzedek – ad v’ad bichlal!
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1. Join Shomrei and have a catered meal on fine china (see below). 2. Join the Shul at Lubavitch (call Mr. Shmuel Tarshish 410-6022033) 3. Call Mrs. Chani Feldman in Silver Spring (301-452-8693). 4. Get takeout (see ad) 5. Eat in a little corner of your house and have your kids dig through leftover Shalach Manos
Under 18, pay your age!
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Friday Night 4-Course O’Fishel Shabbos Dinner: O’Fishel Crown Rolls • Salmon or Gefilte Fish • Choice of Soups • Stuffed Chicken • 3 Sides • 3 Salads • Chocolate Mousse au Stawberre • Linens • China, etc. [BYOB] O’Fishel’s Deluxe Shabbos Lunch: Individual Rolls • Gefilte Fish • Liver & Egg Salad • Cholent • Deli Roulade • Shnitzel • Kugel • 3 Salads • Choice of Desserts Professional Wait Staff & Fine China! Candle lighting available (Friday night only!) PricEs PEr PErson PEr MEAl
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THE BuFFET CONTiNuEs!
Pre-Pesach-GiveThe-Balabusta-ABreak Buffet 4-7pm at MMAEGJCFKAlJC
7000 Rockland Hills Dr.
All the great items from Thursday night, Plus: Carving Station with Turkey, Prime rib and Corned Beef. All the same great stuff as the Thursday event to the left, except that everyone pays for this one! Available to 5 or More Members, but this time we have to charge (we’ll still treat you really nicely, though)!
For pricing, see the Thursday night buffet
$1K Off Shomrei Pkg.! For weddings on any Mon., Tues. or Weds. from June 16–July 9. With coupon. Must be booked with deposit by 7pm Erev Erev Pesach.
$2K Off Shomrei Pkg.! For weddings on May 25, SOLD! June 22 or June 29 only
Free Shabbos Hagadol meal for your entire family if you book between March 31– April 13 for a wedding at Shomrei before Rosh Hashana. You can even MIOBIO it!
Y+p• + 10% Off Yom Tov Chicken & Meat April 2nd Only! O’Fishel’s 2nd “Let’s See if Advertising in Baltimore Jewish Home Really Works” Specials
So what happens if you come in April 1st? You pay the full amount – that’s why it’s called April Fools Day!
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David Elliot Chicken Cutlets $ 99 4 /lb. 10% Off Any 2 Cases! Must present coupon. Must purchase 2 frozen cases (mix or match with other specials). Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 10am–3pm only.
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Buy ANy 2 CAsEs, Mix OR MATCH, ANd sAVE 10% ©2014 O’Fishel’s. *Price may or may not include taxes, tags, title, well-earned gratuities or highly-trained, eagle-eyed Mashgiach fees. Call for details. O’Fishel Kosher Caterers has been under the continuous supervision of the Star-K since 1979. Our MD State food service permit is #196, and our catering license is #01-002.
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MARCH 27, 2014
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Post Shushan Purim Bird Show in Bnos Yisroel Purim fun was extended a few extra days for Bnos Yisroel students who enjoyed an amazing bird show post-Shushan Purim. The birds, beautiful and talkative, completed many tricks and kept the girls laughing the entire time. Thank you to Mr. Frank Storch for sponsoring this wonderful show!
The story of STAR-K Passover Quinoa WHAT IS QUINOA? Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wa) is a species of seeds that belong to the Chenopodium or goosefoot family and is botanically related to spinach. It was first brought to the United States from Chile 19 years ago, according to Rebecca Theurer Wood. Quinoa has been cultivated in the Andes Mountains for thousands of years, growing three to six feet tall despite high altitudes, intense heat, freezing temperatures, and as little as four inches of annual rainfall. Peru and Bolivia maintain seed banks with 1,800 types of quinoa. In 1997, Rav Moshe Heinemann shlit”a, STAR-K Rabbinic Administrator and world-renowned posek, approved quinoa to bear STAR-K-P, as it is not kitniyos. IF IT’S NOT KITNIYOS, WHY DOES QUINOA NEED PASSOVER CERTIFICATION? We have found that quinoa can, at times, be either grown near barley or rotated with a barley crop, especially in Peru. Furthermore, barley, on occasion, is used to cover quinoa during the drying stage, and the bags used to transport the quinoa may have previously contained chometz flour. Therefore, quinoa should only be used with a reliable Kosher for Passover certification. Every year during the growing season, the STAR-K sends one of its
mashgichim to a set of quinoa fields in Bolivia where there is no concern of the quinoa intermingling with barley. The STAR-K ensures that the farmers do not rotate their crops and that they use new bags to pack the quinoa. A mashgiach is then dispatched to the bulk packing plant in Bolivia and supervises it until the final retail pack in the U.S. to ensure the Kosher for Passover status of the quinoa and equipment. 2013-THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF …. QUINOA
The United Nations named 2013 the International Year of Quinoa! Quinoa is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet, cooked like rice, gluten-free, and loaded with vitamins and minerals. Even NASA is considering quinoa for long-duration planetary space flights. Quinoa has become increasingly popular in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, and Japan, where the crop is not typically grown, increasing the crop’s value. Between 2006 and early 2013 quinoa crop prices have tripled. What’s more, wholesale prices of quinoa rose by
88.2% over the last 12-month period. PESACH 2014 – THERE IS STILL ENOUGH QUINOA FOR US! This year, with the quinoa demand skyrocketing worldwide, ensuring a supply of reliably certified quinoa for Passover was a challenge. Working tirelessly with producers and distributors, the STAR-K team has ensured that KFP quinoa will once again grace Pesach tables around the country. STAR-K certified quinoa is premium Bolivian quinoa that is pre-washed and consequently has no bitter taste naturally found in quinoa. No checking is required. Retail Pack Setton Farms 12 oz container, STAR-K-P required. Natural Earth Products 16 oz box, STAR-K-P required STAR-K certified quinoa will be available at kosher grocery stores throughout the U.S., select Shoprite stores, and online. Stores can also order from Quality Frozen Foods 718256-9100. Wholesale Pack Andean Naturals Brand, 55 lb bag, Star-K Symbol, see letter of certification for specific lot numbers.
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A Baltimore Presence at the Parnassah Expo tive Director of the JWE; Mr. Jon Goldman, Brand Launcher; and Mr. Howard Tzvi Friedman, Lanx Management LLC. Dr. Elly Lasson, Ph.D, gave a workshop on job readiness and interview preparation. Mrs. Chaya Fishmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s topic was Productivity Tools in the Workspace. She discussed the Pareto Principal (80/20 rule), why multi-tasking is often bad for business, how to perform a time audit, and other tools and strategies for women with a lot on their plate and very little time. Jon Goldman gave a sem-
Howard Tzvi Friedman
inar on Freedom Teams & Freedom Systems. Mr. Howard Tzvi Friedman gave the keynote session in the Executive Meridian Ballroom, following criminal defense attorney Ben Brafman.
Jon Goldman
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The 2014 Parnassah Expo held this past Tuesday and Wednesday, March 25th and 26th, in the 150,000 square foot New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center was an amazing success. The Expo was the largest general B2B event in the United States, which featured hundreds of exhibitors, designated networking sections, and an array of informative speakers. There were many thousands of diverse attendees from across North America and beyond. Among the presenters were local Baltimoreans Dr. Elly Lasson, Executive Director of Joblink of Maryland; Mrs. Chaya Fishman, Execu-
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Chaya Fishman
Dr Lasson giving a presentation this past Tuesday
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Yeshiva University Ordains Largest Class of Rabbis at Chag HaSemikhah Convocation Dancing down Amsterdam Avenue along with their esteemed Roshei Yeshiva, mentors, family and friends, more than 230 new musmakhim celebrated their ordination from Yeshiva University-affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) at its March 23rd Chag HaSemikhah. Representing the largest cohort in RIETS history, the graduates of the 2011-2014 classes joined more than 3,000 rabbinic alumni who have gone on to become distinguished Orthodox rabbis, scholars, educators and leaders around the world. “At a very crucial time in Jewish history, you are uniquely trained and qualified to reach out to Jews of all backgrounds with an authentic Torah
Bella and Harry Wexner Kollel Elyon, speaking on behalf of his fellow musmakhim at the Chag HaSemikhah. “Our study of Torah, in addition to its independent significance, heightens our responsibility and capacity to spiritually influence the community. And so we musmakhim will wear the badge of RIETS with pride.” The record class of musmakhim, hailing from five continents and more than 50 North American cities, represent an internationally diverse group. Left to right, Rabbi Ronald Schwartzberg, director of Jewish career guidance and placement at YU’s Center for the Jewish Future; The class also includes philanthropist Jay Schottenstein; and YU President Richard M. Joel the largest message,” said Rabbi Menachem Pen- number of rabbinic alumni to rener, the Max and Marion Grill Dean of ceive yadin yadin, a higher levRIETS and Undergraduate Torah Studies el of ordination bestowed years at YU, in his address to the musmakhim. after semicha is first attained “In you, we see the bright future of our which qualifies recipients to serve as judges on Jewish courts, community.” The Chag HaSemikhah ceremony and the largest group of Sephartook place in the Nathan Lamport Audi- dic students in RIETS history, as torium at Zysman Hall, with video hook- well. “It’s amazing to see so many ups in the Harry Fischel Beit Midrash and YU’s Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss old friends here today and to Institute in Jerusalem and an online web- be a part of something so much cast. More than 3,000 people attended larger than yourself,” said Rabbi the event on campus and an additional Eitan Ben-David, Teaneck, who 5,000 viewed it online. The musmakhim teaches at SAR Academy and is currently living in Israel will hold a cer- a pulpit rabbi at the West Side emony at the Gruss Institute on May 14. Sephardic Synagogue. “This is such an “From the lumdus [scholarship] to amazingly talented group of musmakhthe pastoral training to the internships im.” As they go on to build careers in reand leadership workshops, we receive a top-of-the-line education at RIETS,” ligious fields ranging from the pulpit to said Rabbi Yosef Bronstein, an instruc- Jewish education and outreach work, tor of Jewish philosophy at YU’s Isaac the new musmakhim will benefit from Breuer College of Hebraic Studies, a the unique education they received at doctoral candidate in Talmudic Studies RIETS. In addition to intense religious at YU’s Bernard Revel Graduate School study with renowned Torah scholars, the of Jewish Studies and a fellow in RIETS’ seminary offers an enhanced Rabbinic Professional Education Program de-
signed to meet the communal and spiritual needs of today’s Jewish communities. Students receive extensive training in topics critical for public leadership positions, such as pastoral psychology, public speaking and community building, all taught by renowned experts and rabbis. They’re also exposed to contemporary halachic issues in bioethics, technology and business to prepare them for real-world dilemmas they may face. “It’s so important to me that RIETS is progressive in educating rabbis on these kinds of issues,” said Rabbi Dr. Yonah Bardos, a resident OB/GYN at The Mount Sinai Hospital and one of many musmakhim who will use their semicha in professional careers such as medicine or law. “That’s something you can’t find at another semicha program, and there
zt”l Aluf Torah Award. The Chag also celebrated alumni who received semicha 50 years ago—alumni of the RIETS classes of 1960-63—which included noted scholars and rabbinic leaders such as Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, founding rabbi of Manhattan’s Lincoln Square Synagogue and founding chief rabbi of Efrat; Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet, professor of rabbinic literature at YU’s Gruss Institute; and Rabbi Yosef Blau, senior mashgiach ruchani at RIETS. “As I look out now onto this group assembled here, my heart brims with hope,” said YU President Richard M. Joel. “Hope that you will take on nuance, and not run from it; hope that you will respect and revere the halachic system into which you enter, while responding to the needs of your congregants with warmth and understanding; hope that you will inspire us all to build lives of meaning and of purpose, engaging with the wide world around us while informed by our sacred Torah; and finally, hope that you will bring about a true state of shleimut for us all and for all of klal Yisrael.” Following the orRIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yona Reiss, left, and Max and Marion Grill dination ceremony, Dean Rabbi Menachem Penner dance on Amsterdam Avenue RIETS held a Gala are so many things that come up as a Evening of Celebration honoring Rabbi physician that were critical for me to Schwartz and Schottenstein at The Manlearn about. Ultimately, I hope this will darin Oriental Hotel. The event featured help me be a resource to my medical and a lecture by Rabbi Schwartz, remarks by rabbinic colleagues.” Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the Kressel At the convocation, RIETS honored and Ephrat Family University Profesphilanthropist Jay Schottenstein with the sor of Jewish Thought at YU, and an Eitz Chaim Award and Rabbi Gedalia armchair conversation between SchotDov Schwartz ‘46YC, ‘49R, Av Beit Din tenstein and President Joel. The dinner of the Beth Din of America and of the raised $1.1 million for RIETS. Chicago Rabbinical Council Beit Din, with the Harav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik
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The Week Global
Cuban Doctors’ Salary Increased to $67/Month
On Friday, Cuban officials announced the increase in salary for hundreds of thousands of medical workers in the country. Some of the increases will exceed 100 percent, although their salaries won’t make any professionals elsewhere jealous. According to the Communist Party daily newspaper Granma, the pay hikes, which are set to take place on June 1, will give doctors with two specialties an increase in salary from $26 to $67 a month. Entry level nurses can expect to make $25, up from $13/ month. The raise will affect more than 440,000 medical sector employees and was made possible by the elimina-
tion of 109,000 redundant jobs in the last four years. Doctors in Cuba do well. Salaries at government jobs average about $20 a month; these workers, though, also receive a range of free services and subsidies from their employer. The announcement about the pay hikes are delighting workers in the country. “This is very good news that makes me tremendously happy…With my first paycheck I’m going to buy a toy for my youngest grandson, who’s 3,” said Soraida Pina, a 62-year-old nurse. “This will open new doors for me.” Others were less wowed. “They had talked to us about this, and it’s very important for the family economy, but it continues to be a salary that means very little because everything is very expensive,” said Laura Vazquez, a 38-year-old pathologist. Cuba also is raising the salaries of medical workers on international missions, which already pay higher salaries and in hard currency. Doctors and nurses working in Cuban ally Venezu-
In News ela, for example, will see their salaries double. The changes “will contribute to the stability and quality of the medical services for the people, as well as fulfill international commitments,” Granma said. Health Minister Roberto Morales recently said that more than 50,000 Cuban health care professionals are working in some 66 nations. That includes an estimated 30,000 in Venezuela, which sends Cuba some 92,000 barrels of oil a day, with a total value of about $3.2 billion a year.
