Special thanks to the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, their staff (especially R' Yitzi Labell), all the volunteers, Ripken Stadium, the umpires, fans, sponsors, and players.
Congratulations to our outstanding team:
Chaim Finkelstein
Dovid Flamm
Howie Friedman
Ben Gutman
Dan Gutman
Shulie Hochman
Gershon Jacobovitch
Steve Kronberg
Dovid Meir Loeb
Shmuel Luxenburg
Mordechai Schiermeyer
Yoyo Strauss
Moshe Tuchman
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE EFFORTS AND SUPPORT!
On June 23rd, the Yeshiva of Greater Washington hosted the 2nd annual Maryland Softball Competition at the prestigious Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, MD. Twelve teams and approximately 150 players from Baltimore, Silver Spring, Washington D.C., Chicago, Columbus, and Detroit participated.
Evergreen Benefits Group emerged victorious, winning all five games and clinching the Championship with an impressive score of 17-1.
The event was filled with excitement, including delicious food, entertainment, activities for kids, and a spectacular fireworks show.
SHABSAI SHUCHATOWITZ, CEO
Dear Readers,
Local day schools have traditionally aligned their academic calendars with the general public school schedule. This typically means starting the school year after Labor Day and ending in mid-June. However, this often conflicts with the Jewish calendar. For instance, Rosh Hashanah can sometimes begin just a week or two after Labor Day. Additionally, summer camps face challenges as their counselors leave for Yeshivas, which begin their term on Rosh Chodesh Elul.
This issue originated in New York, where schools have historically relied on public school busing and teachers. Consequently, they had to start the school year after Labor Day. This dependency created a ripple effect, influencing the schedules of many camps, especially those run by and for people from the New York metropolitan area. Out-of-town communities, such as Baltimore, have also followed this pattern, relying on the New York sleepaway camp infrastructure.
However, as the hub of the frum community has shifted to Lakewood, these concerns have become less relevant. Lakewood manages its
own busing programs and does not depend on public school teachers. As a result, many Jewish schools and organizations, that do not rely on the public school system, have been advocating for a new summer schedule. This proposed schedule would start in Tammuz and end at the close of Av, effectively eliminating the traditional July and August summer break. In extreme cases, Elul could begin as early as August 5th or as late as September 5th.
Adopting a universal summer program would allow schools, Yeshivas, parents, and children to plan for a more structured summer and a more productive Elul. Camps would benefit from clearly defined sessions each year. Importantly, this change could eliminate the gap weeks between camp and school.
While there are many perspectives on this issue, the concept is gaining considerable support. It will be interesting to see how this develops.
Wishing everyone a peaceful Shabbos.
Aaron Menachem
community events,
& photos, and mazal tovs to editor@baltimorejewishhome.com
Second Annual Maryland Softball Competition (MDSC 2024)
The Yeshiva of Greater Washington hosted its second annual Maryland Softball Competition MDSC fundraiser, which Baruch Hashem was a huge success. All funds raised will go towards Yeshiva’s scholarship fund. The players had a great time, and the Yeshiva reached its fundraising goal.
This year we had two tiers consisting of six teams each for a total of twelve teams - four more teams than last year! Seven teams were from Baltimore, four were from Silver Spring and there was a team from Chicago as well. Over 150 players participated! The teams’ names were: AC Wolves, Ben Yehuda Pizza, Evergreen Benefits Group, Heideman Design, Israel Bonds, JP Warehousing Believe and Achievers, Medical Claims Solutions, Midwest, Sky Plumbing, Silver Spring Medical Center, The Boiz, and Wohl and Trail Periodontics.
The day began for Tier 1 at Reisterstown Regional Park, and at Northwest
Regional Park for Tier 2. A catered breakfast from Milk and Honey Bistro was provided to the players and their families. The first pitch was thrown at 8:30 am at Northwest Regional and 10:00 am at Reisterstown Regional.
After three rounds of exciting games, the players headed off to Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium. The teams that did not make the semi-finals had a chance to play consolation games at Ripkens.
After a long day of games, Evergreen Benefits Groups defeated Sky Plumbing at the Tier 1 Holy Smokes BBQ Championship game, and Medical Claims Solutions defeated Heideman Design at the Tier 2 Town Appliance Championship Game.
Throughout the day, players and their families were treated to a grand BBQ from Le’Mo Catering. Betzalel Muller and his crew did a great job, and the food was delicious. The players’ families also got to enjoy moon bounc-
es, face painting, inflatable obstacle courses and a mechanical bull ride at the Kids Zone and “Ripken Lot” at Ripkens Stadium. After a long day and evening, guests were then treated to a professional fireworks show.
Thank you to our tournament commissioners Dovi Ziffer and Jeremy Lasson, and of course a special thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the event a true success.
Thank you to all our sponsors: AMF Creative, Baltimore Jewish Home, Baltimore Jewish Life,
Believe and Achieve, Ben Yehuda Pizza, Chelsea Fantl Realtor, Clear Connections, East Insurance Group, Evergreen Benefits Group, Fired up Promotions, Graber and Associates, Health Markets Medicare Solutions, Heideman Design, Holy Smoke BBQ, Israel Bonds, JP Warehousing, Medical Claims Solutions, Montcare, Siena’s Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant, Silver Spring Medical Center, Sky Plumbing, Stutman Chiropractic PC, TFR Solutions, Town Appliance, and Wohl and Trail Periodontics.
JCSL by “Your Kitchen Spot” approaches the “Mama Leahs/Goldbergs” Post-Season
With all regular season weeks but one completed, the 2024 JCSL season of is just about wrapped up. Going into the final week, the slots for the top four teams are still up for grabs. It’s still anyone’s guess who will be taking home the Camp Shoresh trophy at the end of the season. As of this article, the standings are as follows:
TeamWins Losses Ties
Donny Ankri
Architects 610
GB Homes410
Orshan Legal Group 420
AMP
Solutions 321
Donny Ankri
Architects 321
Levin & Gann 240
Clothier141
PsychCare141
KD Gold & Coin Exchange 160
With exciting games each Sunday, the I Heart Remodeling Umpiring Crew has been hard at work, officiating games in some unusually warm weather. But the valiant efforts of the umpiring crew, along with the Y & L Landscaping Grounds Crew, have helped ensure that the Web Interactive Solutions fields and Premier Financial equipment are ready to go each Sunday morning and the players can play some fun and competitive softball. And with all 108 players showing up each week in their elegant Stutman Chiropractic jerseys (designed by Fired Up Promotions), you couldn’t ask for a more professional experience.
Continue below to read about the excitement from some of the later games of the season, thanks to our 2024 Media Sponsor, Baltimore Jewish Home:
Orshan Legal Group4
Donny Ankri Architects 10
Orshan Legal Group (OLG) opened up the game by scoring 2 in the top of the 1st. Donny Ankri Architects (DAA) answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning, thanks to some critical patience at the plate. Led by weathered veteran Donny Ankri, DAA played “moneyball,” ultimately yielding 10 walks in the game. OLG tied the game in the 3rd but the Architects answered again scoring 3 runs in the 3rd and 2 insurance runs in the 4th.
PsychCare 9 AMP Solutions13
In the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, PsychCare came out swinging with 6 runs in the 1st. AMP had a brief scare as PsychCare outfielder, Rafi Strum, almost made the nicest diving catch in JCSL history. But the ball popped out, allowing AMP to continue their rally.
Throughout the game, AMP played solid defense and put on a hitting clinic, led by a pair of HRs by (left-handed hitting) Meir Parry to take the win, 13-9.
Donny Ankri Architects 3 AMP Solutions 11
With the season on the line, AMP Solutions took on a strong Donny Ankri Architects (DAA) team. AMP came out strong with 5 runs in the first. After 3 innings, AMP had a commanding 10-2 lead.
DAA did all they could but AMP’s defense along with Danny Weissmann’s flawless pitching, proved to be too much. These two teams are fighting for a playoff spot so stay tuned for next week’s recap to see who comes out on top!
GB Homes 13
Clothier 3
Looking to move to 5-1 on the season, GB Homes took on Clothier.
GB Homes scored 2 in the top of the first, thanks to a Shulie Hochman sac fly and a Menachem Rubenstein base hit. In the bottom of the first, Clothier responded with 2 runs of their own, following an impressive Mordy Reches line drive to the gap. But GB came scorching back, with some big hits by Ezra Bregin and Hillel Goodman, scoring 4 more runs to make it a 6-2 game. The floodgates then opened in the top of the 6th, as GB scored 7 runs to ultimately take the 13-3 win. Ari Bregin once again had a big game going 3-4 while pitcher Aaron Adler had a stellar outing.
9
KD Gold & Coin Exchange6
Clothier rallied from an early deficit to defeat KD and pick up their first win of the season. Dan Gutman had 3 hits in the win including an RBI triple. David Pensak had 4 hits, scored 2 runs, and drove in 2 more, and Avi Safren had 3 hits and a pair of RBIs as well. Clothier kept their season alive with the win and now hopes to shock the world over their final 2 games.
Clothier
YAKIRA BELLA
Tashbar Kicks Off the Summer with Activities Galore
Tashbar camp returns for another summer with loads of learning and fun activities! Headed by Tashbar’s own Rabbi Hillel Rosenberg, Tashbar Camp offers boys an opportunity to continue to grow in learning and at the same time, enjoy some good old fun in the sun.
The boys daven and learn with their Rebbeim in the morning. Once noon rolls around, the activities begin. Boys put tickets they earn in the morning into a raffle to win all sorts of prizes, while they enjoy a hot lunch and stories from Rabbi Rosenberg. The special events each day have been a blast! So far, the boys participated in a Chulent scavenger hunt, a challah bake, a clue hunt, Gedolim Bingo, elimination Kickball, and a slip n slide. One day the boys even went to Players in Westminster and enjoyed laser tag,
glow in the dark mini golf, bumper cars, and bounce houses.
The days usually finish with an awesome time at the pool and hot tub, freeze pops and more stories – a refreshing and relaxing respite from the current heatwave.
Neuro Clics helps people struggling with the following symptoms:
Reading Dif culties
Dyslexia
ADD / ADHD
Social Awkwardness
Poor Memory
Math Dif culties
Writing Dif culties
Disorganization
Clumsiness
Easily Overwhelmed
Etz Cham Sponsored Event Packs the House at DoubleTree Hotel for Adam Neuman’s Talk on Jewish Pride
There was a packed house at the DoubleTree Hotel for the Etz Chaim sponsored event to hear Adam Neuman,
Baltimore Ravens Chief of Staff, discuss the 7 Principles of Success for Jewish Pride.
The Wisdom and Depth of RashiLike You’ve Never Seen Before!
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This new series will take you to a whole new level of understanding of the foremost commentary on Chumash
› An expanded translation and elucidation, drawing upon the major commentaries on Rashi.
› A short introduction to each Rashi.
› Notes discussing “What’s bothering Rashi?”
› Insights containing in-depth analysis of Rashi’s words.
› Explanations of underlying concepts and deeper looks where the commentators disagree with Rashi.
