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Baltimore Community Contingent Joins National Orthodox Union Leaders in Meeting with U.S. Leaders in DC PAGE 6

Annual Mesibah for the Chavrusa Program at Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore

PAGE 10

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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME JUNE 18, 2015

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CONTENTS

COMMUNITY

Around the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

JUNE 18, 2015

Korach 5775 – Earned Holiness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JEWISH THOUGHT

Notable Quotes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Summer Halachos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 It’s All Your Fault!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

HUMOR & ENTERTAINMENT Centerfold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

COVER STORY Looking Back as Baltimore’s Ahavas Yisrael Shatters Fund Raising Records in One-Day Campaign. . . . 38 Countering the BDS Movement

by Being Bold, Decisive and Strong. . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

LIFESTYLES 17 Ways to Get Your Offer to Buy a House Accepted in a Seller’s Market . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 OP-ED: Will President Obama’s Administration Negotiate a Safe Deal with Iran?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Someone Stole My Brain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Father’s Day in the Backyard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 My Israel Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 In The Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Forgotten Heroes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Great Kosher Food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

NEWS

Dear Readers, Our world has turned upside down. Right is wrong, wrong feels right. A man can be a woman, and being married to one person and raising a family is a value from the dark ages!

Meanwhile, the “best friend” of the Jews despises the Jewish State’s democratically elected Prime Minister, and then bends over backwards to accommodate the demands of countries led by rabid, totalitarian, cruel anti-Semites. After years of being assured that “all options are on the table” we are now let known that is no longer the case.

We’re told he only has our “best interest in mind.” History has taught us to see through sweet talk and to judge actions for what they are, even if the leaders did not intend the outcome. It would be like Harvard University defending their recent alleged discrimination of Asian applicants by saying they held the Asian community in such high esteem they were holding them to impossible standards.

When the “outside street” loses its moral compass, we Jews dig into our roots and connect with our teachings which gives us strength to stay the course. The feel-good movements come and go while eternal truths are always here to stay. We were given these axioms by our forefathers who toiled, sweated and at times gave their lives to remain G-dly, moral and compassionate individuals.

Our ancestors didn’t make online statements, hug trees, or seek media attention for their kindness. They were focused on their studies, their marriages and the future of their family. They built Jewish communities

and shared their extra bread with a stranger.

That’s how one creates real change. Running to help a foreigner before protecting one’s own family or having misplaced pity rather than mature insight, might create the extra news item, but is ultimately destructive.

We have a daunting, and at times seemingly insurmountable task, of ignoring the popularity polls and trudging ahead with the essential truths we’ve been teaching from the times of Avraham Avinu. It is the creator of the world who enshrined a moral code for all to follow. Whether the winds of times are idolatry, worshiping the power of the dollar or perceived progressivism, we stay with the basic values from bygone days. Some things don’t change. Being kind to one’s spouse, studying with our children, being good neighbors and, by example, teaching others how to do the same, is still the best way to repair the world.

One would be amazed if they experienced their first sunrise later in life. We have become so reliant on the miracle of our existence that we take our very lives for granted. Haaretz a few weeks ago ran an article describing the Northern border as the safest it’s ever been. Hamas has started setting up checkpoints in Gaza to protect itself from ISIS and Iran is being bogged down in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Even though events in the Middle East change at a moment’s notice, we are certain that G-d will continue protecting his people alongside the rest of humanity.

Have a wonderful Shabbos,

Yaakov

Global News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 National News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 That’s Odd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

ISRAEL Israel News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

The Baltimore Jewish Home is an independent bi-weekly newspaper. Opinions expressed by writers are not neces­sarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. The Baltimore Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any product or business advertised within. The BJH contains words of Torah. Please treat accordingly.

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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME JUNE 18, 2015

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JUNE 18, 2015

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Around the

Community

Baltimore Community Contingent Joins National Orthodox Union Leaders in Meeting with U.S. Leaders in DC BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

With less than a month remaining until the June 30 deadline for a deal between the U.S. and its allies and the Iranian regime, U.S. Senators and Representatives as well as White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough insisted—throughout Wednesday’s Orthodox Union Leadership Mission in Washington,

threat to Israel—the Iranian regime’s pursuit of nuclear weapons,” he said.

Amb. Dermer explained that Israel’s concern about the deal is not that the Iranian regime will violate the terms of the deal, but that they will comply with the deal while continuing to develop ballistic missiles. In a decade, they’ll have a stockpile of ballistic

the U.S. House of Representatives.

At a luncheon in the Senate, the Orthodox Union delegation was joined by many Senators, including Cory Booker (D-NJ), James Lankford (R-OK), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Rob Portman (R-OH), Joe Manchin

and focused primarily on the Iran negotiations. They also met with Dept. of Homeland Security Undersecretary Frank Taylor to discuss homeland security issues of concern to the Jewish community.

The Orthodox Union closed its productive day of meetings with a focus on the resurgence of anti-Semitism

D.C.—that any deal with Iran must be verifiable and prevent the regime from developing nuclear weapons.

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America—through its OU Advocacy Center—brought 120 national and congregational leaders to Washington to advocate for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps nonprofits, such as synagogues and day schools, make their buildings more secure; the proposed Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act, which will help nonprofits make their buildings more energy efficient and lower their operating costs; and the advancement of Israel’s security.

Ambassador Ron Dermer, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S., opened the program with a briefing on Iran.

“There is only one true existential

missiles, and “no constraints” on their nuclear weapons program.

The delegates—who represented nine states—met in small groups with 30 Members of Congress, including Steny Hoyer, the Democratic Whip of

(D-WV), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

The Orthodox leaders then travelled to the White House where they met with Chief of Staff McDonough

in Europe, with a meeting with French Ambassador to the U.S. Gerard Araud.

France is implementing new tools to fight anti-Semitism, particularly working with Internet providers to remove anti-Semitic content. “The Internet is changing the way hate is spread,” said Amb. Araud. “Anti-Semitism is not a French problem, nor a European problem. It‘s a global problem that requires a global strategy,” he said.

“Today was the most spectacular advocacy mission the Orthodox Union has had,” said Allen Fagin, CEO of the Orthodox Union, noting the number of legislators who met with delegates today and the impact the group’s presence in Washington can have on the issues.

As he opened the day, Nathan Diament, the Orthodox Union’s Executive Director for Public Policy, reminded the group at the close of the day that the relationships they developed today with legislators are just the beginning of their important advocacy work.

“The conversations must continue outside of today,” he said. “Our legislators need to hear from us—their constituents—about the issues that are important to us as a community on an ongoing basis.”

Baltimore’s Contingent included: (L-R) Peretz Wertenteil, Yanky Statman, Sam Melamed, Aryeh Gross, Rabbi Binyamin Marwick, Dov Ocken, Avi Greenlinger

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Around the

Community

Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Parlor Meeting Benefits Aliyos Shlomo

By Margie Pensak

On Sunday evening, June 14, the baby grand piano came alive in Frank and Danielle Sarah Storch’s livingroom-turned-concert hall in their Baltimore home, for an overflow crowd.

The very unique parlor meeting/concert benefited Aliyos Shlomo, a likewise unique kollel located in the Ramot Dalet section of Yerushalayim. The advanced kollel was founded fifteen years ago in memory of Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld, zt”l, the late Rosh HaYeshiva of Sh’or Yoshuv Institute, in Far Rockaway, NY. The dynamic chamber musicians--the founder and Rosh Kollel, himself, pianist Rabbi Dovid Lipson, and internationally renowned Yerushalmi violinist, Yonatan Grinberg--treated the audience to a fiery, passionate performance, reflective, no doubt, of the fervor with which Aliyos Shlomo’s yungeleit learn, infused by the spirit of Yerushalayim!

After attending Sh’or Yoshuv, where he was a noted student of Rabbi Freif-

[Photo credit: Baruch Bitman/Simcha Photo & Video]

eld, Rabbi Lipson moved to Eretz Yisrael and attended numerous kollelim,

Baltimore askan and concert emcee, Eli Schlossberg (left), introduces internationally renowned violinist, Yonatan Grinberg, and Rosh Kollel-concert pianist Rabbi Dovid Lipson

among them Kollel Chazon Ish of B’nei Brak, Me’or Eliyahu of Telzstone, and Birkas Ohel Shimon of Ramot. He subsequently taught for six years at Yeshiva Lev Avraham in Yerushalayim.

Aliyos Shlomo is distinguished for its highly structured curriculum, combining depth, pace, and accountability.

It concentrates the equivalent of a full day’s curriculum into an intensive four-

hour study session, allowing talmidim time to devote to independent research and other pursuits, including learning in the optional afternoon seder. The kollel attracts unusually talented and serious talmidei chachomim.

“Rosh Kollel Rabbi Dovid Lipson a talented classical pianist also makes beautiful music to help support the Kollel,” remarked Baltimore askan and concert emcee, Eli Schlossberg. “His

concert in Baltimore with Yonatan Grinberg brought us beautiful music and the opportunity to support this unique Kollel. Torah learning and using beautiful music to support Torah learning presents a crescendo of sweetness and enjoyment for those who support such a very special Torah institution. May the Torah and music bring us to simcha and appreciation of what Hashem has given to us in Ruchnious and Gashmious and synthesizing both, to elevate Limud Hatorah and Ivdu Es Hashem Bisimcha!”

“Just a few hours earlier, my wife, a classical violinist, performed in Annapolis with the Baltimore Women’s Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Mark Singer,” noted Mr. Storch. “What a thrill for her to come home and host the concert to benefit Aliyos Shlomo!”

Tax-deductible contributions may be made payable and sent to: Aliyos Shlomo, 4007 15th Avenue, Apt. 6, Brooklyn, NY, 11218.

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A MEMORY CARE COMMUNITY

Come to our Grand Opening

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group

JUNE 18, 2015

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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

A MEMORY CARE COMMUNITY

Tuesday, June 16th, 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Tuesday, June 30th 5:30 - 7 pm Bring YOuR Family & Celebrate with OuR Family!

Bounce House, Balloon Sculptures, Treats for the Kids.

Seasonal Hors d’Ouevres & Tall, Cool Cocktails for the Adults.

Enjoy a Guided Tour of our New Renovations & our New Hi-Tech Resident Amenities.

Reservations, Call 410-318-8000 Sherri Zaslow, Executive Director 7218 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21208 www.peregrinetudor.com

Meat

Join us for our free, informal monthly meeting (3rd Tue of every month) led by a neuropsychologist and an Alzheimer’s Assoc. representative. Open to anyone caring for someone with memory loss. Companion care available for your loved one. Light refreshments.

Reservations, Call 410-318-800

COMING JULY 7th When Is It Time to Place Your Loved One? Reserve now for this informative presentation by Carol F. Wynne, BSN, RN, GN Learn about the practical measures for assessing the needs of the person with dementia and the care partner and when more care is needed. Learn the differences between Assisted Living, Long Term Care & In-Home Care and what to look for in each placement possibility.

Sherri Zaslow, Executive Director 7218 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21208 www.peregrinetudor.com

Meat

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JUNE 18, 2015

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Around the

Community

Annual Mesibah for the Chavrusa Program at Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore On Sunday evening, May 31, the Bais HaMedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore hosted its annual mesibah for the talmidim who participate in the yeshiva’s Chavrusa program. For numerous years now Rabbi Shaul Sinsky, the eleventh grade rebbi at the yeshiva who initiated the program, has coordinated it with much success and seen it grow. The Chavrusa program offers after-school learning geared for 6th-8th grade students from various day schools in the Baltimore community.

There are approximately 70 to 80 pairs of chavrusas that learn together per week, this is a project that is beneficial to the boys that attend, as well as for the talmidei hayeshiva who learn with them. It is also an opportunity for the younger students to experience leaning in a packed beis medrash, which gives them a feel for what they have to look forward to one day. The yeshiva is glad to be able to offer this program to students in our community, said Rabbi Sinsky.

The boys who attend come to the yeshivah once or twice a week to learn b’chavrusa with talmidim of the yeshiva. The talmidim in turn, volunteer their time for this community initiative in order to impart Torah learning, middos tovos, and warmth to their younger counterparts, just like the rebbeim of the yeshiva has done for them.

The benefits of this program are twofold. First, spending time with the talmidei hayeshiva creates a brotherly bond and wonderful role model for the younger students, who have a chance to experience a true makom Torah. Second, and perhaps less obvious, is the emotional development and character building for the older bachurim, who learn valuable skills of patience, problem solving, and proper articulation of ideas.

The concept of this annual event is to inspire the students by highlighting the importance of their spending some of their free time learning in the evenings. The mesibah was attend-

ed by approximately fifty five middle school students who come to the yeshiva weekly, and it began with a delicious supper sponsored by the yeshiva.

After dinner, Rabbi Moshe Tesser, a rebbi at Yeshivas Kochav Yitzchok, delivered divrei brachah, and shared with the attendees some ideas regarding the significance of their Torah learning. “Sometimes a bachur might wonder, ‘What is my limud haTorah really worth?’ But every person’s learning is significant,” Rabbi Tesser explained. He elaborated on the wellknown parable of a complex symphony which was missing one instrument, but whose absence was detected by an expert conductor listening in an adjacent room. Similarly, the Ribbono shel Olam notices the contributions of each and every person’s learning, and He will notice when one person’s learning is missing from the symphony of Torah.

Following Rabbi Tesser’s words, the bachurim all joined together in dancing, accompanied by music from Rabbi Reuven Meth and Sons, in celebration of their accomplishments.

On Sunday evening, May 31, the Bais HaMedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore hosted its annual mesibah for the talmidim who participate in the yeshiva’s Chavrusa program. For numerous years now Rabbi Shaul Sinsky, the eleventh grade rebbi at the yeshiva who initiated the program, has coordinated it with much success and seen it grow. The Chavrusa program offers after-school learning geared for 6th-8th grade students from various day schools in the Baltimore community.

There are approximately 70 to 80 pairs of chavrusas that learn together per week, this is a project that is beneficial to the boys that attend, as well as for the talmidei hayeshiva who learn with them. It is also an opportunity for the younger students to experience leaning in a packed beis medrash, which gives them a feel for what they have to look forward to one

day. The yeshiva is glad to be able to offer this program to students in our community, said Rabbi Sinsky.

The boys who attend come to the yeshivah once or twice a week to learn b’chavrusa with talmidim of the yeshiva. The talmidim in turn, volunteer their time for this community initiative in order to impart Torah

learning, middos tovos, and warmth to their younger counterparts, just like the rebbeim of the yeshiva have done for them.

The benefits of this program are twofold. First, spending time with the talmidei hayeshiva creates a brotherly bond and wonderful role model for the younger students, who have a chance to experience a true makom Torah. Second, and perhaps less obvious, is the emotional development and character building for the older bachurim, who learn valuable skills of patience, problem solving, and proper articulation of ideas.

The concept of this annual event is to inspire the students by highlighting the importance of their spending some of their free time learning in the evenings. The mesibah was attended by approximately fifty five middle school students who come to the yeshiva weekly, and it began with a delicious supper sponsored by the yeshiva.

After dinner, Rabbi Moshe Tesser, a rebbi at Yeshivas Kochav Yitzchok, delivered divrei brachah, and shared with the attendees some ideas regarding the significance of their Torah learning. “Sometimes a bachur might wonder, ‘What is my limud haTorah really worth?’ But every person’s learning is significant,” Rabbi Tesser explained. He elaborated on the wellknown parable of a complex symphony which was missing one instrument, but whose absence was detected by an expert conductor listening in an adjacent room. Similarly, the Ribbono shel Olam notices the contributions of each and every person’s learning, and He will notice when one person’s learning is missing from the symphony of Torah.

Following Rabbi Tesser’s words, the bachurim all joined together in dancing, accompanied by music from Rabbi Reuven Meth and Sons, in celebration of their accomplishments.

Around the

By TA Special Correspondent Aryeh L. Gross

bus for a short ride to the Living Torah Museum.

At the Living Torah Museum, we heard a riveting talk from Rabbi Shaul Shimon Deutsch and watched a video on the animals in the Torah. Several contests were issued throughout our visit. The first contest was to see if anybody could blow a twelve-second tekiah gedolah. Eli Levi, Shimon Aryeh Schwartz, and Chaim Moshe Cohen blew the longest, even though nobody reached twelve seconds. We then proceeded upstairs where we saw the world’s smallest kosher Sefer Torah, which is 2 inches high and written on vellum.

Mrs. Mann’s Fourth and Fifth grade class had an absolutely phenomenal time in Washington, D.C. last week. From early morning until late in the evening, they were busy

an important government official!

Instead, they met with his Deputy Chief of Staff who took them through a day in the life of a congressman, the election process, and issues a repre-

bees. They started their day at the Capitol Building, where they were ushered into the office of Congressman Sarbanes. On the way to his office, the students were so excited to point out all of the plaques identifying the states that the congressmen were representing. They even noticed Guam, which the kids learned is a territory of the United States.

Unfortunately, the students were unable to meet with Congressman Sarbanes, because he was stuck running between two very important hearings on an issue that took top priority. As the students learned, that’s life as

sentative would be helpful in solving.

They took a tour of the Capitol and then visited three museums in quick succession. They visited the National Museum of American History.

They also visited the children’s exhibit “Daniel’s Story” in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Their last museum of the day was the Newseum, a museum completely devoted to the evolution and influence of media and news culture. Everyone had a wonderful time on this trip, and it was a real bonding experience for the Senior class.

JUNE 18, 2015

The 8th Grade New York trip began at 6:00, early Tuesday morning.

After a beautiful davening led by our grade’s finest chazanim, we ate breakfast and got ready to start the exiting trip. After four hours of laughter and fun, we finally reached our destination.

We first met with Rav Avraham Schorr, shlita, and listened to an inspiring shtikel Torah. We all lined up and shook hands with the Rav, and we each received a sefer.

Our next stop was lunch at Mendelsohn’s Pizza, where each student was treated to delicious pizza, fries, and a soda. Then it was back on the

OCA Visits DC

Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Begins Hilchos Tefillin in All Corners of the World Dirshu’s popular Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program has recently embarked on hilchos tefillin. The ripple effect worldwide is astounding. Not only are tens of thousands the world over already learning the laws of tefillin but in addition, interest in Daf HaYomi B’Halacha is spreading to locales that those in the main Jewish centers, would call exotic.

For example, in Panama City, Panama an entire group of people recently began to learn Daf HaYomi B’Halacha and take tests. The interest in Panama is part of a surge in Dirshu participants throughout the whole of South America. Indeed, the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha siyum before Pesach

in Buenos Aires, Argentina was an extremely successful event.

From Panama to Budapest Interestingly, the Panama community’s interest in Daf HaYomi B’Halacha was indirectly piqued through Mexico. In Mexico, the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program is run by Rabbi Moshe Peretz, an individual who is extremely enthusiastic about the program. It seems that his excitement is such that it is contagious and was thus transmitted to his brother who lives in Panama City. Rabbi Peretz’s brother shared the program with several counterparts in the city and that is how the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha chaburah of Panama City was born.

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8th Grade Trip to New York

Community

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Just as touching is the report of a new group of Dirshu Mishnah Berurah learners in Budapest, Hungary.

Budapest - the capital of Hungary which the Nazis tried unsuccessfully to rid of its Jews - is undergoing a spiritual rejuvenation. Part of that rejuvenation is the recent interest shown by local community members in the Dirshu Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program.

If the above two locales are not “far out” enough, Dirshu’s coordinator for Australia, Rabbi Yumi Rosenbaum, recently reported on amazing participation in the program. The participation has reached the point that the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha of Australia has recently published its

own halacha newsletter highlighting fascinating halachic queries that have arisen in the course of the month’s learning.

Currently, Dirshu features three Daf HaYomi B’Halacha shiurim in Australia, at the Adass Shul, at Kollel Beth HaTalmud and at Heichal HaTorah. There are also many individuals learning the material on their own.

Whether you are in the Tri-State area or in other, more exotic locations such as Panama, Budapest, or Australia, one thing remains constant: Limud haTorah the Dirshu way.

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JUNE 18, 2015

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Around the Otto the Auto Visits Bais Yaakov Preschool Baisyaakov.net Otto the Auto is the star of an AAA safety program. “Otto” is a remote-controlled talking car that engages children in fun and memorable traffic safety exercises. Interacting verbally and through animated reac-

tions, Otto teaches the children safety guidelines for traveling in cars, riding on bicycles, crossing the street, and more! The children loved interacting with this very appealing and humors character.

Community Bais Yaakov Grammar War Teams FANBOYS, ANTECEDENTS, RUN-ONS, APPOSITIVES, AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES have taken over the final English grammar review in Mrs. Rochelle Goldberg’s English classes. The battle is fierce with hyperbole galore, figurative language, and comma rules.

Each group must present a song, a cheer, a poster demonstrating the 4 Big

Comma Rules, and teach 7 different grammar rules on subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, capitalization, commonly misused words, complete sentences, run-ons, comma splice, and apostrophes all presented in a Power point presentation and review sheet.

Hopefully, all the students will be winners and ACE the final!