Malaysian PM: Plane Crashed with No Survivors For two weeks, relatives of the 239 people who were on Malaysian flight MH370 never gave up hope, praying and hoping that their loved ones would be found alive. But on Monday, their hopes were dashed when Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak an-
nounced that there was no chance of survival. “It is with deep sadness and regret, that according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean,” Razak said at a press conference. The Malaysian government conclusion was based on information that indicated that Malaysian Air flight 370 had somehow crashed into the Indian Ocean. There is no hope for finding any of the passengers, Razak noted. Earlier, reports said that family members of several of those on the plane had been summoned to Australia for an “urgent consultation.” Images and video of families of the missing in China and elsewhere were seen breaking down and in tears. Once the announcement was made, some refused to lose hope that survivors would be found, but it’s unlikely that large scale searches will be conducted now that this conclusion has been made. One woman fainted when she heard the devastating news and had to
92-Year-Old Communist Official on Trial in Hungary
Last Tuesday, a former senior Communist Party official went on trial in Hungary, charged with war crimes over the suppression of the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising, in a landmark case that may help the country face up to its Communist past. More than two decades after the fall of Communism, Hungarian prosecutors have charged 92-year-old Bela Biszku over his role on a committee
of the Communist Party they say was involved in ordering the shootings of civilians during protests in Budapest and in the town of Salgotarjan in December 1956. The trial has drawn strong domestic media attention ahead of a national election on April 6. It became possible under a law passed by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s ruling Fidesz party that says war crimes and crimes against humanity do not lapse. Biszku, who was one of Hungary’s most powerful leaders in Communist times and is the first to stand trial, walked into the courtroom with a cane. Wearing a grey suit and dark blue-rimmed glasses, he responded to the judge in a firm voice: “I do not wish to testify.” He has denied all accusations against him. The 1956 uprising against the Soviet-backed government in Budapest represented the first major threat to Moscow’s control of eastern Europe since the end of World War Two. Hundreds of people were executed and tens of thousands were imprisoned after the revolution was crushed by Soviet tanks. Biszku then served as interior minister from 1957 to 1961. Prosecutors say Biszku was a member of a committee of the Communist Party in 1956 that created armed militia to maintain order and carry out retaliations after the revolution was crushed. They say this party committee directly governed the leading body of the militia, the so called Military Council. Prosecutor Tamas Vegh said Biszku had abetted the shooting of several people in Budapest on December 6 and in Salgotarjan on December 8, 1956, in a war crime that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. But Biszku’s lawyer Gabor Magyar said the accusations were unfounded. In the sleepy mining town of Salgotarjan in the north of Hungary, people still vividly remember how at least 46 civilians were shot dead by armed militia during the December 8 protest. Janos Fancsik worked as a doctor in a local hospital that morning when he heard gunfire and soon after people started to bring in the wounded and the dead. “The dead were all lined up in the backyard of the hospital. As far as I can remember, there were around 3040 bodies,” Fancsik said. “They were
all civilians; there was not one of them in uniform or with weapons.” Fancsik, who still lives near the square where the killings happened, said most people in Salgotarjan probably welcomed the Biszku trial, adding: “Old age does not exonerate somebody from crimes that do not lapse.” His friend Eva Tomes, who narrowly escaped the shootings when she walked her two small children home that day, said she thought the Biszku trial had come too late. “Opinions are deeply split. Everybody says this should have happened much earlier, not now,” Tomes said. In a 2010 interview with public Duna television, Biszku said he had “served the people” as interior minister and had done nothing he could “be held responsible for.”
First Lady Visits China On her first trip to China, First Lady Michelle Obama met with excited students who were building robots
and tried her hand at Chinese calligraphy Friday during a tour of a Beijing high school.
Mrs. Obama was joined by Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the first day of a visit to China that aides say she hopes to use to promote education and people-to-people exchanges. Accompanied by her two daughters and her mother, Mrs. Obama toured the Second High School Attached to Beijing Normal University in central Beijing. The elite school has
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be taken out on a stretcher. The live news conference had to be cut off as women screamed and men cursed. 50 police officers were called in to maintain order. A woman emerged to tell the media, “Tell the world it is not true, it’s wrong,” she pleaded. Other slapped at the cameras and microphones of the press. “My children didn’t die, they must have been hidden somewhere,” a woman wailed. “How can I trust this government?” According to sources, Malaysia concluded that the plane had been lost at sea based on multiple pieces of information, including identifying debris sighted by Chinese planes, and information it received from satellite company Inmarsat. Several days ago, it was reported that satellite photos had shown several large “suspicious objects” that were thought to be large enough to be debris from a Boeing 777, the model plane that was carrying 239 people when it disappeared on March 8. However, analysts said that the debris could be one of many things, as the area of the Indian Ocean where the debris was found has a significant amount of pollution from dumping of all sorts of things from ships.
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The Week 33 American exchange students, and some of its Chinese students aspire to study in the United States. In a calligraphy class set up for Mrs. Obama’s visit, the first lady practiced writing the Chinese character for “eternal” under the guidance of 16-year-old student Lu Yuhong. “I’m nervous,” Mrs. Obama said. “Don’t be nervous,” he reassured her in English. In another class, students showed the first lady small robots they had built, moving the devices with remote controls. One knee-high robot climbed over a pile of yellow plastic bricks. “All the students that she met with, the Chinese students, spoke English and were able to explain to her in very fluent English what they were doing,” said Tina Tchen, Mrs. Obama’s chief of staff. “And I think she found that very impressive, because we know it’s something that we struggle with in the United States, about having our kids be able to be fluent in a second language by the time they get to high school.” The visit is the first meeting between Mrs. Obama and Peng, whose
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husbands have sought to build a relationship based on trust and mutual respect. In an effort to promote good relations between the superpowers, aides say Mrs. Obama planned to avoid political issues such as trade and cybersecurity during the seven-day, three-city visit. Later in the morning, Peng went with Mrs. Obama and her mother, Marian Robinson, and two daughters, 15-year-old Malia and 12-year-old Sasha, to the former Imperial Palace in central Beijing followed by a private dinner and a performance. While many Chinese question U.S. diplomatic intentions, American products and culture are hugely popular here and there is a strong undercurrent of respect for the U.S. first family. White House aides have said they hope Mrs. Obama traveling with her daughters and mother can resonate with Chinese families who value multi-generational activities. Peng, a popular singer, has broken the mold of reticent Chinese first ladies. She was better known than her husband before Xi was named Com-
to register our serious concerns about this unfortunate decision.” The Jerusalem Post said on its website that Obama’s national security adviser Susan Rice and her deputy, Tony Blinken, had expressed displeasure to Saudi Arabia over the delay in processing reporter Michael Wilner’s application and its potential refusal. The journalist is an American Jew who does not hold Israeli citizenship and has never lived in Israel.
World Record? Largest Shabbat Dinner
J Post Reporter Denied Visa to Saudi Arabia
President Barack Obama will be traveling to Saudi Arabia this week, but a reporter from Israel’s The Jerusalem Post won’t be covering the visit from the ground. The kingdom has denied the member of the press a visa, either though he is a U.S. citizen. The fact that he is working for an Israeli newspaper seemed reason enough to deny him entry. Saudi Arabia does not recognize Israel, but has said it is willing to change that if Israel agrees to a peace plan it proposed that involved creating a Palestinian state and allowing Palestinian refugees to return to their former homes. The White House on Tuesday said it was “deeply disappointed” with the denial of the visa. “We are deeply disappointed that this credible journalist was denied a visa,” White House spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement. “We will continue
Israel
munist Party leader and president, and has used her celebrity to promote AIDS awareness and other causes. “China views Mrs. Obama’s trip most positively,” said Shen Dingli, professor of international relations at Fudan University in Shanghai. “If she is humble and respectful, she will win the support from the Chinese public for building good relationships with the United States under the leadership of her husband.”