SERIES DEDICATED BY JAY AND JEANIE SCHOTTENSTEIN AND THEIR CHILDREN, JOEY AND LINDSAY, JONATHAN AND NICOLE, JEFFREY AND ARIELLA
ZICHRON HIRSCH WOLF EDITION OF SEFER BAMIDBAR DEDICATED BY MRS. RAQUEL WOLF AND THE DESSLER, WOLF, AND GINSBERG FAMILIES
BAMIDBAR 2 - Chukas-Masai DEDICATED BY SIMCHA AND SHANI APPLEGRAD ALSO AVAILABLE: BEREISHIS COMPLETE IN 2 VOLUMES, BAMIDBAR VOL. 1
Migrash Farms Harvests Shmura Wheat Under Star-K Supervision
Members of the STAR-K family were zoche to cut wheat for Shmura Matzoh under the supervision of Rav Moshe Heinemann, shlit”a, today at Migrash Farms, owned by Yosef Hertzmark. The Rav inspected the combine machine to ensure it was completely clean, checked the wheat to ensure it was dry, and oversaw the harvest. Atreres Elka sponsored this ad: Ateres Elka offers gown rental for Kallas & Family: Text/ Whatsapp 646-272-8465 for appointments and hours. Beautiful gowns available for rent. Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!
Mahyer Reischer & Tirtza Ross
Yisroel Goldenberg & Penina Lieder
Experience the warmth of community at L'Chaim Day Program! We're a place where you can feel at home, in a supportive environment, and a loving atmosphere.
Daily interactive activities led by Rabbi Tzvi Karp, Rebbetzin Malka Zweig, and Mrs. Deborah Bandos
Shiurim and daily Mincha Minyan
Kosher meals prepared with love by Chef “CB” Goldfein
L’Chaim is a licensed adult medical day program, where participants benefit from:
Medical care and daily monitoring by a registered nurse
Case management by a licensed clinical social worker Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
613 Seconds with Dr. Menachem Cooper
BJH: Tell us about yourself
Dr. Menachem Cooper: I was born and raised in Baltimore. Except for periods of my education when I was not in Baltimore, I spent my whole life in Baltimore. I went to University of Maryland Medical School, met my wife, married, and had 7 children here. We now have family that is spread out all over, baruch Hashem. I’ve been practicing medicine for 38 years, and I’ve had an office on Park Heights Avenue for the past 30 years.
BJH: Were you always interested in medicine?
Dr. MC: From when I can remember I’ve always been interested in science and medicine. I have a picture hanging in my office of me carrying a toy black bag when I was 4 years old. My mother was very proud of that picture.
BJH: How does your Yiddishkeit influence your provision of patient care?
Dr. MC: That’s not a hard question, because Yiddishkeit influences every aspect of my life, and specifically in the proper way to treat people and patients. I usually say a little prayer before I go into a patient’s room. And being in medicine has also influenced my Yiddishkeit. I have the zechus to be able to see and try to understand the miracles of the human body, which is something that deepens my awe of Hashem, and makes my Yiddishkeit even more deep.
BJH: Does your practice specialize in geriatric care?
Dr. MC: I’m board certified in internal medicine and did accomplish geriatric board specialty as well. I provide adult medicine to all ages from 15 years old and up, but I do have a special focus on geriatrics.
BJH: What should seniors in our community focus on, or be aware of, as they grow older and wiser?
Dr. MC: It’s important for people as they age and become seniors to remain active- physically and mentally. To maintain their health with proper nutrition and hydration, adequate quality sleep, and exercise. They should also keep up their medical visits and health maintenance program, including colonoscopies, vaccinations, and the like. They should maintain and engage with their social contacts with family and friends. And retain, and even work on, their spiritual engagement.
BJH: We understand that you are the medical director of the L’Chaim Day Program. How can a medical day program be of benefit to individuals in our community?
Dr. MC: As I mentioned, seniors need to be socially engaged as much as possible. That’s where a day program can come into play, especially for people who might have less access to other people and activities as they get older. The L’Chaim Day Program offers activities and social contacts which are important for maintaining health.
BJH: What message would you like to leave our readers with?
Dr. MC: Growing older should be viewed as a blessing, and having that attitude is something that can make it even more of a blessing. And I would like to offer the blessing I offer my patients. We say “ad mae v’esrim shana”. I add “ad mea k’iesrin shana,” a blessing to age in good health.
BJH: Amain! Thank you for your time, for sharing your wisdom, and for all of your work on behalf of our community.
To learn more about L’Chaim Day Program, visit www.lchaimdayprogram.com or call 410-358-6461.
The Week In News
The Week In News
New UK Prime Minister
For the first time in fourteen years, the UK’s Conservative Party has lost power over England, with the Labour Party securing a decisive victory in the country’s general elections.
Following his party’s unprecedented defeat, Rishi Sunak announced he would be stepping down as Conservative Party leader and ceded the premiership to the Labour Party’s Keir Starmer, who promised that he would lead a “government of service” and bring about an era of “national renewal.”
“For too long, we’ve turned a blind eye as millions slid into greater insecurity. I want to say very clearly to those people: Not this time,” the new prime minister declared in his inaugural speech. “Changing a country is not like flicking a switch. The world is now a more volatile place. This will take a while but have no doubt the work of change will begin immediately.”
Of the 650 seats in England’s House of Commons, the Conservative Party lost 250 in this past election, winning just 121 seats in total. Labour secured a whopping 421 seats, the Liberal Democrats party won 71 seats, and Reform UK and the Green Party each won four seats. The only seat that has yet to be decisively won is the one in Scotland’s Sky and Ross-shire.
The election saw conservative Liz Truss, a former prime minister who only served for 49 days, lose her seat in the parliament to a Labour candidate. Defense secretary Grant Shapps lost his seat in southern England, while Penny Mordaunt, the leader of
the House and a former rival to Sunak, also failed to re-secure her Portsmouth seat. Other prominent Conservatives lost their seats, including Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer and Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer. On the other hand, former chancellor Jeremy Hunt and former PM Sunak both re-won their respective seats. As a result of the election, the Labour party lost MPs Jonathan Ashworth and Thangam Debbonaire.
After the election was called, King Charles III formally invited Keir to form a new government. Keir has appointed Angela Rayner as deputy prime minister and Rachel Reeves as the first female chancellor in Britain’s history. He selected David Lammy as foreign secretary and Yvette Cooper as home secretary.
“His successes will be all our successes, and I wish him and his family well,” Sunak said of his successor. “Whatever our disagreements in this campaign, he is a decent, public-spirited man who I respect.”
Hungary’s Orban Meets with Xi
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is showing the world who his friends are. Last week, he visited Moscow and then headed to Kyiv on a “peace mission.” This week, he posted a photo on X of himself arriving in Beijing to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with the caption, “Peace mission 3.0.”
According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, talks between the Chinese and Hungarian leaders focused on “in-depth communication” on the war in Ukraine.
Orban visited China just a day before the start of a NATO summit in Washington, D.C., when U.S. President Joe Biden is set to host leaders from the bloc, including those from
Hungary. Orban’s spokesperson on Monday said Washington would be the leader’s next stop after Beijing.
NATO leaders are sure to be discussing the war in Ukraine, in addition to talks on China, Russia’s most important diplomatic ally. NATO leaders have become increasingly alarmed about what they say is its backing for Moscow’s war effort through the provision of dual-use goods and other economic and diplomatic support.
China claims neutrality in the war and has also sought to position itself as a potential peace broker in the conflict, even as Xi has deepened his allegiance with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the more than two years since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Orban, widely seen as Putin’s greatest ally in Europe, has been campaigning for a ceasefire as opposed to military support for Ukraine. China has also said that it is encouraging a ceasefire in the Ukraine War.
China is a “key power in creating the conditions for peace” in the war, Orban wrote in an X post on Monday. “This is why I came to meet with President Xi in Beijing, just two months after his official visit to Budapest,” he added.
During the meeting, Xi claimed that China and Hungary have the “same basic propositions and directions of efforts” on Ukraine and appeared to allude to Beijing’s accusations that the United States and its allies are “fanning” the conflict by providing Kyiv with weapons for its defense.
“Only when all major powers exert positive energy rather than negative energy can the conflict see the dawn of a ceasefire as soon as possible,” Xi said, according to CCTV.
Prior to this week’s visit, Orban and Xi last met in May, when the Chinese leader was welcomed with fanfare for a state visit to Hungary.
Berlin Bans Red Triangle
Hamas and its supporters have been using an inverted red triangle to mark enemy targets in videos and in graffiti. This week, Berlin banned the hateful symbol in a motion passed in the state senate which noted that the red icon represents an immediate threat to Jews and to people committed to the freedom and security of Israel and should be banned at protests and in the context of the Middle East conflict.
The symbol has been used to target pro-Israel academics and politicians, including Kai Wegner, the Berlin mayor who ordered the eviction of pro-Palestine protesters from the city’s Free University by police.
“Kai will pay” was graffitied on the wall of a university under a red triangle.
The German capital has the largest Palestinian population in Europe and has been a flashpoint for the conflict since the October 7 massacre, with pro-Palestine protests being initially banned and protesters arrested. Germany’s government is a strong supporter of Israel, with Israel’s security sometimes described as part of Germany’s Staatsräson or reason of state.
The motion was passed on a state level, with the support of the ruling Christian Democrat and Social Democrat grand coalition and the far-Right AfD. The state parliament also wants to assist in passing the law on a federal level.
The red triangle stems from the Palestinian flag, which contains the scarlet shape.
Iranian Warship Capsizes
The Sahand, an Iranian frigate, capsized this week while undergoing repairs in Bandar Abbas, a coastal city on the Strait of Hormuz. The ship became unbalanced and then partially collapsed into the sea.
Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide
6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M-F
6:25 am Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation M-F
Beit Halevi (Sfardi) M, T
Chabad of Silver Spring M-F
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S
YGW M, Th
6:35 am Ohr Hatorah M, Th
6:40 am YGW S, T, W, F
Magen David Sephardic Congregation M-Th
6:45 am Beit Halevi (Sfardi) S, T, W, F
Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th
Ohr Hatorah T, W, F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M, Th
6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah M, Th
Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County M-F
6:55 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah T, W, F
7:00 am Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Silver Spring Jewish Center S
BETHESDA
Magen David Sephardic Congregation [S]
11215 Woodglen Dr, North Bethesda, MD 20852
GAITHERSBURG
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County [Ari]
11520 Darnestown Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
OLNEY
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah (OSTT)
18320 Georgia Ave, Olney, MD 20832
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah T, W, F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac T,W,F
7:05 am Kesher Israel M, Th
7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th
Kesher Israel T, W, F
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah [Ashk + S] 1132 Arcola Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20902
WASHINGTON Chabad of DC [Ari]
2110 Leroy Pl. NW, Washington, DC 20008 Kesher Israel 2801 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20007
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue 1600 Jonquil St NW, Washington, DC 20012
Aron & Leah Yehuda on the birth of a daughter
Joel & Malka Sima Hosner on the birth of a daughter
Yoni & Zehava Leventhal on the birth of a daughter
Eli & Esther B. Neuberger on the birth of a son
Baruch & Tzila Zeif on the birth of a daughter
shacharis
The Week In News
Several people were admitted to the hospital after the incident occurred on Sunday.
The Mehr News Agency said that the accident occurred because of a “technical failure.”
Another report issued several hours later by the Islamic Republic News Agency cited the country’s military saying water had leaked into the Sahand’s tanks, causing the vessel to turn over.
The military added in IRNA’s report that the ship had since “returned to balance.” Both news agencies are owned by the Iranian government, which described the vessel as a “destroyer.”
The Sahand was launched in 2018 and is named after another Iranian ship that was destroyed by the U.S. in 1988’s Operation Praying Mantis. The original vessel was one of two Iranian naval ships sunk by the U.S. Navy in retaliation for the mining of the USS Samuel B. Roberts, a guided-missile frigate.
Iranian media reported that the new Sahand was equipped with torpedoes, anti-air munitions, cruise missiles, a point-defense system, and close-range weapons that could fire up to 7,000 rounds a minute.
wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition, which won 182 seats, and the centrist Ensemble alliance, led by President Emmanual Macron, which secured 163 seats.