Bikur Cholim of Baltimore Hosts Annual Women’s Brunch

By Devora Klein

GREAT OPPORTUNITY GENERAL STUDIES TEACHERS 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR

ELEMENTARY DIVISION

MIDDLE SCHOOL (Departmentalized)

MONDAY-THURSDAY AFTERNOONS 1:55-4:30 PM FRIDAY AFTERNOON 12:20 – 2:00 PM

MONDAY-THURSDAY AFTERNOONS 2:50-5:30 PM FRIDAY AFTERNOON 12:00 – 1:30 PM

 Excellent Salary  Warm caring environment  Supportive administration EMAIL RESUME: mnissel@torahinstitute.org FAX: 443-394-5998 CALL: Rabbi Nissel, Principal at 410-654-3500 Ext. 1059

Reprinted with permission from Hamodia

On Sunday, May 17, over 350 women from all segments of the Baltimore community gathered together at the Greengate Jewish Center as Bikur Cholim of Baltimore hosted their fourth annual brunch, whose theme was “Gaining Through Giving.” The event showed appreciation to several active Bikur Cholim volunteers, including Rebbetzin Malka Taub, Mrs. Helen Hexter, Mrs. Tova Salb and Mrs. Pessy Michael. Mrs. Laure Gutman served as the emcee, and thanked everyone who helped make the event possible. She then introduced Mrs. Bonnie Pollack, who praised the 500 individuals who volunteer for Bikur Cholim, stating that “without you, Bikur Cholim would not exist.” She explained that while each person may feel that her contribution is not significant, it is the sum of the work of all the volunteers and the availability of the many volunteers who contribute in so many different ways that allows Bikur Cholim to provide the many services to those who are facing challenging situations. From bringing meals to families with sick relatives, to hospital visitations, to maintaining hospitality rooms and pantries in area hospitals, to providing rides to and from doctors appointments, to expediting the scheduling of appointments with specialists and much more, Bikur Cholim of Baltimore has made a difference in the lives of thousands of people. Mrs. Pollack described a typical Friday at Bikur Cholim, in which no less than 47 volunteers contributed in various ways.

Mrs. Gutman then described how valuable the volunteering experience can be, both for the volunteer herself and for the one she is helping. “Find your cause, your passion, whatever touches you. May we all be zocheh to

be part of making Hashem’s world a better place to be.” Mrs. Ida Glenner then shared her personal saga, how she had begun volunteering for Bikur Cholim when, suddenly, her own mother became very ill, and she found herself on the receiving end of Bikur Cholim’s services. Mrs. Glenner poignantly described how much Bikur Cholim did to make life easier for the entire family during the drawn out process of her mother’s treatment and recovery. “It meant so much to have someone caring for us — we did not even feel like we were taking,” she insisted. Following Mrs. Glenner’s moving testimony, the awardees were honored for their significant contributions to Bikur Cholim.

Rebbetzin Malka Taub makes frequent hospital visits on behalf of Bikur Cholim and is an integral part of assisting chassidishe families that come to Baltimore for medical care.

Mrs. Tova Salb coordinates volunteers to visit and assist patients while they transition home after a hospital stay, as well as visits to hospitals where there are no regular visitations by Bikur Cholim volunteers. Mrs. Helen Hexter takes charge of keeping the Sinai hospitality room properly stocked, a job she performs with great dedication and pride. Mrs. Pessy Michaels coordinates over 200 women who prepare homecooked meals for families in need. To date, in 2015, she has coordinated over 1600 meals.

It was a beautiful event, perhaps best expressed by Mrs. Glenner, who concluded her talk by stating, “Thank you Bikur Cholim for providing our community with such services that, hopefully, we will never need, but that really come to the rescue when we do.”

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6

More Trips coming st! up in Augu

1

19, 24 August 6,

3

5

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8

with

Eve Harow

4

2

West to East in Binyamin We start with a tour of the amazing town of Talmon with the parents of Gilad Shaer Hy”d. Jeeping in the hills of the Maccabean Revolt, including Givat HaYekevim and its underground antiquities. Ulpanat Dolev for at-risk girls hosts us for lunch, then to Neve Tzuf and their newly opened Taggart Fort. End our day at Domaine Ventura in Ofra for a wine tasting straight from France.

WHEN & WHERE We leave from Liberty Bell

TUESDAY, JULY 14

Emek Dotan With special IDF escort we will enter the area where the Brothers sold Joseph and Israel left 10 years ago during the ‘Disengagement’.

After our tour we will lunch overlooking the Dotan Valley at Maoz Tzvi, meet the modern shepherds and artists and hear from a founding member of Mevo Dotan. End our day at Katzir and peek at what may be Choreshet HaGoyim of the Prophet Deborah’s nemesis Sisera. Today meets the Tanach on this amazing unique day.

parking lot (behind the Sonol Gas Station) at 8:15AM prompt, Return approximately 6:30PM

3

SUNDAY, JULY 19

Jerusalem From Every Angle Begin at Nebi Samuel with its 3,000+ history. Then via Beit Hanina to Tel El Ful, possibly our first (monarchy) capital. Over to Mt. Scopus and the Mount of Olives ridge and views, with a dairy lunch at Kidmat Zion.

Then Ramat Rachel where a First Temple era palace was found.

A great informative day with Jerusalem, as always, at its heart.

MORE INFO Email daytrips@oneisraelfund.org

WWW.ONEISRAELFUND.ORG

US - Contact Ruthie Kohn at 516.239.9202 x10 ISRAEL – Contact Ayala Waltuch - 054-920-9704

JUNE 18, 2015

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JUNE 18, 2015

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Around the

Community

TI Preschool Celebrates Milestone YKY/TI preschool talmidim put on adorable plays in honor of receiving their first Siddur and Tehilim!

Parents, siblings and grandparents, local and from out-of-town, joined together in attending this special milestone. Kudos to all the Moros for their dedication and care for these young talmidim.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Selects Isaac Schleifer Baltimore’s Top Neighborhood Dad Nate Willner Esq Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer was honored Tuesday, June 16, 2015 by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake as a Top Neighborhood Dad. The criteria for selection was based on honoring those dedicated men who have given selflessly to keep Baltimore’s neighborhoods, better, safer and stronger.

Isaac stood out as a young father who is extremely hands on in his parenting responsibilities. He can be seen at all major community meetings and it is not uncommon to see him with his daughter in tow. He is the kind of person that clearly displays his love for his daughter, family, and for his community. As Vice President of the Cheswolde Neighborhood Association as well as multiple other community boards and service organizations, he demonstrates tireless dedication to his family and the families that reside in our neighborhood. From safety to charitable involvement he is at the

center of all events that involve giving back to the community. Regardless if he is acting in his capacity as Community Liaison to the State’s Attor-

Yitzy Schleifer with Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake

ney’s Office, member of the Hebrew Free Loan Society or member of the Democratic State Central Committee he is a fighter for our community.

When asked about Isaac and why he was chosen for this honor the May-

or answered, “The attributes Isaac displays are the kind of traits we want to see in all of our communities’ men. He does not just say that an issue is someone else’s problem. He finds solutions to neighborhood issues, and it is this spirit that helps make Baltimore a great City. I am excited to recognize Isaac Schleifer as a Baltimore Top Neighborhood Dad for his efforts to face challenges head on and actively seek to be part of the solution.”

Councilwoman Rochelle “Rikki’ Spector stated, “Isaac Schleifer is a fine example of all the dads in our community. He’s not only devoted to family, he gives of his time to community, as well, working to resolve issues in good times and bad and make his neighborhood a better place to live. I feel that it’s wonderful the Mayor is recognizing Isaac, but to us, we’re recognizing Yitzy. And it’s the

Mesivta Neimus Hatorah Graduation

Yitzy Schleifers of all communities that make Baltimore City great.”

The Mayor has had this competition for nine (9) years, to highlight the many unsung heroes of our City.

The Mayor’sinitiatives that focus on the positive accomplishments of Baltimore City citizens puts the emphasis on all the progress and quality of life our communities have to offer while moving the City forward. Though there is much work to do, there are many that are rolling up their sleeves and doing the necessary work out of love for their fellow Baltimoreans.

Isaac Schleifer is one of our communities’ heroes.

As many believe that there is no real need for a specific “Father’s Day” as every day should be father’s day, so to every day is a day where Isaac Schleifer seeks out ways to make our community a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

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Community

Harav Dovid Ostroff, shlita, Spends Shabbos in Baltimore Last week, HaRav Dovid Ostroff of Har Nof, spent an exhilarating, whirlwind Shabbos in Baltimore. The Rav is the maggid shiur of Hilchos Shabbos for Yeshivas Iyun Halacha, a worldwide, on-line Halacha learning program. Additionally, for the past seven years he has also served as the beloved co-principal of Me’ohr Bais Yaakov Seminary in Yerushalayim which enjoys a strong Baltimore presence. Over the course of the weekend hundreds of members of the Baltimore Jewish community – current, present and future talmidim of the yeshiva and their spouses, seminary girls and their parents, rabbonim, community leaders and members-at-large - got to meet and hear the rav speak and experience firsthand the sweetness of his gentle personality and wisdom-filled divrei Torah.

The Rav spoke briefly before kabbolas Shabbos at Tiferes Yisroel (Rabbi Goldberger’s shul). He spoke about anivus – genuine humility - as a prerequisite for a loving, permanent relationship with Hashem. His easy-going manner and warm sense of humor - the legacy of his years with his own Rebbe, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, ztz’l and more than two de-

cades learning b’chavrusa with Rav Azriel Auerbach – spurred the lively davening and dancing which followed - and for which the shul is known - to even greater heights.

After dinner, a community Oneg

flowed as freely as the nosh and as the evening grew late and the Oneg began to wind down, a surprise visit from local Jewish music sensation Pinny Schachter “stoked the coals” and re-invigorated the singing. Indeed, the

Shabbos was held at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Nossi Gross. The simcha was compounded by the engagement of their daughter Temimah - a seminary student of Rav Ostroff – to Chesky Silverman of Atlanta, Georgia that very day. Rav Ostroff pointed out that it was nothing less than chasdei Hashem that he was able to participate in the impromptu l’chayim held erev shabbos – as well as the vort Sunday immediately prior to his departure – as he had just completed his year of aveilus for his father a’h the previous day!

The divrei Torah and singing

haunting zemer “Kah Echsof” sung in four-part harmony soared to the heavens and beyond. No one – including Rav Ostroff who was staying across town – wanted to leave.

Shabbos afternoon saw a flurry of local activity. A shiur entitled “Pirkei Avos with Punch on the Porch” took place at the home of Rabbi Shmuel Simenowitz, Dean of Yeshivas Iyun Halacha. Due to the heat, the shiur was moved indoors to the air-conditioned home but a wide cross-section of the community was nevertheless able to enjoy the insights that Rav Ostroff added to the familiar mishnayos. The mishneh “hevei mispallel b’shloma shel malchus” -“pray for the welfare of the government for were it not for fear of it, people would eat each other alive” assumed an eerie significance in the light of the recent Baltimore disturbances and highlighted the timelessness of Chazal’s eternal wisdom.

The shiur was immediately followed by a shiur for women at Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion. More than 100 women – many of them students of Rav Ostroff together with their mothers – were treated to an inspiring shiur on how to infuse shabbos with kedusha. Thereafter, the men enjoyed a playful yet powerful shiur on the concepts of “Oneg” versus “Simcha” complete with an inspiring line by line exposition of “Mizmor shir l’yom hashabbos” as explained by the Slonimer Rebbe in his classic work Nesivos

Sholom.

Following a late night melava malka with students and alumni of Me’ohr Beis Yaakov, Rav Ostroff began his morning as the guest of Kollel Nachlas HaTorah, a morning Kollel for men where he gave a guest shiur in hilchos shabbos to a crowded beis medrash filled with members of the Kollel and community at large . The kollel sessions and shiurim takes place each week day morning at Machzikei Torah under the auspices of the Rosh Kollel, Harav Nechemia Goldstein, shlita .

The shiur was followed by a breakfast reception which quickly devolved into a lively question-and-answer and at which Rav Ostroff graciously shared anecdotes about his beloved rebbe, Rav Shlomo Zalman, ztz”l.

Finally, a Yeshivas Iyun Halacha banquet was held at a local restaurant where talmidim and alumni of the yeshiva were able to spend time with Rav Ostroff, Rabbi Simenowitz and R‘ Dovid Engel, Menahel of the Yeshiva who flew in from Bnei Brak for the occasion. The crowning moment of the weekend was when Rav Ostroff gave semicha to one of his longtime talmidim, Rabbi Moshe Litwak of Silver Spring, MD in the presence of his family and friends.

Despite the diverse venues, the community rabbonim all commented on the readily apparent love and warmth with permeated Rav Ostroff’s relationship with his talmidim and talmidos. To see faces light up in smiles as talmidim saw their beloved rebbe sitting unobtrusively in the corner of a shul with a sefer was a sight that many said they would carry with them for a long time to come.

As the dancing died down, Rav Ostroff slipped away, heading north to New York and New Jersey where more talmidim awaited him and where his innovative shiurim and the sweetness of learning Torah awaited them.

For information about Yeshivas Iyun Halacha’s innovative learning initiative contact info@iyunhalacha. com.

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The Week Global Top Terror Militant Killed

Algerian veteran militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a major figure in North African and Sahel Islamist insurgencies, has reportedly been killed in a U.S. airstrike inside Libya. If confirmed, the death of Belmokhtar, who was blamed for orchestrating the 2013 attack on Algeria’s In Amenas gas field and dubbed “Uncatchable”

by French forces, would be a major strike against al Qaeda-tied operations in the region.

Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and Libya’s slide into chaos and fighting between two rival governments, the North African state has seen the rise of Islamist militant groups who are taking advantage of the turmoil. Some are allied with al Qaeda’s leadership, others have local loyalties and some have recently declared allegiance with Islamic State, which has been gaining ground.

Belmokhtar has been reported killed several times, including in 2013 when he was believed to have been killed in Mali. He has earned a reputation as one of the most elusive jihadi leaders in the region. Libyan officials gave no further details about the area of the strike. But before the U.S. statement, Libyan military sources said that an airstrike had been carried in Ajdabiya city near Benghazi, killing seven members of the Ansar al Sharia militant group.

Belmokhtar, a one-eyed veteran of Afghanistan and Algeria’s own 1990s Islamist war, was long a major figure in Saharan smuggling, hostage-taking, arms trafficking and insurgencies.

N. Korean Soldier Successfully Defects A North Korean soldier decided he had had enough of being mistreated and defected this week to South Korea. Military officials have said that the official reason the 19-yearold soldier gave for his defection was the habitual beatings he was subjected to. The soldier crossed the frontier in Hwacheon, northeast of Seoul, the South’s defense ministry said.

The defection sparked a tense stand-off between North and South Korean border guards across the four kilometer-wide and 248 kilometer-long demilitarized zone (DMZ), but there was no conflict. The man identified himself as a private, the lowest rank among the North’s enlistees.

Hundreds of North Koreans flee their isolated homeland each year but it is rare for defectors to cross the land border, marked by barbed wire and guarded by tens of thousands of troops on both sides. Despite its name, the DMZ separating the two Koreas, which remain technically at war, is one of the world’s most heavily militarized frontiers, bristling with watchtowers and landmines. Most North Koreans who flee repression and poverty at home cross the porous frontier with China first before travelling through a Southeast Asian nation and eventually arriving in South Korea.

In 2012, a North Korean soldier walked unchecked through rows of electrified fencing and surveillance cameras, prompting Seoul to sack three field commanders for a security lapse. In August last year, two North

In News Koreans swam across the Yellow Sea border to a South Korean frontline island. So far about 28,000 North Koreans have resettled in the South since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, mostly after the great famine in the 1990s.

The number of escapees has decreased sharply since North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un took power following the death of his father in late 2011. Under Kim, the isolated state has tightened border security, while China has launched a crackdown on North Korean escapees on its side of the border.

China – the North’s sole major ally – typically considers them illegal economic migrants and repatriates them despite criticisms from human rights groups. Many face severe punishment including, rights monitors say, torture and a term in a prison camp once they are sent back to the North.

Countries with Worst Worker’s Rights

Lucky for us, in the United States, workers are protected with a set of rights to ensure that their superiors treat them properly. However, before the labor movement, workers were subjected to unsafe conditions, unfair agreements, and harassment. In some countries, workers still face many hardships in the workplace and even within the U.S. improvements still need to be made.

This year’s Global Rights Index ranks countries according to their workers’ rights policies. The Gulf States and North Africa workers are among the world’s worst treated employees. Interestingly, workers in Eu-

rope didn’t fare too well. European workers endured the sharpest decline in their workplace standards in the past 12 months due to the brutal austerity measures across the EU. The International Trade Union Confederation released the annual ranking illustrating a widespread decline in standards across the board.

The only countries that did not have a decline in workers’ rights were Austria, Finland, Netherlands, Norway and Uruguay.

The world’s worst performers in worker’s rights for 2015 are (in alphabetical order): Belarus China Colombia Egypt Guatemala Pakistan Qatar Saudi Arabia Swaziland United Arab Emirates

Hong Kong Riots and Arrests

At least one of the nine people arrested in Hong Kong for making explosives claims to belong to a “radical group.” The arrests come days ahead of a vote on a controversial political reform package. Police would not name the group or specify motives but said that maps of central districts of Hong Kong had been found and warned anyone taking part in public gatherings to stay away from “violent

The Week

This week marked the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta signing. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth led the celebrations, remembering one of the world’s most significant historical documents which is credited with paving the way for modern freedoms and human rights.

On June 15, 1215, England’s King John agreed to the demands of his rebellious barons and accepted the Magna Carta, Latin for “Great Charter,” which for the first time placed the monarch under the rule of law.

In the centuries since, it has taken on huge global significance, becoming the basis for the U.S. Bill of Rights, the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and the Universal Declaration of Hu-

was erected at the site in 1957, was re-dedicated. U.S. Attorney General Lynch said the charter was a bedrock to free societies globally; Cameron also used the anniversary as a political opportunity to underpin his plan to overhaul human rights laws and reduce the influence of Europe.

Study: Anti-Semitic Sentiments had Life-Long Effects on German Children

JUNE 18, 2015

Magna Carta Turns 800

man Rights. Three of its 63 clauses still remain on Britain’s statute book.

“What happened [...] eight centuries ago is as relevant today as it was then. And that relevance extends far beyond Britain,” British Prime Minister David Cameron said. He said the document had changed the world, inspiring people from the founding fathers of the United States and Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi to Nelson Mandela in South Africa. ”Its remaining copies may be faded, but its principles shine as brightly as ever,” Cameron told the ceremony attended by other royals and global figures including U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

The Magna Carta came into being during a period of great political upheaval in England with conflict between King John, his nobles and the English church. It was essentially a peace deal to address the problems of the day and was annulled by the pope shortly afterwards. But updated versions, which included two original clauses regarded as pivotal in establishing the rule of law, were re-released regularly by or on behalf of succeeding monarchs.

Four original copies of the document still exist. At the ceremony, a new art installation was unveiled and the American Bar Association’s Magna Carta Memorial, which

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protesters.”

A series of rallies have taken take place before the vote in Hong Kong’s legislature on a divisive roadmap for the city’s electoral system. Chinese media said those arrested were activists from pro-democracy “localist” groups, which have come into the spotlight in recent months. Such groups are frustrated with the lack of progress on electoral reform and have argued that Hong Kong should distance itself from Beijing to forge its own political future.

The reform bill to be voted on lays out a proposal for choosing the city’s next leader by public vote for the first time in 2017.But it sticks to a ruling from Beijing which stipulates that candidates must be vetted by a loyalist committee. That ruling sparked mass rallies and roadblocks towards the end of last year, with campaigners dismissing it as “fake democracy.”

Pro-democracy legislators are vowing to block the proposal.

In News

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The Week According to a study published on Monday, anti-Semitic propaganda had a life-long effect on German children schooled during the Nazi period, leaving them far more likely to harbor negative views of Jews than those born earlier and later. People are more impressionable when they’re young, as the findings indicate that attempts to influence public attitudes are most effective when they target young people, particularly if the message confirms existing beliefs, the authors said.

Researchers from the United States and Switzerland examined surveys conducted in 1996 and 2006 that asked respondents about a range of issues, including their opinions of Jews. The polls, known as the German General Social Survey, reflected the views of 5,300 people from 264 towns and cities across Germany, allowing the researchers to examine differences according to age, gender and location.

By focusing on those respondents who consistently expressed negative views of Jews in a number of questions, the researchers found that those born in the 1930s held the most extreme anti-Semitic opinions — even fifty years after the end of Nazi rule.

“It’s not just that Nazi schooling worked, that if you subject people to a totalitarian regime during their formative years it will influence the way their mind works,” said Hans-Joachim Voth of the University of Zurich, one of the study’s authors. “The striking thing is that it doesn’t go away afterward.”

The group showed differences depending on whether they came from an area where anti-Semitism was strong before the rise of Hitler and his minions. “The extent to which Nazi schooling worked depended crucially on whether the overall environment where children grew up was already a bit anti-Semitic,” said Voth. “It tells you that indoctrination can work, it can last to a surprising extent, but the way it works has to be compatible to something people already believe.”

Benjamin Ortmeyer, who heads a research center on Nazi education at Frankfurt’s Goethe University, said the study’s conclusions were “absolutely plausible.”

“The significance of this kind of propaganda hasn’t really been exposed,” said Ortmeyer, who wasn’t involved in the study. “Compared to the brutal deeds of the Nazi mass murderers this area of crimes, the brainwashing, was largely ignored.”

