Baltimore Jewish Home 5-9-24

Wednesday

Topics will include:

Daber Davar on Shabbos

Coorporate Outings

Common Ribbis Shilos in a Struggling Economy

Timely Payment of Vendors

Employee Relations and more

Speakers will include:

Rav Yisroel Reisman

Rav Dov Kahan

Rav Yosef Kushner

Rav Dovid Heber

Rav Aharon Feldman

Rav Yaakov Hopfer

Rav Zev Cohen

Rav Aharon Lopiansky

Rav Mordechai Shuchatowitz

Honoring Deserving Children, Youth, & Adults!

Nominate someone who has done special acts of service or safety for our community! They will be recognized at an award ceremony with family and friends.

It’s As Easy As 1,2,3!

Submit your nominations by clicking the link on chesedfund.com or by sending an email to info@chesedfund.com.

2. Include an explanation of why your nominee should be awarded.

3. Provide your full contact information as well as your nominee’s.

THIS YEAR, TWO NEW AWARDS!

YESODEI YISROEL

PILLAR OF ISRAEL AWARD

Nominate someone who showed exceptional support of Israel.

GIBOR MILCHAMA

SALUTE OUR HEROES AWARD

Nominate a local IDF soldier for their commitment to protect klal yisroel.

Winners will be chosen at the discretion of The Chesed Fund and Project Ezra. Also dedicated in memory of Paul Naden,

, who was the embodiment of kindness.

The Chesed youth or safety and recognize

Dear Readers,

On Pesach, we are commanded to remember how our enemies wanted to destroy us and we were saved. I’m not comparing our times today to when Bnei Yisroel was oppressed in Egypt or G-d forbid to the times of the Holocaust. But now, for us living today, we can understand, if just a little, of how such oppression can begin. We are living in trying times. Honestly sometimes the world feels like it’s going to end. I’m still at a loss on how to reconcile what happened on October 7th. The pain is still thick and heavy. It’s not in the past. We are threatened physically in Israel, we are threatened in America both physically and spiritually, and Judeo-Christian values are threatened globally. I started saying in 2020 that the pandemic wasn’t just Covid, it was a loss of common sense. Today, it’s evolved into a loss of common sense, decency, morality, you name it…

What’s left? I don’t know what to grab on to. The future seems bleak. I have emunah, I trust in Hashem, and I know this is all meant to be, where one day it might all be revealed to us why and how this had to happen. But today… today I’m grasping for straws. I can only hold onto the one. One individual. It’s one person at a time who will save us (with Hashem’s help).

It’s the Jewish university student who tells their story of discrimination publicly. It’s the person who goes to clean up the encampments’

aftermath at UCLA. It’s Israel’s Representative Gilad Erdan mincing no words in front of the UN General Assembly. It’s the non-Jew wearing the hostage dog tag necklaces in public. It’s the mother inviting people to her Seder to learn about Judaism. It’s the father inviting someone into shul and teaching them to daven. It’s the Chabad teenage boys on the corner putting tefillin on strangers. It’s the group of women saying Tehillim and the avreichim learning in Kollel day and night for the hostages to be released. It’s the people who attend a stranger’s funeral to show that their life mattered. It’s the lone soldier who left his family to protect his people.

In this week’s Parshas Kedoshim, we are told to be holy, by separating ourselves from the other nations. Hashem gave us clear instructions on how to behave, how to be different, and how to go against the crowd. We have to leave behind a part of our fields for the poor, keep kosher laws (some of which make no sense), never lie, be honest in business even if we lose money, don’t bear a grudge or take revenge, and love every Jew. Don’t follow the flock. Stand out & be different. Stand up and make a difference. Be that one individual who instills just a tiny ray of hope when the world seems so dark.

Wishing you an enlightening Shabbos, Ariela Kauffman Guest Contributor

&

and mazal tovs to editor@baltimorejewishhome.com

Girls Chesed League Baltimore Kicks Off the 2024 Season

The Girls Chesed League is excited to fill the Baltimore community with another season of chesed! Comprised of 11 teams representing 4 community schools (Bais Yaakov, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School , Bnos Yisroel, and Ohr Chadash Academy ) 70 Middle School girls have committed to performing acts of chesed over the course of 6 weeks.

We got together for a delicious breakfast hosted by Suburban Orthodox Toras Chaim and heard an inspiring dvar Torah from Rabbi

Shmuel Silber. Rabbi Silber empowered each of us to extend ourselves beyond what we think is even possible, and motivated us as we embark on this Chesed journey.

For dessert we were treated to the Kona Ice Truck! Nothing like ices and ice cream to cheer us up on a dreary day! The Kona guy expressed how impressed he was by the girls' manners and behavior. Thank you Kona Ice of Central Baltimore County !

Thank you to Rosendorff’s Bakery for the delicious desserts that we all enjoyed!

We are incredibly grateful for this year’s Baltimore Chesed LeagueGirls sponsor: Blue Ocean , and to the 11 teams' sponsors:

Details By Dena, Baltimore Jewish Home, The Naomi Center, The Mimi Boutique, Talint Consulting , Yehudis Wigs, Chic Events by Shira, Nina Elman Interiors, Simcha Steps Tzippy Sobel Levin , Kinder Krafts (The Crafty Engineer) The Candy Store

We are also appreciative of our new partnership with Atlantic Seaboard NCSY and the Orthodox Union

All teams got right to work and didn’t let the rain stop them from cleaning up the neighborhood! In partnership with Councilman Isaac Yitzy Schleifer , teams were equipped with gloves and grabbers and headed out to the Cross Country Stream to pick up litter along the grass. Teams were stopped by people passing by and thanked for their kindness. What a great way to start our season of chesed.

Thank you for partnering with us and giving us the opportunity to send waves of Chesed into the world!

, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CONGREGATION SHOMREI EMUNAH, INVITES YOU TO CELEBRATE ISRAEL’S 76TH BIRTHDAY!

YOM HA’ATZMAUT

COMMUNITY CELEBRATION YOM HA’ATZMAUT COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2024

TEKES AT 5:30PM FOLLOWED BY THE CELEBRATION

CONGREGATION SHOMREI EMUNAH 6221 GREENSPRING AVENUE

JOIN US FOR A CARNIVAL-STYLE EVENT HIGHLIGHTING ISRAEL'S RESILIENCE AND CHESED.

MAKE A LEKET ISRAELI SALAD • LEARN ABOUT ZAKA VISIT WITH HATZALAH • DO AN ETGARIM CHALLENGE

FREE AND OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY! SUGGESTED DONATION OF $18/FAMILY RSVP PREFERRED AT OCABALTIMORE.ORG/YH24

OCA Rebbe Selected for Prestigious Award in Jewish Education

Mazal Tov to Rabbi Gershon Riselsheimer, Ohr Chadash Academy (OCA)’s Middle School Rebbe and 6th Grade Advisor for receiving the Sam Kahan Distinguished Educator for Excellence in Jewish Education award. The Sam Kahan Distinguished Educator award perpetuates Sam Kahan’s legacy of personal commitment to Jewish education and to strengthening Baltimore’s Jewish educational institutions. The recipient is a master Jewish educator who serves as an inspiration to both students and peers. The OCA staff and administration were honored, along with representatives from Jewish Educational Services, to surprise and present Rabbi Riselsheimer with this award!

KLAUSENBURGER REBBE

The Life and Times of THE SHEFA CHAIM OF SANZ by AVROHOM BIRNBAUM

Despite enduring unspeakable personal tragedies, Rav Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam, the Klausenburger Rebbe, ascended to remarkable spiritual heights while inspiring his suffering brethren, offering hope and illuminating faith in a world shrouded in darkness. In this powerfully written biography, we encounter this extraordinary Torah giant, whose unwavering faith served as a beacon, drawing thousands to Torah observance and rebuilding the Torah world. He instituted programs like Mifal Hashas that were revolutionary His private avodas Hashem seemed superhuman, as he spent hours on end immersed in Torah learning and tefillah, inspiring others towards greater spiritual aspirations.

Greater Washington Community

Second Annual Maryland Softball Competition (MDSC)

IY”H on Sunday, June 23rd, the Yeshiva of Greater Washington will be having its second annual softball competition fundraiser. Last year we had eight teams participate in an all-day softball tournament. The first half of the day took place at Reisterstown Regional Park, and the semi-finals, home run derby and championship game took place in the afternoon at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium.

This year we are working on having two tiers of eight teams each, for a total of sixteen teams. As of now, we have five Silver Spring teams, five Baltimore teams, and one team each

from Chicago, Detroit, Columbus, and Atlanta.

The competition is a family friendly event; there will be a carnival at Ripken stadium that includes pony and horse rides, inflatable obstacle courses, moon bounces, face painting, professional fireworks show and much more.

All proceeds of the event go towards the Yeshiva’s Scholarship Fund. For more information, check out our website at www.yeshiva.edu/mdsc. If you are interested in participating, please contact Rabbi Yitzi Labell at ylabell@yeshiva.edu.

Around the Rabbis’ Table: Inaugural Silver Spring Informational Event for Men re: Taharas HaMishpacha

On Tuesday, March 26, the Mikvah Emunah Society of Greater Washington held an unprecedented program for men about Taharas HaMishpacha. Under the auspices of

the Robin Niman Mikvah Education Fund, established in memory of mikvah visionary Robin Niman a”h, and in conjunction with Core Torah, the Zoom event was named “Around the Rabbis’ Table: A Panel Discussion

for Men on Common Taharas HaMishpacha Misconceptions.”

The educational program featured poskim from across the Kemp Mill community, with a focus on halachic misconceptions that many men may have.

In the past, the Robin Niman Mikvah Education Fund has focused on educational programming for women. This event, coordinated by the Mikvah Emunah Society’s Mikvah Manager Chayie Chinn, was its first foray into men’s programming.

Moderated by Rabbi Hillel Shaps (Director of Special Projects for the Greater Washington Community Kollel), the rabbinic panel included: Rabbi Michoel Frank (Ohr Hatorah), Rabbi Eliyahu Reingold (Kollel Zichron Amram, YGW), Rabbi Dovid Rosenbaum (Young Israel Shomrai Emunah), Rabbi Brahm Weinberg (Kemp Mill Synagogue), and Rabbi Berel

Wolvovsky (Chabad of Silver Spring). The turnout was incredible, surpassing anyone’s expectations: 125 men from various Washington area shuls participated and the feedback was extremely positive and encouraging. The post-event survey demonstrated appreciation for the content and the access the program provided to guidance from a range of local Rabbonim. Respondents reported having learned new information about Taharas HaMishpacha, expressed gratitude for this unique educational opportunity, and requested more events of this nature in the future.

Based upon the positive response and feedback, the Mikvah Emunah Society plans to hold future informational sessions for men to increase knowledge, allay misperceptions, and enhance observance of Taharas HaMishpacha across the Greater Washington Jewish community.

www.bit.ly/JTAPNOA

$18 Suggested Donation Suggested Donation

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29 7:30 PM

BNAI JACOB SHAAREI ZION

Teens

Guided Conversation and Reflection on our Impact as Adults in an Unknown Space with DR. AKIVA PERLMAN DR. AKIVA PERLMAN

Akiva Perlman, PhD., is a professor and lecturer on topics of abuse, addiction, and trauma. He has educated more than a thousand frum social workers from our community and is currently serving as professor at Wurzweiler School of Social work.

Dr. Perlman is the clinical director of ODA’s Wellness Center, a clinic which serves the chassidishe community in Williamsburg. He maintains a practice on Long Island where he resides with his wife Tamar and children.

Greater Washington Community

Madame Cleeman’s Wax Museum

By: Mrs. Deborah Cleeman Fifth Grade Boys’ ELA Teacher, Torah School of Greater Washington

What do Paul Revere, Marc Chagall, the Rambam, Wayne Gretzky, Stan Lee, and the Wright Brothers have in common? They are but a few of the many personalities that were represented in Madame Cleeman’s 5B Wax Museum at the Torah School in Silver Maryland this past Wednesday. What began as an in-class book report activity has blossomed into a presentation that has taken on a life of its own. Beginning with an assignment to read a biography about someone they find interesting and who reflects the values of our community, each fifth grader is then tasked with converting the biographical information into an autobiographical format. This is especially challenging; deciding what to leave out is much more difficult than choosing what to include.

The first step of this long-term, independent assignment is to present

the speech in front of the class. This is an exercise in giving and receiving constructive criticism, and it is always a treat to listen to how sensitive and respectful the students are of one another’s feelings.

Next, the boys practice with one another. This has the unintended benefit of creating a feeling of achdut in the class. Although the reports are individually written, the goal to make the “team” do its best shines through. And then, for the behind-the-scenes nachas. How wonderful it is to watch as the boys help each other create props, build scenery, and donate costumes.

Each year, there are new surprises: a memorized speech by a “blind” individual, an entire speech delivered with an English accent, an actual musician performing his talent, an artist displaying an original work.

The Wax Museum has proven to be an out-of-the-box educational vehicle that integrates general and Judaic studies, language arts and creative modalities and reaps benefits, now, and as the boys mature.

Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide

shacharis

6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M-F

6:25 am Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F

6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation M-F Chabad of Silver Spring M-F

Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY M-F

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S YGW M, Th

6:35 am Ohr Hatorah M, Th

6:40 am YGW S, M, Th

6:45 am Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th

Ohr Hatorah T, W, F

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M, Th

Magen David Sephardic Congregation M-Th

6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah M, Th Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F

6:55 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah T, W, F

7:00 am Chabad of Upper Montgomery County M-F

Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Silver Spring Jewish Center S Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah T, W, F

Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac M-F

7:05 am Kesher Israel M, Th

7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th Kesher Israel T, W, F

Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue M-F Ohr Hatorah S

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M-F

7:30 am Chabad of DC M-F

Chabad of Potomac M-F JROC M-F

Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) S-F

7:35 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Rosh Chodesh Only)

7:45 am YGW (Yeshiva Session Only) S

7:50 am Magen David Sephardic Congregation F

8:00 am Beth Sholom Congregation S

Kemp Mill Synagogue S

Kesher Israel S Magen David Sephardic Congregation S

Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY S

Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S

8:00 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah S

YGW (High School; School-Contingent) S Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac S Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S

8:15 am Ohr Hatorah S Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F

8:30 am Beth Joshua Congregation / Berman Hebrew Academy S-F Chabad of DC S Chabad of Potomac S Chabad of Upper Montgomery County S JROC S Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue S Silver Spring Jewish Center S YGW (Summer Only) S-F

8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S-F

9:00 am Chabad of Silver Spring S Kemp Mill Synagogue S

mincha/maariv Before Shkiah, S-TH

Beth Sholom Congregation Chabad of Potomac

Chabad of Silver Spring

Chabad of Upper Montgomery County

JROC

Kemp Mill Synagogue Kesher Israel

Magen David Sephardic Congregation

Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue Ohr Hatorah

Silver Spring Jewish Center

Southeast Hebrew Congregation, Knesset Yehoshua Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah

Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac

Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Asheknaz) Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sefarhadi)

maariv

8:15

1:00 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center M-Th

1:50 pm YGW Summer

2:20 pm YGW School Days

2:45 pm YGW S-Th

4:30 pm Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY S-Th mincha

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ries. However, it is interesting to note, that in Eretz Yisrael, almost everyand culture so we have to learn to go with the flow with each

In addition, (unlike the situation in circles), we have many more boys than girls, and would like to find different ways to identify more girls with whom to suggest shiddu-

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The Week In News

officials to believe that he possibly had been killed in the massacre. Last week, authorities confirmed that after Zaka had unearthed dozens of graves, Elyakim’s DNA had been found alongside another victim.

Elyakim Libman, Hy”d

Elyakim Libman, 23, was killed on October 7 while he was working as a security guard at the Nova Music Festival. But until last week, authorities thought that Elyakim had been taken hostage by Hamas.

Authorities had not been able to find forensic evidence that Elyakim had been captured. One of his body parts was also found recently, leading

On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces announced Elyakim’s death. His funeral was held at the Old Jewish cemetery in Chevron.

Elyakim’s mother, Avishag, spoke of her young son, calling him a “sweet, smiling, and smart boy.” He was remembered for his good deeds by the “thousands” who attended the funeral.

“We wanted you to get married at the Cave of the Patriarchs, and in the end, we are burying you next to it,” Avishag lamented.

Elyakim’s brother, Elkana, said that he believed Elyakim was “hiding some place and in another second would return” and that the family believed there was no way he would have allowed himself to be kidnapped. He added that he imagined his brother killing his captors while being held by them.

National Security Minister Itam-

ar Ben Gvir said at the funeral that “whoever shows mercy to cruel people will end up being cruel to the merciful,” railing against the government’s approval of humanitarian aid to Gaza, noting that Hamas on Sunday shelled the Kerem Shalom border crossing, the very place where trucks enter the Strip.

“I pray that Elyakim will give us the strength to enter Rafah and take care of the source, the strength to wage war in Lebanon, and also the strength not to be silent in Iran when they attack us — only by strength, with G-d’s help, will we win,” he said.

Elyakim’s father is Eliyahu Libman, council chairman of the town of Kiryat Arba in the West Bank.

According to the family, Elyakim died a hero, as he stayed behind at the music festival for hours, treating those who were wounded until he was killed. Another security guard who survived told them that Elyakim and his friend Eitan Mor stopped to help an injured woman. The other guard, Moshe, begged them to save themselves, but they didn’t want to leave her. That was

the last Moshe saw of Elyakim and Eitan.

Eitan Mor is still believed to be held hostage in Gaza.

With the burial of Elyakim, the number of hostages taken on October 7 by Hamas terrorists changes from 253 to 252.

Terrorists from Bahrain Attack Israel

Since October 7, Israel, in addition to its war with Hamas in Gaza, has been battling terrorist groups from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, who compose Iran’s Axis of Resistance.

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ELECTION DAY: TUESDAY, MAY 14 TH 7:00am - 8:00pm

The Week In News

Now, seven months into the war, a fifth front may have opened up in Bahrain.

On Thursday, the Al-Ashtar Brigades, which is part of the Islamic Resistance in Bahrain, claimed responsibility for a drone attack on the headquarters of Trucknet Enterprises, an Israeli company in Eilat, that the terror group claims was carried out on Saturday. According to the militant group, the target is “responsible for land transportation in the Zionist entity” and was attacked “in support of the Palestinian cause and in support of our people resisting in Gaza.”

“The Islamic Resistance in Bahrain confirms that it is continuing its movement and support at all levels for our patient people in the resistant Gaza,” the terrorist organization declared in a similar statement to those made by Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the Islamic Resistance of Iraq. “It will not stop its operations unless the Zionist aggression against Gaza stops.”

The Israel Defense Forces hasn’t yet commented on the alleged attack.

The government of Bahrain, as well as the United States and the United Kingdom, recognize the Al-Ashtar Brigades as a rogue terrorist group.

The terror group is in opposition to the monarchy of Bahrain and has carried out terror attacks in the country. Following the announcement of the purported attack, the group published alleged footage of the attack. As part of the video, which was heavily censored, a portrait of four terrorists was shown: Reda al-Ghasra, Mustafa Yousef, and Mahmoud Yahya, who were killed by Bahraini officials after they attempted to flee to Iran from prison, and Amhed al-Malali, who was given the death penalty in 2019.

This past March, the U.S. State Department and Bahrain issued sanctions against “three Iran-based operatives and a financial facilitator linked to Al-Ashtar Brigades, a U.S.-designated terrorist group,” the U.S. said.

“These designations highlight the critical role Iran plays in providing support to Al-Ashtar Brigades,” the State Department said. “In 2018, the government of Bahrain prosecuted numerous individuals for terrorism-related activities. A number of these individuals fled Bahrain to evade prison sentences and settled in Iran, which has long supported and continues to serve as a safe haven for terror-

ist groups.”

On Thursday, Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, said that he was unaware of reports of the Al-Ashtar Brigades attack, but reiterated the U.S.’s commitment to preventing an escalation in the region.

“We’ve seen a couple points since October 7 where there has been serious potential of it spreading and having it escalate, and you’ve seen us work quite intensively during that period,” Miller said, in reference particularly to Iran’s recent bombardment of Israel.

“So it continues to be our goal, and it is something that you have to work on every day,” he said. “When you see the conflict in Gaza continue, obviously it adds to tensions in the region, and it is a type of thing that you can never rest on, in terms of trying to prevent the conflict from spreading.”

Moving Towards Saudi Rapprochement

According to Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, the United States and Saudi Arabia are “very close” to arriving at a bilateral agreement aimed at distancing Riyadh from Washington’s adversaries.

However, the Gulf kingdom has said that it will reject such a deal unless it normalizes ties with Israel – a move that, according to reports, would likely require Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, halt building in Judea and Samaria, and create a concrete threeto-five year plan for the establishment of an effective and trustworthy Palestinian state.

“We are very close to reaching an agreement on the bilateral pieces of the package between the United States and Saudi Arabia. There are a few details that we have to continue to work through, but we think we can

The Week In News

agreement on those details in a very short order,” said Miller. “We were looking at not just a path to two states, but also the reconstruction of Gaza, governance of Gaza, security for Gaza. Some pieces are further along than others… We hope to make progress on that and have the agreements ready to put forward as soon as possible.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the Jewish state will continue fighting in Gaza until Hamas is defeated. Despite the premier’s likely rejection, the U.S. is pushing this initiative because it believes regional integration is crucial for Israel’s long-term security and prosperity, Miller said, adding that by fostering stronger ties with its neighbors, Israel can counterbalance Iran’s influence, connect with valuable partners in the region, and find support for the reconstruction of Gaza.

Last week, while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel, he warned Netanyahu and other Israeli government officials that Jerusalem is running out of time to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia and that a military

expansion into Rafah could immediately kill the prospect of normalization, with Blinken adding that a hostage agreement must be met soon if Israel hopes to ever normalize ties with Saudi Arabia.

Israel’s “Cyber Dome”

Since October 7, Israel has been fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip and has exchanged fire with Hezbollah, the Houthis, Iran, and other terror proxies. But alongside the Jewish state’s physical war against a number of terror groups, Israel has also been involved in a much more covert cyber war.

Since war broke out on October 7, Israel has been hit with 800 major cyber attacks, many of which have come from Iran and its proxies, according to Aviram Atzaba, the Israeli National Cyber Directorate’s head of international cooperation.

“It is a silent war, one which is not visible,” Atzaba noted. “They

[Hamas and Hezbollah] are trying to hack everything they can, [but] they have not succeeded in causing any real damage.”

Government agencies, the army, and civilian infrastructure have been targeted in sophisticated cyber-attacks, some of which have succeeded. For instance, in Haifa and Safed, patient hospital data was hacked.

Although Israel has, in the past, implemented measures towards defending itself against such attacks, the Jewish state’s Tel Aviv-based cyber directorate is now developing a “cyber dome,” an effective, real-time cyber defense system that works in a similar way as the Iron Dome, which protects Israel from

enemy rockets.

Chuck Freilich, an Institute for National Security Studies researcher, says that Iran is “an impressive enemy” in terms of its cyber abilities.

“Its attacks aim to sabotage and destroy infrastructure, but also to collect data for intelligence and spread false information for propaganda purposes,” he added.

According to Freilich, just a little over a decade ago, Iran didn’t have major cyber-hacking abilities. In 2009, in response to protests, Iran blocked access to websites and social media platforms that reported on the demonstrations. The following year, Iran’s nuclear program was hit by a major cyberattack that Tehran has attributed to the U.S. and Israel. Since then, Iran has evolved into a formidable force, emerging as “one of the most active countries in cyberspace,” said Freilich.

“For the past two years, we have been developing a cyber dome against cyberattacks, which func -

The Week In News

tions like the Iron Dome against rockets,” Atzaba said. “With cyber dome, all sources are fed into a large data pool that enables a view of the big picture and to invoke a national response in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.”

Israel Bans Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera, a news outlet based in Qatar, has been shut down in Israel, following a decision by Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi to temporarily ban the network and the subsequent approval of Karhi’s order by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the security cabinet.

This action comes after an emergency law was passed in April, permitting the prime minister and the communications minister to issue temporary bans on foreign news outlets deemed a national security threat. The government vote to ban Al Jazeera was unanimous, with war cabinet min-

ister Benny Gantz’s National Unity party abstaining from the vote due to concerns that the decision may interfere with hostage talks in Qatar.

Al Jazeera was shut down in Israel on Sunday, May 5, and will remain closed for 45 days, after which the government may choose to renew the ban. On Sunday afternoon, police confiscated equipment, including cameras, microphones, servers, and broadcasting equipment, from Al Jazeera’s two offices in Jerusalem. On that same day, Al Jazeera’s channel and websites were blocked by several TV and internet providers in Israel.

“Too much time has passed, and there have been too many unnecessary legal hurdles in order to finally stop the well-oiled incitement machine of Al Jazeera, which harms national security,” Karhi declared, calling channels like Al Jazeera “megaphones for Hamas.”

“We will act immediately against those who use freedom of the press to harm Israeli security and IDF troops, and incite terrorism at a time of war,” he added.

“On the eve of Holocaust Day, the government is sending a strong message against the propaganda arm of the terrorist state of Qatar,” Economy Minister Nir Barkat said on social media. “We will not allow Israel’s enemies to broadcast antisemitic propaganda and blood plots from our territory.”

Al Jazeera and Israel’s Foreign Press Association condemned the Israeli government’s decision as harmful and non-democratic.

Elma Avraham to Come Home

Elma Avraham had been taken hostage by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7. The 85-yearold had been in good health until her captivity. On November 26, Elma was released as part of a weeklong ceasefire and was airlifted to Soroka Medical Center in serious condition, with a pulse of 40 and a body temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Now, five months later, Elma is fi-

nally being sent home.

“They held her in terrible conditions,” daughter Tali Amano told reporters outside the hospital at the time, noting that her mother was released from Gaza mere “hours before we would have lost her.”

“My mother didn’t need to return this way and I have no idea how she will make it through these days,” added Amano.

Following Elma’s release, the Red Cross was accused of denying her medicine. IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari charged, “She was denied life-saving medications. She was not visited by the Red Cross.”

The Week In News

IDF Heads into Rafah

Early Tuesday morning, Israeli tanks rolled into the southern Gaza Strip, capturing the Palestinian side of the Rafah Crossing on the Egypt border, in what the military called a “pinpoint operation” against the Hamas terror group.