Ever thought you once hosted a large gathering on Shabbos? Your large amount of guests will be rivaled this June when a non-profit will try to host the largest Shabbat dinner in Tel Aviv in attempt to inspire Jews worldwide to connect with Shabbat. White City Shabbat, a non-profit organization dedicated to building Jewish life in Tel Aviv, announced on Monday that it will attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the World’s Largest Shabbat Dinner. The huge feast is slated for June 13 of this year and will be held at the Tel Aviv Port. The organization hosts to feed 1,000 people at the dinner—including Israelis, new immigrants and public figures. Reportedly, Mayor Ron Huldai, former Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan are set to attend. The dinner will be free of charge. Hopefully the record-breaking seudah will inspire others to keep Shabbat. “While White City Shabbat is going to be the first organization to attempt this record, our hope is that in years to come communities around the world will come together to try and surpass the standard we set this year,” said Jay Shultz, the organization’s founder. “What a beautifully holy race it would be to have Jewish organiza-
Budget Still Plans for Iranian Threat
Despite ongoing negotiations between Western powers and Iran, the Israeli government has reportedly maintained massive military funding for a possible strike on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear facilities. Israeli newspapers have reported that Knesset members taking part in committee hearings in January and February were informed that the 2014 national budget still includes 10 billion shekels
($2.89 billion) for preparations for a long-range strike on Iran. A number of Knesset members who spoke on the condition of anonymity said army officials were asked if the large expenditure was justified in light of negotiations taking place between Iran and the West to resolve the nuclear issue. The IDF representatives simply answered that these were their orders. While the head of the UN
nuclear agency said earlier this month that Iran had done about half of what it promised in an interim nuclear deal with the West, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Congress that Tehran still has some difficult decisions ahead of it in order to convince the world that it has abandoned the quest for atomic weapons. Renewed talks in Vienna have cast doubt on whether or not Kerry’s con-
ditions would be met. During the gathering, Iranian officials firmly rejected demands that they scrap or radically alter the Arak heavy water reactor, which Western officials argue could be used to produce weapons-grade plutonium. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a report lamenting that new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has not turned out to be the
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tions trying to outdo each other. It will be a real win/win for Am Yisrael.” Many view Tel Aviv as being the economic and cultural epicenter of Israel, but the event organizers are hoping the World’s Largest Shabbat Dinner will showcase another side to Tel Aviv – its spiritual side. “With more and more young Jews from around the world choosing to make Tel Aviv their home, celebrating the first ever World’s Largest Shabbat Dinner with the Guinness Book will further establish Tel Aviv as one of the most important cities for the Jewish People today,” said Eytan White, co-director of White City Shabbat. Deborah Dahan of White City Shabbat agrees. “Shabbat is the cornerstone of the Jewish faith and as such has the power to bring people together,” she pointed out. “Tel Aviv is a unique global city in that it has one of highest percentages of young professionals. Couple that with its mix of immigrants and natives who are both religious and secular and its overarching atmosphere of openness and inclusivity makes Tel Aviv the perfect city to host an event of this historic magnitude.”
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The Week great reformer that Western leaders hoped and proclaimed he was. Ban noted that human rights abuses remain as rampant in Iran today as during the tenure of former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Guard Releases Wrong Terrorist
A big error led to the dismissal of a guard at an Israeli prison this week. A terrorist who was arrested for throwing rocks at Israeli cars was released mistakenly from Ofer prison, north of Jerusalem. He was put in the wrong group of detainees that were supposed to be let go. As a result, the terrorist boarded a prison vehicle and left the facility just hours after his arrest. Prison Services Commissioner Lt. Gen. Aharon Franco dismissed the commander of Ofer Prison following an investigation of the incident. It was decided to transfer the commander from his post in charge of Ofer Prison to command the Holot detention center. The Holot facility is located in the south and holds hundreds of illegal infiltrators, who are allowed to leave during the day until lockdown at nighttime.
In News National The Best Bang for your Buck
There are some states known for their good salaries and jobs. Other states are known for their high standard of living. But where is the best state to live if you’re looking for a good-paying job and a place where the living is cheap? It turns out that Middle America may be the place to move to if you’re looking for a place to earn a decent wage with normal spending. Take, for example, Colorado Springs, CO, the fifth state on this list. The home of the Air Force Academy is also a hub for defense-related firms, and there are more than a few ice skaters here beneath Pikes Peak aspiring to become Olympians. The average annual income is $69,844 based on the 2012 census numbers, and the cost of living index is 92.8. (The lower an index score is below 100, the better.) When adjusted for that cheaper-than-average cost of living, it’s actually like making
$75,263, according to WalletHub. Get out those skis and snow goggles—this may be the place for you. Houston, TX, the fourth to best place on the list, is meant for those who prefer warmer temperatures. Oil, natural gas, wind, you name it, America’s energy boom is powering up average incomes to $69,421, with a cost of living index number of 92.2. Adjusted for cost of living, that’s like making $75,303 per year. Even though Houston incomes are slightly lower than the average in Colorado Springs, there are no state income taxes in Texas, helping Houstonians take home more cash. Another Texas city, Austin, also makes the list. Incomes are going higher as the state capital becomes a hub for tech and music and all things hipster-y. Austin is headquarters for Whole Foods, adding to the whole quinoa-eating, fedora-wearing, cagefree celebrating vibe. The city is also home to the nation’s largest urban bat population, and we all know how hip the whole vampire thing is. The cost of living index in Austin is 95.4, but the average income is $74,860, which can buy you a lot of organic gluten-free veggies. Speaking of warm places, Atlanta, GA, comes out as the second best place to live in the U.S. on the list. This peach of a city is home to many successful empires like Coke, Home Depot, and Delta Air Lines. The cost of living index number is 95.5, and the average income in Atlanta is $78,505. But the average house costs only $144,000, leaving Atlantans more than enough money to buy loads of peaches for their peach pies.
Billion Dollar Dream No Longer a Dream If you thought you’d be able to
make a billion dollars with the perfect NCAA tournament bracket, your dreams are now shattered. After just two days of upsets, any chance of someone having a perfect NCAA tournament bracket in Warren Buffet’s $1 billion challenge was smashed. It was a favorite that provided the first blemish on the final three people’s brackets in the Quicken Loans contest on the Yahoo Sports website. All three had ninth-seeded George Washington beating Memphis. The Tigers won 71-66.
It only took 25 games for everyone to be eliminated. Then again most of
brackets were knocked out on the tournament’s first full day. The number of unblemished brackets kept dwindling after third-seed Duke, sixth-seed UMass and seventh-seed New Mexico lost Friday. Only 16 people remained perfect after 10th-seeded Stanford topped New Mexico. Then Tennessee routed UMass, leaving only six people with a chance of beating the 9.2 quintillion-to-1 odds. Gonzaga’s victory over Oklahoma State cut that down to the final three. Even though no one won the $1 billion, there is still a way to win big. The top 20 scores will still each get $100,000. Quicken Loans, which is sponsoring and insuring the Buffet contest, said on its Twitter feed that it wouldn’t reveal the number of entrants to the challenge. The pool was supposed to be capped at 15 million entries. It probably wouldn’t have mattered if they had let more people join. A year ago, not a single person of the 11 million who entered on ESPN’s website was perfect after a first day filled with upsets. Just four got 15 out
of 16 right. This year people lasted a little longer. After the first 25 games, three perfect brackets remained out of the 11 million entered. There’s always next year.
Rare Madoff Interview
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Which city takes the top spot for the city with the most decent salaries and cost of living? Believe it or not, it’s Charlotte, NC. Turns out this town is a banking powerhouse, the second-largest financial center in the country behind New York, and New York is not affordable. Not at all. Charlotte is headquarters for institutions like Bank of America, and is a major center for Wells Fargo, but Chiquita International also calls the city home, because Charlotte is so … wait for it … a-peeling. And why not? The cost of living index number is 93.2, the average annual income is $76,914 (which might feel more like $82,526 based on cost of living), unemployment is 6.6 percent and the socalled Queen City has even designated a local Dairy Queen a historic site. How cool is that? Way cool.
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Recently, the infamous Bernard Madoff gave an interview from his prison cell in which he said he does not feel that he “betrayed the Jews.” The head of the largest Ponzi scheme ever, 75-year-old Madoff is serving a 150-year sentence at a medium-se-
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The Week curity federal prison in Butner, North Carolina. His scheme affected a disproportionate number of Jewish individuals and organizations. ”Religion had nothing to do with it,” Madoff said in the interview published last week. “I don’t feel that I betrayed the Jews; I betrayed people. I betrayed people that put trust in me — certainly the Jewish community.” The schemer seemed unrepentant. “I’ve made more money for Jewish people and charities than I’ve lost.” Madoff also said that he attempted to recover money for his victims, and it has largely gone unacknowledged. He said the information he shared with Irving Picard, the trustee charged with overseeing the recovery and dis-
tribution of money lost in the Ponzi scheme, has been critical to Picard’s ability to collect the money. “Everybody thinks the worst of me,” Madoff said. “The only thing I’m happy about is I was able to help people recover.” Madoff, who sees a prison psychiatrist once a week, said he has “nothing to repent for. I already knew what I did was wrong.” He also said, “I don’t believe I’m a bad person.” Madoff said the loss of his family, who has had nearly nothing to do with him since the scheme became public, is “more punishment than being incarcerated.” He said he suffers from kidney disease and not cancer, as has been reported, and takes about 14 medications, which he did not do before entering prison. Madoff had a
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In News heart attack over the winter; a stent was inserted to open a blocked artery.
Teen Outsmarts WTC Security
Questions about security at the new World Trade Center are being raised after a New Jersey teen managed to breach the spire of 1 World Trade Center in middle of the night and take photos of his climb. The teen was identified in court papers as Justin Casquejo. He told police, “I was walking around the construction site and figured out how to access the Freedom Tower rooftop.” Casquejo, 16, was arrested for trespassing at 6 a.m. after a construction supervisor spotted him coming down from the 1,776-foot building, according to Port Authority police. A law enforcement source said that, upon review, security cameras showed “faint” glimpses of the teen who entered the perimeter near Church and Vesey streets in lower Manhattan. The official said it appeared Casquejo was “trying to be stealthy and avoid detection,” although a red blinking light from his GoPro camera was visible. To reach the antenna of the building, which is the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, the teen squeezed through what officials say was a “12 by 12-inch hole.” Law enforcement officials said the teen “admitted” what he did and explained he took the stairs to 20th floor, an elevator to the 99th floor and then went to the spire. Sounds like a modern-day Spiderman.
Heroism Displayed in Tragic Fire Four people tragically died in a fire at a Jersey shore motel that was housing some victims of Superstorm Sandy. DNA testing and other meth-
ods are being employed to identify the remains. Eight other people were injured in the blaze at the Mariner’s Cove Motor Inn. The fire was determined to have started in an outdoor smoking lounge when a lit cigarette was tossed onto a chair. Quickly, the fire spread and engulfed the motel in flames and thick smoke.
A great rescue was executed resulting in the heroic saving of a woman on the second floor. Once the call came in, firefighters knew to go into “search and rescue mode,” recalled one fireman. They barreled through the heat and flames, and they heard someone on the second floor banging on the wall for help. “I climbed up through the ladder, and I told her through the window to back up, so I could break the window. I pulled the pane out, and asked her to come on out to the ladder with me,” said First Lt. Mike Ryan of the Point Pleasant Beach Fire Department, “I maneuvered her through the window, and assisted her out the window, and Firefighter Leech came up the ladder and cradled her, and brought her down,” he recalled. It was a rescue First Lieutenant Ryan and firefighters with the Point Pleasant Beach Fire Department will never forget. They were the first ones on the scene. There were 40 people sleeping inside at the time of the blaze. All but four got out alive. With the fire raging, First Lieutenant Ryan says firefighters maneuvered through thick black smoke and flames for as long as they could, but eventually they had to pull back. “There’s a certain point in time where we just can’t go in. It’s unsafe, the roof starts to collapse, and when a room flashes, even our protective equipment isn’t going to protect us very long,”
Lazy Mailman Arrested
We are all a little hesitant to go to work with how the weather has been this winter, but we would think the mail workers’ code would be an exception. Snow, rain, heat and gloom of night shouldn’t deter our intrepid mailmen, but one postal worker stood
accused this week of being too lazy to deliver the mail in any weather. Postal Service employee Patrick Paskett, 24, was arrested last week. The Long Islander allegedly tossed thousands of pieces of mail into dumpsters this winter. An investigation began when dozens of customers complained to both the Seaford and Massapequa Park post offices that their letters and packages were not arriving. “Very, very bad – I mean, people are waiting for their checks; people are waiting for their bills, and it’s very bad,” said Christine Augello of Massapequa Park. “He should never have done that.” According to a federal complaint, Paskett said he knew it was wrong to throw away the mail and admitted he had thrown the mail into dumpsters 15 times between December and March. Most of the mail Paskett allegedly threw away is believed to have been hauled off to landfills. But a total of 1,018 pieces of mail were recovered from four dumpsters in Massapequa Park, the complaint said. When a special agent tailing the letter carrier al-
legedly observed him tossing a stack of mail into a trash bin, Paskett then revealed several more of his favored dumpsters to investigators who rescued what remained – including 144 first-class items. The motive, according to federal agents, was that Paskett could not be bothered. He thought it was a nuisance in the cold and snowy weather to complete the deliveries. Paskett has been charged with mail destruction – a felony that carries up to five years in jail. Paskett is still employed by the Postal Service pending the outcome of the criminal charges, but according to a U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman, he is no longer delivering mail. Sounds like he’s a real-life Newman, don’t ya think?
