Baltimore Jewish Home - 6-15-23

Can you guess where the Torah Quest will be?

Solve these riddles and you can see!

RIDDLE #1

Whether you like things salty or sweet, everything here is such a treat!

Lollipops, chocolates and gummies galore, you’ll find what you seek at the .

RIDDLE #2

Get ready to search high and low, This is the place where shoppers go. Shelves stocked with produce and meat, you’ll find fresh food you need to eat. From bread to milk to service with a smile, you’ll find what you seek at the .

For swimming, basketball, the gym and more, you’ll find community when you walk through the door. This is a place where any Jew can enter.

It’s the Park Heights

RIDDLE #3

TORAH LIVE The leading educational video platform your kids will love that ignites passion for Torah and Mitzvos.

Dear Readers,

As high school graduation season is upon us, there are many in the community who are reflecting on the growth of their child. Through fourteen years of schooling, they’ve developed from super dependent youngsters to independent and well-rounded adults. No two paths are the same, yet, we’re fortunate to live in a community with schools that have a singular mission of providing the very best Torah education. Hopefully, the perfect synergy of strong parenting and quality education results in a child who is well-adjusted to thrive in the big and crazy world we live in.

It is common for us to take our educational systems for granted. In fact, it’s easy to critique different aspects of the system. Yes, the cost of tuition is exorbitantly high. Yes, not every teacher is spectacular. Yes, mistakes are made. However, the schools are not exactly dealt an easy hand. Creating the perfect mix of students in each class is nearly impossible. Teachers are hard to come by. It’s expensive to maintain the roster of necessary social workers and special educators. Nevertheless, the schools work relentlessly to make the most of a difficult situation.

I was fortunate to grow up in a home where

both of my parents were entrenched in the world of Chinuch and education. They relinquished any hope of living an extravagant lifestyle for the sake of the future of Klal Yisroel. I’ve always said that the best and brightest of Jewish minds are in the Bais Medrash and classrooms of our institutions. Each of these Rabbeim and teachers could easily be a top doctor or lawyer, or leading a corporation. Instead, they magnanimously chose to dedicate their lives to the unselfish service of building future generations.

As the year comes to a close, we (hopefully) stand proudly next to our graduates, with a mixture of nachas from who they have become and sadness as they outgrow their need to be nurtured. We reflect on the past and simultaneously stand next to our child peering into what will IYH be a bright future. Thank You to all of the educators who were equal partners in this mission. And Thank You to our children who make us so proud.

Wishing the very best to the graduates, and a peaceful Shabbos.

Aaron Menachem

Around the Community

AIM Event Recap

The AIM Event, held at the Marriott in Owings Mills, was a smashing success. Over 500 women and girls enjoyed an elegant dairy reception, coupled with

a musical performance and Chinese Auction to support the organization. We would like to thank all those who attended the event as well as those who supported AIM by purchasing

auction tickets. A tremendous thank you goes to the group of women who selflessly volunteered dozens of hours of their time and worked tirelessly to ensure

the event was carried out to perfection!

Photo credit: Mrs. Meiselman

Around the Community

Bais Yaakov Wins at Innovation Day!

On Tuesday, May 23rd, a group of Bais Yaakov High School STEM students traveled to American Dream Mall in New Jersey to participate in the CIJE Annual Innovation Day. Since January, students from grades 10 through 12 worked in groups to build capstone projects featuring a new innovation that they designed, engineered, and coded themselves. They also conducted market research and put together pitches to sell their products. At Innovation Day, the groups presented their pitches to an audience of fellow students and adult judges. There were 1200+ students and 450 innovation projects.

Aside from the pitches, the students were able to enjoy the shops and

amusement park at the mall, and participate in the CIJE award ceremony at the end.

Mazel Tov to our Bais Yaakov winning teams: the Zen EpiPen, by Adira Herman, Michal Stern, and Sarala Frankel, which won 2nd Place in Engineering for Children; and the Scrub Away, by Tzipora Marizan, Devorah Meira Weiskind, and Basya Sora Bitman, which won 3rd Place in Engineering for Household Solutions. Proud STEM teachers are Mrs. Sarena Schwartz (11th and 12th Grade) and Mrs. Ora Attar (10th and 12th Grade); and special recognition to the STEM teaching assistants - Mrs. Simona Markowitz, Miss Devorah Preiser, and Miss Zahava Rosenbaum.

TA Middle School Science Fair Winners!

By: BJLife Newsroom

TA Middle School’s annual Science Fair isn’t just about experiments and projects; it’s about inspiring curiosity

and fostering a deep love for scientific inquiry. By providing an exciting platform for our students to share their experiments, discoveries, and inventions, we are revealing the promising scientists of tomorrow.

Tied for 3rd place: “Sizzling

OCA’s 8th Grade Graduates Head to Chicago

Following their graduation on Sunday, OCA’s newest graduates set out on their class trip to Chicago! The theme of the trip was looking at the past to help shape our future. The graduates visited the American Writers Museum, where they went on a journey through the

American story, from the perspective of its writers. They learned about the history of Chicago by visiting The Ledge, a glass balcony extending four feet outside Willis Tower’s 103rd floor, touring Wrigley field, the country’s second oldest baseball stadium, and exploring the Museum of

Science and Industry, one of the largest science museums in the world. The group also toured the Chicago Chesed fund’s facility, learned about its impact on the community, and worked on one of their projects. Throughout their time in Chicago, the students enjoyed lots of great food, including

Science” by: Eli Cohn and Moish Richter & “pH; Does it Matter?” By: Nachman Brodsky

2nd Place: “How Water pH affects Plant Growth” By: Zechariah Meth

1st Place: “Coca-Cola Corrosion” by Aryeh Weinberger

dinner at Ken’s Diner and lunch from Tel Aviv Pizza while taking an architectural cruise of the Chicago River. The trip was an extraordinary bonding experience for the Class of 2023, capping off their years together as a grade before they head off to high school.

Around the Community First Annual Maryland Softball Competition

On Sunday June 4th, the Yeshiva of Greater Washington hosted its first annual Maryland Softball Competition MDSC fundraiser, which Baruch Hashem was a huge success. All funds raised will go towards Yeshiva’s scholarship fund. The players had a great time, and the Yeshiva reached its fundraising goal.

There were a total of eight teams; five from Silver Spring and three from Baltimore, with close to a hundred players. The names of the teams were: the Worthy Insurance Bombers, Healing Partners, Ben Yehuda Pizza, Sky Plumbing, Wohl and Trail Periodontics, The Planners (sponsored by Equitable Advisors), Israel Bonds, and Silver Spring Medical Center.

The day began at Reisterstown Re-

gional Park, where a catered breakfast from Goldberg’s Bagels was provided to the players and their families. The first pitch was thrown at 9:15 am.

After three exciting rounds of games, the players headed off to Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium. The teams that did not make the semi-finals had a chance to play consolation games from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. From 3:00 - 4:00 pm, eight players competed in the Graber and Associates Home Run Derby. Dovid Flamm won the contest with a total of 21 home runs.

From 4:00 - 6:00 pm the semifinals were played; Worthy Insurance Bombers defeated Silver Spring Medical and Israel Bonds defeated Sky Plumbing. The championship game was played from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. After an intense game, Worthy Insurance Bombers -

headed by Captain Shuli Hochman, Coach Joe Openden, and Coach Rabbi Dave Finkelstein - defeated Israel Bonds and became the first champions of the Maryland Softball Competition.

Throughout the day, players and their families were treated to a Texas style BBQ from the Wandering Que. Ari White and his crew did a great job and the food was delicious. The players’ families also got to enjoy moon bounces, face painting and balloon twisting at the Kids Zone at Ripkens Stadium.

Rabbi Abba Florans and Mr. Shmuel Gabbai did a great job MCing the championship game. They provided a lot of family fun interactive competitions throughout the game, such as father-son wheelbarrow races, Zorb ball competition, Billy Ball vid-

eo, tug of war, t-shirt toss, and trivia questions.

Thank you to Dovi Ziffer and Jeremy Lasson, our tournament commissioners, and of course a special thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the event a true success.

Thank you to all our sponsors: Worthy Insurance, Healing Partners, Ben Yehuda Pizza, Sky Plumbing, Wohl and Trail Periodontics, Equitable Advisors, Israel Bonds, Silver Spring Medical Center, Graber and Associates, Health Markets Medicare Solutions, East Insurance Group, Knish Shop, Siena’s Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant, AMF Creative, the Baltimore Jewish Home, Montgomery Sports Medicine Center, PMF Capital and Fired up Promotions

MDSC commissioner Dovi Ziffer presenting the Maryland Softball Competition Trophy to Captain Shuli Hochman

Players and their sons in the wheelbarrow competition.

Brushing off a base during the base cleaning competition.

Captain Justin Moskowitz of Healing Partners

Getting baseball guidance from Allstar Orioles player Mike Bordick during a clinic.

Ari White from Wandering Que displaying his goods.

Aharon Boltax from Team Planners catching some learning

Gershon Jay from Team Worthy Insurance Bombers posing with the MDSC Commissioner Trophy

Shmuel Artman from Team Israel Bonds saying hello to fans.

Baruch and Eli Dollman from Team Sky Plumbing

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I’m a regular yeshiva kollel guy from London. After Kerem B’Yavneh in Israel, I moved onto the Mir. Before creating Torah Live, I had no professional background in animation, video, technology — I got into it unusually.

Tell us the story behind Torah Live and what motivated you to found it.

Sixteen years ago, I taught Pirkei Avos at Ohr Sameach. I was excited after spending three years writing this book (Relevance: Pirkei Avos to the 21st Century, Feldheim). The class itself? Disaster! The kids walked out of the room, texting — and totally disinterested.

It was the worst day of my life.

I felt like quitting, but had to come back the next day. The pressure was mounting. I had 5 kids at home and had trouble sleeping.

Then Hashem opened up a new world. He put this idea in my head that I had to find a new language. I realized: I had to speak to kids on their bandwidth.

I taught myself C4D, SketchUp, Premiere Pro, video and sound effects. Those same kids who couldn’t sit through a single lecture were glued to their seats.

It wasn’t Torah Live back then — just

eos in superb professional quality because kids expect a high entertainment level.

Tell us about Torah Live’s impact.

Over the last few years, we’ve had 1.8 million video views and 130,000 active users. Over 10 million dollars have been invested to produce hundreds of videos — and our website.

93% of teachers rated the video quality as excellent/above average.*

84% of parents say Torah Live teaches their children about Judaism while having fun.

Our videos are showcased on YidFlicks, Toveedo — and even El Al Airlines. At first, we gave El Al three hours of content. Today they have 11 hours of content and 7,500+ views every few months.

Sounds like a lot to handle. Who else is on the Torah Live team?

We’ve built a tremendous team with 7 full-time employees and 52 freelancersscript writers, editors, producers, sound mixers and special effect artists. Before we broach any topic, our research team learns the sugyas to ensure accuracy and clarity. And our Nasi — our President — is HaRav Yitzchak Berkovits, shlita; all

To get children excited about Juda ism, parents must be authentically excited. Children need to see the joy their parents have for mitzvos and their happiness to do chesed.

How can people access Torah Live, or participate in Torah Live events? Head to TorahLive.com and sign up to watch the videos — they’re free.

If you want bells and whistles — games, quizzes, avatars, and earn “dinarim” (virtual coins for mitzvos) and submit your own creative content for prizes — we offer an annual subscription of $90.

According to Rav Berkovits’s psak, maaser money may be used for the subscription, as every dollar goes to making more videos and content. We’d love to create content on every halacha, hashkafa, middah tovah. We’re bursting with video ideas to produce and funding is holding us back. $90 gives your family annual access to amazing features and enables us to make more videos.

Tell us about the Torah Quest. Why was Baltimore chosen first?

Torah Quest is Torah Live’s first community-wide Torah scavenger hunt. We

start at Seven Mile Market or at Shaarei Zion at 1 P.M. on Sunday June 25th.

Participants get a map with riddles to solve, leading to a grand carnival at the Park Heights JCC— earning prizes and cool swag.

We’re premiering Torah Quest in Baltimore because thanks to the generosity of Dr. Paul Volosov, Baltimore is the first Torah Live city. 7 years ago, Dr. Volosov sponsored access to Torah Live for every school in Baltimore.

With Hashem’s help, this event will be successful and we’ll keep going to Toronto, Miami, Los Angeles, NYC, and around the world.

Where do we sign up for Torah Quest?

It’s easy and free! Sign up at torahlive.com/torahquest. I’ll be there Sunday June 25th — and look forward to seeing you in person.

*2019 independent survey by MSL consulting.

The Week In News

er between Israel and Lebanon near Kfar Shouba. The rioters then started throwing rocks at Israeli soldiers, and the attacked forces responded with tear gas.

IDF and Lebanese Clash

The clash took place in Sheeba Farms, an area which belonged to Syria until 1967, when the land was captured by Israel. The location, which is on the Israel-Lebanese border, remains disputed territory, with Israel, Lebanon, and Syria all claiming the area as their own. No clear border has been established between Israel and Lebanon, with only an unofficial border known as the “Blue Line” existing.

nations “to use coordination mechanisms to prevent misunderstandings and maintain stability in the region.”

A Hezbollah parliament representative, Ali Fayyad, said that “the resistance is closely following the issue in the Kfar Shuba hills, moment by moment, and is preparing for any escalation possibilities, and will not allow the Israeli enemy to persist in its transgressions.”

In response to these events, the IDF insisted that it “will not allow any attempt to violate the sovereignty of the State of Israel.”

Dotan and Hermesh, west of the Palestinian city of Jenin. The Israel Defense Forces said the same gunmen apparently then continued on their way and opened fire at a military vehicle in the area. Four soldiers were wounded.

The civilian had suffered gunshot wounds to his upper body.

The attack came exactly two weeks after an Israeli man, 32-year-old Meir Tamari, was shot dead by Palestinian terrorists outside Hermesh.

On Friday, conflict broke out between the IDF and Lebanese rioters.