Israel moved forward with plans to head into Rafah after Hamas refused all truce deals offered by Israel. Israel is hoping that a “limited operation” in the city will pressure the terrorist group to accept a deal. The operation, for now, is much smaller in scale than what was initially envisioned by the

IDF.

The Rafah Crossing, located less than 2 miles from the Israeli border, was captured amid a “pinpoint operation” against Hamas in “limited areas of eastern Rafah,” the IDF said. It is located along the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, separating Egypt and Gaza.

As of Tuesday morning, Israel controlled all of the known overground crossings with Gaza.

The IDF said it had “intelligence information that terrorists were using the crossing area for terror purposes.” On Sunday, rockets were fired by Hamas from near the crossing toward the Kerem Shalom area in southern Israel, killing four soldiers and wounding others.

The IDF said more than 50 Hamas sites in Rafah were struck by the air force overnight. Another 50 sites had been hit in the area late Monday, according to the military.

Israel has carried out airstrikes in Rafah with some regularity in recent months, even as ground troops remained out of the city. Around a mil-

lion Palestinians are said to be living in Rafah now. Israeli defense officials say four of Hamas’s six remaining battalions are in the city, along with members of the group’s leadership and a significant number of the hostages abducted from Israel on October 7 during the terror group’s massacre.

On Monday morning, Israel issued evacuation orders for 100,000 Gazans in parts of eastern Rafah, who were told to evacuate to a designated “humanitarian zone” near Khan Younis, north of Rafah.

Fatal Rocket Attack

On Sunday, Hamas launched a rocket attack from Rafah, hitting a group of Israeli soldiers stationed near a border crossing. Ten soldiers were wounded and four were killed in the attack, bringing the number of soldiers murdered during Israel’s Gaza ground campaign to 267.

The fallen soldiers were identified as Staff Sgt. Ruben Marc Mordechai Assouline, a soldier from Ra’anana; Staff Sgt. Ido Testa, who was from Jerusalem; Staff Sgt. Tal Shavit, who was from Kfar Giladi; and Sgt. Michael Ruzal, from Rishon Lezion.

Assouline and Testa were both 19 years old and fought in the Givati Brigade’s Shaked Battalion. Shavit and Ruzal, who were 21 and 18, respectively, fought in the Nahal Brigade’s 931st Battalion.

Three soldiers are currently in serious condition. The troops were brought to the hospital via ambulance, while one soldier was airlifted to a medical facility.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, which hit close to the Kerem Shalom crossing, a border crossing through which thousands of truckloads of humanitarian aid for Gazans have been transported. In response, Israel struck launchers and a Hamas building in Rafah and shut down the border crossing.

Rafah is believed to be Hamas’ last

The Week In News

major stronghold in the Gaza Strip.

“We have clear goals for this war. We are committed to the elimination of Hamas and the release of the hostages. We have given [Hamas] time, and we wanted to reach a situation where we would realize the release of the hostages as quickly as possible, with a certain delay in the operational action, because the hostages are in a difficult situation and we need to make every effort to release them,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said to soldiers stationed in the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza.

“We have identified alarming signs that Hamas actually does not intend to go for any agreement framework with us. The meaning of this [is] action in Rafah and the entire Gaza Strip in the very near future,” Gallant added.

On Sunday, Israel also conducted an airstrike on a UNRWA building used by Hamas as a command-and-control center.

“The attack was carefully planned and carried out using precise weaponry to avoid as much harm as possible to uninvolved [civilians],” the Israeli

army said. “The Hamas terror organization systematically exploits international institutions and the civilian population as a human shield for terror actions against the State of Israel.”

property in an unincorporated area of King County since she had broken free from a trailer on a highway exit off Interstate 90, about 30 miles east of Seattle, on April 28.

The mare had been spotted on lawns throughout the week, but officials, residents, and wranglers had been unable to capture Sugar.

That’s when her owner, Kristine Keltgen, called in reinforcements.

Catching Sugar with Bread

The last of four zebras that escaped from a trailer in North Bend, Washington, was safely corralled on Friday with the help of a former rodeo bullfighter, a lookout on a mountain bike, and a package of white bread.

The zebra, named Sugar, had been wandering the grounds of a 300-acre

“It’s very frustrating because I’m here in Montana trying to organize this search,” said Keltgen, who runs a petting zoo in Anaconda, Montana.

Among those who helped in the initial capture of three zebras was David Danton, 52, a former rodeo clown and bullfighter. He organized a team of four people whom he could trust to remain calm around the potentially skittish animal.

But how to find the last animal on such a sprawling property? Danton put out feelers in North Bend and found that Sugar wasn’t as elusive as it might have seemed.

He was connected with a mountain biker who had seen Sugar on several of

his rides. The biker reported when and where he saw the zebra, and Danton began to plot and track her movements and patterns.

He found a roughly 3-acre pasture with fences around it and knew it would be the perfect place to start corralling Sugar.

Keltgen had said the zebra’s favorite treat was white bread, so Danton got half a loaf from the property owner and began crinkling the wrapper. Sugar’s ears perked up, and she began to follow Danton into the enclosure.

After placing hay and oats in the middle to distract and calm Sugar, the team built a corral out of steel panels and rope that they could pull in to shrink the size of the fence. Danton and his team eventually created a small-enough pen to lead Sugar through an alleyway he had erected and made to end at a trailer.

And with that, the zebra was on her way home.

“Life is about the power of positivity,” he said. “If you think you can do something, the likelihood of you doing it goes way up.” (© The New York Times)

Dovi Stern & Yaffa Caine

Tzirel Sussman (White Oak) to Shimie Noble

Shimshie Methal (Passaic) & Chani Silberberg (Baltimore)

Eli Krug & Shifra Weiss

Nesanel (Tani) Males (Baltimore) & Rivky Stein (Atlanta)

Yanky Lowenbraun & Raizy Friedman

Moshe Kutoff & Rena Gross

Matisyahu Topas (Baltimore) and Yael Hersher (Miami)

Binyamin Berkowitz & Alexis Leibowitz

Countdown to Commitment

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Torah Thought A Time for Planting

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

The Ibn Ezra points out a striking similarity between the process of purification of the Metzora and the bringing of the Korban Pesach in Egypt. Both implemented the use of a bundle of Eizov — Hyssop. In the case of a Metzora, to sprinkle seven times, together with cedar wood, the bloodmixture upon the Metzora, and in Egypt, to use the hyssop plant to paint the blood of the Pesach upon the lintel and doorposts.

The Torah introduces the command of Orlah, which prohibits one from partaking of fruits that grow on newly planted trees for the first three years from its planting.

The Midrash states that the very planting of trees is a fulfillment of the command to emulate the attributes of G-d and cleave to Him. Just as G-d planted trees, as it states: Hashem G-d planted a garden in Eden, so too are we instructed: When you shall come to the land and you shall plant any food tree...

What divine characteristic is there in the planting of trees that imitates the Almighty?

The Midrash Tanchuma records a fascinating tale:

There is a story about the emperor Hadrian, that he was going to war and traveling with his troops to fight with a certain country for having rebelled against him. Now he found a certain old man who was planting fig saplings. Hadrian said to him: “You are an old man. Why are you persisting in taking the trouble to toil for others?”

He said to Hadrian: “My Lord Emperor, here I am planting. If I am worthy, I shall eat of the fruit of my saplings; but if not, my children will eat.”

The emperor spent three years at war, and after three years he returned.

What did that old man do? He took a fruit basket, filled it with the first fruits of beautiful figs, and drew near to Hadrian. He said to him: “My Lord Emperor: Take these figs, for I am the same old man whom you found when you were on your way to the war, when

you said: ‘You are an old man. Why are you taking the trouble to toil for others?’ See, the Holy One has already found me worthy to eat some fruit from my saplings. Now this fruit in my basket is from those saplings.”

Hadrian said to his servants: “Take it from him and fill it with gold coins.” And so they did.

The old man took the fruit basket full of gold coins and began to go about his house boasting to his wife and children. So, he told them the story.

Now a woman neighbor of his was there. She heard what the old man had said. She said to her husband: “When all the children of Adam go through life, the Holy One gives to them and prepares bounty for them. But you dwell in your dark house in dark misfortune. See, our [neighbor] honored

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Torah Thought

the emperor with a fruit basket of figs; and he filled it with gold coins for him. Now you get up, take a large basket, and fill it with varieties of choice fruit, with apples, figs, and the other varieties of beautiful fruit, since he loves them a lot. Go and honor him with them. Perhaps he will fill it with gold for you, as he did for our old neighbor.”

He went and heeded his wife. So, he took a large basket, filled it with apples and figs, and loaded it on his shoulder. Taking a shortcut, he quickly arrived at the emperor and said to him: “My Lord Emperor, I heard that you love fruit, I have come to honor you with figs and apples.”

The Emperor said to his officers: “Take the basket and hit him on his face.” And so, they did. They hit him on his face, until his face swelled up; smashed his eyes; and made an example of him. So, he went home as one of whom an example had been made

and crying. Now she thought that he was coming with a basket full of gold coins. So, when she saw him with his face swollen and with his body shattered and beaten, she said to him: “What is the matter with you?” He said to her: “When I heeded you and went to honor him with this gift, they hit me on my face. If I had listened to you and put varieties of hard fruit in the basket, they would already have pelted my face and my whole body with them...”

Therefore, one should not cease from planting... one should continue to plant even though he is old. The Holy One said to Israel: “Learn from me...” And the Lord G-d planted a garden in Eden...

Many see as the lesson in this tale of the old man, his mimicking the divine attribute of G-d who does solely for others, absent of any personal need, as indicated in the old man’s referring to his efforts benefiting his

children, even in the event he expires before the fruits are reaped.

This would account for the Hadrian’s vastly different reaction toward the neighbor, who exhibited his industry of effort only for the sake of selfish recompense, in stark contrast to the noble old man.

But truth be told the old man only mentions that possibility as the default. His initial hope is that he may be worthy to eat of his fruits.

The Tolna Rebbe takes note of an apparent inconsequential detail reported in the account of the neighbor who attempted to duplicate his reward, telling us that he took a shortcut in reaching Hadrian. Why is that significant?

Perhaps the moral of the story is that in life it is never about the objective alone, but more so about living in the moment and seeing it as a morsel of eternity.

Orlah that limits our deriving benefit from the fruits for three years, that accentuates the value of each increment of time even as the goal is so far away.

There is no past nor future for a Jew. Every moment that presents itself to us is a point on the graph of eternity. It is a treasure to be cherished, savored and utilized properly, for it is in those moments that our eternity is constructed. (Inspired by a talk of the Tolna Rebbe)

The old man seeks to teach the power crazed Hadrian, who tramples on others in his pursuit of personal conquest, that it makes no difference in life what you accomplish. It is in the infusing of each moment of life with meaning and connection, relishing the opportunity we have every second of our life to bond with the source of all life, by doing everything with a heightened sense of meaning in allegiance to a benevolent Creator. Hadrian when presented with a basket full of fruit, ponders momentarily his own angst-ridden and tortuous life as contrasted with the calm and worry free old man, to whom it really makes no difference whether his efforts will benefit himself or others — for all that truly that matters is experiencing the joy and the gift of life itself that is present in any circumstance — is touched by that truth and rewards the old man for the valuable lesson. However, when Hadrian is approached by the opportunistic neighbor — who wallows in self-pity over his misfortune and is blind to the value of life — rushing to grab for the prize, he disgustedly

It is within the context of the law of

A great Tzaddik was wont to express each morning: Shalom Aleichem new day! What a momentous day! Thousands of years have waited for you to arrive. You are part of the program that the Holy One blessed be He, has charted yet from creation. Much have I waited longingly for you, and now that you have arrived, the day is short and the work abundant. I can only be with you for twenty-four hours, after which I will never see you again. Therefore, let us get started immediately. I promise you, I will invigorate each hour, each second!

G-d created an eternal garden of opportunity. It awaits our reaping its magnificent fruit.

The old man was an exceptional gardener who appreciated each precious act of ‘tending’ the garden.

It is not the future we need to hang on to, nor the past to wallow in, rather the present which is laden with exquisite fruit for those that appreciate its worth!

The unique challenges we face are waiting for us to define them.

Rebbi Yochanan Ben Zakai taught: If you have a seedling in your hand and they tell you Moshiach has arrived, first tend to the planting then afterward go out to greet him )אל נ"רדא(

Moshiach can wait — eternity cannot! Grab it while you can!