RN and its allied political parties, on the other hand, only won 143 parliamentary seats. The RN’s setback last Sunday came as a relief to many French voters who fear the political ramifications of electing the far-right party. The last time France was led by a far-right government was during World War II, when the European country was controlled by the Vichy regime.
However, the French parliament’s future is still in question, as no coalition or party secured the 289 required seats to win a majority in the National Assembly.
On Monday morning, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, a pupil of Macron, said he would step down from his position. Attal added that he “didn’t
selected by Marine Le Pen in order to distance the far-right party from its history of racism and antisemitism.
“As of, our deputies will take up their places to make sure we counter the migration policies and other policies of the far left. We will not enter into any kind of coalition or compromise; we will be the side of the French people,” Bardella said.
Following elections, the president of France generally selects a prime minister from the party that secured the largest number of parliamentary seats. Usually, the selected prime minister is from the same party as the president, although that might not be the case this time. It is currently unclear which party Macron would choose a prime minister from, although JeanLuc Mélenchon, the leader of France Unbowed, a party in the NFP, has said that Macron “has the duty to call the New Popular Front to govern.”
France Unbowed, winning the most seats in its coalition, secured 74 seats in parliament, while the Socialist party, which is also part of the NFP coalition, won 59. The NFP was created just under a month ago following Macron’s calls for a snap election. Macron’s coalition has, on several occasions, maintained that it will never combine with the NFP.
New Iranian President
On Friday, Iran held elections for Ebrahim Raisi’s successor, following the late president’s death in a helicopter crash. The elections were branded by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as “free and transparent,” a claim that the U.S. State Department disputes.
Masoud Pezeshkian, a candidate for the reformist faction, won the presidential election, securing 53.6% of the 30.5 million counted votes. His ultraconservative rival, Saeed Jalili, won 44.3% of the vote. Pezeshkian won in the elec-
tion’s second round, which had a voter turnout of 49.8%.
“I am the servant of the people of Iran. We will serve you, dear people of our country,” Pezeshkian said in his inaugural address on Saturday, standing at the gravesite of Islamic Republic of Iran’s founder Imam Khomeini. The new president, a 69-year-old heart surgeon, lawmaker, and former health minister, declared that he would be a “voice of the voiceless.”
“Let’s come together, let’s stick together, let’s get united and work together,” he added. “We would be able to deal with every aspect and area of the government: economic, financial, military and social challenges.”
The president of Iran holds limited power, with real control of the country belonging to Khamenei, who congratulated the new president and suggested that he serve “in continuation of the path” of his predecessor, Raisi.
Pezeshkian supports engaging in talks with the enemies of Iran and continuing the country’s nuclear program. Following Pezeshkian’s victory, officials from Russia, Syria, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia congratulated him, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, according to the Saudi Press Agency, declaring that he was “keen to develop and deepen the relations that bring together our two countries and peoples, and serve our common interests.” Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, expressed his hope that Pezeshkian’s victory would strengthen the two countries’ bilateral cooperation in the hopes of “simplifying regional security and stability.”
The U.S. State Department stated that it acknowledges the results of the election, which was “not free or fair” and will likely fail to “have a significant impact on our approach to Iran.”
Pezeshkian is half-Azeri and half-Kurdish, and Persian isn’t his first language, making him a popular choice among minorities in Iran.
Pezeshkian, relative to his political rivals, is less extreme. Following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, who was killed in morality police custody for flaunting the country’s draconian modesty rules, Pezeshkian said, “It is our fault. We want to implement religious faith through the use of force. This is scientifically impossible.” While he has expressed interest in improving Iranian relations with the Western world and may seek to reinstate former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, it
The Week In News
is unlikely that Khamenei, who has denounced those seeking a warmer relationship with the West, would allow the new president to do so.
Brazil Supports PA
Brazil has put into effect a free trade agreement with the Palestinian Authority that has been waiting for ratification for more than decade, in a show of support for the Palestinian people.
“The agreement is a concrete contribution to an economically viable Palestinian state, which can live peacefully and harmoniously with its neighbors,” Brazil’s foreign ministry said on Monday in a statement.
It said Brazil, which recognizes a Palestinian state and allowed a Palestinian embassy to be built in the Brazilian capital in 2010, ratified the agreement on Friday between the Mercosur trade bloc of South America and the Palestinian Authority that had been signed in 2011.
It was not clear whether other Mercosur members would follow suit. Argentina’s right-wing government of President Javier Milei is not expected to do so. Uruguay and Paraguay are both members of Mercosur and have pledged to move their embassies in Israel to Jerusalem.
Palestinian ambassador in Brasilia, Ibrahim Al Zeben, called Brazil’s decision “courageous, supportive and timely.”
It is “the effective way to support peace in Palestine,” he said in a message, adding that he hopes Palestine trade with Mercosur, currently only $32
million a year, will grow.
In February, Brazilian President Lula da Silva compared Israel’s actions in Gaza to those of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler against Jews during World War II.
“What is happening in the Gaza Strip is not war. This is genocide. It is not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It is a war between a trained military against women and children. What is happening in the Gaza Strip against the Palestinian people has not happened at almost any other time in history. In fact, it only happened once; when Hitler decided to kill the Jews,” da Silva claimed.
In response, Foreign Minister Israel Katz called the Brazilian ambassador, Federico Mayer, for a reprimand and told him that da Silva was considered persona non grata in Israel.
Gaza’s Shifa Director Released From Prison
Last week, Mohammad Abu Salmiya, the director of Gaza City’s Shifa
Hospital, was set free from Israeli custody and returned to Gaza. According to reports, Israel’s Shin Bet security service has since rebuked the senior official who decided to free Abu Salmiya, whose hospital is used by Hamas as a military base.
Israeli officials launched an investigation into the release, with Shin Bet director Ronen Bar submitting findings to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Wednesday.
Deemed unlikely to perpetrate further terror attacks by Israel’s security agency, Abu Salmiya was released from Israeli prison in an effort to free up space in Israel’s jails, which are not big enough to accommodate the influx of newly-arrested terrorists. According to Channel 12, National Security Min-
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ister Itamar Ben Gvir, who is responsible for Israeli prisons, was warned for months about the prison space issue but failed to take any action to resolve the problem.
Social media footage showed Gazans welcoming Abu Salmiya back to the Strip upon his return. The videos triggered immediate anger and confusion within Israel, with several Israeli officials, including Ben Gvir, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Bar, the Israel Prison Service, and Netanyahu, blaming one another for the Gazan’s release. The prime minister called the move to set Abu Salmiya free a “grave mistake.”
The Shifa director was detained in November by the Israeli military, which suspected that he had permitted the Hamas terror group to use the hospital as a military base. Beneath Shifa Hospital, where hostage Noa Marciano was reportedly murdered, lies a complex network of Hamas terror tunnels, with Hamas using the hospital as a command center to carry out terrorist attacks on Israel.
According to Abu Salmiya, who said he was “surprised” that some Israeli government officials were caught off-guard by news of his release, he was freed without any conditions or charges.
Last week, Matanyahu Englman, Israel’s State Comptroller, said he might launch an investigation into how the Shifa director was released.
Many arrested Palestinians have been released in the past because Israeli prisons don’t have enough room to fit them all, the Shin Bet has repeatedly warned. Netanyahu has instructed the government to form an interagency group to supervise future decisions on whether to release particular prisoners.
1982 IDF Blast was Suicide Bombing
On November 11, 1982, in the middle of the First Lebanon War, at least 91 individuals perished at an Israeli military base in Tyre, Lebanon, in what officials have long held was an explosion caused by a gas leak. However, now, over 41 years later, a new
Israeli investigation has found that the explosion was actually caused by a Lebanese suicide bomber.
The investigating commission was led by Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Abulafia, who used to command the military’s Planning Directorate. Israeli officials said in November 2022 that they had relaunched the investigation into the explosion. In June 2023, Abulafia’s commission was officially established after the Shin Bet investigated the incident and determined that the explosion was very likely caused by a suicide bombing.
“Approaching an investigation of a terror attack that took place four decades ago is extremely difficult, complicated… it is almost impossible since most people [who were there] are no longer with us. And those who are [still alive] don’t remember many of the details,” said an anonymous Shin Bet official involved in the 2023 investigations.
After thoroughly investigating the incident, officials found “with high certainty, maybe even completely certainty, that this was a terror attack and not a gas leak,” the official clarified. Officials read through thousands of relevant documents, spoke to explosive experts, and conducted forensic investigations into the remains of those killed in the attack. Authorities uncovered body parts that belonged neither to Israeli security forces, nor to the Lebanese detainees killed at the base. Additionally, officials found evidence of explosive impact on some of the victims’ bodies and a Peugeot car that was nearby. Two Lebanese civilians also reportedly noted that they saw the vehicle driving past the IDF base on the day of the attack. Two IDF soldiers, at the time, said that they heard the revving of a car engine before the explosion happened.
The white Peugeot 504 vehicle and the unidentified remains were determined to be the suicide bomber’s, according to Abulafia.
Although Israeli authorities initially considered the possibility that the explosion was an intentional bombing, the Military Advocate General, in April 1983, said that the tragedy was more likely caused by a gas leak, based on a lack of familiarity with car bombings and Iranian-proxy groups at the time. Investigators also didn’t have some important intelligence in the early 1980s.
According to the anonymous senior official, the suicide bomber equipped his vehicle with a 50-kilogram bomb and a number of gas cylinders. The powerful explosion caused the Israeli building’s demolition.
Following the tragic attack back in 1982, Hezbollah claimed responsibility, naming the terrorist as Ahmad Qasir, a seventeen-year-old whom the terror group has touted as its first suicide bomber. In honor of the terrorist, a small monument was built in northeastern Lebanon near the city of Baalbek.
“We know that the director of the attack was supported by Iran… there was also some partial involvement by Imad Mughniyeh, one of the founders of Hezbollah, but until today there is still some disagreement between [Hezbollah and other groups] who this attack belongs to,” Abulafia added. “We can say responsibly that the attack was directed by Iran.”
In a statement, the IDF announced that “the committee recommended that from now on, this tragic event will be treated as a terror attack.”
The Israeli army added, “The Tyre disaster is an unfortunate and painful event… and the completion of the investigation is of great importance, both at the national level and as part of the commitment to the families of the fallen as well as to the victims of the disaster and their families.”
On November 4, 1983, another suicide bombing was carried out at the IDF’s Tyre military base; 28 Israelis and 32 Lebanese prisoners were killed in that attack.
9,250 Wounded
It’s been a hard nine months. Since October 7, at least 9,250 IDF soldiers have been wounded in the fighting.
Around 70% of the wounded are
reservists, while 30% are either mandatory conscripts or career officers. About half of those wounded are under the age of 30. Approximately 35% complain of emotional harm, often post-traumatic stress disorder. Unfortunately, the Defense Ministry predicts that the number of wounded will rise to 14,000 by the end of 2024.
In April, the ministry said 7,209 IDF soldiers had been wounded, with 2,111 of them afflicted by emotional suffering.
While the 2,111 number represents about 29% of all wounded soldiers, with 1,227, or 60% of those with emotional harm, the emotional problems are the primary problem.
Before the war, the defense ministry had accounted for around 62,000 war-wounded soldiers in all prior conflicts, of whom 18% – or 11,000 –suffered emotional distress. Of those 11,000, around 8,000, or 70%, experienced emotional symptoms as their primary problem.
While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the main diagnosis for those with emotional problems, ministry officials emphasized that they recognize and assist with a variety of emotional disorders.