One reason, he said, is the difficulty of getting older Germans to talk about their experiences of the Nazi period. While Jews who survived the Holocaust vividly recount the abuse they suffered in school and at the hands of fellow pupils, non-Jewish Germans mostly describe their school years as peaceful and fun.

Ortmeyer said Nazi educators wove anti-Semitic propaganda into every school subject and extra-curricular activity, even giving students “projects” that included scouring church records for the names of Jewish families that had recently converted to Christianity. These were later used to draw up lists of Jews for deportation to concentration camps, making students unwitting accomplices in the Holocaust.

Which Athletes Make the Big Bucks?

I should have practiced my left hook or jump-shot a bit more. Forbes has released their list of the highest paid athletes in the world, and, for the second straight year, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. has earned the top

In News spot. In 2015, Mayweather astoundingly earned just $13 million less than the next three athletes combined.

Mayweather made more than $200 million from his historic fight against Manny Pacquiao. Thanks to the fight generating nearly $600 million worth of revenue, Pacquiao actually comes in at second, albeit a distant second, on the list. He was the 11th highest-paid athlete in 2014.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Roger Federer finished 3rd, 4th, and 5th respectively in the rankings that include both earnings and endorsements. This means that not a single player from the three major sports in the United States – football, basketball, and baseball – cracked the top 5.

LeBron James is the highest-paid basketball player at 6th, trailing Federer by just $2.2 million. Ben Roethlisberger is the highest-paid football player, coming in at 11. And Jon Lester is the highest paid baseball player at 19.

For the sixth straight year, tennis star Maria Sharapova ($29.7 million) ranks as the highest-paid female athlete, finishing 26th overall.

Here’s the top 20 highest paid athletes worldwide: 1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (boxing): $300 million 2. Manny Pacquiao (boxing): $160 million 3. Cristiano Ronaldo (soccer): $79.6 million 4. Lionel Messi (soccer):

$73.8 million 5. Roger Federer (tennis): $67 million 6. LeBron James (basketball): $64.8 million 7. Kevin Durant (basketball): $54.1 million 8. Phil Mickelson (golf): $50.8 million 9. Tiger Woods (golf):

$50.6 million 10. Kobe Bryant (basketball): $49.5 million 11. Ben Roethlisberger (football): $48.9 million 12. Rory McIlroy (golf): $48.3 million 13. Novak Djokovic (tennis): $48.2 million 14. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (soccer): $39.1 million 15. Lewis Hamilton (racing): $39 million 16. Ndamukong Suh (football): $38.6 million 17. Fernando Alonso (racing): $35.5 million 18. Gareth Bale (soccer): $35 million 19. Jon Lester (baseball): $34.1 million 20. Derrick Rose (basketball): $33.9 million

Spain Passes Law of Return

In another swing in the long history of Spanish Jewry, Spain’s lower house has given final approval to a law offering citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews. Under the law, applicants need not travel to Spain, as proposed in previous amendments that did not pass, but must hire a Spanish notary and pass tests on the Spanish language and history.

Applicants can study for the tests and take them at the facilities of the Cervantes Institute, a government entity that offers courses on Spanish culture and its language in over 20 countries, including Israel. “The procedure for acquiring Spanish nationality regulated in this law will be electronic,” the law reads. “The request will be in

The Week

A recent report published by the German government has found that last year there was a huge 1,000%

many, explains that German anti-Semites have found a way to cover their hatred of Jews in an increasingly internationally acceptable camouflage of antagonism against Israel. “They know that they risk losing their jobs for anti-Semitic statements, so they speak in anti-Israeli terms,” he reports. “You meet Germans who speak

with you about the conflict with the Palestinians and then you realize that they don’t really understand what’s happening in the Middle East, but it’s more politically correct to speak against Israel.”

Paz estimates that the Israelis living in Berlin are deluding themselves into thinking things will be okay. “They’re

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Anti-Semites Hide as Anti-Israel in Germany

rise in anti-Israel crimes and violent assaults. Also noted was a 25% rise in anti-Semitic crimes. “Anti-Semitic attacks” include physical assaults on Jews, as well as vandalistic attacks on synagogues and Jewish cemeteries, in addition to incitement at protests.

Elias Paz, the emissary for Bnei Akiva and the Jewish Agency in Ger-

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Spanish and will be overseen by the General Directorate of Registrars and Notaries.”

In addition, candidates will need to apply to the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain, or FCJE, which will vet applications along with government officials, the amendment states. The law comes into effect in October and expires after three years, though it may be extended another year if deemed necessary. “Today, we write a happy page of reunion, agreement, dialog and hope that enriches us as people and which makes Spanish Jews feel proud to be behind the door that our country is opening,” FCJE President Isaac Querub Caro wrote.

The law is the result of a government decision in 2012 that described offering citizenship to Sephardic Jews as compensation for their ancestors’ expulsion from Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Spanish royal house and church during the Spanish Inquisition. Portugal passed a similar law, which went into effect earlier this year. It is open ended and does not require proven knowledge of Portuguese.

Leon Amiras, chairman of the Association of Olim from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, said the Spanish law was cumbersome and too restrictive compared to the Portuguese one and called on Spain to follow the example of its western neighbor in applying the law.

Ahead of the vote, the law also was criticized by opposition lawmakers from the United Left and Basque National Party who argued that it discriminates against non-Jews who were expelled during the Inquisition, including Muslims. Some historians have disputed that comparison, citing the presence of Muslims in Spain as occupiers who were driven out of Spain back to their lands of origin.

In News

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The Week hanging onto the thought that this is anti-Israeli and not anti-Semitism. But there’s no way of knowing what it will develop into,” he warned.

Bnei Akiva delegates in Germany provide services for the small Jewish communities. Paz explained that they ”work with children and youth.

There are a lot of communities of Jews who Germany absorbed from the Soviet Union and offered good conditions to, with a goal of reviving the communities that became extinct after the Holocaust.”

“But the Germans divided them into dozens of small communities, they arrived without an understanding of Judaism and they deal with many difficulties like obtaining kosher food; we help them,” Paz added.

Israel Protective Edge Report Released

Before the U.N. releases its own report on the war in Gaza, the Israeli government has published a 275 page report on the events surrounding Operation protective Edge. Officials say the report has been in the making ever

since the war ended in late August 2014. It places the blame for the war’s casualties squarely on Hamas and armed factions operating in the Strip.

While Israel has previously published much of the information and many of the arguments provided in the report, it also contains some new data. For instance, it presents for the first time the army’s analysis of the war’s casualties. According to the IDF’s account, 44 percent of the 2,125 Palestinians killed in Gaza were “militants,” and 36% were “uninvolved civilians.” Some 20% of victims have yet to be identified.

The report highlights Israel’s efforts to protect Israeli civilians and its ceasefire offers, while accusing Hamas, which rules the Strip, of deliberately targeting Israeli civilians and embedding its military capabilities in civilian areas. The report also highlights the efforts of the Israeli army to warn Gazans of imminent airstrikes. It was compiled by officials in the Foreign Ministry, Justice Ministry, IDF Military Advocate General and National Security Council in an attempt to fight off harsh criticism likely to be leveled at Israel by the UN Human Rights Council.

“Israel is a law abiding nation that respects all international legal standards,” Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said. “I apologize for the cliché, but Israel’s army is the most moral army in the world.” In all its military operations, the IDF adhered and continues to adhere to international law, she asserted. “There is no more moral army in the world than the IDF and no country investigates [itself] in a more transparent manner than the State of Israel,” she said.

The Israeli army is also unique in that it sends legal advisers into the battlefield together with combat soldiers to ascertain that they act in accordance with international law, the deputy foreign minister said. “The most important thing that is coming out is the fact that Israel wants to expose the truth.

Israel is not ashamed of the facts,” Hotovely concluded.

The report also attempts to show how Hamas and Gaza’s other armed factions intentionally violated the laws of armed conflict and committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In News “Hamas and other terrorist organizations prolonged the hostilities and repeatedly rejected ceasefires or accepted and then violated them,” the report states. “Had Hamas accepted the initial Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that the Arab League endorsed and Israel accepted on July 15 — which featured the same terms as the ceasefire offer to which Hamas ultimately adhered to on August 26 — approximately 90 percent of the casualties incurred during the 2014 Gaza Conflict could have been avoided,” it pointed out.

2,100 Gazans and 70 Israelis were killed during the operation, which lasted from July 7 to August 26, 2014.

Israel’s Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center tracked all Palestinian casualties and believes that half of them were Hamas or Palestinian Islamic jihad operatives.

Google Exec: Israel Best Place to Invest Google billionaire Eric Shmidt took a tour of Israel this week. One of his stops was at the Weizmann Institute, where he gave a speech to hundreds of students and researchers. “Israel is booming in terms of entrepreneurship because you have a culture that allows you to challenge authority and question everything.

You don’t follow the rules,” Schmidt proclaimed.

Schmidt was accompanied on his visit to the Weizmann Institute by Yossi Matias, vice-president for engineering and chief executive for R&D of Google Israel. He also brought along executives from the investment fund he heads, Innovation Endeavors, one of the most active funds in Israel in recent years. “The impact Israelis are having on science and technology is immense, so that’s why I’m here and

why I’m investing here,” the Google chief said.

In the modern world, Schmidt noted, for an economy to grow, there is a need for innovation and the establishment of new companies. “For this to happen, a country must invest in several areas – education, highspeed Internet connections, an open immigration policy that allows leading minds to move between countries, and also an environment that encourages entrepreneurship,” he said.

Schmidt urged the students and researchers to think big. “You have to make big bets. If you’re building something, try to solve problems for the entire world,” he said, citing some of the developments Google is currently working on, such as such as contact lenses that can detect blood glucose levels to help people who suffer from diabetes, and autonomous cars without drivers.

Schmidt also addressed the question of how to preserve privacy and security in a world of free-flowing information. “Technically, you can protect your information by using different types of encryption,” he said, adding to the amusement of his audience: “Would you like a tip for surfing the Internet securely and privately?

Use Chrome.”

One of the leaders of the global technology industry, Schmidt, 60, joined Google as its CEO in 2001 at the request of founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. He served in the position until 2011, turning the once-small search engine company into the technology and Internet giant it is today.

In 2011, he was replaced by Page and named executive chairman. He is said to be worth some $9 billion.

Universities Slip Lower in School Rankings Israel’s universities have been slipping from their once-high places on international rankings. Times Higher Education has announced their list of Asia’s University Rankings and three of the four Israeli universities have diminished in their standings. Tel Aviv University was rated the top Israeli

The Week

It has come to light that Iranian hackers working under the auspices of the regime in Tehran have compromised computers of Israeli security companies and academics. According

attacks have led us to the conclusion that an Iranian threat actor is the likely culprit. We assume—though do not have direct evidence—that it is being supported by the Iranian regime, or performed by the regime itself,” the report says.

The hackers, ClearSky says, employed numerous methods to break into the computers of the victims.

They posed, for example, as journalists and sent targets an email that included a request for an interview; attached to the email was a file with a hidden virus, which would infect the victim’s computer as soon as the file was downloaded. The hackers were then able to access emails accounts, take control of computers, and steal information stored in them.

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Iran Hacks Israeli Targets

to ClearSky, an Israeli cyber-security firm, the hackers were trying to steal sensitive data. The report says the cyber-attack started in July 2014 and is still ongoing.

ClearSky believes that an Iranian cyber group known as the Ajax Security Team, operating with the support of the regime in Tehran, is behind the attack. “Several characteristics of the

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university coming in at 22nd on the list of Asian nations, down three spots from last year’s 19th place.

Continuing its slide in world rankings, Jerusalem’s Hebrew University dropped down to 25th place from 18th place in 2014 — losing its title as the top higher education institution in the Middle East, a title that now went to Turkey’s Middle East Technical University. The Technion, or Israel Institute of Technology, was ranked 31st place in 2015, down from 26th place last year.

Bar-Ilan University re-entered the rankings in 2015 at 75th place, having missed out on the continent’s rankings in previous years. “It is cause for concern that Israel keeps losing ground in this list,” Phil Baty, editor of the UK-based Times Higher Education Rankings said. “Although Bar-Ilan University has re-entered the table after missing out last year, and Israel’s other representatives remain in the top 50, their positions have weakened,” Baty pointed out.

While praising Tel Aviv University’s top spot, Baty said that overall, Israeli institutions urgently need to make changes. “There is a risk that the country will continue to lose out to its wealthier Asian rivals unless it increases university investment — and soon.” The University of Tokyo, the National University of Singapore, and the University of Hong Kong top the list as Asia’s best institutions.

Other than Israel, the Middle East was represented by universities from Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The magazine’s university rankings are based on a number of criteria, including quality of teaching, the amount of research done at institutions, the number of times that research is cited in academic or scientific journals, and the innovations developed as a result of work done at the schools.

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The Week Other methods involved breaching trusted websites to set up fake pages, multi-stage malware, spear phishing emails, phone calls to the target, and mClearSky identified attacks on 40 Israeli targets, including employees at security companies, high-ranking Israel Defense Forces reservists, and also academics involved research on the Middle East and Iran at universities around the country. ClearSky doesn’t name the security companies that were compromised, but notes that the attacks were successful in most instances.

Former Amb: Obama Damaged Relationship with Israel In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal published on Monday, former Ambassador Michael Oren hit hard against the president of the United States, saying that President Obama deliberately damaged the relationship between the United States and Israel.

When reporters asked about the state of U.S.-Israeli relations during his time as the Israeli envoy, Michael Oren says he gave the standard response of: “Nobody has a monopoly on making mistakes.” But on Monday, he wrote, “Only one leader made them deliberately.”

ed. Those policies would have put him at odds with any Israeli leader.

But Obama also abandoned what Oren said were the principles of the country’s relationship, including “no daylight” and “no surprises.”

For the first principle, Oren cited a 2009 speech by Obama to American Jewish leaders in which the president said, “When there is no daylight, Israel just sits on the sidelines and that erodes our credibility with the Arabs.”

Oren responded in the op-ed, saying that statement ignored Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 and previous offers of statehood, encompassing nearly the entire West Bank and half of Jerusalem, that the Palestinians rejected.

On the “no surprises” front, Israel was caught off-guard by not receiving an advance copy of Obama’s May 2009 speech in Cairo in which the president declared that there should be a freeze on settlements and asked that Israel accept a two-state solution.

“Israeli leaders typically received advance copies of major American policy statements on the Middle East and could submit their comments. But Mr. Obama delivered his Cairo speech, with its unprecedented support for the Palestinians and its recognition of Iran’s right to nuclear power, without consulting Israel,” Oren pointed out.

When Israel learned that the U.S. was negotiating “with its deadliest enemy” — Iran — over its nuclear program, he wrote, the daylight “could not have been more blinding.”

Oren, who is now a member of the Knesset, has written a memoir on his experiences as Israel’s ambassador.

National Upon entering office, he wrote, “Obama promoted an agenda of championing the Palestinian cause and achieving a nuclear accord with Iran,” Michael Oren wrote in his op-

Most American Jews Support Iran Deal with Increased Inspections A poll released by J Street has

In News found that many American Jews support a final agreement with Iran that increases inspections in exchange for sanctions relief. The poll, which was conducted among 1,000 people who identify as Jewish, found that 59 percent of those polled say they would support such a deal. The numbers are similar to a CNN poll conducted in April among the general U.S. population which found that 53% of American adults supported such a deal.

When provided further details about a final agreement, Jewish support grows further. A striking 78% of American Jews would back an agreement that imposes intrusive inspections of Iran and caps its enrichment of uranium at a level far below what is necessary to make a nuclear weapon in exchange for phased relief from U.S. and international sanctions. The question was part of a larger poll of American Jewish attitudes on U.S. policy in the Middle East, just weeks ahead of the June 30 deadline for negotiations between the P5+1 member states and Iran.

Orthodox Jews — approximately 10% of the U.S. Jewish population and 10% of those polled — were the only group that did not support the framework for an agreement with Iran, with 47% supportive of the terms.

Although 66% of respondents said they were well-informed or somewhat informed about the negotiations, only 6% consider Iran as one of the top two priorities on which they believe President Obama and Congress should focus. In the list of 11 issues suggested, Iran placed last while the economy (45%) and ISIS (29%) were the top priorities. Israel ranked 9th, with 7% citing it as one of the top two issues the government should focus on.

Pollster Jim Gerstein, who conducted the poll for J Street, noted that the demographics of the poll, which was conducted last week, are closely aligned with the demographic breakdown of the American Jewish community described in the landmark 2013 Pew survey of American Jewry.

Obama Takes on Trans-Fats The Obama administration is taking on trans-fat, ordering food companies to phase them out over the next three years, calling them a threat to public health.

The move will remove artificial trans-fats from the food supply almost entirely. Consumers aren’t likely to notice much of a difference in their favorite foods, but the administration says the move will reduce coronary heart disease and prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks every year. Scientists say there are no health benefits to the fats, which are used in processing food and in restaurants, usually to improve texture, shelf life or flavor. They can raise levels of “bad” cholesterol and lower “good” cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

The fats are created when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to make it more solid, which is why they are often called partially hydrogenated oils.

Once a staple of the American diet — think shortening and microwave popcorn — most artificial trans-fats are already gone. The FDA says that between 2003 and 2012, consumer trans-fat consumption decreased an estimated 78 percent as food companies have used other kinds of oils to replace them.

Despite the strides in making foods healthier, there are still some foods hiding trans-fats including pie crusts, biscuits, microwave popcorn, coffee creamers, frozen pizza, refrigerated dough, vegetable shortenings

The Week

The Iowa presidential straw poll has traditionally been the jumping point for the presidential primary season. But not anymore.

The Iowa Republican Party voted unanimously last week to cancel the state’s presidential straw poll.

The poll’s significance had waned in recent years. In 2011, then-Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) won but went on to place sixth in the state’s caucuses and ultimately drop out of the race. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty also committed significant sums of money in hopes of winning

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and margarines.

To phase the fats out, the FDA made a preliminary determination in 2013 that trans-fats no longer fall in the agency’s “generally recognized as safe” category, which covers thousands of additives that manufacturers can add to foods without FDA review.

The agency made that decision final Tuesday, giving food companies the three years to phase them out.

Some companies, though, will be looking for allowances. Still, food companies are hoping for some exceptions. The Grocery Manufacturers Association, the main trade group for the food industry, is working with companies on a petition that would formally ask the FDA if it can say there is a “reasonable certainty of no harm” from some specific uses of the fats.

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The Week the straw poll but dropped out of the race after finishing in disappointing third place. And a number of candidates running for president this time around – including Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee – declared they would not spend precious resources to compete in the event.

The straw poll’s demise comes at perhaps the worst time for the party. In the past, it has served as a way to naturally winnow the pool of presidential contenders. As many as 15 Republicans may run for president this cycle – perhaps the GOP’s deepest bench in history – practically guaranteeing a long and bruising race that may prove disadvantageous to the party’s eventual nominee once the general election begins.

Need a Job? Head Here Unemployment rates are declin-

ing consistently since 2010, when unemployment was at its peak at 9.6% during the recession; for 2014, the unemployment rate was 6.2%.

However, there are some specific states that are still struggling to recover from the recession. In order to identify the best (and worst) states in which to be unemployed, 24/7 Wall St. ranked each state based on four indicators: the annual unemployment rate, the unemployment insurance recipient rate, the weekly benefit amount as a percentage of the state’s weekly wages (known as the replacement rate), and the one-year job growth rate.

A state’s unemployment rate is one of the most reliable indicators of a labor market’s health and how challenging it can be to find work. In all of the ten best states, the rate was lower than the average and in the ten worst states the rate was higher than the national average.

Of course the variation of the generosity of a state’s unemployment insurance (UI) system affects the health of the job market. On one hand, states

In News need to tax employers to ensure unemployment insurance funds are adequately funded to assist unemployed residents. On the other hand, some argue that the high taxes on employers prevents potential investment that could create more jobs.

So which states are the best places to be unemployed? North Dakota took the top spot. 40% of the unemployed receive benefits (tied for 16th place) with an unemployment rate of 2.8% (the lowest in the nation). Hawaii came in second. The Aloha State has an unemployment rate of just 4.4% (tied for ninth lowest in the nation)

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and 44% of those unemployed receive benefits, with 52% of their average weekly wages covered, the highest in the nation. Utah, Minnesota and Iowa rounded out the top five.

On the other hand, unemployed workers don’t do too well in these five states, the worst states in the nation to be unemployed: Mississippi has an unemployment rate of 7.8% (tied for highest in the nation and only 32% of the unemployed receive benefits (tied for the 12th lowest). Alabama came next with a 6.8% unemployment rate and only 31% of the unemployed receiving benefits. Louisiana, Arizona and Virginia rounded out the bottom five.

Prison Employee Charged with Assisting Escape Joyce Mitchell, 51, of Dickson Center, has been arrested for provided “material support” to two prisoners who escaped last week. The convicted murderers, Richard Matt and David Sweat, broke out of an upstate prison thanks to Mitchell’s assistance. Mitchell, who worked in the prison’s tailor shop, was charged with promoting prison contraband in the 1st degree – a felony – and criminal facilitation in the 4th degree – a misdemeanor.