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

Baltimore Weekday Minyanim Guide

Shacharis Mincha

Neitz Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] M-F

Ohel Yakov S-F

6:00 AM Shomrei Emunah Congregation M-F

6:10 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, Th

6:15 AM Kol Torah M, TH

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah M-F

Shearith Israel Congregation M, TH

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel M, TH

6:20 AM Agudah of Greenspring M, TH

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S-F

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M-F

Kehilath B'nai Torah M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S, M, TH

6:25 AM The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel T, W, F

6:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring T, W, F

Chabad of Park Heights M-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Kehilath B'nai Torah T, W, F

Khal Bais Nosson M-F

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek M-F

Kol Torah T, W, F

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah M-F

Ohr Yisroel M-F

Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

6:35 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) M, TH

Ohel Moshe M, TH

6:40 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) T, W, F

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M, TH

6:45 AM B”H and Mesivta of Baltimore (Dirshu Minyan) S-F

Beth Abraham M, TH Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue M-F

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Ner Tamid M-F

Ohel Moshe T, W, F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim M-F

6:50 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] M, TH

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh M, TH

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation T, W, F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh M, TH

Derech Chaim M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center M, TH

6:55 AM Beth Abraham T, W, F

Kol Torah M, TH

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

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh T, W, F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh T, W, F

Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek S Kol Torah T, W, F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah M-F

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

Shearith Israel Congregation S, M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh M-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center T, W, F

Tiferes Yisroel M-F

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

7:15 AM Kedushas Yisrael S Kol Torah S

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

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Ner Israel Rabbinical College S-F

or

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

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel S

Tzeirei Anash M-F

7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Beth Tfiloh Congregation M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH

7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] S

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore S-F

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh S

Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S Chabad of Park Heights S

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh S-F

Darchei Tzedek S

Kedushas Yisrael S-F

Khal Bais Nosson S

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) S-F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

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

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

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

Talmudical Academy S-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Mesivta Kesser Torah S-F

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim S-F

7:50 AM Derech Chaim S

Ner Tamid S

Ohel Moshe M-F

8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Beth Abraham S

Darchei Tzedek S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek S

Kehillas Meor HaTorah S

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Ohr Yisroel S

Pikesville Jewish Congregation S

Shearith Israel Congregation S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center S

Tiferes Yisroel S

Tzeirei Anash S

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah S-F

8:15 AM Kehilath B'nai Torah S

Kol Torah S

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S-F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh S

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

9:00 AM Aish Kodesh S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S

Beth Tfiloh Congregation S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F

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

9:30 AM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

9:45 AM Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

10:00AM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Mincha Gedolah

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek

12:30 PM Kol Torah

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

1:00 PM 10055 Red Run Blvd Suite 295

Milk & Honey Bistro 1777 Reisterstown RD

1:25 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

1:45 PM Ohel Moshe

1:50 PM One South Street, 27th Floor (M-Th)

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

Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room

Kol Torah

Market Maven

Reischer Minyan - 23 Walker Ave 2nd Floor

2:15 PM Pikesville Beis Medrash - 15 Walker Ave

2:30 PM Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan

Ner Israel Rabbinical College

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)

Shearith Israel Congregation

2:45 PM Kollel of Greenspring

3:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

3:05 PM Kedushas Yisrael

3:15 PM Hat Box

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

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

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

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

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

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

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

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

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

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

7:00 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

14 Min Before ShkiAh Kol Torah

Mincha/Maariv Plag

Ohel Yaakov

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

Mincha/Maariv Before Shkiah

Aish Kodesh

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Agudah of Greenspring

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Beth Abraham

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation

Darchei Tzedek

Kehillas Meor HaTorah

Kehilath B’nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill’s)

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Ner Tamid

Ohel Moshe

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]

Ohr Yisroel

Pikesville Jewish Congregation

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Shomrei Mishmeres

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center

Tiferes Yisroel

Maariv

8:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

8:45 PM Darchei Tzedek

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina)

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Maariv

continued

Ohr Yisroel

8:50 PM Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)

8:55 PM Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

9:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Arugas Habosem

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

9:15 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

9:20 PM Kol Torah

9:30 PM Agudah of Greenspring

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Kedushas Yisrael

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

9:40 PM Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi]

9:45 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Kollel Erev Birchas Yitzchok (Luries)

Kollel of Greenspring

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's)

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah

9:50 PM Aish Kodesh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Ohel Moshe

10:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Darchei Tzedek

Kehilath B'nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

10:05 PM Kol Torah

10:10 PM Ner Israel Rabbinical College

10:15 PM Derech Chaim

Khal Bais Nosson

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

10:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

10:45 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

11:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

11:30 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

To Raise a Laugh

We Thought He Was Older

Iturned 40.

This is not something I set out to do. No one asked me. It kind of just happened. In fact, a bunch of things kind of just happen to you when you get to 40.

Hazy memory – My memory is not gone. I’m at the age where I don’t totally forget things; I have vague recollections of things that come back to me as soon as I’m reminded. Like I’ll ask my wife why we’re doing a certain thing, and she’ll say, “Well, because of this,” and I’ll say, “Oh yeah; that’s right.” And I’m not remembering because of what she’s saying; her saying it is just triggering my own memories, and now I remember all of it, and she’s still talking for some reason.

Stretching -- I also find that I have to stretch when I wake up in the morning. For a while I’m thinking of getting one of those bed stretchers that they had in Sodom. I have to wake up a little earlier to stretch every day, when I’m still tired, so I fall back asleep stretching. And then when I wake up from that, I have to stretch differently. Whatever position I sleep in, my body says, “I guess this is the position we’re going to stand in from now on.” Yes, my body talks to itself. At least I think that’s what those noises are.

Random pains – If something hurts for more than a day, I think, “I guess this is always going to hurt now.” Then, when it goes away, I don’t think, “Huh. I guess I was wrong.” I just forget that it ever hurt. That’s the upside of the memory thing, I guess. Until my wife asks, “Hey, how is that thing that was hurting you?” And I say, “That’s right.”

Sleeping wrong – And yes, sometimes I hurt myself sleeping. And I have to tell people, “Oh, I slept wrong,” so they don’t just think that’s how I walk now. I slept just fine the first 30-something years of my life; all of a sudden now I’m making mistakes. I don’t even sleep that long. So sometimes I wake up and I think, “That hurts. Maybe if I go back to sleep, I’ll wake up feeling okay. Let’s roll the

dice again.” But it doesn’t work. And now I have to turn my whole body to look at you for the next week. And the whole week, I have to think, “Is this always how it’s gonna be?”

“Sorry, I slept weird.”

“How weird did you sleep?”

“I don’t know; I thought it was pretty normal.”

It’s not like I fell asleep with the lower half of my body still in bed but my head on the floor behind my bed. (“I just followed the yarmulke, I guess.”)

If somebody says, “I slept wrong,” I always picture them falling asleep with one foot behind their head.

“I was doing yoga and I fell asleep. I don’t know what happened.”

“Did you try stretching?”

“I fell asleep stretching.”

Hairy surprises -- I’m also at a point in my life where everyone has to, one at a time, let me know that my hair is turning grey. And they’re always surprised. Like, “Whoa! Your hair is turning grey!” In case I’ve forgotten. It’s always people younger than me, but there seems to be an increasing number of those every day. No one’s being born who’s older than me. But I’m so glad that I’m going grey instead of bald, because otherwise all these people would say, “Whoa! You’re really going bald!” But on the bright side I am getting hair in new and exciting places. I have hair on my shoulders now. The first time I saw that, I thought it had just fallen off my head. I tried to pick it up, and, “Ouch! Nope. That’s attached.” And I didn’t know whether to be relieved or horrified. I also recently, at the behest of my wife, had to buy a nose-hair trimmer, so I could have trimmer nose hairs I guess. It looked like a spider was trying to crawl out of my brain. I didn’t ask a shaver shaylah about that one, though. I don’t know if I was supposed to. But at least

By Mordechai Schmutter

my facial hair isn’t finished growing in. I’ve been waiting for that since my bar mitzvah.

Back pain -- obviously. I manage it, but everything I do, I wonder what it will do to my back. Putting on socks in the morning is impossible too. I have to get both hands past my toes in a coordinated fashion. I have no idea how I do it. Half my daily stretching is just to be able to do that. They make slipon shoes; why are there no slip-on socks? I can’t sit for too long either, because it will hurt my back. So about once every hour I get up and I hobble around on my bad knee so that my back will feel better.

But wait! There’s more!

- I also make a verbal noise when I sit down or stand up. Not every time, though. I think just in front of people.

- I’m always worried about keeping my weight reasonable. It takes an enormous amount of work and movement and quietly feeling guilty about everything I eat all to just look slightly fat.

I’ve also just realized that I’m older than every horse. I’ve been older for a long time, I guess, but I don’t really notice age on horses that much. I can try to guess their age, but I’m usually way off.

But there are good things about turning 40 too. For one, I hear it’s a special number. The number 40 comes up a lot in the Torah and in Shas, to the point where some meforshim say that sometimes the number 40 is just shorthand for “a whole lot.” So that’s not disheartening.

Another great thing about turing 40 is that I understant that I’m finally going to be alowed to learn kabbalah. So stay tuned for some really weird articles coming up.

Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writer and a humor columnist for Hamodia and other magazines. He has also published eight books and does stand-up comedy. You can contact him at MSchmutter@gmail.com.

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Parenting Pearls Thinking of Others

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

Ihope everyone had a pleasant, and meaningful, journey out of Mitzrayim. As crucial as exiting slavery was, it wasn’t the end goal. We were redeemed for the purpose of accepting the Torah and bringing its light to the world.

As we have learned, the mitzvos can be divided into those that are between us and Hashem (bein adam l’Makom), and those that are done with others (bein adam l’chaveiro). Both categories of commandments are crucial, and we

can never say one is more important than the other. We need both to achieve completion and fulfill our purpose. While this article will focus on only one category, that is certainly not meant to detract from the necessity of instilling within our children (and ourselves) a love and devotion for both.

Treating others with respect and dignity is not only a means to follow in Hashem’s ways, it’s also a prerequisite for showing others the beauty of Torah.

Looking “frum” but acting coarse or disrespecting others is worse than denying our purpose – it’s actively negating it!

Perfecting our middos is a lifetime job, but one that is best started young. Children are born as takers that need to become givers. Babies are born selfish but must learn to think beyond themselves.

The challenge is even greater when we realize how biased we can be in any given interpersonal relationship. We may think we’re right, even when we’re wrong. We may think ill of others, even when they are acting properly. Aside from the obvious requirement to ask a proper, unbiased authority, it is clear that how a person is raised will greatly affect how closely their outlook wil l align with the Torah and morality.

As the period of sefirah has recently started, it seemed timely to discuss a few ways we can encourage our children in the mitzvos bein adam l’chaveiro. Please note that I am not giving a p’sak halacha in any of the examples given, and I urge TJH readers to ask their own shailos.

Learn, Learn and Learn

The first step is to learn the correct way to fulfill these important mitzvos. Each commandment has associated halachos to guide us. Without knowing what is and isn’t permitted, it’s easy to err, as well intentioned as we may be. There are many seforim geared to the layman that can give a greater awareness of the issues and many rabbonim available to ask as questions arise.

For example, the dangers of lashon hara are well known, and many have

been hurt by gossip, but there is also a risk in withholding necessary information. We’ve heard many stories of good shidduchim that were derailed because someone decided to give their negative opinion as fact, and bad shidduchim that went through because nobody wanted to provide an honest response. Both cases required guidance and knowledge, not assumptions as to what is correct. Knowing the correct way to act enhances our lives, but also permits us to best educate our children. We can only pass on what we have, and if our information is lacking, so will be the education we provide.

Live By Example

The best method to raise our children in appreciating these mitzvos is to live the lessons we want to pass on. Kids naturally absorb the world around them. When that environment stresses a love for bein adam l’chaveiro, they will pick it up effortlessly. They separate milk and meat from observing our kitchens and dress in a tzinius manner from observing our attire. Similarly, they can learn to be careful with their words and actions towards others by seeing how we act.

Living by example not only demonstrates the behavior we want them to emulate, it also gives us the strength to formally educate. In general, lectures are ineffective, and we quickly tune them out. Worse than an uninvited lecture is a lecture from someone who doesn’t follow their own advice. There are times we will need to privately correct a child or want to bring up a bein adam l’chaveiro topic

at the Shabbos table. Our words will only make an impact if we’re already personifying them. It’s our own behavior that gives us that power.

Further, a hypocritical-acting parent who attempts to correct their child risks further turning off that struggling youngster. The parent’s well-meaning attempts to guide their child can backfire, chas v’shalom.

There are added bonuses to furthering our learning, as mentioned above. We parents know we’re not perfect.

ting to introduce topics to the kids. The warm, relaxed family atmosphere is conducive to quality discussions and the children are more receptive.

Many families choose a book to learn for a few minutes at each meal – often parsha – but any topic will promote healthy discussions. There are many

worth mentioning the many professional storytellers that have wonderful programs on the different mitzvos, geared to children of all ages. Especially during sefirah, these are entertaining resources that can keep kids occupied and learning for hours.

We need to be mindful that our

ers and any of the other mitzvos bein adam l’chaveiro are much easier when we care for that person. When our children learn to appreciate other people, they will want to think beyond themselves and do the right thing. Everyone is different, which makes us all unique. Rather than mock those differences, children can learn to recognize the special role each person plays. Our children, too, should see themselves, and their gifts, as important contributors to the world.

Shabbos table doesn’t undermine our goals. Sadly, many become too relaxed and can say things that are hurtful to –or about – others. Our children should never hear us mocking others, nor should we permit our children to do so.

Sadly, today this lesson is easier to learn than before. As we daven for all of Klal Yisroel – especially our chayalim and brothers and sisters still in Gaza –we don’t differentiate between one another. We recognize that we are all parts of one whole. As we count these days of sefirah together, may we all achieve greater unity as a nation and treat each other with friendship and respect.

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.

Mental Health Corner

Behind the Scenes

By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman

In the modern age, many people have found tremendous growth and relief from psychotherapy. As with many fields, the client does not see what is going on behind the scenes. When a client sits with his or her therapist, all they see is the time that they are together in session. If each session is 45 minutes and the therapist works an eight-hour day, then you might assume that they see eight clients a day which would be 40 clients per week. If they charge you $150 dollars a session, then they are making $6,000 a

week. If they work 50 weeks a year, that is $300,000. Not bad at all!