Eating Evidence Couldn’t Save Insider Trading Ring
A three-man insider-trading ring
with information from one of New York’s premier mergers-and-acquisitions law firms was brought down this week. Prosecutors say that the three men took great care to chat in code and flash stock tips on napkins or sticky notes before eating them.
MARCH 27, 2014
Ryan says. “You’re talking a matter of seconds.” “It was a team effort, It wasn’t any one guy – without everyone there, without everyone assisting, she [was] not out of that room,” says Ryan. The fire chief told reporters that the balconies on the second floor burned away, which made rescues that much harder. Officials say it took about two hours for the fire to be fully contained.
In News
Steven Metro, 40, a managing clerk at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, allegedly accessed the law firm’s computer system to obtain information on deals and other sensitive corporate developments involving clients. Metro shared tips with a friend during a series of meetings at bars and coffee shops that were arranged via text message. The friend then passed the tips— which included inside information on
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The Week Tyco International Ltd.’s plans to buy Brink’s Home Security Holdings Inc. and the 2013 merger of OfficeMax Inc. and Office Depot Inc.—onto his stockbroker. The broker, Vladimir Eydelman, 42, who most recently was employed at Morgan Stanley, would then trade based on the information. Prosecutors said the alleged scheme ultimately netted about $5.6 million. Simpson Thacher called the charges “deeply disturbing and unprecedented in our long history.” The firm, which was founded in 1884 and is known for its work in private equity and mergers and acquisitions, said it had no knowledge of Mr. Metro’s actions or the charges until Mr. Metro was arrested. Morgan Stanley spokesman James Wiggins said that the bank had been informed of the arrest and would “cooperate fully” with authorities, adding that Mr. Eydelman had been placed on leave pending further review. Oppenheimer said it was cooperating with authorities and condemns “any form of insider trading.” It wasn’t immediately clear how the alleged scheme came to prosecutors’ attention, although trading exchanges and self-regulatory bodies often flag potentially suspicious activity to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prosecutors say the scheme began in February of 2009. The defendants face a number of criminal charges, including securities fraud that could result in up to 20 years each in prison.
That’s Odd ‘Mastermind’ Threatens 1400 Penn Ave Most children in this country know the address of the White House. Luckily for the president, one inmate in Pittsburg does not. Joseph Savage, 34, sent a threatening letter to 1400 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., not 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the
address of the White House, prosecutors said. The block he sent the letter to is the site of Commerce Department offices, a park and some historic buildings.
Savage was already serving 12-25 years in prison. He was arraigned on two counts of threatening the president or the president’s family. The smart criminal sent the threat in October from the Fayette County Prison. Now, he faces up to another 10 years behind bars for the threat charges.
Follow Your Nose
Can you smell that? Turns out you can. According to a new study the human nose can detect over one trillion different odors. “Our analysis shows that the human capacity for discriminating smells is much larger than anyone anticipated,” said study co-author Leslie Vosshall, head of Rockefeller University’s Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Behavior. The 400 hundred olfactory receptors in the nose were previously thought to only sense 10,000 scents, putting our nose way below our eyes and ears on the totem pole. The previous estimate for the nose’s capabilities dated to the 1920s and was not backed by data. Researchers have estimated that the human eye and its mere three receptors can distinguish several
In News million colors and that the ear can discriminate 340,000 sounds. “For smell, nobody ever took the time to test,” Vosshall said. To conduct their research, scientists subjected 26 participants to mixtures made with 128 different odorant molecules that individually might evoke grass, citrus or various chemicals, but were combined in groupings of up to 30. “We didn’t want them to be explicitly recognizable, so most of our mixtures were pretty nasty and weird,” Vosshall said. “We wanted people to pay attention to ‘here’s this really complex thing – can I pick another complex thing as being different?’” Volunteers would sample three vials of scents at a time – two that were the same and one that was different – to see if they could detect which was the outlier, completing 264 such comparisons. Although volunteers’ abilities varied greatly, they could on average discern the difference between vials with up to 51 percent of the same components, with fewer volunteers detecting a difference once the mixtures shared more components. Researchers then extrapolated how many odors the average person could detect if all possible combinations of the 128 odorants were sampled, coming to their estimate of at least one trillion. Only the nose knows.
Finding a Golden Ticket – In Your Pocket
We should all clean out our wallets every once in a while. One man from Virginia is very glad he did. Robert Manning decided his wallet was getting too fat and spent a few minutes
going through it. It turns out it was worth the trouble. “I was getting rid of some old receipts, and I had about 10 or 12 lottery tickets in there,” he said at a Virginia Lottery news conference. “I had the laptop in front of me and I started checking the numbers and the next thing I saw was, wait a minute, I just read all five numbers.” The Springfield, Va., resident was just one number shy of winning the $40 million jackpot, but all he was focused on was getting to the nearest Virginia Lottery office to claim his prize. “I immediately realized I won something,” Manning recalled. “I said, ‘I don’t want to sit on it another day,’ so we drove down here in the storm. I wanted to cash it in quick,” he said. The storm Manning drove in was the same St. Patrick’s Day snowstorm that shut down the federal government in nearby Washington, D.C. Still, Manning made the nearly 90-mile drive from Springfield to the Lottery’s Richmond office to become a millionaire. “It feels like there’s nine million things going through my mind,” Manning said as he held his check. “What are you going to do with it? What are you going to buy? What are you going to save?” Start Pesach cleaning now…you never know what you’ll find!
Cup O’ Joe…and Jack (Daniels)
Starbucks is a morning destination for many hundreds of thousands of people each day. But the chain has also been slowly adding “evening drinks” in many of its locations in
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Completely renovated 5BR/5.5BA brick colonial. Large formal dining room w/ fireplace, built-ins & hardwood floors. Spacious living room with built-ins & hardwood floors. Brand new gourmet kitchen with custom cabinetry, granite counters, stainless appliances & adjoining breakfast room. Main level guest BR with en-suite bath. Fabulous master suite with luxury master bath. Newly renovated baths, new gas furnace, new upgraded electric, new windows, refinished hardwood floors and much more!
Beautiful sprawling 5BR/4BA home in Dumbarton. Modern updated kitchen with granite counters, stainless appliances & adj. breakfast room. Formal living room & dining room with hardwood floors. Upper level master bedroom suite with balcony and study. Lower level rec room, bedroom & bath. 2-car garage.
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Beautiful 3BR/3.5BA contemporary home. Updated modern kitchen with granite counters & adjacent breakfast/family room. Formal living room & dining room with hardwood floors. Lower level rec. room and additional storage.
Exceptional newly finished custom built 7BR/6FB/2HB colonial. Extraordinary attention to detail. Brazilian hardwood floors, granite counter tops & wood Anderson windows throughout. Top of the line zoned heating & air conditioning system. Dramatic 2-story foyer & living room. Custom chef’s kitchen with breakfast area & adjoining family room. Luxury 1st floor master suite. Upper level family room with wet bar. Finished lower level with additional kitchen.
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Magnificent one of a kind estate home. Main house has 7BR/4.5BA. Hardwood floors, great room with beamed ceilings & built-ins, formal dining room, modern kitchen. 2-level addition has workshop, design studio & upper level in-law suite.
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Completely renovated 2BR + den unit with over 1,800 sq. ft. New kitchen, double balcony, corner unit.
Bright & spacious 3BR/2BA unit in a full service building. Renovated kitchen with granite counters & stainless appliances. Large living & dining room with sliders to balcony. Updated baths, tons of closet space, laundry area in unit.
Beautiful light-filled 2BR/2BA unit in a full service building. Spacious living room with sliders to balcony. Modern updated eatin kitchen. Master bedroom suite with dressing area. 2nd bedroom currently used as a den. Laundry area in unit.
2BR/2BA unit in a secure full service building. Spacious living room with sliders leading to the balcony. Separate dining room. Master bedroom suite with walkin closet. Second bedroom with plenty of closet space. Washer & dryer in unit.
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The Week recent years. Starbucks now plans to turn more of its cafes into a destination for beer and wine at the end of the day. The coffee company says it is looking to expand alcohol sales to “thousands of select stores” over the next several years, although it didn’t provide details on an exact timeline. The chain first offered beer and wine after 4 p.m. at one of its Seattle cafes in 2010. “Starbucks Evenings” is now available in 26 cafes, with plans to reach 40 by the end of the year. The regular coffee menu is also available during that time. The expansion of “Starbucks Evenings” is part of the company’s push to boost sales after the morning rush hour when people are getting their caffeine fix. It’s a common concept in the restaurant industry — figuring out ways to maximize sales throughout the day since stores have to pay for rent and labor anyway. Taco Bell, for instance, recently started highlighting snacks in its ads to drive sales during the slower late afternoon hours. And the fruit shakes and other drinks at McDonald’s are seen as a way to attract people throughout the day. As for Starbucks Corp., the chain recently introduced new sandwiches and salads to boost sales in the afternoon. It’s also branching out into other areas too as it faces more competition in the coffee market. The company recently purchased a chain of teashops called Teavana. CEO Howard Schultz has said he wants to make tea as popular in the U.S. as he’s helped make coffee. Looks like Starbucks just loves its brew—whether it’s coffee or a cold one.
I should really be shopping at more garage sales… A scrap metal dealer in the Midwest stumbled upon an incredibly rare Faberge egg at a sale recently. The unidentified man, sensing the golden egg was worth considerably more than the $13,000 being asked, plunked down the cash. I would never recommend paying $13,000 for an egg, but in this case, the man’s risk was well rewarded. Turns out the piece of art is worth a whopping $33.3 million. The egg was once owned by Russia’s Tsar Alexander III and was seized during the Russian Revolution. It is one of only a few original Faberge eggs still known to exist. It was last seen in public in March 1902. Kieran McCarthy, the Faberge expert who verified the man’s discovery, compared the find to “Indiana Jones finding the Lost Ark.” After the man bought the treasure, he did some online research and found a 2011 article seeking the whereabouts of the exact egg in his possession. He sought out an expert opinion and was told that he was soon to be a multi-millionaire. And that’s no “yoke.”
Homeowner for a Dollar—If You Can Afford It
Millions Over Easy A dollar doesn’t get you much these days, but that’s all you need to buy a Victorian home in Riverside, California. This cheap piece of real estate is about 60 miles from Los Angeles. The city is trying to pass a 4,800-square-foot home off to someone who will turn it back into a beauty.