According to the Israeli army, the confrontation started when multiple Lebanese citizens tried demolishing an Israeli-built barbed wire fence that is meant to serve as a border barri-

One of the rioters was hurt by the tear gas, according to the Lebanese state National News Agency, and soldiers from the Lebanese army were sent to the scene with the goal of “facing the Israeli enemy.” However, further conflict was quelled by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

UNIFIL told Arabic-language media that it was trying to end the conflict and encouraged the two involved

4 Hurt in DriveBy Shooting

Four Israeli soldiers and a civilian were wounded in a drive-by shooting attack in the northern West Bank on Tuesday afternoon.

A wounded Israeli motorist, 33, reported coming under fire from a passing car at the Efes intersection located between the settlements of Mevo

Palestinian gunmen have repeatedly targeted troops, military posts, Israeli settlements and civilians on roads in the West Bank.

Smoking on the Rise

The Week In News

Israelis like to smoke. In fact, the smoking rate among the Israeli adult population is 20 percent – higher than the OECD average. A quarter of men and 15% of women smoke, with rates higher among Arabs than Jews. And the pandemic made it worse, with one-quarter of smokers adding 13 more cigarettes to their daily routine.

“Eight thousand people die from tobacco use every year in Israel. Eight hundred of them from passive smoke,” said public health professor Laura Rosen of Tel Aviv University, who has studied the effects of tobacco smoke on children for the last 15 years.

It’s not just traditional cigarettes that Israelis are consuming.

According to a report by the Taub Center for Social Policy, “one-quarter of all youths smoked an electronic cigarette, possibly under the false belief that it was less risky than a traditional cigarette.”

People are getting hooked on cigarettes earlier in life. A report on smoking issued by the Health Ministry in 2021 stated that after a significant drop-off in youth smoking between 1998 and 2019, the trend is reversing. Now 20% of youth (more boys than girls) smoke, with half of them smok-

ing tobacco and half using e-cigarettes. Whereas in the past teens were initially introduced to smoking through cigarettes and hookahs, by 2019, they were reporting more use of vapes, some as early as age 12.

Israel Cancer Association (ICA) health promotion specialist Dana Frost told The Times of Israel that kids have become hooked on electronic cigarettes — especially disposable ones — which they like for their bright colors and appealing sweet and fruity flavors.

According to Frost, in 2022, 13.7% of kids aged 12-14 started smoking as compared to 3.4% in 2020-21.

“It’s illegal in Israel to sell smoking products to minors. Yet, kids in middle school are getting ahold of them,” she noted.

Not enough long-term research has been done on vaping. However, international peer-reviewed research presented in an ICA position paper indicates that the materials in vapes are known to expose users to heavy metals and carcinogenic chemicals.

There is also evidence that vaping causes damage to the lungs and airways and the heart and blood vessels. In some cases, it affects the gums and teeth and can even lead to tumors in

the mouth. One study indicated that vaping increased anxiety. Even those who are not smoking themselves can be affected by the nicotine emitted in the vapor.

“We are really worried about how children and youth are becoming addicted to nicotine from vaping. Addiction happens much quicker at younger ages, when brain development is more dynamic and incomplete. The brain is in a constant state of learning until age 25, and addiction is a type of learning. As a result, addiction at a younger age is not only quicker, but also stronger,” Frost noted.

Some countries have banned vaping. But others see vaping as a tool to help cigarette users cease their traditional smoking habits.

The Knesset Finance Committee confirmed earlier this year a 145% tax on electronic cigarettes and associated products. Additionally, regulations passed in 2019 limit the advertisement and sale of vaping products, and also forbid smoking e-cigarettes in indoor public spaces.

There’s also the issue of secondhand and even third-hand smoke in Israel. Parents smoke near their children, and their kids imbibe the nox-

ious fumes. Third-hand smoke, when the smoke is on smokers’ clothes and hair and is breathed in by others, is also a major problem for children.

Who is to Blame for Attack at Egyptian Border?

After an Egyptian police officer crossed the border and slaughtered three Israeli soldiers on June 3, an army investigation concluded certain factors contributed to the attack. As such, a senior officer will be removed from his position and several others will be formally censured.

The IDF said that it had found a number of contributing factors to the attack: an easily opened small emergency gate on the border barrier was unknown to troops stationed in the area; an over-prioritization of drug smuggling incidents; and excessively lengthy guard shifts.

Staff Sgt. Ori Yitzhak Iluz, 20, Staff Sgt. Ohad Dahan, 20, and Sgt. Lia Ben Nun, 19, troops of the Bardelas and Caracal battalions, were killed in the attack on June 3.

Racheli Daniel Director, Chai Lifeline Mid-Atlantic

Tell us about yourself Racheli. What made you decide to join Chai Lifeline?

I’ve been living in Baltimore for close to 15 years and have taught in Beth Tfiloh Dahan High School for 11 years. I am PTA president at Torah Institute where my sons go to Yeshiva and have daughters in Bais Yaakov. I began my work at Chai Lifeline in March of 2022.

As the director at Chai Lifeline Mid-Atlantic, my role involves overseeing and managing the programs and services in the Mid-Atlantic region and working to ensure everything runs smoothly and effectively. My previous experience working with students and their families allowed me to develop relationships working with and for families, and I am inspired by the mission of Chai Lifeline and appreciate the opportunity to continue to support families in our community and have a positive impact on other children and families facing serious illness, trauma, and loss.

Summer’s coming – what does Chai Lifeline have planned?

We are thrilled to bring back “Camp Simcha Without Borders” for our local families in summer 2023! Chai Lifeline launched the local branches of the famed ‘Camp

Simcha’ experience during Covid-19 when campers couldn’t travel, and it was such a success that we have kept it going since. Campers experience non-stop activities, spirit and action, music, swimming and more in the local camp taking place at the home of David and Rachel Warschawski.

The boys camp will take place July 10 through 13, followed by the girls’ session scheduled for August 10 through 16. And of course, a highlight of this summer is our incredible and high-energy family fun day that will be open to the community on Sunday, August 13. More information will be shared but we are excited about a family day with a fantastic inflatable park and activities for all ages – with food, fun and family time, of course. We look forward to seeing everyone there! Stay tuned!

What is so special about Camp Simcha Without Borders?

The impact of Camp Simcha Without Borders extends beyond the campers themselves, who truly feel they can be themselves and not think about illness or disability when they are at camp. During the year, these warrior children and their siblings are often the ‘different ones’ in their world, the ones who are always dealing with

treatments, limitations, differences and more. Here, in camp, they are just like everyone else and are giving the ability to enjoy themselves and the activities just like everyone else.

The power of Camp Simcha Without Borders reaches the families of the campers, of course, but also the community who can see the impact that Chai Lifeline has on families managing illness or loss. It gives them the opportunity to see first-hand how their support and involvement, whether as a local volunteer or financial supporter, is impacting those who need the support most.

What programs does Chai Lifeline run throughout the year?

Chai Lifeline provides a range of comprehensive and individualized services designed to meet the unique needs of each family going through serious illness or loss. Our Big Brother/Big Sister Program matches trained and caring volunteers with children who can benefit from a supportive mentor. These mentors provide companionship, guidance and friendship and the program has proven to be a valuable source of emotional support and positive experiences for our young participants.

Our programs for siblings and for parents provide support and recre-

ational activities for family members of children with serious illnesses. It’ s a safe space to share experiences, build friendships with others who understand their situation and receive guidance from trained professionals.

Day to day, our customized case management looks to meet the needs of each child and each family throughout their medical journey with an eye on family stability. Throughout the year, we organize various outings, holiday celebrations and parties, and therapeutic activities for the well-being and resilience of our families and we are dedicated to providing year-round support and lasting memories for the children and families we serve.

We also respond to all forms of trauma and provide crisis services and resources to individuals, families, schools, synagogues in the community.

How can people in the community be involved?

Chai Lifeline is always open for community involvement and volunteers – as mentors, camp counselors, drivers for medical appointments, and so much more. To learn more about our work, to volunteer or to support our mission, please visit: www.chailifeline.org/midatlantic.

The Week In News

The IDF said that the commander of the 80th Division, Brig. Gen. Itzik Cohen, will be formally reprimanded for his “overall responsibility for the event, including the lack of control over the implementation of the procedures.”

Col. Ido Sa’ad, the commander of the Paran Brigade, will be dismissed from his role and moved to another position in the IDF, for his “overall responsibility for the event and the manner by which operations are carried out in his area.”

The IDF noted that Sa’ad did act correctly when it came to engaging with and killing the Egyptian attacker.

Lt. Col. Ivan Kon, the commander of the Bardelas Battalion, will be formally reprimanded for his “responsibility for the implementation of the operating concept in his forces.” He will additionally be denied a promotion for five years, the IDF said.

According to the IDF’s investigation, the Egyptian policeman, Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, 22, infiltrated the border through an emergency gate early on June 3. The small gate, held

shut with only zip ties, is used by the IDF to cross the border when necessary, in coordination with the Egyptian army.

Salah walked three miles from Egypt and climbed a cliff to reach the gate. He then walked to Israel’s guard post, where Iluz and Ben Nun were situated, seemingly taking them by surprise around 7 a.m. Iluz and Ben Nun had been involved in taking care of a smuggling incident during the night.

When the two soldiers’ shift was up around 9 a.m., officers discovered the pair had been killed. Other soldiers searched the area for the attacker. Around 11 a.m., a drone identified the terrorist. He began to fire upon a group of soldiers and killed Dahan. Another group of soldiers ultimately killed Salah.

The Israel-Egypt border has been largely peaceful since the two countries signed a peace agreement in 1979, Israel’s first with an Arab state. In the past decade, Israel built a large barrier along the border, largely aimed at keeping out African migrants and Islamic terrorists who operate in Egypt’s

Sinai.

Sinai-based terrorists carried out multiple attacks against Israel in 2011 and 2012. In one multi-stage attack in August 2011, six Israeli civilians, an IDF soldier and a counter-terrorism police officer were killed, as well as five Egyptian soldiers.

Highway Collapses in Philly

state 95 in Philadelphia and crashed into a wall while trying to navigate a curve. A fire broke out at the scene. Subsequently, a stretch of the northbound I-95 collapsed and fell onto the truck.

On Monday afternoon, state police said that a body had been recovered from the wreckage.

The truck was carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a disaster declaration on Monday, which allows the state to dip into federal funds and cut red tape to expedite repairs.

The roadway is one of the busiest interstates in the region, typically carrying about 160,000 vehicles through Philadelphia daily.

Early Sunday morning, a tanker driver took an off-ramp on the Inter-

Crews are first working to demolish the collapsed part of the roadway, which should take around four to five days. But officials say that the damage to part of the East Coast’s primary highway could take months to repair. Northbound lanes had collapsed in the incident, and southbound lanes had

The Week In News

been damaged in the inferno.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said his agency is prepared to help local officials swiftly address the extensive disruption caused by the collapse. “To be clear, swiftly is not going to be overnight,” Buttigieg told reporters Monday at an event hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies. “We’re talking about major structural work.”

“I found myself thanking the L-rd that no motorists who were on I-95 were injured or died,” Gov. Shapiro said.

Higher Grocery Bills

Wonder why you spent so much at the grocery this week? Blame it on inflation.

From April to May, adjusted for seasonal swings, grocery prices got 0.1% more expensive, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index, a key measure of inflation.

Menu items got 0.5% in that time.

Overall, grocery prices were 5.8% more expensive in May than they were a year ago. Going out to eat? Menu prices have risen 8.3% over the past year. Together, food prices jumped 6.7% throughout the year, once again outpacing overall annual inflation, which came in at 4%.

Certain food items got quite a bit more expensive over the course of the year.

Margarine spiked 22.5%, flour jumped 17.1%, bread spiked 12.5%, and sugar rose 11.1%. Meanwhile, juice and other nonalcoholic drinks popped 9.9%, lettuce went up 9.4%, and ice cream went up 8%.

Cheese, chicken, and fresh fruits and vegetables also increased in price, but at much smaller degrees.

A variety of factors have caused food prices to rise. Extreme weather, the war in Ukraine, avian flu and higher costs along the supply chain have all led to higher prices.

Some foods have decreased in price over the past year. Citrus fruits became 5.3% cheaper; fresh whole milk

dropped 3.45; and fish fell 1.1%.

Eggs, a product whose price soared last year, has made a comeback, dropping 13.8% last month – the largest single-month price decline since January 1951.

A Ban on Book Bans

marginalizing people, marginalizing ideas and facts. Regimes banned books, not democracies,” Pritzker, a Democrat, said at a bill signing ceremony at a Chicago library. “We refuse to let a vitriolic strain of white nationalism coursing through our country determine whose histories are told, not in Illinois.”

The measure, which takes effect January 1, says public libraries must adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or their own statement prohibiting book banning to be eligible for state money.

On Monday, Illinois became the first state in the nation to prohibit book bans.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law to prohibit public schools and libraries from banning books, noting that it’s the only one of its kind in the country.

“Book bans are about censorship,

The association’s Library Bill of Rights states that reading materials “should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval” or “excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.”

The signing comes amid record book challenges, laws and policies to limit books available in public schools and libraries.

In March, the library association said there were 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in

YOU MAY BE CARRYING MORE THAN YOU KNOW.

2022, marking the highest number of attempted book bans since the association began compiling the data more than 20 years ago.

“A record 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship,” the association said.

An April report from free speech organization PEN America found book bans rose during the first half of the 2022-2023 school year. Almost a third of the bans were the result of newly enacted state laws, according to the report, which found bans were most prevalent in five states: Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah and South Carolina.

Pritzker and nine other governors sent a letter last month to textbook publishers urging them consider the negative impacts of book banning.

The Week In News For all your auto home life and business needs

Big Apple Loses Big Jobs

The retail industry in New York City has shed thousands of jobs since the pandemic, even as the rest of the job market has almost fully recovered, according to a new report released last Thursday from the Center for an Urban Future, a public policy think tank.

The study found that in the three years since February 2020, New York City lost 37,800 retail jobs, an 11.1% decline, while the overall private employment sector has regained all but 0.8% of jobs.

empty office buildings, said Jonathan Bowles, the center’s director.

“New York is on the verge of a crisis, when it comes to jobs that are accessible to New Yorkers without a college degree,” Bowles said, and the decline is contributing to widening racial disparities.

More than 70% of the city’s 301,700 retail jobs are held by Black, Hispanic and Asian workers, a disproportionate share of whom did not finish college. Over one-fifth of that workforce is younger than 25.