Settlements
Last week, the security cabinet approved the legalization of five “settlements” in Yehuda and Shomron. But those approvals came with condemnation from nations like France
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and Canada that claim that Israel is “colonizing” the land.
The five settlements approved were Evyatar in the northern area of Yehuda and Shomron, Sde Efraim and Givat Asaf in the center, and Heletz and Adorayim in the south of the territory. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s office said that the cabinet had also approved advancing plans for thousands of new homes in Yehuda and Shomron.
In exchange, Smotrich agreed to extend indemnity to Israeli banks working with Palestinian ones in the area for an additional four months and agreed to partially release three months’ worth of tax revenues that Israel collects on the PA’s behalf, which did not include a significant portion that the PA uses to pay for services and employees in Gaza. Israel said that those funds would end
Administration of the state’s appropriation of thousands of acres of land in the Jordan Valley.
The statement said that the moves were “extremely serious” because of their implications for the stability of the West Bank and the region.
“Israeli colonization of the Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, constitutes a violation of international law,” France said.
“In addition to being a major obstacle to any just and lasting peace, this policy fuels tensions on the ground as violence perpetrated by settlers increases against the Palestinian population.”
Canada urged the government to reverse the decisions, saying the move was in contravention of international law.
“Canada firmly opposes the government of Israel’s decision to ap -
law,” the Canadian foreign ministry said in a statement on X.
Norway also expressed its condemnation; the United Kingdom said it “strongly opposes” the Israeli government’s recent legalization of the five settler outposts.
Last month, the EU slammed the move as “another deliberate attempt at undermining peace efforts,” while Germany called it “disturbing and cynical.”
Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), claimed the move is aimed at pursuing a “war of genocide” against Palestinians, adding the settlements are “illegal colonies that violate all international resolutions.
While the international community considers all settlements illegal, Israel differentiates between settle -
Free Med School Thanks to Bloomberg
Students at Johns Hopkins University owe a debt of gratitude to Bloomberg Philanthropies. Michael Bloomberg, in a letter, announced that his foundation is gifting $1 billion to the medical school at John Hopkins, essentially making the school tuition
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free for the majority of the students.
The billionaire said the donation addresses twin challenges: declining health and declining education.
According to Johns Hopkins, for most medical school students, the gift will cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition and living expenses. Students from families earning less than $300,000 will be eligible for the gift. Living expenses will be covered for students who come from families that earn less than $175,000.
This is not the first medical school to receive such a gift. In February, students at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York received free tuition after a $1 billion donation from a former faculty member, Dr. Ruth Gottesman. In 2018, NYU’s School of Medicine became the first medical school in the country to offer free tuition to accepted students.
In the letter, Bloomberg, a Johns Hopkins alumnus, said life expectancy in the U.S. is still lagging behind other countries since the pandemic. The pandemic also hurt public education, Bloomberg said, noting that “remote schooling was a disaster for students.” He added that the high cost of medical school deters students from lower-income families from applying.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average medical school graduate leaves school owing more than $200,000.
Bloomberg previously donated $1.8 billion in 2018 to undergraduate financial aid at Johns Hopkins University.
3 Columbia Deans “Removed”
Columbia University said that it “permanently removed” three deans from their positions at the college after they engaged in “very troubling” text messages during an event about Jewish life on campus.
“This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,” President Minouche Shafik said in a statement on Monday.
The text messages were first revealed last month by The Free Beacon, showing how the senior administrators ridiculed some of the panelists regarding the treatment of Jewish students on campus. The House Education and the Workforce Committee, which has spent months scrutinizing elite colleges including Columbia and Harvard for their tolerance of antisemitism, later released the messages.
The administrators involved in the text messages were Susan Chang-Kim, chief administrative officer of Columbia College; Cristen Kromm, dean of undergraduate student life; Matthew Patashnick, associate dean for student and family support; and Josef Sorett, the dean of Columbia College.
The texts dismissed concerns raised by the panelists regarding treatment of the Jewish students at the college. Demonstrations at the university began after the October 7 massacre by Hamas.
“Hard to hear the woe is me, we need to huddle at the Kraft center,” said Chang, referring to the Kraft Center for Jewish Life. “Trying to be open minded to understand but the doors are closing.”
“Amazing what $$$$ can do,” Kromm said, adding at another point: “If only every identity community had these resources and support.”
“I’m going to throw up,” Chang wrote in response to another portion of the discussion when a Holocaust survivor, Orly Mishan, expressed fear about her daughter “hiding in plain sight” while student-protesters embraced Hamas following the terror group’s October 7 massacre in Israel.
“His use of the word Hamas is interesting,” Patashnick claimed elsewhere. “Students generally weren’t protesting for Hamas.”
Sorett, who has apologized for his role in the messages, is staying in his job. The other three will remain on leave.
Shafik, an economist who has been in the role for a year, has been criticized for failing to crack down on antisemitic behavior and allowing encampments at the college.
Flying High
Sunday was the busiest day in the sky. According to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 3.01 million airline passengers were screened on Sunday, the highest number ever on a single day.
Sunday’s total topped the previous high of more than 2.99 million set on June 23 after the agency set a record in May, the TSA said on Monday.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the record-breaking travel had been “spurred by our nation’s strong economy expected to continue in the months ahead.”
Airlines for America said U.S. carriers plan to fly more than 26,000 daily flights this summer, up nearly 1,400 over 2023, or 5.6%, when they carried 255 million passengers. The summer travel season forecast is for June 1 to Aug. 31.
As more Americans fly, the Federal Aviation Administration struggles to address a persistent shortage of air traffic controllers.
Some airlines voluntarily trimmed New York flights last summer to address congestion issues and have raised new concerns about the lack of controllers.
Last month, the FAA said it was again extending cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports through October 2025, citing air traffic controller staffing shortages.
The FAA said the number of controllers handling traffic in New York is insufficient for normal traffic levels and that without “increased flexibility,” congestion, delays, and cancellations are likely at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports.
A Carrot Crunch
Need a snack? Reach for some baby carrots. According to a study presented on June 30 at Nutrition 2024, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition,
eating three servings of baby carrots a week can offer a significant boost of important nutrients.
Surveys found separately in 2015 and 2019 that only about 1 in 10 American adults ate the recommended 2 to 3 cups of vegetables daily, according to a 2022 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on fruit and vegetable intake: baby carrots. That statistic inspired lead study author Mary Harper Simmons and her colleagues to investigate a simple solution that could increase a person’s weekly vegetable intake.
“[Baby carrots] are grab and go, great with things like ranch, hummus — I’ve even seen people dip them in peanut butter — some people like them plain,” said Simmons, a graduate student in nutrition at Samford University in Alabama. “I would really like to show people that improving your health can be (done) with small simple changes. … It does not have to be one drastic change overnight.”
After four weeks, the researchers found those who ate the carrots had a 10.8% increase in carotenoids in their skin, natural antioxidants found to have health benefits, such as preventing inflammation and promoting heart health, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Additionally, the researchers found those who only took a multivitamin containing the same carotenoid found in carrots did not see any changes in carotenoid levels. But those who consumed the carrots and the supplement saw the most benefits and increased their skin carotenoids by 21.6%.
According to the 2022 CDC report, around 7% of adults ages 18 to 30 eat the recommended amount of vegetables, while a 2023 National College Health Assessment from the American College Health Association found that about 1 in 4 college students surveyed said they ate three or more servings of vegetables per day.
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Stamps’ Costs Rising
Like to mail letters? You may think twice after July 14. The United States Postal Service is set to increase the rate of its “Forever” stamp to 73 cents next week. It’s the second time the United States Postal Service has raised the cost of postage this year.
The “Forever” stamp was introduced in 2007 and cost 41 cents at the time. Since then, the price has steadily increased, most recently in January, when it jumped from 66 cents to 68 cents.
Other postage rates are also set to cost more. Mailing a postcard domestically will cost 56 cents, a 3-cent increase, while the price of mailing postcards and letters internationally are both rising by a dime to $1.65. Overall, postage costs are rising 7.8% increase.
If it makes you feel any better, there will be more “Forever” options to choose from. In June, USPS began offering two new “Forever” stamps one that depicts baseball legend Hank Aaron and another that pays homage to Canadian-American game show host Alex Trebek. The USPS this year has also launched “Forever” stamps honoring former First Lady Betty Ford, University of California Los Angeles men’s basketball coach John Wooden, and some of the conductors of the Underground Railroad.
Despite raising the price of stamps, USPS can’t manage to stay in the black. The agency in November reported a $6.5 billion loss for fiscal 2023 and is projecting a $6.3 billion deficit in 2024, according to Keep US Posted, a nonprofit advocacy group.
Boeing Accepts Plea Deal
Boeing has agreed with the Jus-
tice Department to accept a plea deal, wherein the aerospace company would plead guilty of defrauding United States regulators in a series of crimes that led to the crashes of two 737 Max jetliners and the deaths of 346 passengers.
Last week, prosecutors gave Boeing the ultimatum of either pleading guilty to the charges and paying a fine or going to trial and being criminally charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government. Federal prosecutors have said that Boeing lied several times, leading regulators to approve the Arlington, Virginia-based company’s airplane and pilot-training requirements.
If U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, the federal judge who has been overseeing the case, approves of the deal, Boeing will have to pay a fine of around $243.6 million and will be forced to invest $455 million or more in safety initiatives. Additionally, a third-party would have to be appointed to, for the next three years, supervise Boeing’s safety and quality efforts. If O’Connor rejects the deal, which is supposed to be formally presented to him by the DOJ by July 19, Boeing and the Justice Department would have to engage in further talks.
This case does not have any bearing on the incident in January, when a Boeing airplane’s panel flew off in the middle of an Alaska Airlines flight. This deal is only relevant to the actions that led to the crashes of two flights – one in Indonesia and the other in Ethiopia.
The flight in Indonesia crashed because Lion Air pilots weren’t aware of a feature wherein the plane’s nose could be pushed down without pilot input. While Ethiopian Airlines pilots knew about the flight-control software, the feature was suddenly activated due to a broken sensor, leading the plane to fly out of the pilots’ control. In 2021, the DOJ said that Boeing misled FAA regulators and failed to inform them about the new software, which wasn’t a part of the 737’s older models. At the time, Boeing alleged that two of its low-level workers were at fault for de-
ceiving regulators.
Lawyers representing the loved ones of those killed in the two Boeing plane crashes have urged the judge to deny the deal.
“This sweetheart deal fails to recognize that because of Boeing’s conspiracy, 346 people died. Through crafty lawyering between Boeing and the DOJ, the deadly consequences of Boeing’s crime are being hidden,” charged lawyer Paul Cassell, who represents some of the families.
In 2021, the DOJ and Boeing initially reached an agreement, with the Justice Department deciding that it wouldn’t prosecute the aerospace company on the condition that it complies with a number of rules for three years. In June 2024, however, federal prosecutors said that Boeing went against the conditions of the 2021 agreement.
Riding the Rails
These kids love the train and can’t seem to get enough of it.
A group of eight British teens –ages 16 and 17 – spent a good part of their day riding the London Underground. They managed to visit all 272 stations with a time of 18 hours, 8 minutes, and 13 seconds.
The group, who call themselves The Amersham Ambushers, were required to visit every London Underground stop using only public transportation. They began their record attempt at Heathrow Terminal 5 and went full steam ahead, ending at Amersham station.
The self-described train nerds had attempted what they called “The London Tube Challenge” twice before, but only found success on their third try.
“We wanted to complete this record for two reasons,” team member Arthur Phillips told Guinness World Records. “It was a fun puzzle plan-
ning the route as some of us are quite mathematically inclined, and additionally, it allowed us to explore parts of London that we hadn’t ever had reason to go to before.”