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“Our interviews with Joyce Mitchell have been fruitful and productive,” said Major Charles Guess of the New York State Police. “We’re satisfied and we would not have charged her today if we were not satisfied with the productivity of those interviews.” Mitchell could face a maximum of 8 years in prison. She has been suspended without pay from her job at Clinton Correctional Facility, the state department

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The Week of correction said.

“This is one large piece of the puzzle in our quest to find these two escaped murderers,” Guess said. Authorities are still interviewing civilian personnel and certified staff members at Clinton Correctional Facility. Police also said there have been no confirmed sightings of the escaped inmates and no conclusive evidence that either of the convicted killers left the area.

More details have been coming to light, though. It has been learned that the plan was to kill Mitchell’s husband after the escape. The two prisoners have been manipulating Mitchell since 2013, when they met, and she provided them with various tools, including hacksaw blades, chisels, a punch and a screwdriver bit. After their escape, Mitchell was supposed to pick them up near a manhole where they’d emerge from a network of tunnels and then drive them to a predetermined location seven hours away. Mitchell,

In News

though, never showed and said that she got cold feet.

“We have a message for David Sweat and Richard Matt,” Guess said.

“We’re coming for you and we will not stop until you are caught.” Despite this assertion, on Monday, ten days into the search, some close to the investigation admitted that the trail seemed to have gone cold.

nal of the American Medical Informatics Association: Does your birth month affect your health outcomes later in life?

Does your Birth Month Affect Your Health?

Does your birthday predict your medical future?

Mary Boland, a PhD student at Columbia University Medical Center, was investigating old studies relating the time of year a person is born to the odds of developing asthma. Based on that research, Boland launched a new study published this week in the Jour-

Insight

“It turns out that if a newborn is exposed to high levels of dust mites in their first few months of life that they have higher incidence of a certain type of asthma later,” says Nicholas Tatonetti, PhD, an assistant professor of biomedical informatics at Columbia University Medical Center and Columbia’s Data Science Institute. “This

kind of study has been done quite a bit in a one-off fashion, studying this disease or that disease. … We were curious if we could recapitulate some of those early findings.”

The researchers used data on 1.7 million patients treated at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center between 1985 and 2013. The goal was to see if there were any spikes in specific diseases at certain times of year.

Overall, May babies seem to have the lowest disease risk and babies born in October have the highest. In fact, the scientists found 55 diseases that correlated with the season of a person’s birth, and also uncovered 16 entirely new correlations — including nine types of heart disease.

“The most striking was a trend we found that those born in late winter or early spring were more likely to have heart disease,” Tatonetti related. “And we didn’t find just one type of heart

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The Week disease associated with birth month, but we actually found several.”

The data collected noted that the average life span for those born in each birth month in the first half of the year tend to have shorter lives. People born in March have the highest risk of atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure and mitral valve disorder, and the scientists suggest that 1 in 40 cases is related to a seasonal variable. The scientists suggest this may have something to do with fluctuating levels of vitamin D. Since heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, this could help doctors hone in on early prevention strategies.

Logically, month-related disease risks must be determined by changing environmental and circumstantial factors. For example, the researchers found that asthma risk for New York patients peaked with July and October births. A previous study conducted in Denmark found that risk was heightened for people born in the months of

May and August — when the country’s sunlight levels are most similar to New York’s.

Despite these findings, a person’s lifestyle is much more significant when it comes to developing diseases. “The risk we found that can be attributed to birth month is on par with what you would find from genetic analyses,” Tatonetti explains. “Lifestyle, diet, and exercise are still stronger factors when considering your health.”

That’s Odd The Signature Janitor He’s the most popular guy at school. Meet Steve Weidner, a custodian at Alan Shepard Elementary School in Bourbonnais, Illinois.

! h c a m e G r e w o l F h s flowers! a h c m i Fre S r Share you Be m’sameach other simchas!

Donate your fresh flower arrangements and we will match your simcha date with simchas following yours. thegraphicpalette@gmail.com

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JUNE 18, 2015

32

To donate or obtain flower arrangements call or text: 516-509-5503 or 443-695-0314.

In memory of our grandfather Menachem Mendel ben Mordechai Yaakov

In News Last week, 104 second graders lined up after lunch to have “Mr. Steve” autograph their yearbooks. 200 children from other classes queued up as well.

“I get along great with the kids,” Weidner related. “They are really great. We joke around a bunch and they’re able to talk to me and stuff like that.”

The father of four has been part of the janitorial staff at Shepard for 15 years now.

“I walked through the playground to get through the building and they saw me and started running,” he said.

“You get one, you get all of them.

Once they got a line I sat down,” and then proceeded to affix his John Hancock to the yearbooks.

The district posted a photo of a long line of second graders patiently waiting for Mr. Steve’s yearbook signatures on their Facebook page Wednesday, June 3. “Shepard Custodian Steve ‘Mr. Steve’ Weidner has reached Rock Star status as he autographs yearbooks for his ‘fans!’” the caption read. The snapshot was uploaded to Reddit on June 5 where it has racked up over three million views.

“The students count on Mr. Steve to be there when they need him,” principal Shirley Padera said. “They are comfortable asking for his help.

“He [Mr. Steve] has good relationships with the students,” she added.

“Many of our children remain in the building for 5 years because our grade levels are kindergarten through 4th grade. They have many opportunities to interact with Mr. Steve.”

Weidner said he will continue to try to sign as many yearbooks as he can for every school year he remains a janitor at Shepard.

Sure beats emptying trash cans.

Wrong Game, Right Price It’s a matter of luck—or at least a little bit of luck—and Christian Pham first thought his luck ran out. The 40-year-old from St. Paul, Minnesota, is a professional poker player and

intended to play no-limit Texas Hold ‘Em. But as luck would have it, he signed up for the so-called no-limit deuce-to-seven draw lowball at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

The cost? A $1,500 buy-in.

But there was no turning back now.

“It’s a totally different game. Different mindset. Different strategies,” Shawn Harris, Pham’s dealer at the final table, related.

Essentially, the goal is to have the lowest poker hand, no straights or flushes, and if a player ends up with a pair, it’s better if it’s a pair of twos.

Players can also draw cards.

The event was just one of 68, all offering a chance at a golden bracelet prize, happening in Las Vegas at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino throughout the 51-day World Series of Poker that started on May 27 and culminates with the closely watched Main Event.

Pham said he didn’t realize his mistake until he was dealt five cards instead of the usual two. He panicked, then observed, leaning on helpful players who advised him what beat what.

“At first you suspect an act, but if it was, it was very good,” said Chris Mecklin who was sitting next to Pham when the game’s newbie realized he had made a mistake. He didn’t know it would be a fortuitous one. It quickly became clear that Pham was a professional player—although not really professional at this particular game.

When he won a hand with the best set of cards one can get in the game — a two, three, four, five and seven

33

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

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thanks to

y u Baltimore

and you…and you…and you…and you…and you…and you…and you…and you…and y Over 1,600 people generously rallied together to participate in our Big Event, allowing us to exceed our 24-hour goal in just a few short hours! We thank each and every one of you for making such a difference in so many lives!

Contribute to Ahavas Yisrael Charity Fund online 24/6:

www.AhavasYisrael.org

Or call: 443-621-0298 • 410-764-6020 • 410-358-7975

35

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

We did it thanks to

you,

the generous and caring members of the Baltimore community. and thanks to

JUNE 18, 2015

them,

our dedicated volunteers:

you…and you…and you…and you…and you…and you…and you…and you…and you…and

Dougies • Goldbergs Bagels • Knish Shop • Kosher Bite • Tov Pizza

staimandesign.com

staimandesign.com

Special ThankS: Rabbi Zvi Weiss and Bais haknesses Ohr hachaim for hosting this campaign, as well as to Moshe hecht and Tobey Finkelsteing of charidy.com ReSTauRanTS which sent over food on the day of the Big event:

staimandesign.com

CamPaiGn Committee: Shuie Anisfeld • Binyamin Ansbacher • Yaacov Benzaquen • Yehudis Berlov • Avi Bernstein • Ben Blackman Rabbi Boruch Brull • Tzvi Calko • Jeff Cohen CPA • Mikhal Eirlich • Josh Erez • Daniel Fialokoff • Avrami Friedman • Chaim Glazer • Daniel Goetz • Mark Goldberg Shraga Goldenhersh • Dena Goldsmith • Menachem Goldstein • Aryeh Gross • Gary Guttenberg •Shmuel Hartman • Moshe Heidman • Aviva Isbee • Nechemia Isbee Meir Jacobowitz • Uriel Jakowski • Gavriel Kelemer • Eli Klein • Dovid Leipnik • Kiki Nadel • Eli Neuberger • Gil Newman • Yosef Orshan • Dovid Paige • Menachem Pasternack Yaakov Rappoport • Rochel Robbins • Ron Samet and Aliza Samet • Yisroel Sanders • Nachman Schachter • Yitzy Schleifer • Eli W. Schlossberg • Paula Sharfman Tzvi Shumulinsky • Eliav Sobel • Dena Sondhelm • John Sperling • Tani Sperling • Yehuda Spero • Yanky Statman • Moshe Stewart • Tammy Tabbouche Nechemia Weinreb • Rabbi Weiss • Tzvi Wilner • Yaakov Wilner • Chaim Wolfish • Michoel Yifrach • Dovi Ziffer • Larry Ziffer • Eliezer Zweig

staimandesign.com

teChnoloGy Volunteers: Menachem Goldstein • Tzvi Wygoda • Avrahom Klugman

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JUNE 18, 2015

36

The Week —Pham seemed confused that he happened to be holding the most desired combination of cards.

Pham said the guidance from his fellow players at the table helped, and he studied up the night in between. In the end, he said it was his tournament acumen for when and how much to bet and manage his chips that got him to the top.

On Friday, he was $81,314 richer and held up his gold bracelet, the tournament’s version of a Super Bowl ring, and stood on stage as tournament organizers and players stood for the playing of Vietnam’s national anthem.

Every winner of the tournament’s 68 events gets to hear his or her anthem of choice.

He is living the American dream.

Pham moved 15 years ago from Vietnam to Minnesota, where he delivered newspapers. He played his first cash poker game in 2008 and later won sec-

ond place in a local tournament along with several thousand dollars.

He didn’t think of poker as a way to make a living, though, and gave it up until 2012. Then he won a $200 satellite tournament in 2014 that sent him to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker’s circuit main event where he won the gold ring and $214,332.

“After that, I thought this game might be very good to me,” he said.

And that’s no bluff.

The Cleanin’ ‘n’ Cookin’ Crook Looking for someone to cook and clean for you? This thief is perfect for you.

Patrick Lynn Waits, 45, was arrested after he walked into an unlocked

In News home, stole car keys, and then was found wiping down a countertop and baking a potato.

A woman in the New Mexico home awoke to find the burglar in her kitchen. Waits was cleaning and cooking.

“She asked him what he was doing there, and he told her he was making a potato,” according to a police report.

He really likes to clean, though.

When told to leave, Waits left the home and then started raking leaves in the yard. The smart woman told Waits she wanted to pay him for his services so she could stall him before police arrive.

Unsurprisingly, police found Waits stumbling and slurring his words when they arrive.

He’s the dream burglar: He cooks, he cleans, he even waits around for the police.

Professor Lego

University of Cambridge is not playing games. The school has announced that it will hire a professor of Lego to work as part of the Faculty of Education. The role is expected to begin in October 2015 and includes directing the new Research Centre on Play in Education, Development and Learning—the real building blocks of life.

Who would fit the bill? Interested candidates don’t necessarily need degrees in plastic brick architecture, although it can’t hurt. The university is looking for someone “whose work falls within the general field of the title of the office.” Hmmm. Very specific indeed.

The professorship was established

after the university received a £4 million donation from the LEGO Foundation. The foundation, which owns a quarter of the LEGO Group, focuses on “challenging the status quo by re-defining play and re-imagining learning.”

According to Cambridge University Reporter, £1.5 million of that donation will fund the Research Centre, while the remaining £2.5 million will go toward funding the Professorship.

The goal will be to study the role of play in education.

Looking for a job that involves lots of little blocks that can produce immense pain when stepped on? Better hurry. My seven-year-old son is very interested in applying.

The Glamicure You know things are getting out of hand when it costs more to get a manicure than to buy a car. Image Luxury Nail Lounge in Newport Beach is offering a new nail menu that will have fingers pointing. These nail services start at $500 and go up to $25,000.

What are they giving you at that price?

Diamonds? Well, yeah.

It seems that some of their wealthier customers have too much cash, er, have been requesting these services.

“We talked with them about all the things they would want together,” Tony Nguyen, general manager of Images Luxury Nail Lounge, said. “I can’t tell you their names, but there are women in Newport and Irvine that want to really splurge once in a while.”

We hope it’s only once in a while.

In fact, since they opened last year, the salon has had manis with diamonds on the menu, priced at between $500 and $600 for a full set, and people have been getting them. The only downside? “Diamonds can only be applied to acrylics,” Nguyen says. Oh, that’s too bad.

So what can you get on this new mani menu? Our fingers are itching to know. For between $500 and $2,500, you can get the “Haute Couture Manicure,” which includes luxurious bells and whistles (mineral bath, massage,

The Week for your treatment, which includes everything mentioned above, plus a personal jeweler on hand to help you choose the best diamonds for your nail art and hair and makeup services.

With prices like these, I would run—not walk—to get my manicure.

Don’t want these incredible deals to slip through my fingers.

bourne. The sprightly couple were all smiles as their family joined in the celebration. Together, they have seven kids, 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

You’re never too old to get married.

This week, George Kirby, 103, and Doreen Luckie, 91, tied the knot in the British seaside town of East-

It was back in February when the centenarian popped the question to

Kollel Chatzos The Kollel Chatzos Wedding Sponsorship – The Ultimate Gift Shoshana Bernstein

Shavuos heralded the end of sefira and ushered in the wedding season.

Now Klal Yisroel is boruch Hashem busy going to simchos. This is the season when chasunah follows chasunah; where the joy and bracha of a wedding takes front and center in so many people’s lives.

The Kollel Chatzos Wedding Sponsorship Program gives you the opportunity to maximize the bracha of the simcha with a unique, meaningful and eternal gift. The Kollel, which has locations in the United States and Eretz Yisroel, features exemplary talmidei chachomim who gather every evening at chatzos halailah to learn Torah throughout the night.

Rabbi Herschel Leiner, the renowned President of H. Leiner and Co., married off his youngest son exactly one year ago. As he was driving up to the hall on the day of the chasunah, he received a phone call from Kollel Chatzos asking if he would like to

sponsor learning that night in honor of the wedding. They explained that this special sponsorship option includes the kollel in Eretz Yisroel as well as Monsey, which results in Torah learning taking place, as a zechus for the chosson and kallah, from the beginning to the end of the wedding.

“I was extremely moved by the idea. After having done everything to make the chasuna as meaningful and possible for our family, sponsoring Kollel Chatzos sounded like such a beautiful way to complete our simcha!

It was the first thing I told the chosson and kallah at the end of the chasunah -that in their zechus, Torah had been learned throughout the night. Six months later, Kollel Chatzos contacted me for assistance in broadening their message to a wider demographic; they didn’t need to explain what they’re all about. I was already extremely impressed!”

The eternal zechus which is gen-

erated by gifting a night of learning makes the Kollel Chatzos Wedding

Sponsorship Program different from all others; a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Marrying off our children is the culmination of the years of Torah chinuch we have endeavored to instill within

them. As the young couple prepares to build a home based on Torah, which for many begins with full time learning, it is especially auspicious to gift them with the bracha of Torah learning on their behalf and a beautiful way to start their marriage.

The wedding sponsorship package includes a beautiful plaque, embossed with the chosson and kallah’s name and date of their wedding and the special hadlakas neiros tefilla. It completes this unique gift by providing a tangible momentum of the eternal zechus with which their married life began.

Give this one-of-a-kind wedding gift, and elevate the simcha of a chosson and kallah. Call now to sponsor a Kollel Chatzos Wedding package and bring the bracha of Torah to your loved one’s simcha.

1-855-CHATZOS (242-8967) www.1855CHATZOS.ORG

JUNE 18, 2015

Newlyweds at 100

his sweetheart. “I didn’t get down on one knee because I don’t think I would have been able to get back up,” the young-at-heart groom quipped.

Kirby is a former boxer and spent the wedding in a wheelchair because of injuries due to a fall. His beautiful, young bride wore a blue and white floral gown and helped push her new husband in his gleaming chair.

Kirby and Luckie replace French couple Francois Fernandez and Madeleine Francineau, who had a combined age of 191 years as the world’s oldest newlyweds.

May they live long, healthy lives— wait, they already have—together.

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

polish), plus nail art using up to 20 diamonds. Oh, and you get a facial, too.

Willing to spend between $2,500 and $10,000? Choose the “Gold Rush Manicure” and you’ll get everything in the previous manicure, but done in a private room. Plus, they’ll use Models Own Gold Rush polish (the salon partnered with the polish brand to have one of only two bottles of this lacquer, priced at over $100K thanks to the diamond-encrusted bottle) and 24-karat flakes of gold in your nail art. Enjoy lash extensions and free champagne.

Want to go even bigger? For between $10,000 and $25,000, you can get real fancy with the “Glitz & Glamicure”: They’ll close the entire salon

In News

37

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JUNE 18, 2015

38

Cover Story Looking Back as Baltimore’s Ahavas Yisrael Shatters Fund Raising Records in One-Day Campaign

By Eli Nissel The Baltimore community experienced something unprecedented last week. The Million for Chessed campaign for Ahavas Yisrael brought the city together for an exhilarating 24 hours of non-stop giving, far surpassing the expectations of even the most

BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

Charidy.com was only so pleased to be of assistance. With their tech-savvy representatives who understand the mindset of the average contributor, they were at the side of the Ahavas Yisrael staff through every step of the campaign. “The staff

tion. The callers were outfitted with headsets for their cell phones and lists of phone numbers to call. Many brought laptops and other equipment to assist in the tracking. Organizers programmed the volunteers’ phones with an Ahavas Yisrael phone number,

Volunteers Abe Freedman and Zvi Calko

optimistic of the organizers. Matching grants quadrupled every dollar donated within the 24 hour all-or-nothing campaign, raising a total of over $800,000.

The campaign, riding on the back of the highly successful “Millions for Outreach” event in February, was arranged by the board of Ahavas Yisrael together with the staff of Charidy. com. A cadre of younger members of the board, led by Mr. Nechemia Weinreb, approached the Chairman and other senior leaders of the organization with the proposal. After witnessing the success of previous similar crowdfunding campaigns such as last year’s ALS ice bucket challenge, they dreamed of harnessing the awesome power of social media to unite Baltimore under the banner of giving. At first, like with any new and unknown undertaking, the more experienced leaders were skeptical. But after realizing the incredible power of such a campaign and seeing the conviction of their younger counterparts, they signed on with enthusiasm.

at Charidy.com definitely knows what they are doing,” said one of the campaign organizers. “Social media’s impact nowadays is extraordinary. With all of its negative aspects, there is definitely some good.”

The first step was to secure the matchers. After that was successful through the tireless efforts of the younger volunteers, the public relations work began, informing the community about the upcoming drive and setting the tone of excitement throughout the city. Emails were sent, signs were hung and online ads appeared posts were shared and tweeted, and then shared again. Before long, the city was abuzz with anticipation for Tuesday, June 2nd.

The next step was working with Charidy.com to arrange the technical aspects of the online giving. A call center was needed to host the tens of volunteers who would make calls on the day of, and equipment was needed to support their efforts. Mr. Yaakov Rappaport was tapped to recruit the callers and organize the opera-

and shift supervisors handed down instructions.

At noon on Tuesday, the drive got underway.

The donations starting pouring in faster than anyone could believe. The call center on the second floor of Congregation Ohr Hachaim (Rabbi Weiss) became a hub of feverish excitement, and a projector was set up to display the drive’s progress to the room. Local restaurants dropped off enormous amounts of food to feed the callers; their way of providing support for this enormous undertaking.

Incredibly, the original goal of $600,000 was reached in less than four hours. With eyes glued to the large screen displaying the donations coming in, the room erupted in thunderous applause. Soon, a new matcher was obtained and the record-breaking campaign forged on, defying all odds.

By noon the next day, the total listed on Charidy.com had reached $807,651 from 1,600 different donors. For those counting, that’s one donation every ten seconds. And that did not even include

the funds donated directly on Ahavas Yisrael’s own website or the countless people who dropped off checks and cash.

“The response from the community was not surprising,” says Yaakov Rappaport. “What surprised me was the

Mr. Nechemia Weinreb

speed in which the goal was achieved.

We all hoped it would happen. Some of us knew it would happen. But none of us knew it would happen in a mere four hours. Amazing!”

Mr. Moshe Hecht, Chief Operating Officer of Charidy.com commented, “I was blown away by how fast it happened. Baltimore is unique in that it was privileged to have such special lay leaders take responsibility to ensure the success of the campaign.”

The enthusiasm was overwhelming and contagious. One donor was insistent in not only giving $5,000, but also the amount of money necessary to cover the credit card processing fee.

An attorney involved with Ahavas Yisrael described to a colleague the frenzy going on in the community, and the colleague returned five minutes later with a donation of $5,000 from a client’s estate.

“I have never been more proud to be a Baltimorean,” said Rappaport.

“Baltimore gained so much more than the money raised for Ahavas Yisrael.