You might be surprised to hear that many well-established therapists are seeing only 25 clients per week. You are probably wondering, why are therapists leaving money on the table? If they can see 40 clients a week and they are seeing only 25, then they are giving up over $100,000 of income!

To answer this question, we need to go behind the scenes in therapy a little bit, and explore the reasons why therapists will put strict limits on their

caseload.

Emotional exhaustion - Although therapists need to put emotional boundaries in order to stay sane, they still need to be genuinely empathetic with their clients and experience their emotions with them during the session. That can be emotionally exhausting and a human being can only handle so much.

Notetaking - Therapists do not have photographic memories and trying to remember all of the details of every individual client’s situation is nearly impossible. Most therapists will not take notes during the session because they are trying to listen. Even if they do, the notes will be extremely brief. In order to properly service their clients, they need to take detailed notes on the very same day of what transpired during their session and the therapist’s thoughts about where the therapy is heading and how it is progressing. This must be done for each and every client. This is extremely time consuming and is done on the therapist’s own time.

Supervision - Therapy takes place in isolation. A good therapist will have someone who they pay to consult with about their difficult cases. They also have a network of colleagues that they will call to talk over their cases. A therapist who does not invest significant amounts of time in their own personal consultations will be undeserving their clients. This also takes a lot of time.

Self-care - Clients become understandably upset if a therapist dozes off during a session, even if it was a quick closing of the eyes. Even if the therapist just looks a little tired, the client will feel that their therapist is not totally there for them, which jeopardizes the entire effectiveness of the therapy. In order to be alert, present,

and focused during therapy, the therapist must engage in self-care. They need a full night’s sleep, exercise, and personal down-time. If they push themselves too hard, then their entire caseload of clients will suffer tremendously.

Constant Worry - Many clients are not at imminent risk of losing their life as a result of their mental illness. However, many of them are. Imagine trying to sleep at night when one of your clients is at risk of suicide. An overloaded caseload will inevitably overload the emotional capacity of the therapist.

Constant Learning - Would you want to ask your Halachic questions to a Rav who does not have time in his day for his personal learning and growth? Probably not. Similarly, you would do better off with a therapist that dedicates time to their own personal growth as a therapist. This includes reading books, attending trainings, etc.

Therapists entered the field because they want to help people. Clients hire therapists because they want to be helped. The relationship of the helper and the one being helped is a deep and meaningful one which requires significant investments of time and effort. You might not be aware of all that goes on behind the scenes, but hopefully you will reap the benefits.

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

YU Global Launches New Career-Focused Courses for Spring, Empowering New Graduates to Secure Employment

YU Global, a leading online career development arm of Yeshiva University, is excited to announce its spring courses. With a special focus on skill-based certificates for recent college graduates who will be seeking employment, YU Global is committed to providing accessible, high-quality education that bridges the gap between academic knowledge and real-world career skills.

YU Global offers innovative and exciting online learning, helping job seekers acquire in-demand skills, advance their careers, and achieve their professional goals. By leveraging cut-

ting-edge technology and collaborating with industry experts, YU Global delivers engaging and interactive learning experiences that cater to the needs of today’s diverse learners.

This spring, YU Global is uniquely relevant to the needs of recent college graduates who are navigating the challenging job market. These courses are designed to equip graduates with the practical skills and knowledge that employers are looking for, enhancing their employability and competitiveness in the job market.

“We understand the challenges recent college grads face when entering the job market, especially in the cur-

rent economic climate,” said Danielle Wozniak, Vice President for Global Strategy and Development, Yeshiva University and Head of YU Global. “Our certificates are designed to bridge the skills gap and provide graduates with the tools they need to stand out. No one who takes one of our certificates will ever go to a job interview feeling like they have no employable skills. YU Global ensures that you have the skills employers want. And then we connect you with a recruiter who matches you with the employers looking to hire.”

Wozniak added, “We offer a series of free webinars for all job seekers.

Upcoming webinars include “Residential Real Estate Toolkit” and “From Search to Success: What it really takes to land a great job and thrive from day one.” To sign up visit global.yu.edu/ webinars

To learn more about YU Global and its certificates, visit global.yu.edu or email yuglobal@yu.edu. Take the first step towards a successful career and enroll today.

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Tech Triumphs

Just Pick Up the Phone

As Told to Rebbetzin Sara Gross

Mazel tov! My oldest son became a chosson, and I was floating on air. The kallah was adorable, and I was so excited to share the news with my extended family and friends. Amidst the busy preparations for our simcha, I was disappointed by the fact that I wasn’t getting an outpouring of happy wishes and calls. My brothers and sisters didn’t even call me. All I got was a short text with lots of exclamation points wishing me mazel tov. Even when I tried calling them, I got voicemails and then texts back saying things like, “Mazel tov, sorry can’t talk now. How’s it going?” Honestly, I was hurt. I know our lives

are busy, but texts just don’t cut it. When someone close to us is celebrating a simcha, pick up the phone and call. We’ve become so used to texting that we forget the value of a warm phone call sharing our joy.

Then, I got an invitation for an old friend’s son’s bar mitzvah. I considered texting her mazel tov, but I remembered my own simcha and picked up the phone. It was busy at both our houses, but we spoke for a few minutes and shared sweet memories of our children as little babies and rekindled our relationship. The text would have been fine, but the warm connection we felt while talking brought us

closer together, and we truly felt each other’s joy. It was worth the call.

DID YOU KNOW: Over the last two years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has exploded in popularity, with the introduction of ubiquitous platforms like Chat-GPT and other AI-powered services and devices. AI is not a new technology, but it is now more accessible to the general public. In brief, AI enables computers to learn from experience, recognize patterns, and make decisions. Services like Chat-GPT have trained AI systems with vast amounts of information from the internet and beyond, allowing users to converse with AI chat services through typing, speaking, and texting, as if they were interacting with a real person.

While this is a fascinating new frontier, it comes with many risks and pitfalls. There are now websites and apps that allow users to spend countless hours typing or talking to

virtual friends knowledgeable on a wide range of topics. You can even prompt AI to create realistic images and videos, original music, and voice recordings. Now, when you watch a video clip of a wellknown personality saying or doing something, it’s hard to tell whether it’s an authentic recording or whether it was created with AI.

Although most of the popular services and apps, like Chat GPT, block inappropriate content, those limits are not perfect and certainly do not meet everyone’s standards of appropriate material. Additionally, numerous AI services are available without such content restrictions. TAG recommended filters can block many of these websites or add stronger filtering to them. However, there are AI phone services that you can call or text, even on a Kosher phone, and there is currently no way to filter that content. The future of AI holds great potential, but significant risks and uncertainties. As it continues to advance, we must stay vigilant in protecting ourselves and our families, always mindful of the challenges that may arise alongside the benefits.

School of Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:

Dear Etti,

I have a message I hope you will share. Please don’t think I am petty. I have heard this sentiment from many of my fellow teachers and colleagues across the profession, who have told me that they heard it from their friends as well.

We work so hard in our roles as teachers. We pour our hearts into our jobs. There is no other profession I am aware of that asks its workers to give their heart and soul as much as the field of education does. Nowhere is this as evident as Pesach.

The Haggadahs that come home, the divrei Torah, the shining faces, the excited children – with a lot of sweat and Siyata Dishmaya, we did that. But we are not with the students over Pesach to see the nachas, to see the oohing and ahhing… and the notes of thanks and Hakaras Hatov dwindle year to year. I was grateful. I received five detailed and thank-filled notes. Some of my colleagues didn’t receive any acknowledgment, and some received just a few.

I know it is a busy time, but in general, we work so hard and get no feedback. Every lesson, every project, every holiday had a lot of work put in. The sense of appreciation seems missing. Veteran teachers of over 20 years tell me that the climate has changed, as parents used to send in lots of notes and even small presents throughout the year, especially Chanukah, Purim, Pesach, and the end of the school year.

I don’t need gifts, and neither do my colleagues. I do want parents to know that teaching is an underpaid job that is a work of heart, and little notes of acknowledgment would be the fuel we need to continue and stay positive.

-Every Teacher Everywhere

A:Dear Every Teacher Everywhere, Thank you on behalf of everyone everywhere! We all see your hard work, and we appreciate all you do! I personally oohed and ahhed over my grandchildren’s Haggadahs over Pesach, and your letter is the impetus I needed – I am going to send emails to each child’s teacher today iy”H! (It’s true that I don’t have all the email addresses, but I can send them to my kids to distribute.)

Thank you for your important letter. Research agrees with you.

Three separate polls show appreciation means more than higher pay in the workplace to a majority of people. Boston Consulting Group shared that the number one reason given by 200,000 polled employees as to what they felt made them enjoy their work was that they felt appreciated.

Glassdoor’s results of a survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that employees want to stay in their role for longer when shown appreciation, and 81% said knowing they were appreciated made them want to work harder.

Motivosity recently commissioned a survey of 2,000 U.S. workers and found that 55% would choose to have personalized forms of appreciation in the workplace over a raise in pay (52%) or a promotion (28%).

I taught for many years, and now I get to be in many different schools 5-6 days a week. I can attest that I am surrounded by people who genuinely love what they do and do not need accolades to keep doing what they are doing. And yet… we are all human. When a teacher tells me, “I am so happy to see you. The kids were excited to see on the schedule that you are coming,” or a parent stops me by dismissal to say, “Are you Mrs. Siegel? My son came home and shared what you taught last week. He really enjoyed it,” there is a little more skip to my step and my smile is just a tiny bit wider.

Sincere and specific praise is a wonderful thing. When given sincerely, praise can encourage us to do our jobs better, with even more joy and commitment. Precise praise makes a person on the receiving end feel noticed and appreciated.

While teaching is a rewarding profession, teaching can be lonely. Non-educators envision a place where teachers gather and schmooze, have built-in friends, and have a great atmosphere of camaraderie. The reality is quite different. While in some schools this is encouraged to some degree at recess and meetings and in other schools the teachers see each other only at arrival and dismissal, in all schools almost the whole day is spent as the only adult in the room, in a race to give over the materials in a timely manner, in a way that captivates the students’ attention

and meets the expectations of both the principal and the parents.

It is not a secret that fewer people go into teaching and good teachers are hard to find. What should not be a secret is how much appreciation could help retain the good teachers we have and draw more into the field.

The reason people might not send in notes and letters of appreciation as much as veteran teachers say they received in the past is because parents are so busy nowadays. They don’t realize the impact their little expression of thanks might have on the teachers they hold in such high esteem.

Even when we know we cooked a great dinner, it is nice to get compliments and accolades. Even when we look in the mirror and think we look good, it is nice when others make comments that show they agree. We know the power of a well-placed compliment.

Let’s appreciate our wonderful mechanchim and mechanchos.

Trivia:

Mattye Whyte Woodridge, in 1944, began writing letters to political and education leaders, asking them to make a national day to honor teachers. Among the people she wrote to was Eleanor Roosevelt, who persuaded Congress to proclaim a national Teacher’s Appreciation Day in 1953. In 1986, the National Education Association had it changed to Teacher Appreciation Week.

This year Teacher’s Appreciation Week is May 6- May 10, with May 7 th being Teacher’s Appreciation Day.

My father used to say about Mother’s Day, “Every day is Mother’s Day! Show hakaras hatov every day.”

The same is true for teachers.

Thank you for reminding us that we need to not only appreciate what teachers do – we need to tell them! And your timing lined right up with Teacher Appreciation Week.

I have letters of my own to write!

Have a wonderful week.

-Etti

Mrs. Etti Siegel holds an MS in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership and brings sound teaching advice to her audiences culled from her over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience. She is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, is a sought-after mentor and workshop presenter around the country, and a popular presenter for Sayan (a teacher-mentoring program), Hidden Sparks, and the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She is a frequent contributor to Hamechanech Magazine and The Journal for Jewish Day School leaders. She will be answering your education-based questions and writing articles weekly for The Jewish Home. Mrs. Siegel can be reached at ettisiegel@gmail.com.

You Know You’re in College When…

You burn down your dorm room because you tried cooking pasta without water.

You spend hours debating the meaning of life but don’t realize that you don’t have one.

You think that you are an expert in everything after spending 20 minutes on Wikipedia.

You think that you’re the next Einstein but the only thing that you’ve mastered is how to take selfies.

You are convinced that you’ll change the world but haven’t figured out how to change your socks in a month.

You will lecture your family on climate change but leave the lights on all night.

You think that you are a health expert but live off ramen noodles.

You spend hours crafting the perfect Instagram caption but can’t write a coherent email for a job application.

You think that you are a jack of all trades, until you try assembling an IKEA bookcase.

You realize that anything can be cooked in a microwave.

When writing reports, you use words like “thus.”

Your trash is overflowing, and your bank account isn’t.

Europe could be wiped out by a terrible plague and you’d never know, but you know exactly what happened in every sports game in the country.

You talk to your roommate via TikTok even when you’re both in the dorm.

You sleep more in class than in your dorm room.

You pay $100 for a book you don’t read once, return it four months later, and get $7…and you are majoring in finance.

Your professors speak English … as a second language.