The group managed to complete the arduous task in record time, beating the previous record-holder’s time by 1 hour and 56 minutes.
Phillips explained, “A mixture of arguably luck and also a much-improved route allowed us to beat the record by such a margin.”
The previous record-holder was good-humored about losing their title and will soon be meeting The Amersham Ambushers for lunch.
All aboard!
Napoleon’s Guns Sell for $1.83M
Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence during the French Revolution and was the leader of the French Republic and then the French Empire, as he controlled much of Europe. Despite winning many battles against a coalition of European states after his invasion of Russia, Paris fell to the enemy on March 31, 1814. Napoleon was shattered by the defeat.
Napoleon eventually abdicated the throne and fled to Elba.
A pair of pistols once owned by the French emperor that were given to his friend in 1814 were recently sold at auction for $1.83 million. They were originally valued at an estimated $1.3 million-$1.63 million.
The guns were sold in a Burr walnut box with an ebony inlay. The lid of the box is lined with green velvet embroidered with the letter N, which is bordered with embroidered flowers. The box and two guns also bear Napoleon’s cipher.
Last November, one of Napoleon’s famous black hats was sold for a record $2.1 million.
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The guns were declared a National Treasure by the French government last week, meaning they cannot leave the country.
“This pair of pistols represents the fall, the end, the abdication” of the French emperor, auctioneer JeanPierre Osenat said in a video posted by the auction house.
Napoleon died in Saint Helena in 1821 at the age of 54. He once said, “Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools.”
One Cent
Robbery
A bank robber in Florida handed a bank teller a note demanding cash and was arrested for robbery last week.
The heist occurred in a Chase bank in Lady Lake, Florida.
According to the arrest report, Michael Patrick Fleming walked into the bank and filled out a withdrawal slip and handed it to a teller. “The defendant was told he could not be given $00.01,” police noted.
Yup, that’s all the guy wanted: one cent.
After being denied a penny, Fleming,
who does not have a Chase account, reportedly told the teller, “So you want me to say the other word?” The teller “was in fear that possible violence was imminent” and “notified law enforcement,” cops say.
When police responded to the 911 call, Fleming was still inside the bank. He was taken into custody and was interviewed by investigators.
Fleming told police that he had gone to another bank, but that bank was closed, so he headed to Chase. He said he expected the teller to give him the penny and then said he would have sat “in the chair and wait[ed] for law enforcement.”
According to him, “his goal was to be arrested.”
Well, his plans worked out OK, because he is now sitting in jail in lieu of a $5,000 bond.
Fleming was evicted from his mobile home last month. Perhaps he just wanted
a place to relax for a while. Then it would all make “cents.”
Top Dog
With Joey Chestnut out of the race, Patrick Bertoletti nabbed the title at the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest last week, scarfing down 58 dogs to earn the trophy. In the women’s competition, defending champion Miki Sudo won her 10th title and set a new world record by downing 51 links.
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the reigning men’s champion and winner of 16 out of 17 previous competitions, didn’t attend this year over a sponsorship tiff. Instead, he competed later in the day against four soldiers at a U.S. Army base in El Paso, Texas, where he wolfed down 57 hot dogs in five minutes.
Bertoletti, 39, of Chicago, said he lost weight and practiced for three months with “an urgency” to prepare for the event, thinking he had a good chance of winning.
“With Joey not here, I knew I had a
shot,” Bertoletti said. “I was able to unlock something that I don’t know where it came from.”
Bertoletti bested his prior record of 55 hot dogs at the event, which is held every Independence Day on New York’s Coney Island, a beachfront destination with amusement parks and a carnivalesque summer culture.
Earlier, in the women’s competition, Sudo, a 38-year-old dental hygiene student from Florida, once again carried the day.
“I’m just happy to call this mine for another year,” Sudo said after winning the pink belt.
Bertoletti’s victory marks the first time the famed mustard belt and $10,000 prize money has gone to someone besides Chestnut since 2015. Let the top dog win.
FIT A BIT OF TORAH INTO YOUR LIFE.
Torah Thought Unexpected Joy
By Rabbi Zvi Teichman
Perhaps the most pivotal moment in the entire story of our forty-year journey through the wilderness is depicted in this week’s reading.
At the thirty-eight years ‘yard line’, Miriam dies, and the well suddenly stops yielding its waters. They protest and complain, demanding water.
Moshe is upset with the nation and in frustration hits the rock rather than speak to it.
G-d takes Moshe and Aharon to task, decreeing that they will not be destined to lead the people into the
land, remaining shunned from their long-awaited entry to the promised land.
From this juncture and on, the entire nature of their relationship with their challenges is no longer one where an open miracle led the way.
They try to negotiate permission with the king of Edom, to take a more direct route to their ultimate destination, and are categorically refused, turning dejectedly away.
They face their first battle with an enemy who succeeds in taking a captive. Moshe is no longer depicted as leading them miraculously, rather
leaving them to their own devices in beating down the Canaanite king of Arad. (רבד קמעה)
Longing for the normalcy of a natural existence they deride the miraculous Manna, finding nature rebelling against them with a sudden onslaught of fiery serpents who kill many of them. (ה"רשר ,רפוס םתח)
What changed the course of their journey so suddenly?
The Torah begins this recording of events with the introduction of the laws of impurity as they pertain to contact with the dead, and its remedy of the Red Heifer.
The entire notion of the reality of death was a result of the Sin of the Golden Calf. If not for that failure, we would have lived according to the original plan of eternal life on earth.
It is precisely the ‘Mother Cow’[Red Heifer] that must atone and clean up after its young ‘Calf’ [Golden Calf].
The reality of our transience is reinforced by the recording of the deaths of the remarkable prophetess, Miriam, and the beloved Aharon HaKohen.
Despite living within the realm of mortality the nation still lived with open miracles that defied nature. It was only after the failure of Moshe and Aharon at the Waters of Strife, that the world unraveled once again.
The nature of Moshe’s failure is the subject of numerous opinions.
The Maharal offers a very practical understanding of their error.
If [Moshe] had been stronger and more steadfast in his faith, he would have experienced the joyous feeling of acting without anger. This is what is meant [when G-d tells Moshe and Aharon after this incident], “Since you did not believe in Me.” It would have been proper for Moshe to be strong in his faith,
and if he had been strong in his faith in the Almighty, he would have achieved an exalted stature and would have acted with joy, rather than being moved to anger.
Had Moshe’s emunah been complete, he would have reached the level where he could remain joyous and calm even under the trying circumstances, and he would not have become angry at Bnei Yisrael.
Certainly, Moshe only erred on a level that is beyond our comprehension, yet for him it was considered a sin.
The Rambam quotes a remarkable idea on the Mishna in Avos (4, 4), where Rabbi Levitas of Yavneh says,
— Be exceedingly humble in spirit:
I saw in a book on virtues where they asked one of the important pietists (chassid), what was the happiest day of your life? He said: The day I sailed aboard a ship, and I was on the least of the places on the boat, among the baggage, while there were on the boat merchants and men of wealth. I was lying in my place and one of these men on the boat got up to urinate, and I was so exceptionally low in esteem in his eyes, that he exposed his nakedness and urinated on me. I was astonished at the strength of his brazenness in his soul, but I swear by G-d’s life, that my soul was not pained at his behavior at all. My strength was not aroused, and I was so greatly happy that I reached the point that being degraded did not hurt.
One experiences true joy when one senses that no matter what comes one’s way it is destined from above and precisely the best thing that could happen for his ultimate benefit.
When we live by the personal expectations we desire and assume are our entitlement, we are doomed to get frustrated and angry when things do not go according to plan.
When we submit to His will without expectation, ready to roll
with whatever punches come our way, then we may ‘hope’ — not expect, that G-d will intervene for our benefit. However, when we stubbornly continue to expect things to go our way then we are subjected to the consequences of the ‘laws of nature’ and its seemingly random results.
Until we ‘get it’, we will be vulnerable to our enemies and assorted snakes that seek our doom.
Perhaps the introduction to our portion — the realities of death and its consequences, is instructive in teaching us that after the Sin of the Golden Calf, there is only one item in life one is permitted to expect — death. As the saying alleged to Benjamin Franklin goes: In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes. After that, it is up to us to live without any expectation in any circumstance of life and live the joy that stems from living according to His plan.
Might that be the intimation in Rabbi Levitas’ statement — to be exceedingly חור לפש, often times translated as a lowly [humble] spirit, but perhaps I may suggest alternately: inhale your חור [breath] slowly but deeply, a summons to chill and inhale deliberately, not reacting per your expectations, but only in calm submission to a higher will.
Might that be the deeper understanding of his emphasis in the second half of his prior statement: המר שונא תוקתש — for the anticipated end of mortal man is worms?
Man must live life taking relaxed and conscious breaths, in not reacting to stimuli beyond his control or expectation, because there is only one thing that one may expect: the worms that will consume your mortal being one day!
Rav Meilich Biderman tells the story of the great Posek, the Minchas Yitzchok, who headed the Eidah Chareidis. He was a young exceptional scholar who was sought after by many wealthy baalei batim and prominent Torah scholars as a match for their daughters. One girl was fortunate to become his future wife. On the way to the wedding, the mother of the chosson discovered that the kallah possessed a terrible flaw that she felt would doom his marriage and future life. She insist -
ed on canceling the wedding. The young man calmly told his loving and protective mother that he plans on going ahead with the wedding, blemishes notwithstanding.
He asked his mother to imagine the pain the kallah would experience upon discovering he backed out. She was guiltless, he asserted, as she had no idea her defect was never mentioned.
He went on to marry her and having one son together. The war broke out. She perished, but he and his son survived. He eventually married two more times but was never blessed with more children. From his only son he merited many descendants.
He commented later in life that it was clear to him that according to ‘natural law’ he was not destined to have children. It was only because he maintained his cool, never getting frustrated in the fact he married a woman he never expected he would, and because he accepted the will of G-d, doing an extraordinary kindness with faithful joy, that he overcame nature and merited the birth of his only child!
If we live in a world of expectations, we are limited to its finite offerings. But if we joyously accept the higher will, we stand the chance of experiencing true and miraculous joy in our sojourn in this mortal world!
ףא — angst, equals עבט — nature. (81)
The counterforce to ףא is its acronymous representation, הטושפ הנומא — simple [and joyous] faith.
It is the only way to live. No expectations. No disappointments. Only pure and unadulterated joy!
You may reach the author at: Ravzt@ohelmoshebaltimore.com
PARSHA
OVERVIEW
Parshas Chukas discusses the Red Heifer, the laws of the Parah Adumah. In addition, the Parshah discusses laws about a corpse, Miriam and Aharon’s passing, the attack of Amalek, more complaints from the Jewish nation, and various battles.
Quotable Quote “ ”
“Our common humanity precedes our religious differences.”
- Rabbi Lord J. Sacks zt”l
GEMATRIA
Here is a mind-boggling gematria:
We know Miram married Kalev. Amazingly, the gematria of םירמ האיבנה is 363. There is only one passuk in the Torah (Bamidbar 13:6) with this exact gematria:
Wow!
Rabbi Ori Strum is the author of Ready. Set. Grow. (Mosaica Press).
His shiurim and other Jewish content can be found on Torah Anytime and Meaningful Minute. He also likes your feedback: rabbistrumo@gmail.com
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The Torah tells us (20:1) םש תמתו
- And Miriam died THERE
What can we learn from this?
From our very introduction to the great Miriam back in Shemos, we are taught that she was a person who always looked out for others. It was Miriam who stood by a “close distance” and kept an eye out for her brother, Moshe.