In the first quarter of the year, the unemployment rate for Black New Yorkers was 12.2%, compared to 1.3% for white New Yorkers — the biggest gap this century.

The industries in New York that are growing — tech, finance, health, legal and accounting services — are not accessible to the workforce that has been laid off, Bowles said.

To counter the losses in retail, Bowles said, the city should invest in job training programs that can help retail workers transition to other fields. The report also recommended offering tax incentives to encourage in-person shopping and, most crucially, expanding new affordable housing in the five boroughs to increase foot traffic and shore up demand. (© The New York Times)

Space Affects Astronauts’ Brains

The city’s job losses in retail were also far worse than in the rest of the country; nationally, retail jobs were up an average 0.7%. Retail jobs are a critical part of the city’s job market, particularly for young people of color.

The retail industry — which includes clothing, sporting goods and grocery stores, among others — has been shrinking for years, but the pandemic sped up the growth of online shopping, especially in big cities like New York, where the commercial ecosystem relies on tourism and still-half-

New studies suggest that long space missions can lead to harmful effects in an astronaut’s brain.

When comparing scans of thirty astronauts’ brains prior to and after space flights, scientists observed that those who spent six months or longer in space showed evidence of significant brain ventricular enlargement.

“The more time people spent in space, the larger their ventricles be-

The Week In News

came,” said Rachel Seider, a professor of applied physiology and kinesiology at the University of Florida, who served as the lead author in this study. “Many astronauts travel to space more than one time, and our study shows it takes about three years between flights for the ventricles to fully recover.”

There were three groups in the study: A group of eight who spent two weeks in space, a group of eighteen who spent six months, and a group of four who spent a year.

The space travelers who spent two weeks on the mission showed little to no ventricular enlargement, while those who spent six months showed significant enlargement. And when comparing the size of ventricles in the six-month participants and the one-year participants, researchers observed no difference at all, indicating that expansion likely stops after a period of six months.

Cerebrospinal fluid, a fluid that protects, cleans, and supplies the brain with nutrients, is contained within these ventricles. When one stays in space for extended periods of time,

these fluids rise, causing the brain to push against the skull. This ultimately leads to the enlargement researchers have been observing.

“We don’t yet know for sure what the long-term consequences of this is on the health and behavioral health of space travelers, so allowing the brain time to recover seems like a good idea,” Seider added, disclaiming that while three years are likely needed for recovery, “astronauts have very specialized skill sets and training and there may be rationale to include them on additional missions before this time.”

New Vaccine for RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV, is an illness that affects almost every child in the first two years of their life. While generally mild, the virus is responsible for nearly 1 in 50 deaths for children under the age of five, globally.

As of last week, Nirsevimab, a

monoclonal antibody developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi to prevent RSV, has been nearly unanimously endorsed by advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In a vote on Thursday, the FDA’s Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee voted that the advantages of the drug likely outweigh the disadvantages, with 21-0 endorsing it for infants, and 19-2 endorsing Nirsevimab for children up to the age of two who are especially susceptible to the virus. With the committee’s advice in mind, the agency will make the final decision as to whether the antibody will be approved.

In clinical trials, Nirsevimab proved to be safe, with only minor common side effects appearing, such as a rash. As for the drug’s effectiveness, trials showed that the likelihood of hospitalization from RSV-related illness was reduced by about 78%, and chances of getting lower respiratory tract infections caused by the virus that required medical attention went down by about 75%.

The first of its kind, this monoclo-

nal antibody would be administered as a single-dose and would create immediate immunity in the child’s body. There are alternatives to Nirsevimab. Palivumab, also known as Synagis, for example, is an approved monoclonal antibody meant to prevent RSV; five doses are required. Another alternative is a new vaccine made by Pfizer, which can be given to a pregnant woman in order to protect the infant from RSV for the first six months of his or her life.

Hawaii Volcano Eruptions

Last week on Wednesday, Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano began erupting, initially prompting U.S. officials to warn of the danger such an eruption may

The Week In News

present to locals. However, only a day later, the bursts of lava became less of a threat, allowing thousands to observe from a safe, yet close distance.

On the first day of the eruption, over 10,000 people came to watch, with lava bursts reaching heights of 200 feet in the morning, eventually going down to somewhere between 13 to 30 feet later in the day.

“While an eruption is an exciting experience, keep in mind you are observing a sacred event,” Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks officials said, with the tourism authority urging “mindfulness when planning a visit to the volcano.”

“Don’t just get out your camera and take photos. Stop and be still and take it in,” urged Cyrus Johnasen, an Hawaiian spokesperson for Hawaii county. “It’s something that you can’t pay for. In that moment, you are one with Hawaii.”

Many watched from two miles, one mile, or even half-a-mile away from the volcano, with the closest place to watch the spectacle being the overlook

near Keanakākoʻi Crater, according to the NPS.

It is unknown how long these eruptions are going to continue, but as long as they do, people “are getting a spectacular show,” said Hawaii Island mayor Mitch Roth. “And it’s happening in a safe place that was built for people to come view it.”

While the lava won’t go outside the Volcanoes National Park and as such presents little danger to locals, there are still other health issues to consider.

“Large amounts of volcanic gas— primarily water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2)—are continuously released during eruptions of Kīlauea volcano,” the NPS warned on their website, noting that “this hazard can have far-reaching effects down-wind.” Thin pieces of volcanic glass can also pose health concerns, such as skin and eye issues, and exposure to volcanic ash can cause lung problems.

While at this time, eruptions at Kilauea are relatively safe, its eruption in 2018 caused significant destruction

and left many with no choice but to evacuate, leaving their homes to be destroyed by the lava.

Cooking Like Crazy

Bassey’s latest cookathon lasted four days.

“I can now announce that with a time of 93 hours and 11 minutes, Hilda Baci is the new holder for the Guinness world Records title of the longest cooking marathon,” an adjudicator said.

The 26-year-old cooked in a makeshift kitchen, starting on Thursday, May 11, and finishing on Monday, May 15, producing almost 100 pots of food.

“When I found out, I cried, prayed and screamed,” Bassey said after learning of her record-breaking feat.

“Then I called my mum, and we cried some more. I am so happy. Everything and all the hard work was worth it. I said I wanted to be a record holder and now I am. This is for all my team members and for all the hard work,” she added.

Effiong Bassey has cornered the market on marathon cooking. The Nigerian chef, known on social media at Hilda Baci, is now the new world record holder for the longest cooking marathon.

Although Bassey cooked for 100 hours, she was penalized for an error in her scheduled rest breaks, according to the world record committee.

“There was a miscalculation when it came to Hilda’s rest breaks, meaning we are unable to award the 100 hours

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claimed,” the adjudicator said.

The longest cookathon title was previously held by Indian chef Lata Tondon, who cooked for 87 hours and 45 minutes in 2019.

That’s a lot of kugels she could be making.

Leaves of Three

leaves only started about [10 feet] off the ground, and the aerial roots were such a tangled mass that I didn’t recognize it as poison ivy right away,” Fedrock explained.

He had suspected the vine might be poison ivy, but he had to dig out some buckthorn to get a better view. The experience left him with a positive identification, as well as poison ivy rashes on his hands, arms, face and stomach.

“I was hoping to avoid it, but some hazards are inescapable, and the cause was worthy,” he said. “The oil that causes the rash is also in the dead leaves which litter the area. It seeps

found the interesting thing,” he said. We can’t be-leave it.

The Snowiest June

A Million Pennies for Your Thoughts

A family cleaning out their home in Los Angeles stumbled upon several bags containing quite a find.

John Reyes said that he was cleaning out his father-in-law’s home when he made the discovery. One million pennies were locked in unopened, sealed bank bags.

If you think we’re getting a mild spring,

The mountain located in New Hampshire is known for its extreme weather conditions, and this month is no exception.

According to the Mount Washington Observatory, this June has been the snowiest June in 91 years of record-keeping, with snow falling on Saturday bringing the total

By early Monday, nearly all of the snow

The observatory is at the summit of the Northeast’s highest mountain, at 6,288

“I’ve actually been contacted by a few coin collectors or people who specialize in this space and just based off some of the questions they asked me, for example having the lead sealed bag or having bags from banks we don’t necessarily recognize, knowing they are at least 40 years old or more. I’ve had quite a few collectors tell me that this is something that shouldn’t be sold until we know what’s going on,” Reyes said.

The coins are made of copper and not zinc, which the United States switched to in the 1980s.

Parenting Pearls

Tech Talk

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

Despite the title, I will not be reviewing for you the latest phone or gaming device. It’s possible my last gaming experience may have been on the original Nintendo.

I recently received a series of text messages from another adult. I think it’s sufficient to say the messages were both aggressive and nasty. My husband tried to help me be dan l’kaf z’chus why someone would send such angry messages and I appreciated his help reframing her actions. I make it a point to not use examples or stories of people that will be able to identify themselves (or others), but I’m not that worried in this case. Besides the fact that she doesn’t actually read my articles, I truly don’t think she realized how hurtful and combative her words were.

I’ve been truly bothered by how someone who presumably tries to be thoughtful in speech could create such a threatening message and then press the “send” button. These are the actions of an adult who wasn’t raised with a cell phone in one hand and an email account in the other. Kal v’chomer, how carefully we must educate our children who are not yet mature in in-person interactions yet are already communicating with tech. Sadly, for many youngsters, electronics may be their main form of interaction with peers.

I’d like to preface this discussion by mentioning it’s my humble opinion that, despite the convenience and ease of electronic modes of communication, children and teens should not rely on them for communication. Our youth are still learning the basics of communication and how to navigate interpersonal relationships. They require in-person interactions to gain these crucial skills. Along with words, tone and body language are just two of the means we use to communicate with others – neither is learned through text or email. This is in addition to the reality that messaging encourages poor spelling, grammar and word usage (as the teacher in me laments).

Despite the potential downsides of communicating with technology, the world

at large is increasingly using these methods, and this, too, must be included in our chinuch. It’s routine to get information from healthcare providers, business colleagues and even shul updates electronically. As parents, we have the opportunity to educate our children in appropriate electronic communication usage when they’re young so they will be respectful and appropriate when they’re older.

Real Talk

Kids can usually talk to other children in-person or over the phone. When we had a question about homework, we picked up the archaic corded phone and dialed. If we wanted to arrange a playdate, we either did so when we saw our desired playmate or we gave them a ring.

There are many ways to speak to another person that don’t require text or email and, preferably, children should still avail themselves of these options. It’s easy to use technology, and there’s a time and place for it. But, we should still ensure our children are building real communication skills by enjoying real time with real people as much as possible.

The Power of the Edit

When I was in elementary school, I generally didn’t look over my written work (please don’t tell my teachers). I figured it was enough that I bothered to write the essay in the first place, I certainly didn’t want to trouble myself to read it again. Currently, I’m a “few” years older and enjoy writing articles for TJH readers each week. One crucial lesson I learned through this column is the importance of editing.

Yes, TJH has a fabulous editing team, and there’s someone to catch my mistakes. But I like to submit a well written piece, and I don’t think any editing team wants to fix terrible or incoherent work.

When we send emails and text messages, we don’t have an editing team backing our work. Nobody is there to correct our spelling, grammar, or incorrect word usage or ensure we sound coherent. More importantly, there’s no one to double check

that we are speaking with derech eretz or that our true intent is coming across clearly and appropriately.

It’s a chessed to our children and all the individuals they will communicate with to make sure they know to read and reread any message before it’s sent. It’s an excellent idea to have someone else read the message before hitting the send button to give another look and make sure the intent is properly conveyed. The need for a second set of eyes is even more important when it comes to emotionally heavy topics.

It’s risky to send an important text or email when you’re sick, angry or in pain (physically or emotionally). While it’s completely appropriate to text your doctor for an appointment or a good friend to pick up something at the store, it would be a terrible idea to choose that time to discuss a thorny problem you had with someone’s child during carpool. Kids, too, need to be careful what they write when feeling uncomfortable or emotional.

Acronyms are very popular when communicating electronically. LOL, IYKWIM and TTYL are now common words, so common that my spellcheck recognized them. As clear as these many alphabet soup mini words may sound to some, they can be incomprehensible to others. Children need to be mindful that many people – especially adults – are unfamiliar with these phrases and may feel embarrassed to ask. It could also be deemed disrespectful to use when writing to a rebbi, morah or other authority figure.

Kids should not text or write words they wouldn’t say out loud. This applies both to things that are hurtful and to that which would be called “nivel peh” (dis-

gusting speech or curse words). Typing does not kasher it. Additionally, many acronyms contain a letter denoting a curse word; that, too, should not be written.

An Eye That Sees

We’re aware that Hashem constantly sees and hears what we do, but we can easily forget that the written word can be read again and again. Words said verbally can be very painful but words that are written don’t get erased and can cause pain repeatedly each time they are read.

While it’s hard for children and teens to recognize the future implications of their current actions, it’s imperative they understand that what they send now can come back to haunt them years later. There have been numerous cases of careers being ruined from old messages and social media posts. Words written years ago have been used to deny students admission to their school of choice as well as assist law enforcement during investigations. Thinking now before sending can prevent many problems later on.

Being a mensch is a full-time job and doesn’t end when technology begins. Teaching children appropriate communication skills provides lifelong benefits. May we and our children merit to use our words to heal and improve the lives of others.

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at Rayvych Homeschool@gmail.com.

SNO-BALLS ARE BACK!

Torah Thought We All Need Each Other

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

We can only imagine the tension in the air that gripped the nation upon the return of the spies and hearing their frightening and discouraging report.

Here they were, poised to finally reap the rewards for their longed for hopes for happiness, success, and security, after so many years of suffering through slavery, to now be confronted with paralyzing fear, disappointment, and despair.

The Torah describes how Calev heroically attempts to intercede.

בלכ סהיו — Calev silenced, םעה תא — the people, השמ לא — to Moshe. הלָֹע הֶלַעַנ — We shall surely ascend and occupy the land, we can do it!

His first statement, when read literally seems disconnected. What does it mean that he silenced the people — ‘to Moshe’?

Rashi explains that Calev directed the people to be quiet and listen to what Moshe has to say. Yet, Moshe never manages to get a word in edgewise.