The unity and togetherness was palpa-

39

Cover Story

Volunteers-Eli Zweig, Yaakov Rappaport, Yanky Lefkovitz

Rabbi Boruch Brull and Nechemia Isbee

much more from the drive than just the influx of funds. The Ahavas Yisrael brand enjoyed unprecedented exposure both within Baltimore and to the world at large, and this will hopefully propel the organization to great-

never too late. Go to ahavasyisrael. org/donate or mail your contribution to Janine Chapman 2723 Woodcourt Road Baltimore, MD 21209-2521

2 Questions with Yaakov Rappaport Can you describe your involvement in Ahavas Yisrael in general, and this campaign specifically?

Ahavas Yisroel is, and always has been, very near and dear to me.

I grew up seeing my father’s involvement in Ahavas Yisrael. As a young child, I would often go with my father to help distribute food packages on Thursday nights. We would go to the old O’Fishel store and fill boxes with food for shabbos and then discretely deliver them to needy families. I would help deliver checks on Purim and collect money from the 7-mile pushkas.

These were extremely rewarding experiences (and not only because R’ Fishel would allow us to dig into his mammoth pot of cholent on Thursday nights!). The sense of fulfillment and satisfaction was exhilarating --knowing that our work would allow less fortunate families to enjoy a shabbos and enjoy the bare necessities in life, in general.

This feeling has always stayed with me and propelled me to get more involved. The need for AY is, unfortunately, greater than ever.

Last year, I answered Nechemia Isbee’s call to get involved with the inaugural AY dinner. It was a no brainer. This year, I, once again, answered his call to get involved with this tremendous campaign. My main job was to set up and manage the call center. We needed volunteers, a schedule, food, technology, calling lists, etc. So many people, including men and women, stepped forward and contributed towards a smooth operation. It was a sight to behold! Dovi Ziffer was an amazing partner in this endeavor.

Can you relate some inspirational stories that you were witness to as part of this campaign?

1) I think that Baltimore gained so much more than the money raised for Ahavas Yisrael, the ach-

dus, unity and togetherness was palpable and so unique and special. To me, the campaign reminded me of the well-known story of the handicapped child who came up to bat with bases loaded and 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth with his team down 3 runs...he hits a soft grounder which was an easy out, but both teams choose to rally behind him, chanting “Run to 1st, Avi, run...run to 2nd Avi.....” and both team eventually pick him up carry him all the way around the bases until he crosses home plate at which point both teams erupt in a thunderous cheer....making a huge difference in Avi’s life, forever.

Baltimore rallied together....people from all walks of life came together to carry AY to victory. Everyone was making calls, everyone was giving, everyone wanted to do more and see how they could help.....and then together, together we crossed home plate. The thunderous cheer that erupted in the AY control room when both goals were achieved.... when we “slid into home”...was truly remarkable.

2) Ahavas Yisrael is such an easy sell. I walked over to another attorney at my office and explained the campaign. A few minutes later, the attorney said “I got $5,000 from a client’s estate”. And it happened again with another attorney at my office. People feel such a connection to Ahavas Yisrael and understand the need.

3) One donor was insistent in not only giving $5,000, but also giving the amount of money necessary to cover the credit card processing fee......mi ki’amcha yisrael....unbelievable.

4) Maybe the most inspirational part of the whole campaign was witnessing Nechemia Isbee and Nechemia Weinreb’s anivus.... amazing people!

JUNE 18, 2015

er heights than ever before. “With a yearly budget of $2.3 million, there are so many things the organization hopes to accomplish, and this past week has definitely been a huge step in the right direction,” says Mr. Eli Schlossberg, Executive Trustee of the organization.

“We are all euphoric with the success of the campaign, but we must not rest.

It is our job to maximize our new position to continue climbing to where we need to be.”

If you haven›t yet had a chance to be a part of this amazing campaign it›s

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

ble and so special.”

“There is a terrific achdus between all of the organizations in town,” agreed Rabbi Boruch Brull, Ahavas Yisrael’s Operational Director. “Our Rabbanim guide each organization, and that is what surely what contributes to their successes. Baltimore is truly an amazing city of chessed and we were privileged to be in the limelight and in discussions throughout the world, this time for all the right reasons!”

The organization also gained so

40 112

by Being Bold, Decisive and Strong

BY BRENDY J. SIEV

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JUNE 18, 2015

Countering the BDS Movement

A

n acronym, a movement, a vision of an oppressed minority. A story of the helpless underdog whose land and resources have been stolen. A crusade to ruin the oppressor, to shun and demonize him.

A goal: to obliterate the Jewish State through shrewd public relations maneuvering.

This is the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a campaign that paints the Palestinians as the suffering few, repressed and ravaged by the imperialists, the Jews. While the asserted goal is to force Israel to “cave” to Middle East peace by hurting the country’s economy, in reality, the goal is to destroy Israel in its entirety.

How it All Started Since the second Intifada in 2000 and the Durban Conference in 2001, various campaigns have risen promoting a policy of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions against Israel. The campaigns are homegrown in the Middle East and spearheaded by Palestinian organizations.

In starting the BDS movement, Palestinian groups sought to emulate the anti-apartheid campaigns directed against the South African government in the 1980s. The BDS supporters claim that the Israeli-Palestinian divide is another form of black-white apartheid.

According to the ADL, the BDS campaign grew legs only after July 2004 when the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and Palestinian civil society organizations issued a statement decrying Israel and calling on the international community “to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those

applied to South Africa in the apartheid era.” The BDS activists further wanted to apply pressure on international governments “to impose embargoes and sanctions against Israel.”

With that, the campaign was endorsed by proPalestinian organizations out of Israel, gaining traction, and becoming a hallmark of the anti-Israel movement.

The Goal of BDS The BDS campaign urges various forms of “non-violent punitive measures” against Israel until

Boycotting a branch of Israeli chocolatier Max Brenner in Melbourne, Australia, in 2012

it “complies with the precepts of international law” by: 1. “Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall; 2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full

equality; and 3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.”

The BDS movement campaigns for divestment of university, municipal, church, union, and other investment portfolios and pension funds from companies that do business with Israel. Key to the campaign is the BDS rejection of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. BDS activists further ban Israeli products, professionals, academics, academic institutions, and artistic performances, even those performed abroad.

While some involved in BDS believe that divestment will force Israel to change its policies, in reality the BDS campaign is largely driven to, according to the ADL, “demonize and delegitimize Israel.”

Further, the ADL states, “It is clear that the majority of BDS supporters reject a twostate solution and deny the Jewish right to self-determination and statehood in favor of supporting the right of return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants.”

The BDS’s official platform emphasizes a “right of return” for Palestinian refugees and their descendants so that Jews would become the minority in Israel. BDS, thus, is a thinly-disguised, bomb-free campaign to end the Jewish State.

Ahmed Moor, a Palestinian-American author and campaigner for BDS, wrote, “BDS is not another step on the way to the final showdown; BDS is The Final Showdown. This belief grows directly from the conviction that nothing resembling the “two-state solution” will ever come into being.

Ending the occupation doesn’t mean anything if it

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doesn’t mean upending the Jewish state itself.” nizations” which allows for a certain amount of the tions to divest from Israel or do business with IsNew York Times columnist Roger Cohen, who student budget to be allocated to them as a result. raeli companies. When, in late 2013, the American is often critical of Israeli policy, pointed out that “And when you’re talking about university budget, Studies Association voted to boycott Israeli univerthe BDS movement’s goal is “the end of Israel as you’re talking about taxpayer money.” Many of the sities, more than 200 university administrators cona Jewish state. This is the hidden agenda of demned the boycott. In fact, they reiterated BDS, its unacceptable subterfuge: beguile, that their institutions will not boycott Israel. disguise and suffocate.”

But their fight is not in vain. The BDS We spoke with Evan Bernstein, New campaigns do however win on a public relaYork regional director of the ADL. “BDS tions front. They make people pay attention campaigns are initiated by various groups to their anti-Israel message and influence and individuals throughout the U.S.,” he others to perceive the Intifada as a form of pointed out. apartheid with a repressed, uprooted, and As far as fundraising, “There is no single homeless minority tortured by powerful, funding source; some groups raise money wealthy, Jewish imperialists. by organizing their own fundraising events Nowhere is this more apparent than on and conferences. Others raise funds through college campuses. online appeals and donations,” Bernstein said. “There are also groups like American College Campuses Muslims for Palestine (AMP), which has In 2011, BDS activity was reported at helped fund and coordinate the activities of few colleges and universities. At that time, As early as August 1922, the Fifth Palestine-Arab Congress declared a boycott Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), the BDS did not lead to university divestment. against Jews and called on all Arabs to refuse to sell them land and boycott Jewish businesses. This boycott was extended to all Jewish goods in 1929. group responsible for initiating many BDS Fast forward four years. While univerThe Congress also opposed Jewish immigration to Palestine and campaigns on U.S. college campuses.” sities still have not divested from Israeli called for a repudiation of the Balfour Declaration.

“Campus groups are also able to appeal companies, the number of divestment resoto their student government bodies to gain lutions introduced on campuses is on a rapid funding for their events and activities,” he added. pro-BDS events on campuses are organized by a rise. Eight colleges considered resolutions in the According to experts at the StandWithUs con- central body, with several key BDS figures speak- 2012–2013 academic year, according to the Antiference, a gathering of pro-Israel activists, some ing and organizing the events.

Defamation League. In the 2013-2014 academic funding for the BDS movement on college camyear, it was up to 15. And five of those passed. puses can be linked to taxpayer funds. BestsellPractical Failure, PR Success The British student union, the National Union ing author Edwin Black argues that “many of these Except for some minor gains with British trade of Students, the United Kingdom’s umbrella stuSJP [Students for Justice in Palestine] chapters unions, BDS activists have largely failed, especial- dent organization for 600 universities that represent work hard to become recognized as student orga- ly in the United States. Activists cannot get institu- 7 million students, recently voted to join the BDS

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JUNE 18, 2015

42 114 movement over “Israel’s violations of Palestinian human rights.” (Interestingly, they rejected a motion to condemn the Islamic State, because “condemnation of ISIS appears to have become a justification for war and blatant Islamophobia.”)

How are BDS campaigns on campus so successful? “Groups responsible for initiating BDS campaigns on campus bring attention to their cause by engaging in a variety of activity, including coalition-building with minority student groups,” Bernstein of the ADL related.

Aside from drawing sympathy from other minorities, “Proponents of BDS sponsor anti-Israel speakers, hold protests and engage in more targeted confrontational tactics such as posting mock eviction notices on resident halls and shouting down pro-Israel speakers.” These in-your-face tactics are supplemented with other activities. “In some cases, student groups hold weeklong events such as Israeli Apartheid Week, intended to demonize and delegitimize that State of Israel.”

As Abraham Foxman of the ADL writes, “The BDS movement, the effort to support boycott, di-

raeli universities. Foxman urges that we grow this number—that all 50 states and more academic institutions should work with Israeli businesses and researchers. We should bring Israeli artists to campus. And we should reward those who resist the BDS movement.

Furthermore, campuses should have homegrown campaigns that draw on the college culture and are led by students to communicate with students. The true motives behind the BDS movement must be announced and denounced.

Last week, a weekend closeddoor summit in Las Vegas, dubbed the Campus Maccabees Summit, was organized by gambling king and political kingmaker Sheldon Adelson, Democrat Hollywood bigwig Haim Saban, and Adam Milstein, a wealthy Israeli-American real estate mogul. The meeting took place in one of Adelson’s hotel, the

BDS, thus, is a thinly-disguised, bombfree campaign to end the Jewish State.

vestment and sanctions against Israel, is sinister and malicious and is having a negative effect on Jewish students on some campuses and on the wider Jewish community.”

BDS supporters have not successfully divested funding, but they have divested human rights language. Suddenly, the Palestinian cause is a 21stcentury human rights cause. Though no universities have actually adopted BDS, 29 student organizations have voted to determine whether they support it.

Foxman claims, “All of this has a deleterious impact on Jewish students. The last thing many of them expected or desired was to spend their undergraduate days under attack or having to defend the one Jewish state — or even their own Judaism.”

Campus Maccabees: The Latest in the Anti-BDS Campus Movement Anti-BDS activists have taken several approaches to counter the noisy campus BDS movement. They have educated Jewish students about issues, prepared them to deal with what they will encounter on campus, and spoken with university presidents and administrators about how the BDS movement impacts Jewish campus life and students. However, this is not enough.

Currently, at least 33 states have formal trade, research, and development relationships with Is-

Venetian, and only allowed a single media representative from Israel Hayom access to the events.

Only those willing to pledge at least a million dollars over the next two years to stop the BDS campus movement were invited. Twenty donors took part; the overall goal of the Campus Maccabees is to raise $50 million. While they would not actually disclose how much was pledged, tens of millions were raised to stop the BDS movement.

While liberal Zionist groups were not invited, other more right wing groups, including the ZOA (Zionist Organization of America) and campus organizations, presented their suggestions for combating anti-Israel movements on campus. These ideas were vetted and pitched for funding from the group.

Shmuley Boteach was one of the presenters at the conference. In an Op-Ed printed in the Jerusalem Post, he writes, “In the age of BDS, every Jewish student has now been forced to ‘Choose Jewish.’ The BDS assault to destroy Israel and make it a pariah state has raised the stakes and drawn the battle lines more clearly than ever before. Sitting on the fence is, today, no longer an option.”

He urged students on campuses, “Don’t be afraid of being controversial. Drop the argument that if you stand up for Israel you’ll alienate leftleaning Jewish students who might not stop by for chicken soup on a Friday night.” He continued, “To the contrary. Courage is courageous. They will

be inspired by your example and will follow your lead.”

“It’s time for the Jewish community to embrace its own BDS, being Bold, Decisive and Strong in the defense of the Jewish state,” he charged.

Last week’s summit is critical. It will infuse fresh ideas and funds into stopping a new campaign parading old anti-Israel ideas as true.

What You Can Do The ADL suggests that, in speaking with those who are pro-BDS, we need talking points. Here are some things that we need to emphasize: • The BDS movement is “a hostile tactic that rests on a fundamental rejection of Israel’s right to exist or defend itself.” The movement is not about peace. If anything, growth of Israeli companies helps Israelis and Palestinians come closer to peace by bettering the region’s economy. If we really want peace, we need to encourage that which connects people rather than that which fosters breaking things apart.

• While BDS activists reject even a two-state solution, Israel is committed to peace.

• Israel has been willing to negotiate and help with Palestinian infrastructure, despite Palestinian violence and movements such as BDS. • Israelis are not out to segregate or hurt Arabs. They want security; this is not about imperialism.

• Israel is the only stable democracy in the Middle East. They have a free press, political parties, religious freedom—the fundamentals of democratic living. No other country in the Middle East can say this. While Israel is open to criticism—all democracies are—the BDS campaigns “which single out Israel for pariah status are unfair and disproportionate.”

On the home front, “buy Israel.” When BDS groups push for boycotting Israeli products, we need to talk with our wallets, by buying products made in Israel.

And we cannot shy from educating ourselves and the next generation walking onto college campuses. They are the on-the-ground peers and fellow students who can influence the college community to know the truth. In the words of Shmuley Boteach, be “Bold, Decisive and Strong in the defense of the Jewish state.” 

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A Parsha Thought

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Korach 5775 – Earned Holiness Rabbi Shmuel Silber

taking. But he was wrong – Kidusha, holiness must be earned. Holiness is a state than can only be reached after man has expended incredible amounts of effort. Holiness is the culmination of dynamic, dramatic and sustained life activity. The nature and depth of my relationship with God, Torah and Mitzvos is directly related to the amount of effort I am willing to put in. A life of holiness is a life filled with work and effort. Hearing God does not make you holy – serving Him does.

Rashi continues and explains that Korach saw prophetically that he was to have a descendant as great as Moshe and Aharon. In this respect he was correct – Korach’s great-grandson was the prophet Shmuel. How did Shmuel actualize his greatness? The Navi states, “And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And from year to year, he would set forth, and go around to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, and he would judge Israel in all these places. And his return was to Ramah, for there was his house, and there he judged Israel, and he built there an altar to the Lord (Shmuel I 7:15-17).” Shmuel was the prophet and the judge. It was his sacred mission to uplift and inspire the people.

It was his responsibility to facilitate the growth of his nation. He didn’t wait for the people to come to him, he went to the people. He spent the entire year travelling throughout the land on a mission of inspiration and spiritual repair. He helped the people settle their disputes and create shalom, peace within their ranks. He invested incredible amounts of effort and hard work in order to create an atmosphere of holiness and spiritual devotion.

Shmuel understood what his grandfather, Korach did not. It is true, Kulanu Kedoshim, we are all holy; but that ho-

liness is only actualized through hard work and incredible effort.

Rabbi Yitzchak said, if a person will say to you, I toiled but did not find results, do not believe him. If a man says to you, I didn’t toil but found results, do not believe him. But if a person says to you, I toiled and I found results (ya’gati u’matzasi) – believe him (Talmud, Megillah 6b).” We live in a society of instant gratification. We want to be successful and we want it now. We want holiness and we want it

now. We want a meaningful, fulfilling and blissful marriage and we want it now. Am I a not entitled? Was my soul not present at Mount Sinai? Am I not holy and worth enough? Too often, we approach life situations from a perspective of entitlement - like Korach. The important things in life can only be acquired through incredible work and toil. We must always remember that beautiful, meaningful and holy results require magnificent, diligent and vigilant effort.

JUNE 18, 2015

Korach the son of Izhar, the son of Kehath, the son of Levi took [himself to one side] along with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben.

They confronted Moses together with two hundred and fifty men from the children of Israel, chieftains of the congregation, representatives of the assembly, men of repute. They assembled against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and the Lord is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above the Lord’s assembly? (Bamidbar 16:1-3) No matter how many times we learn this episode it remains difficult to comprehend. We remain puzzled

by Korach’s behavior. How could Korach accurse Moshe of selfish power-grabbing when Moshe was the paradigmatic embodiment of selflessness devotion to the nation. What was Korach’s issue? Why was he so angry and outraged at Moshe? What was it that led him to lead this rebellion which ended so tragically?

Korach’s entire rebellion rested on one concept, Kulanu Kedoshim, we are all holy. Rashi explains that Korach said to Moshe, “We all heard God speak to us as Sinai. We all heard God declare His unique and singular relationship to us and us to Him. We are all equally holy and therefore, you have no right to lord over us and maintain an unshakeable grip on the reigns of leadership.” It is interesting to note that Korach felt that he (and the nation) was holy because they “heard” God. Hearing is a passive act. The listener must simply remain attentive and absorb the stated message. Korach thought that Kidusha, sanctity was conferred. All you have to do is remain at attention and it is yours for the

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JUNE 18, 2015

44

Real Estate 17 Ways to Get Your Offer to Buy a House Accepted in a Seller’s Market Submitted by: Ben Schwartz | Founder VacancyFillers.com

Are you in the process of buying a home? You may have discovered that we are in a very competitive market right now. Many houses will sell in one day with multiple offers. This can be a frustrating time for many home buyers, but, with the right “ingredients” you will be “cookin’ with fire” in no time. So, without further ado ....

1. Make your offer as “clean” as possible. Don’t ask the seller to pay for your home warranty, and the

homeowner’s association’s transfer fees, and your lender’s fees, etc.

2. Don’t ask the seller for their personal property (refrigerator, washer, dryer, etc.)

3. Ask your agent to find out what’s important to the seller (price, terms, closing date, etc.) and then craft your offer around this information.

4. The typical inspection period is 10 days long. Consider shortening the inspection period to five or seven days.

5. You may have to offer more than the list price. Really? Yes. Really.

6. A typical earnest deposit is 1% of the purchase price. Give the seller more than this to show you’re financially strong and serious about buying the home.

7. If you can afford to do this, offer to pay cash and provide proof of the funds you’ll use.

8. If you feel confident in the price you’re offering, waive the appraisal contingency. This will mean, if the home appraises for less than the purchase price, you’ll make up the difference in cash.

9. Add an “escalation clause” to your offer that outbids any other offer up to a given price. For example, “Buyer will pay $500.00 over any offer up to $200,000.” Your agent should check with his/her broker for a recommendation on the specific language to use before doing this and then require a copy of the next highest offer the seller received.

10. Offer to forfeit your earnest money to the seller if you cancel the purchase contract after the inspection period.

11. Make a larger down payment than what is required for your loan program. For example, put 5% down on your FHA loan, rather than the minimum requirement of 3.5%.

Again, this shows the seller that you are financially strong, but more importantly, by making a larger down payment, you’ll finance less, and save more money over the long term.

12. Offer to buy the home in as-is

condition. Signing an As Is Addendum doesn’t mean you can’t have the home inspected. You can still get a home inspection, cancel the contract, and get your earnest money back if you find something wrong with the home and notify the seller during your inspection period.

13. Agree to open escrow with the listing agent’s preferred title company.

14. Agree to get pre-qualified with the listing agent’s preferred lender.

This doesn’t mean you have to finance the home with the listing agent’s preferred lender. It will just reassure the sellers that you really are qualified to purchase their home.

15. Write a letter explaining why you chose the seller’s home and why you want to live there. You may even include a photo of your family, if you feel comfortable doing this.

16. If your bid on the home isn’t accepted, have your agent ask the listing agent if the seller wants to hold your offer as a back-up offer.