In News So what’s the catch? The new homeowner has to move the five-bedroom house or buy the land, according to Emilio Ramirez of Riverside’s community development department. They’d also have to preserve the structure and restore it to its original condition. “It has a lot of character. It has a lot of history,” Ramirez said. (“Character” in real estate terms generally means the property was once beautiful but has fallen on hard times.) City leaders bought a few blighted properties a few years ago in hopes of developing the land and improving the neighborhood. Attorney Boyd Jensen bought a historic home, also located in downtown Riverside, for approximately $200,000 a few years ago. He says it’s taken a lot of effort to restore the 2,500-square-foot home. “It would cost over $100,000 to bring it up to where it is now,” Jensen said of the house currently on the market. Jensen says refurbishing one of these properties requires plenty of cash and lots of love. “A home like this, a person’s got to care more than just about flipping the home,” the Riverside resident said. Some estimate the cost to relocate and rehab the Victorian home could run up to $1 million. City officials say they do have one very interested buyer. I hope he has a dollar and a dream.
Student Breaks Statue While Taking “Selfie” In last week’s issue there was a ranking of the “Selfiest” Cities in the World. Once again this week, the word “selfie” has made headlines. Milan, Italy, is home to the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera and is the eighth “selfiest” city in the world, according to TIME magazine. Last week, a student visiting the prestigious art museum got into some serious trouble. The visitor reportedly climbed onto a statue dating back to the early 19th century to take a “selfie.” Apparently this “selfie” didn’t end too well; the student accidently broke the statue’s leg. The statue was discovered the following morning by
security officials with its leg off, but the student was quickly located as the incident was caught on security cameras. Fortunately, the statue is a copy located in the academy’s hallway leading to a room full of more valuable works of the most famous sculptors of the era. The student’s name was not reported and it is unclear if he was required to pay for damages. Sure hope he stops taking those annoying pictures of himself.
From Bags to Riches
The iconic plastic disposable smiley face shopping bag wishing customers “Have a Nice Day” is getting a makeover. British designer Anya Hindmarch has transformed the ordinary sack into a high-end handbag. The designer duplicated the famous image to create a $4,158 tote. Hindmarch’s Happy Shopper bag is made of python skin, lined with suede, and features hand-painted edges. It made its debut appearance at London Fashion Week back in September and was just released as part of the designer’s spring collection. “Inspired by our passion for finding the beauty in the banal,” the brand’s official website says, “our Happy Shopper tote is our luxurious take on the classic shopping bag.” The original design is attributed to commercial artist Harvey Ball and was a defining image of the 1970s. The designer’s next collection will use icons from cereal boxes. Anyone want a Cheerios Tote for $4K?
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The Week
World’s Most Expensive Dog
How much will a man spend on a best friend? Apparently close to $2 mill. A Tibetan mastiff puppy has been sold in China for almost $2 million. This could be the most expensive dog sale ever. A property developer paid 12 million yuan ($1.9 million) for the one-year-old golden-haired mastiff at a “luxury pet” fair in the eastern province of Zhejiang, the Qianjiang. “They have lion’s blood and are top-of-the-range mastiff studs,” the dog’s breeder Zhang Gengyun was quoted as saying. The dogs strongly resemble lions with their messy golden-haired manes and ferocious personalities. Tibetan mastiffs have become a prized status symbol among China’s wealthy causing prices for the pet to soar. The expensive pooch was 80 centimeters (31 inches) tall and weighed 90 kilograms (nearly 200 pounds). “Pure Tibetan mastiffs are very rare, just like our nationally treasured pandas, so the prices are so high,” Zhang said. The buyer is rumored to be a 56-year-old property developer from Qingdao who hopes to breed dogs himself. Sounds like a pretty penny for a prized pooch.
Couple Saves Child from Falling out of Window A young couple moving into an apartment in California saved a little boy’s life when they placed a mattress down as he fell out of a window, authorities said. Konrad and Jennifer Lightner are responsible for saving the little boy’s life. Last Sunday, at about 5:30pm, the young couple was moving into their new apartment in Burbank, California. As the toted their mattress into their new home, they saw a three-year-old child falling from a second story window. The young boy got caught in some phone lines, and the couple quickly positioned the mattress to cushion the boy’s fall. A few moments later, the 3-year-old fell from the lines and tumbled right into Konrad’s open arms. Luckily, the boy wasn’t injured, but was taken to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as a precaution. Earlier in the day the couple noticed the toddler chucking his toys out of the window. Apparently, the boy fell from the window after crawling out to retrieve his toys. According to the police report, the parents’ were in another part of the apartment when the incident occurred. Thankfully, they have some new, good neighbors.
In News
Taxi Driver Takes Student for a Ride for her Money Becky Siegel was taken for a ride in more than one way as she hopped in a cab to meet friends for dinner in downtown Chicago. Back in December, the 20-yearold college student from Winnetka, Illinois, hailed a cab to drive her two miles to a restaurant where she was meeting friends. The fare for the short ride should’ve been under $10 but when her mother got her credit card statements the transactions posted as close to $800. “He was apparently very friendly and chatty and was talking about pedestrians crossing where they shouldn’t,” said Susan Siegel, Becky’s mother, about the taxi driver. Upon arriving at her destination Siegel asked if she could pay by credit card to which the driver responded that his swiper wasn’t working but that he could swipe her credit card using his Square app in his phone. The Square device and app allow merchants to charge customers through a mobile device. The young girl naively handed her credit card to the cab driver telling him to add $2 for his tip. She signed the receipt and rushed out of the car to meet her friends Becky told the Chicago Tribune, “I guess I didn’t pay attention or I didn’t look…I just signed my name with my finger and I left.” Her mother’s credit card was charged a whopping $787.33. Upon contacting Visa customer
service to dispute the charge, she was denied a refund since her signature was on the transaction. The Chicago Police department told Siegel that there was nothing they could do about it either. Livid about what transpired, Siegel contacted the driver, Ali Ghazanfari, for a resolution. Oddly enough, the cab driver stood behind the nearly $800 charge. However, Ghazanfari’s position quickly changed once Siegel got in touch with the Chicago Tribune’s, “What’s Your Problem?” problem solvers. They reached out to the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. “I remember exactly what happened,” the driver told the Tribune. “I made a mistake on the fare.” Ms. Siegel said, “He called me two or three times, and he was in a panic. What I do know is that he is really sorry that he got caught.” Ghazanfari claims he made efforts to contact Square and his bank to refund the Siegels’ money but because the company had only the last four digits of their credit card, his attempts were unsuccessful. Mika Stambaugh, a spokesperson for the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, said that they contacted Square and the company promised to send Siegel a check for $787.33. He added, “Our department has suspended his public chauffeur license pending this investigation… He cooperated with us but he’s not in the country so we still have a few unresolved issues pertaining to this case.” Lesson learned: always check what you’re signing if you don’t want to be taken for a ride.
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Cover Story
Homes without an alarm system are three times more likely to be burglarized than homes with an alarm system. It’s estimated that 74 percent of uncompleted home intrusions can be credited to the homeowners having an audible alarm system. Approximately 83 percent of offenders said they would attempt to determine if an alarm was present before attempting a burglary, and about 73 percent said that if an alarm was present they would seek an alternative target. Due to a request from our readers for tips on “keeping our homes secure,” BJH had an exclusive interview with Ephraim Rosenbloom, owner of Serious Security Systems Inc, on how to secure our homes properly. BJH: Tell us a little bit about yourself. How long have you been in the security business, and what made you choose this profession? Ephraim: I have been in the security business for 23 years. From a young age I have always been mechanically and electronically inclined, so when an offer came up to work for a countrywide security and surveillance business based in New York, I simply could not turn it down. As the saying
goes, I have not looked back since. Serious Security Systems Inc currently secures some of the main retailers in the U.S., including Under Armour and Starbucks. We also have a great working relationship with many builders and building owners and a close relationship with all our homeowner customers.
in case of an intrusion is the minimum needed to ensure a safe home. BJH: Can you share four tips on how to ensure a safe home? Ephraim: 1. Keep doors and windows locked at all times 2. Keep window treatments drawn when you are out of the house
Serious Security Systems Inc. currently secures some of the main retailers in the U.S., including Under Armour and Starbucks. Our company staff has over 70 years of combined experience in the security business. BJH: What percentage of homes are properly secured from burglars, in your opinion? Ephraim: In my opinion, only 65 percent of homes are properly secured. BJH: What is the absolute bare minimum security every home must have to be considered safe? Ephraim: Locks on windows and doors and a basic audible security system that is set up to notify the police
3. Always use your alarm system that monitors the entire perimeter of the house 4. Being aware of your surroundings is vital for a safe home BJH: What do you enjoy most about your job? Ephraim: Knowing I am keeping people safe and secure and giving them peace of mind in their own homes, as well as coming across wonderful people every day, is what I enjoy most. BJH: Any interesting stories you can share about perhaps saving people
or their possessions? Ephraim: Chanukah is always a time of joy and quality family time but not when oil used to light the menorah spilled on the carpet of a local Baltimore family and caught fire. What could have been a very serious and dangerous situation thank G-d was prevented when the family was awoken by their smoke detectors and the fire department was already on their way before they could even reach their phones. BJH: Anything else you would like to share that you feel would benefit our readers? Ephraim: A thorough check by our technicians of the panic buttons at a local store to make sure they were working properly saved the life of the storeowner during an armed robbery. Pressing the panic button alerted medical personnel who were then able to reach the wounded in time. And of course, Serious Security Systems Inc over the years has notified numerous homeowners of an intrusion in their houses while they were out-oftown, and the homeowners were then able to deal with it immediately.
33 THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
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You Gotta be
about Warren Buffett
Kidding!
Bobby decided to take up ice fishing. He got some books, like Ice Fishing for Dummies, and studied them. He also bought all the necessary equipment. After a few weeks he felt that he knew enough, so he embarked on his first ice fishing venture. He carefully gathered up and packed all the tools and equipment needed for the excursion. Each piece of equipment had its own special place in his kit. When he got to the ice, Bobby found a quiet, little area, placed his padded stool and carefully laid out his tools. Just as he was about to make his first cut into the ice, a booming voice from the sky bellowed, “There are no fish under the ice!” Startled, Bobby grabbed up all his belongings, moved further along the ice, poured some hot chocolate from his thermos, and started to cut a new hole. Again the voice from above bellowed, “There are no fish under the ice!” Amazed, Bobby was not quite sure what to do as this certainly was not covered in any of his books. He packed up his gear and moved to the far side of the ice. Once there, he stopped for a few moments to regain his composure. Then he was extremely careful to set everything up perfectly—tools in the right place, chair positioned just so. But, once again, just as he was about to cut this new hole, the voice from above bellowed: “There are no fish under the ice!!” Petrified, Bobby looked skyward and asked, “Is that You, L-rd?” The voice boomed back, “NO! THIS IS THE MANAGER OF THE SKATING RINK!”
Facts 1. 2.
Warren Buffett was interesting before he offered to giveaway $1 billion to anyone who would pick a perfect NCAA tournament bracket. (By the third day of the tournament every one of the millions of contestants were eliminated.) Here are some other interesting facts about the “Oracle from Omaha”:
Buffett is worth $63.75 billion and is the 4th wealthiest person in the world.
7.
He bought his first share of stock at age 11 and now regrets that he started too late!
Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis.
3.
8.
He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.
4.
Buffett still lives in the same small 3 bedroom house in mid-town Omaha, Nebraska, that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have an outer wall or a fence.
5.
The billionaire drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.
6.
He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world’s largest private jet company.
The 83-year-old has given his CEOs only two rules. Rule number 1: Do not lose any of your shareholder’s money. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.
9.