When the Torah says, "And Miriam died THERE" perhaps it is offering her the greatest eulogy. She died THERE, not HERE. Her entire life was not "here," it was not about herself and her wants and desires.
Rather, her life was one of םש, THERE, a life of giving, a life of living for others, an existence that served the greater klal
What an inspiring message for us to take in our own lives.
Let's strive to live a life of םש, being a giver, a leader, and a role model for others.
Rebbe Yisroel Mikoznitz, in the Sefer Avodas Yisroel, says something amazing.
The passuk (19:2) says
(they should take a cow which is without blemish, and upon which a yoke has not come.)
The Rebbe learns the following message from these words: Someone who thinks he already achieved perfection -
- that is a sign that הילע
לוע - that he has not properly accepted upon himself the לוע םימש תוכלמ, the yoke of Heaven.
Points to
Immediately after the Torah discusses the laws of the Parah Adumah, the Torah mentions the death of Miriam (which actually happened 38 years later!).
Clearly, the Torah wants us to draw a lesson from one to the other.
What is the connection? What does Miriam’s passing have to do with the Parah Adumah?
Parshas Chukas on
Forgotten Her es Marine Legends
By Avi Heiligman
John F. Bolt
During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army formed the Continental Marines in 1775 but was disbanded at the conclusion of hostilities. The modern Marine Corps was established on July 11, 1798 under President John Adams. Since then, the corps has undertaken many responsibilities. Their victories are heroic and, in many cases, legendary. Here are two stories of marine legends.
Ace status for pilots is quite an achievement, but only one marine aviator recorded at least five kills in two separate conflicts. Born in South Carolina, John F. Bolt became a pilot in 1942 and was sent to fight in the Pacific Theater of Operations. While in the Pacific, he flew for VMF-214 (also known as the Black Sheep Squadron) under Major “Pappy” Boyington. Bolt flew the Vaught F4U Corsair, and his missions varied from escorting bombers, covering the task force, fighter sweeps and patrols. He earned his first two kills over Bougainville on September 23, 1943. In total, Bolt recorded six aerial victories during World War II; all were against Japanese A6M “Zero” fighters.
On October 16, the squadron was escorting B-24 Liberator bombers when bad weather forced them to turn back. On their way to refuel at Vella Lavella, Bolt noticed that there was enemy activity at Tonolei Harbor in Bougainville. None of the other pilots wanted to join him in returning to the enemy harbor, and Boyington told him not to go. However, that didn’t stop Bolt, and he managed to destroy four Japanese barges before returning to his base at Munda. Boyington was furious at the pilot
who disobeyed his orders but that subsided when Admiral “Bull” Halsey sent a telegram congratulating Bolt on his victory. October 17 was Bolt’s last mission before going on a break – he shot down a Zero during a fighter sweep.
Bolt stayed in the Marine Corps following World War II and was assigned to several squadrons before switching to the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. Earlier in the Korean War, he had flown 94 missions in the F9F Panther. These missions were mainly close air support and bombing missions, but he really wanted to get back
flying skills finally forced the enemy pilot to bail out of his badly damaged plane. For this action, he was awarded the Navy Cross. Bolt was one of only seven American pilots to be credited with shooting down at least five planes in two wars, and he was the only marine pilot to achieve the incredible feat.
Another marine legend was Guy Gabaldon who convinced Japanese soldiers and civilians to surrender. Born in Los Angeles, Gabaldon moved in with a family that was of Japanese descent when he was just twelve and picked up the language, cul-
A Japanese officer soon came out to meet the lone American who accepted the terms of surrender for 800 Japanese soldiers and civilians.
into aerial combat. Initially, he was denied transfer to a fighter unit, but he was finally allowed to join the 39th Squadron flying the F-86 Sabre. In all, he shot down six MiG15 fighters including two on July 11, 1953. He saw a flight of four enemy planes on a reconnaissance mission. The outnumbered Americans (t was just Bolt and his wingman) got in position to attack the MiGs, and he knocked one out with a burst of fire. The second plane that he shot down took several attacks, but Bolt’s exceptional
ture, and customs. He joined the marines in 1943, and after a stint at the Japanese Language School for enlisted men, Gabaldon became a scout and observer in the 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.
Surrendering to the enemy was a very rare occurrence for Japanese soldiers during the war. It was part of their doctrine to be victorious or die in battle, and usually most Japanese garrisons fought to the last man. This made battle very difficult and much more dangerous for the
American military, but Gabaldon utilized a unique tactic. In June 1944, the Americans landed on Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. On his first night on the island, Gabaldon left his post and captured two Japanese soldiers by yelling at them that they were surrounded. He was reprimanded for leaving his post, but he continued to do it on subsequent nights with great success. One time, he captured two enemy guards and convinced one of them to go back to his hideout with terms of surrender. A Japanese officer soon came out to meet the lone American who accepted the terms of surrender for 800 Japanese soldiers and civilians. Gabaldon continued with his remarkable success during the Battle of Tinian. However, he was wounded by machine gun fire during an ambush. Gabaldon is credited with capturing over 1,500 Japanese and was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions.
The Marine Corps is preparing to commemorate the 226th anniversary of their founding. It is important to remember the sacrifices that many made to achieve success on the battlefield. There are many stories of bravery and courage that came from the men and women who served in the Marine Corps. Heroes like the ones mentioned in this article will be remembered for their contributions to the war effort and the lives that they saved.
Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.
Guy Gabaldon, center
US marines in the Pacific theater in World War II
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Tech Triumphs
Looking The Other Way
as told to Rebbetzin Sara Gross
We are careful to filter our internet on our home computer, but honestly, we’d rather not keep it on all the time, just in case. So, whenever anyone needs something from the internet, my husband or I type in the code for the internet, and after they finish, we press ‘forget’ on the password. We made up a long and convoluted password to make it harder for the kids to guess it.
The other day, my son needed something from Amazon, and he asked me to sign onto the internet. I sat down to type in the password, and I noticed something beautiful. My son turned his head away so he wouldn’t see me typing the code in. He carefully avoided noticing the keys and getting the code. It was so impressive and heartwarming that he understood the importance of our Gedarim (safeguards) and went along wholeheartedly.
DID YOU KNOW: Many believe they don’t need internet filters because they feel confident in their internet usage and aren’t addicted to harmful or time-wasting content. However, there are several compelling reasons for everyone to install a filter on their phone or computer.
First, internet content often tempts users into unsolicited material. In fact, online content is deliberately designed to engage users and divert their attention. After you watch a simple how-to video, sites like YouTube auto-play thinly related videos, such as a funny cat video, a basketball game highlight, or an arts and crafts hack. Soon 45 min-
utes have been consumed instead of the productivity you intended. It’s also easy to unintentionally view objectionable images, videos, or websites due to a mistyped search term or a clever advertisement. A filter helps ensure you only access sites and apps aligned with your values and intentions.
Some more reasons: When you install a filter you promote internet safety for your family and all those around you. You role-model responsible online behavior to your children, something they will remember when it’s time for them to make their own internet safety decisions. Furthermore, filters protect you from cyber threats like malware and viruses by restricting access to harmful websites. Lastly, filters protect children or vulnerable individuals who may inadvertently stumble upon inappropriate content. Remember, your filter is not only for you but also for anyone who accesses or borrows your device.
Using a filtered device is like wearing a seatbelt; it’s a responsible choice for every internet user. Unfortunately, very few regular internet users manage to stay completely safe and focused online. Take the step to filter your internet devices – it’s an honest act of precaution that benefits every responsible internet user.
This is a service of TAG Baltimore. TAG Baltimore is an organization that provides technology awareness, education, and support. They can be reached at 410-449-1824 or help@ tagbaltimore.org.
Headlines Halacha
Dating Before an Older Sibling Gets Married
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman
It was why Yaakov Avinu married Leah before Rochel, and it is something that comes up over and over again. Yet, notwithstanding its frequency, people have only vague ideas of when it is okay for a younger sibling to marry first and when it is not. Some people wonder about the actual source of the practice. Others aren’t sure as to the parameters of to whom it applies. Here are some questions that pertain to a younger sibling marrying before an older one:
• Is it a halacha? Or is it just a good and nice thing to do?
• To whom exactly does this concept apply?
• What is the source of this halacha or practice?
• Are there, in fact, any exceptions to this rule?
The Exceptions
We will start with the last question first. Yes, there are actually nine excep -
tions to the concept:
1. When the siblings do not live in the same country. We need to explore what the parameters of this actually are, however. Some poskim apply this leniency even further, stating that it applies to siblings not residing under the same roof (See Shulchan HaEzer 47:1).
2. When the older one agrees to it, Rav Moshe Shternbuch (Vol. I #739) permits it. However, if the older sibling has pain from it, then it is not permitted.
3. The Maharsham (Vol. III #136) writes that when the daughter has reached a mature age, the age of 22, it is permitted.
4. If the older sibling is not following in the path of the Torah, it is also permitted according to the Einayim L’Mishpat, Kiddushin 52a as cited in HaNesuin K’hilchasa 1:54.
5. The aforementioned Maharsham allows it when the younger one went ahead and started dating.
6. When the older sibling is not agreeing to get married by choice. The aforementioned Maharsham entitles this leniency as “b’shaas hadchak .”
7. When the older sibling has an illness which makes it difficult for him or her to find a shidduch, this is also termed b’shaas hadchak and the Maharsham permits the younger sibling to date.
8. When the parents are not paying for the wedding at all and it is done by the children, the Beis Yechezkel (Siman 60) is lenient.
9. Some poskim are lenient whenever there is somewhat of a need, tzorech ktzas (Maharash Engel Vol. VI #102; Minchas Elazar Vol. I #163). What would somewhat of a need mean? It would seem that these poskim hold that if there is any need to do so above that of the regular desire to get married, it would be permitted.
It should be noted that the Shulchan HaEzer (Vol. I Siman 47:1) states that
regardless of the heterim, it should only be done after consultation with a beis din. Others permit it after consultation with a known gadol and posek.
Rav Moshe Feinstein’s Approach
Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, (Igros Moshe Even HoEzer Vol. II #1) has an entirely different approach to the concept discussed. He writes that, regarding brothers, this issue is only in regard to two of them that have someone available that they can each marry. Under such circumstances, the elder one is to be married first. However, when a younger brother has someone available and the older sibling does not, then this issue does not arise at all and it is permitted l’chatchilah, ideally.
Rav Feinstein then states that in regard to two sisters, it is not a halacha, but just a minhag. This author’s family member, in fact, had consulted Rav
Feinstein on a case of two sisters and his response was rather lenient.
The Maharash Engel (Vol. VI #102) actually agrees with the position espoused by Rav Moshe, zt”l. Nonetheless, the majority of Achronim do not understand the concept in the manner that Rav Moshe does. The issue seems to revolve around how to read the words of the Shach (YD 244:13).
The Source
The Rashbam (Bava Basra 120a) understands the pasuk in Bereishis, “It shall not be done thus in our place – to give the younger one [in marriage] before the older” (Bereishis 29:26) as the source for the halacha.
There is a second possible source as well: the daughters of Tzlafchad in Bamidbar 27. Machlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah either got married in age order or in order of wisdom. According to the commentaries that understand it as age order, this is a source for our concept.
A third source may be from Rabbe -
when a person says, “Your daughter is engaged to me” to a person who has two daughters, the marriage is effective and the intent is to the eldest daughter on account of the verse in Bereishis 29:26.
To Whom Does It Apply?