Rav Meir Simcha, in his Meshech Chochmah, relates the reference to Moshe, not to any words he may speak, but rather to a prophecy they were privy to having previously heard how Eldad and Meidad foretold that Moshe would not lead them into the land. Panic now gripped them after

hearing the spies’ dire depiction of the mighty inhabitants they would have to conquer, worrying how they could possibly accomplish that without the inspired and powerful leadership of Moshe. Calev, he suggests, ‘silenced the people to — their dependence on Moshe — exclaiming that no one, even Moshe, is indispensable, and if G-d so wills it, we can do it, even alone!

Rav Chaim, the Rav and spiritual leader of towns of Kaminsk and Walbrom, who drew from the waters of the great Chozeh of Lublin and his disciple, Rav Meir of Apta, offers a most fascinating interpretation. (ןורכז חלש - םייח)

Moshe had not waned, an iota, in his belief that G-d would fulfill His promise to the nation in bringing them to the promised land, humbling the mighty inhabitants. But, when the spies failed in their mission to see the positive, their negativity infiltrating into the hearts of the nation, he momentarily lost faith, despairing, wondering whether indeed it could now come about.

Calev, he asserts, silenced the impact of the spies and the people’s negativity — to Moshe — addressing and encouraging Moshe with his confident declaration: הלע — he [Moshe] will go up, הלענ — we will follow. He can do it!

Calev sought to restore Moshe’s

faith and confidence in himself, that he could accomplish the mission.

Even Moshe was vulnerable and needed the support of Calev so that he ‘may live to tell the tale’!

A cherished life-long friend, Reb Chaim Schnur, shared the following powerful story that illustrates the invaluable importance to emotionally support one another.

of inspired and accomplished avreichim — young men, who had numbered among their group one fellow who clearly surpassed them all in his stature.

In 1940 the Nazis infiltrated Warsaw and wantonly slaughtered many from this group.

Rav Gad’l Eisner was one of the illustrious Gerrer chasidim before the war and became a famed mashpia — guidance counselor, after the war. He lost a wife to illness at the onset of the war, and a daughter, his only child, at the hands of the cruel enemy. He was renowned during those dark years, as he frequented ghettos, labor camps and concentration camps, as a fount of wisdom, counsel, and encouragement to the many who suffered unimaginable trauma, with many attributing to his warmth and understanding, their ability to survive.

He often described how in pre-war Poland, there were various chaburos — support groups, who met every several days to study together, inspire one another, seeking new avenues of growth in their spirituality, buoyed by bonds of deep friendship and mutual admiration.

He belonged to a particular group

During those ominous days, a report spread that this elevated member, while amid being engrossed so enthusiastically in his studies deep into the night, was disrupted by stormtroopers breaking into his home and slaughtering before his very eyes, his wife, sons and daughters. Reb Gad’l would cry each time he retold the tale, still traumatized by the overwhelming grief he sensed then, when he first heard about it.

He went on to report how several days after hearing this harrowing tale, at two in the morning he hears a furious knocking on his door. Not knowing who awaited him on the other side, he cautiously opened the door only to discover it was his dear friend who had just suffered this terrible loss.

He describes how his friend first told him to sit down, after which he went on to say the following.

“Gad’l, I am not here to seek your counsel, your reproach, nor your consent. I simply want to declare before you that I am done with G-d. Gad’l, you see this beard and peyos? Shortly

A Shidduch for my Friend, A Shidduch for Me.

Menachem and I are good friends. We got to know each other back in kindergarten, and have followed the same path for years. Same cheder, same camp, same yeshivah. We did everything together.

As we matured, we continued to stick together. Neither Menachem nor I found our shidduch quickly. Years were passing and both of us were twenty-six and still single.

Though I do admit, having a friend in the same boat made the challenge somewhat more bearable, but I truly dreamt my friend would get engaged already, nearly as much as I hoped I myself would become a chassan.

One day, I decided it was prime time to try a new route. I called Tehillim Kollel and signed us both up. I wanted the minyan of talmidei chachamim to daven for my friend and I. I knew their tefillos are powerful, but I could never have fathomed just how powerful…

Six weeks later, I got a call from Menachem. There was a thrill in her voice and I soon discovered why. “I’m a chassan!” he said elatedly. “Mazel tov, mazel tov! ” I could hardly contain my excitement.

I was thrilled for Menachem, but I was also excited that my own simchah would be more complete. You see, I was seriously involved in a shidduch myself, and knowing that Menachem and I would remain on the same page for the next stage of our lives made the thought all the more exhilarating.

I knew that tefillah helps. But I was shocked at the electrifying speed of its power.

they will be gone. What I have done for G-d, no one can compare. I forfeited many hours of sleep at night to toil in learning instead. I went days with meager rations, my eyes were pure, my heart holy, my mouth cleansed, and so much more. I did this all solely to fulfill His will.”

And then he raised his voice, screaming in desperation, “What did He give me in return? I heard my wife’s pleas for help, and I could not do a thing. I heard the screams of my children, and I was helpless. Is this my reward? If there is no accountability or justice, I am done!”

Reb Gad’l sat opposite him remaining silent. Engrossed in thought, he figured there was no purpose in dissuading him by quoting halacha, nor from chasidus, for his friend was more well-versed than he. He said a silent prayer and responded with the following words.

“You are right! You are justified! You gave Him your entire being and have yet to see anything in return.

“But... your friends, the members of your chaburah will never understand, nor will they ever be able to accept.”

His friend listened quietly, containing the instinct to respond, and hurriedly left.

They lost track of one another, with Reb Gad’l wondering whatever happened to his friend.

Several years later after Reb Gad’l was repatriated to Israel, as he was walking in the streets of Yerushalayim, a young man, with flowing beard and peyos, suddenly approaches him grabbing Reb Gad’s beard with his

two hands, blurting out, “Gad’l, I could not respond to my wife’s desperate cries during her last moments on earth...‘but the chaburah would not understand nor would they be able to accept’, I heard the screams of my children calling out Abba! Abba! remaining helpless to their pleas... ‘but the chaburah would not understand or be able to accept’. Gad’l, I am here standing beside you in our holy city only because... ‘the chaburah would not understand nor would they be able to accept’!»

If only Calev’s words would have been heard. The entire episode spiraled out of control simply because they would not listen.

We must learn from Rashi’s approach that one can prevent a situation from getting uncontrollably out of hand if we would just stop for a moment to hear and contemplate, rather than react.

Reb Meir Simcha teaches us that we must never place our faith solely in those people or institutions that we have become deluded into thinking are our only means for salvation. It is only G-d and no one else that is the bottom line!

But Rav Chaim of Kaminsk teaches us perhaps the most vital lesson — to be there for one another.

No matter how great we think we are, we are buoyed by the friendship, encouragement, concern, care, responsibility, and hope we feel for each other that will keep us firmly implanted in the beliefs we so cherish and ensure that we will always survive whatever may come our way!

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

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to our donors, generous matchers, board of directors, parents, corporate sponsors, and the entire Baltimore community for making our CROWN FUNDING campaign a success!

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

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 S-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

For

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

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel S

Tzeirei Anash M-F

7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Beth Tfiloh Congregation M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH

7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] S

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore S-F

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh S

Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S

Chabad of Park Heights S

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh S-F

Darchei Tzedek S

Kedushas Yisrael S-F

Khal Bais Nosson S

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) S-F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

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

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

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

Talmudical Academy S-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Mesivta Kesser Torah S-F

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim S-F

7:50 AM Derech Chaim S

Ner Tamid S

Ohel Moshe M-F

8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Beth Abraham S

Darchei Tzedek S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek S

Kehillas Meor HaTorah S

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Ohel Yakov S

Ohr Yisroel S

Pikesville Jewish Congregation S

Shearith Israel Congregation S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center S

Tiferes Yisroel S

Tzeirei Anash S

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah S-F

8:15 AM Kehilath B'nai Torah S

Kol Torah S

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S-F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh S

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

9:00 AM Aish Kodesh S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S

Beth Tfiloh Congregation S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

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

1:45 PM Ohel Moshe

1:50 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber

Wealcatch Insurance

2:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room

Kol Torah Market Maven

Reischer Minyan 15 Walker Ave 2nd Floor

2:30 PM Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh

Ner Israel Rabbinical College

Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)

Shearith Israel Congregation

3:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

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

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

5:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

5:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

6:00 PM Kedushas Yisrael

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

7:00 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

8:00 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

14 Min Before ShkiAh Kol Torah

Mincha/Maariv Before Shkiah

Aish Kodesh

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Agudah of Greenspring

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Beth Abraham

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation

Darchei Tzedek

Kehillas Meor HaTorah

Kehilath B’nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill’s)

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Ner Tamid

Ohel Moshe

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]

Ohr Yisroel

Pikesville Jewish Congregation

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Shomrei Mishmeres

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center

Tiferes Yisroel

Maariv

8:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

8:45 PM Darchei Tzedek

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina)

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

9:20 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)

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's)

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah

9:50 PM Aish Kodesh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Ohel Moshe

10:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Darchei Tzedek

Kehilath B'nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

10:05 PM Kol Torah

10:10 PM Ner Israel Rabbinical College

10:15 PM Derech Chaim

Khal Bais Nosson

10:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

11:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Agudah of Greenspring - 6107 Greenspring Ave

Agudath Israel of Baltimore - 6200 Park Heights Ave

Ahavat Shalom - 3009 Northbrook Rd

Aish Kodesh - 6207 Ivymount Rd

Arugas HaBosem - 3509 Cwlarks Ln

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim - 3120 Clarks Ln

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore - 6823 Old Pimlico Rd

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh - 6618 Deancroft Rd

Beit Yaakov - 3615 Seven Mile Ln

Beth Abraham - 6208 Wallis Ave

Beth Tfiloh Congregation - 3300 Old Court Rd

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation - 6602 Park Heights Ave

Chabad of Park Heights - 3402 Clarks Ln

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh - 3800 Labyrinth Rd

Darchei Tzedek - 3201 Seven Mile Ln

Derech Chaim - 6229 Greenspring Ave (Weekday)

Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue 6611 Greenspring Ave.

Kedushas Yisrael - 6004 Park Heights Ave

Kehilath B’nai Torah - 6301 Green Meadow Pkwy

Kehillas Meor HaTorah - 6539 Pebble Brooke Rd

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek - 6811 Park Heights Ave

Khal Bais Nosson - 2901 Taney Rd

Kol Torah - 2929 Fallstaff Rd

Machzikei Torah - 6216 Biltmore Ave

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah - 6500 Baythorne Rd

Mesivta Kesser Torah - 8400 Park Heights Ave

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim - 3702 Fords Ln

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah - 7000 Rockland Hills Dr

Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber One South Street, 27th Floor

Ner Israel Rabbinical College - 400 Mt Wilson Ln

Ner Tamid - 6214 Pimlico Road

Ohel Moshe - 2808 Smith Ave

Ohel Yakov - 3200 Glen Ave

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] - 6813 Park Heights Ave

Ohr Yisroel - 2429 Lightfoot Dr

Pikesville Jewish Congregation - 7644 Carla Rd

Shearith Israel Congregation - 5835 Park Heights Ave

Shomrei Emunah Congregation - 6221 Greenspring Ave

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh - 2821 W Strathmore Ave

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim - 7504 Seven Mile Ln

Talmudical Academy - 4445 Old Court Rd

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel - 5915 Park Heights Ave

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center - 6701 Old Pimlico Rd

Tiferes Yisroel - 6201 Park Heights Ave

Tzeirei Anash - 6706 Cross County Blvd

Wealcatch Insurance - 37 Walker Ave 2nd floor

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah - 6819 Williamson Ave

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“No One Understands Me”

By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman

Sometimes, we feel as if no one understands us or what we are going through. Is that a healthy feeling, or is it something that should concern us? Should we resign ourselves to not being understood, or should we try to help people understand us better? This all depends on the nature of the issue. In this article, we will explore some causes for this feeling and their ramifications.

Understand Yourself

Many of us do not understand ourselves. This might be due to a dysfunctional upbringing where our caretakers did not attend to our needs and therefore we evolved a poor sense of self. Perhaps we have a dark side that we do not want to admit to ourselves. Whatever the cause is, if you do not understand yourself, then those people who truly understand you will be

accused of not understanding you! As you avoid getting to know yourself, you will push away those very people who really know you. Therefore, the first order of business on your agenda is to really be sure that you know yourself.

Adjust

Your Expectations

Many of us are blessed with large circles of friends and acquaintances. These people see you in shul, Yeshiva, or your place of employment when you are on your best behavior. Only people who live with you can really understand you. If your spouse gets you, then that might be enough. No one else needs to understand you, and anyways they might not see enough of you to understand you. Do not let an elevated expectation of people understanding you get in your way.

Fear of Closeness

Some of us are very afraid of get-

ting close to another person. This can result from different forms of abuse at the hands of a trusted family member or friend that left an emotional scar that makes it hard to trust and be vulnerable with another person. If you constantly keep everyone at arm’s length and do not allow them to be close to you, then they will not understand you.

You Might Be Unique

Sometimes, people do not understand you because you have unique life circumstances that other people cannot relate to. This can be due to mental illness, physical illness, family circumstances, and the list goes on. This does not mean that there is no one out there who can understand you. Rather, you need to find those people who share your experiences. This is one of the wonderful benefits of support groups for people who share similar situations. There, you can find people who can truly relate to what you are going through.

nius that was difficult to really understand. Although he was well-liked and even revered, he still felt that no one understood him.

Is Everyone Wrong?

There are situations where everyone has a certain opinion about you, and only you “know” that they are all wrong. In such a case, you must tread carefully, because they might actually be right. For example, someone believes that he has the musical talent to be the next Mordecai Ben David or Yaakov Shwekey, and no one else seems to share that opinion of him. Yes, there are situations where the whole world is wrong. But, very often they are right, and you are stuck in self-delusion.