The elevators take forever but you’ll wait 10 minutes just so you don’t have to climb stairs.

You press the automatic door opener instead of simply grabbing the handle when you approach a door.

The food in your fridge may or may not be older than your little brother.

You’ve eaten cereal out of a cup … with a fork.

You finish reading this and wonder what you can procrastinate next.

Odd Horse Out

Each of the following horses ran in the Kentucky Derby, except one. Can you spot the fake?

Mystik Dan

Catching Freedom

Catalytic

Post 6: Just Steel

Honor Marie

Just a Touch

T O Password

Forever Young

Track Phantom

Endlessly

Domestic Product

Grand Mo the First

Fierceness

Stronghold

Resilience

Society Man

Epic Ride

Centerfoal

Answer: Centerfoal did not run this year, but I am hoping that we get my horse in next year!

Riddle Me This

Riddle A: “I am often written but rarely read. You spend hours changing me, but I am always the same. I discuss all your accomplishments, but make you feel like a failure. What am I?”

Riddle B: “I am the most difficult thing you have ever done, yet I am the product of laziness. I am the most valuable thing you own, yet I am worthless. What am I?”

Riddle C: “I am filled with impressive words, yet I say nothing impressive. What am I?”

Riddle C: Your Thesis

Riddle B: A Degree in English Literature

Riddle A: A Cover Letter

Answers:

You Gotta Be Kidding Me!

A graduate with a science degree asks, “Why does it work?”

A graduate with an engineering degree asks, “How does it work?”

A graduate with an accounting degree asks, “How much it cost?”

A graduate with a liberal arts degree asks, “Do you want fries with that?”

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

If you try to set up encampments, you are not going to be allowed to do that in this State. We do not allow the inmates to run the asylum in the state of Florida.

– Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL)

I am so incensed about some of this stuff because when I read about the college loans... “Biden administration’s student debt cancelation will cost a combined $870 billion to $1.4 trillion.” That’s a lot of debt forgiveness. Okay, so, colleges constantly raise tuition, then the kids take out more loans, then the government comes by and pays those loans. Okay, so my tax dollars are supporting this Jew-hating? I don’t think so!

- Bill Maher, HBO

We believe that canceling exams would be a proportionate response to the level of distress our peers have been feeling.

- From a letter by the student editors at the Columbia Law Review stating that the student body is too traumatized by law enforcement’s response to their illegal protests so they should not have to take exams this semester

We are serious about welcoming students that have been suspended from U.S. universities for supporting Palestinians. We are fighting this battle with Palestine in every way we can.

- An official at Yemen’s Houthi college, in a statement to Reuters

If a homicidal, Iranian-funded, terrorism proxy wants to pick up your college education tab, you really, really might want to reevaluate things.

- Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) mocking the protesters on X

What we’re seeing on campus is children who are traditionally the geeks and the bullied fawning up to Islamic terrorists who’ll offer them the protection of their guns for as long as they’re useful so that they can feel tough and powerful for the first time. In many ways, they’re like high school shooters – but they let Muslim terrorists do the shooting for them.

- Tweet by @leekern13

Proposed law: if someone tears down the American flag and puts up another flag in its place, that person should get a free (but mandatory) one-way trip to that flag’s country.

- Elon Musk on X

I think the Department of Justice needs to investigate where the money is coming from. There’s two classes of people here. Anti-Semites: If you say, “We are Hamas,” and you mean it, then you are a religious Nazi. If you say, “We are Hamas,” and you don’t know what Hamas is all about, you are … [dumb]. So there’s dumb [people] and there’s terrorist sympathizers.

- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Fox News

Maybe Donald Trump will go away. Maybe he’ll go to jail. Maybe he will die. Not to be too morbid. But maybe. He’s not a young man.

- MSNBC host and former Biden spokeswoman Jen Psaki on “Morning Joe”

Wow! Former A.G. Bill Barr, who let a lot of great people down by not investigating Voter Fraud in our Country, has just endorsed me for President despite the fact that I called him “Weak, Slow Moving, Lethargic, Gutless, and Lazy.” Based on the fact that I greatly appreciate his wholehearted Endorsement, I am removing the word “Lethargic” from my statement. Thank you Bill.

- Social media post by Trump after former Attorney General Bill Barr endorsed him

Mohamed Abdou is a pro-Hamas “anarchist interdisciplinary activist-scholar of Indigenous, Black, critical race, and Islamic studies, as well as gender … abolition, and decolonization” at Columbia University.

– David Harsani, speaking about the pro-Hamas visiting professor to Columbia University

Nearly every student loan taken in the United States is either given by the government or fully guaranteed by taxpayers.

- Ibid.

I assure you no bank in the world would ever lend any young person tens of thousands of dollars — much less hundreds of thousands — to pursue studies in either indigenous, black, critical race, Islamic, gender, … abolition or decolonization studies if those loans were not backed by the federal government.

– Ibid.

A few weeks ago, I had dinner with a few couples, friends of friends, all American. All were well-educated and successful in careers. They seemed great! On the surface. For like an hour. But slowly, over a few drinks, they began to let slip their true MAGA natures.

- Former CNN White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski writing on X about her horror when she realized that people that she was having dinner with were closet Trump supporters

One of the couples each attended top Ivy League colleges. But now that it was university time for their own kids, they were adamantly NOT letting them apply to any ivies. And were weird about explaining why.

– Ibid.

Now that Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire, do you think Israel should agree to a ceasefire?

– A Code Pink agitator to Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL)

I think Israel should go in there and kick the [daylights] out of them. Just absolutely destroy them, their infrastructure, level anything that they’ve touched.

– Rep Mast’s response

Keffiyeh Karen whines for glass of water, proving pro-terror students are total weaklings

- New York Post headline about a Columbia University student demanding that the protesters be given food and water

Can we please get an airdrop at Columbia University? We need 900 Acai Bowls, 1300 Impossible Burgers on gluten-free bread with sugar-free vegan ketchup and 3000 bottles of pH 9.0 electrolyte water. This is urgent @ UNRWA.

- Tweet by Eve Barlow

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I have been an avid reader of your column and appreciate your take on many issues.

I have been dating a guy (I’ll call him Raphi) for half a year. We are modern orthodox and taking things slowly. Initially, we had mutually agreed to date for at least one year before getting engaged. Now, my thoughts have changed, and I really would like to be settled and feel that this is “for real.” I want to get engaged. Raphi assures me this is going in the right direction, but he’s not looking to get engaged anytime soon. He feels that it’s not responsible as he hasn’t graduated yet, etc. I don’t know how much longer I can date to date, or how this is going to work just dating for so much longer. I also am nervous that if this ends ill have wasted too much time.

Should I keep going because I really feel this is right? If so, how can I deal with such a long-haul dating situation?

Thanks, Chana*

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.

The Panel

The Rebbetzin

Lisa Babich

Ihear your dilemma and thank you for your question. It can be frustrating when one party is ready to take the next step before the other. In this case, I don’t see any alarming or red flags. He is just stating that he wants to keep to the conditions you had originally made, and his reasons are pretty responsible i.e.. he wants to finish college and be able to support his family. This being said, in life, it’s important to be flexible. Plans change and things happen that can require an original plan to be altered. Perhaps the two of you can come to some kind of compromise that doesn’t feel too forced. He sounds like he really likes how things are going but doesn’t want to feel pressured before he is ready.

I would suggest to keep dating with

an understanding of a time limit. You say you are afraid you will look back and feel you wasted time; however, you don’t want to look back and feel your impatience scared away the right guy. If he is appearing to be a sincere guy with the right intentions, then all you can do is make the best logical decisions possible. The “what ifs” are not really in your control and this is a good time to let go as best you can. Of course, if this drags on past the timing you feel is acceptable, then you should revisit but always with a conversation and open mind. That will set you up for the best communication!

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

Thanks so much for writing in! Just imagine for a moment if Raphi had

written into the column with his side to the story. He’s a professional guy finishing up college in a relationship with a great girl. They had made a decision together at the beginning of their relationship that they would date for at least a year due to schooling, and possibly other reasons, too. Now the girl he is dating has changed her mind and wants to get engaged asap. It is a difficult predicament! What should he do?

Chana, you did make a commitment, and it is important in life to stand by our commitments. He still has the same reasons for making that decision in the first place. It is not because he isn’t serious about you. What I do think is you need to talk to him about helping you feel more confident in the relationship. You seem a bit edgy, which is totally understandable, but there are things he can do to help you ease up a bit. You can spend more time around each other’s families, he can get you an engagement

Remember that while “patience is a virtue,” impatience gets things done.

present early, you can spend more time talking about the future and plans for when you do get engaged…

Talk to him about it while being understanding that you made a commitment and you are not going to change things up now.

Hatzlacha with everything!

The Single

Tzipora Grodko

Dear Chana, from my understanding, waiting to get married after graduating is common in the Modern Orthodox community and therefore, Raphi’s behavior wouldn’t be out of the ordinary. However, I understand your hesitancy in feeling concerned that you’re “wasting your time” in the event that it doesn’t work out after another six months. I would encourage you to speak to Raphi and explore his reluctance to move forward.

Is there a caveat that his parents won’t help support the wedding financially unless he has a job? Is he concerned that HE won’t be able to support YOU?

I believe that if you understand the hesitancy in depth, it will give you clarity as to how to make the best decision moving forward. As always, the more you communicate your concerns and feelings, the more clarity you will gain and the more Raphi can understand.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Let’s succinctly summarize the problem: you both agreed to date for “at least one year” before getting engaged, and now, after six months, YOU feel that one year is more than enough, but HE feels that one year is not

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Dear Chana,

Thank you for being an avid reader! And thank you for writing!

A few things are coming up for me as I think about your situation. In no particular order, I am curious about how much school Raphi has before him. Is it another six months, which would bring you to the initially agreed upon year mark, or is it a lot longer? Also, I am curious about how the two of you would support yourselves in a marriage. Or, if you have a way of supporting yourselves before Raphi finishes school. Those are the practical pieces. If there is no way for you to be married before he finishes school, then it really can’t happen. If there is a way, be it that you can be the provider or that there are willing and able parents, I guess

that would change the practical im - plications in this formula and give you reason to believe it may be financially doable.

That aside, I can completely understand and validate your desire to get engaged and move on from this stage of life. There comes a point when you just want to be together all the time and join lives. Being apart, living separately, begins to feel intolerable. I get that. On Raphi’s end, he does seem “for real” because he hasn’t wavered from his initial sentiment. He seems responsible and wants to set himself up financially to afford life. I commend him. That doesn’t make your struggle or perspective, needs, and wants

long enough.

The good news is that his hesitance seems to be about financial insecurity and NOT uncertainty about the relationship.

He has explained that he wants to wait until he graduates and can, presumably, make a living. He did not say that he is unsure if he loves you; he did not say that he is unsure if the two of you should ever get married.

But you are not happy. So, may I suggest a four-fold approach.

First, he needs some pragmatic reassurance. Do your homework and show him the numbers. Demonstrate that the two of you can afford to get married if you work part-time while still in school, utilize savings and wedding presents, get a little help from parents, and live modestly.

Second, double date with friends who also got married while still in school.

Let him see how happy they are with their decision to marry early and how they are managing just fine.

Third, let him know how his reluctance to get engaged is affecting you emotionally. If he truly loves you, that fact that you feel unhappy, impatient, and uncertain should be sufficient motivation for him to get estimates for an engagement ring.

Fourth, perhaps, consider a compromise. Back in my day (don’t you love when grandparents reminisce about how things were “back in my day”?), a young man could demonstrate the seriousness of the relationship with a gift of jewelry (a nice bracelet, necklace, or pin), thereby establishing that they were “going steady” and were, kind of, engaged to get engaged. In any event, you certainly need to let your boyfriend know how you feel. Remember that while “patience is a virtue,” impatience gets things done.

any less real. You’re allowed to have had a change of heart and want to move forward toward engagement.

The other piece here that I am curious about is whether or not Raphi has expressed that you are “the one.” Is he saying that he wants to marry you, but not just yet for practical reasons? Or is he saying something along the lines of, “I want to get engaged theoretically after school, but I’m not sure about you yet”? I think by six months, a man knows if someone is his “forever.” I think by six months, if he isn’t sure about you in general, I’d raise an eyebrow. This wasn’t clear to me from your email, and it was a point I couldn’t not raise.

If you’re an avid reader, you know that I don’t tell people what to do. It does seem like you really love him and want him to spend your life with him. You write that this relationship feels right. Those are no small potatoes! And you are worried if it doesn’t work out that you will have wasted time. Based on the growing divorce

rate, we know that no one is immune from risk and a wedding doesn’t negate that.

I feel strongly that you guys should consider speaking with a premarital counselor or couples therapist who will help you navigate this budding situation and help you both understand each other’s perspectives, feelings, and needs and see if there is some sort of a path forward that can meet everyone’s needs a bit more, or have more productive conversations around this in a more satisfying way.

Only you know how long you can date, and only you know how you will feel without Raphi in your life.

If he hasn’t expressed that you are “the one” by six months, that’s a separate issue. If he has expressed his commitment to you and that he wants to be with you for the rest of his life, and you feel the same, I highly recommend you speak with someone to try to figure this out.

All the best, Jennifer

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Has ZERO Patience for Jew Hate

Eric Adams is the Mayor of New York City, with a background in the NYPD, focusing on safety, education, and health. He’s known for standing up for what he believes in. He discusses his upbringing, career, October 7th, antisemitism, and the Jewish community’s ties with NYC.