The idea applies to both older brothers of brothers and older sisters of sis -
younger brother, there appears to be a debate among the Posikim. The Bach (YD 244) seems to forbid it, while the Maharsham is lenient. The Chelkas Yaakov (Vol. I #125 cited by HaNesuim K’hilchasam) states that the custom is to be stringent. Regarding the older brother of a younger sister, there also appears to be a debate. The Igros Sofrim (#29 citing
issue remains a question.
Is It a Halacha?
There are numerous poskim who state that the entire concept of waiting for a sibling is, in fact, not an actual halacha but rather a matter of derech eretz, or appropriate ethical behavior. The Chasam Sofer in a responsa (Vol. VII #23) rules in this manner. Yet we also find poskim that understand this concept as an out-andout halacha. This is the indication of the TaZ (YD 208:1) – that it is, in fact, a full halacha.
ters. It is interesting to note that it only applies to the members of the family. In other words, it is perfectly permitted for a suitor to date the younger sibling. The issue is just on the younger sibling but
the Chsam Sofer) is stringent. However, the Chazon Ish and the Steipler Gaon (Orchos Rabbeinu Vol. page 281) were both lenient in such a case.
What about twins? Does the issue apply to an older twin as well? The Shulchan HaEzer Vol. I 45:3 states that the
As in many areas of halacha, we find three important notions here. The first is that there is a wide range of divergent opinions. The second is that we should always have a posek or moreh horaah that will guide us as we travel down the path of life. The third conclusion is, like much of halacha, there are moral and ethical considerations in every path and decision that we embark on. The goal is to do things in a manner that does not hurt people.
This article should be viewed as a halachic discussion and not practical advice. The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@gmail.com.
Netanyahu’s Red Lines For
“The Deal”
By Caroline B. Glick
Currently, Israel’s media is laser-focused on the prospect of “the deal” with Hamas. Will “the deal” come to fruition or will Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scuttle it?
The premise of the discourse is that “the deal,” is objectively desirable. Anyone who tells you otherwise – particularly, if his name is Netanyahu – is a liar acting solely out of personal, political and morally corrupt considerations.
The leaders of the security establishment, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Israel Defense Forces’ Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet director Ronen Bar and Mossad director David Barnea, support “the deal” and insist that Israel can live with the concessions it requires Jerusalem to make to Hamas.
Ahead of a new round of discussions about “the deal” this week in Qatar and Egypt, Netanyahu convened Israel’s negotiating team led by Barnea and Bar on Sunday. Following the meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office published five “red lines” for a deal ahead of the talks.
Broadly, “the deal” involves a six-week ceasefire during which Hamas would release 20 live, predom-
inantly female hostages. Hamas is currently holding around 120 hostages, of whom some 80 are presumed alive. Israel would be required to release hundreds of terrorists from its prisons, including murderers, to secure the release of the 20 women.
Netanyahu’s first red line is for Israel to retain its freedom to resume offensive operations after the sixweek ceasefire. Hamas long demanded that Israel concede that position and agree that the ceasefire would be permanent. Hamas is now willing to give up that demand. But it replaced it with a demand that the U.S. guarantee that Israel will not reinstate military operations in Gaza. Hamas’s reasonable assumption is that Israel will not defy the United States.
Netanyahu’s first red line makes it impossible for the administration to accept Hamas’s demand.
Netanyahu’s second red line requires Hamas to be blocked from smuggling arms from Egypt during the pause in fighting.
His third red line requires a mechanism to ensure that no armed men are able to return to northern Gaza from southern Gaza.
These two red lines come in response to Hamas’s demand that Israel withdraw its forces from the Phil-
adelphi and Netzarim corridors during the six-week ceasefire (which Hamas, and its international supporters, seek to render permanent).
The Philadelphi corridor controls Gaza’s border with Egypt. On Oct. 7, Israel was stunned by the expanse of Hamas’s arsenal and realized that Egypt – far from acting as Israel’s partner in its effort to prevent Hamas from expanding its military power – was enabling it.
Since Israel seized control over the Philadelphi corridor, it has exposed dozens of cross-border underground tunnels. One, in particular, is a massive, three-story highway. Speaking to Amit Segal of Channel 12 news, IDF commanders said on Monday that what Israel has exposed to date is less than half of what Hamas has built yet to discover. So the situation remains threatening, and Egypt is not helping to remedy it – to the contrary.
This brings us to the Netzarim corridor, which IDF forces began constructing several months ago. The Netzarim corridor runs east to west in central Gaza. It enables Israel to control the traffic of Gazans from south to north, as well as prevents Hamas’s reconstitution of its political and military power in northern Gaza by blocking the return of its forces to the area.
Given the strategic significance of corridors, the imperative for Israel to maintain Netanyahu’s red lines is self-evident.
Netanyahu’s fourth red line requires Israel to “maximize the number of living hostages freed during the initial ceasefire.”
An All-Or-Nothing Package
Hamas took 250 men, women and children on Oct. 7, and still holds 120 of them nine months later because it rightly views the hostages as its strategic trump card. Since 1985, when Israel agreed to swap Palestinian terrorists for Israeli hostages for the first time, every time that Iran’s terror armies have held Israeli hostages, they have successfully used them to achieve strategic gains.
If Israel removes its forces from Gaza, including from the Netzarim and Philadelphi corridors, and releases hundreds of terrorists from jail to secure the release of 20 hostages, what will it have to give to receive the release of the other 100, including 60 people presumed to still be alive?
Without troops on the ground, without the ability to reinstate combat operations, the cost of negotiating their release would be utterly prohibitive for Israel. As a result, either Israel will capitulate and start the countdown for its destruction to get them released, or it will leave the rest of the hostages in Gaza indefinitely with scant military or diplomatic prospects for their rescue.
Netanyahu’s final red line requires that “the deal” not undermine any of Israel’s war goals. This sounds redundant. But actually, it is important because it includes aspects of the deal that he doesn’t mention explicitly. One of the deal’s components being presented as “pro-Israel” stands out in particular. This component would see an “Arab force” take over security responsibility in Gaza. The idea is that forces from moderate Arab states at peace with Israel would be in charge.
There are two problems with this. First, as has been discovered regarding Egypt, ostensibly moderate and friendly Arab regimes are not necessarily moderate or friendly when it comes to Israel’s war against Hamas specifically or in relation to the Palestinian goal of annihilating Israel more generally. Bringing Arab forces into Gaza effectively merges the existential Palestinian conflict with the all-but-resolved Arab conflict with Israel. Since most Arabs support the Palestinians against Israel, this would undermine the peaceful relations Israel has built with Arab regimes across decades.
Netanyahu’s final red line would reject a deal that in any way undermines Israel’s war goals – and that includes preserving Israel’s peaceful ties with its moderate Arab neighbors.
These red lines need to be viewed as an all-or-nothing package. Either the negotiators secure all of them,
or there is no deal. Their implication is obvious. Israel will accept a hostage deal. Indeed, it is willing to pay a massive price to achieve one. But it will not undermine its position strategically. It will not enable Hamas to win this war. It will not abandon the rest of the hostages. It will not sign its national death warrant.
Given the near-unanimous support of the public for the goals of the war, we should pay attention to the actors that have condemned Netanyahu’s red lines.
Aside from leftist politicians and activists, who can be expected to condemn him, Netanyahu’s red lines have also been sharply criticized by senior officers in the Mossad and the IDF. Channel 12 quoted two security sources who castigated Netanyahu’s decision to publish his red lines. “Netanyahu pretends that he wants a deal but is working to torpedo it,” one said. That source insisted that Netanyahu was acting for personal reasons.
government’s war goals of defeating Hamas militarily and politically and to preventing the terror group from rebuilding its military and political power.
Halevi’s spokesmen made the case all but explicitly in an interview Monday with ABC News.
“Will you and me be talking five years from now about Hamas as a terror organization in Gaza? The answer is yes,” said Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the IDF.
The Opposite Side of the Fence
A second source of criticism of Netanyahu’s red lines is the Biden administration.
President Joe Biden himself presented the broad outlines of “the deal” last month and insisted that it was Israel’s offer. In intervening weeks, it became clear that Biden was speaking for himself and not for Israel. True, Israel agreed to “the deal.” But it agreed to “the deal” with Netanyahu’s red lines.
Without troops on the ground, without the ability to reinstate combat operations, the cost of negotiating their release would be utterly prohibitive for Israel.
The administration has been pushing full throttle for Netanyahu to accept “the deal” without his deadlines. It is reportedly threatening sanctions against Netanyahu if he rejects it. According to a high-level source, the International Criminal Court’s declared plan to issue international arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant was not an ICC initiative. Rather, it was the brainchild of Maher Bitar, senior National Security Council director for the Defense Department and the Intelligence Community. Bitar, one of the most powerful officials in the administration, is a former UNRWA employee and views Israel as an illegitimate state. He also serves as special counsel to the president. Chatter is now being heard that the White House is threatening Netanyahu, saying the ICC will issue the arrest warrants if he refuses to accept “the deal.”
Rhetoric aside, given the strategic consequences of “the deal,” the administration’s clear position is that it supports Hamas’s victory over Israel in this war.
Netanyahu has long insisted that he is willing to pay an enormous price to achieve the release of the hostages. The fact that he supports “the deal” with his red lines is proof that he is telling the truth. His red lines – minimal as they are – place him on the opposite side of the fence of his detractors. They are willing to accept capitulation. He is not.
A second source insisted that Netanyahu refuses to see the half-full side of the cup. Netanyahu, he said, “emphasizes the gaps” between Hamas and Israel, rather than the agreements they have reached to date.
Statements like these and others raise the disconcerting sense that Israel’s General Staff and its other security services reject the government’s decision to fight for victory in the war. Ynet news reported that the generals, including Gallant, believe that securing the release of 20 hostages is more important than maintaining control over the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors. This means that they aren’t committed to the
The media, the administration and the security establishment refuse to discuss the strategic implications of “the deal,” as proposed, for Israel. Instead, they harshly and hysterically condemn Netanyahu and accuse him of behaving selfishly for refusing to abandon Israel’s war goals.
Given the actual stakes, it is clear that the media is distorting events. Netanyahu is the only actor on the stage who isn’t behaving politically. He is the only one acting to protect Israel from strategic catastrophe.
(JNS)
There is so much to share and say; there is not enough time to fully express the craziest week with days that began at dawn and never really ended.
I have not processed retirement (what will I do?), leaving our home of over 30 years, and – most complicated –saying goodbye to beloved family, friends and colleagues.
Not there yet.
We did not have our passports and visas until this past Wednesday; it took a well-connected beloved friend to make sure that they were found and ready. They had been misfiled. There is so much more, but I can’t go back to that dark place.
The agent who processed them asked, “Who do you know? Four different higher-ups called about your visa.”
All that matters is that we are ready. Plus, though the agencies may be overburdened with paperwork, the people who work in them are wonderful and compassionate. They cared.
There will soon be a time when I hope to be able to reflect on the past few months and process and share. Not today.
In Israel, Shabbat is welcomed all day Friday. It’s erev of the best day of the week and you need the time to prepare. Yet, it’s a race to the finish line no matter how much time you have set aside to pre -
School of Thought
At the Gate
By Barbara Deutsch
pare in advance.
Getting ready for aliyah is the same; you plan for years, and in the months and weeks leading up to the actual flight, the preparations need more space than what you thought, were advised, would be enough.
It’s not!
Despite having a part of a lift – those guys at Sonigo know what they are doing – we have seven duffel bags (you are allowed four) and two carry-ons to take.
table seating chart from our wedding 56 years ago?
