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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
MAY 7, 2020
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AT HOME? Now is a great time to declutter and get ready to shred!
MAY 7, 2020
JOIN US FOR A 12-HOUR
SHREDDING MARATHON! On-site Shredding: 5-8pm Open for Dropoffs: 8am - 8pm
Sunday, June 21st, 2020**
7 Mile Market Parking Lot (next to Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf)
Restaurant Equipment
CRT Monitors & TVs
Electronics
Bikes
Furniture & Wooden Items
Printers
Flat Screen Monitors
Hazardous Materials
Computers
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(e.g., paint, chemicals,
Wires & Cords
Metal Items
light bulbs)
Remember to wear your mask and social distance from others.
NEW! DATA DESTRUCTION AVAILABLE Hard Drives, DVDs, & CDs
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Joe Kruk of ECycle101, Seven Mile Market and DMAC Security
*NOMINAL CHARGE FOR BUSINESSES **RAIN DATE –SUNDAY, JUNE 28th, 2020 To sponsor this event or for any questions email info@chesedfund.com. Donations appreciated. Dedicated in loving memory of Raya Sanbur, ע”ה. Preparing Our Community Today For a Safe and Secure Tomorrow™ The Chesed Fund Limited is dedicated in memory of Mordechai & Rebecca Kapiloff, ע״ה, Dr. Bernard Kapiloff, ע״ה, and Rabbi Norman & Louise Gerstenfeld, ע״ה. Project Ezra of Greater Baltimore, Inc. is dedicated in memory of M. Leo Storch, ע״ה.
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NO SHAIMOS ACCEPTED!
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Medications
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Reasonable quantities of…
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CONTENTS COMMUNITY
MAY 7, 2020
Around the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Community Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
JEWISH THOUGHT Rabbi Zvi Teichman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
PEOPLE
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
613 Seconds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 In Memory of My Special Sister Shelley . . . . . . . . . . 38 Remembering the Novominsker Rebbe . . . . . . . . . 42
HUMOR & ENTERTAINMENT A Healing Laugh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Centerfold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 On The Lighter Side. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
LIFESTYLES Health and Fitness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Jewish History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Dating Dialogue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Tips From a Homeschooling Mom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Mental Health Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Gluten Free Recipe Column. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 In The Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Your Money. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Life Coach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Dear Readers, There’s a saying: “Acharei mos, kedoshim, Emor” suggesting that after someone passes away, we sing their praises and overlook their faults. While people usually express this truism with cynicism, is it really as negative as it sounds? Some will say that it’s easy to see the positive in a person once they aren’t actively challenging our ego or harming us. But I think that it’s more than that. In general, we appreciate something when we no longer have it and can only look back and remember it. This is very evident in our current situation. It wouldn’t take long to come up with a list of things we only now realize how much we didn’t appreciate. Going to shul, meeting friends, getting together with family… the list goes on. It gives us an inkling to how it must have felt for the Yidden at the time of the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash. The change for them must have been devastating. Going from bringing Karbanos and seeing the Yad Hashem in everyday life, to being exiled and living with that new reality. Today, experiencing the pain of our temporary separation from our Shuls, our “Mikdash Miat”, we can start to imagine how it must have felt for them. Why do we need to be separated from it to feel appreciation? This question might sound funny, but is it even possible to appreciate something while we still have it? Even if we currently possess something and can indeed appreciate it, to do so most of us will recall an earlier time in which we didn’t have it or compare ourselves with someone who doesn’t have it. It would seem, though, that with humility one can appreciate something they’ve always had as well as everyone around them. When one feels humble and leaves space for others, then the things they have and even the breaths they take are appreciated and bring joy like an unexpected gift. Being humble allows us to thrive in life as well. It allows us to listen to others, to see life in a realistic way, and to be in touch with our truest, innermost self (not to be confused with our selfish side..). It says that like Moshe Rabbeinu, Mashiach will be extremely humble. He will learn with the avos and yet will relate to the simple person. Cultivating the middah of modestly might be another fine way to prepare for his arrival. Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos and joyous Lag B’Omer! Shalom
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
NEWS Global News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 National. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 That’s Odd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
The Baltimore Jewish Home is an independent bi-weekly newspaper. All opinions expressed by the journalists, contributors and/or advertisers printed and/or quoted herein are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, Internet or another medium. The Baltimore Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The BJH contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.
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"Crab" Cakes with Citrus Pear Slaw or Pulled Brisket Egg Rolls with Chili Sauce Creamy Spinach Stuffed Salmon with Green Beans and Rice Pilaf or 16oz Blackened Ribeye with Crispy Onions, Mashed Potatoes, and Green Beans House Made Strawberry Shortcake $55 per person Order at AccentsGrill.com 410-602-2224 Advanced Ordering Online for Pickup or Delivery on Sunday, May 10th
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Around the Community
Ruth Albert’s 101st Birthday with “Honk & Wave” Celebration By: Malka Frankel
N
ot many merit to celebrate their 101 birthday - yet on Sunday afternoon, Ruth Albert of Farringdon Road celebrated her special day in style- and with lots of noise!!
Baltimore, MD - May 4, 2020 Not many merit to celebrate their 101 birthday - yet on Sunday afternoon, Ruth Albert of Farringdon Road celebrated her special day in style- and with lots of noise!! Hundreds of cars from our community passed by her home, each car honking and calling out good wishes,
some waving signs, as Ruth sat on her front lawn waving back at all the passing cars like a celebrity. Two fire trucks with sirens ringing, an EMT vehicle and a yellow school bus joined the long procession of cars in honor of Ruth. Ruth told the WBAL reporter, present to film this occasion, that she was
so beyond touched - people who don’t even know her, came out to wish her a happy birthday and make her day special. This unique and memorable party was a complete surprise for Ruth. In fact, she had expected this year’s celebration to be quite quiet. Ha! This year was anything but!
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MAY 7, 2020
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
MAY 7, 2020
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
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Around the Community
MAY 7, 2020
Baltimore Community Participates In Virtual Siyum For Orthodox Union Semichas Chaver Program By: BJLife Newsroom BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn
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David Flamm 410-616-9186
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ore than 1,000 people, including a group from Baltimore, participated in the Orthodox Union’s Semichas Chaver Program’s (SCP) virtual siyum on Sunday celebrating the completion of Hilchos Shabbos. Participants joined from 54 different Jewish communities on five continents. The siyum featured keynote addresses from Rabbi Herschel Schachter and the Chief Rabbi of Yerushalayim Rabbi Shlomo Amar, who along with R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, are the guiding influence behind SCP. Founded in 2017 by Rav Elyada Goldwicht, the Semichas Chaver Program is an innovative, fast-paced and interactive halacha learning program crafted for the needs of the 21st century with a specialized focus on the practical meaning of halacha. Each shiur includes thought-provoking questions and a dedicated segment on the philosophical meaning behind the relevant topic. The 54 communities who participated include: Baltimore, MD; Phoenix, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; Boca Raton, FL; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Silver Spring, MD; Edison, NJ; Fair Lawn, NJ; Passaic, NJ; Springfield, NJ; Teaneck, NJ; Five Towns, NY; Manhattan, NY; Monsey, NY; Queens, NY; Washington Heights, NY; West Hempstead, NY; Memphis, TN; Edmonton, Canada; Montreal, Canada; Toronto, Canada;
Bnei Brak, Israel; Efrat, Israel; Maale Adumin, Israel; Petach Tikvah, Israel; Pisgat Zeev, Israel; Raanana, Israel; Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel; Rehovot, Israel; Yerushalayim, Israel; Santiago, Chile and London, UK. “The Semichas Chaver program is part of the OU’s broader effort to bring more learning opportunities into our community,” said Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane. “This program has made an indelible mark in our community and this siyum provided chizzuk during these difficult times. Watching Jews from all around the world join Sunday’s virtual siyum was truly remarkable.” “The community’s support of the Semichas Chaver Program has been overwhelming and to see this group of more than 1,000 talented men who have studied and mastered Hilchos Shabbos is inspiring,” said Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Allen Fagin. “These men dedicated many hours toward learning these important halachos and involved their families in their learning. During these difficult times, learning Torah together in a program like this brings us all together.” “It is incredible to see how even now, in these tumultuous times, SCP participants are so dedicated to Torah learning. Their commitment is having an amazing impact on not only themselves but on their entire family and extended community,” said Rav Elyada Goldwicht. “It is our hope to bring this program to even more Jewish communities around the world.”
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RUBY LASKER DESIGNS
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ISAAC YITZY
City Council
MAY 7, 2020
SCHLEIFER
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MAIL IN YOUR BALLOT BY JUNE 2ND!
The 2020 Primary election ballots will automatically be mailed to you!
How To Vote:
Please make sure to: fill it out with a black pen SIGN IT send it back in the envelope provided No postage necessary.
WWW.VOTESCHLEIFER.COM for more information call The Board of Elections 410-396-1444
By Authority of: Vote Schleifer, Hillel Soclof, Treasure
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EVERY SINGLE VOTE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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Around the Community
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
MAY 7, 2020
Three Republican Lawmakers Sue Hogan Over Stay At Home Order By: Staff Reporter BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn
T
hree Republican state lawmakers are among 18 plaintiffs suing Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in federal court, over the constitutionality of the state’s stay-at-home order and order banning gatherings of more than 10 people. The lawsuit was filed Saturday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. One of the lawmakers, Del. Dan Cox, says that he was threatened with arrest on Saturday morning, if he spoke at a ReOpen Maryland rally at the Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick, where the group was starting a road caravan across the state. In court papers, Cox argues that he was warned by a senior law enforcement official that the “Governor has his sights on you” and that if I attend, ride along and speak at the Reopen
Rally, I would potentially be arrested because certain individuals had indicated they may stop cars “and arrest you.” The suit claims Cox than called Hogan’s senior advisor Andrew Cassilly and Chief Counsel Mike Pedone “that if Del. Cox attends and speaks at the Reopen Rally he may be arrested.” Cox said he was threatened with arrest for violating the executive order where violators could face up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine. Cox declined comment on Saturday night, but talked about the incident in a Facebook post. In the post, Cox describes himself as a delegate who, “fought hard in my Judiciary Committee for the Governor’s legislative policies.” “However, the line of freedom that the Supreme Court has explained is sacred to our American values and our natural liberty, has been crossed.
On behalf of 22,000 Marylanders and millions who agree in this State, it’s past time Mr. Governor to lighten the heavy hand of your Executive Orders and stop picking winners and losers, and Reopen Maryland. Marylanders will not stand for continued house arrest and lock-downs and the destruction of our businesses and way of life.” The suit names Hogan, Health Secretary Bobby Neall, Deputy Health Secretary Fran Phillips and Maryland State Police Superintendent Col Woodrow “Jerry” Jones as plaintiffs. Del. Neil Parrott of Washington County and Del. Warren Miller of Carroll and Howard Counties are among the list of plaintiffs, who also include the owner of Adventure Park in New Market, the owner of the Antietam KOA Campground, two Iraq War veterans, and ten pastors. Parrott did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment, but he announced the suit in a news release. “Threatening a legislator with arrest for exercising his first amendment right to free speech is not only unconstitutional, it is wrong,” Parrott said in his news release. “Governor Hogan is trying his best and may have some good solutions, but even so, new laws like an edict ordering that masks must be worn need to come from the legislature, not the executive branch. I could not in good conscience sit idly by to watch our freedoms be taken away and to allow this to become precedent for future ‘emergencies’,” Parrott added. A spokesman for Hogan commented on the lawsuit on Saturday night.
“We fully respect Delegate Cox’s right to protest, but that doesn’t entitle him to make false and baseless claims,” Hogan communications director Mike Ricci told WBAL NewsRadio 1090 and FM 101.5. “The overwhelming majority of Marylanders don’t agree with him, and don’t know who he is.” Cox was due to address a group of protesters who were driving from Frederick to Salisbury. ReOpen Maryland had organized the protest. “We should’ve had the opportunity to adhere to certain rules and regulations rather than be shut down,” James Knowles, a Queen Anne’s resident, told The Baltimore Sun during a lunch stop in Kent Island during Saturday’s protest. Protesters made several stops as they drove across I-70, the Baltimore Beltway, I-97 and U.S. Route 50. Group members pledged to follow social distancing guidelines by remaining in their cars, but many did not. Jeff Hulbert, the founder of Patriot Picket, a pro-Second Amendment group, said responsibility for defending against the virus should be on individuals, not the government. “What Governor Hogan should be doing is setting the guidelines and the guardrails, then we put on our personal protective equipment, we go to work, we go shopping, we go out to meet with friends, but we use our personal responsibility to take care of our own lives.”
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Around the Community
Kashrus in the Age of Corona By: Margie Pensak
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
MAY 7, 2020
BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn
K
ashrus is a very handson profession. There are factories to visit, cows to shecht, and lettuce to check. When travel restrictions are in place and mere proximity bears risk, how is it possible to maintain kosher supervision? STAR-K Kashrus Administrator Rabbi Chananya Jacobson sheds light on the topic. “STAR-K felt the effects of coronavirus well before it struck the United States. The mashgichim who staff the Far East were called back to their home bases in Israel and the U.S. as hundreds of manufacturers in China closed in January for the Chinese New Year, with no plans to reopen. Fear of COVID-19 overtook the world, and in many places, foreigners were no longer welcome.”
One STAR-K mashgiach, who had been living peacefully in India for several months with his family, relates Rabbi Jacobson, decided it was time to leave his home there when his wife was accosted in the marketplace by people pointing at her accusingly and shouting, “Coronavirus! Coronavirus!” Another senior mashgiach managed to leave Spain only 12 hours ahead of a countrywide travel lockdown and cessation of all air travel. All were faced with weeks of quarantine upon returning home. Kashrus Standards Still Essential, Despite Non-Essential Travel “STAR-K is working with other major kashrus organizations to keep the kosher food supply chain uninterrupted and provide food manufacturers and consumers with the information they need during this pandemic,”
Benjamin Jessurun 410-443-0771 bjessurun@allstate.com
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reassures Rabbi Jacobson. “Every facility under our supervision has been notified that kosher standards cannot be lowered in the face of COVID-19. Since non-essential travel is prohibited in many locales, STAR-K has worked with Agudath Israel of America and local governments to ensure that kosher service is recognized as essential and has provided the documentation needed for mashgichim to travel.” Many factories are located in regions closed to outside travelers. International borders are still closed and interstate commerce is severely restricted. Even in accessible regions, factories are reluctant to allow outside visitors due to the devastating effects of the virus. For productions requiring hashgocha temidis (such as kosher runs in otherwise non-kosher plants), STAR-K has often been able to gain access to a plant by explaining that, unlike other inspections, kosher supervision is part of the production process. However, in plants that are inaccessible, special kosher productions have been canceled for now, and certification may need to be suspended for factories that require frequent visits to ensure that kosher standards are upheld. “In all areas, STAR-K is working with its clients to find ways to inspect their facilities while minimizing risks,” notes Rabbi Jacobson. In food service facilities, kashrus requires that mashgichim work handson in the kitchen. STAR-K Kashrus Administrator Rabbi Sholom Tendler, delivered a webinar instructing mashgichim regarding the extra caution necessary during these times. Despite shortages, he provided personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and N95 masks.