In our interconnected world, the power of the media cannot be overestimated. Internet websites, social media, radio, newspapers, and magazines increasingly control the fate of politicians and governments, world finances and morality. In the chareidi world, the messages conveyed by religious media can shape and strengthen emuna, enrich charitable efforts, and ferment new shul and yeshiva policies. Therefore, it was a great privilege to interview the highly influential Rabbi Eli Paley, owner of Mishpacha Media Group and publisher of the Mishpacha Hebrew and English weekly magazines.

“Criticism allows you to do self-evaluation and ask what you could have done better.”

ELI PALEY

CEO OF MISHPACHA

The mayor describes his childhood as “difficult times and struggle but it was rooted in love”. Raising 6 children his mom was always the anchor. She was constantly training and preparing her children for the future with simple things like teaching them how to sew, cook, iron, and wash clothes and she played a major role in their development as children.

Eli Paley is a businessman and social activist. He is chairman of the Paley Family Foundation which supports and promotes Torah Centers and social initiatives in the Charedi community. A member of the Jewish Funders Network, he is active in several philanthropic organizations.

We discussed the Mishpacha’s origin, the challenges he is faced with policy decision making, and the overall goals he hopes to attain through the publication.

Eli was born in in the Mattesdorff neighborhood in Yerushalayim. His great-grandfather and grandfather arrived in Eretz Yisroel in 1925 to establish the Slabodka Yeshivah in Chevron. Later his grandfather became the assistant to Rabbi Herzel, the chief rabbi of Israel.

places. If you have a life experience based on only people who are the same as you, you are going to have a local mindset, and not going to be able to solve global problems. If you are not open to absorbing all of that wisdom on how to solve the many problems we are going to face, then you are setting yourself up to go through some very difficult times.

Eli himself is an alumni of Chevron yeshiva. When he married his wife, a graduate of Michlala in Bayit Vegan, his dream was to continue learning. However, a few months after his marriage, his brother mentioned a new monthly publication called Mishpacha was looking for someone to work as a distributor in Yerushalayim for a day and a half once every 5 to 6 weeks. With flex hours like that, Eli took the job, earning twice as much as he would be for an entire month in a kolel. Financially independent, he continued to learn diligently.

Attending Cuny College and going into law enforcement opened his eyes to a larger world where he started meeting people different from him. When he started school at New York City College of Technology he realized there were some great opportunities out there.

For guidance, Mayor Adams has some very good friends. He often visits the gravesite of the Lubavitcher Rebbe where he gets insight and peace of mind. The Rebbe is not with us physically but he believes his energy is still among us. There are also many leaders from different communities to with whom he speaks and to get a different perspective.

jobs to come back, or taking guns off the street. New Yorkers are going to get all of him. Whenever you are in a position of authority sometimes people don’t appreciate what you’ve done until it’s a retrospective view of it. When people look back at his time as Mayor, they will realize they had a person who not only loved the city but gave the city everything he had.

underestimate the danger and he is concerned about how this can spiral

knowledge the moment and have a formidable plan to address it which

painful things that we have to talk about. This includes looking at our college campuses and making them rise to the occasion. We cannot underestimate the danger of the moment that we are in.

The topic of poverty among Charedim and the poor economic situation in the Israeli community lay heavily on Eli’s heart. As part of the solution, Eli started the Charedi Institute of Public Affairs to engage with the government with hopes to resolve this in a way that will allow the Charedi society to retain its Torah values.

While American Jews may have difficulty in relating to the issues overseas, Eli, as a born and bred Israeli is certainly in touch with the masses. He recalls the issue he faced during his kolel years when distributing the magazine. The government regulation forbid a yingeman from receiving Kollel benefits if he had any other source of income. Therefore, he was forced to register his side job under his wife’s name, a desperate solution used by many. In his publication, he attempts to broker a better solution.

His father, Rabbi Yehuda Paley, bought the Mishpacha Magazine business. To help his father, Eli got involved in the editorial angle of the magazine figuring out how it could make a unique contribution to the field of journalism. He left learning to pursue his new mission to inspire and influence the Chareidi community. It is that idealism that still drives him in his work so many years later.

While Mishpacha is well-received around the world, the goal of Mishpacha is to serve, elevate and be the voice of the Chareidim, particularly in Eretz Yisroel. The real customers are not the advertisers but the audience. Mishpacha seeks to portray an independent voice which is unaffiliated with any political party. In the early years, in the chareidi world of pollicization, this was perceived as a weakness. However, the years have passed, and this freedom has become one of the most salient factors of its success.

Mishpacha was the first Charedi publication to give the same respect to the Sephardi and Ashkenazi societies, attempting to create a sense of unity. Over time, this adherence to equality and ahavas Yisrael became the secret to the business’ success.

When Eric Adams was a police lieutenant, he remembered a young man who had been arrested for robbery. The suspect was very hostile and angry at first. Only after the Mayor befriended him by giving him something to drink did he soften up and share that his father was in jail, his mother was hooked on drugs and no one checked on him. He realized he could play a better role from what he had learned in policing and take it into government and find a way to save lives and prevent tragedies he saw while he was a police officer.

Mishpacha’s quest in elevating frum society is done through sincere, honest writing. Mishpacha does not engage in pretending that society is perfect. While recognizing the great achievements and accomplishments in the frum world, Mishpacha will tackle even unpleasant issues, albeit in an extremely sensitive way.

Mayor Adams believes that it is so important to get other perspectives from people who are different because wisdom comes from many

It is not easy as Mayor but the goal is to give it your best. There are things within and outside your span of control, there are days he wishes he never got out of bed and days he is happy he did get out of bed but one thing he knows is that every day he gave New Yorkers the best that he could give. He is going to do the best he can when it means keeping the city safe, dealing with 180,000 asylum seekers, getting

Another example of difficulties that Israeli chareidim face is the draft. Mishpacha discussed population statistics -- one out of four children is Charedi– and how the army and Charedi society can possibly reach a solution.

The paper is faced daily with Hashkafa decisions that have far-reaching effects on our society. The issue of printing pictures of women in the magazine has been debated back and forth in many forums. When Hilary Clinton was running for President, Mishpacha shocked many readers by publishing a blurry photo of Donald Trump and Hilary on the cover. “We just wanted to see how people would react,” Eli confides.

The office did receive some complaints, but the Gedolim the magazine consults advised them to include her since there was a real possibility Hilary would indeed become president. However, in Israel, an anti-Mishacha publication blasted Mishpacha , claiming they were breaking the rules of modesty and Torah by publishing a picture of Hilary Clinton.

Mayor Adams has a history of standing up for what is right. Turning to the events of October 7th, no one wants to see innocent children killed on either side but to merely call for a ceasefire and not acknowledge that hostages are still being held and not calling for the dismantling of Hamas is a one-sided conversation. The hostages must be released and he has called for the destruction of Hamas. In war people expect the loss of soldiers but harming innocent people is crossing the line.

This became a real issue because it was very hard for Eli to justify in his mind why they could not print modest pictures of women, particularly considering how hard it seems to be to explain to ba’alei teshuvah why women are “ignored.” In order to make Mishpacha, often one of their first exposures to Yiddishkeit, more palatable, Eli is comfortable with his decision.

Jews and Blacks should learn each other’s history. Children need to understand the richness and deepness of our relationship.

Criticism allows you to do self-evaluation and ask what you could have done better. If everyone is saying you did a great job that puts you into a state of being comfortable and he doesn’t want to be there. You must understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy criticism. Some people criticize you because they are in pain and angry at themselves and they like to push that anger onto you but if someone stops and tells you that you could do a better job and you realize they are coming from a healthy place you should listen and contemplate whether you could have done something differently. There are a lot of opinions but he has to make the ultimate decision because New York has elected him not to define the problem but to solve it. That is what Bill Clinton shared with him at the beginning of his administration.

Rather than hiding his head in the sand, he is ready to take on the problems in our neighbourhoods and cities, working with the authorities instead of against them. Slowly, he believes, we will be able to build better trust.

He’s on a big mission: to expose our brothers to true Torah values, and he bears the responsibility seriously. He often employs a different way of thinking, a creative model, a stretch and a twist, that can support our lifestyle while at the same time show that we care about the Israeli economy, security, and its welfare system. “Instead of just complaining about why we are not understood,” Eli explained during the interview, “we must ask what we can do in this field. While we have to make sure that our kids are not too exposed to the big world, the (outside) world exists, and we have to face reality and come up with practical solutions. “

It is important to be vocal about the anti-Semitism going on. He tells his Jewish constituents not to

Eli is proud that Mishpacha does not try to be sensationalist. Rather he makes an effort to keep his editorial policies responsible and sensitive. “If you’re going to do it le’shaim shamayim” Eli ended, “you’ll have disyata d’shmaya to do it right.”

or watch more episodes of Inspiration For The Nation on Apple podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or LivingLchaim.com (or wherever you listen to your podcasts)

“Dr King knew the richness of his Jewish relationships. I know the richness because of the people who are in my life who are Jewish. But what about our sons and daughters, do they know we live in an isolated insulated city and country? We have to break down those walls and allow each other to know how much we have in common and how much we have helped each other.”

Question:

Wakeup Calls

By Ori Strum

Every few years Hashem sends us a wakeup call (i.e.: Ukraine war, Israel war, covid-19, Meron etc.) , we are frightened, the world surges into a movement of Emunah, Bitachon, and Teshuva and then the movement settles down and there are smaller wake up calls for a while (i.e. a soldier is killed, a terrorist attack, a new strain of Covid-19 etc.) and the the problem goes away and all that we had is either gained or lost but everyone forgets that the wakeup call happened. How can we stay inspired from these movements that follow these tragedies so we can end this cycle because Klal Yisroel has been through enough. Also why is it that it takes a tragedy to come for people to wake up and yearn for the Geulah and do Teshuva and work on themselves?

Response:

Thank you for sharing these deeply thoughtful and relevant questions.

First and foremost, I think it’s important to pause for a moment and embrace Klal Yisroel’s unique way of responding to these big wake up calls.

We shouldn’t - even for a moment! - take it for granted how Klal Yisroel responds with surging movements of Emunah, Bitachon, and Teshuva. This is truly an amazing display of Kavod Shamayim and attests to our deep connection with Hashem. How great is it to be a part of the nation of Klal Yisroel?

Big wake up calls and surging movements are great and wonderful. But yet, they are often short lived. The high parts are not always felt. The chorus doesn’t play forever. The major moments don’t always last. However, the really good musicians find a way to segway from one part of the song to the other. The talented instrumentalists are able to channel the uplifting emotion and energy of the high part and carry that inspiration through the refrain and low parts of the song.

Rav Hirsch zt”l writes: The G-dly aim of the Sanctuary lies not in what you bring to it, but in what you carry away from it into life. The strength of the Sanctuary lies in the influence it exerts on your daily life outside its confines.”

When Klal Yisroel is awakened by Hashem and we come together with a surge of positive spiritual energy, it is vital that we take hold of those high and lofty moments and place some of it in a “bottle” for safekeeping. It is imperative that we grab hold of something - however small! - and take it with us as we get back to “regular life.”

We are currently in the Days of Sefiras Haomer. On a mystical level, the first day of Pesach – when we left Egypt – is an incredibly lofty and holy day of Divine inspiration and ןוילע תוררועתה! It is a tremendously high moment; a surging movement, if you will. The very next day, that inspiration goes away, and through the process of Sefiras Haomer all the way up to Shavuos, we embark on a journey to find and seek out that holiness again.

The first day of Pesach is like a strike of lightning amidst the dark thunderstorm in the night sky. It lights up the darkness, albeit for a moment, thus allowing us to see what’s around us and where we should be headed. But that gift of clarity from Hashem is then taken away. That strike of inspiration goes away quite quickly. It is at that moment when the real work begins. We don’t teleport magically straight to Shavuos. We have to walk there. One step at a time. With our own two feet. With our own effort. With our own work. Hashem took us out of Egypt, but we have to walk by ourselves to the foot of Mt. Sinai!

In Likutei Halachos (Orach Chaim, Laws of Counting the Omer 1:1), Rebbe Noson of Breslev explains the sudden transition between the first day Pesach and the start of counting Sefiras Haomer with a moshol from the Baal Shem Tov. When a child first learns how to walk, the father holds the child’s hands. But then, soon after, the father lets his hand go and allows the child to walk on his own. On Pesach, Hashem took us out of Egypt. He was holding our hand. It was a lofty moment of clarity, holiness, and spirituality. But the very next day, He lets His hand go and requires us to walk ourselves, to put in our own work and effort. Because He knows that that is how we will truly attain success.

This, my friends, is the method for achieving spiritual success on a daily level and is one of the secret ways of maintaining connection and keeping the inspiration alive. The big wake up calls and the surging movements are nice and wonderful, and even necessary. At those moments, we are having our hands held by Hashem Who is showing us a lightning strike of clarity and spiritual energy. But then He lets His hand go, and the job then falls into our own doings and actions. We must take those amazingly high experiences, and allow those external movements to create internal movements. We must take something practical, manageable, and relatable, and start walking.