17. Make sure you’ve provided all of the required documents with your initial offer. If a seller receives multiple offers, one of the first things he/she often does is throw out the sloppy and incomplete offers.

Are you looking for a tenant for your vacancy? VacancyFillers.com can help! VacancyFillers.com uses their professional and simple systems, to quickly find quality tenants for landlords. Founded by Ben Schwartz in January of 2014 in response to the needs of landlords who lack the proper time and resources to find tenants by themselves, VacancyFillers.com has already assisted in the signing many leases for landlords just like yourself!

For more information, please visit: www.vacancyfillers.com

45

Op-Ed

OpEd

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew recently took the podium at a Jerusalem Post conference in New York to defend President Obama’s plans for a nuclear agreement with Iran. He told the crowd that President Obama would reinstate sanctions on Iran if the regime failed to live up to its commitments under the agreement currently being negotiated. Then, in a room full of people who care passionately about the safety and security of the United .S. Treasury Secretary Jack States and our closest ally in thepodium MidLew recently took the dle East, Israel, the highest-ranking at a Jerusalem Post conferJewish official in the historyPresident of the ence in New York to defend United Statesplans was booed loudly. agreeObama’s for a nuclear ment Iran. He toldconference the crowd Lew’swith treatment at that President Obama would wasthat unfortunate no doubt, but reinstate the resanctions on in Iran the regime action of those theifroom speaks failed volto live up the to its commitments under umes about gravity of the threats the by agreement currently being posed the Islamic Republic of negoIran tiated. Then, in a room full of people to the United States. And it speaks volwho care passionately about the safety umes about how frightening it would and security of the United States and be our if the President to agreeEast, upon closest ally inwere the Middle Isa deal that fails to prevent Iran rael, the highest-ranking Jewishfrom offiacquiring nuclear weapons.

As in Isracial in the history of the United States el, was much of the American public is on booed loudly. edge waiting for the actual of the Lew’s treatment at thattext conference was no doubt, but the redeal to unfortunate emerge. action those in theagain, room speaks volTime ofand time President umesand about gravity of the threats Obama histhe administration officials posed byscripted the Islamic Republic of Iran have made promises asserting the United And itinspeaks volthattothey are notStates. interested agreeing umes about how frightening it would to a “bad deal” with Iran’s ayatollahs. be if the president were to agree upon However, these hollow vows seem a deal that fails to prevent Iran from to acquiring ignore Iran’s clandestine nuclear nuclear weapons. As in Israactivities and turn a blind public eye toisitson el, much of the American hegemonic regional power-grabs edge waiting for the actual text ofand the radical, ideology bent on deal toexpansionist emerge. using Time terror to aims.President andsupport time its again, The Iranian terrorist networkofficials spans Obama and his administration made promises asserting thehave globe, andscripted is fundamentally rooted they are notanti-American, interested in agreeing in that anti-Western, and to a “badvalues. deal” with Iran’s ayatollahs. anti-Israel If the White House However, thesedoes hollow vows seem signs a deal that not completely to ignore Iran’s clandestine nuclear dismantle Iran’s nuclear capacity – activities and turn a blind eye to its then America, Israel and their western hegemonic regional power-grabs and allies will be placed in harm’s way.

Scott Feltman

It is precisely this serious concern that drove conference participants to heckle Treasury Secretary Lew last week. When Lew made claims that the Obama Administration is committed to protecting Israel, his statements seemed to lack credibility. The only way for President Obama to regain trust from many pro-Israel supporters is to sign America’s name onto a “good deal.”

The benchmarks for reaching seemed to lack credibility.

The onlya good deal would not only require the way for President Obama to regain complete dismantlement of Iran’s nutrust from many pro-Israel supportclear but name wouldonto also ers isinfrastructure, to sign America’s a mandate transparent inspections of “good deal.”

The nuclear benchmarks reachingand a Iranian sites foranytime

it will be incumbent upon Congress to reject it. Such an agreement would provide Iran’s leaders with a host of benefits, but it would do nothing to enhance the safety of the United States or any of our allies, including Israel.

Here in Maryland, Senators Cardin and Mikulski have expressed support for an agreement that actually prevents Iran’s terrorist regime from acquiring the most deadly weapons known to mankind.

I fully expect thatthen they meet the criteria laid out above, would vote to block any deal that falls it will be incumbent upon Congress short of that aim,anand I encourage the to reject it. Such agreement would pro-Israel community to contact provide Iran’s leaders with a hosttheir of local representatives urge them benefits, but it would dotonothing to en-to hance the vote safety of thetoUnited States use their wisely safeguard our

Will the Obama Administration Negotiate a Safe Deal with Iran?

U

radical, expansionist ideology bent on using terror to support its aims.

The Iranian terrorist network spans the globe and is fundamentally rooted

These hollow vows seem to ignore Iran’s clandestine nuclear activities and turn a blind eye to its hegemonic regional power-grabs and radical, expansionist ideology bent on using terror to support its aims. good deal would onlyexposure require the anywhere; providenotfull of complete of Iran’s Iran’s past dismantlement military nuclear work; nudiclear link infrastructure, but would rectly the incremental liftingalso of mandate transparent inspections of sanctions to Iran’s compliance with Iranian nuclear sites anytime and the agreement; and completely eradianywhere; provide full exposure of cate Iran’s to develop a nuclear Iran’s pastability military nuclear work; diweapons capability, without an expirarectly link the incremental lifting of tion date.

The passage of the Iran Nuclear Review Act means Congress has thirty days to review the details of whatever deal emerges from the ongoing negotiations in Switzerland. Congress will then have the opportunity to vote to block the agreement. If President Obama agrees to a deal that does not meet the criteria laid out above, then

sanctions to Iran’s compliance with

its behavior. Tehran’s sponsorship of terrorism has grown, its human rights violations have reached previously unseen heights of abhorrence, and its destabilizing regional impact has worsened – all while Iran’s diplomats employ a strategy of charming intransigence at the negotiating table.

So last week when Treasury Secretary Lew told supporters of Israel at The Jerusalem Post conference that President Obama would preserve his quence of measures, once considered authority to re-impose economic sancimmune to compromise. Since then, tions, despite opposition from coundespite no evidence that this strategy suchthe as White RussiaHouse and has China, istries working, con-the response was disbelief. tinued to pursue a deal with the mullahs in Tehran.

Based upon Iran’s track record of Overand the its course of Obama’s presdeceit unwavering commitment idential tenure, Irancapacity, has not improved to obtain nuclear no one can itsexpect behavior.

Tehran’s sponsorship of the extremist regime to fulfill terrorism has grown, its human rights its end of the bargain. And the White violations have reached previously House has still not revealed sufficient unseen heights of abhorrence, and details about how it proposes to verify its destabilizing regional impact has Iranian violations agreement, worsened – all whileunder Iran’sandiplomats let alone how it would seek to re-imemploy a strategy of charming intranpose a broken sanctions regime. sigence at the negotiating table. assured conference attendSoLew last week when Treasury Secees, “Make no supporters mistake – of weIsrael are not retary Lew told atoperating the Jerusalem thatthat underPost anconference assumption President histhe Iran willObama act inwould good preserve faith.” If authority re-impose economic Obama to Administration openlysancadmits tions, despite opposition from then coun-any that Iran cannot be trusted, tries as Russia andtoChina, the dealsuch reached that fails meet serious response was disbelief. conditions concerning dismantlement, Based upon Iran’s track record of verification and inspections cannot be deceit and its unwavering commitment trusted either. to obtain nuclear capacity, no one can

or any ofand our block allies,any including Israel. security proposed shortHere in New York, Senators comings.

Schumer Gillibrand When and President Obamahave beganexhis pressed support for an agreement that first term in office, he announced that actually prevents Iran’s terrorist rehis administration would pursue direct gime from acquiring the most deadly engagement withto Iran.

His Iforeign weapons known mankind. fully expect the extremist regime to fulfill policy strategy, it seems based its end Scott M.bargain.

FeltmanAnd is the expect that they would votewas to block of the the executive White upon the premise that Iranian behav- House vice president of One Israel Fund, a has still not revealed sufficient ior could be moderated through a se- details four-star rated charity by Charity about how it proposes to verify quence of measures, once considered Iranian Navigator and under the premier agency violations an agreement, alone howtoitsupporting would seekthe to re-imimmune to compromise. Since then, letdedicated security, a broken sanctions regime. despite no evidence that this strategy pose welfare, development and economic Lew assured conference is working, the White House has con- growth of the Jewish peopleattendliving in “Make no mistake – we are not as tinued to pursue a deal with the mul- ees, Judea, Samaria, the Jordan Valley operating under an assumption that lahs in Tehran. well as the reemerging communities of will act in good faith.” If the Over the course of Obama’s pres- Iran Gush Katif evacuees.

Obama administration openly admits idential tenure, Iran has not improved that Iran cannot be trusted, then any deal reached that fails to meet serious conditions concerning dismantlement, any deal that falls short of that aim, verification and inspections cannot be

JUNE 18, 2015

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74

Scott M. Feltman

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Will President Obama’s Administration Negotiate a Safe Deal with Iran?

46

Life Coach

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JUNE 18, 2015

Someone Stole My Brain

D

id your computer ever just shut down? Did your phone ever just not open? It’s kind of like your car running out of gas in the middle of a six-lane highway. You’re stuck, and overwhelmed, and ready to crash!

We are all so loaded with information. Yet we can easily lose access to it. And then…aaaahh— just the thought of it!

My friend told me her son just retired at age 25.

Sounds young, huh? Most people that age are still looking for their first job. So, did he hit it rich you wonder?!

The answer: he was a computer technician! Now you may think it’s horrible to see people in dental pain or in therapy coping with a life

crisis. Well, he said experiencing people in the intensity and trauma mode they went into when their computer somehow failed was so stressful he needed to regroup and start again. Can you relate to that?! Most people can. Everything is in that little box or a littler one.

Want to see my kids – where’s my phone?

Want to see my bank account – where’s my phone?

Want to see the weather outside – where’s my phone?

No one even thinks to just look outside anymore.

And trust me that’s a surefire method to assess the weather.

We are so tied into our phones and computers. We’d sooner leave our kid at home with someone we just met than entrust our phone to them. Kids are resilient, made to last; phones break in a minute.

Without access, I can’t cook anymore; my recipes are in there. I can’t call anyone; my numbers are in there. I can’t go anywhere; my access to directions is in there. I can’t think anymore; my brain is in there!

We used to know where we were going, what highway led to what highway.

Now we follow blindly. If we wind up in a ditch, a dead end, or China, well, we just google “activities to do in a ditch, dead end or China.” What else can we do? We are not in control anymore. It’s not our fault we didn’t make it to the wedding. Google took me here, so this must be where I’m supposed to be!

Wow, if we could just have that kind of faith in G-d!

We didn’t use to know as much.

That’s true. Science, technology, medicine ... we are light years ahead. But turn off access and we are cavemen. We are storing everything instead of internalizing it. We need to let more go in and stay in our heads rather than in our instruments, otherwise we are all reduced to assistants and office managers for our appliances. In other words, light years ahead ... till there is a blackout, then we

are all in too much dark!

So what’s the antidote? Put some pictures in an album! Listen to the route you are taking, maybe even look at a map! You can even try to write a letter, rather than a text or email before you lose that skill!

Progress is not a bad thing unless it makes you regress. Expand, don’t just replace. Be multifaceted. That way our brains will still feel useful. And we may not get as down when our stuff goes down! Hey, who knows? Maybe my friend’s son may even be willing to go back to work.

My husband says soon our cars will be controlled by robotics. When they go down we will all be stuck in the middle of nowhere without the ability to get anywhere and clueless as to where we are. So, just a thought, it might be worthwhile to still have some manual skills and a working mind to apply them.

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or at rivki@ rosenwalds.com

THE JEWISH HOME  JUNE 18, 2015

Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS

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Spectacular professionally decorated 3,200 sq. ft. condominium in prestigious age 55+ community. Gourmet kitchen, vaulted ceilings, first floor master bedroom and much more. Only 8 years old! Priced for immediate sale!

PARK HEIGHTS-TANEY

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NOW

Totally renovated 6 bedroom 3 1/2 bath home on prime block. Gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances and granite counters. Builder will customize further.

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379K

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Nearly new 5 bedroom home in prime community. Tons of upgrades! Gourmet kitchen with granite counters, wood floors. and much more. Must see!

7 MILE

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Well constructed 5 bedrooms, 3 baths brick split with kitchen addition. 4 finished levels, wood floors, updated bathrooms, windows and HVAC. Must see!

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Spacious 4/5 bedroom brick semi in central location. Wood floors, updated kitchen, replacement windows, new Custom built 2 story 4/5 bedroom brick colonial on prime .4 acre lot with mature trees. heating and AC. Private grounds, full Spacious rooms, beautiful wood floors, first floor family room and office. Fenced yard, in-ground swimming pool and lots more. Must see! basement with lots of storage.

NEW

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CROSS COUNTRY/PEARCE

BEST BUY IN AREA! Sprawling 5 BR, 3 Ba brick rancher with fully finished walk-out lower with complete in-law Well built 3 BR,1 1/2 BA stone home suite. Huge beautifully landscaped lot, Rare opportunity to purchase a mini mansion center hall brick colonial with 4,500 sq. ft on prime 50x200 lot. Wood floors, new roof, updated kitchen with granite above ground living space. This magnificent home features a banquet size dining room, central air. Price reflects need for huge living room, 6 bedrooms, 4 1/2 bathrooms, garage and much more. Don’t miss this! counters and much more. updating. See and make offer!

JUNE 18, 2015

EXPECTED AVAILABILITY: SPRING 2015

Centrally located, upscale new Townhome community on Fords Lane. 4-5 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms, wood floors, huge gourmet kitchen with granite counters.

Many other upgrades!

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

TRUST IS THE KEY. 410.653.1999

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JUNE 18, 2015

48108

FATHER’S DAY in the Backyard

9 Gifts That Will Make Dad’s Oasis That Much More Enjoyable LICENSE to CHILL Dad does it all, from tending to the garden (by paying for the gardener) to changing the outdoor light bulbs (after they have been out for three months). Now he just wants to lay smack in the center of the yard and stare up at the stars (“Son, that right there is the Big Dipper”). What better way to do that than on a relaxing and sturdy hammock?

Hammocks range in price from $35 to $35,000! If you get one in the $100 price range, dad would do just fine on his horizontal excursion.

BEVERAGE at HIS FINGERTIPS [To be read in a deep and deliberate voice]: Your dad is the most interesting man in the world. He can catch a shark with his bare hands. He can run a mile in under three minutes. He can lift 500 pounds of steel while brushing his teeth. And, when he drinks non-alcoholic beverages, he drinks non-alcoholic Dos Equis. He loves cracking one open when he’s lounging in the backyard and taking a break from his life of unbridled accomplishments.

But what should he do when he is thirsty? [Not to be read in a deep and deliberate voice]: “Yaakov, please get me a glass of water and ice from inside? Please? I’ll take you to the Seasons Express Knish Shop later if you do?” [Return to deep voice]: No, no, no. He flings his arm to the right, cracks open his outdoor mini-fridge and like the alchemist that he is, he grabs the exact drink he desires (of course, that’s assuming he remembered to stock the fridge beforehand, which is a long shot).

If a mini fridge is out of your price range (they run for about $1,000), how about a funky cooler that has Bluetooth speakers and even a blender attached? You can get that for about $180.

HOLY SMOKES Mom may take care of it all – shopping, doctors’ appointments, laundry, homework, what school and camp the kids go to, bedtime, making breakfast, lunch and dinner, cooking for Shabbos and making yom tov.

But there is one thing she is totally unqualified for and can’t even have an opinion about: barbequing. That is Dad’s expertise, Dad believes. He is the perfect BBQ-er. He can hold court with his friends and keep them mesmerized (he thinks) as he talks about the perfect way to make that 24 ouncer sizzle just right. Now, he can take things to the next level and delve into the mystical world of smoked meats.

Outdoor smokers come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. A word of caution, though: Consult with Dad before buying it because who knows more about this stuff than him, of course.

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LIFE on the NINTH HOLE

Backyard putting greens range in price from $30 to several hundred thousand dollars, if that’s in your budget.

FIRE on the MOUNTAIN

OK, Dad didn’t write that song but he’s not a bad songwriter, given a little inspiration and put in the right environment. Wrong environment: living room couch with half eaten pizza between the cushions and a three-year-old jumping on his back. Right environment: in the backyard sitting with his guitar in front of a shimmering fire.

Fire pits range in price from $40 to several hundred dollars.

PACKING in the HEAT

NO MORE BZZZZ… BZZZZZ

Dad is so cool. He looks great in a cowboy hat.

(He once put one on for a picture when the family was at a Western-themed amusement park gift shop.) He can ride a horse and navigate the wild. (He once went horseback riding with your mother when they were in Colorado for a bar mitzvah ... it was a guided tour.) All he is missing is a holster. No, not for his gun – for his water bottle. Instead of sweating it out while manning the grill, Dad can pull his Poland Spring 16 ounce from his waist, in a flash. You can even have the leather drink holster monogrammed. Maybe write something like “#1 Coolest Dad,” but that’s for you to decide.

Dad waits all year for the weather to turn nice so that he can sit outside and devour Kafka. Along comes a little mosquito and his whole equilibrium is thrown off.

How about getting him an enclosed gazebo? He will once again be comfortable enough to ponder things such as “what is the true meaning of self-determination” because the mosquitoes no longer have control over this homosapien who is 50,000 times larger than it.

Holsters start for as low as $5. You can get one with a monogram for approximately $30.

You can get a nice enclosed gazebo in the $300 price range.

And say goodbye to the fly swatter.

CLEAN as a WHISTLE Dad sees the deck as a great place to host fancy cocktail parties; the kids see it as another place to lay down their chalk (turf battles know no limits). Dad sees the 8-foot white fence as a classy alternative to the view of the neighbor’s collapsed brick garage; the kids see it as a great target for their mud balls. Now, everyone can have it their way—the kids can enjoy, and when Dad wants to, he can pull out his compact pressure washer and within minutes the place will be ready for that cocktail party.

You can get one for as cheap as $100, so color away!

JUNE 18, 2015

“How many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man...”

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

Dad may spend his nine-to-five as an accountant, but he is a PGA golfer at heart. Yes, his golf bag has been collecting dust in the basement for three years and his irons have found a new identity as backscratchers, but that’s because his application to Augusta is going slower than he expected. So, how about building him a little something in your very own backyard?

JALAPENO PEPPER HEAVEN Dad is done with GMOs and pesticides and is going organic. He’s decided to dedicate a third of the backyard to his vegetable garden. But despite all of his talk about making the best jalapeno peppers, things haven’t worked out that great. With three wilted tomatoes, this patch of land is quickly turning into a shrine of gardening ineptitude. Give Dad the ultimate vegetable garden guidance by purchasing any number of very good gardening software programs. These programs will help Dad design, layout and plan a vegetable garden and will include step-by-step tutorials.

Average price $25—but look how much money you’ll save by growing your own veggies!

My Israel Home

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JUNE 18, 2015

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Gedaliah Borvick

Housing Reform and its Impact on Overseas Buyers

R

eal estate prices in Israel have nearly doubled since 2007, and over the past decade, soaring housing costs have been a hotly debated political issue. New Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon’s first promise has been to overhaul the real estate industry and stabilize real estate prices. Kahlon comes into this new position with significant political clout, based on his success – while serving as the Minister of Communications – in breaking the telecom industry cartel and boosting competition, thus causing prices of cellular services to decrease significantly.

Background There are numerous reasons why housing prices have risen so dramatically. One cause is the long bureaucratic process of developing new properties. A recent report by the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies found that the average time to complete a new residential project is thirteen years – eleven to clear bureaucratic hurdles and two for construction. In comparison, the maximum time it takes to obtain a building permit in most European Union countries is three months.

Another reason why housing prices have risen is due to the Israel Lands Authority’s (Minhal) historically slow pace of selling government land for development. This was deliberately done to create strong demand, causing land 



sale prices to rise and, in turn, increase the country’s sales revenue. The high land prices paid by developers is ultimately borne by the apartment buyers.

Demand-Side Reform Kahlon also addressed the “demand side” of the equation by raising taxes on investment properties, thereby mak-

According to the approved proposal, the purchase tax for overseas buyers and investors will be raised to 8% on the first NIS 1 million and 10% above that amount.

Another challenge has been the lack of manpower in the construction industry, causing delays to occur and labor costs to rise.

Supply-Side Reform Last week, Finance Minister Kahlon unveiled his multi-tiered plan to reform the real estate industry. The plan included many “supply side” solutions to increase the number of new housing units entering the market, including aggressively rezoning land to residential usage, converting offices to residential units, creating a new urban renewal authority to streamline the process for upgrading existing older buildings, and addressing the shortage of manpower by implementing training programs for Israeli workers and bringing in more foreign workers.

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ing them a less attractive investment.

An “investment property” is defined as a property purchased by either an Israeli who already owns a primary residence or a foreign buyer who owns a home overseas. By reducing investor demand, the government hopes to limit price increases, thereby helping young families to have affordable housing opportunities.