He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His pastime after he gets home is to make himself some popcorn and watch television.
10.
Bill Gates, the world’s richest man, met Warren Buffett for the first time in 1991. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting for only a half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.
Buffettisms (some of Warren Buffett’s many sayings)
» “Of the billionaires I have known, money just brings out the basic traits in them. If they were jerks before they had money, they are simply jerks with a billion dollars.”
» “I buy expensive suits. They just look cheap on me.”
» “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”
» “It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.”
» “Wall Street is the only place that people ride to in a Rolls Royce to get advice from those who take the subway.” » “I hope my tombstone simply says: ‘Gosh, he was an old man.’”
» “If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians.”
» “We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.” (Discussing his investment philosophy) » “I try to buy stock in businesses that are so wonderful that an idiot can run them. Because sooner or later, one will.”
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1. Which college coach has the most NCAA basketball championships? a. Bob Knight b. Mike Krzyzewski c. Jim Calhoun d. John Wooden
3. Which school’s 1991 team was knows as the “Fab Five”? (Take a time-out if you need it…That’s the only hint I could think of, Webber or not you get it.) a. Michigan State b. Michigan College c. College of Michigan d. University of Michigan 4. With the Tar Heels trailing by one in the 1982 national championship game, this player knocked down a jumper from the left wing with 17 seconds left to give his team the victory: a. Michael Jordan
5. How many teams are in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament? a. 50 b. 58 c. 64 d. 68
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2. In 1985, Villanova beat Georgetown 6664 in the NCAA championship game. Who was the starting center for Georgetown? a. David Robinson b. Patrick Ewing c. Hakeem Olajuwon d. Shaq
b. Isaiah Thomas c. Reggie Miller d. Mark Jackson
6. Which team won the 2012 NCAA championship? (Oh, yes, I am referring to men’s basketball. If you didn’t get that by this point, you are in over your head.) a. Kentucky b. Louisville c. Kansas State d. Michigan 7. Which school has the most NCAA championships? a. North Carolina b. UCLA c. University of Kentucky d. Connecticut Answers: 1. C (Wooden won 10 championships) 2. B 3. D 4. A 5. D
6. B 7. B Scorecard 6-7 correct: You are the guy who sleeps with his brackets under his pillow. 3-5 correct: You are like a 16th seed…but at least you made it! 1-2 correct: You are the guy who wonders how someone doesn’t get a neck-ache if he sleeps on his bracket all night.
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Answer below
Answer to riddle: A stamp.
A Parsha Thought An Open Invitation: Insights on the Pesach Haggadah Rabbi Shmuel Silber
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freedom and we eat the Marror (bitter herbs) as a commemoration of the bitter and difficult circumstances we endured during 210 years of Egyptian servitude.
There are many mitzvos (commandments) we fulfill during the Pesach Seder. We consume Matzah as a reminder of both servitude and liberation; we drink the Four Cups as a behavioral demonstration of our
Even with this beautiful and holy plethora of mitzvos, the main focus of the sacred Seder night is the mitzvah of Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim, the retelling of the Exodus narrative. We recite Avadaim Haayinu (we were servants to Pharaoh), and link this past experience to our current circumstances. We bring the past into the present to allow ourselves to re-experience the exalted feeling of emancipation and freedom.
Yet, as we are about to begin to relate the story of slavery and salvation we recite a fascinating paragraph – Ha Lachma Anya, this is the bread of affliction. This is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry, come and eat. Let all who are needy, come and celebrate Passover. This year we are here - next year, may we be in the Land of Israel. This year we are slaves - next year, may we be free. The Rav, Rav Yosef Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik zt’l asks a simple question. “Why are we “inviting” people to our Pesach Seder after the Seder has already commenced? After all, by the time we issue this invitation we have already drunk the first of the Four Cups (Kiddush) and the Seder is well underway. Furthermore, if we are truly interested in inviting people, why make this declaration in front of the already invited guests? The people at the table already have a license to be present. If we are looking to invite those who may not have a Seder to attend, if we are looking to invite those who are in need, why not go to the door and extend a true and sincere invitation to those on the outside?” What is the meaning and the message of this paragraph? The Rav explains that this “invitation” is a symbolic manifestation of our new-found freedom. A slave does not have the ability to engage in the mitzvah of Hachnosas Orchim (hospitality) for one simple reason—the slave has no possessions. The slave has no rights of ownership. Everything he owns becomes the property of his master. Further-
more, the slave is so focused on survival and self-preservation that even if he somehow manages to acquire something (and hide it from his master), he hoards it for himself, worrying that if he shares it with others he will be compromised. In this section of Ha Lachma Anya we make two profound declarative statements. I am free and as such if I wanted to I could invite anyone and everyone I desire. I am free and therefore, have the ability and inner strength to share with and care for the other. I am no longer a slave who is solely focused on survival; I am free and have the ability to look out for the needs of the other. “Let all who are in need, come and celebrate with me; I can think about and concern myself with the welfare of others. Whoever is hungry, come and join - I can help - I am free.” The precious words of the Rav teach us a profound lesson. The first thing we do before launching into the Exodus story is create a true and meaningful definition of freedom. Freedom is not simply the absence of an oppressive task-master or the ability to do as I choose. Freedom is the ability to do something meaningful with my life. Freedom is the opportunity to harness my strengths, abilities and resources and find a way to make the world a little kinder. Freedom is the ability to impact those around me in a positive fashion. Let all who are hungry, come and eat. Let all who are needy, come and celebrate Pesach. Freedom is the ability to make a difference.
Kosherology
I
never expected that my class in organic agriculture would bring me to learn about the kashrus of quail and of other birds. Of course, I learned these things indirectly as a result of the class, and not in the class itself. While in the process of doing research on the differences between eggs of pastured and non-pastured (conventionally raised) chickens, I became interested in eggs of different birds and how they differ from chicken eggs. For instance, I was told that duck eggs, “a baker’s secret,” are commonly used by many bakers as their yolks are desired for rich cakes and cookies and I then went in search of finding some to see for myself how they differ. This search brought me to find the eggs of a bird that had never even crossed my mind: quail. While looking for duck eggs in a local farmer’s market I noticed a carton of locally raised quail eggs being sold at a discounted price. I quickly took interest and decided that it would be interesting to experiment with them and see how they differ from chicken eggs and bought them to make for Shabbos—hey, it’s a cool and exotic kosher food, right? As it turns out, it’s not that simple. While the Torah provides physical signs and characteristics in mammals (i.e. that they have both split hooves and
chew their cud) and fish (i.e. that they have both fins and scales) that identify them as a kosher species, it does not do the same for birds. Rather, the Torah lists 24 families of non-kosher birds and leaves it to be assumed that accordingly the remaining species of birds are all kosher. But it’s still not that simple! According to tradition, after the Torah was given, Moses identified and detailed to the Jewish people which birds were
permitted to be eaten, and which were forbidden. This oral tradition, known as a mesorah, has been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. Of course, many things get lost over time—and this is no exception. Thus the status of the acceptability of many birds as kosher is not as widely recognized or accepted as the birds for which we have a stronger based tradition and they are thus forbidden to be eaten according to the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law). For instance, it is universally accepted that chicken is a kosher bird while even today some people will still not accept turkey as a kosher bird. According to the O-U’s website, many families of birds have been accepted as kosher in different localities at one time in history including goose, pigeons, doves, and of course—quail. As any student of the Bible could tell you, quail are mentioned in the book of Exodus when the Jewish people, who were wandering in the Sinai desert, complained of a lack of meat. In response to this complaint, G-d sent slav, which is commonly translated as quail, for the Jewish people to eat. The only issue with simply translating slav as quail is that there are currently almost 50 breeds of birds identified as “quail.” The common Coturnix quail, also known as Pharaoh, Bible, and Nile quail, is the breed of quail that is accepted as kosher according to the Orthodox Union (OU). This recognition comes as the result of much research by the Orthodox Union team, in particular Rabbi Chaim Loike (the OU bird expert). As I am sure you can tell from some of the names this bird is referred by, this quail is said to be of the same kind that the Jewish people ate in the desert after leaving Egypt (i.e. Bible quail/Pharaoh quail) and the same quail that was commonly eaten by the Jews of Europe prior to WWII. In order to identify the kosher quail, Rabbi Loike, along with some of his fellow peers, met with Rabbi Zweigenhoft, a Holocaust survivor who prior to the war was well recognized in Europe
Alex Idov
This is a great recipe to use with quail eggs, as it is easy and adds a cool/fancy touch to a meal as a garnish or accompaniment. Of course, you can make this recipe with regular ol’ chicken eggs, as well. Ingredients
½ cup cider vinegar ½ cup water ½ cup peeled and grated beet (from about ½ medium beet) or juice from 15 oz. can with beets included 4 teaspoons granulated sugar 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for serving 2 teaspoons pickling spice 24 quail eggs Preparation Place the eggs in a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Immediately remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let sit 3-4 minutes. Prepare an ice water bath by filling a large bowl halfway with ice and water. When the eggs are ready, transfer them with a slotted spoon to the ice water bath. Let sit until the eggs are cold, about 5 minutes. Carefully crack and peel each egg and rinse under cold water to remove any residual shell pieces and set aside. In a pint or Mason jar, combine vinegar, water, beets and beet juice, sugar, salt, and pickling spices. Cover and shake jar to make sure all ingredients are well-combined. Carefully add eggs to the jar and refrigerate overnight. These can stay in the fridge for up to one week. Serve halved with coarse salt sprinkled on top.
for his knowledge of the identification of various kosher species. Rabbi Zweigenhoft detailed how to identify the kosher quail from the non-kosher quail and this information was then compared to historical/biological information on the quail of Europe. Also playing a key role in the identification of the Coturnix quail as the kosher quail was archeological evidence in Egyptian pyramids which contained depictions of these quail being harvested by the Egyptians. This indicated that these were the birds which were present in the desert and thus consumed by the wandering Jews. With all this information indicating the Coturnix as the kosher quail, the OU officially recognized the bird as a kosher species.
If you should have the desire to try cooking with quail eggs (as I did), I recommend that you do your research in verifying that the eggs you find are those of a Coturnix quail and to check with your local kashrus organization as to comply with their acceptance of quail/eggs and their kashrus standards.
Alex Idov is a kosher food blogger who runs the award-winning site ‘Kosherology’ and a regular contributing food columnist to The Jewish Home magazine. He is currently studying for his bachelor’s degree in Culinary Sustainability & Hospitality. Visit ‘Kosherology’ at www.exploretheworldofkosher. com and like ‘Kosherology’ on Facebook.
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Cover Story
Why Making Your Children Work Matters How Cleaning for Pesach Can Develop Your Child’s Self-Esteem by Dinah Bucholz
I Children need to feel needed and that they are contributing— just like adults.
don’t believe in self-esteem. That is, I don’t believe in the way the self-esteem movement promotes the idea that parents and educators need to constantly shower praise on their children to make them feel good about themselves. In fact, falsely inflating your child’s selfesteem may hurt more than it helps. In a 1996 issue of Psychological Review, Dr. Roy Baumeister, professor of psychology at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, published the results of a study on self-esteem that showed that violent criminals all share the trait of high selfesteem.1 In 2010, National Review Online reported2 that among students from eight countries, Americans came in last in mathematical ability. But when asked how they rated their mathematical ability, they rated themselves first. Their mathematical skills were abysmal, but they sure had high self-esteem. Instead of telling kids they should feel good about themselves, it’s best to give them opportunities to feel useful, worthwhile and competent. By providing such opportunities, you are giving children the means to accomplish things they can legitimately be proud of. It’s a huge relief for parents to learn that they don’t
have to worry about making their children feel good about themselves by applauding their every move. Just realize that you can only point your child in the right direction and that ultimately, your child must develop self-esteem through feelings of usefulness and competence that can only be obtained through hard work and struggle; there are no shortcuts. Allowing your child to struggle toward self-discipline or mastery of a skill will do more for his feelings of selfworth than hollow, baseless praise. Once he gets there, through hard work and persistence, what he has attained is its own reward. The praise is certainly a nice acknowledgment, but it is mostly icing on the cake. The real reward is the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that one feels when he reaches a goal. My friend’s daughter was determined to teach herself how to knit. Armed with a ball of yarn, two knitting needles and a couple of how-to books and YouTube videos, she persisted. She often grew frustrated, and in such moments would throw down the yarn and needles and stomp around the dining room table yelling in frustration. My friend quietly observed.