STAR-K’s Consumer Education Mission Continues Even in Quarantine This year, people found themselves unexpectedly making Pesach at home, many of them for the first time, and in need of halachic guidance. Consumers have always turned to the STAR-K Kosher Hotline in the weeks leading up to Pesach, typically placing thousands of calls to the STAR-K office during that time; but this year STAR-K’s office was closed. As the stay-at-home order took effect, the agency’s dedicated technical support team created a virtual office so that every question would still be answered. From their individual homes, the front office, database staff and rabbonim were able to answer an unprecedented number of queries including thousands of emails and nearly 12,500 phone calls between Purim and Pesach! STAR-K also broadcasted special COVID-19-focused shiurim and webinars to educate people about Hilchos Pesach, and since social distancing protocols prohibited the in-person selling of chometz to rabbonim, it developed a website so it could be sold online. The transaction was made legally binding using DocuSign technology. Rabbanim across America then followed suit, implementing similar initiatives in their own communities. Going Forward STAR-K’s Rav HaMachshir, Rav Moshe Heinemann, shlit”a, remarks, “With the many precautions and restrictions being put in place in all areas of food production, including kosher supervision, it is easy to understand that there may be a reduction in supply. Maybe among all the other messages being sent to us by הקב"ה through this virus is that we can and should be מסתפק במועטand be happy and grateful with a little less. The רבונו של עולם, in his mercy, will see that we are all trying and will put an end to this מגפהand see with נחתthat, even then, we will try to continue to be מסתפק במועטin so many areas of our lives. Needless to say, we are grateful and appreciative for the understanding and patience from the companies and the consumers with whom STAR-K shares a strong relationship, ותבא עליכם ברכה.”
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Dovid Weingot
Tell us about yourself? I’m the proud husband of Rivka (Frank) Weingot, and father of four incredible kids, BH. I was born in Baltimore and had a brief stint in Cleveland and Pittsburgh. I’m one of the founding members of Shomrim and Chaverim of Baltimore. I’m also a former volunteer of Magen David Adom in Eretz Yisroel. I What Local organizations are you enjoy travel and the outdoors, and involved with? This really needs to be answered can be found hiking, fishing, biktogether with the next question. I am ing, or anywhere there’s a palm tree. the owner of DMAC Security, a full spectrum security firm, providing seHow did you end up in Baltimore? I was born in Baltimore. We curity consulting, armed and unarmed moved when I was 3 and returned security services, as well as a technolat age 13. A year after we got mar- ogy division. Although the majority of ried, we moved to Olney, MD for my business is outside the community; five years, where we helped build the the schools, shuls, and overall safety community and develop long lasting of my community is where I have a relationships. As our kids got older, very hands on approach. My profeswe knew we wanted to raise them in sional world has enabled me to use my Baltimore close to family and where background in volunteering and emergency response/management experiwe grew up.
ence, to contribute to many projects that I am passionate about, that benefit our community. I am honored to use my law enforcement relationships on a state and federal level to aid in the security of our schools, shuls, and to combat the rise in anti-semitism. I have also presented to the Chief of Police Associations of Maryland on these topics as well as cultivating long term relationships with those that devote their lives to our safety. What do you do for a living? As mentioned, my primary professional involvement is my security firm. I thrive on building connections and strive for a win-win themed lifestyle hoping to always please by boss (The one above), and enjoy the process. My wife is the founder of the widely popular Driven Day planner, a Jewish woman’s planner & lifestyle. We see your company put up camera towers around the community, tell us more about them and if it’s been helpful? Vision Detection Systems is an affiliate of DMAC, a brainchild together with Joe Kruk, another local business man who happens to also be married
to my sister, Yehudis. We combined his technical experience in engineering, his knowledge of literally EVERYTHING, and our shared business expertise to benefit public safety. We are currently operating a large fleet across the east coast. Most recently, as part of our community safety initiative, one of our trailers, which is deployed to the corner of Fallstaff and Clark, captured a hit and run involving two vehicles. The footage was sent to Baltimore City Police and an arrest was made. This is just one of many success stories we have seen. So I’d say yeah, it has been helpful. Anything else you’d like to share with our 10,000+ readers? Epstein didn’t kill himself! As an ongoing passion project - I am undergoing intense K9 Search & Rescue training with the ultimate goal of saving lives together with my four legged partner “Remi”, a Belgian Malinois, which has been training since 8 weeks old. We have 2 additional K9 teams training in explosives detection that will work on large event details and provide critical resources to law enforcement partners for a variety of bomb threat incidents.
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What do you love most about the Baltimore Jewish Community? Baltimore is currently one of the fastest growing Jewish communities. This is due in large part to unique individuals that are big picture thinkers, leveraging skills and talent that have been within the community, which makes a huge impact. People want to be a part of the growth. They see tremendous opportunity here, myself included. Having grown up in the community, it is awesome to see the amount of shuls, schools, big chessed initiatives, as well as many business developments of every size.
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The Week In News
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The Week In News
Failed Coup in Venezuela
A bizarre plot hatched by an exU.S. special forces commando attempted to oust Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro’s with only a few hundred volunteer troops. First reported by the Associated
Press last week, the would-be coup was the brainchild of former Green Beret Jordan Goudreau. A Bronze Star recipient who served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Goudreau wanted to invade Venezuela from Colombia with the 300 volunteer troops he recruited. The troops would have raided a slew of Venezuelan military bases using the commando tactics Goudreau honed during his military service. The attacks were supposed to spark a mass rebellion throughout Venezuela that would have toppled the Maduro regime. According to the report, Goudreau spoke of his close ties to President Donald Trump and gave his soldiers the impression that they were being supported by the United States. Often, Goudreau regaled subordinates with stories of how he would lead an assault on Maduro’s palace using attack helicopters. Joining Goudreau was Cliver Alcalá, a former Venezuelan military officer and suspected drug trafficker. Alcalá was tasked with recruiting dis-
gruntled deserters from the Venezuelan army and for providing weapons and supplies. The band of ragtag troops began training in three camps in Columbia in early 2020. Then, everything collapsed after one of the volunteer troops was nabbed by Venezuelan police while attempting to infiltrate the border. A short while later, Columbian agents impounded a shipment of weapons headed for the soldiers, including hundreds of telescopic rifle scopes, night vision goggles, communications gear, and assault rifles. When it became clear that the would-be coup was dead, the remaining troops fled the jungle to be with their loved ones during the coronavirus epidemic. Others were arrested by Columbian police and now face lengthy prison sentences. Now, many are asking why anyone ever thought that the plot had a chance at success. “You’re not going to take out Maduro with 300 hungry, untrained men,” former Navy SEAL Ephraim Mattos told the Associated Press. “There was no chance they
were going to succeed without direct U.S. military intervention.”
Global Coronavirus Vaccine Conference
A pledging marathon was launched on Monday to raise at least $8 billion for research towards a vaccine and treatments for the coronavirus. The conference was organized by the European Union, Britain, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Canada. China was only represented by its ambassador to
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The Week In News the European Union. Noticeably absent from the event was the United States, with the list of speakers not including any U.S. officials. The United States has the world’s most confirmed cases of coronavirus and remains a major donor to the United Nations and U.N. bodies. “We support this pledging effort by the EU. It is one of many pledging efforts that are going on and the United States is at the forefront,” said a senior U.S. administration official, who did not elaborate as to why the U.S. was not participating. President Donald Trump had said on April 15 that he would suspend funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), whose director general addressed the conference, over its handling of the pandemic. “It is a pity the U.S. is not a part of it. When you are in a crisis, you manage it and you do it jointly with others,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg in an interview with Reuters. She pledged $1 billion towards the distribution of any vaccine developed against coronavirus, as well as for vaccines against other diseases. EU officials said pharmaceutical companies that will receive the funding should commit to making the new vaccine and treatments readily available and affordable. The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, a U.N.-backed body focusing on health crises, estimated at least $3 billion towards development and manufacture of the vaccine, $2.25 billion to develop antiviral treatments, $750 million for testing kits, and $750 million to stockpile protective equipment including face masks. The remaining $1.25 billion included in the initial funding goal would go to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the most
vulnerable countries. “I believe the fourth of May will mark a turning point in our fight against coronavirus because today the world is coming together,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, upon pledging 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) at the start of the event. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, himself having recovered from the coronavirus, said the search for a vaccine was “the most urgent shared endeavor of our lifetime.”
Canada Bans Assault Weapons
Following a deadly shooting in Nova Scotia last month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled a sweeping new assault weapon ban outlawing more than 1,500 different firearm models in the country. In a statement, Trudeau contended that “weapons of war” had no place on Canada’s streets. “Because of gun violence, people are dying, families are grieving, and communities are suffering,” the Canadian leader said. “It must end. Assault-style firearms designed for military use have no place in Canada. By removing them from our streets, we will limit
the devastating effects of gun-related violence and help make our country safer.” The ban forbids the “1,500 models and variants” from being purchased, sold, and imported. This includes the popular AR-15, a semiautomatic modeled after the military-grade M-16 and M-4. The ban will only take effect in 2022 as “to protect owners of newly prohibited firearms from criminal liability while they take steps to comply with these new rules.” The new gun ban will not apply to certain Indian tribes that use them for hunting. Trudeau also said that he will attempt to pass legislation allowing a gun buyback program from those who possess the said firearms. The gun ban comes after Gabrial Wortman killed 22 people in a mass shooting spree in April that spanned six cities. The shooting was the worst in Canada’s history and shocked a nation already reeling from the coronavirus pandemic.
Egypt Destroyed Thousands of Gaza Tunnels
ment took a decision to establish a buffer zone along the border [with the Gaza Strip],” said Refrai. “These tunnels were used to threaten Egypt’s national security, including the infiltration of terrorists, smuggling of weapons, ammunition, goods, narcotic drugs and vehicles.” Refai added that a recent counterinsurgency campaign by the Egyptian military resulted in 126 militants killed and 228 bunkers destroyed, as well as 116 jeeps. Another 266 suspects were detained. After suffering heavy losses in their battle against ISIS in 2014, the Egyptian Army decided to establish a buffer zone with the Gaza Strip. Extending 14 kilometers from the Hamas-run territory and including a 500-meter trench, the measure aimed at stopping the flood of weapons and jihadists into the Sinai Desert. Ever since, ISIS and Islamic Jihad have concentrated on tunneling under the length of the buffer zone in order to resupply militants with food and weapons. These efforts are frequently detonated by the Egyptian Army, which deploys special units tasked with uncovering them. “The [Egyptian] armed forces are working round the clock to combat terrorism and secure our borders,” said Refai. “We have scored many achievements on the ground, including the destruction of the terror infrastructure.”
Fatal Clashes with ISIS in Iraq Egyptian Army Spokesperson Tamer Refai revealed that Egypt has destroyed over 3,000 tunnels on the Gaza border over the past five years. Speaking with an Egyptian television channel this past week, Refai said that the military decided to destroy the thousands of illegal tunnels snaking under the border into Gaza after determining that they posed a security threat. According to the officer, radical Islamists in the Sinai Desert would utilize such tunnels to smuggle in weapons and other contraband that would later be turned against Egyptian troops. “In 2015, the [Egyptian] govern-
At least ten members of the Iranian backed Population Mobilization Units (PMU) were killed during a clash with the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq’s Salahuddin province. The PMU fighters are said to have been killed during a firefight on Saturday with ISIS near the towns of Mekeeshfa and Balad. The PMU confirmed in a statement that it had “lost 10 members, while several others were wounded in clashes between the two sides.” Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Iraq’s incoming prime minister, condemned the bloodshed. “The operation carried out by the criminal terrorist groups represents a
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The Week In News desperate attempt to exploit the situation of political rivalry that hinders the formation of the government to carry out its national duty of ensuring the security of citizens,” he said in a statement. Backed by Iran, the largely Shi’ite PMU has been locked in a series of gun battles with the Sunni ISIS in recent weeks throughout Iraq. The violence comes despite Iraq declaring that it had liberated its territory from the terror group, which was thought to be on the verge of collapsing after U.S. troops killed its leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. The attack was the biggest battle between ISIS and the PMU since 2017 and is part of a recent wave of ISIS attacks. Since April, raids and bombings by ISIS have more than doubled compared to last year in what observers say is an attempt to regain momentum amid a U.S. troops withdrawal. “This was a well-organized attack; something of this scale hasn’t been seen at all for two years,” ISIS expert Sajad Jiyad told Al Jazeera. “It’s worrying for Iraq that so many of the Iraqi security forces, including PMF fighters, were killed. It is a reminder that Iraq needs constant counter-terrorism efforts and support from the coalition in terms of surveillance and logistical or air support. “The existing protest movement and their preparation to revolt again following the COVID-19 pandemic gives ISIS an opportunity as the government will be facing two fronts: the protesters in the capital and southern provinces and ISIL around the western and northern fronts.”
Was Virus Manufactured in a Lab? China’s state media vehemently rejected claims by the Trump Administration that the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan bioweapons lab. According to the Global Times, recent accusations by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were “groundless,” adding that he had “no evidence” to back up his claims.
Germany Bans Hezbollah Terror Group “Since Pompeo said his claims are supported by ‘enormous evidence,’ then he should present this so-called evidence to the world, and especially to the American public who he continually tries to fool,” wrote the newspaper. “The truth is that Pompeo does not have any evidence, and during Sunday’s interview, he was bluffing.” Pompeo had alleged on Sunday that the coronavirus came from a laboratory rather than from a Chinese exotic food market as commonly thought. “There’s enormous evidence that that’s where this began. We’ve said from the beginning that this was a virus that originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot of grief for that from the outset. But I think the whole world can see now,” Pompeo told ABC News’ “This Week.” Pompeo’s comments were echoed by President Trump, who said in an interview with Fox News on Sunday that he had “no doubt” that China has misled the world about the origins of the coronavirus. “We’re going to be giving a very strong report as to exactly what we think happened. And I think it will be very conclusive,” Trump said. “My opinion is they made a mistake. They tried to cover it. They tried to put it out, just like a fire.” Beijing and Washington have traded barbs in recent weeks regarding who is at fault for the global pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands worldwide. Earlier this year, China accused U.S. troops of spreading the coronavirus, while Trump administration officials alleged that China covered up the pandemic after the first breakout in Wuhan. Last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang blasted “American politicians” for misleading the world about the truth regarding the pandemic. “They have only one objective: to try to shirk responsibility for their own epidemic and prevention and control measures and divert public attention,” he said.
“Hezbollah is a terrorist organization deemed responsible for numerous attacks and kidnappings worldwide,” Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said.
Will Daniel Pearl’s Killers Go Free?
Tehran blasted Germany after it recently classified the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia as a terror organization for the first time. Berlin banned Hezbollah’s political and military wings last Friday following years of lobbying by the Israeli government. Reacting for the first time to the ban on Monday, Iran alleged that Germany was forced into doing so due to the “historic debt to the Zionists” it carries from the Holocaust. “We have a feeling that the Germans seem to have a historic debt to the Zionists, that they are paying it off, they do not realize that the whole world and the Muslims could react,” said Abbas Moussavi. Predicting that the ban on Hezbollah “will only cause problems,” Mousavi insisted that Hezbollah is “a powerful and legitimate party represented in the Lebanese government and parliament.” Noting that German police had raided several mosques that were affiliated with Hezbollah, Mousavi said that “it is not appropriate to attack all Muslims if they feel a group of them are doing something illegal, which we don’t see as such.” While the U.S., Canada, and the Netherlands, and Bahrain designate Hezbollah as a terror group, Germany had classified only its military wing as such until last Friday. According to reports, the change came after Israel’s Mossad spy agency passed their German counterparts intelligence on Hezbollah’s vast operations across the country, including locations of weapons storehouses. Immediately after the decision became official, police swooped down on mosques and Islamic cultural centers all across Germany that were connected to Hezbollah and arrested dozens of activists.