According to the approved proposal, the purchase tax for overseas buyers and investors will be raised to 8% on the first NIS 1 million and 10% above that amount. Compared to the current acquisition tax rates, these new rates will add at least 3% to the purchaser’s tax bill.

Status On June 14, 2015, the cabinet unanimously approved increasing the purchase tax for investment, and the Ministry of Finance plans to pass this law by the end of the month. These reforms are expected to easily be approved, as it has backing from Netanyahu’s cabinet and the opposition – comprised primarily of the left-leaning Knesset factions – who also want these reforms implemented as it dovetails with their liberal agendas.

Detractors Not everyone agrees with the tax

increases. Many of the apartments purchased for investment are providing housing for the rental market, in which demand for rental units greatly outstrips supply. By restricting real estate investments, the government will further tighten the rental market, causing rents to increase.

Conclusion Over the years, the Israeli government has taken numerous steps to reduce housing demand by imposing new mortgage restrictions and by increasing acquisition taxes for both overseas buyers and Israelis who own multiple homes. These initiatives were met with failure because they did not address the most pressing issue of increasing supply in our housing-starved country. Unless the “supply side” pro-

grams are implemented quickly and aggressively, raising the acquisition tax on purchases will not cause prices to decline, due to the relative scarcity of available housing.

Therefore, we believe that the best long-term approach to stabilizing housing prices is for the government to (1) make more land available for development, and (2) design and implement a plan to streamline the planning and approval process in order to quickly develop new housing units.

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.

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51

In The Kitchen

Naomi Nachman

I

am constantly striving to develop new recipes for appetizers for my family and guests, as well as for my catering business. In addition to being tasty, I want the dishes to look scrumptious as well

– since, as the expression goes, “you eat with your eyes”. The combination of the corn with the pulled beef and jicama result in a terrific marriage of flavors, as well as also being “pretty”. Even though

After four hours, remove meat from oven; cool for half hour. Drain the meat from the liquid and use a fork or your fingers to shred the brisket apart. Set pulled brisket aside.

CORN FRITTERS

Pulled brisket can be braised in advance – allow total 5 hours for cooking and prep time. While your brisket cooks, prepare the fritters and jicama slaw.

Left over brisket will also be delicious in a sandwich with some left over jicama slaw.

Yield: 10 appetizers

PULLED BRISKET TOPPING

Note: brisket will yield lots of extra topping and can be used for future use. Place in a zip lock bag and freeze.

Ingredients 1 (3-4 pound) second-cut brisket 2 tablespoons Pereg BBQ spice mix 1 cup BBQ sauce (I prefer Sweet Baby Ray’s) 1 cup red wine Directions Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Liberally season the brisket with the spice mix on both sides, rubbing to coat evenly. Place in brisket in roasting pan.

Pour BBQ sauce over the top of the meat; then add the wine.

Cover the pan very tightly with foil and bake for 4 hours. To prevent meat from drying out, check to make sure there is some liquid left in the pan after three hours of cooking time. If the meat is dry, add a little more water or wine to the pan.

Ingredients 1½ cups corn flour* 1½ teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 4 tablespoons margarine 1 cup almond milk 1 tablespoon honey 2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels 2 egg yolks 3 egg whites Canola oil for frying Directions Whisk together the corn flour, baking powder, salt and cayenne pepper in a large bowl; set aside.

In a small saucepan, heat the margarine, almond milk and honey over medium heat until the margarine is melted and mixture is well blended. Remove from heat; cool mixture slightly. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir in the milk mixture, 2 egg yolks, and corn.

In a separate, clean, dry bowl, use an electric mixer to beat egg whites until they are stiff and hold their shape. Gently fold them into the corn mixture until completely incorporated.

Heat a large non-stick skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add 1-2 tablespoons oil, swirling to coat pan. When hot, spoon batter (about ¼ cup measure per fritter) in mounds onto the skillet, spacing at least 1 inch apart – make as many in each batch as will comfortably fit in the pan. Cook the corn cakes until browned on the bottom, then flip the corn cakes with a spatula and cook on the other side until light-

ly browned - about 1 minute per side. Transfer corn cakes to a platter; repeat with remaining batter. *Note: Corn flour is not the same as cornmeal; it is very finely ground corn. I use Bob’s Red Mill brand, which can be found online or locally at Gourmet Glatt.

JICAMA SLAW

Ingredients 1 large jicama, peeled and cut into large chunks ½ small head purple cabbage 1 small jalapeno, seeds and ribs removed ½ bunch cilantro or parsley leaves Directions Dressing Juice of 3 limes 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon sugar ½ teaspoon chili powder 3 tablespoons olive oil Directions In a food processor, shred the jicama, cabbage, and jalapeno.

Place the shredded vegetables into a medium bowl; set aside.

In separate small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until well blended. Pour dressing over the vegetables at least 1 hour before serving. Toss to blend and coat with dressing.

Assembly Place a warm corn fritter on an appetizer plate.

Place a heaping spoonful of warmed brisket on the fritter, then top with the jicama slaw, mounding to build some height on the appetizer. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Garnish each plate with thin slice of lime.

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.

JUNE 18, 2015

three separate recipes are required to create this dish, it is totally worth the effort.

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

Corn Fritters with Pulled Brisket and Spicy Jicama Slaw

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Notable

Notable Quotes

Quotes

Compiled by Nate Davis Compiled by Nate Davis

“Say What?”

“Say What?”

I identify as black. As a 5-year-old child I was drawing self-portraits with the brown crayon instead of peach crayon [with] black curly hair, you know, yeah. That was how I was portraying myself.

- Embattled NAACP activist Rachel Dolezal, who was forced to resign as president of the Spokane (WA) NAACP after it was disclosed that she is a white woman posing as an AfricanAmerican I officially today announce that I identify as skinny. From this day going forward, I am skinny.

- Talk show host Rush Limbaugh mocking “transracial” activist Rachel Dolezal

Last night the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors in overtime to tie the NBA Finals at one game apiece. LeBron James said it was a huge win, and he couldn’t have done it without the ball.

– Jimmy Fallon Maybe American Pharoah?

- Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr when asked if he could think of a better athlete right now than LeBron James

Jeb is different from George. Jeb is who he is and his life story is different. - Jeb Bush during an interview on CNN arguing that he should not be defined by the rest of his family

Yesterday in Iowa just four supporters showed up to eat lunch with Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. It’s always a bad sign when your entire voter base can fit in a deli booth.

– Conan O’Brien

It was very courageous and brave, if not crazy as well, to open fire on the police headquarters...

- CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield, after a gunman opened fire on Dallas Police Headquarters

During a recent speech, Mike Huckabee said he is the only person who has fought the Clinton political machine and won. “You sure about that?” said President Barack Obama.

– Jimmy Fallon

Pizza Hut announced it will be unveiling a pizza whose crust is stuffed with hot dogs...There’s no better proof that our country is back than when they’re jamming hot dogs into the crust of pizza. That’s a sign that we as a country cannot be defeated.

– Conan O’Brien

I feel confident because I’m the best player in the world.

It’s that simple. - LeBron James, after his team went down 3-2 in the Finals, explaining why he believed his team could still win the NBA Finals

I am a seventh generation Jerusalemite, and even though I was born nine years before the State of Israel was established, I was born in Jerusalem, and I am Israeli.

- Israeli President Reuven Rivlin upon welcoming Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey to Israel one day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that being born in Jerusalem does not mean one is Israeli for the purpose of American passports

They’re all heavy sleepers.

- Quip from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on why inmates at a state prison at Dannemora say they did not hear two convicted murderers use power tools to escape They had a little bit of the comedian in them, but I plan on giving them back that note.

- Ibid, discussing the “have a nice day” note that the escapees left behind

We just passed an open weapons law in this state.

We’re setting the stage for a terrorist attack in this country and the group’s not going to be ISIS—it’s going to be US-IS. Us against these injustice law officers and people continuing to allow racism to go into this city.

- Rev. Ronald Wright while leading a protest against police in McKinney, Texas, after a video surfaced of a white police officer being rough with an AfricanAmerican teenager

MORE QUOTES

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92

Yesterday Palestinian President Abbas called for the labeling and boycotting of Israeli products. This is definitely not the language of peace. I say that to the foreign minister of a free proud and independent Poland, on whose soil the defamation of the Jewish people happened when the Nazis controlled Europe.

The attacks on the Jews were always preceded by the slander of the Jews.

What was done to the Jewish people then is being done to the Jewish state now. We won’t accommodate that.

In those days we could do nothing. - Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu during a meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna

Jeb Bush is taking his presidential campaign on a tour of Europe. He’s telling Europeans, “I like you guys because you’re comfortable having the same family in charge for centuries.”

- Conan O’Brien

A new study says that chimpanzees occasionally drink too much fermented palm sap, which causes them to act drunk. Researchers could tell the chimps were drunk when one of them suggested karaoke.

– Jimmy Fallon If I had another life, I’d keep my company private; life is tough when you IPO. - Alibaba CEO Jack Ma, who made more than $20 billion in one day when his company went public in September 2014, speaking at the New York Economic Club Over the weekend, Hillary Clinton supported raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. She said every American should be able to afford to attend one of her speeches.

– Conan O’Brien

In a recent interview, Vladimir Putin said that despite any conflicts, the West has no need to be afraid of Russia—although keep in mind that Putin said that as he was petting a tank.

– Jimmy Fallon

I will be the greatest jobs president that G-d ever created. I tell you that. – Donald Trump announcing that he is seeking the 2016 Republican nomination Remember, Obamacare really kicks in in ‘16. 2016. Obama’s gonna be out playing golf. He might even be on one of my courses. I would invite him, I actually would say it. I have the best courses in the world so I’d say, you know, what if he wants to? I have one right next to the White House. Right on the Potomac. If he’d like to play, that’s fine. In fact, I’d love him to leave early and play.

- Ibid, while discussing the future of Obamacare I will stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons. And we won’t be using a man like Secretary Kerry that has absolutely no concept of negotiation, who’s making a horrible and laughable deal, who’s just being tapped along as they make weapons right now and then goes into a bicycle race at 72-years-old and falls and breaks his leg. I won’t be doing that. And I promise, I will never be in a bicycle race — that I can tell you. – Ibid

When you see her on a stage or when she come into a room full of people, she’s smiling with her mouth, but her eyes are saying, “Where’s my latte?” It just doesn’t suggest that she believes everything she’s saying.

- Mitt Romney on MSNBC, discussing Hillary Clinton

In California, a 99-year-old grandmother has fulfilled her dream of graduating college. The tough part now is that she has to go to job interviews where they ask her, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

– Conan O’Brien

Hillary Clinton has joined Instagram. Meanwhile, her Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders joined telegram.

– Seth Myers

A federal court has ruled that the U.S. Postal Service must reduce its stamp prices. The change in stamp prices is expected to affect as many as seven Americans.

- Conan O’Brien Yahoo! announced last week that after eight years of operation it’s shutting down Yahoo! Maps. Also announced this week — there’s something called Yahoo! Maps. – Jimmy Fallon

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JUNE 18, 2015

I’m a free person and I’m fighting for freedom. The last thing I’m going to do is go into hiding. - Pamela Geller, on 1010 WINS, after an ISIS sympathizer disclosed her home address on Twitter and urged followers to go there and kill her

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

Many lawmakers on Capitol Hill wore seersucker suits to work yesterday in honor of National Seersucker Day. In a related story, ISIS is still a huge problem, you guys.

– Jimmy Fallon

100 THE JEWISH HOME  JUNE 18, 2015

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JUNE 18, 2015

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Forgotten Heroes Avi Heiligman

Fighting for the Confederacy

A

common misconception about of African-Americans. Not all of the the Confederacy during the men were pro-slavery either, as most C i v i l historians will tell you that the war War was that all wasn’t about slavthe soldiers and ery—it was about politicians were state’s rights and Southern pro-slavery Christians. secession from the In reality, many Union. Fighting soldiers from a for this cause were about three thouvariety of nationsand Jews who alities and reliwere welcomed by gions served under Lee into his army.

General Robert E. Lee. These inThere are some cluded men of disputes as to the Eastern Europeactual number of Jewish Confedan backgrounds, erates as the estiIrish, Hispanics, mates are as high Chinese in the as 10,000. HowevLouisiana infantry, er, the most widely and yes, thousands Moses Ezekiel

accepted number is 3,000 but we may never know for sure as the record keeping for the Civil War didn’t include the soldiers’ religion or even listed all of the men in a particular unit. The largest communities in the U.S. at the time were in Charleston, South Carolina, and in Louisiana.

The Virginia Military Institute has been called the West Point of South. Before the Civil War no Jewish cadet had attended the school but that changed in 1862. Moses Ezekiel from Richmond, Virginia, entered the Class of 1866.

By that time the war was over but that didn’t mean that he didn’t see any fighting.

The Army of the Potomac under General U.S. Grant wanted to press the Confederates into surrendering during the spring of 1864. A Union force was sent into the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. The Confederates were desperate to get rid of the Union in Virginia and sent 4,000 men to fight in the Battle of New Castle. Among these soldiers were cadets from the Virginia Military Academy who marched the 80 miles to the battlefield. Ezekiel took part in this battle and was wounded. After he recovered, Ezekiel took part in the defense of Richmond before the Confederates surrendered in 1865.

He graduated the academy a year later and moved to Europe. Ezekiel became a world famous sculptor and sculpted a statue for six cadet classmates who were killed at the Battle of New Castle.

rifle company before joining the 12th Alabama Infantry Regiment as a corporal.

Many of the men in the regiment came from Eastern Europe or were tough dockworkers and mountain men. This rough and tumble regiment was always short on rations but that hardly slowed them down.

Soon Proskauer received a commission and replaced an outgoing major. His men looked up to him, and he worked hard to gain their trust. (As a side fact, he was regarded as the best dressed man in the regiment. This was tough as the Confederate Army uniforms were in short supply and most men wore homemade clothing.) The 12th Alabama Infantry fought in many battles including at Antietam and Gettysburg. At Antietam, the bloodiest day in American history, Proskauer was wounded in the abdomen at a place called Bloody Lane. After recuperating, he returned to the regiment in time for the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Confederate’s second foray into the North. During the Gettysburg campaign they fought at a place called Oak Ridge, northeast of the city, and suffered heavy casualties due to the commanding general’s poor leadership. The regiment made their way to Gettysburg in time for the fight on Culp’s Hill on the last day of the battle. Proskauer led them on gallant but vain charges up the hill and had to retreat when the main Confederate advance was halted during Pickett’s Charge. The regiment saw heavy fighting during the last two years of the war and Proskauer received his third wound russian of the war at the immigrant Battle of SpotsylM a j o r The tombstone of Major Adolph Proskauer vania Courthouse Adolph Proskauon May 8, 1864. er was one of the highest-ranking Jewish Confederates That was the end of the war for him as of the war and was noted for bravery the surgeon patched him up for a bullet on the battlefield. A resident of Mobile, that entered by his ear and exited by his Alabama, he enlisted in an independent neck.

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the war he became a POW—but freed him soon after. Towards the end of the war he became surgeon general of the Confederacy. After the war, Baruch continued practicing medicine and was an advocate for sanitation and hygiene.

(During the Civil War, many soldiers contracted diseases because doctors didn’t know that germs were spread with dirty hands bandages and tools.)

These are just some of the men who served the Confederates during the Civil War. Many others also have interesting stories to tell including all Jewish companies that fought together for the length of the war. Today, most of the Southern Jewish communities are gone but the sacrifices they made for the South are still evident. Sadly, there were no medals for bravery in battle and many Jewish soldiers weren’t promoted due to anti-Semitism. Some of their stories are forgotten because no one wrote them down but these are heroes whose sacrifices, albeit for a losing cause, won’t be forgotten.

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

JUNE 18, 2015

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Raphael J. Moses. As a major in the Confederate Army, he was commissary officer for General James Longstreet and a confidant of General Lee. His job was to feed and supply Longstreet’s corps and he did it without looting and pillaging the locals. Lee called him “the best commissary officer of like rank in the Confederate service.” His son, Albert Moses Luria, was the first Confederate Jew killed in battle after attempting to throw a live artillery shell out of the trenches. He saved many lives with his actions but paid the ultimate price. Interestingly, his cousin, Joshua Lazarus Moses, was the last Confederate Jew killed during the war during the defense of Mobile, Alabama, on the day Lee surrendered. Moses’ two other sons served with distinction during the war. After the war he was elected to the House of Representatives for Georgia and served as Chair of the Judiciary Committee.

Simon Baruch emigrated from Prussia when he was only fifteen and moved to South Carolina. He went to medical school and joined the 3rd South Carolina Battalion as a physician. During the Battle of Gettysburg, he was one of three surgeons to stay behind to care for wounded soldiers. Union troops captured him—the second time during

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years after he was born, Judah’s family moved to North Carolina to seek better fortunes. He attended Yale and became a lawyer, then a senator from Louisiana. When the war broke out, Benjamin resigned his post because Louisiana had seceded from the Union.

He headed to New Orleans and was given the post of attorney general of the Confederate States of America

by President Jefferson Davis. That The face of Judah P Benjamin graced the Confederate two dollar note position wasn’t that important perfect rain of bullets, shot and shell. because the Confederates had yet to He was the personification of intrepid set up a court system. Benjamin was gallantry and imperturbable courage.” a vital member of Davis’s cabinet and gave useful advice on how to finance the South. Soon he was made war secretary but wasn’t popular among some he most famous Jewish Confed- the generals. He then became the secerate wasn’t a soldier but a pol- retary of state for the remainder of the itician. Judah P. Benjamin was war. When the Confederate two dollar born in what are now the Virgin Islands, bill came out, Judah Benjamin became then occupied by the British during the the only Jew to have his face on AmerNapoleonic Wars, and his family was ican currency.

Another Jewish officer at the Batdescendants of Sephardic Jews that left during the Spanish Inquisition. Two tle of Gettysburg was South Carolinian

THE JEWISH HOME  JUNE 18, 2015

Another officer wrote about him, “I can see him now as he nobly carried himself at Gettysburg, standing coolly and calmly with a cigar in his mouth at the head of the 12th Alabama amid a

78 THE JEWISH HOME  JUNE 18, 2015

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JUNE 18, 2015

56

Halachically Speaking

Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits

Summer Halachos

A

s the summer approaches, we will discuss many halachos which frequently arise during the summer months. The Satmer Rebbe zt”l used to say one who goes to the country should remember that although one may be leaving his home, one cannot leave Hashem.

Preparing for Davening One should prepare himself properly before davening to Hashem. Therefore, one who has played ball, etc. must make sure to wash up and change his clothing before davening so that it does not look like one just came out of the gym to daven to Hashem which is not kavod for davening. Additionally, one should not daven with his shirt un-tucked (hanging out of his pants).

“The Mezonos Roll” When traveling in the summer months it is very common for one to want to buy mezonos rolls to avoid washing. However, as will be explained below, these rolls are not mezonos.

The Shulchan Aruch says, (based on the opinion of the Rambam), if dough is kneaded with honey, milk or fruit juice, and the fruit juice is recognizable in the bread, the bracha on the bread is mezonos. The Rama disagrees, and says such bread is still called “bread” (and the eracha is hamotzei) unless there is a lot of fruit juice or spices, in which case the bracha would be mezonos. The Mishnah Berurah, as well as many other poskim, maintain that the fruit juice, etc. has to be most of the mixture, and one has to actually taste it in the bread in order for the bracha to be a mezonos. Others say that although it does not have to be most of the mixture, it needs to be a lot.

There is an opinion (that of the Da’as Torah) who maintains that if a mixture has mostly fruit juice then one does not need to taste it in the mixture. However, all other poskim disagree and one should not rely on this. Furthermore, the Da’as Torah is only going according to the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch and not the Rama. Moreover the Da’as Torah explicitly states that his chiddush applies only to specific kinds of juice none of which are currently used in baking.

Thus one who uses the Da’as Torah as the source for his leniency in mezonos bread is actually following only one part of that opinion while arbitrarily rejecting the other.

Some claim that the aforementioned reasoning can be extended to mezonos rolls causing their bracha to be a mezonos. However such reasoning is fallacious and causes thousands of people on a daily basis not to wash and bench properly since the taste of most items with fruit juice is not significantly different than that of regular bread. Additionally, people eat the roll in order to have the same experience as eating regular bread. It is strange to say that it can be called cake and one can avoid washing by eating this mezonos bread, especially since one is being kovea seuda on it.

Even Sefardim who follow the opinion of the Mechaber should wash and bench in this situation since one cannot tell the difference between this bread and other breads.

Additionally, most apple juice is made from concentrate which does not have the same status as complete fruit juice, since water is added to reconstitute the juice. Accordingly, the rolls from a bakery that use apple juice from concentrate are mostly made with water and one would be required to wash and bench according to everyone.

In conclusion, the practice of giving out mezonos rolls on airplanes and at simchas is misleading and improper.

“Mezonos rolls” are an oxymoron, since mezonos and rolls cannot co-exist. This is even if it says on the wrapper that the bracha is mezonos.

Fortunate are those hechsherim which do not allow bakeries to make mezonos rolls. Many people think that a mezonos roll is a loophole to avoid washing one’s hands and benching. However, in reality this is not the din and one must wash and bench. Many poskim say that such rolls should only be eaten during a meal where one has washed on regular bread.