Notes 1. “Relation of Threatened Egotism to Violence and Aggression: The Dark Side of High SelfEsteem,”Psychological Review 103 (1996): 1. 2. Dennis Prager, “Self-Esteem and Character,” November 2010. Dinah Bucholz is a New York Times best-selling author and certified parenting coach. Send questions and comments to ja@ou.org. From the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Action Magazine © 2014 All Rights Reserved | Reprinted with permission | ou.org/jewish_action
By enforcing chores you are helping them avoid the spoiledbrat syndrome that affects so many of today’s children.
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I now noticed, had used the whole bottle of dishwashing liquid. Those dishes sure were clean—and I learned that I had been underestimating her by not giving her this chore. Pesach cleaning provides a wonderful opportunity for your children to reap all the benefits that come with helping out—and more. You can create happy memories for your children when they sit around the table peeling fruits and vegetables while listening to music and enjoying a spirit of camaraderie. It will also give them a sense of excitement for the impending yom tov. Because I experienced this as a child, Pesach is still my favorite holiday. You will also help to instill in your children a deeper connection to Pesach. Nothing beats the satisfaction a child feels when Pesach arrives and the house is sparkling clean while delicious yom tov aromas fill the air—and she knows that she helped make it happen. So this Pesach, enlist your children’s help. A nineyear-old is perfectly capable of cleaning out his own drawers. A six-year-old can polish silver. A twelveyear-old can do a whole lot more. And they can help with the cooking by peeling fruits and vegetables and so on. Who says you have to do all the work yourself? Once your kids reach a certain age, they should be doing most of the preparation—while you sit on the couch sipping a tea and reading a magazine. After all, it’s zeman cheiruteinu!
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dren is preparing them for the real world. One day your child will grow up and leave home. He will have to do chores in his own home, and no one will pay him for them. He must learn that doing a service is essential to being a productive family member—and ultimately a contributing member of society. Do not underestimate your children. One evening, my husband and I left the house at 6:30 to attend a school function. The dinner leftovers were still on the table, along with everyone’s homework. I told the kids I would be home by 9:00, and that I expected the house to be spic-and-span and the youngest child in bed.
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When I came home, the house was gleaming, the dishes were washed and drying on the counter and my youngest was fast asleep. It had been my ten-year-old daughter’s job to clean up, so I made sure to let her know that I appreciated her job well done. The next morning I saw my six-year-old with a lollipop. “Where did you get that?” I asked her. “Sarah gave it to me for doing the dishes for her,” she said. Indeed, Toby had washed all the dishes and,
WIISSH H HHOOM MEE n MMAYA R2C4H, 22012 TTHHEE JJEEW 7 , 2014
One evening, her daughter said through gritted teeth, “I will get this if it kills me!” And by the end of the evening, she was purling, a stitch that is hard for beginning knitters to master. She didn’t need her mother’s praise (“You see how persistence pays off? Good for you!”) because she was glowing with the inner satisfaction of mastering a skill by herself. You can help your kids feel truly competent in many other ways: don’t do their homework for them or have them rely on your help; don’t rush to solve their problems—let them feel frustrated and work through them. “I can’t” really means “it’s hard and I’m frustrated.” My son once told me he couldn’t do his homework; it was too hard. I said, “Really? You’re not ready for fifthgrade work? Should I call the principal and ask her to move you back to fourth grade?” Well, he went back to his room and figured out what to do pretty quickly. Most important, children need to feel needed and that they are contributing—just like adults. The best way to accomplish this is by assigning chores. Through chores, kids not only achieve competence at life tasks such as sorting and folding laundry, setting the table, washing dishes or loading the dishwasher, preparing simple meals and baking cookies (chores can include the fun stuff too!), but they also get the satisfaction of a job well done as well as the feeling of being needed and of contributing something of value to the family. They will also learn to be givers, so by enforcing chores you are helping them avoid the spoiled-brat syndrome that affects so many of today’s children. Assigning chores also helps teach children responsibility. Will your kids grumble? Sure they will. Feeling delighted about doing chores is not essential to achieving the sense of accomplishment and self-worth that accompanies their completion, so don’t worry if they complain. Do not pay your child to do chores. Part of raising chil-
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Quotes
Compiled by Nate Davis
“Say What?” Green burial options are increasingly popular with pre-planning baby boomers and other socially- and environmentally-conscious individuals. – The president of a Washington, D.C. cemetery explaining why they now offer environmentallyfriendly burials
President Obama released his March Madness bracket this morning, picking Michigan State to win the tournament. In response, Vladimir Putin started moving troops into Gonzaga. – Seth Myers
This week, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said the GOP still isn’t where it needs to be to win the White House in 2016. Yeah, it’s not where it should be — kind of like the letters in “Reince Priebus.” - Jimmy Fallon
While in China, first lady Michelle Obama commented on Chinese censorship. Or as the Chinese news reported it, Michelle Obama greatly admires Chinese censorship. - Conan O’Brien
Researchers in China have developed these things called “smart tags” that stick to containers and change color when food has gone bad. That’s in addition to that other thing that changes color when food goes bad — food. - Jimmy Fallon
I just sat right in that chair and I did the calculations. Took me about 10 or 15 minutes. I hope I did it right. - Warren Buffett during an ESPN interview in his office, talking about how he determined the odds of someone winning his $1 billion NCAA bracket challenge I wish I could give you a better reason why I didn’t enter other than I was rushed and heading to work. Obviously, I didn’t think I’d be where I am now. - Brad Binder, who after 33 games was the last man standing with a perfect NCAA tournament bracket, on Yahoo! Sports, explaining why he didn’t enter Warren Buffett’s bracket challenge. (His bracket has since been busted, but he would have still won $100K.)
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said today that the 2014 midterms will be a victory for Republicans thanks to Obamacare. Coincidentally, “Reince Priebus” sounds like something that might be covered under Obamacare. – Seth Myers
With respect to Mr. Romney’s assertion that Russia is our number one geopolitical foe, the truth of the matter is that America has a whole lot of challenges. Russia is a regional power that is threatening some of its immediate neighbors, not out of strength, but out weakness…So my response then continues to be what I believe today, which is: Russia’s actions are a problem. They don’t pose the number one national security threat to the United States. I continue to be much more concerned when it comes to our security with the prospect of a nuclear weapon going off in Manhattan. – President Obama, responding to ABC News’ Jon Karl’s asking him whether he now concedes that Mitt Romney was correct in 2012 when he said that Russia was a “top geopolitical foe” of the U.S.
I guess this means my spring break in Siberia is off. - Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) after hearing that he is one of the U.S. officials that Putin banned from Russia in response to U.S. sanctions I don’t believe I’m a bad person. I did a lot of good for people. I made huge sums of money for some people. It wasn’t just for money. I already had huge amounts of money. It wasn’t going to buy yachts or homes. I had that from the beginning from legitimate money I made. - Bernie Madoff in a recent jailhouse interview I certainly wouldn’t invest in the stock market. I never believed in it. Most people lose money because of the emotional difficulty involved. - Ibid.
Transportation officials released a study that shows that over the last 10 years the percentage of Californians who drive has dropped 12 percent, while the percentage who walk, bike, or take public transit has doubled to 22 percent. So get ready for a bunch of Schwinn-by shootings, I guess. - Jimmy Kimmel
This week, scientists revealed that a massive solar blast narrowly missed the Earth back in 2012. Or as the Mayans put it, “Almost told you so.” - Jimmy Fallon
There’s three ingredients to selling cookies: There’s lots of time, lots of commitment, and I have to ask everybody that I see. - 11-year-old Oklahoma City Girl Scout Katie Francis, explaining how she sold a record 18,107 boxes of Girl Scout cookies
This morning, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford tackled a journalist on his way into City Hall. The craziest part of that story is that Rob Ford is still going to City Hall. - Seth Myers Over the weekend, Vladimir Putin ordered fireworks to go off in Moscow to celebrate Crimea joining Russia…That’s right, Putin ordered fireworks to go off in Moscow. Either that or one of Putin’s rivals tried to start his car. – Jimmy Fallon
- Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law in court last week testifying about bin Laden’s reply to him when he told bin Laden on 9/11 that if the U.S determined that bin Laden was behind the attack they would hunt him down and kill him Stop moving that, that, that … you know — what’s this thing called? You know, a teleprompter. - Joe Biden during a speech last week, when his teleprompter malfunctioned Barack always kids and he says, “I’m learning to speak without a teleprompter, Joe is learning to speak with one.” - Ibid
The standoff in Ukraine keeps getting worse. But a new poll shows Vladimir Putin’s approval rating has actually gone up 10 percent since he sent troops into Crimea. When he heard that, Obama just shrugged and sent troops to invade Canada. – Jimmy Fallon
Last week, the basketball coach at the University of Delaware mistakenly ignored a phone call from Joe Biden wishing him good luck because he didn’t recognize Biden’s number. Then Obama said, “Well there goes MY excuse.” – Jimmy Fallon Google announced last night that it will launch a new security feature to make it harder for situations like the NSA spying program to happen in the future. Then they went back to driving around and taking pictures of the street you live on. – Seth Myers
I have felt that my own communications are probably monitored. And when I want to communicate with a foreign leader privately, I type or write the letter myself, put it in the Post Office and mail it, because I believe if I send an email, it will be monitored. – Former President Jimmy Carter on “Meet the Press.” In an interview with “Meet the Press,” former President Jimmy Carter said he won’t send emails because he believes the NSA is reading them. And also because he can’t find the “send” button on his typewriter. - Seth Myers
Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume beyond any reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none on board survived. As you will hear in the next hour from Malaysia’s Prime Minister, we must now accept that all evidence suggests the plane went down in the Southern Indian Ocean. - Text message sent out by Malaysia Airlines last Monday to family members of the missing plane’s passengers
The White House revealed that more than 5 million people have now signed up for Obamacare, thanks to the administration’s recent push. They said, “And if 5 million signed up, that means at least 50 million tried to sign up.” - Jimmy Fallon Lawmakers here in New York are considering a plan to bring slot machines to LaGuardia Airport. Of course there’s always that other way to gamble at LaGuardia — checking a bag. – Jimmy Fallon
MARCH 27, 2014
In March Madness, there have been several major upsets. Yesterday No. 12 seed Harvard beat No. 5 seed Cincinnati. Harvard students haven’t been this excited since the last time they told someone they go to Harvard. - Jimmy Fallon
You’re being too pessimistic.