The parents of murdered journalist Danial Pearl appealed to the Pakistani Supreme Court in an attempt to prevent the early release of the men who killed their son. Pearl was abducted and killed in 2001 by four Pakistani men over his Jewish faith. The terrorists had their sentence commuted in April by a Pakistani court despite international protests. Now, Pearl’s parents have launched a last-ditch effort to prevent Daniel’s killers from going free. “We have filed an appeal of this decision to the Pakistan Supreme Court,” announced Judea Pearl. “We are standing up for justice not only for our son, but for all our dear friends in Pakistan so they can live in a society free of violence and terror and raise their children in peace and harmony.” The appeal was endorsed by the Committee to Protect Journalists, which said in a statement that freeing the men “would only add to the threats facing journalists in Pakistan and deepen Pakistan’s reputation as a haven for terrorists.” The Wall Street Journal’s South Asia bureau chief, Pearl was killed while investigating Islamic terror groups in 2002. A graphic video of his beheading was later broadcast on CNN, horrifying the global audience. Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British citizen originally from Pakistan, was later convicted for the murder and sentenced to death along with three others. However, their sentences were commuted last month due to lack of evidence by a Karachi court.
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The Week In News
High Court to Hear PM Controversy
Israel’s High Court of Justice began a closely anticipated hearing on Sunday regarding a petition that seeks to disqualify Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from continuing as Israel’s highest elected official. After an unprecedented three rounds of elections this year, Netanyahu is close to continuing his record 12 years at Israel’s helm. With the Likud and Kahol Lavan agreeing on a national unity government, Netanyahu is set to remain as prime minister for the next 18 months, after which he will be replaced by Benny Gantz. Yet a slew of nonprofits petitioned the court against the potential coalition, arguing that it is unreasonable for President Reuven Rivlin to task Netanyahu to form a government due to his upcoming criminal trial. Netanyahu had been indicted on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate investigations titled “Cases 1000,” “2000,” and “3000.” Presiding over the hearing was an expanded panel of 11 justices led by High Court President Esther Hayut. Broadcast live for the first time ever, the judges have the ability to end Netanyahu’s long political career. Noting that Israel’s semi-constitutional Basic Laws explicitly permit a lawmaker under indictment to form a coalition, Hayut demanded that the petitioners explain under what legal basis was Netanyahu prevented from continuing as prime minister. “Show us something! A law! A verdict! From this country’s history!
From [somewhere else] in the world! Something!” Hayut said. “After all, [you’re asking us to set] a global precedent. You want us to rule without a basis simply according to your personal opinion?” Meanwhile, attorneys representing Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Likud party maintained that the court had no jurisdiction to rule on the case. Noting that Israelis elected Netanyahu no less than three times this year, the jurists argued that disqualifying him would gut the essence of the country’s democracy. Electing a prime minister “is a constitutional process, not an administrative one. It’s inappropriate for the court to intervene in the constitutional judgment of the people and the members of Knesset,” declared one Likud lawyer. Netanyahu’s personal attorney Michael Ravilo added that “it would have been better” had the justices refused to meddle “in these political issues.”
Israel Hits Syria in Daytime Raid
Israel attacked a slew of targets on the Syrian border last week in what observers say is a rare daytime attack. According to Syria’s Sana news agency, Israeli helicopters attacked targets in southern Syria on Friday night in the southern city of Kuneitra. Initial reports spoke of “limited” damage. The air assault came a few hours after another reported Israeli air raid in the city of Homs destroyed an Iranian ammunition dump and weapons warehouses. Pictures of the scene of the attack that later surfaced on social media showed total devastation, with the Is-
raeli bombing setting off the ammunition that was housed inside. The attack notably happened during the daylight hours, a rare occurrence due to Israel’s desire to maintain plausible deniability. Syrian military officials denied that the explosions in Homs were the result of an Israeli attack and attributed the detonations to “human error.” However, Israeli defense correspondents quoted an unnamed IDF officer who said that the bombings were part of Israel’s campaign to prevent Iran from obtaining “game-changing” advanced weaponry that could threaten the Jewish State. Assuming that the IDF is busy fighting the coronavirus, Iran is said to have stepped up its arms transfers to Hezbollah in recent weeks. As a result, Israel has accelerated its bombing campaign after almost two months of quiet. Last Monday, Syrian air defense systems intercepted what it called “hostile targets” over the capital of Damascus. According to Arab media reports, Syrian anti-aircraft batteries intercepted dozens of missiles fired by Israeli warplanes near the Lebanese border. The attacks are said to have killed three civilians in the town of Al-Hajirra. In another attack last week near the city of Tadmor, Israeli fighter jets bombed a military base utilized by Iranian forces to receive weapons flown in from Iraq. Satellite photos taken after the attack showed a runway and two warehouses completely destroyed.
The rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, reminded worshipers that, according to Jewish law, those who have not seen the Kotel in the past 30 days should tear their clothing and say “Beis kadsheinu vesifarteinu asher haleluch bah avoseinu haysa lesreifas eish vechaol machaneinu haysa lecharva” – “Our holy Temple, our pride, Where our fathers praised You, Has been consumed by fire: And all that was dear to us is ruined.”
FDA Approves Remdesivir Drug to Treat Coronavirus
Kotel Reopens On Tuesday, Jews were able to pray at the Kotel, as the Western Wall plaza reopened to visitors after weeks of lockdown. Those entering the plaza need to have their temperature checks and their personal details recorded before entering. They are also asked to wear masks and keep social distancing guidelines. Only 300 people will be allowed into the plaza at one time and minyanim will be split into different areas.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved using the drug Remdesivir to treat coronavirus patients in emergency situations. The approval allows doctors to give the drug to both children and adults infected with the coronavirus, including those on a ventilator. How-
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The Week In News ever, it is only allowed for those who are seriously ill and does not include formal approval. “Given there are no adequate, approved, or available alternative treatments, the known and potential benefits to treat this serious or life-threatening virus currently outweigh the known and potential risks of the drug’s use,” said the FDA. The news was announced in a White House press conference on Friday with President Donald Trump, FDA head Dr. Stephen Hahn, and the CEO of Gilead Sciences, which makes the drug. Gilead Sciences said that it would produce 1.5 million free doses of the drug to assist in the fight against the disease that has already killed more than 50,000 Americans. “I’m pleased to announce that Gilead now has an EUA from the FDA for Remdesivir,” Trump said, calling it “an important treatment for hospitalized coronavirus patients.” Originally developed to treat Ebola, Remdesivir is described by Gilead as a “nucleotide analog with broad-spectrum antiviral activity.” The FDA’s decision came after clinical trials showed the drug causing significant improvement in patients suffering from the advanced stages of the coronavirus. Results showed that the 1,000 patients who were treated with Remdesivir recovered from the deadly disease in 11 days as opposed to the 15 days for those given a placebo. While cautioning that Remdesivir is “not the magic bullet,” Dr. Anthony Fauci told reporters that the data showed that the drug causes a “clearcut, significant, positive effect in di-
minishing the time to recovery.”
Anchorage Airport World’s Busiest
With international aviation having ground to a standstill due to the coronavirus, a small airport in Alaska now holds the title as the world’s busiest. During normal times, the world’s busiest air hubs are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, LAX in Los Angeles, Tokyo Haneda Airport, and Dubai International. With hundreds of daily flights, each one of the aforementioned airports commonly see hundreds of millions of passengers each year. Then came the coronavirus. With passengers afraid to fly overseas and the pandemic causing a global economic meltdown, air traffic has dried up. With the majority of international air travel shifting towards freight over the past three months, Alaska’s Ted Stevens Anchorage Airport became the world’s busiest air hub for the first time in its 69-year history. Last Tuesday, it became official. Despite being located in a city housing only 291,538 residents, the far-
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flung airport saw more air traffic than any other hub on the planet, beating out behemoths such as LAX and Hong Kong International. “On Saturday [April 25], ANC was the world’s busiest airport for aircraft operations,” Anchorage Airport celebrated in a tweet. “This points to how significantly the global aviation system has changed and highlights the significance of our role in the global economy and fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.” Yet coming in first doesn’t mean that Alaska has catapulted into a popular tourist destination. Rather, the high volume of cargo flights it processes allowed it to nab the world’s top spot as travel elsewhere plummeted. The airport is a popular conduit for planes flying in goods from Asia due to its relatively short distance from global manufacturing centers in China and Indonesia.
Murder Hornets Come to U.S.
For larger targets, the hornet’s stinger is long enough to puncture a beekeeping suit, and its venom is toxic; a series of stings can be fatal. Their queens can grow to two inches long, and can fly many miles a day, at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. Jun-ichi Takahashi, a researcher at Kyoto Sangyo University in Japan, said the species earned its nickname due to aggressive group attacks that expose victims to doses of venom equivalent to that of a venomous snake. Looney reported plans to place hundreds of traps in the coming months. If a hornet does get caught in a trap, he stated that it may be possible to utilize radio-frequency identification tags to monitor where it goes — or simply to attach a small streamer and then follow the hornet as it returns to its nest. While most bees would be unable to fly with a disruptive marker attached, the Asian giant hornet is big enough that this wouldn’t present an issue. The temperature inside a nest of Asian giant hornets can reach up to 86 degrees, so trackers are also exploring using thermal imaging to examine the forest floors.
SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas Speaks Up In Japan, the Asian giant hornet kills up to 50 people a year. For the first time, the insect has made an appearance in the United States, following the discovery of two last fall in Washington State. Worried that the species could wipe out local bee populations, scientists have embarked on a full-scale hunt. “This is our window to keep it from establishing,” said Chris Looney, an entomologist at the Washington State Department of Agriculture. “If we can’t do it in the next couple of years, it probably can’t be done.” Asian giant hornets can decimate a honeybee hive in a matter of hours, decapitating the bees and flying away with the thoraxes to feed their young.
Notoriously quiet Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas asked questions during the court’s remote oral arguments on Monday, only his third time speaking during the sessions in over a decade. “Could Booking acquire an 800 number that’s a vanity number, 1-800-booking for example, that is similar to 1-800-plumbing, which is
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We will get through this crisis because of the collective efforts of many. Then, we will have time to reflect on this experience. Undoubtedly, this moment will be seen as the onset of a sea change in how we receive medical care. I am committed to working with health care providers, policy makers, and most importantly, the public, as we continue to consider this critical issue.
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We recognized that virtual house calls are the future of medicine. Telehealth helps Marylanders who face everyday challenges in getting to their health care provider’s office. Little did we envision when we were drafting our bill how critical this legislation would become, with the explosion of the corona virus and its resulting quarantines and social distancing.
staiman.com
Long before the General Assembly session began in January, I was doing the research, legwork, and negotiations to introduce House Bill 448, which vastly advances the cause of telehealth.
The new law is beginning to work. More health care providers are caring for patients through telehealth. Marylanders can remain safe at home and still obtain needed health care services. Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurers are supporting this effort by reimbursing for telehealth services during the COVID-19 emergency.
staiman.com
THE 21ST CENTURY VERSION OF DOCTORS’ HOUSE CALLS
The Week In News a registered mark?” Thomas asked the U.S. government’s lawyer, Erica Ross, via audio teleconferencing in a case regarding whether Booking.com could trademark its namesake. After Ross’ response, Thomas continued, “That could be true, but I’d like you to compare this to Goodyear,” referring to a past case. “In Goodyear, you had a generic term, but you also had an added term, such as company or inc, which any company could use. With Booking here, there could only be one domain address dot com, so this would seem to be more analogous to the 1-800 numbers which are also individualized.” Under normal circumstances, lawyers for each side make their case for several minutes before the justices begin questioning them in no particular order. Yet with the new procedures for the remote oral arguments, lawyers have two minutes to open their arguments before justices ask their questions in order of seniority, beginning with Chief Justice John Roberts and ending with newest Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Thomas, who normally has the opportunity to listen to his colleagues’ questions, is the second-most senior justice and so was able to ask his questions after only Roberts. Each justice had the opportunity to ask about two questions to each lawyer, and most justices who questioned Ross on the government’s case seemed suspicious of the claim that “Booking.com” is not eligible to be trademarked. Thomas last asked a question back in March 2019, in a case involving a Mississippi death row inmate, Curtis
Flowers, who was tried six different times for the 1996 murders of four people in a furniture store. Prior to that, Thomas asked one question in 2016, a decade since the last time he had chimed in during oral arguments.
Bad Dad Jokes
You know those jokes your dad makes that make you groan but really laugh a little inside? Darcy Schruben knows them all too well. Her father has been going public with his jokes and is eliciting laugher and groans throughout the town. Each day Tom Schruben inscribes a joke on a whiteboard on their lawn. Entitled: “BAD DAD JOKES,” the joke varies day to day. “Hold on — I have something in
my shoe! I’m pretty sure it’s a foot” was the joke on the first day. The joke initiative started when Ann Schruben noticed that her husband, Tom, was a bit grumpy staying at home. Tom generally loves to joke – Darcy actually bought him a book of “exceptionally bad dad jokes” as a present one year. The first day, after Tom heard his first chuckle from outside, he was determined to continue the laughter legacy. The next day he woke up at 7 a.m. and scribbled his second bad dad joke: “Without geometry, life is pointless.” Soon, he heard people laughing as they walked by his home, along a creek on the edge of Rock Creek Park. Some called out to Tom and told him how much they liked the jokes. Others stayed for a socially distanced chat. A spring returned to Tom’s step. Each morning since, he’s put out a new joke. “It surprised me how much it made my mood better,” said Tom, 62. “I don’t really know why, I guess I feel like I’m contributing a little bit to other people’s happiness.” On day #3 “What do you call a cow with no legs?” was written on the board. “Ground beef” was the answer listed below. “What do you call a bear with no teeth?” he wrote on day #4. A gummy bear. Groan.
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This week, police in Utah pulled over a driver for driving erratically. Turns out that the driver was heading to California and intended to purchase a Lamborghini there. But that wasn’t why he was driving so fast. It was because of his age – the driver was a mere 5 years old. The boy somehow made his way onto the freeway in his parents’ car. A statement by the highway patrol noted that purchasing a luxury car might not have been in the cards for this kid. “He might have been
short on the purchase amount, as he only had $3 dollars in his wallet,” the statement said. The boy was sitting on the edge of his seat to reach the brake pedal, the trooper said. “How old are you? You’re 5 years old?” Trooper Morgan asked the boy. “Wow, okay. Where did you learn how to drive a car?” Eventually the boy’s parents came to pick him up. No doubt he’ll be losing his car privileges for a while.
Eel Chatting
Eels have been taking social distancing especially hard. An aquarium in Japan is asking members of the public to video chat with its eels to keep the sea creatures accustomed to humans during the coronavirus lockdown. The Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo, which is home to about 300 spotted garden eels, said the ocean creatures had grown accustomed to the presence of humans peering into their tanks, but since the aquarium closed the eels have started to become more skittish. “It seems like the spotted garden eels are getting used to a non-human environment and have forgotten about people. When the staff pass in front of them, they start hiding in the sand,” the aquarium said in a statement on its website. The facility announced it is holding a “face-showing festival” for members of the public to use FaceTime on Apple devices to video conference with the eels on screens set up around the tanks. We hope that our spotted garden eels will start remembering human beings,” the aquarium said. “We also do hope that we can offer something
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good and useful for your stay-home period.” Eee-nteresting.
Snooze News Americans love to sleep – and it’s hard for them to get out of bed. According to a survey of 2,000 Americans, 49 percent of Americans say that they are just too cozy in their beds to get out of them on time in the morning.
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Want to know what they trust to
wake up on time? Around a quarter of Americans still use old-fashioned alarm clocks to let them know that it’s time to wake up – and many of them hit the snooze button twice before rolling out of bed an average of 24 minutes after the first alarm. And in order to combat these groggy, snoozing habits, respondents said they change their alarm times an average of 38 times a year. So how do you change things up so you can hop out of bed in the morning? Waking up seems to be easier when there’s something exciting happening that day or if it’s a sunny, inviting day. A morning routine also helps to motivate Americans to get up in the morning. Running short on time in the morning will make Americans skip making their beds, preparing breakfast, or downing their favorite cup of joe. Doing their hair, though, rarely is something Americans skip – they’re
more likely to forgo brushing their teeth than doing their hair. Priorities.