In conclusion, there can be a variety of reasons why someone might not feel understood. If this feeling is causing you distress and is interfering with your life, then you might want to explore the option of seeking professional help. Ultimately, human beings

A Snippet From Judaism’s Number One Podcast

THE BJH PRESENTS... A BOOST OF “INSPIRATION”

A SNIPPET FROM JUDAISM’S

ubbed Israel’s top marketer, Hillel works with leading tech entrepreneurs, investors, and visionaries to accompany them on their journey from idea to revenue. Hillel’s work is published in some of the world’s top tech publications including TechCrunch, Venturebeat, Inc, Entrepreneur, The Next Web, Business Insider, and more, bringing Israel’s energetic tech scene to life. He collaborates with leading global brands including Google, Oracle, Microsoft, and Nike. He is the most technologically connected Jew in the world and he shares his wisdom and experiences. He tells the story of how his brother died a hero, the power of giving, and his best tips for living a successful life.

DIn 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.

but there are always bittersweet moments at family celebrations. It is not an easy thing to cope with but they have to move on with life.

How One Act of Kindness Changed My Life: The Story of Hillel Fuld ELI PALEY CEO OF MISHPACHA

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.

When asked what he does for a living Hillel says that he “loved tech before it was cool to love tech”. His first job was at a tech company writing user guides. He found this very boring so with his love for tech and writing he bought a website and

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.

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.

According to Hillel, Judaism is all about chesed. People can learn from the givers versus the takers. Too many people in business are focused on “me” rather than “you” but when you help others win or you pave the road for others to go on their way to success you join them on that road.

being a Jew, in Israel you can succeed because you are a Jew”. When we say “Never Again” to the atrocities of the Holocaust, this means it will not happen again because we have Israel. On making Aliyah, Hillel says,

Hillel grew up in Queens in a family of educators. He moved to Israel with his parents when he was 15 having grown up knowing Israel was the place for a Jew to be. It was not an easy age to move, but 20 years later he realizes it was the best thing that ever happened to him. He is married with 5 children and lives in Beit Shemesh.

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.

Four years ago, while shopping in Efrat on Erev Yom Kippur Hillel’s brother, Ari was tragically murdered when a 16-year-old Palestinian terrorist came from behind and stabbed him in the neck. Ari somehow managed to chase down the terrorist who was running after his next victim. He jumped over a wall, shot the terrorist then collapsed and died. Hillel says a terror attack rips up a family. Boruch Hashem, they are a strong family

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.

started writing on the internet. Startups started to reach out to him and he met entrepreneurs who were bad at building tech but good at building businesses so he helped them any way he could. He built a career out of trying to help people. Entrepreneurs and then big companies came back to him years later wanting him to work with them. He works on anything from PR to business development to fundraising to social media to content marketing depending on the needs of the company. In addition to start-ups, he writes for every leading tech publication in the world. Thirdly he does public speaking and finally, he started writing again on the internet. He works with a lot of Fortune 500s, like Google, Oracle, Microsoft, and “Brand Ambassador”. He meets amazing people every day and wakes up every morning and pinches himself that this is what he does for a living.

It was always Hillel’s dream to interview Steve Wozniak who in-

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.

Hillel feels a person’s name has real significance and his name Hillel Shlomo Chaim reflects who he is. When promoting others (Hillel), he feels alive (Chaim) and he feels whole (Shlomo), that is his essence.

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.

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.

vented the home computer. The first time he reached out the response was negative.

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 worst advice he’s ever received is to “monetize everything” meaning to take money for everything. He believes if a person will “Focus on value, money will follow” and “When you do good it leads to good things”.

Hillel’s best practical advice is that whoever you meet think about how to help this person. When you think about others:

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.

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.

He did eventually meet him in a Tel Aviv hotel and had to rush him to a bomb shelter due to an incoming rocket. He has interviewed 13 or 14 hundred people and stresses that the bottom line is “If you help someone win in business you end up winning”. He feels that of all the people he has interviewed the top venture capitalist in the world, Marc Andreessen had the most impact on him.

1. You strengthen the relationship because you’re helping people all the time.

2. You learn to overcome diverse problems because you’re always solving problems.

3. You’d build a reputation of being indispensable to people.

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. “

Hillel also spoke about his love for Israel and the beauty of living in Israel. Israel defends us and we are not at the mercy of another country. The quality of life may be less than somewhere else in the world but “spirituality is something else”. If you come to Israel you are home. “In America, you can succeed despite

4. You’d have a bank of favors to call upon down the road.

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.

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.”

When you focus on paving the road for others to go on their way to success you end up joining them therefore focus your time and resources on helping others.

“In America, you can succeed despite being a Jew, in Israel you can succeed because you are a Jew””

Taking Stock By Rebbetzin Sara Gross

Iam a busy mother, BH, balancing my family and my job. When my children are in school I work in an office out of my house. I receive many emails and often respond to work-related matters on my phone when they arise. Then one day my husband asked me why I needed to work at home. Was I required by my job to work after hours? Is that their expectation of me? I stopped short. He was right, it was not a job requirement, and in fact, the emails would be there for me in the morning if I did not respond right away at night. Deciding then and there that this would have to stop, I took email off

my phone completely. The change was incredible. I felt freer and more in control of my time and schedule, not being sucked into working just because I was so accessible. The fact that I didn’t stop and think about what I was doing made me really take stock.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that technology affects productivity in our lives and work, depending on our personalities. There are some extremely disciplined people who could make exact guidelines for their technology use and stick

nology today. Many billions of dollars are poured into keeping us hooked. Research is done into figuring out how to force users to keep looking and tapping on the screens, against their own choice. Therefore, even those

difficult time keeping off devices. Combating such targeted attacks on our mind and choices is an uphill battle. In this case, “knowing” is not quite half the battle.

To share a tech triumph or story of chizuk, please email Techtriumphs@tagbaltimore.org

This is a service of TAG Baltimore. TAG Baltimore is an organization that provides technology awareness, education, and support. They can be reached at 410-449-1824 orhelp@

Israel’s strategy of “Deterrence”

Is a MotI vatIon for terror

A thorough analysis of Israel-Gaza policy

by Avi SchwArtz

It was Mid-November 2019, but it almost could have been May of 2023. A group of bored Israeli soldiers sat relaxing on benches inside their base. Some were playing chess, some were smoking, and some were snacking. They were stationed just a few miles from one of the most violent terrorist hotbeds in the Middle East. But they weren’t particularly excited or tense. Even the newcomers, who arrived on base that morning, were just mildly curious. Only the many bomb shelters scattered all over the base suggested the threat of imminent violent conflict. There was nothing in the soldiers’ attitude to suggest that they had been forced to rush into those shelters multiple times over the past week. Rocket attacks were the norm, and the soldiers accepted it.

An often misunderstood hotbed, the Gaza Strip has become notorious for its brutal Hamas regime. But the

truth is that, like every place, even Gaza’s Hamas has political rivals: oh yes, they all aim to wipe Israel off the map, but each has its own loyalties and religious views. Usually, they lead a tentatively peaceful coexistence; sometimes, they actively cooperate against Israel; and occasionally, they squabble among themselves. November 2019 was squabble time. Hamas was in the midst of negotiations with Israel, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the second largest organization in Gaza, wasn’t impressed. So early in November, the PIJ fired missiles at Israeli border towns, probably in order to force both sides to break off talks.

A few of my friends found “the Gaza situation” an entertaining break from the monotony of soldiering, but the old-timers were not only bored but also frustrated. They had enough of the base. The clouds of flies, the

sea-air humidity, and the heat rolling in from the south combined to make this outpost a particularly detestable one. In fact, those old-timers should have been gone by now. My unit, which was supposed to replace them, had arrived; but they had to stay on base an extra few days thanks to PIJ’s antics.

We were used to the trigger-happy ways of the PIJ. But their shelling had not succeeded in killing anybody; and since Israel had declined to retaliate, we assumed that it was just going to blow over.

We were wrong.

The very next morning, we were awakened by the blaring of sirens – followed almost immediately by a series of loud explosions. Half-dressed soldiers rushed out of their barracks and scrambled to the bomb shelters, buttoning their shirts as they ran. Some were barefooted,

Rockets launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel

Israeli soldiers gathered at the border of the Gaza Strip

Members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad during a military parade

others ran in flip-flops. Missiles were flying overhead from all directions: some were heading our way from Gaza, while others were IDF missiles sent to intercept them. We heard the explosions as the missiles collided mid-air: the severed half of one crashed to the ground and lay half-buried in the sand just a few yards away from one of our watchtowers. Israel had just killed Baha Abu al-Ata, a senior PIJ commander who was presumably behind the earlier rocket attacks, and the PIJ was now retaliating.

The pattern that followed during the next forty-eight hours has since become depressingly familiar. The PIJ fired hundreds of rockets at Israeli cities, the Israeli Air Force responded with select targeted attacks against the PIJ, and then both sides agreed to a cease-fire. Abu al-Ata, who was responsible for the whole flare-up, was dead but replaceable. There’s no evidence that his death harmed the PIJ war machine in any way. As far as we can tell, Abu al-Ata’s successor is no less competent – and just as violent as his predecessor.

a Pattern of terror

The November 2019 flare-up was just one of a series. To date, there have been seven (!) such flare-ups since 2018. The latest, known in Israel as Operation Shield and Arrow, ended just a few weeks ago.

The flare-ups all follow the same pattern. The trigger which a terrorist faction in Gaza responds to might be anything: a botched IDF operation, Jews parading through Jerusalem, or even Israel negotiating with a rival terrorist group. Gaza terrorists then fire rockets at Israeli civilians, the IDF retaliates by killing a few of the offending organization’s senior (but not too senior) terrorists, the terrorists respond by firing some more rockets, and then there’s a cease-fire. The PIJ (or Hamas, depending on the situation) replenishes its stock of missiles and promotes new commanders to succeed those whom Israel killed, and all is quiet on this western front – until the next time.

The cycle is so repetitive and predictable that the more experienced IDF soldiers on the Gaza border have learned to identify an imminent flare-up just by watching the actions of the Hamas border guards who are posted opposite the Israeli positions: when the border guards vacate their positions, it means that they think a retaliatory Israeli air-strike is coming their way. They’re often right.

Why are these flare-ups so frequent and predictable for those who look out for them? The answer has to do with Israel’s policy. Israel’s goal has shifted: it no longer tries to crush terrorism or even destroy the capabilities of the Gaza-based terrorists. Instead, Israel is now focusing on what Israelis confusingly call Harta’ah – literally “deterrence.”

t he t heory of Harta’ah

Deterrence: your opponent learns never to mess with you again. Recall the end scene of Karate Kid: the poor, thin boy claims his victory as the big bullies hang their heads, knowing they will never touch him again. Harta’ah is the new buzzword when it comes to the Gaza terrorists: Harta’ah is what needs to be strengthened,

achieved, and won in every one of these flare-ups, Israeli leaders assure the public.

Sounds great. Except that in Israel’s case, this particular word has become malleable. Harta’ah – well, it doesn’t quite mean what you think it means.

The fuzziness of the meaning of the term was put on display just a few weeks ago, when pollsters found that most Israelis believe that Operation Shield and Arrow strengthened Israel’s Harta’ah vis-à-vis Gaza and that a majority expect another flare-up within months or even days.

Wait a second. So, deterrence worked – but didn’t work, since we’re in for another round in just months? It seems that most Israelis believe that the terrorists

pressure and the violence does not achieve any long-term objective. Even though retaliating against rocket attacks does eventually stop them, it’s only temporary. The Harta’ah Israeli leaders brag about achieving is really just an endless cycle of rocket attacks, retaliation, and ceasefires, reflecting Israel’s new aim of managing the conflict rather than winning it.

co-existing with terrorism

The term Harta’ah sounds great. It suggests that Israel is so overwhelmingly strong that it doesn’t even need to beat the Gaza-based terror organizations. Israel is so powerful, it can terrify the other side into good behavior merely by a show of force, by demonstrating the damage Israel can wreak when aroused.

But, the opposite is true: Israel no longer believes that it can crush terrorism, so its policy is geared towards short-term damage control. It avoids violent confrontations whenever possible, and, when violence is inevitable, ensures that it ends relatively quickly and painlessly. In other words, Israel is trying to coexist with terrorism rather than eradicate it.

are so deterred, yes, deterred, by Israel’s response that they’re going to go back to attacking Israel in the very near future.

So really, the term Harta’ah as it is used in Israel doesn’t actually mean deterrence. To understand what it actually means, picture a pair of soccer or basketball players who confidently threaten to beat each other up, knowing that their friends will intervene before anything actually happens. They then allow those friends to separate them, muttering things like, “You’re lucky your friends separated you before I got the chance to really beat you up!” or “I taught him a lesson!” The skeptic will ask – and rightly so – what lesson was taught, exactly?

And in Israel, the response to such a heretical question is a dramatic waving of hands and loud reiteration that a lesson was taught, I tell you it was, it was! For in Israel’s case, the rivals are separated by feverish American, Egyptian, and other international players’

The shift away from aiming for victory started shortly after a particularly bloody round of fighting between Israel and Hamas back in 2009, in which Israeli ground troops temporarily invaded Gaza. The then-leader of the Opposition, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed that there was only one solution: Israel had to take down Gaza’s terrorist regime. Within months, Netanyahu was prime minister and in a position to do just that. But he never did. As he explained almost a decade later, merely unseating Hamas would not be enough. That would have ended just like the Afghanistan War, in which the U.S. poured blood and treasure into defeating the Taliban, only for the Taliban take over again as soon as the NATO troops pulled out. The anger, hatred, and foreign cash which have built up Hamas and made it so powerful aren’t going to disappear, even if Israel were to invade Gaza and unseat the Hamas regime. And if that were to happen, Hamas would just make a Taliban-like comeback once Israel withdrew its troops from Gaza – unless Israel could hand Gaza over to a powerful regime that would keep Hamas out of power. But Israel could not find that alternative government. As Netanyahu pointed out in 2019, “We didn’t conquer it [Gaza] because we would have had to hold it and take responsibility for another two million Palestinians or give it to somebody. I spoke with many Arab leaders. No one volunteered.” It seems even in the Arab market, terrorist hotbeds aren’t particularly desirable.

Five years after the operation that prompted Netanyahu to declare that Israel had to overthrow Hamas, the IDF re-entered Gaza in response to Hamas rocket attacks. While Hamas holds power in the Gaza Strip

t he Harta’ah Israeli leaders brag about achieving is really just an endless cycle of rocket attacks, retaliation, and ceasefires, reflecting Israel’s new aim of managing the conflict rather than winning it.