The pseudo-friends of Ukraine need to finally understand the cause of the crisis there lies not with Russia, but in the irresponsible actions of individual Ukrainian political forces and their foreign mentors. However, Western capitals, it would seem, continue to feel no shame at this. Backing people who are not ready to listen or heed the views of the whole of the Ukrainian people, and who are fully dominated by ultra-radical and nationalist organizations of the Right Sector and the racist, antiSemitic, and xenophobe…Freedom Party. - Russian ambassador to the U.N. Vitaly Churkin
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
Two New York men have been charged with insider trading after authorities caught them exchanging secret messages on cocktail napkins and eating them to hide the evidence. The men came up with the plan after they both got sick from eating their Blackberries. - Seth Myers
Apparently pizza sales are way up during the NCAA tournament. I didn’t think pizza sales could go up. I thought we were eating at our pizza peak right now. - Jimmy Kimmel
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It seems like everybody’s weighing in on the situation. In fact, Senator John McCain has released a list of 11 steps he thinks the White House should take to punish Russia. Usually, when McCain takes 11 steps, he uses a stair lift. - Jimmy Fallon
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In the Kitchen
A Taste of Pesach Eggplant Stack
Pareve. Yields 8 servings I roasted cherry tomatoes to serve with this appetizer and loved the combination. Beads of two sauces (I used dill dip and thick tomato sauce) pressed from a squeeze bottle complete the look. Another idea is to serve the stack in a pool of warm (store-bought) marinara sauce. A little quicker and easier, but just as tasty! Ingredients 2 eggs ¼ cup seltzer ½ cup potato starch 1 teaspoon salt 1 large or 2 small eggplants, not peeled Oil for frying Sauces, optional, for serving Preparation Prepare the batter: Beat first four ingredients in a bowl, using a fork or hand mixer. Scrub eggplant and slice into rounds. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet. Dip each eggplant slice into batter and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden, crispy on outside and soft inside. Add more oil as needed. Stack 3 or 4 slices and serve with sauce, if desired.
Strawberry Apple Crisp
Pareve. Yields 12 servings. I called my friend Nechama in Israel, a great cook who has made Pesach for the past 15 years, and asked for her favorite recipe. She told me that her best Pesach recipe is an apple crisp from her good friend Ahuva in Cincinatti. I called Ahuva who gave me the number of Elisheva in Edison who shared this recipe. Ingredients 7 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced ½ bag (8 ounces) frozen strawberries, thawed and sliced ½ cup sugar 2 teaspoons lemon juice ½ teaspoon cinnamon Crumb Topping 2½ cups potato starch 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 cup oil 4 ounces ground walnuts Preparation In a 10-inch round Pyrex baking dish, layer diced apples and sliced strawberries. Sprinkle with sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Toss gently. In a bowl, use a fork or your hand to combine topping ingredients, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle onto apple/strawberry mixture to coat. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour.
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THE JEWISH HOME n Preparation Preheat oven to 275°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper; use a pencil to mark two 7-inch circles on the back of each sheet of parchment paper or grease four 9” round pans. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat egg whites with sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold nuts into egg white mixture. Use a spatula to spread batter over the marked circles, filling them completely or spread batter in prepared round pans. Bake for 1 hour. Cool completely. Remove from pans; set one meringue aside. Melt good quality pareve chocolate in a double boiler. Pour evenly over the three remaining meringue layers. Prepare the chocolate cream: In a saucepan over low heat, combine baking chocolate, margarine, water, coffee, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla sugar. Cool somewhat so that eggs won’t curdle. Add 2 eggs while stirring constantly. Allow to stand and thicken. Spread chocolate cream evenly over melted chocolate on the 3 meringue layers. Prepare the whipped cream: Using an electric mixer, beat defrosted cold topping on high speed. Spread on top of chocolate cream on the 3 layers. Stack layers to assemble cake, ending with reserved meringue. For a more decorative look, reserve some topping and press over top layer through a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. To serve, cut with a very sharp knife. Recipes reproduced from A Taste of Pesach with permission from the copyright holders ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, LTD.
Springing into Pesach
A
fter a long, cold winter the warm theme about all those trees is that they spring sun has been particularly were not firmly rooted deeply enough delightful. But Old Man Winter in the ground. Despite the fact that they didn’t leave quietly. Only after being seemed tall and proud, without deep battered by massive snowfall and many roots they too could not withstand the days of frigid temperatures did the onslaught of the storm. spring sun emerge. It is well known that the Torah comEven now, the effects are still vis- pares mankind to a tree (see Devarim ible. The weight of the snow, together 20:19). In the face of challenges and with the relentless difficulties those wind and rain was who are vibrant and too much for many optimistic, with THE SEASON OF of the branches, a positive “glass and even whole half-full” outlook, REBIRTH AND trees. Although by and are flexible are now the snow has the most resilient REDEMPTION completely melted people. In contrast, PURPOSELY and the rain has rigid and negative been absorbed into people have the COINCIDES WITH the earth, a tremenmost difficult time dous amount of dealing with the THE SEASON OF winter’s after-eftempests of life. It PHYSICAL REBIRTH fects and debris are goes without saystill visible everying that one also AND REGENERATION. where. needs to be firmly As I drove rooted in his faith around these last and beliefs. few weeks, I was The joyous thinking about why certain branches holiday of Pesach is always celebrated were able to withstand the brutal winter, during the emergence of spring. The while others could not. Sometimes large season of rebirth and redemption purparts of trees collapsed, while the other posely coincides with the season of half remained fully intact. physical rebirth and regeneration. Life is not always idyllic and easy. There are many “periods of marror” mixed in. But one who is able to recite the blessing on the marror, understanding that it too comes from G-d, understands that shortly after the marror we eat the festive holiday meal. Pesach celebrates not only our birth as a people, but also our eternity and our ability to withstand the vicissitudes and challenges of life. I concluded that for a branch to have survived the storm it needed to have two qualities: vitality and flexibility. It needed to have a good connection with Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW, is the Rabbi of the tree so that it could draw its nour- Kehillat New Hempstead, and Guidance ishment through osmosis, and it had to Counselor/Rebbe at Yeshiva Bais Hachibe able to bend in the wind. Any branch nuch & Ashar in Monsey, NY. He is the authat did not contain those two qualities thor of Stam Torah and can be reached at stamtorah@gmail.com. His website is www. ended up on the ground. In addition, there were many trees stamtorah.info. that appeared robust and healthy which collapsed in the storm. The common
MARCH 27, 2014
Ingredients 6 egg whites ¾ cup sugar 8 ounces ground almonds, roasted and cooled 2 (3.5-ounce) bars good quality pareve chocolate (not baking chocolate) Chocolate Cream 8 ounces baking chocolate 2 sticks margarine 1 tablespoon boiling water 1 tablespoon coffee ½ cup confectioners’ sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar 2 eggs Whipped Cream Layer 1 (8-ounce) container nondairy dessert topping, not whipped
Rabbi Dani Staum
45 THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
Pareve. Yields 12-16 servings.
Rabbi's Musings [& Amusings]
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Meringue Layer Cake
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Forgotten Heroes
Avi Heiligman
Germany’s Submarines
Swimming Stealthily Beneath the Sea
The word U-boat comes from the anglicized version of the German word U-boot, a shortening of Unterseeboot, meaning ‘undersea boat’
A German U-boat sunk the Lusitania, killing 1,200 passengers.
Despite 128 Americans losing their lives in the sinking of the Lusitania, the president refused to enter the war
A German sub, U-36
that Germany stop torpedoing American ships with American passengers onboard, the killings did not stop. The German Kaiser issued an order for his submarines to stop torpedoing large liners but three months
later, a liner was sunk with two American citizens aboard. The new German naval commander then ordered that U-boats must send a warning shot first before sinking the ship. This practice would have been fatal for the subs and therefore enemy activity near the British Isles decreased dramatically. The British did have subs of their own but the Germans did most of their transportation overland and were mainly unaffected by enemy subs. The blockade of raw materials reaching German soil eventually brought them to their knees and even caused massive starvation. However, the Kaiser still had the U-boats and was using them to fight back. Unrestricted submarine warfare was allowed once more, and once again the British began to feel the effects. The U-boat campaign really began to hurt the British as they were losing an average of two ships per day. One out of every four ships entering British waters was sunk. The success of the submarines spread to the Mediterranean where the British were fighting the Turks in a drawn-out battle and needed supplies desperately. In 1917, the toll of the U-boat campaign almost caused the capitulation of Britain but was saved when the U. S. entered the war in April. The Germans resumed an all-out war with their subs and this caused American tempers to flare. Convoys were arranged with many merchant ships being escorted by warships equipped with anti-submarine weapons. The principle tactic was the use of the depth-charge. It employed explosives set to detonate at a certain depth where the sub was believed to be lurking. Depth charges along with the British blockade sank scores of U-boat. Convoys were also protected by the recently invented airplane and not a single air-escorted convoy lost a ship. On the contrary, U-boats were being sunk at a fast rate and morale on the subs sank to low levels. By the end of the war, 178 U-boats failed to return to base and the remaining 179 boats were handed over to the Allies. The U-boat campaign was devastating to the Allied shipping effort. Proper countermeasures contained merchant losses to a reasonable level and contributed to the end of the war. During the Second World War, the Germans and the Japanese would again to make the Allies surrender due to losses from submarines. They almost succeeded for a second time but with entry of America into the war, the WWI scenario was replayed. Since WWI, submarines have played a major role in naval activities. With the exception of WWII, the submarine hasn’t threatened to change the course of a war or history (not including novels by Tom Clancy, of course!), and there have been only a few times where a ship has actually been sunk by the underwater fighting machine. 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.
M A R C H 2 7 , 2014
M
erchant shipping has been a very hazardous business for a very long time. For centuries, enemy warships have looked for unguarded ships to sink, and since the Middle Ages ended (about the year 1500) pirates have roamed the high seas looking for treasure. Exactly a century ago, a new threat popped up during WWI—the submarine. While all major belligerents had subs and many were primitive examples and subject to mechanical failures, the U-boat almost won the war for Germany. To be historically accurate, the first submarine to sink an enemy ship was during the American Civil War in 1864. A Confederate sub, the H.L. Hunley, sank the warship USS Housatonic but the Hunley was lost as well. There were also some unsuccessful attempts in deploying submarines during the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. By 1914, the Americans had built several subs called Holland Boats but they were seen as merely scouting or coastal defense mechanisms. Other countries were curious: if they were given the proper weapons, could submarines possibly be an effective warship? The Germans were the first to find out. The U-boats (the U stands for undersea) was the German answer to the powerful British Navy that could overpower any ship afloat. German admirals needed to break the British the blockade and the U-boat was the only ship that could slip past undetected. The admiralty sent ten boats under the British noses, and to their surprise and delight, they sank nine Allied ships including one U-boat sinking three cruisers in two months. All belligerent countries realized that this war wasn’t going to be a short conflict and countermeasures were needed against submarines. Since it was the British shipping that was threatened, they were the first to come up with the idea of the Q-ship. A Q-ship looked like a merchant vessel but when a submarine was detected, hidden guns would appear and sink the enemy. The second countermeasure that was employed against the U-boats was the authority for merchant ships to ram the boat when it surfaced to attack. The Germans had a tough decision to make and they chose to break the rule of sending a warning shot to the attacked ship. This changed the way the game was played. Now it was unrestricted warfare, and neutral countries at the time hated the idea because any ship could become fair game. It soon came back to hurt the Germans when neutral ships were “mistaken” for enemy ships and sunk. The British also tried to deceive the Germans by flying flags of neutral nations on their own ships but the Germans soon picked up the tactic. Not only were the Germans firing at neutral ships—they sank a Belgian ship filled with food for starving civilians—they also were shooting at passenger ships. In particular, on May 7, 1915, the U-20 sank the British liner Lusitania. 1,200 people drowned including 128 Americans. America was furious but President Woodrow Wilson refused to overreact, and it wasn’t until 1917 that the U.S. entered the war. Even though Wilson demanded
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