Three Times Not a Charm
Officers in Los Angeles County arrested and released a suspect three times in one day after he was repeatedly let go based on the zero-bail policy that California has put into effect due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday, officers respond-
ed to a call of a man attempting to break into a vehicle. Dijon Landrum, 24, was arrested and then released by police. About an hour later, the police department said it received a call about a man taking items from residences’ front yards. Landrum was found in possession of stolen items, was arrested, and then released. Later that night, a car was reported stolen out of a parking lot. Police found the vehicle with Landrum in it. He was arrested and then released once again. In early April, California’s Judicial Council temporarily set bail at zero for most misdemeanors and lower-level felonies to reduce jail populations and limit the spread of COVID-19 during the coronavirus pandemic. Glendora Police Department officials said they were acting in accordance with the policy. How comforting.
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It’s Not Fair! By Rabbi Zvi Teichman
So much death. So much illness. So much frustration. So much financial insecurity. So much anxiety over what possibly awaits us up ahead. A year ago I wrote an essay, in a different forum, based on a remarkable insight from the Holy Ishbitzer as recorded in his seminal work, Mei HaShiloach, that is almost prophetic in its precise relevance to every facet of our current state. I share it here in the hope that you will be as uplifted as I was, and that it will inspire us to deal effectively with the great challenges we face.
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Life is filled with disappointment. Inevitably we each face loss of loved ones during our sojourn on this earth. We often must deal with the difficulties of infirmity or injury. The sudden twists and turns in daily life that disrupt our carefully organized plans and expectations certainly dampen our joy and sense of security on a regular basis. Financial struggle and loss too, is a recurring challenge. Even when life seems to be ‘traveling along’ fairly, the anxieties over when will the ‘ax finally fall’ on our party, permeate our sense of equilibrium constantly. These trials in life prod frustration and doubt, leading us to question G-d’s interest in us at best, or His very existence at worst. Even those who remain steadfast in their faith often detour into dangerous self-recrimination and lack of self-worth, descending into depression and despair. The Holy Izhbitzer fascinatingly observes how the first five subjects discussed in our portion reflect direct-
ly upon these daily stressors.
the face’? It’s not fair!
A kohen despite his noble calling must deal with the loss of those relatives closest to him. His personal trauma is intensified as he generally must keep away from contact with the dead, with this being his first encounter ‘face to face’ with death. The Kohen Gadol has an additional challenge as he must refrain not only from contact with his dearest departed ones, but he must also remain on duty in his regular schedule at the Temple, being denied the ability to mourn and benefit from its cathartic process. It’s not fair!
The next subject relates to an individual who generously seeks to offer from his bounty of cattle and flock as loving offerings to G-d and discovers blemished animals that are disqualified from being accepted as offerings. He too, reflects on the injustice of his being encumbered with maimed and deficient animals when he so strongly desired to elevate his holdings by contributing so magnanimously to the Temple only to find himself rejected in his quest. It’s not fair!
The next discussion relates to a kohen who develops a blemish that disallows him from serving in the Temple. Imagine his anguish in realizing that although he may still partake from the holy portions gifted to the family of kohanim, he is now prohibited from ever serving again in any real capacity. His entire life’s mission as a member of that special cadre, the descendants of Aharon, privileged to represent the nation and access a closeness to the Hashem that is denied to non-kohanim, is now abruptly stifled. It’s not fair! The Torah then discusses the restrictions placed upon a kohen who becomes tamei, ritually impure, who despite his evident preparedness and zeal to serve, unintentionally encounters some tumah, impurity, that painfully quashes his excited and ambitious devotion, now preventing him from entering into the Temple and partaking in the consumption of the priestly gifts. Why has G-d brought this upon him, he wonders, after all, didn’t he push himself to the limits of commitment only to discover ‘pie in
Lastly the Torah speaks about an individual who desires to bring a thanksgiving-offering, with the Torah limiting its consumption to merely one day, in contrast to other similar peace-offerings that may be eaten over a two-day period. The Izhbitzer asserts that this restriction intimates an important message to the bringer of this sacrifice. Don’t wallow in your joy for more than one day for tomorrow there is no guarantee it will continue. Today you must celebrate but never take for granted that it will endure. One must already cry out today, whilst he yet regales over G-d’s benevolence, for the success of the morn to be assured. This message can be quite distressing. You mean I must live with anxiety from day to day never feeling confident that even the very next day’s happiness is not vouched for? It’s not fair! So how do we overcome these stressors that keep our stomachs in knots? The antidote is found in the five Yomim Tovim, festivals, we celebrate yearly which appear directly after
these five portions. But it begins with the Torah first reiterating the celebration of the day of Shabbos, during which we recite the psalm King David composed, a song for the Shabbos day, reminding ourselves, It is good to thank Hashem, and to sing praise to Your Name. We are taught that this refers to the Shabbos in the World to Come, when we will perceive with utter clarity the goodness, He showered upon us even while we thought we were suffering. Our Shabbos is merely a semblance of that great day, and here we are yet unable to fathom His benevolence fully. The strength to deal with these ‘unfair’ situations in life, while our vision is obscured, is drawn from the five festivals enumerated here that mirror solutions to each of these challenges, inspiring us with the tools we need to quash our anxieties. Pesach teaches us how G-d infused us with life, reviving us from near extinction, setting us on a journey that continues throughout the ages until we will arrive at our ultimate destination. Death is an interval and a dot on the graph of eternity, that is only temporary. Real life never ends and although we take leave from our loved ones, we continue in their path to meet up once again when we fulfill our mission as a people. Life is fair! At the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai all the crippled and infirm were healed. In a world, post the sin of the Golden Calf, where we must still endure illness and death, the antidote to avoiding frustration from this reality lays in the fact that each one of us is defined by the Torah that speaks to us not only collectively, but
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Torah Thought individually as well. Every one of our circumstances in life were uniquely crafted to bring out our personal greatness. When we implement the Torah’s precise guidance for every given situation in life we face, we realize that our deficiencies were specifically orchestrated so that we may become truly ‘whole’ and complete. Life is fair. The greatest tumah, is the impurity that stems from depression. We get depressed when we feel isolated and neglected. The situations in life that seem so random and in conflict with our greatest efforts to connect with G-d, are merely illusions and distractions. G-d is ever present and beside us, we just must open our ears to hear His call, His voice. The voice that emanated from Sinai is constant. The Shofar of Rosh Hashana is the ‘sound machine’ that cancels out all external
noise, attuning our ears to the whispered breath of G-d that continues to encourage us lovingly at every point in life. Life is fair! On Yom Kippur we take a break from the shackles of our material bodies and needs, transforming ourselves into virtual angels. The physical world is merely the playing field where we discover our true essence, our deeper souls. It is not what we can physically offer in tribute to the Almighty that defines us as much as it is the yearning for closeness which can be achieved absent of any material offering. Life is fair! Finally, the holiday of Sukkos teaches us that we ride upon the proverbial shoulders of our father every moment of our lives. When we commemorate the actual Clouds of Glory,
we are declaring an awareness of His protection even when those clouds are invisible. In that reality there is no room for worry. Each day in the embrace of G-d infuses us with the security resembling that of a child in the womb of its mother, who simply senses it is being nurtured and cared for, with nary a fear or worry. Life is fair! The Torah perhaps taught us this vital lesson in the context of the exalted and exceptional family of the kohanim to emphasize that no matter where one finds himself on the ladder of achievement, we all face moments of stress, confusion and fear. No one is excluded from these tests of faith. So, the next time you face the pain of loss, soothe the wound with the knowledge that it is merely an interval, and the journey continues.
When you feel shortchanged by your limitations, remember in overcoming those insufficiencies lay your perfection. When tootling down the road of life you get a flat tie, do not forget, G-d is right there next to you changing the tire. When you feel down by the inability to contribute due to a lack of resources, realize that your frustrated yearning is more valuable than the fattest offering. When you fret over what the next day may bring, visualize that no matter what that may be, you will always be sitting confidently on your Father’s shoulder.
To my dear friends in the Jewish community,
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As with all citizens of Maryland, I know that the recent weeks have been uncertain and difficult for each of you. There is literally no individual in the State that has not been affected by the global pandemic. But, I know that our social distancing protocols were especially challenging during the recent Passover holiday - a time that is built around gatherings of friends and family. And I am acutely aware of the impact caused by the closure of religious and cultural institutions that are so central to communal life. But, please know that while this threat will pass, the resiliency and sense of community fostered by our shared experience will positively impact our State for years to come. I am proud of the way that medical and other essential professionals rallied to support our community, at great personal sacrifice. I am gratified that people felt a sense of responsibility to abide by guidelines that not only protected their health, but those of their fellow citizens. I am in awe of the people, including many in the Jewish community, who stepped forward with creativity and determination to help their friends, neighbors, and even strangers. And, I am confident that Marylanders throughout the State will join together, in a responsible manner and at the appropriate time, to restore our vibrancy and economic vitality. Thank you for all that you do and will continue to do as we build a brighter tomorrow.
Your friend, Governor Larry Hogan Paid for by Change Maryland Inc.
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My Special Sister Shelley You will always be my special sister, Shelley, special to me and exceptional to the world you created By Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland
M
y beloved sister Shelley Kurland, a”h, was a “special child.” In those days (1948), they referred to her as “slow” or “mentally retarded.” Anyone who had the zechus to know Shelley knew that she was indeed “special.” She was a pure ruach who infused hundreds of people with chizuk and encouragement. She complimented everyone she met with “you look so beautiful or handsome” with her vibrant smile and obvious love for all others. Shelley was special because at a time when parents often opted not to raise “special children” at home, my parents, Rav Yaakov and Miriam Kurland, never considered that option. Shelley was raised like every other member of our family. In a home that exuded Torah and hachnasas orchim, Shelley absorbed the ne’imas haTorah and a love for all people of all stripes. To my parents’ credit, they were always b’simcha about
their matzav, and with a tremendous bitachon went on to have three other children (Shelley was the oldest) and gave longevity to what otherwise was expected to be a shortened existence (Shelley lived 72 years). But more than that, they allowed her personality to develop. With great charm and an unusual memory, Shelley was mechazeik hundreds of her various constituencies in Baltimore, where we grew up; in Hicksville, Long Island, where my father served as a rav; in Far Rockaway, New York, and in particular to the Sh’or Yoshuv community where I have been zocheh to teach for the past 45 years; and in the Beis Ezra Women’s Home on East 18th St. in Brooklyn that took such good care of her for the past 24 years. She was the address for Shabbos visits and the ensuing games and fun that would follow for countless Bais Yaakov girls in Baltimore and for T.A.G and B’nos Bais Yaakov girls in Far Rocka-
way. Then there were the many gracious people whose homes she would visit on a constant basis. Songs were sung including the famous “Shelley is a friend of mine” and hundreds of other Jewish songs that she had an expertise in from her hours and hours of listening to records and tapes. (She knew every tenuah of Carlebach’s “Mimkomcha.”) She was rosh hamedabrim at every Shabbos seuda and simcha, always encouraging the yeshiva bochurim at our table to “learn more Torah and don’t play so much checkers” (I imagine that was her natural way to deter the “sichas yeladim” that is so consuming.) She said it all with great exuberance and excitement as it came from a pure neshamahand a ruach tehorah. A close friend told me that it took nine attempts before she successfully got her driver’s license, and she was about to give up many times along the way. It was Shelley who gave her the encouragement to not give up that
allowed her to ultimately persevere. Shelley loved to go to shul and sing along with the chazan without reservation. She was one of the first to dance with the kallah at a simcha, at times before the immediate family, sharing in everyone’s simcha even if it would never be her own. It didn’t matter to someone so purely selfless. She addressed everyone by their first name that rang out in her inimitable style with absolute love and devotion. Her simchas ha’chaim was contagious, and her constant flow of brachos to others was “rebbe-ish” as if she was responding to the requests of a kvittel. Somehow, she knew what people needed and never disappointed them. Our love for Shelley knew no bounds. She told me so often that I was her favorite brother (of course, I’m her only brother). Shelley, I hope you knew that you were everyone’s favorite sister and friend without exception. No words could ever express who you were and what you represented to so many. This is a meager attempt. You will always be my special sister, Shelley, special to me and exceptional to the world you created. I love you eternally. Your Brother, Yehoshua Kurland L’zecher nishmas ha’ishah ha’tehorah Rochel bas Harav Chizkiyahu Yaakov, z”l.
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Your life in this world has tragically come to an end But to all who loved you - family and friends You will always be a beautiful legend You were born at a time when resources were few For special developmentally disabled children like you But our parents who were so courageous Were also kind, loving and tenacious They raised you at home and nurtured your soul With a love for life and people which made your limited capacities whole At a time when children like you were hidden away You were an integral part of our lives every single day From you we learned the power of love and acceptance You taught us patience, appreciation and tolerance For you loved every one of Hashem’s creations No matter what gender, color or vocation You found happiness in the simple things in life Music, good food, friends, Shabbos, Yom Tov and you hated all strife Your smile and exuberant voice enhanced every happy occasion And you excelled in the power of persuasion At every Simcha and Shabbos gathering you made a special “Shelley” speech Reminding the men to keep learning Torah Because you were so charming and sincere - it was ok for you to preach So much laughter and joy you brought to everyone Each of us was your “favorite” sister, brother, friend or person Your homes in Baltimore, Hicksville and Far Rockaway Became the favorite location for young boys and girls to visit and play Every Shabbos afternoon you entertained your guests With your enthusiastic smile, humor and zest They were doing a big chesed and made you feel so valued and treasured
But it also gave them so much enjoyment and pleasure! In 1996, Bais Ezra on East 18th Street became your new address It was hard at first to be away from home, but there you made so much progress And in your inimitable way you adjusted and became everyone’s best friend From the counselors to your housemates to the cook They all fell in love with our Shelley Kurland! Every morning you called us and many other people you knew You had an uncanny memory for names and phone numbers How could this be true? For although you were mentally challenged in other ways Hashem blessed you with a superb memory; all who knew you were amazed ! We will miss you so much Shelley! We will miss your voice, your Simchas Hachayim, your laugh and smile Your indiscriminate love of humanity, your signature “Shelley” style We will miss your excitement for all family occasions From the moment you received your special “inbitation” We will miss you speeches, your reminders that your birthday is approaching That we should send you a card, some chocolate or a CD (sometimes we needed a little coaching) We will miss you as an integral part of our existence Your spirit and joie d’vivre and occasional stubborn resistance Now those who loved you will remember another day When your Neshama left this world on Ches Nissan Tuf Shin Peh But we know that you are in a place surrounded by eternal love and protection Near your beloved parents and the Shechina’s holy perfection. May your holy and pure Neshama be a Melitza Yeshara for all who loved you And may you escort Mashiach Tzidkainu to greet us – B’mhaira B’yamaiu! —Your Sister Mindy
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Remembering the Novominsker rebbe
Rav Yaakov Perlow, zt ”l Father to Many; Leader to all By Susan Schwamm
t was just a few hours before Kol Nidrei decades ago. The seudah was already eaten; the dishes were put away. Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz walked into her parents’ home to wish them a gut yom tov. Sitting at the table were her parents, the Novominsker Rebbe, and his rebbetzin, Rebbetzin Yehudis, along with another person. The center of their attention, the person they were chatting with, was the developmentally disabled adult son of one of their friends from years ago. Their open hearts sensed he needed chizuk or maybe just a listening ear, and despite the minutes counting down to the Yom Hadin, they gave him the attention he desired. This, Rebbetzin Horowitz says, was not an anomaly. Their door was never locked – people knocked at all hours of day or night. There were no appointments and no blackout times; if you were a member of Klal Yisroel you knew that the Novominsker Rebbe and his rebbetzin cared for you. Their home became a haven for many. Whether it was a person whose child hadn’t gotten into a school, an administrator raising funds for a school for Russian immigrants, or a couple seeking advice for their children, they turned to the Novominsker Rebbe for guidance. It wasn’t just advice he dispensed. He gave with his full heart, offering counseling and assistance. He would personally call principals to ask for acceptance into schools on one’s behalf. He would travel with others to help them raise funds for their causes. He would advocate for special needs children. He would cry with those whose hearts were broken, his own heart squeezed by their pain.