Israel wasn’t interested in destroying Hamas, it did want to damage Hamas’ offensive capabilities to such an extent that it would force Hamas to agree to a long-term cease-fire. The 2014 campaign lasted nearly two months but achieved comparatively little. Yes, the IDF scored a few tactical victories, but that didn’t really matter long-term since Hamas is adept at rebuilding. Yes, the average Gazan might have been furious at Hamas for launching a painful, pointless war, but as a dictatorship, Hamas has the privilege of ignoring popular opinion. Hamas was still so strong no rival faction dared question its rule. So the real outcome was a respite in which Hamas could lick its wounds and leisurely re-arm. It took a few years, but eventually Hamas bounced back, more powerful than ever.

The 2014 operation marked a turning point in Israeli strategy. It was the last time Israel tried to seriously hurt Hamas in Gaza. After that, Israel gave up on trying to limit Hamas’ offensive capabilities in favor of Harta’ah: persuading Hamas not to use its ever-growing power against Israel. Israel’s new strategy is based on the belief that a poor Hamas is more likely to attack Israel than a powerful Hamas, simply because it has less to lose in an armed conflict. So Israel actually wants Hamas to become even more powerful; so powerful that Hamas would do anything to avoid losing all that power – even if it means not attacking Israel.

Because of this, Israel has allowed Hamas to grow and develop its armed forces, and even helped Hamas develop the Gaza economy by encouraging cross-border trade and by allowing Gazans to work in Israel. A more prosperous Gaza means a richer Hamas, and a richer Hamas means a Hamas that’s not going to risk war with Israel, because that war might result in the return of the bad old days.

Of course, that strategy means that Israel is reluctant to seriously harm Hamas if it does misbehave. For instance, if Hamas fires rockets at Israel and Israel responds by cutting cross-border trade, then Hamas will no longer fear that a conflict with Israel would result in a significant loss of revenue – because that revenue would have already been lost. In other words, Israel’s strategy is double-edged: it might protect Israel from Hamas attacks, but it also protects Hamas from Israeli retaliation when it does attack.

At first, Israeli leaders thought that Harta’ah was all-powerful. There was no way Hamas could wriggle out of that protection racket-like strategy. In fact, Israel thought that Hamas was rendered so desperate, Israel could not only bully Hamas into good behavior but could also make Hamas force other terrorist organizations, such as the PIJ, to stop firing rockets at Israel.

That did not work so well. As the November 2019 flare-up ended, when the old-timers were finally allowed to move on from the sweaty post, leaving me and my friends to play ping-pong and watch the Hamas guards

for clues as to future violence, Israel’s Minister for Regional Cooperation, Tzahi Hanegbi, explained why he believes Hamas failed to stop the PIJ from shooting rockets: “We saw that it [Hamas] isn’t willing to confront the PIJ, because their [the PIJ’s] patron is probably Iran, and they [Hamas] didn’t want tense relations with the Iranians. So we had to take responsibility ourselves.” Harta’ah wasn’t the magical solution after all.

What do you do when your strategy fails? In Israel’s case, the answer is to double down on it.

When the Israeli leadership discovered that Harta’ah wasn’t nearly as effective as they had initially hoped, they reacted by trying to extend it to the PIJ as well. That is why Israel doesn’t respond to PIJ rocket attacks by destroying its arms dumps and munitions factories, decimating its fighting force, and killing its entire leadership. Instead, Israel counters with a few targeted strikes in

really after is gaining more support among their own people by showing potential recruits that they’re strong, brave, and willing to defend their honor. Of course, the best time to strike is when tensions are already high: when jailed terrorists make the headlines by going on a hunger strike, when worshippers riot in the Al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan, or when Israel cracks down on terrorists in Judea and Samaria.

Hamas and the PIJ view those high-tension moments as massive opportunities: there’s always a chance that firing a couple of rockets into the mix will be enough to make the tension explode. In those cases, firing at Israel and paying the fixed penalty becomes a low-cost, high-upside investment.

The spring of 2020 showed us just how high the “upside” can be. Jerusalem was simmering. Worshippers at the Al-Aqsa mosque rioted and barricaded themselves in the mosque. What made Ramadan of 2020 different from any other Ramadan was the fact that the Supreme Court had just ruled that the descendents of some Jewish families who were expelled from their East Jerusalem homes as a result of the Arab revolt of 1936-39 have the right to repossess the properties. Local Arabs rioted. And then Hamas stepped in. It demanded that Israeli police withdraw from the Temple Mount and the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood (where the disputed houses are located). When Israel ignored its ultimatum, Hamas began firing rockets.

Hamas’ attack did little direct damage. But it did trigger the worst wave of pogroms and lynching since the 1930s. Mobs of angry Israeli Arabs decided to follow Hamas’ lead and attack their Jewish neighbors: burning cars, torching synagogues, and beating up whomever they could lay their hands on.

Of course, most Gaza flare-ups fail to achieve the spectacularly horrible results of May 2020. Most are relatively bloodless but not harmless. Even if those frequent attacks “only” serve to increase the PIJ’s popularity, an increase in popularity means, in the long-term, more recruits – and therefore more attacks on Jews. It might seem as if they think that these uneasy periods of peace punctuated by short intervals of rocket fire serve both sides well. However, the truth is that while Israel gets relative peace in the short-term, organizations like Hamas and the PIJ get ever-increasing power.

order to show the PIJ leadership just what could happen if things got serious, and the PIJ fires off lots of rockets to send its own message. The Gaza flare-ups have become a violent form of communication. Hamas (or the PIJ) fires rockets at Israel before letting Israel know that it’s not interested in a long, bloody conflict, ensuring that Israel continues with its strategy of Harta’ah and doesn’t strike back too hard.

t he Price of Israel’s strategy

Harta’ah ensures that the Gaza flare-ups remain short, relatively bloodless – and frequent. It sets a fixed price tag for short-term Hamas and PIJ rocket attacks, and it leaves it up to them to decide when it’s worth it.

When Hamas or the PIJ fire rockets at Israeli cities, their main goal isn’t to kill, maim and terrify Jewish civilians; that’s just a bonus. What those terrorists are

Of course, terrorists aren’t becoming stronger just for strength’s sake: they’re just biding their time until they’re ready to inflict serious damage. When will that time come? Maybe when Israel is vulnerable militarily, such as a time when the IDF is preoccupied with a more serious threat, like Iran or its Lebanese proxies and can’t devote the resources to protecting the Gaza border? Maybe when Israel is vulnerable diplomatically and isn’t prepared to deal with the international criticism that would inevitably follow a brutal war with Gaza?

Of course, it’s quite possible that Israel will be the one that ends the Harta’ah-induced cycle at an opportune moment. But whenever it does, Israel will have to face Netanyahu’s dilemma: how to find a capable power that’s willing to govern that fiery Strip? For this reason, it may be that the strategy of Harta’ah will prove to be the lesser evil even in the long-term. We will not know until we discover the true long-term cost of Israel’s policy of containing terror – and that might be years away.

a more prosperous gaza means a richer Hamas, and a richer Hamas means a Hamas that’s not going to risk war with Israel, because that war might result in the return of the bad old days.

Hamas members showcasing a rocket launcher during a rally in Gaza

My Israel Home Clutching Our Dreams

By Gedaliah Borvick

“Hope and optimism, the ability to adapt and transform ourselves, and the commitment to sustain our dreams are the real keys to survival…but throughout it all, we must also have a Jewish homeland to keep us safe.” These are the values, penned by daughter Danna, that buoyed David Azrieli during the Holocaust and became a focal point of his legendary career in which he became one of the wealthiest and most philanthropic people in the world.

Who was David Azrieli?

David Azrieli was born in 1922 in Makow, Poland. Immediately after the Nazis bombarded the capital Warsaw in September 1939, Azrieli fled the country on a three-year journey to Mandatory Palestine. Every step of Azrieli’s voyage from Poland, through war-torn Russia and finally to the Holy Land, was fraught with danger.

Azrieli’s adventurous spirit throughout his perilous journey helped him appreciate fortuitous circumstances and seize opportunities to connect with people, which saved his life on multiple occasions. In addition, Azrieli’s commitment to Is-

rael as a haven for the Jews imbued him with meaning and purpose – especially when he was struggling as one of the few Jewish soldiers in the overtly antisemitic Polish Anders Army – and sustained him throughout the long trek home.

After finally arriving in Mandatory Palestine, Azrieli studied at the Technion in Haifa and then worked as a teacher before serving as an IDF officer in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. He then traveled the world to reconnect with relatives who had been spared death, spending time in South Africa, England and the United States, before finally settling down in Montreal, Canada. There, he completed his college degree, met his wife Stephanie and raised a family, and launched a wildly successful career in real estate development and management, which elevated him to the upper strata of wealth and social standing.

In the early 1980s, after having spent over two decades designing and building architecturally creative buildings in Canada and the United States, David Azrieli decided to apply his innovative development expertise to build up his beloved Israel. Az-

rieli revolutionized Israel’s retail industry when he built the first enclosed shopping center in 1985, which he coined a “canion” by combining the Hebrew words “shopping” and “parking.” Jerusalem’s Malcha Mall is but one of his company’s famous shopping centers across the country.

Azrieli’s crowning architectural achievement is his iconic Azrieli Center’s Square, Triangular, and Round towers that define Tel Aviv’s skyline. Over the past four decades, the Azrieli Group has grown dramatically and is one of Israel’s largest and most respected real estate companies.

The values of hope and optimism helped David Azrieli survive during the long, dark period of the Holocaust. These selfsame principles informed his philanthropic focus, as he endowed countless initiatives related to education and empowerment, including Tel Aviv University’s Azrieli School of Architecture; Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration; and a Chair in Architecture and Town Planning at the Technion, to name just a few. In addition, Azrieli established programs

supporting hospitals and research institutes, education to fight addiction, teacher training, vocational training, women’s empowerment, and assistance to Holocaust survivors.

Azrieli’s lessons of hope and the importance of having a Jewish homeland are particularly poignant today, when so many emotionally adrift and ethically rudderless people question our over 3,000 year connection to Eretz Yisrael. David Azrieli was known as a tough businessman with a large heart. May we learn from him to toughen up and stand proud of our principles and values.

This article is based primarily on David Azrieli’s remarkable biography “One Step Ahead,” written by David’s daughter Danna Azrieli.

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.

(R to L) David Azrieli, Tip O’Neill and Gedaliah Borvick at YU’s 1986 Chanukah Dinner (courtesy)

TJH Centerfold School

Sayings

Commencement speeches were invented largely in the belief that outgoing college students should never be released into the world until they have been properly sedated. - Garry

Trudeau

I have never been jealous. Not even when my dad finished fifth grade a year before I did.

- Jeff Foxworthy

It is indeed ironic that we spend our school days yearning to graduate and our remaining days waxing nostalgic about our school days.

- Isabel Waxman

When you start to think about how grateful you are to be out of school, think about how grateful your teachers are to be away from you!

- Paul Merton

My school days were the happiest days of my life; which should give you some indication of the misery I’ve endured over the past twenty-five years. - Larry

David

Without education we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously. -

Paul Freund

A professor is someone who talks in someone else’s sleep. -

W.H. Auden

A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that “individuality” is the key to success.

- Robert Orben

Of course there’s a lot of knowledge in universities: the freshmen bring a little in; the seniors don’t take much away, so knowledge sort of accumulates. -

Lawrence Lowell

You Gotta be Kidding Me!

David and Joseph were torn. On the one hand, they were great students, who always got A’s. Organic Chemistry was a tough class, but they studied hard and were well prepared for the final exam, which was to start at 6:00 PM. But then they won tickets to the NBA finals game 7, which was also at 6:00 PM. How could they give us such an opportunity to go to an NBA Finals game?

So they went to the game and missed the exam. But they had a plan.

The following morning, they walked into their professor’s office and said, “Professor, you would never believe what happened. After studying for the exam for three days straight, we decided to take a break and go out to eat. We knew that the exam was at 6:00 PM so we made sure to leave the restaurant at 5:00 PM, which provided ample time for us to get back in time for the exam. But as we were driving, our tire blew out. Our car almost careened out of control, but we were lucky to come to a stop on an embankment. When the police arrived, they told us that we were lucky to be alive. But unfortunately, it took three hours to get our car towed and get the tire fixed. It’s a horrible way to end the year. We can’t believe we missed the exam.”

The kind professor thought this over and then agreed that they could make up the final on the following day. The two guys were elated and relieved; their plan had worked. The next day they arrived at the professor’s office to take the exam. He placed them in separate rooms and handed each of them a test booklet and told them to begin.

They looked at the first problem, which was something simple about free radical formation and was worth 5 points. “Cool” they thought, “this is going to be easy.” They did that problem and then turned the page. They were unprepared, however, for what they saw on the next page.

It said: (95 points) Which tire?

Dearest College Graduates,

On behalf of our entire community of Centerfold readers, we want to congratulate you on this momentous occasion of having to start paying off your astronomical student loans…I mean, on this occasion of graduating college. The world eagerly waits for your insights on Anaxarchus, Democritus, Leucippus and Nausiphanes. It is understandable that you may now feel like an elite member of society, after all, you are no longer in the lowly company of uneducated not-college certified common folks like the following:

Bill Gates (Microsoft)

Steve Jobs (Apple)

Michael Dell (Dell)

Mark Zuckerburg (Facebook)

Barry Diller (William Morris)

Richard Brandson (Virgin Air)

Centerfold Commissioner (You are staring at it)

Mary Kay Ash (Mary Kay Cosmetics)

Andrew Jackson (6th President of the U.S.)

Steven Spielberg (Dream Works)

Anyway, best of luck. You are going to do great, especially with your Office-Max-made diploma. Just make sure to always take yourself seriously, be insulted often, and never take your eyes off your smartphone.

Sincerely,

The Centerfold Commissioner, (master’s degree from School of Hard Laughs)

Riddle me This

Bob, who is the best pitcher on his team, points to a target and says that he will throw a ball directly at the target and that at some point while headed in the direction of the target, the ball will suddenly stop and reverse direction and come all the way back to him, and he will then catch it. Obviously, you don’t believe Bob could do that. So you make a $20 bet that he won’t be able to complete the magic trick. Sure enough, he points to a target, throws the ball, and behold, exactly what he said would happen takes place. You hand him the $20.