Whenever Klal Yisroel is experiencing a wake up call and a big movement of positive spiritual energy ensues, revel in that moment for a moment, and then look deep within and really get to work. Saying Tehillim as a group in shul is amazing, joining a challah bake is great, posting Israeli flags on a WhatsApp status is good, and being part of a chizzuk group chat is wonderful. But without really put-

ting in the effort and taking that walk by ourselves, the inspiration will be left behind and forgotten.

My Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Goldberger shlit”a, frequently quotes the Hornsteipel Rebbe who says that a person has to constantly ask himself two questions: המ and המל - What am I doing and why I am doing it?

If we live with this type of daily awareness in our lives, it is guaranteed that our daily lives will become dramatically more meaningful, and we will be able to keep the inspiration strong and alive, even when the big movements fade away.

Regarding your second question of why it is that it often takes a tragedy for people to wake up, yearn for the Geulah, do Teshuva, and work on themselves, I think it’s important to understand that the ability to do each of these things – wake up, yearn, etc. – comes from humility. Humility is the art of seeing Hashem in our lives, and quieting down the constant static and cacophony of voices that are constantly screaming at us to remain impure and complacent. The more we tone down those external noises, the more we will be in touch with our true selves and be able to stay awake, yearn properly for Geulah, do Teshuva, and work on ourselves.

Unfortunately, the nature of residing in Galus is that this avodah becomes very hard to do. Of course, we shouldn’t wait for a tragedy to strike, chas v’shalom, but sometimes we are so steeped in the external noises of the world that we are only reminded to peel away from it when a tragedy hits, thus propelling us to a state of humility.

It is the human condition to come together at a time of crisis. “Disaster collectivism” is a phrase that is used to describe the sense of immersion in the moment and solidarity with others caused by the rupture of everyday life. When life is cut short, it reminds us humans of our mortality, and at least for the moment, it causes us to become humbled.

As long as we are in a state of exile, without the Beis Hamikdash and all the clarity that comes along with having a single unified address, it is easy to get sucked into the noise of the outside chaotic world.

We hope, yearn, and pray for the day – may it be today! – that Moshiach will come and the world will be humbled enough to recognize Hashem as the true Master of the Universe. At that moment, we won’t need pain or suffering to remind us about Hashem and our purpose.

Until then, let’s work on living each day with humility. Let’s take the message of learning how to walk by ourselves and allow the inspiration to remain with us wherever we go along our journey of life.

Jerusalem has numerous streets whose names are connected to nearby historical sites. Ir David, the City of David, was the capital of Jerusalem when King David reigned almost three thousand years ago. The charming Givat Chananya community offers panoramic views of the Old City and Ir David, and therefore many of its streets are named for King David’s relatives, including ancestors Obed and Yishai, wife Batsheva and sister Tzruya.

Other streets are named for cities that the roads lead to. One of Jerusalem’s longest streets is Rechov Yaffo, which runs from the city’s entrance all the way to the Old City walls. Jaffa Street is named after Jaffa, a city adjacent to Tel Aviv, because from Biblical days (see Yona 1:3) until the late 1800s, Jaffa served as the main port city of Jerusalem. Visitors would disembark in Jaffa’s port and then continue their pilgrimage on land to Jerusalem. Interestingly, the present highway from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv follows a very similar route to the path taken by pilgrims for thousands of years.

Derech Beit Lechem is named because of its historical connection as a route leading to another city. Also known as

My Israel Home Automobile Street?

By Gedaliah Borvick

Bethlehem Street, it is a vibrant northsouth road which runs through Jerusalem’s Baka and German Colony neighborhoods. Archaeological digs underneath this street uncovered the ancient road that served as an important route for Jews from the south who visited the Beit Hamikdash on religious holidays.

out of Jerusalem, providing merchants access to the southern coastal ports of Gaza and Ashkelon. One of its most famous residents, Israel ben Moses Najara, served as Gaza’s chief rabbi over 400 years ago and composed many famous liturgical poems, including the Shabbat zemer, “Kah Ribbon Olam.”

Eliezer – and most everyone else in the city – always thought it was named for the industry that dominates the block.

Similarly, Derech Chevron is a main thoroughfare in southern Jerusalem that extends from Jerusalem all the way to Hebron. Jerusalem and Chevron are two of the four holiest cities in Israel, the other two being Tiberias and Tzfat, both of whom also have streets in Jerusalem named after them.

Finally, Rechov Azza, or Gaza Street, was one of the major roads leading in and

Now that we are all mavens of Jerusalem street themes, let me share with you a message that my normally even-keeled business partner Eliezer Goldberg excitedly sent me. Eliezer was walking with clients in Talpiot and passed by a street that for decades has been lined with car mechanic shops. The street is named Harechavim, which means vehicles in modern Hebrew, and Eliezer – and most everyone else in

the city – always thought it was named for the industry that dominates the block. Glancing at the street sign for the first time, Eliezer realized that he was mistaken. The sign explains that the name Rechavim is in honor of the illustrious Benei Rechev family, also known as the Rechavim, from the First Temple period. Its patriarch was Yehonadav Ben Rehev, who is mentioned in Yirmiyahu and Melachim.

Every time I read Jerusalem’s street signs, I learn something new. A fun activity that my brother-in-law and I enjoy – and I highly recommend that you give it a try – is to grab a few hours, and a few books about Jerusalem’s neighborhoods and streets, and wander around the city. It’s such a joy learning about our capital’s rich history, and you never know what new nuggets of information are awaiting you just around the corner.

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

Hank Aaron once said, “It took me seventeen years to get 3,000 hits in baseball. It took me one afternoon on the golf course.” Remarkably, millions of Americans still manage to love it. They’ll pick out their loudest pants or skirts, head for the course, fire up their carts, and whack a little white ball across a couple hundred acres of manicured lawn for hours at a time. Remarkably, some of them will consider the whole thing fun. The rest will suffer 18 holes in silent frustration until they hit that one gloriously perfect shot that fools them into thinking maybe, someday, they’ll conquer the game.

But golf is more than just fun. It’s big business. The National Golf Foundation reports the game generates $102 billion in revenue. That includes money spent at over 14,000 courses, plus billions more on equipment, apparel, instruction, travel to play the game, and golf course homes. There’s even a bipartisan Congressional Gold Caucus made up of members who believe the worst day out on the course beats the best day bickering in the Capitol. Naturally, all that money sloshing around the course means big taxes – and people trying to avoid those taxes.

This week’s story takes us to Spring-

Your Money Golfing Around

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

field, Massachusetts, where Kevin Kennedy used to manage two municipal golf courses: the Franconia Golf Course and Veterans Memorial Golf Course. He earned a base salary of $67,000 per year. His company, Kennedy Golf Management, also earned a portion of the profits from greens fees, cart rentals, and pro shop proceeds. Much of the payments for those items came in the form of cash.

in East Longmeadow and on Cape Cod. When it came time to finance the rest of the East Longmeadow property, he submitted a bogus contract to the bank that understated the purchase price by the $160,000 he had already paid in cash.

(Talk about “improving your lie!”)

Naturally, when April 15 rolled around, Kennedy left that cash off his IRS scorecard. Maybe he thought he was playing winter rules?

Naturally, when April 15 rolled around, Kennedy left that cash off his IRS scorecard.

Cash is taxable, of course, no matter how you earn it. But it’s also easy to hide, from employers and the IRS alike. So Kennedy simply scooped it out of the register and hid the income from the city. He wound up paying $160,000 of it, in actual currency, to a luxury homebuilder for custom houses

In 2016, IRS agents showed up at Kennedy’s shop. They weren’t looking for pants with little whales on them. Three years later, prosecutors charged him with theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, money laundering, filing false tax returns, and making a false statement to a financial institu-

tion. Just before trial, he plead guilty to the tax charges. In total, he underreported his income by over $1,000,000, costing Uncle Sam over $300,000 in tax. Last week, Judge Mark Mastroianni sentenced Kennedy to spend 13 months learning the difference between a “country club” and a “country club prison.” There may be room in the exercise yard to work on his short game. (So he’s got that going for him, which is nice.) However, you can bet Kennedy is wishing he could take a mulligan on a few of his choices right around now.

Gary Player once said, “The more I work and practice, the luckier I seem to get.” The same holds true for taxes. We work and practice learning legitimate strategies to help you pay less, that don’t involve filching cash from the register, lying to your business partners, or defrauding your mortgage company. So call us for a tee time and see how much you can save!

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.

Forgotten Her es Heroes in the Vietnam War

By Avi Heiligman

The American involvement during the Vietnam War lasted from 1961 to 1975. Approximately 2.7 million American service men and women were deployed to Vietnam during that time with hundreds of thousands more serving in other areas in Southeast Asia. Here are a few acts of bravery on the battlefield made by U.S. servicemembers during the Vietnam War.

Helicopters were an important part of ground operations as they landed and extracted troops in combat zones. When a mission for ground soldiers didn’t go as planned, an emergency helicopter unit went into action to provide fire support and to get the troops out of danger.

Marine Sergeant Edward M. Goodman, of Seattle, was serving with the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1 st Marine Aircraft Wing and was assigned as a gunner on a CH-46 Sea Knight transport helicopter. On January 12, 1969, his helicopter was called in to rescue an eightman reconnaissance patrol that had been involved in a heavy firefight for a day. The area was a mountainous jungle, and when the CH-46 reached the site, they were met with very heavy fire from the enemy. The pilot was able to lower a cable ladder to the ground thanks to very effective machine gun fire from Goodman. Five members of the patrol were extracted and safely disembarked at a fire support base. The other three

hadn’t made it onto the helicopter, so the CH-46 went back to rescue the rest of the patrol. At first, the enemy fire was so pervasive that the attempt was aborted. The second time around, Goodman placed accurate fire directly on the enemy positions to allow the three Americans time to board the helicopter. During this operation, Goodman ran out of ammunition, and used the crew chief’s weapon to continue discharging devastating gunfire on the enemy’s location. By this time, the helicopter had sustained significant damage but was able to get out of the area and land safely back at base.

For courage and devotion to duty in saving the patrol, Goodman was awarded the Silver Star.

Navy hospital corpsmen often served with marine ground units. Hospitalman Paul Goldstein from Minneapolis was attached to the Company M, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. The company was fighting communist forces in Quang Ngai Province on March 21, 1966 when he saw a helicopter crash in a rice paddy after being brought down by enemy machine gun fire. He rushed over and was met with exploding grenades and ammunition. Despite metal from the propeller shaft that exploded and ammunition flying all over, Goldstein and another soldier ran to help the copilot who was trying to escape the cockpit. Even though the heat from

the inferno was intense and temporarily blinded him, Goldstein managed to rescue the copilot and bring him to safety.

Specialist Fifth Class Harvey Goldberg from Jamaica, New York, was another unsung Vietnam War hero. He was with Company A, 70th Engineer Battalion when, on May 10, 1968, other parts of his unit became involved in an intense firefight at the Kham Duc airstrip. A relief force that included Goldberg was sent to help repel the enemy forces. When he arrived on the scene, Goldberg went into action by treating wounded soldiers. His position was exposed to enemy fire, but he continually helped evacuate soldiers from the danger zone.

Two days later, the enemy launched a mortar attack, and Goldberg again came to rescue the wounded. He was wounded early in the attack but continued evacuating other wounded soldiers until he required immediate evacuations as his wounds became severe.

For his actions, Specialist Goldberg was awarded the Silver Star.

Around 30,000 American Jews were sent to fight in Vietnam with many of them being decorated for heroism. It is difficult sometimes to determine if a serviceman or woman was Jewish based solely on readily available information. That being said, it is very plausible that those written about in this article were Jewish given the circumstances.

One veteran who definitely was Jew-

ish was helicopter pilot Eric Berla. Berla spent time in his youth on a kibbutz in the Negev. While serving in Vietnam with the 1 st Cavalry Division, his unofficial call sign for his Huey was “Super Jew II.” He volunteered to fly the medavac (medical evacuation) chopper for his unit. On one mission, he was lifting a soldier, and his K9 companion into his Huey when they started receiving ground fire. Despite the markings on the helicopter that it was a medical chopper, the Viet Cong deliberately continued firing at it in clear violation of international law. Soon, the communications on the helicopter were shot, and then Berla felt a bullet hit his leg. Still, he finished the mission and later discovered that an AK47 bullet hit the pants leg of his flight suit but missed his leg.

For his bravery in action, Berla was awarded the Air Medal, the Combat Medical Badge, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star.

The stories of these Forgotten Heroes deserve to be remembered. Heroes like the ones mentioned in this article went through many dangerous situations and will be remembered for the countless lives that they saved.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

Eric Berla

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In The K tchen

Ceviche Guacamole

By Naomi Nachman

Summer is coming, and tomatoes and avocadoes are at their full peak of flavor. This is a great recipe for a fun summer appetizer using fresh halibut and all the ingredients you would see in a guacamole.

Ingredients

◦ 1 lb (450 g) white fish such as halibut (I have also done this with salmon or tuna)

◦ ½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice

◦ 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped

◦ 2 Tbsp olive oil

◦ ½ tsp salt

◦ ½ tsp freshly ground pepper

◦ ½ medium red onion, julienned

◦ 2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and finely diced

◦ 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

◦ ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Preparation

To prepare ceviche, cut fish into small cubes. Add all ingredients to a non-reactive bowl and toss well. Let marinate for 30 minutes and serve. Serve with nachos.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pesach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.