Building on His Heritage
The Novominsker Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Perlow, zt”l, was born in 1930 to parents who immigrated from Europe in the late 1920s. He was the middle of three boys (his sister died of typhus in Europe), and the first to be born on American soil. Despite his birth certif-
icate attesting to his American citizenship, he was raised with a consciousness of the Torah and the traditions of his forebears. His maternal grandfather, whom he never met, the Sokolover Rebbe, Rabbi Yitzchok Zelig Morgenstern, zt”l, was a founding leader of world Agudas Yisroel and encouraged the settlement of Eretz Yisroel in the ‘20s and ‘30s. Reb Yaakov’s father, Rav Nochum Mordechai, who was the Novominsker Rebbe before Rav Yaakov took over the mantle, was an Agudah leader and involved in Torah institutions. Rav Nochum Mordechai joined in the famous March on Washington during World War II and was prominent in Chinuch Atzmai and Yeshiva Toras Chaim, the local yeshiva founded by Rabbi Yitzchak Shmidman in East New York which the young Rav Yaakov attended. Many future prominent Torah leaders attended Toras Chaim elementary school. Rabbi Shmidman was a talmid chacham who worked hard to instill Yiddishkeit and strong Torah skills in his talmidim. The Novominsker Rebbe would credit his exactitude in dikduk along with some of his Tanach skills to the curriculum taught in Toras Chaim. From there, before his bar mitzvah, he attended Yeshivas Chaim Berlin under Rav Yitzchak Hutner, zt”l. The young Reb Yaakov was younger than many of his peers at Chaim Berlin – among them, Reb Shlomo Freifeld, Rav Yaakov Weinberg, and, ybl”ch, Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Feivel Cohen, Rav Yonason David, and Rav Aharon Schechter. Rav Hutner shaped his talmidim and instilled in many of them a strong sense of mission. The beloved rebbe-talmid relationship between Rav Hutner and the Novominsker Rebbe continued for many years. He learned the approach of the Maharal from Rav Hutner. Many of the maamarim of Pachad Yitzchak were based on the Novominsker Rebbe’s kesavim, and many of his published letters were written to Reb Yaakov. In fact, Rav Hutner pushed the Novominsker Rebbe to take on the title of Rebbe after his father had passed on.
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Learning during the summer
Greeting talmidim
An Activist Mevakesh
Heights, but as the family grew, they headed to Chicago, where Rav Yaakov held a position as maggid shiur in the Skokie Yeshiva, which he held for eight years. Living in Chicago offered a wholesome, rich upbringing for the Perlow family. The Rebbetzin’s
Telshe Yeshiva leadership, he helped to found initiatives that helped strengthen Torah Jewry in Chicago. The Rebbe was yosheiv rosh Vaad Hachinuch of the day school; the rebbetzin was involved in the PTA and taught there for years. In the Skokie Yeshiva, the Rebbe
The Early Years
Reb Yaakov married his rebbetzin, Yehudis, nee Eichenstein, in 1956, and the young couple settled in Crown Heights where he was a member of Kollel Gur Aryeh. Their home was open even back then, filled with chavrusas, bochurim, young families, and others who needed a warm meal and a listening ear. Reb Yaakov eventually taught in Breuers Mesivta in Washington
Klal Yisroel’s needs as a whole were always part of his consciousness and drove him no matter what role he was in.
family hailed from Chicago, and her parents lived just blocks away from the Perlows in a multi-generational home with a shul downstairs. The Eichenstein home was a magnet for many – even those who weren’t frum would join them for Friday night seudos. Their home was an open home, and everyone was welcomed like family, often leaving with homemade goodies. While there, the Rebbe became involved in the frum community in Chicago and founded Pirchei and Bnos there. Together with the
created a chabura called the EMES chabura, which stood for Igud Masmidei Torah. This special group of talmidim would come to the house on Rosh Chodesh and would sing and fahrbreng with their rebbe. For one of their initiatives, they made sure that, during Shaloshes Yimei Hagbalah, between all of the talmidim in the chabura, there was always someone learning for every minute for the entire three days before Matan Torah. The talmidim in the esteemed group were encouraged to stay and
learn in yeshiva before going off to college. In fact, many of them ended up in Eretz Yisroel before getting married and became roshei yeshiva and Torah leaders because of the Rebbe’s influence. The Rebbe instilled within them a desire to become better people; he taught them how to learn; he encouraged them to increase their avodah; he urged them to become baalei achrayus. These she’ifos were not just taught and modeled by the Rebbe to his talmidim in Chicago. Throughout all his years, the Rebbe implanted these values into all of his talmidim in the different yeshivas in which he taught. The bonds he forged w ith his talmidim were strong – and long-lasting. His talmidim from Chicago remained close with the Rebbe decades later, calling him, listening to his shiurim, reaching out to him in times of need. While in Chicago, it became evident to the Perlow family that their son, Yitzchok, was profoundly disabled. The family visited neurologists and pursued therapies for Yitzchok but no progress was made. Despite the challenge, the Rebbe would note that the family grew from this hardship. Later in life, the Rebbe and Rebbetzin would become vocal advocates for special needs individuals, drawing on the family’s experiences with Yitzchok. The Rebbetzin served as president of Makor Disability Services (previously known as Women’s League Community Residences) for decades, and the Rebbe made himself
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The Novominsker Rebbe came from an illustrious line of rebbes but he sought and desired to learn and imbibe the Torah approach and hashkafa of those from other sects of Yiddishkeit. Even from a young age, he would seek out those who came from Europe to learn about the yeshivas and kehillas of yesteryear. When the shearis ha’plaita came from Europe – he never used the word survivors – the Rebbe looked to hear and learn from them. He wanted to hear about the atmosphere that existed in small shteiblach in Poland, along with the spirit felt in big Chassidic courts and in yeshivas in Radin and Grodno, Kovno and Slabodka. He was an activist mevakesh, yearning to learn Torah, to learn about the avodah, and to draw closer to the Ribono Shel Olam. His desire to learn about different perspectives of Yiddishkeit served him well in later years as he became an advocate for those from every stripe of Judaism.
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At the Agudah Convention in 1982
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With his talmidim
available at all times for questions of minor and major import.
Leading the Breuers Community
After spending time in Chicago, the Rebbe was invited by Rav Yosef Breuer, zt”l, and Rav Shimon Schwab, zt”l, to become rosh yeshiva of the Breuers bais medrash in Washington Heights and to be the rav of the Bais Yosef minyan there. It was also time for the family to move back to New York, as the Rebbe and Rebbetzin felt it would be beneficial for their children’s chinuch. The chinuch of their children swayed many of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin’s decisions. In fact, every summer, the family would pack their car and drive to Prager’s bungalow colony in the Catskills – even when they were living in Chicago and it would mean hundreds of miles in a small car. The Perlows wanted their children to be imbued with the warmth and authenticity of the Torah Jews who summered there. While there, the Rebbe wouldn’t take a rebbi job, like many of his peers did. Instead, he concentrated on his learning. He would sit near the bungalow, learning all day undisturbed. Moving back to New York presented a change for the family, but one thing didn’t change: their home continued to be an open home – talmidim, seminary girls, medical students, and baalei teshuva spent their Shabbos meals around the Perlow table. Despite the open home, melava malka meals were reserved for the family. Sitting around the table, the Rebbe would regale his chil-
dren with stories of rabbanim and Torah greats of yesteryear. They heard about Rav Yisroel Salanter and the Chofetz Chaim and the Imrei Emes; he lived with the giants of the past and brought them to life in front of his family’s eyes. In this same vein, the Rebbe and Rebbetzin would track down hard-to-find Jewish books for their children so they could read and learn more about Torah luminaries of yesteryear and their legacy. The Rebbe had tremendous respect for the Breuers’ mesorah and held a deep appreciation for the transplanted Frankfurt kehilla and its rabbanim. He gave ten shiurim a week and often spoke three times on a Shabbos and was very involved in neighborhood preservation and the many Breuers Torah institutions. While there, he also became more involved in work on behalf of Klal Yisroel with Agudah, Torah Umesorah, and other nascent community organizations. The Rebbetzin went to school and became a therapist, which was in line with her desire to help people and her deep concern for others.
Accepting the Mantle
In 1975, the Rebbe’s father, Rav Nochum Mordechai, who was the Novominsker Rebbe at the time, passed away. He had been living in Boro Park and had a small shteeble there. After his petira, Rav Hutner pushed the Rebbe to accept the title of the Novominsker Rebbe. The Perlow family would come to Brooklyn from Washington Heights every Shabbos to perpetuate the Novominsk tradition and keep it alive. Eventually, the family uproot-
ed itself and moved to Brooklyn, a sacrifice at the time because the Rebbe left his station in Washington Heights without a new position on the horizon. Soon, though, a mispallel in Novominsk, along with his friends, approached the Rebbe to open a high school for their sons. And thus began Yeshivas Novominsk, located in a building on 47 Street and 16 Avenue. The Perlows at first lived in the same building as the yeshiva. The Rebbetzin was extremely involved, cooking breakfast and lunch for the boys. She would monitor who needed a kind word or more time with his family; who had friends and who didn’t; who was more successful in their English studies – she was their “mother” in the yeshiva. During this time, the Rebbe was extremely busy with different causes, advocating on behalf of Russian Jewry, children who were not accepted into high schools, Torah-based Holocaust education, the establishment of a Tisha B’Av kinnah commemorating Churban Europa, the developing Torah press, and Torah institutions in Eretz Yisroel to meet the needs of new immigrant populations. After serving on the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah in Agudas Yisroel, in 1998, after the petira of Reb Moshe Sherer, zt”l, the Novominsker Rebbe was named rosh Agudas Yisroel. Indeed, he was an Agudah activist since he was a young man. In this new role, the Rebbe was able to channel his extreme love and concern for Klal Yisroel as an entity for which he always felt tremendous responsibility. He had a very highly developed commitment to Klal Yisroel as a whole, not just yichidim.
His son-in-law was once approached by a man who was incredulous that the Rebbe would care about a day school student in Minnesota. But that defined the Rebbe. Klal Yisroel’s needs as a whole were always part of his consciousness and drove him no matter what role he was in and no matter what part of the community he was advocating for. He saw the Agudah as the shaliach tzibbur of Klal Yisroel, often saying that it’s a “heilegeh zach” in its role in preserving and uplifting Yiddishkeit. He noted that it was a station where all streams of Klal Yisroel could come together to work to serve Hashem as one unit. The Rebbe carried Klal Yisroel; he carried communities. He was not afraid to be vocal about issues he felt were important to the klal. Recently, he drew the line against Open Orthodoxy, protecting the mesorah we hold dear. Every decision made by the Rebbe came after deliberate assessment of what was needed followed by a careful expression about in which direction the community needed to be headed. He weighed the different sides to every issue and gave responses with clarity. He felt an extreme sense of responsibility to both the yachid and the klal.
Hasmadah and History
There are a few characteristics that defined the Novominsker Rebbe and helped to make him a successful and caring advocate for his brothers and sisters. First and foremost, the Rebbe believed that it all comes from Torah, beginning with hasmadah and
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With Rav Steinman
With Rav Yonasan David
With Rav Elyashiv
The Rebbe was also cognizant of the past and was aware of how the present is constantly changing – and how Yiddishkeit has to adjust to those changes. For instance, in the ‘90s, he noticed how the passion for Yiddishkeit seemed to be waning. As such, he was an advocate for incorporating “G-d talk” into our speech when parenting and teaching, encouraging adding in “im yirtzeh Hashem” or “baruch Hashem” into our vernacular. In recent years, when it came to technology, many people despaired about the challenges presented to Torah Jewry. But the Novominsker Rebbe understood that there are always going to be challenges in every generation. He would say, “Yidden are resourceful. We have to ‘figure it out,’ and Hashem will have rachmanus on us.” He pointed out how shemiras Shabbos when he
was growing up was a big issue for Torah-true Yidden. But Jews tried their best to keep Shabbos, and soon thereafter a five-day work week was instituted in the United States and Jews moved into different professions, making shemiras Shabbos less of a challenge. Challenges present themselves throughout the generations; we have to find ways to meet them head-on.
A Father Figure
Most people were aware of the Rebbe’s care and concern for each Jew. He empathized; he cried with his brothers and sisters. His tears and pain for a Jew’s sorrow were genuine regardless of the community from which the individual originated. But it wasn’t just tears he shed for them. The Rebbe davened for them and raised money for them. In fact,
that was the last act he did before his petira. When he received a phone call from someone late at night asking for money for Pesach needs, the Rebbe summoned his strength, sat down at his desk, and wrote out a check for the individual. Mere hours later, he was niftar. Eretz Yisroel was very dear to him, and the Rebbe raised tremendous amounts of money for institutions in Eretz Yisroel. After Rebbetzin Yehudis passed away, the Rebbe established a fund for American Israelis who are experiencing financial stress in Eretz Yisroel. His sense of responsibility for assuaging a Yid’s pain compelled him to become involved in organizations and schools for kids at risk, baalei teshuva here and in Eretz Yisroel, and children with learning issues. When the need for Ptach became evident decades ago, the Rebbe told
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a total immersion in the holy books of the Torah. Indeed, he would begin his day learning at 3 a.m. because he knew he could then learn undisturbed. Self-discipline and hasmadah were cornerstones of his Torah study. His sense of history was clear, and he made many of his decisions based upon the backdrop of Jewish history and the changes in contemporary Jewish history. The Rebbe was always conscious of the brachos that Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave us in the reestablishment of Torah Yiddishkeit in America. A mere 75 years ago, Torah Jewry stumbled onto the shores of America, shattered from millions of losses. Mere decades later, Yiddishkeit in America is flourishing. The Rebbe was always appreciative of the goodness in Hashem allowing for that to happen.