How did Bob accomplish this feat?

Answer: Bob’s target is the sun. He simply threw the ball up in the air and caught it.

Notable Quotes “Say

What?!”

We’ve turned now where the censoriousness comes from the progressives. The only real way to deal with it is to not be scared, to not apologize when you’ve done nothing wrong, to not be scared of the mob and to stand your ground, stand by your convictions.

– Winston Marshall talking to Fox News about why he doesn’t regret standing up to liberals, even though it cost him his job as the lead guitar player for Mumford and Sons

If even half of it is true, he is toast. I mean, it’s a very detailed indictment, and it’s very, very damning.

– William Barr, former attorney general under Trump, talking about the indictment of his former boss, on Fox News

I was privileged to have worked with President Trump and his team in setting and implementing his Middle East policies and I am very proud of our historic achievements. I believe that it is in America’s best interests to strongly support Israel. No president has more strongly supported Israel than President Donald J. Trump, and I endorse him for President of the United States.

- Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman tweeting his endorsement of Trump

9:45 AM at NWS Binghamton. Sun is no longer visible, everything’s orange, the parking lot lights have come on, and we’re stuck at 50°F.

- Tweet last Wednesday by the National Weather Service Binghamton, NY

New York and New Jersey are starting to look like the Tupperware after you put spaghetti with tomato sauce in it.

— Tweet by Growing Up Italian

What kind of message does this send – to everybody, to all victims of hate crime? Not just Jewish people but anyone who is a victim of a hate crime. … We’ll give you a slap on the wrist – it’s okay!

- Joseph Borgen, who was attacked by a mob because he was Jewish, at the sentencing this week of Waseem Awawdeh, who received 18 months in jail for the attack

Virtually everyone is saying that the Indictment is about Election Interference & should not have been brought, except Bill Barr, a “disgruntled former employee” & lazy Attorney General who was weak & totally ineffective. He doesn’t mean what he’s saying, it’s just MISINFORMATION. Barr’s doing it because he hates “TRUMP” for firing him. He was deathly afraid of the Radical Left when they said they would Impeach him. He knows the Indictment is Bull…. Turn off Fox News when that “Gutless Pig” is on!

- Trump, in response

Let’s make sure to recruit some male chauvinists for the next women’s rights initiative – and invite some butchers to National Vegetarian Day

- Professor Gil Troy commenting to JNS News Service about the Biden administration recently consulting with the Jew-hating Council of American-Islamic Relations about how to combat antisemitism

If we were to ask Kamala Harris what bothers her about the reform, she wouldn’t be able to name a single clause.

- Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen responding to Vice President Kamala Harris who spoke at an event at the Israeli embassy and spoke out against judicial reform

While his case will ultimately rise or fall on its merits, it is indisputable that Trump is being treated far more harshly than either Biden or Clinton were under very similar circumstances.

All three kept classified documents where and when they shouldn’t have.

Only one is being prosecuted.

All three ran for president, but only one had his campaign spied on by the FBI, an action later found to be unwarranted.

And only one was the victim of nonstop FBI leaks to the media alleging collusion with a foreign power that helped undermine his presidency, even though many of the leaks were found to be misinformation.

Does it matter that the one person subjected to these extreme measures by the government and media is a Republican, while the other two are Democrats?

Only a fool or a liar would deny the obvious.

- Michael Goodwin, NY Post

We must increase the protests and move into civil disobedience.

- Ehud Barak, former Israeli prime minister and leader of the anti-judicial reform movement, rallying the crowd at a rally last weekend

When [Ehud Barak] met 30 times with a pedophile in a place where dozens of minors were harmed, he thought he was not being seen. Now he openly calls for civil war, a coup d’état and violence. Human waste like him should have been behind bars a long time ago.

- Likud MK Nissim Vaturi,

in response

Breaking news... I have struggled with my weight for 20 years. What I haven’t struggled with is my character. I’ll put that up against Donald Trump’s any day. If that’s the best he’s got, then he’s lost his fastball.

- Chris Christie, responding to Trump making fun of his weight

The economy has changed radically. The problem with saying everybody has to work in the office is you won’t be able to hire the best talent. When we went out for financial services, people in our operating company, the best talent, told us, if I have to come into an office and sit in a cubicle and drive for 45 minutes each day into a war-torn city like San Francisco, which we were trying to hire in, I’m not doing it. I don’t want to get shot on my way to work. I mean, this is another problem. Safety in large cities like Chicago, San Francisco, you know, some parts of New York City, L.A. these days, nobody wants to work in these places. They’re war zones. So, they want to work where they get their jobs done.

- “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary responding to those that are calling for remote work to end

Parenting Pearls

Summer is Here and It’s Time to Prepare For Camp

By Rabbi Dr. Dovid Fox

When the city gets hot and humid and yeshiva has wound to a halt for the summer, many young people and children look forward to the camp experience. We are blessed with exceptional summer camps with an atmosphere emphasizing the wholesome religious values and ideals which many families aim for at home, and when the program includes fun activities, socializing and learning experiences, camp can be a fine adjunct to supporting our children’s growth and development.

Each summer season, the Chai Lifeline offices and crisis line are busy responding to questions coming from parents as well as camp staff and directors. This article is a sketch of some of those concerns, as a proactive model for addressing your child’s needs should they arise.

Anxiety or “Homesick” Campers

not well or is not available. That can be remedied through staying in touch at an appropriate level and frequency.

2. Designate a familiar older friend, relative or staff member who will be your child’s go-to in case of need.

3. Express your love and encouragement prior to departure for camp while also being clear that you are excited that they will have an away-from-home fun time. Avoid giving the child mixed messages that might imply that you are not ready for them to be away.

4. Emphasize the value of treating others with respect, including teachers, camp rabbis and other adults who deserve courtesy and obedience from campers just as do their rebbeim and teachers in the city. Camp is a place for continuing our behavioral and personal standards, not for acting out and reckless misconduct. Clarify this with your camper.

Maturity: How do I

know if my child will do well away from home?

1. Explore this with your child in advance. Does he or she feel capable of living in a bunk with others and adhering to a rigorous camp schedule? Does your child socialize well and form friendships easily?

2. Outline with your child their responsibilities, their expectations, and yours, of being at camp, and help them determine if they are ready for some degree of independence. This includes pep talks about physical hygiene, responsible eating, risk avoidance, and protecting their possessions.

3. Discuss with your child the circumstances under which they might miss home or family and how they will address those feelings from far away.

1 . Explore with your child any worries or fears which they might share.

2. Determine if it is prudent to acquaint camp staff with any concerns which might surface at camp.

3. If your child or your family has experienced recent stresses or crisis situations, might this be affecting your child and should this be discussed in advance with camp staff?

4. Discuss with your child prior situations when they have been away from home and family and identify what has made these experiences positive during those times.

Safety at Camp

1. Discuss with your child the importance of boundaries, respecting other’s personal boundaries, and avoiding situations which might feel uncomfortable.

2. Many Jewish camps have undergone training of staff so that the safety and welfare of all campers will be monitored and adhered to responsibly. Reassure your child that they can contact you if they have any questions and can approach a responsible adult if they are uneasy.

3. Review with your child the family’s values and standards and ensure that they will at all times conduct themselves with others according to the same standards of modesty and honesty that is modeled at home.

Communication

1. When camps have the facilities to allow occasional phone calls to check in with parents i.e., before Shabbos, accommodate your child’s wish for contact and reassurance that all is well. At times, a child’s anxiety away from home is a result of worry that the family is

5. A word about bullying and about learning to accept new children whom one might not yet know should be communicated in advance.

The typical camp schedule is quite structured, including set wake up times, bedtimes, mealtimes, activities and outings, prayers, and educational programs. Adhering to the camp schedule can be very grounding and stabilizing for a child. Go over the program with your camper in advance and help them look forward to the experience.

Wishing you and them a summer of happiness, free of mishap and full of enjoyment within a Torah atmosphere.

Rabbi Dr. Dovid Fox is the director of Chai Lifeline Crisis Services.

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

We were very impressed when we heard about Dovid*, an amazing yeshiva guy from what was supposed to be a great family. When he said yes to our daughter 2½ months ago, we barely looked into it because their reputation does proceed them and my son knows the boy. Looking back, this was a mistake. Our Chani is now wrapped up in a very difficult situation. She likes Dovid as a person but doesn’t want to marry him. Whenever we try ending it, the parents call us to try to do damage control. They want this shidduch to work and are going to all odds to make it happen. At this point, she has been open with Dovid and tells him how she feels, but then lines get blurred in between when things keep on going and she keeps trying based on his parents and the shadchan who’s insisting.

How can we unravel from this mess?

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

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

You are the parents. You are right to take responsibility for ending the mess and stopping the pressure on Chani.

It would be a good idea to have a conversation with your daughter so that there is healthy growth from this experience. It might be easiest to ask her a series of questions to be clear about ending this smartly without further enmeshment.

Is Dovid a good marriage partner?

Do you think continuing to date someone you know you are not marrying is a good idea? Do you think you are doing him a favor by continuing to date him?

To whom do you owe most – yourself or the young man? Is this a place for chessed? Do you want to be subjected

to further pressure by him? His parents? The shadchan? Do you agree to end it yourself immediately even if it’s uncomfortable, or do you want us to help you cut the cord? Will you stick to this decision? Do you think it is smart to block the relevant phone numbers on your phone?

Your daughter will probably want your help because she realizes she responded to pressure. Call Dovid’s parents and carefully say your piece since the shadchan is not communicating honestly that it’s over. Be careful and prepare a script. Stick to it. Keep repeating it even if you sound like a broken record. Be gracious and don’t stay on the phone long. Just speak about the bottom line and keep the conversation short. Then call the shadchan and briefly say what you did. End of story.

Obviously, you are going to avoid suggestions made by that shadchan going forward. Learn from this experi-

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ence. It is good that you and your husband recognize and take responsibility for not having done enough research beforehand. That is healthy and honest. Translate this into firm action and move on with wisdom and gratitude to the One Above.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

Thank you for your extremely important email. I am hearing that Chani has no interest in marrying Dovid, but she keeps going out as the other side keeps pushing it further. She likes him as a person but feels he’s not for her.

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I believe this situation highlights how vulnerable our singles are. On the one hand, they want to get married and be rid of their single status. On the other hand, they want to actually meet someone who is marriage material. What happens when a not so confident, more naive single is pushed further and further into a relationship? And what happens when this single has parents who are also unsure? Lines get crossed, boundaries get blurred, and eventually they feel that they are at the point of no return. Perhaps they confuse the excitement for being out of the shidduch parsha for excitement about marriage to the person. These are all very real feelings some singles have. Maybe they can’t verbalize it, but it is subconsciously very much there.

Your daughter seems to be an example of this cognitive dissonance. The reason you’ve let it flounder for so long is because it is truly very hard to say no to the prospect of being out of the parsha. The level of good it will feel to be out of the parsha? Well, it will feel that amount “bad” if you get wrapped up with a person you know deep down is wrong. Prolonging this is not good for anyone.

Now, how do you deal with the pressure cooker on the other side? You must just cut the cord with one snip. I know, it can be very hard to be assertive. Chani should end it with Dovid directly, so that he knows it’s over and there is no alternative. When the family calls you after, have a line that you stick to and repeat it

until you’re blue in the face. Say it levelheadedly and confidently. You and your daughter will grow from this experience, I assure you.

Much hatzlacha!

The Single

Tzipora Grodko

Dear Concerned parents,

It sounds like there aren’t any boundaries in place. No means no. If your daughter wants to end things, she should. Nobody can interfere with her choice unless she gives it away. If it’s too difficult for her to terminate the relationship in-person (because of getting swayed or feeling like her judgement is clouded), then I would recommend doing it over the phone.

You, your daughter, and your husband don’t need to justify your decision to other parties in order for it to be “good enough.” Just decide and commit. It’s much simpler to terminate a relationship earlier rather than later.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Ihave two thoughts to share with you.

First: Beware Helicopter Parents and Snowplow Parents.

Most people are familiar with the term “Helicopter Parents,” who constantly hover over their children, insert themselves into their every activity, and micromanage every aspect of their children’s lives.

Besides being extremely annoying, these parents can actually be harmful to a child’s well-being. For example, highly competent teachers often find it difficult

Snowplow parents will not allow minor obstacles, like “I do not want to marry him,” stand in their way.

to do what they do best when parents are constantly interfering and questioning everything that they’re attempting to accomplish. And, these children never learn how to successfully deal with real life situations.

Now, there is a term for a new phenomenon, called “Snowplow Parents.” These parents constantly attempt to push obstacles out of their children’s paths. Anything that stands in the way of what they feel is best for their child must be bulldozed out of the way.

It sounds like Dovid’s snowplow parents believe that they have discovered a gem in your Chani and that their son is entitled to this gem.

Snowplow parents will not allow minor obstacles, like “I do not want to marry

him,” stand in their way.

So, this dilemma leads to:

Second: How to end it definitively.

The following advice does not just apply to shidduchim. There are many situations in life where we make a decision, and the other party, or parties, simply won’t take “no” for an answer.

For your every explanation, they have rebuttals. Every argument that you advance generates counterarguments. They will never accept your reasons, and you’ll be stuck in an endless stream of back-andforth conversations.

Here’s how to end it: Compose a simple, clear, irrefutable, declarative sentence, and then, no matter what the other persons say or ask, simply repeat that sen- tence.

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Thank you for writing into the panel. It is clear that David’s parents have a specific agenda. They want Chani for their son. It is also clear that they don’t take “no” for an answer. What is unclear to me is whether or not you and Chani are clear in your boundary and agenda – that Chani is not interested in marrying Dovid, period. What is your understanding around Chani going back to Dovid and “trying”? If this is going to end, Chani is going to have to firmly say “no” and follow through. Going back to Dovid may be sending him a mixed signal.

Ultimately, it is not OK for Dovid and his parents to be pushing this hard and … why would anyone want to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with him?

Chani seems to be acting “un - sure” of her decision, and until she stops going back, it seems as though Dovid is likely to continue pursuing her.