Brachos Since the following foods are often offered for sale in summer camps, we will review the proper brachos one should recite before eating them. Regular knishes – regular knishes which have a thick potato filling surrounded by a thin covering of dough require two brachos (mezonos and hadama). However, Mom’s knishes which have a much thinner potato filling and are completely surrounded by a thick covering require only a mezonos. Soft pretzels- If a soft pretzel tastes like bread it requires a hamotzei even though it con-

sun may be worn on Shabbos and there is no problem of tzoveah (coloring).

tains mostly fruit juice. Only if the pretzel tastes like cake is the proper bracha mezonos. However, this kind we have not been successful in locating.

Eating Ices/Ice Cream There is a big discussion in the poskim whether to consider ices a liquid or a food item. The difference is that a shiur of liquid must be consumed quickly in order to make a bracha achrona (within about a minute), and if it is a food item one may take up to three-four minutes (according to some poskim). L’maaseh, one should avoid the uncertainty by eating ices quickly and then recite a bracha achrona, or he should eat a different food which is also obligated in a bracha achrona and have the ices in mind. Ice cream has the din of a food item rather than a liquid. However, one who licks the ice cream does not recite a bracha achrona since the correct shiur was not eaten in the proper amount of time.

Wearing Sunglasses in a Place that Has No Eiruv The Chai Adom is of the opinion that it is forbidden to walk outside on Shabbos with regular corrective glasses in a place that does not have a eiruv. The reason is because the glasses might fall off and one will come to carry them in reshus harabim. Today this is not the case since glasses are made to fit around the ear and are not susceptible to falling off. Accordingly, one may wear regular corrective glasses on Shabbos even in a place that has no eiruv.

One who wears sunglasses because the sun hurts his eyes may also wear them on Shabbos, even in a place which has no eiruv. One who wishes to wear sunglasses for other reasons (style, etc.) may wear clip-on sunglasses which are attached to regular glasses. Other types of sunglasses should not be worn outside without consulting one’s Rav. Photo Chromic Lenses Glasses with photo chromic lenses that change colors when exposed to the

Walking with a Jacket over One’s Shoulders on Shabbos Since wearing a jacket over one’s shoulders is not the derech to wear a jacket, one may not walk outside in such a manner on Shabbos in a place that does not have an eiruv. Additionally, there is the possibility that the wind will blow the jacket off his shoulders and he will come to carry the jacket in reshus harabim. Although others are lenient in this regard, one should follow the first view stated.

One may not walk outside with a garment wrapped around his waist in a place that does not have an eiruv.

Rolled up Sleeves on Shabbos There is a basis to permit wearing a shirt with the sleeves rolled up in a place that does not have an eiruv. A person who is rolling up his sleeves because he is not interested in wearing a long sleeve shirt may not walk outside with his sleeves rolled up on Shabbos because the sleeve is regarded by him as a burden and not part of the garment. However, one who would not wear a short sleeve shirt for reasons of modesty or the like and rolls up the sleeves because he feels it is more proper to wear it that way may walk outside like that on Shabbos.

Muktzah A Bathing Suit - A bathing suit is not muktzah since it can be worn even though one is not going to use it for swimming.

Flippers - Are a kli sh’melachtu l’issur and may only be moved if one needs them or their place. Goggles and snorkels are also kli sh’melachtu l’issur.

Golashes - are a kli sh’malchtu l’heter.

Sunglasses - are not muktzah. The reason is because even according to those who prohibit wearing them in a place that has no eiruv agree that they can be worn while indoors. Fly swatters are a kli sh’melachtu l’issur. Fans - A fan that is operating is a kli sh’melachtu l’issur according to many poskim. One is permitted to move the mechanical lever on a fan which controls whether or not the fan oscillates, and there is no a problem of maveir on Shabbos since no electrical current is being switched on or off. One should make sure when moving the fan not to pull out the plug afterwards. One may turn the fan in any direction so that it will blow on him. Some say one who is too cold may turn the fan away. Sandbox

Water Cooler / Fountain on Shabbos One may use a water cooler or water fountain (even when it is plugged in) on Shabbos if he is lenient in regard to opening a refrigerator on Shabbos (even if the motor is off). The same would apply to changing the water bottle on top of a water cooler on Shabbos.

Tevilas Keilim Below is a short list of items that one tends to use more often in the summer and how they apply to tevilas keilim.

Buying From a Jewish Store vs. a Non-Jew There is a mitzvah for a person to help support his fellow Jew. Included in this inyun is buying from a Jewish-owned store instead of a non-Jewish-owned one.

If the Jew charges 1/6 more for his products then there is no obligation to buy at the Jewish store over the non-Jew. However, if there is only a small difference in price then there is a mitzvah to buy from the Jew. Some say even if the non-Jew’s prices are a lot cheaper one should still buy from the Jew. This inyun is very common in the summer where there are small Jewish stores competing with big non-Jewish owned stores such as Wal-Mart®. Since Wal-Mart® is much cheaper on products one may buy at their store. One should try to buy a few products at the Jewish store as well if the store owner is counting on the money he makes over the summer to be his parnassa for the whole year.

CD or tape may be copied for all the people in one’s house, as long as they actually live at home. However, once a child gets married a copy may not be made for that child. It is permitted to copy a song off the radio since the quality is not as good as it would be if one were to buy the CD or tape. Music that is offered on the internet may not be copied since it is only put there for one to listen to. Some producers maintain that the forty-five second clips that are offered on the internet may be copied. Copying a CD or tape is forbidden even if one would never buy the CD or tape.

Car Safety Based on the posuk “V’nishmartem m’od l’nafshoseichem,” one is required to drive safely. Before the summer, when one tends to drive a lot more than during the year, it is a good time to review this halacha.

Some say going much faster than the speed limit is included in the aforementioned issur. Since one who speaks on a telephone while driving is putting himself in grave danger, doing so is also included in this issur. One who has a speaker phone or Bluetooth headset, etc. may talk on his cellphone. One should not have his inside light on during the night since it is bothersome for drivers who are passing by. Any time one is in a car whether as a driver or a passenger he has an obligation to wear a seatbelt at all times. One should also insist that his passengers wear seatbelts. Those who wear seatbelts are three times more likely to survive a car crash than those who are not wearing them. One should make sure that he is awake and alert before driving, and if not one should sleep before going on the road.

Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits is a former chaver kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath and a musmach of Harav Yisroel Belsky shlita. Rabbi Lebovits currently works as the Rabbinical Administrator for the KOF-K Kosher Supervision.

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Asking a Goy to Turn On the Air Conditioning Since today many people are accustomed to air conditioning; one who is very hot on Shabbos may ask a goy to turn on the air conditioning. The reason for this is because doing so involves two shevusim (amira l’nuchri and turning on electricity) in a case of tzaar. One who is too cold may ask a goy to turn off the air conditioning. Horav Moshe Feinstein zt”l did not allow the use of a timer to make an air conditioner or other electric devices turn on during Shabbos, although he did permit using a timer to turn on lighting. However, it has become customary to set a timer before Shabbos to make his air conditioner turn on during Shabbos.

Tzaar Baalei Chaim – Paining Animals During the summer, insects often make their way into homes and bungalows where they can be very annoying.

Many poskim say there is no issur to kill insects or flies (during the week) which are bothersome to a person.

One is permitted to hang up sticky paper on the wall, or to use an electric fly killer.

On Shabbos one is permitted to put insect repellent on his hands before going outside on Shabbos to avoid being injured by insects.

One should teach his children not to pain animals. This comes up in the summer when children play near ponds, etc. or with insects and small animals.

Copyright Issues During the summer months it is very common to listen to more music than usual while walking, driving, or doing any other activities. Therefore, it is proper to discuss what is and what is not permitted to copy as far as music CDs and tapes are concerned. One should not say that copying is permitted. That which many people justify copying by saying “everyone does it” is not an excuse for stealing from music producers and artists. Many people are accustomed to copying music from a friend’s iPod®. This is 100% stealing and against halacha. Every CD that is copied steals at least five dollars from the producers. If all the money lost on the CDs that are copied would be added up the producers, etc. are losing a lot of parnassa, despite their investing a lot of time and money to create something that the public is interested in. One wonders why some people who are very stringent to keep every custom even when it may have little backing in halacha are so lenient with this halacha which is based on the posuk in the Torah of “Lo signov.”

A CD or tape which is no longer sold in stores and is not possible to buy may be copied from a friend.

However, one must make sure that the item is really not available for purchase. Many old tapes are still being sold online (by the original producer or someone who bought the rights to them). One who owns a CD or tape and is scared it may get lost is permitted to copy it. One who had a CD or tape which broke may make a copy of it from a friend. One who owns a CD or tape may make a copy of it for personal use. For example, he may make a copy for his car, since it can be assumed that one would not buy another copy of the CD or tape for his car, so no loss is being caused by the copying. A

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Playing Ball on Shabbos There is a discussion in the poskim whether a ball is muktzah. Many poskim say since today balls are made to be played with they are not muktzah. The Yerushalmi says that a town was destroyed because of ball playing. The commentaries say it was referring to ball playing on Shabbos. Additionally, playing ball takes away from the time that a person is supposed to be learning Torah, as the Yerushalmi says, “Shabbos and yom tov were given to us to learn Torah.” It has become widespread to play all types of ball games on Shabbos especially in camps and bungalow colonies.

However, doing so is only permitted for young children. Boys over bar mitzvah and girls over bas mitzvah should not play ball on Shabbos. Even one who will not be spending his time learning should not play ball on Shabbos. The Kaf Ha’chaim says anyone who fears Hashem will not waste his precious time with ball playing. Some poskim permit young children to play Ping Pong on Shabbos.

Those who do play ball on Shabbos must be careful not to play in an area where the ball can roll out of the eiruv into a reshus harabim.

• The grates of a Disposable Grill which are made from hard metal should be toiveled without a bracha.

• Can openers do not require tevila.

• Tongs should be toiveled without a bracha.

• Aluminum pans which are thrown out after use do not require tevila.

Although some say one should toivel aluminum pans without a bracha, it is not the minhag to do so. One who wants to use an aluminum pan more than once does not need to toivel it because the Yid is the one who is making the pan into a permanent utensil. Others say one should toivel it without a bracha.

• Potato Peelers – Potato peelers should be toiveled, without a bracha.

THE JEWISH HOME  JUNE 18, 2015

- A sandbox is not muktzah because it has been designated for children to play with.

However, water should not be used in a sandbox as this would be a problem of losh.

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Great Kosher Food

THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME

JUNE 18, 2015

Elan Kornblum

MINI LAMB & BEEF SLIDERS WITH SHREDDED BEEF TINGA

by Chef Nir Weinblut, La Gondola (Los Angeles, CA)

SHREDDED BEEF TINGA

Ingredients 3-4 lbs. of fatty brisket (second cut is the best for this dish) 1 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper 3 TBS canola oil 2 red onions, cut into thick slices ½ inch 2 carrots, cut into ¼ 3 ribs celery, cut to ¼ 1 TBS fresh garlic 2 cups red wine 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp fresh thyme 5 cups veal stock 3 TBS tomato paste Directions If the brisket is too large, cut the brisket into two even size pieces. Rub the brisket with salt and pepper, onion powder, fresh garlic and thyme. Heat oil in a large skillet and sear the meat on both sides over medium heat.

Place the vegetables on the bottom of a roasting pan, large enough to hold the brisket, liquids and vegetables. Remove the seared brisket and place over the vegetables. Pour the wine over the meat. Add 3 cups veal stock and also pour into the roasting pan.

Cover the pan and place it in the preheated oven at 350°F. Cook for about 3 ½ -4 hours. Once meat is tender, remove from the roasting pan and pull brisket apart with a fork or your hands. Take the liquid and vegetables from the roasting pan and pour into a large blender or food processor. Puree until fine.

With the remaining two cups of veal stock, dilute the tomato paste and add to the pureed liquid. Heat a large skillet; pour the combined liquid and the pulled beef. Bring to a boil and reduce to a low heat for about 45 minutes. If you like to thicken sauce, you can add some of the roux, if not, you are ready to eat.

LAMB & BEEF SLIDERS

Ingredients 1 lb. ground beef 1 lb. ground lamb 1 TBS chopped fresh Italian parsley 1 tsp chopped fresh dill 4 tsp chopped garlic 1 tsp salt 1 tsp white pepper 1 ½ tsp cumin

Directions Combine all ingredients in a cold mixing bowl until they are properly mixed together. Form the mixture into 12 even portions about ½ inch thick. Place on a sheet pan and place in the fridge for about 1 hour. Cook them on a pre-heated BBQ or grill. I recommend to grill them medium.

MINI SLIDER BUNS

Ingredients 1 cup warm water 2 TBS margarine 1 TBS melted margarine 1 large egg 3 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour ¼ cup sugar 1 ¼ tsp salt 1 TBS instant yeast 1 TBS poppy or sesame seeds Directions Pour water, sugar and yeast first into a mixer, mix, and pour the rest of the ingredients. Knead the dough until it is soft and smooth. Make sure the dough does not stick to the side of the mixing bowl. Remove the dough from the mixer, cover and let it rise for 1 to 2 hours, or until it’s nearly doubled in size.

If it is in a warm area in the kitchen, it will need less time. Gently deflate the dough, and divide it into 24 even pieces. Shape each piece into a round ball.

Place the buns on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet, flatten the buns with your hand or another pan so they are flat. Cover the buns, and let rise for another 45-60 minutes. You will notice how they have puffed up again.

Brush the buns with the melted margarine and sprinkle with poppy seeds or sesame. Bake the buns in a preheated 375°F oven for 12-16 minutes until golden. Remove them from the oven and let them cool. Once cooled, you are ready to slice them up and stuff with our pulled beef.

This recipe was reprinted from the 2015 Edition of Great Kosher Restaurants Magazine.

Elan Kornblum, a.k.a. “The Restaurant Guy,” is the publisher of Great Kosher Restaurants International Magazine and its accompanying website www.gkrm.net. The 2015 edition, available on www.GreatKosherDeals.com, has 256 glossy pages and provides a visual description with menus to over 200 top kosher restaurants alongside 400 stunning high resolution color photos. Kornblum’s top ranked website, award-winning newsletter, comprehensive app and hugely popular Facebook Foodies page makes sure everyone is up to date on the latest restaurant news.

Email info@gkrm.net for any questions or comments.

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JUNE 18, 2015

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Riddle!

In honor of Father’s Day, four couples had home improvements done to their homes. Avi had not recently had a new bathroom put in. Sarah had not yet done her kitchen, but perhaps would update it next. Brian, who is married to Mira, had not had new windows put in. Laura delighted in showing photographs of her new conservatory.

Neither Charles nor David had a new kitchen. Julie had not had new windows.

Avi, who also had not had windows, is not married to Laura and Charles is not married to Sarah.

Who is married to whom and what work had they recently undertaken, assuming that each couple had one improvement and no two couples had the same improvement?

See answer on next page

Nine Ways Fatherhood is Different Than a Hundred Years Ago  In 1913, if a father put a roof over his family’s head, he was a success.  Today, it takes a roof, deck, pool, and 4-car garage. And that’s just the vacation home.  In 1913, a father waited for the doctor to tell him when the baby arrived.  Today, a father must wear a smock, know how to breathe, and make sure the memory card still has room in the video camera.  In 1913, fathers passed on clothing to their sons.  Today, kids wouldn’t touch Dad’s clothes even if it meant freezing halfway to death.  In 1913, fathers shook their children gently and whispered, “Wake up, it’s time for school.”  Today, kids shake their fathers violently at 4 a.m., shouting, “Wake up, it’s time for hockey practice.”  In 1913, a father came home from work to find his wife and children at the supper table.  Today, a father comes home to a note: “Jack’s at baseball, Sarah’s at gymnastics, I’m at the gym, pizza in fridge.”

 In 1913, fathers and sons would have heart-to-heart conversations while fishing in a stream.  Today, fathers pluck the headphones off their sons’ ears and shout, “WHEN YOU HAVE A MINUTE…”  In 1913, if a father had breakfast in bed, it was eggs, cheese, hashbrowns and muffins.  Today, it’s Special K, soy milk, dry toast and a lecture on cholesterol.  In 1913, “a good day at the market” meant father brought home feed for the horses.  Today, “a good day at the market” means Dad got in early on an IPO.  In 1913, when fathers entered the room, children rose to attention.  Today, kids glance up and grunt, “Dad, you’re blocking my view.”

ONE WAY FATHERHOOD IS THE SAME AS IT WAS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO  In 1913, fathers told their children, “When I was a kid we weren’t spoiled like you guys today.”  Today, fathers tell their children, “When I was a kid we weren’t spoiled like you guys today.”

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THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME JUNE 18, 2015

Gosh, he really has his father’s eyes!

You Gotta be

Kidding!

A grade school teacher was asking students what their fathers did for a living. “Tim, you be first,” she said. “What does your father do all day?”

Tim stood up and proudly said, “He’s a doctor.”

“That’s wonderful. How about you, Amy?” Amy shyly stood up, scuffed her feet and said, “My father is a mailman.”

“Thank you, Amy,” said the teacher. “What about your father, Billy?”

Billy proudly stood up and announced, “My father murders people, steals from them, and drives very fast.”

The teacher was aghast and promptly changed the subject. Right after class she immediately called Billy’s father and asked if there might be some explanation.

Billy’s father said, “I’m actually an attorney. But how can I explain a thing like that to a sevenyear-old?”

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ANSWER TO RIDDLE: Avi is married to Julie and they had a new kitchen put in; Brian is married to Mira and they had a new bathroom installed.

Charles is married to Laura and they had a new conservatory added; David is married to Sarah and they had new windows put in.

It Could Have Happened To You

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JUNE 18, 2015

62

It’s All Your Fault!

Rabbi Eli Scheller

One of the benefits of living in Israel is that you’re among family. If you just had a baby, if you need a place to sleep for the night or if you are desperate for a quick Shabbos meal you can rest assured you will be taken care of. Jews thoughout Israel feel a strong sense of responsibility to one another.

Family members also feel free to give unsolicited advice and suggestions when the situation calls for it (always).

In the summertime in Israel if you forget to put a sunhat on your baby you will hear an earful about it at the bus stop.

Case in point. It was winter in Yerushalayim, and I was walking home from shul one Shabbos morning lost in my thoughts. So it took me more than a moment to notice a strong tap on my shoulder. I turned around to find a Yerushalmi talking rapidly and loudly to me in Yiddish. He spoke too quickly for me to get the gist of his message, but he clearly seemed to be agitated by something. My mind hit rewind to see if perhaps I had brushed against him or inadvertently stepped on his foot. As I asked him to repeat what he said he bent down and

yanked the bottom of my long black wool coat. He said, “I’m telling you, you need tzitzis on these corners”. At that point I understood what he was trying to tell me. My coat had a slit up the back and so the bottom of the coat had four corners, not just two. I was surprised this hadn’t occurred to me before this and for a moment I felt embarrassed and guilty. I then remembered that there was an argument among the poskim if coats were indeed considered garments obligated in tzitzis. So how to appease this well intentioned gentleman? I said, “You bring up a good point, I’ll make sure to discuss it with my Rosh Kollel.”

He walked on ahead of me. As I watched him move away I noticed that he too was wearing a winter coat. I looked closer at it and realized it had a slit on the back and four corners just like mine, with no tzitzis attached to it!

I was puzzled and assumed there was something about his coat that exempted it from tzitzis. I walked quickly to get just behind him and studied the coat more carefully. I looked up and down, front and back. It was the same coat! I tapped him on the shoulder and I said in Hebrew in my most nonjudgmental tone, “I think we have the same coat, and I noticed your coat does not have tzitzis.” He looked at his coat, he blushed, he looked back at me, and he looked at his coat once again. He looked down and said,” How could I have possibly missed that?”

Of course he missed it, like we all miss it. We can see the faults in the other guy’s coat but we can’t see those of our own. Our nature is to point out to our sons, colleagues or employees what they are doing wrong, rather than to self reflect. When we do look at ourselves, it is done with a quick casual look which usually won’t turn up any problems. When someone else is holding up the check out line in the super-

market he is being inconsiderate, when you are causing the delay, you are an admirable and responsible consumer ensuring that you don’t overpay.

The point is that it’s easy to see faults in others but not in yourself. But then how does one change and grow?

How can one refine his character if he can’t notice anything wrong? Some of the great mussar masters have suggested the following approach. Next time you notice a fault in someone else that brings out a strong feeling within you, stop for a moment to consider if this may be the very same fault you have. What you see in others is influenced by who you are and each person looks out from his own lens of experience and upbringing. For example, if a neighbor walks into shul an hour late on a Shabbos morning those around him who have noticed will make varying assumptions based on their own experience. A ‘nonmorning’ person will simply assume the latecomer had trouble getting up, whereas an ‘on time’ person will assume that he simply doesn’t have shacharis as one of his top priorities. A new father will assume the neighbor was helping out with the children in the house.

I didn’t continue the conversation with my tzitzis supervisor but he taught me a valuable lesson. When you notice something amiss in another, and it’s gnawing at you, take it as a sign to look at yourself. Perhaps you are affected because you struggle with a similar flaw. If you take a quick look and don’t find evidence of it, before you move on, look deeper. There may be something you’ve seen hundreds of times, like the back of your own coat, but now you can view it with a new perspective. You can then fix the flaw within yourself and tap your friend on the shoulder to try and help him with his.

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