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Giving a bracha to his grandson at his wedding
them that he would speak for them and talk about Yitzchok, his son with special needs. His sincere compassion for his fellow Jew manifested itself in the hachnosas orchim that the Rebbe and his rebbetzin were so famous for. When the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin moved with their family to Boro Park from Washington Heights, three single men made the move with them, not wanting to separate from the Perlows. These three men lived in apartments in the same building as the Perlow family and continued to be part of the family. Years later, when the Rebbe moved to a new building, one man, who remained single, moved with the Rebbe, who had built the man an apartment in the new building. The man continued to join the Rebbe at his Shabbos seudos and sedarim; the Rebbe would send cleaning help once a week to make sure the gentleman had a clean apartment. He took care of him. The Rebbe had become his father. The Rebbe and his rebbetzin worked hand-in-hand in offering succor to those in need. At times, someone would come to the Rebbe with a problem and, after listening to the person’s plight, the Rebbe would understand that the individual would best be served by a therapist. He would then bring the person to the next room, where his wife, a social worker, would be seeing clients. And at times, the Rebbetzin would be meeting with a client,
Sharing in a simcha
and it would become evident that the problem the person was having would be best resolved by the Rebbe. Together, the Rebbe and Rebbetzin helped to tend to the broken souls who came to their door. Thinking of others was intrinsic to the Rebbe and Rebbetzin. On Purim, during different years, the Rebbe would send the Rebbetzin
Rebbetzin Horowitz recalls that she knew to always allow for extra time when inviting her mother along on an outing with the kids as inevitably an individual would call her mother with a crisis that needed tending to. In fact, one erev Pesach, while in the midst of cooking for the eight-day yom tov, the Rebbetzin heard of a woman who was admitted
“Be menachem me,” the caller begged. “I need comfort. I lost my therapist; I lost my father.”
to visit recently widowed women to make sure their yom tov was leibedik. During one seder, the Rebbetzin went out to ensure that a fatherless family was enjoying a festive yom tov. They would invite lonely individuals to their sedarim and Shabbos table – the Israeli super from their building with his family, those without families, and those from dysfunctional homes.
to the psych ward the night before. And so, on erev Pesach, the Rebbetzin and her daughter drove to the hospital to deliver matzos to the woman. The Rebbe and his Rebbetzin were accessible to all. They didn’t have office hours or a gabbai. Their door was always open, and their phone was never taken off the hook. They felt a responsibility to both the klal and the yachid and never
desired to make things easier for themselves if it would be matriach their fellow Jews. People sensed their sincere love for each Jew, their authenticity. Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz recalls that, after her father was niftar, someone called her and blurted out over the phone, “Be menachem me,” the caller begged. “I need comfort. I lost my therapist; I lost my father,” she cried. He became a father figure to so many people. When it came to his talmidim, the relationships the Rebbe and his talmidim forged were ever-lasting. The Rebbe’s talmidim felt his warmth and his love; they felt his encouragement and spirit in spurring them on to reach greater heights. In Yeshivas Novominsk, he talked about exerting oneself to become a yarei Shamayim and a better oved Hashem. He modeled the she’ifos to become a better person and exhorted them to be emesdike Yidden. The Rebbe would tell his boys to do the emes because it’s emes – not because it would make a kiddush Hashem. He taught them to be ehrlech, not to cut corners – not in Yiddishkeit and not in life. His clarity of thought and articulation of key priorities in contemporary Torah education made him a preeminent educator. That clarity served him well in his public life as an advocate and spokesman for American Jewry.
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Just Hang On a Little Bit Longer By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH (SA), FAAP
MAY 7, 2020
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ing a new reality. Some of us have it easier than others. The tip of the financial impact on our community is only beginning to be revealed. Let’s not forget those among us who have lost loved ones or still have family members in hospitals. Think of the families that sat down to the sedarim having just gotten up from shiva for a spouse and parent or, G-d forbid, a child. The pain is unfathomable. We all share a desire to move on, or at least, those who spent the sedarim alone, we want to leave our homes and resume some semblance of social interaction as we knew it. It is not quite time to do so. Why? Join me for a brief history lesson about the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19. It teaches us important information about “reawakening” society and why we should be cautious about lifting restrictions too soon. On November 21, 1918, because restrictions due to the pandemic had been lifted, the residents of San Francisco left their homes and flooded the city’s streets in celebration. Unfortunately, three weeks later, they learned the restrictions had been lifted too soon and had to be invoked. What happened? People resumed mingling and socializing without any thought or planning to phasing in “normalcy.” As a result, the city experienced a resurgence of the disease. Tragically, people became sick, and many
died. One day during the first week of 1919, there were 600 new Spanish flu cases in one day! Restrictions were re-imposed, including a new ordinance reenacting wearing masks which was promulgated on January 17, 1919. (San Francisco was the first city to use face masks. On October 25, 1918, every resident and visitor was required to wear a mask while in public or when in a group of two people or more.) San Francisco was one of 43 cities in the United States that experienced this disease resurgence phenomenon. On the other hand, Los Angeles implemented strict social distancing (school closures, home quarantines and bans on public gatherings) and face coverings about one week before San Francisco and kept those measures in place for several weeks longer. It briefly reopened and then experienced a sharp upward trend, especially among children. Municipal resources were quickly and completely refocused on re-quarantining and keeping people indoors. Some people did not accept these restrictions, especially when they were re-imposed. Theatre owners protested against what they believed was unfair treatment as some theatres were shuttered for up to six months. There were legal challenges from several churches. Inspectors, many of whom were veterans who returned home from World War I,
visited homes and other places to assure adherence. In the December 14th issues of the Los Angeles Times, a reporter wrote, “Study the regulations. This is a real war.” The city of Los Angeles had formed a working committee of health, education, and business leaders to address the pandemic. This committee developed and maintained the restrictions while also planning for the reawakening of society. Its strong connection with the Health Committee and the Board of Education led to working with physicians who inspected students and teachers as each school prepared individually to reopen. This working relationship allowed the first five of the 230 Los Angeles schools to reopen on January 9, 1919; the last school reopened on February 3. Alex Navarro, assistant director of the Center for the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan, underscores that L.A. and other cities in the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic that instituted “early, sustained and layered” practices such as social distancing, closing public events and stay-at-home orders – all non-pharmacological interventions – fared better than those that resumed “normalcy” quickly. The proof is in the following statistic: Los Angeles had 494 deaths per 100,000 people; San Francisco 673 deaths per 100,000. What is the takeaway for us?
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new kind of schedule or rhythm is emerging for our children and for us. Children are Zoom-ing through learning. I sincerely hope that children of all ages with disabilities and/or special needs have the proper support to maximize their growth during this unprecedented time. Yet a disquiet pervades. It is ubiquitous. It is all our homes and in food stores and when we are out walking. The concern can be summed up in the following question: Are we ever going to return to “normal”? This question consumes our thoughts. It occupies a lot of real estate in all our heads. It was especially difficult to contemplate this past Sunday when Shabbos day’s weather had been beautiful. This parsha will not last forever. A lot of patience is necessary. I don’t believe that things will return to the normal we knew prior to Covid-19 plowing into our lives, wreaking havoc. It has not been an easy ride. Like other families, my family also misses shul and leining and answering Amen to Kaddish and the socializing after shul. We miss our children and grandchildren (and honorary children and grandchildren – ha’maven yavin). But, Baruch Hashem, we are trying to maximize the circumstances Hashem has given us. We are healthy and functioning and, because challenged to do so, are creat-
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48 This is not the time to let up on social distancing. We must remain with our immediate family members only. We should keep to a minimum going to stores and other places. When we are out, we should wear gloves and masks. (Please put on new gloves when entering a food store and then dispose of them after exiting.) Whenever entering your home, leave your shoes in the entryway. When chatting with people in person, we should sit/stand a minimum of 6 feet apart because we want them to be alive, well and with us until their 120 years. History proves that social distancing works. Earlier this week, the Swedish ambassador to the United States announced that his country expects that the city of Stockholm will achieve herd immunity in May. Herd immunity means the majority of a given population has become immune to an infectious disease by either recovering from it or through
vaccination. Some researchers have put the threshold for Covid-19 immunity at 60% in some areas. But there is a problem – there is no scientific proof that people who have had Covid-19 and recovered
my beloved grandmother Nadja, a”h, when appropriate. And I am a proud grandfather. Yet no matter how painful to all, stay away. We must protect them. Call them. Facetime. Today’s grand-
History proves that social distancing works.
from it are actually protected from a second Covid infection. This sobering fact should make us want to slow down and maintain the precautions longer. This is also why I believe that visiting Bubby and Zaidy should NOT happen. Period. It’s not because I’m an ogre. I’m not. Promise. I love and venerate older people and quote
parents and great-grandparents are a cool, new breed – they might even have Zoom. If they don’t, then make it happen for them. There are drivebys. We want Bubby and Zaidy to live, be well and with us for their full 120 years. How can we get through these next weeks? It’s spring time (at least on the
A HEALING LAUGH
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
USING HUMOR TO COPE WITH STRESS
calendar). As the weather allows, go outside. Children of different families can bicycle together in groups of 2-3 provided they wear masks and maintain distance. Don’t forget the helmets, please. Honestly, there are no easy solutions here. With our collective efforts and Hashem’s help, we can only hope to have camp in the summer. Children can then resume and experience a new but somewhat normal lifestyle. Appreciate what you have – and be sure to thank Hashem and the people in your life. Men: A reminder that Mother’s Day is next weekend. You really have to step up your game this year. As always, daven. Dr. Hylton I. Lightman is a pediatrician and Medical Director of Total Family Care of the 5 Towns and Rockaway PC. He can be reached at drlightman@totalfamilycaremd.com, on Instagram at Dr.Lightman_ or visit him on Facebook.
Anyone else starting to get a tan from the light in the fridge?
I just had dream about7 empty toilet paper rolls eating 7 full toilet paper rolls. Does anyone have an interpretation?
Does anyone know if we can take showers yet or should we just keep washing our hands?
MAY 7, 2020
I don’t want to alarm anyone, but apparently there comes a point when you can’t fit into your pajamas either.
Breaking News – Wearing a mask inside your home is now highly recommended. Not so much to prevent Covid-19 but to stop eating.
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Commercials in 2030: Were you or someone you know overly exposed to hand sanitizer, Lysol or bleach during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic? You may be eligible for compensation!
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TJH
Centerfold
Riddle me this?
What Mo m Pro ba bly Sa id
wedding hall was It was the first week after Lag B’Omer, and the uled on each night for set for a busy week. They had a wedding sched al error, the wedding five nights straight. However, due to a cleric marr ied on each night. hall staff has no idea which couple is getting the correct column, but On their information sheet, each name is in actually appears in the only one of the names within each column the grooms, the brides, correct row. Using the clues below, match le in the proper order and the last names, and then place each coup of their wedding date.
Chosson Avi Yosef Dovid Baruch Shimon
Kallah Aviva Elana Shira Yocheved Chani
Last Name Kent Goodman Adams Moss Small
CHOSSON Dovid Avi Shimon Baruch Yosef
KALLAH Elana Yocheved Shira Chani Aviva
LAST NAME Goodman Kent Adams Smalls Moss
Answer to Riddle Me This:
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
Clues: 1) Shimon is 1 place after Yocheved. 2) Chani is 1 place before the Mosses. a Moss. 3) Dovid is not marr ying Yocheved nor is he places after Dovid. 2 is who , Shira e 4) The Kents are 1 place befor ls. 5) Avi is 2 places before the Smal
MONA LISA’S MOTHER: “After all that money your father and I spent on braces , that’s the biggest smile you can give us?” COLU MBUS’S MOTHER: “I don’t care what you’ve discovered, you still could hav e written!” MICHEL ANGELO’S MOTH ER: “Can’t you paint on walls like other children? Do you have any idea how hard it is to get that stuff off the ceil ing?” ABRAHA M LINCOLN’S MO THER: “Again with the stovepipe hat? Can’t you just wear a baseball cap like the other kids?” ALEX ANDER GR AH AM BELL: “You have school tomorrow; hang up the phone!” BENJA MIN FR ANKLIN: “Benny, get inside! What, do you want to be hit by lightnin g?” MA RY ’S MOTHER: “I’m not upset that your lamb followed you to school, but I wou ld like to know how he got a bet ter grade than you.” ALBERT EINSTEIN’S MO THER: “But it’s your senior picture. Can’t you do som ething about your hair? Styling gel, mousse, something...?” GEORGE WA SHINGTON’S MOTHER: “The nex t time I catch you throwing mon ey across the Potomac, you can kiss your allowance good-b ye!” THOM AS EDISON’S MO TH ER : “Of cou rse I’m proud that you invented the electric light bulb. Now turn it off and get to bed!” PAUL REVERE’S MOTHER : “I don’t care where you think you have to go, young man, midnight is past your cur few.” LU DW IG VA N BE ET HO VE N’S MO TH ER : “Stop play ing that music so loud !”
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The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
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C
1.
Answer Key
kidding
B
You gotta be
A mother walk s her son to the school bus stop on his fi r s t d ay of k i nder ga r ten. “Behave, my tattaleh,” she says. “Take good care of yourself and think about your mother, zeeskeit! “And come right back home on the bus, schein kindaleh,” she adds. “Your Mommy loves you a lot, my tzatzkele!” At the end of the school day, the
2.
Who was Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s father-in-law? a. Rabbi Pinchas Ben Yair b. Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi c. Raish Lakish d. Shamai
B
6.
3.
Which one of the following holy sefarim was written by Rabbi Shimony Ben Yochai? a. Zohar b. Mesillas Yeshorim c. Tanya d. Talmud Bavli Shas
D
5.
4.
When Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son came out of the cave the second time, they saw an old Jewish man carrying something in honor of Shabbos. What was the man carrying? a. A fish b. Three pieces of meat c. A gold candelabra d. Two myrtle branches
A
4.
0-2 correct: Remember, Rabbi Akiva started learning Torah at 40!
5.
Who was Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’’s rebbe? a. Rabbi Yehuda b. Rabbi Akiva c. Yochanan Ben Zakai d. Rabbi Meir
3-4 correct: Pretty good, but you are not exactly proficient in the Zohar yet.
bus stops at the bus stop and the young boy runs off the bus. The mother runs over and hugs her son. “So what did mein kint learn on his first day of school?” she asks him. He answers, “I learned that my name is Yossi.”
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3.
5-6 correct: You deserve a fully paid trip to Meron for Lag Ba’Omer.
MAY 7, 2020
What type of tree miraculously grew in the cave? a. Apple tree b. Carob tree c. Fig tree d. Peach tree
Scorecard:
A
2.
For how many years in total was Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in a cave with his son? a. 8 b. 12 c. 13 d. 18
6.
1.
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Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai Knowledge Quiz
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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
On The Lighter Si e
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MAY 7, 2020
“Say What?!”
My mother’s menu consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it. - Buddy Hackett
When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.
Most turkeys taste better the day after; my mother’s tasted better the day before. - Rita Rudner
- Erma Bombeck
Never let your mom brush your hair when she’s mad at your dad. - Leo Gallagher
Waking your kids up for school the first day after a break is almost as much fun as birthing them was.
If your kids are giving you a headache, follow the directions on the aspirin bottle, especially the part that says keep away from children.
- Joan Rivers
- Susan Savannah
– Jenny McCarthy
The best way to keep children at home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant, and let the air out of the tires.
My mother could make anybody feel guilty – she used to get letters of apology from people she didn’t even know.
My mom was a little [interesting]. When I was little, she would make chocolate frosting, and she’d let me lick the beaters. Then she’d turn them off.
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant’s life, she will choose to save the infant’s life without even considering if there is a man on base. - Dave Barry
- Marty Cohen
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
- Dorothy Parker
I gave my father $100 and said, “Buy yourself something that will make your life easier.” … so he went out and bought a present for my mother. - Rita Rudner
My mom from time to time puts on her wedding dress. Not because she’s sentimental. She just gets really far behind in her laundry.
My mom is a neat freak. If she adopted a highway, she’d mop it once a week. - Daniel Liebert
When I was a kid, I got no respect. I told my mother I’m gonna run away from home. She said, “On your mark…”
A mom forgives us all our faults, not to mention one or two we don’t even have. —Robert Brault
When I was a boy, my mother wore a mood ring. When she was in a good mood, it turned blue. In a bad mood, it left a big red mark on my forehead.
- Rodney Dangerfield
- Jeff Shaw
You’re not famous until my mother has heard of you.
The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.
I’ve conquered a lot of things ... blood clots in my lungs — twice ... knee and foot surgeries ... winning Grand Slams being down match point ... to name just a few, but I found out by far the hardest is figuring out a stroller!