I recommend that Chani speak to a professional to help her create and keep clear and kind boundaries. And as for you, her parents, stay distantly polite and keep repeating the same mantra. “This isn’t going to work.” “There is nothing we can do.” “It’s up to the kids.” You don’t have to pick up the phone every time it rings. Offer your daughter professional help because she is the one who has to end this, officially.

Sincerely, 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.

For example, you may wish to say, “My daughter thinks that Dovid is a wonderful young man, but she does not feel that this is the right shidduch for her.”

And then, when they ask why, or why not, or what doesn’t she like about him, or what can he do differently, or can she give it some more time, resist the temptation to politely explain yourself.

Simply repeat, “My daughter thinks that Dovid is a wonderful young man but does not feel that this is the right shidduch for her.”

And then, when they enlist shadchanim, or local rabbis, or your neighbor’s sister-in-law to call you and try to change your mind, do not feel pressured to give your reasons and get stuck in an endless round of futile conversations.

Simply repeat, “My daughter thinks that Dovid is a wonderful young man but does not feel that this is the right shidduch for her.”

Eventually, they will give up and leave you alone.

(Now, if only I could convince those guys who keep calling me that I really mean “no” and do not want to buy an extended warranty on my car, or solar panels on my roof, or a lifetime guaranteed annuity…)

Perhaps they confuse the excitement for being out of the shidduch parsha for excitement about marriage to the person.

Common Cents The Perennial Power of Saving and Investing: Lessons from our Garden

By Elliot Pepper, CPA, CFP®, MST

At home we have two flower beds in our yard. The flower beds are special since our family built them together a few years ago. While waiting for carpool one morning, my 7 year old looked at the dozens of flower plants just starting to pop up across the garden bed and commented “After our hard work planting last year, Hashem (God) is giving us new flowers without us even having to work hard planting again.” A beautiful observation that can be applied to personal finance as well.

In the serene realm of gardening, there lies a profound metaphor for our financial journeys. The diligent act of planting and nurturing flowers rewards us with recurring blooms, and our efforts to save and invest can yield ongoing returns that continue to blossom without much effort.

Just as a garden requires careful preparation before planting, our financial success relies on a solid foundation. In the garden, this involves clearing space, loosening soil, and removing any obstacles. Similarly, in personal finance, we must start by creating a budget, reducing debt, and setting achievable goals. This groundwork sets the stage for our future prosperity.

Once the soil is ready, it’s time to sow the seeds. In the garden, we carefully choose the right plants, considering their needs, climate, and aesthetics. Likewise, in personal finance, we select the right investments, considering our risk tolerance, time hori-

zon, and financial goals. Whether it’s saving for retirement, a dream vacation, or your child’s education, every investment is like planting a seed that has the potential to grow into something beautiful and rewarding.

After planting, a garden requires continuous care and attention. Watering, weeding, and protecting from pests are crucial tasks to ensure healthy growth. Similarly, saving and investing require discipline, consistency, and patience. Regular contributions to savings accounts or investment portfolios, reviewing and rebalancing our investments, and staying focused on long-term goals all contribute to the growth of our financial garden.

As time passes, the garden begins to flourish, and the blooms bring joy and satisfaction. Similarly, our financial efforts start to bear fruit as our savings and investments grow. Interest, dividends, and capital gains become the recurring blooms that provide financial stability, security, and freedom. This is the point where our hard work starts to pay off, and we can really start to realize the benefits of our labor.

Investing can be a bit daunting at first, but it’s important to remember that the hard work you put in up front will pay off! Just like a well-tended garden, a well-managed financial portfolio can produce beautiful blooms for years to come. Consider some of the below concepts and ideas to get started.

Benefits of Saving and Investing

• Increased financial security: A savings cushion helps weather unexpected financial storms.

• Retirement security: Investing can help you reach your retirement goals.

• Education funding: Investing can help you save for your children’s education.

• Home ownership: Investing can help you save for a down payment on a home.

• Other financial goals: Investing can help you achieve other financial goals, such as starting a business or traveling the world.

Helpful tips for Saving and Investing

The Importance of Starting Early

The earlier you start saving and investing, the more time your money has to grow. This is because of the power of compound interest. Compound interest is the interest you earn on your interest. Over time, the power of compound interest can help your money grow exponentially.

The Importance of Making Regular Contributions

In addition to starting early, it is also important to make regular contributions to your savings and investment accounts. This will help you take advantage of dollar-cost averaging. Dollar-cost averaging is a strategy of investing a fixed amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of the market price. This helps you to buy more shares when prices are low and fewer shares when prices are high. Dollar-cost averaging also addresses some of the behavioral pitfalls that individual investors face when making long term investment plans.

The Importance of Diversifying

Your Investments

It is important to diversify your investments in order to reduce your risk. Diversification means investing in a variety of different assets, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate. This helps to protect your money from losses in any one asset class.

The Importance of Getting Professional Help

If you are not sure how to save and invest your money, it is important to get professional help. A certified financial planner can help you create a financial plan that is tailored to your specific needs and goals.

The decision to start saving and investing is yours, but the “how” can be hard. We suggest speaking with a “fee only” financial planner operating as a fiduciary - having a CPA or tax background is a huge plus. Email commoncents@northbrookfinancial. com to schedule a free financial planning consultation with our team.

Elliot Pepper, CPA, CFP®, MST is Co-Founder of Northbrook Financial, a Financial Planning, Tax, and Investment Management Firm. He has developed and continues to teach a popular Financial Literacy course for high school students.

By Mindi Werblowsky, LCSW

Teen Talk Dear Teen Talk,

I love summer vacation, and I look forward to it all year. But one thing that I really do not enjoy about the summer is that I always seem to be fighting with my parents, even more than during the year.

I do not go to sleepaway camp anymore, so I am home in the summer and I usually work in a day camp, which is over by 4:30 PM. And then I want to relax and hang out with my friends and enjoy myself. I work very hard during the year, and I think I deserve my summers to do what I want. But my parents are always upset that I do not have more of a structure and they want to know exactly where I am all the time and have a strict curfew. I think I should get to stay out later since I am off from school and I always make it to work on time.

Teen Talk, a new column in TJH, is geared towards the teens in our community. Answered by a rotating roster of teachers, rebbeim, clinicians, and peers (!), teens will be hearing answers to many questions they had percolating in their minds and wished they had the answers for.

This all causes a lot of tension and fighting every summer, and I would love advice on how I can prevent this from happening again this year.

Thank you, A Stuck Teen

Dear “Stuck Teen,”

Thank you so much for writing in. I think this is such an important topic and one that so many kids can relate to. Because the school year is more structured, the school day ends later, and there are homework and tests to study for, there is much less free time and therefore, less opportunity for parents and teens to argue about these things.

I think the most important thing to focus on here is that you and your parents are both right and you both have very valid points. You absolutely deserve your summer to relax and be with your friends, and you should have that. Summer vacation is crucial for every child, and it is imperative for your own social and emotional health that you have this time off to decompress from the year. There are chessed organizations that raise money to send kids to camp because summers are so important for a child’s develop -

ment. But it is still important for parents to know where their children are, and it’s never good for anyone, child or adult, to have too much free time with absolutely nothing to do.

I think that a lot of the arguing can be avoided with some pre-summer preparation and better communication between you and your parents. I would suggest sitting down with your parents

pizza shops, etc. and your parents can let you know ahead of time what places they do not allow you to visit with your friends (i.e. the boardwalk/ beach after dark, etc.)

2. You and your parents should discuss what a reasonable curfew should be during the summer. Although there is no school, you do have to be at work at a certain time so I would suggest

before summer vacation officially starts and discussing the following:

1. The very real and important need you have to relax and be with your friends in an unstructured environment. Along with this you can discuss together which are appropriate venues to be at with your friends, i.e. each other’s homes,

that you settle on one curfew for the week and one curfew for weekends.

3. If you and your friends are unexpectedly switching venues or you are going to be home later than expected, you should call your parents ahead of time and let them know. As a basis safety rule, your parents should have a general

You and your parents are both right and you both have very valid points.

idea of where you are and who you are spending time with.

4. You should clarify with your parents what chores/household responsibilities are expected of you during the summer and when during the week you will make sure to take care of those responsibilities.

5. You can possibly agree on a set number of evenings per week that you are going to be out of the house with your friends vs. a number of evenings that your parents would like you to be home at night. For example, maybe your parents will agree for you to go out after work on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but would like you home on Thursdays to help prepare for Shabbos.

6. Any other topic along these lines that you feel are often sources of contention can definitely be brought up. In any relationship, having

open communication is the absolute best way to ensure that no unnecessary fighting takes place.

If you feel that you have an overall positive relationship with your parents, I would suggest discussing these items all together and reaching compromises together that you can all be happy with. I am sure if you tell your parents that you would like to minimize any fighting with them, they will be thrilled to work with you on this.

If you think that you and your parents are unable to have this conversation alone, you can always meet with someone and ask them to help all of you come up with an appropriate summer plan. This is something that we can always help you with at Madraigos as well. Wishing you a great and enjoyable summer vacation!

Sincerely,

Mindi Werblowsky, LCSW

Mindi Werblowsky, LCSW, is the clinical director of Madraigos.

Cross Keys Pediatrics

EVEN MORE SUBMISSIONS

Note: Not all submission have been published. Keep sending in your artwork for another chance to be featured!

Zecharyah Friedman, 3

Yosef F. 8

Yisroel Michel Lejtman, 3

Yehuda Mandel, 4

Yardena Rabenstein, 8

Yaakov M, 4

U.N Fuentes, 5 Esther, 6, Anaelle, 4, Rephael, 3

Shmueli Goldstein

Shlomo Wecker, 10

Sarah Malka Weiner, 10

Rikki Hollander, 6

Riki Bechhofer, 8

Nati Coleman, 4

Nachman Lejtman, 5

Miri Zaslow, 7

Miri Pianko, 3 Malka Hollander, 8

Leba S., 10 Elinoam, 7

Chavi Rand, 9

Avraham Chaim Berkowitz

Avigayil Robinson, 6

Asher Lejtman, 7

Ahuva Bracha Salhanick, 7

Dealing with bureaucracy is rarely easy and never fun. Back in the 1980s, future NBA Hall of Famer Karl Malone earned the nickname “the Mailman” because he delivered Today, that would be a cruel joke. But nobody in government is as hard to deal with as the IRS. Erin Collins, the National Taxpayer Advocate, reports that for all of 2021, the IRS logged 272 million incoming phone calls, with just 11% of them reaching the bullseye of a living, breathing human being.

Last year, Washington passed an “Inflation Reduction Act” that included $80 billion in new spending for the chronically underfunded IRS. The desperately needed funding didn’t play well with a group of anti-tax politicians who are accustomed to using the IRS as a punching bag. One senator took to Twitter to shriek that the act would “double the number of IRS agents – practically giving every American a personalized tax auditor.” Another tweeted threats of “a shadow army of 87,000 new IRS agents to hunt you down and take your money!” Across the Capitol in the House, a third asserted a “new army of 87,000 IRS agents will be coming for you – with 710,000 new audits for Americans who earn less than $75K.”

Your Money What’s Tax Got to Do With It?

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

As is usually the case with Twitter’s outrage du jour, the truth is somewhat less dramatic. Last May, the Treasury estimated that an extra $80 billion would help the Service hire 86,582 new full-time equivalents by the end of 2031. Now, if those hires were going on top

tually appropriate those dollars – usually one of those predictably desperate 11th-hour bids to avoid a government shutdown. As we said here in August, “We can be sure that future congresses and presidents will want their own say on IRS spending.”

repurpose $20 billion of the additional 2030 and 2031 appropriations for “other non-defense priorities.”

The bottom line here is that opponents of IRS funding got themselves a symbolic scalp. However, the Biden administration says it won’t torpedo nearterm plans to boost audits and compliance. As for the “out years” 2030 and 2031, the earth could get hit by a comet before those cuts ever materialize. (Some people are actually rooting for it.)

of the 80,411 already working for the Service at the end of 2021, that would be something! But 50,000 of those current employees are expected to retire in the next five years. So most of the new spending will go towards keeping current staffing stable.

But wait . . . there’s more. Last August, when the IRA passed, we pointed out there was no guarantee the IRS would even get the money. The Act authorized it. But it’s up to future Congresses to ac -

Less than ten months later, that day has come. Last week, in a predictably desperate 11th-hour bid to avoid a government shutdown, Washington passed the “Fiscal Responsibility Act” suspending the federal debt limit through January 2025. That act claws back $1.4 billion of this year’s new funding. (IRS officials can cut it from anywhere in their budget except the $8 billion allocated to taxpayer service and systems modernization.) It also includes a “handshake agreement” to

Here’s the moral of this week’s story. Uncle Sam needs money to operate. Reasonable people can certainly disagree on how much he needs and where he should find it. But once legislators make those decisions, somebody has to go out and actually collect it for him. And saddling taxpayers with our current creaky IRS infrastructure adds insult to injury and wastes even more money in the process. (Also, if you ever get trapped in that sticky red tape yourself, you’ll be glad you’ve got us on your side!)

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.

Across the Capitol in the House, a third asserted a “new army of 87,000 IRS agents will be coming for you – with 710,000 new audits for Americans who earn less than $75K.”

In The K tchen

Moscato Grape Juice Frosè

By Naomi Nachman

We can’t actually call this a recipe but rather a hack. You will absolutely love this! It only requires two simple ingredients and a blender.

This is the perfect summer fun drink for everyone in the family to enjoy. The recipe calls for the brand new grape juice by Tuscanini Foods using Moscato grapes rather than Concord grapes that are typically used in grape juice. You can enjoy it the grape juice straight up served chilled, or try it in this Moscato Frose.

Ingredients

◦ 1 package of frozen strawberries partially defrosted

◦ 1 bottle Moscato grape juice by Tuscanini Foods

Preparation

Blend the strawberries and grapes juice together in a Vitamix or strong blender. Enjoy immediately after blending.

Rose Sangria

This recipe is great for the adults at your party. Recipe from my cookbook Perfect Flavors.

Ingredients

◦ 1 (750 ml) bottle rose wine

◦ 1 green apple, diced

◦ ½ orange, cut into wedges

◦ 1 cup diced pineapple

◦ 6 sliced strawberries ◦ ¼ cup triple sec

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher.

2. Refrigerate overnight, allowing flavors to combine and develop.

3. Serve chilled.

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.