- Jay Leno
- Calvin Trillin
- Brian Kiley
– Serena Williams
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B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
Jewish History
MAY 7, 2020
Independence Day Parades in Jerusalem 1967 and 1968
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
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By Larry Domnitch A military parade on Independence Day in 1950
O
n May 15, 1967, the Israel Independence Day parade celebrating nineteen years was held in Jerusalem. It was a parade with historical significance. The parade also faced opposition from many nations. Those nations opposed the staging of a military parade. They complained that the decision to hold the parade in Jerusalem was in violation of the Israel-Jordanian Armistice Agreement of April 3, 1949, which prohibited the display of heavy armaments on either side of Jerusalem due to the close proximity to each other’s borders. At this time, Jerusalem was a divided city in the aftermath of the 1948 War of Independence. The Old City was controlled by Jordan; West Jerusalem was part of Israel. Israel had informed the United Nations of the minimal display of light arms in detail. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol had prohibited the display of any heavy weapons. There was no infringement. A spokesman for military observers of the United Nations Troop Supervision Organization, UNTSO, expressed concern, stating the parade will “intensify the already dangerous situation” in the Middle East. However, plans for war against Israel were already underway. The other objection was the belief that the parade threatened the international status of Jerusalem
as provided by the United Nations partition plan of November 29, 1947, otherwise known as UN Resolution 181. Nations still hoped for the internationalization of Jerusalem. Among those who refused to participate were Great Britain, France, West Germany, and the United States, nations with good relations with Israel – to varying degrees. The USSR boycotted the event. Other nations’ representatives were not expected to be present. Lieutenant General Odd Bull, Chief of Staff of the UN Supervision Organization,
cess to Jewish holy places within the Jordanian held Old City, Israel was under no obligation regarding the display of weaponry. At 9:30 a.m., with thousands of selected guests packing the stadium of the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University, General Uzi Narkiss, commander of the Israeli army’s central command, as parade marshal, addressed President Zalman Shazar, “Mr. President, do we have your permission to start the ceremonies?” Shazar nodded, and the pa-
Greeted by over 200,000 onlookers, bugles blew, drums rolled, flags were flying, and pennants waving in the light breeze.
was also expected not to attend. In contrast, Israel’s former prime minister, David Ben Gurion, also announced one week in advance that he would be a no-show, stating his opposition was on account of Israel’s refusal to display heavy weapons. According to Ben Gurion, since Jordan was in violation of the armistice agreement for not providing free ac-
rade began. The parade included 1,600 troops, along with jeeps, trucks, and command cars. Every armed unit in the IDF was represented. There were some anti-aircraft guns, mortars, anti-tanks guns, and a small artillery of 30 to 40 mm on display. Levi Eshkol defiantly stated, “Even with the absence of foreign
diplomats, all will know that the parade was underway.” As the procession advanced through the streets, greeted by over 200,000 onlookers, bugles blew, drums rolled, flags were flying, and pennants waving in the light breeze. There were other celebrations the night before but most attention was focused upon Jerusalem. The masses of cheering crowds were not aware of what lay ahead in the very near future. In an already tense environment with increasing terrorist border infiltrations and Syrian guns entrenched upon Golan Heights shelling Jewish settlements, the situation became even more threatening. As the parade proceeded, word reached the prime minister via the army Chief of Staff, General Yitzchak Rabin, that there were reports of Egyptian troop movements in the Sinai Peninsula. Eighty thousand troops and nine hundred tanks! This action took place in broad daylight. It was so blatant, that there were doubts as to the intentions of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Perhaps he was bluffing? Maybe it was an act of bluster to assert his leadership among Arab nations in the region? Furthermore, Egypt was already engaged in a civil war within Yemen – there was doubt that they would be planning for war. It soon became apparent that
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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME MAY 7, 2020
HATZALAH CALLS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2020 ARE DEDICATED
לעלוי נשמת
ע"ה
מרים זיסל בת צבי
MRS. MIRIAM MAYER, A”H
MAY HER MEMORY BE FOR A BLESSING
EXTEND CONDOLENCES TO
OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTER DR. MORRIS MAYER ON THE LOSS OF HIS DEAR MOTHER
תהיה נשמתה צרורה בצרור החיים
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
THE BOARD AND MEMBERS OF HATZALAH
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IDF soldiers on Independence Day in 1958
Egypt was indeed preparing for war. The next day, May 16, Radio Cairo threatened, “The existence of Israel has continued too long… The peak hour has come. The battle has come in which we shall destroy Israel.” Later that day, Nasser in a letter to UN General Secretary, U Thant, demanded the withdrawal of United Nations Emergency Forces (UNEF) comprised of four thousand troops, from the Sinai Peninsula and the
At a military parade on Independence Day in 1956
Gaza strip. Two days later, Thant hastily acquiesced. On May 20, with UN troops withdrawn, there was further escalation of hostility as Nasser proceeded to close the vital Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping. War was looming. On the third day of the ensuing Six Day War, just over three weeks later, all of Jerusalem was reunited under Israeli sovereignty. Just a few weeks
earlier, the people of Israel were celebrating sovereignty over the new city of Jerusalem, now the entire city was under Israeli control. The next year, there was a spectacular Independence Day parade with over a half million in attendance in united Jerusalem. At the parade, the military display was out in full force; the Israeli air force which had performed so spectacularly the prior year in defending Israel put on a dazzling
everything B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
has
show. Both parades have a unique place in the history of Jerusalem and Israel. From one parade to the next, the status of Jerusalem was in transition, as was Israel. Larry Domnitch lives with his family in Efrat. He is the author of “The Impact of World War One on the Jewish People” recently released by Urim Publications.
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Dating Dialogue
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME MAY 7, 2020
What Would You Do If… Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
Thanks, Avi
Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions.
Our intention is not to offer any definitive
conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.
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I have been dating an amazing girl for the past few months – she’s incredible and I definitely see things leading to engagement. We’d been on a roll the past few months but the current state of the world has put our in-person relationship on hold. I would say, if things were BC (Before Corona) we would have gotten engaged after another three or four weeks. Now it seems like things are up in the air and stagnant. Obviously we talk and video-chat – but we haven’t met each other’s parents nor do we live close to one another. As it is, we are dating long distance. Even if we wanted to see each other with social distancing, the travel restrictions have been prohibitive. What can we do in this very unique and crazy situation?
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The Panel The Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S. our final question is most telling. The lesson of coronavirus is that we can’t do everything we want to do. Medicine, technology, and communication are so highly developed but we are indoors throughout the civilized world because of a tiny organism. G-d forced us indoors in a spectacular way. What can you do? Not very much. Continue to talk, video chat, meet each other’s parents remotely, and keep the human connection (don’t text). Think of this as a challenge that will deepen your relationship. Navigating tough times together is very telling. Learning how you respond to each other’s need for support can be very revealing. Does she “get” what you need during these tough times when you can’t be together? Is she furnishing what you need? Do you understand her needs? Are you responding to them? For some people, it’s “solutionizing.” For some people, it’s expressing fantasy – I wish I could make this better. Some people need empathy. Some people need to vent. For others, it’s thoughtful, multiple, direct reminders of connection. Using this time fruitfully will be a big bonus to your future relationship as you learn how to give each other the support that each of you needs. Grow your relationship now, and you will find that the negative will become a positive.
Y
The Shadchan Michelle Mond would not recommend coronavirus getting in the way of your relationship. Like in all areas in life, when issues come up, find a way to work through them. This will be a great opportunity to see how the girl you are seeing handles stress.
I
You will also be able to see how things progress when things do not go exactly as she may have planned. When engagements go sour, it is generally because the couple had not given each other a chance to show their true colors before they said “I do.” Pressure was on to make a decision, and a yes was given. Perhaps in those cases there were a lot of nuances that had not yet been expressed, and unfortunately these issues come out during the stress of wedding planning. You were given an official “yellow light” – proceed with caution. Use this as an opportunity to get to know each other very well. Speak often, and if your rav agrees, find a way to go out and stay six feet apart. You can both drive separately to a state park between the two of you; you can even bring your own chairs. If you feel that you are both happily ready to proceed, your families can have a phone conference and zoom meetings to get to know each other. When you’re ready, you will find a way to get engaged despite all that’s going on in the world. It is certainly still possible. Hatzlacha. Looking forward to hearing good news!
The Zaidy Dr. Jeffrey Galler t will be interesting to see if “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” And, it will be interesting for you to observe how your girlfriend reacts to stress and how she and her family deal with pressure. Previous Navidater columns have suggested creative virtual dating ideas. You can simultaneously log onto sites that offer virtual tours of world-class museums, famous tourist destinations, and major world cities, or you can both listen to online lectures, shiurim, or “Ted Talks” together. In order to keep the romantic flame alive, and demonstrate your
I
commitment and affection, how about sending a Pesach gift to her and her family? You can then follow up with a family Zoom chat. Or how about sending a good-old-fashioned note and flowers? On a side note, and putting things in a more positive light, a COVID-19 engagement party or wedding is a lot less expensive when only 10 or more guests are invited!
The Single Rena Friedman vi, making it to the point in a relationship where you were going to get engaged and then find yourself at a forced standstill is frustrating, upsetting, and simply
A
Every relationship has its challenges.
annoying. You’re so close, yet so far at the same time. Now you have this point of pressure and tension in a relationship that would have otherwise sailed rather smoothly. I am sorry to hear that you find yourself in this position. Let’s take a moment to thank Hashem for introducing you to a girl with whom you see real potential. You are still dating her and most likely will propose to her when
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60 this all passes. That is a really big deal. Many long for that and are still waiting. While this does not negate the feelings you have towards this unique and crazy situation, it is important to show some hakaras hatov. Every relationship has its challenges. We do not get to pick when or in what form those challenges come, but oh, do they come. You are being dealt a specific challenge in your relationship during a stage when most people are not facing challenges of
Pulling It All Together
Read the same articles or books and discuss them. You mentioned that you are already dating long distance, so you both know the virtual drill. The only thing you can do now is sit tight, daven to Hashem, and keep the relationship going. These are the stories you are going to tell your children and the foundation of strength, resilience, and perseverance that you will build the rest of your relationship upon. Most importantly, take this time to think about you r relat ion sh ip with Hashem. If we have learned anything from corona, it is that Hashem runs the world and that we
Navigating tough times together is very telling.
have absolutely no control. Daven to Him and ask Him to help you with this relationship. If Hashem could have microscopic bacteria literally shut down the entire world and crash the economy, then I am fairly confident that He is involved in and will most definitely guide you through this. When this all passes, I am excited for you to dance at your wedding.
The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
D
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
this caliber. You cannot move forward in the relationship, and you most certainly want to avoid moving backwards. How do you handle this? What can you do? Continue video chatting and speaking on the phone. Keep virtually dating each other whether that be virtual coffee, Chopped competitions, or paint by number. Go outside and describe your surroundings to each other.
ear Avi, The coronavirus has really presented awful challenges to singles. And can we just validate for a moment how much this stinks?! There...I said it. It stinks! And I’m sorry. My heart goes out to you and all single people whose dating has been either put on hold, completely derailed, or “stagnant,” as you’ve described your relationship. Avi, I don’t know anything about your relationship so I’m simply going to surmise why this may have happened based on what I know about human nature. The world is in crisis. There is sickness, death, and fear of both the known and the unknown – the unknown being “Can I get it?” and “When is this ending?” While some people seem to be enjoying the break from the daily grind and “chilling,” as the young people like to say, most people are living in fear with varying levels of anxiety. Many people cannot sleep or are woken by nightmares. Under these pandemic circumstances, many men and women find it hard or impossible to start something fresh right now (which requires lightheartedness, smiling
and flirting and that carefree whimsy many present on a first date). And for others who have started relationships, it can be quite difficult to keep it moving forward. I understand that you had a meaningful relationship “BC,” Before Corona, and you may have been moving toward engagement if not for this virus and its devastating toll. My suggestion is that you and this lovely lady have a heart-to-heart. If you aren’t already, ask her how she is feeling. How is she holding up... What was her day like. If you feel the relationship is stagnating...bring it up with her. Say what you see. Tell her how you are feeling in the relationship and see what she has to say. People are so often understandably scared to bring up what they are noticing and feeling for fear of rocking the boat or losing the other person completely. But the truth is that very often by avoiding our truth we end up sabotaging relationships. The best advice I can give you is that you should talk about this with her.
Tell her how much you like her. Tell her! Ask her how she feels and how she wants to handle the relationship today in this new reality. She may want to put it on pause. She may be going through so much and not feel comfortable telling you. She may open up and that will be the freshness and movement you are seeking. I pretty much always encourage open and effective communication – even through Zoom. Wishing you, Avi, and everyone physical, emotional, and mental health to get us through these trying times.
All the best, Jennifer Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. She also teaches a psychology course at Touro College. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 516-224-7779, ext. 2. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email thenavidaters@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.
Hi Readers! Receiving your enthusiastic emails wanting to participate in the Reader’s Respond section has been wonderful! Just a reminder about how Reader Response works. Email thenavidaters@gmail. com with the subject line “Reader Response.” We will then ask you, in the order we receive your email, if you would like to respond to the coming week’s email. If you would like to respond to an already printed Navidaters Panel, please submit your answer to the editor at editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com. You can also join us on our FB page @thenavidaters on Sunday evenings to post your response to the week’s column. Interacting with you has been a pleasure! Thank you for all of your feedback. Jennifer
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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
^
TIPS FROM A HOME SCHOOLING MOM
|
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BY SARA RAYVYCH, MSED
A
s someone who has been homeschooling for many years and has a master’s in education, I periodically get calls about homeschooling. Homeschooling has little resemblance to the schooling at home most families are currently encountering but I think there is still much a veteran homeschooler can add to the conversation. All that I’m writing is written with respect to the dedication and hard work of the yeshivas and teachers. The yeshivas, rebbis and moros are heroes, along with our medical, mental health and other essential workers. We can honestly tell our children we are living in a time of heroes and that they have many role models. Usually, when speaking to parents, I have a chance to ask about their child’s individual needs. It’s impossible to write an article that will cover everyone. I limited this article to resources that cover a
wide range of ages and needs, is easily accessible from homes under lockdown, and costs little or nothing. Please note that I am not affiliated with any sites or resources mentioned, and (sadly) I’m not receiving any kickbacks from them.
SCHEDULING
Structure is important, and it’s unhealthy for kids to feel hefker all day. As a homeschooling family, my kids do have structure in their day. For example, there are set times for davening, meals, and learning. I used the term “structure” and not “schedule” for a reason. I’ve seen parents create schedules that make it look like their children are in boot camp. While some kids do need this level of structure, most kids don’t need it and it can lead to extra stress in an already stressful situation. People often ask how I keep my kids busy. The simple answer is “I don’t.” I expect my kids to learn how to structure their free time.
They read, play, and do activities and projects without me telling them how to keep busy. I may make suggestions if asked, but they usually don’t need it. This is a great time for kids to learn a new skill or spend more time on what they enjoy. Sewing/crocheting/knitting, logic puzzles, reading/writing for enjoyment, building models, learning an instrument or cooking/baking – the list is endless and the kids can gain so much from these activities. The whole day shouldn’t be free time but there is no reason kids can’t learn to structure themselves a bit. I know the schools and teachers are working hard, getting creative and making sure learning is happening. Despite their efforts, I know that some children will have trouble with the online format and their parents will want to supplement. Your child’s teacher/therapist is the best one to speak to as they know your child best. I will add some ideas that may benefit some parents.
Learning is everywhere. Baking uses reading, fractions and multiplying. Understanding the current crisis involves statistics and science. Compiling your shopping list is writing and spelling. Daily life offers so many opportunities.
MATH
For those who want to supplement math, themathworksheetsite. com is an excellent resource for extra practice. It allows you to generate the exact type of math worksheet you need. The site is free, and there is a free trial to the membership portion that offers even more options. Khan Academy is an excellent online resource for those who are having trouble explaining or understanding their child’s math work. The site is free and contains videos on topics ranging from basic addition to algebra and beyond. The videos explain clearly even the most difficult and complicated topics. Ad-
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
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READING
and there is a paid membership for extra content.
WRITING
For those kids that need extra
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK HOW I KEEP MY KIDS BUSY. sound games can help reinforce new skills. Starfall.com is a website that has phonics and reading videos for kids that are entertaining and cover a variety of skills. The basic site is free,
worksheet”). These sites print the letters as broken lines for the kids to trace. Journaling is not only a great way to practice writing, it can also be therapeutic for some children during this stressful time. Emails and letters to relatives will not only cheer someone up but give real writing experience. Your child’s education is very important, but at the end of the day, it’s not nearly as important as the parent-child relationship and helping your child cope with these unprecedented times. If you see that your child is getting overwhelmed, take a step back and give it some time before trying again.
handwriting practice, Handwriting Without Tears is an excellent workbook. You can also print out letters and words to trace from various online sites (search online “trace letters
MAY 7, 2020
Reading is such an important subject but it’s also difficult because there are so many exceptions to every phonics rule. Reading with your child is always good. Reluctant readers will often be more eager to read if they take turns reading with an adult (i.e. mom and child alternate reading pages). Children usually enjoy when parents read chapter books out loud. This fosters both a love of literature and is a great way to bond. There are many digital libraries and resources available to
provide endless reading material. For the newer readers, sight words (search “Dolch word lists”), easy or graded readers (books arranged according to reading level), and letter/
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ditionally, they have videos on other subjects. When teaching math, start with the more concrete (i.e. real objects you can hold) and gently move to the more abstract. This is especially important with younger children. Also, graph paper is your friend. An entire book could be written about the various uses for graph paper. It helps keep lines and columns straight and makes showing fractions easier.
Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@gmail.com.
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Renovations Additions New Construction
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Dirshu
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The Kol Torah with Accountability Reverberates as Lomdei Torah Persevere with Tremendous Mesiras Nefesh Amid Covid 19 By Chaim Gold
Klal Yisrael is magnificent! In the chaos of the Covid 19 mageifah they are showing their love of Hashem and His Torah, in unprecedented ways. With communities around the world under lockdown and battei medrash closed, Yidden are finding all kinds of innovative ways to learn and focus on their learning even when they are holed up in the home, facing the difficulty of being easily distracted by the multiple disruptions that can transpire in a home setting when all children are home. Bachurim, kollel yungeleit and baalei battim are not being mevater, are not foregoing their sedarim even in this difficult coronavirus environment.” “The Dirshu family of lomdim is on fire!” agreed Rabbi Aharon Gobioff, Dirshu’s North American director. “This month, for the first time in our 25-year history, our lomdim took the Dirshu test remotely. In the past, Dirshu has had testing sites in each city where lomdim come once a month to take their tests. Because of the virus, this model, could not continue. “Dirshu has therefore adapted and held pre-registration for the test where, any Dirshu member was given a choice of whether to receive the test by email or by fax. I was flabbergasted by the response,” said Rabbi Gobioff. “Despite the fact that, obviously our lomdim find themselves in learning conditions that are not optimal they are pushing themselves and finding innovative solutions to make sure that they can maintain their Daf HaYomi shiur or Daf HaYomi B’Halacha shiur.” A New Best Friend: The Car!
Taking a previous Dirshu Bechina in Bayit Vegan, Yerushalayim
Reb Paltiel*, a lomeid Dirshu, remarked, “My car has become my best friend. It is difficult for me to learn at home with all of the kids home and needing to be entertained. The house is flying and the focus to learn, chazer and go over the blatt mentally to retain its content was challenging... until I thought of my car. I go out to my car and that is where I do my blatt every day.” Reb Paltiel adds, “Still, I was finding it a bit hard to learn without my regular chavrusah and then I had a brainstorm. My chavrusah began to come over in his car. We park next to each other, each of us ensconced in our respective cars, windows closed and learn every day on the phone together. This way we can see each other and talk to each other while keeping safe!” “I Missed Work, But I Never Missed One Blatt or One Chazara!” A truly remarkable story that depicts the tenacity of lomdei Torah to continue learning and reviewing no matter what the circumstance, was related by Rabbi Gobioff: Reb Michoel* is a baal habayis who lives in Lakewood. He has already finished Shas with the Daf HaYomi once and now, for the present machzor of Daf HaYomi, has decided to take his learning
to a new level by joining the Dirshu Kinyan Torah Daf HaYomi with tests every month. He was so dedicated to really learning and knowing the daf that he changed his daily schedule. Instead of leaving work at 5:00 p.m., he decided to leave at 4:00 p.m. What did he do at 4:00 p.m.? He hired a yungerman to learn with him every day. He also hired a second yungerman to review the blatt with him and he reviewed the blatt himself a number of times as well. By the time he reached the end of the month and the test, he knew every blatt, in his own words, ‘backwards and forwards’. When Reb Michoel was asked how he was managing to sustain this schedule under Corona, he explained, ‘Where there is a will there is a way. There was the telephone and the computer. I missed work during corona, I missed multiple simchos during corona, but I haven’t missed even one blatt or one chazara!’ It is these heroes who have kept the flame of Torah burning brightly, despite the adversity, “remarked Rabbi Gobioff. “I So Wanted to Give This Korban to Hashem… and I am So Happy I Did!” Indeed, Dirshu coordinators from Tel Aviv to Toronto, from Bnei Brak
to Boro Park, and from Antwerp to London, were overwhelmed at the numbers of people who signed up to get the tests via email and fax. One coordinator related, “We told our chavrei Dirshu that the tests would be emailed at 7:00 p.m. Due to some technical glitch it didn’t start arriving in people’s inboxes until about 7:20. Do you know how many messages and phone calls I received during those twenty minutes from worried lomdim who wanted to make sure that their tests were coming!” The truth is that the dark clouds and tragedy that Covid 19 has inflicted on the world and especially the Jewish community has also had silver linings. The way Yidden have dedicated themselves to limud haTorah, often in very suboptimum conditions, has been nothing short of incredible! The Dirshu offices in Lakewood received a call from a test taker who said, “I always invest a tremendous amount of time in learning and chazering before each test. This year, about three days before the test, I began to feel symptoms of coronavirus. I developed a fever, my senses of taste and smell were affected, and I felt awful. Sunday, 25 Nissan/April 19 dawned and by the time evening arrived and the test landed in my inbox, my fever had well surpassed 103 degrees. What did I do? I took the test! It was difficult, but I felt that the most appropriate words that came to my head were, ‘Avar Zemano, Batei Korbano’ - if I let the time pass, my korban, my sacrifice to Hashem of learning and taking the test under such adversity, would be lost. I wanted so much to give that korban to Hashem, and I am so gratified that I did!”
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Mental Health Corner
Death Euphemisms
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
MAY 7, 2020
By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman
Dear therapists, Although your responses will be too late to be beneficial to me, I hope that by writing into this panel your responses will guide others who may be dealing with a similar dilemma. My wife’s father was recently niftar after a relatively brief illness. There was a lot of disagreement between my wife
and I as to how much our 3 children ( ages 12, 10 and 7) should participate in the levaya, shiva etc... My wife was very concerned that the levaya ( and particularly going to the bies hakevaros) would be traumatizing for the children. She also insisted that they remain at home and keep to a regular schedule while the shiva was in a
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different town. I wound up bringing them in just on Sunday afternoon to visit for a few minutes. I know this is a morbid topic but “kach he darco shel olam”. I know that every situation is different but am sure your guidelines would help parents navigate these difficult times. ------------------------We are all familiar with death euphemisms. We tend to use “nicer” terms when talking about death in order to avoid being a bearer of bad tidings or due to our own lack of comfort with our mortality. We might use expressions such as “passed away”, “is with Hashem”, “is in a better place”, “is not going to wake up”, etc. This practice has its source in Chazal and is an ancient tradition both in the Hebrew language (“niftar”) and in Yiddish (“is avek”). There is nothing inappropriate with this practice when all parties involved fully understand what death is and what the euphemism really means. However, when a child hears a death euphemism, he might not fully understand its full meaning which can greatly affect the child’s ability to process the death of a loved one. A child needs to understand that sleeping and death are two unrelated phenomena. As adults, we understand that during sleep our bodies continue to function and that after death the body ceases to function. A child might
not fully grasp the difference. When using terminology that avoids focusing on the permanency of death, the child might not realize that their loved one is not going to wake up. Additionally, any confusion between sleeping and dying can potentially cause the child to fear going to sleep at night. Even children who understand the nature of death might have a difficult time when hearing euphemisms. Children have incredible imaginations, and when trying to cope with the death of a loved one a child might use his imagination to convince himself that the person is not really dead. This takes away from the child the ability to experience bereavement which can potentially lead to unresolved grief which is a risk factor for anxiety and depression. When you tell them, “Last night, Zaidy died,” you are giving them permission to face the reality of death and grieve in a healthier manner. Until the world experiences Techias Hameisim, death is final. We yearn for those days, but until their arrival we need to guide our children into acceptance of the present reality. This is a service of Relief Resources. Relief is an organization that provides mental health referrals, education, and support to the frum community. Rabbi Yisrael Slansky is director of the Baltimore branch of Relief. He can be contacted at 410-448-8356 or at yslansky@reliefhelp.org
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Gluten Free Recipe Column by Mrs. Elaine Bodenheimer
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GlutenFree@BaltimoreJewishHome.com
Lemon Custard Pie
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What You Will Need: CRUST: 1/3 cup corn starch 2/3 tsp salt 1/3 cup garbanzo bean flour 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/3 cup tapioca flour 2 Tbl. cold rice milk 2/3 tsp baking powder 16 oz. Rich’s Whip- defrosted 1 tsp. sugar ½ cup sweetened coconut FILLING: 16 oz. Rich’s Whip- defrosted 3.5 oz box instant lemon pie filling.
Preparation: 1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Pour oil into a small bowl, and whisk in the cold milk until well-blended. Pour liquid into flour mixture and stir until a dough is formed.. Pat the dough into an oiled 9 inch pie pan. Form a crust, shape the edges and flute the top edge, if desired. Poke holes all over crust to avoid “bubbling.” 3. Bake for 15 minutes or until light brown. Cool before filling. 4. Beat whipping cream until it starts to stiffen. Add pudding slowly and continue beating until thick. Fill pie crust and decorate with toasted coconut. 5. To toast coconut, put ½ cup of sweetened coconut into a dry frying pan. Heat until light brown, and place coconut around pie as desired. Refrigerate and enjoy!!
mast
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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
In The K
tchen
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Garlic Knots
69
By Naomi Nachman
2 tsp dry yeast 1 tsp sugar ¾ cup very warm water (°115F) 2 cups flour 1 tsp kosher salt
MAY 7, 2020
Ingredients
Garlic Topping ½ cup olive oil 10 cloves garlic, crushed 1 TBS parsley flakes ½ tsp kosher salt
Preparation
Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at
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Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine yeast, water, and sugar in a medium bowl; proof for 5 minutes, until bubbling. Add flour and salt; knead for 2-3 minutes until flour is well blended and a dough ball forms. Cover; let rise in a warm place for 15 minutes. Divide dough into even pieces. Roll out into strands and then form a knot and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 475°F and bake for 5-7 minutes. After they come out of the oven and slightly cooled, brush each knot with garlic topping oil.
The Jewish Home | OCTOBER 29, 2015
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Your
15
Money
Don’t Count Your Chickens... THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
MAY 7, 2020
By Allan Rolnick, CPA
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
A
couple of weeks ago we spoke of the great toilet paper shortage of 2020. It gave us a great opportunity to indulge in the sort of lowbrow humor that makes 10-year-old boys melt into pools of laughter. The problem turns out to be simple. Toilet paper makers produce two separate products for two separate markets: the plushy stuff we use at home and the scratchy stuff we find at offices and businesses. With coronavirus stay-at-home orders keeping us housebound, we’ve upset that usual balance of supply and demand. But toilet paper isn’t the only commodity with a scrambled supply curve right now. This week’s story involves a much-loved delicacy invented by Teresa Bellissimo at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY, and an odd tax that has nothing to do with her creation. That’s right – coronavirus has created a national chicken-wing glut, at a time when politicians and economists are fighting over a “chicken tax” you’ve probably never heard of! First, the glut. Why are there so many wings? The problem here stems from the same imbalance that emptied toilet paper aisles. Most people don’t get their wing fix at home. They chow down at bars and restau-
rants, usually in front of TV sports. Suppliers were “locked and loaded” for March Madness. But now we’re all cooped up at home. Restaurants, bars, and even March Madness itself have all gone dark. Demand for the tasty snack has plummeted. The wholesale price of wings has dropped over 20%, from $1.60 to $1.25 per pound. And commercial packaging won’t fly for home kitchens.
en, which had been a delicacy in Europe, into a staple. We were producing enough of it here to satisfy demand in Europe, too. But overseas governments naturally wanted to protect their own farmers. So, in 1961, Germany and France slapped a tariff on American chicken. Deepfried diplomacy failed to resolve the dispute, dubbed the “chicken war.” In 1964, President Johnson retali-
Suppliers were “locked and loaded” for March Madness.
(While we’re on the topic, don’t get us started on so-called “boneless” wings. There’s no such thing as a boneless wing. It’s just something menu planners hatched up so grownups wouldn’t be embarrassed ordering chicken nuggets. As if there’s something wrong with chicken nuggets to begin with.) Now for the tax. After World War II, “factory farming” turned chick-
ated with a 25% tariff on imported chicken – and, among other things, light trucks and vans. (Definitely not chicken feed!) Of course, just like every party has a pooper, every tax has a loophole. (In trade, it’s called “tariff engineering.”) In 1972, Ford and Chevy realized they could import foreign-built trucks with no cargo bed or box at a 4% tariff, then fin-
ish the vehicles here to avoid the remaining 21%. (Jimmy Carter closed that loophole in 1980.) Today, Ford imports Transit Connect vans from Turkey with rear seats to avoid the tax, then strips them out before sale. Mercedes imports parts for its Sprinter vans to assemble in South Carolina, then sells the final product as “made in America.” That same tariff is still in effect, 55 years later. Donald Trump, never one to walk on eggshells, has even tweeted praise for it, arguing that if we had it in place on passenger cars, General Motors wouldn’t have had to close factories in 2018. (Right now, it may not matter, considering coronavirus has run new car sales off the road along with chicken wings.) Today it looks like most of the excess wings will wind up frozen for a day, hopefully not too far away, when they can be served at your favorite local pub. Until then, we’ll be keeping an eye out for any sort of tax planning developments to help ease your way through the crisis! Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.
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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
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Life C ach
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
It’s All Possible! By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., MFT, CLC
MAY 7, 2020
C
lementine, valentine, quarantine. Who would have believed
we’d be adding that last word to a list of similar sounding words with any real connection to us?!
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what conditions. Yet, the point of focus here is that we can learn something. Everything is on the table. G-d can do anything! Why not very good things too?! We can still be surprised. Even to the upside! So live life with a different attitude. You may need to cover your mouth and nose, but don’t turn a blind eye. You may need to keep your hands clean, but don’t wash away possibilities.
You may need to cover your mouth and nose but don’t turn a blind eye.
you wanted – it can be around the corner. Yes, that house with the right number of rooms and at the right price – that could certainly be out there. OK, sure, the question still looms: will you be out there?! But, of course, you will! I’m not guaranteeing when or with
Be more open. Be more optimistic. Be a believer...that it’s all in the realm of the things that can happen....
Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com.
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Sure, it made sense back in the Bible referring to tzaaras (spiritual leprosy) or when it was considered relevant in the olden days! But in our lifetimes?! It just goes to show: you just never know! But therein is the great news. Sorry, no, I have no idea when the quarantine will end or how life will get back to normal, normal. But the great news is that it just goes to show that anything can happen! Yes, that elusive guy you wanted for your daughter – he can show up. Yes, that job that pays you what
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