My son asked us if we would be relieved if our lift sank and we did not have to unpack when the lift was scheduled to arrive. Also, there is no stopping and zero parking on our block, resulting in there being no possibility of ever getting the stuff we probably don’t need.
We are fortunate in our important choices. We are blessed with friends and family we love who have offered to help,
You plan for years, and in the months and weeks leading up to the actual flight, the preparations need more space than what you thought.
And no matter how much you donated, gave away, sold and threw out, there is no way that the 65 boxes are enough –most of them books and sefarim, shoes and sweaters I will never wear. I am not ready for the big day and need to repack and give away more before we leave. Do we really need the calligraphed
emotionally, physically and support us in every way: meals, sleeping accommodations, and warm wishes filled with promises to see us soon in Israel.
Colleagues, who are sad to see us go but happy that we are getting our dreams to be fully realized.
We have children who welcome us into
their homes who are excited for us but know that they will miss us being around. We have been feted and celebrated; so many kind words and beautiful speeches and letters – all so heartwarming. At the big family party hosted by our son and daughter (in law), Tamar’s side of the family was invited.
Tamar’s parents and siblings have included us for every yom tov meal and family occasion. At the party, our gorgeous, brilliant and kind mechutenista spoke. She spoke about our 32-year relationship; from strangers, to relatives, to friends. We love each other, and we don’t need to be connected through our children to find an opportunity to have dinner.
Malkie and Zane, we are so privileged to be in your family circle. Your grandchildren call us Grandpa and Grandma. Thank you.
There is so much more to say. Monday, we start a new dream adventure. Now we savor our blessings.
Mrs. Barbara Deutsch is currently the associate principal at HANC 609 and a longtime reflective educator, parent, grandparent, and new great-grandparent. Even after all these years, she still loves what she does and looks forward to working with kids every single day.
Mental Health Corner
The Right Therapist
By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman
The exercise of psychotherapy is extremely unique and challenging. It can be very expensive and does not always work. One of the main factors in failed therapy is a weak therapeutic alliance between the therapist and the
client. Study after study has shown that this is one of the most important determinants of a positive outcome. In our language, it has to be a good Shidduch. In this article we will briefly outline a few points that are pivotal
in creating an effective alliance with one’s therapist.
Comfortability - As in a classic Shidduch, feeling comfortable is the bedrock of a positive alliance. You might need to do some research beforehand to determine if there is a strong likelihood that you will feel therapist. Many therapists have specific styles or personalities that can fit some people like a glove, but not be
There are few ironclad rules in life, and this is one of them. You must feel heard in order for therapy to be effective. If you feel that the therapist is preoccupied with something else, or that the therapist is not giving you their complete attention, then the therapy cannot get off
room is the one place in the world that you need to feel that whatever you disclose you will not be judged. Your therapist’s respect for you as an individual will not be affected by discovering your deepest and darkest secrets. Only then can you put every-
therapy is solely for the benefit of the client. As such, the therapist must
therapist is your guide in your journey of self-discovery and flourishing. You must find your own answers under the careful oversight of your therapist. Just giving advice is not the role of the therapist. If you feel that you are not being given space for personal growth, then you might not have a positive therapeutic alliance.
Clarity of Approach - There are a multitude of approaches in psychotherapy, and every therapist has their own unique recipe of theoretical orientation to healing and growth in therapy. Creating a positive alliance requires that you understand what is being done to you. When asked, the therapist should be able to explain to you a clear rationale for their techniques.
Goals - You are coming into therapy with specific goals in mind. Your therapist will collaborate with you on achieving your goals. If the therapist and the client are not sharing a common goal, then by definition they do not have an alliance. Obviously, there are times when the client needs to understand that a modification of the goal might be necessary, and that is fertile ground for work in therapy itself. But, the overall arc of therapy must be collaborative in nature.
ies that maintain the sanctity of the therapeutic relationship. This includes that the therapist will not discuss their personal problems with you or disclose personal information that is not relevant to the client’s needs. Additionally, the therapist will not communicate with the client outside of therapy in ways that are not related to the therapy. If the therapist does not maintain these boundaries, your alliance with the therapist will not be that therapeutic.
Advice - There definitely is a place in therapy for some advice, but the bedrock of therapy is about healing and growing. In that regard, your
Therapy with the right therapist can be a life-changing experience. You do not need to rush into therapy without doing your due diligence before embarking on this journey. Relief Resources is a resource that has finding the right Shidduch between therapist and client its primary service. Feel free to give us a call!
This is a service of Relief Resources. Relief is an organization that provides mental health referrals, education, and support to the frum community. Rabbi Yisrael Slansky is director of the Baltimore branch of Relief. He can be contacted at 410-4488356 or at yslansky@reliefhelp.org
“Rain, rain go away. Come again another day.”
Water is a source of life. We need hydration for our bodies’ survival and irrigation for plants and produce to grow. It’s in our prayers and a source of bracha. What a shame that we often associate rainy days with boredom and misery!
A downpour does limit our options, and we can readily understand why a child may be frustrated to be kept indoors, especially during the warmer months. “Cabin fever” is both real and contagious. Parents, too, may be disappointed. We have so much to get done, and many errands or projects are either hampered or impossible to accomplish when it’s wet outdoors.
Ultimately, we choose our attitude towards the weather. We can either focus on the good or the bad, but whatever we choose is what we teach our children. We can be disappointed by the change to our plans, but still find enjoyment in this wet weather. It’s we who have the opportunity to shape their view, an outlook they will bring with them into the future.
Change of Pace
We live in a fast-paced society. We expect results now, if not yesterday. The assumption is that we’re always available, whether by phone, text or email. Two-day shipping is too slow, and fax is inconvenient. Shabbos is a much-needed oasis of peace in a hectic week.
Rain and snow days feel different. They force us to take a step back and slow down our pace. A frustrating inclement weather day can be transformed into a relaxed and calmer one. A cup of tea, coffee or chocolate can be enjoyed beside the window, a book or sefer on the couch.
Kids in the Cabin
We are fortunate to have semi-accurate weather forecasts, and we generally have advanced notice of major storms. Often, they predict a massive storm, and we never even get it, disappointing the
Parenting Pearls Rainy Days
By Sara Rayvych, MSEd
children who wanted a day off.
Kids can find the indoors challenging and become very upset when their plans are ruined. To an active child, being kept inside is painful. It’s helpful to have activities or projects prepared for these youngsters.
In addition to keeping kids busy, this is also a natural opportunity to have some family bonding time. With no place to go and fewer distractions, we can be more focused on each other.
There are limitless options, but I’ll provide a few suggestions. Arts and crafts are always popular. The fun part is that pretty much anything can be transformed into a craft project – straws, magazines, used computer paper, string, clean food cartons and anything that you don’t mind getting destroyed. Another amazing aspect to these projects is that kids are happy to do most of the work for you. They’re happy to cut, write or glue whatever you need to have prepared. Keeping a plastic tablecloth under and around their work surface makes cleaning up easier. It’s a good idea to have safety scissors available for small children.
Books are an easy way to relax and enjoy an indoor day. There is something very cozy about curling up with a good book as the wind howls or the raindrops hit the ground. Reading can be an in-
dividual activity or together as a group read-aloud.
Baking and cooking are great activities to do with kids. Cookies are my kids’ dessert of choice, but your child may prefer something different. Preparing dinner can be a family event, enjoying time with each other, as well as teaching children important life skills.
Games and puzzles are a wonderful option. Most games require multiple players and are often more enjoyable as the crowd grows. Puzzles, often thought of as a single player toy, are a lot of fun when done with kids and require lots of conversation and teamwork.
While we may have negative associations with housework, many children will become excited to join their parents and tackle a home improvement or organizational project. Not every task will appeal to every child, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the fun we’ve had cleaning out a closet or organizing a space.
Many kids are naturally handy and enjoy putting things together – IKEA is their idea of excitement. They feel accomplished and competent, an emotion they can relive each time they see the item they completed.
Obstacle courses can be designed indoors, as can tents or forts. Legos and other building toys can be used to make larger structures; the beis hamikdash is
a family favorite. Years ago, we invested in a building toy that was small planks, not blocks – Keva and Kapla are two of the popular brands. The kids could spend hours building models much taller than themselves.
Some children will start climbing off the walls whenever they’re feeling stuck inside. Ultimately, kids don’t melt from water. Even though we associate snow – and not rain – with outdoor possibilities, both days can be a fun experience outside. I have surprisingly pleasant memories of putting a popsicle stick in a puddle along the edge of the sidewalk and watching as my “boat” floated down the block. Ensure they are dressed appropriately for the weather, and give them dry clothes when they come in.
Feeling a Downpour
You plan, you prep, and your child still wants the rain to go away.
It’s OK to be disappointed. Even when we want to make ruined plans sound like an opportunity, it’s OK for kids to be frustrated when the weather doesn’t cooperate. This, too, is an important lesson for children to learn as they grow up.
It’s only natural that children will encounter situations that don’t go their way and people who won’t cooperate. We can’t – and shouldn’t – shelter them from all disappointment. We can validate their feelings and acknowledge their frustration. Allowing them to experience and deal with these emotions now helps them do the same later when more important issues arise.
While I hope for many happy days of sunshine for our children, we can see the sun and beauty in all weather. Stay hydrated and may we maximize all opportunities for growth. Have a great Shabbos!
Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@gmail.com.
To Raise a Laugh
Legal Team Sports
I’ve been thinking a lot about my traffic ticket lately. Though I think I’m supposed to.
In case you have your own life, a few weeks ago I wrote about a moving violation I got for allegedly making an “unsafe” illegal left turn that everyone in town makes – including cops – but that I personally had never made before when nothing could technically have been unsafe anyway because everyone for a few blocks in every direction was stopped in traffic. Not that I’m sore.
But just because I regret what I may have done doesn’t mean that I don’t want to fight the ticket. According to what it says on the ticket, if I don’t fight it, it will cost me money, and I’ll lose points off my license. I don’t really care so much about the money, but no one wants to lose points.
Now the truth is that it’s 2 points, and these are the only 2 points I will have lost in my 20 years of driving so far, and points only really matter in the first place because they add up. If I lose 2 points every 20 years of driving, and New Jersey takes away a license after 12 points, then they’re probably going to take my license away when I’m 140. Although maybe they should take it away by then anyway. So I’m not so worried about the points either.
BUT if you get points deducted, your car insurance goes up, and you have to shell out more money. And yes, I just said that I’m not so worried about the money, but I am worried about that money. With ticket fines, the cops at least let you know how much the fine is up font, so you can brace for it. The insurance company can just make up a number, and that’s your number forever.
So the first thing my wife said was, “Maybe you should call a lawyer.” So I made a mental note to do that, as soon as I got a chance, and the very next day, I got letters from a dozen law firms. I didn’t actually do anything to get these letters. I hadn’t called anyone. I don’t know if these lawyers are spying on the cops or spying on my house, or what. Is this legal?
I don’t trust these lawyers, because
they’re all calling and offering to represent me, and none of them knows for sure that I’m innocent. I hadn’t told anyone why I thought I was innocent. Do they just assume that everyone is innocent? Everyone?
“Don’t worry, we’ll get you off.”
How do you know you can get me off?
“Don’t worry.”
What is your motivation to do a good job? So that in 20 years when I get another moving violation I’ll remember you and call you? You don’t have an easy-to-remember name! No law firm does. There’s no alliteration in law-firm names. (“I called the Ticket Tacklers!” “Yeah? I called the Lamdanim at Law!” “I called the Taanah Team!” “I called the Law Suits!)”
So I asked some friends what I should do, and a lot of people were saying that seeing as it’s so easy, I should go fight it myself. But I wasn’t sure I could. I’ve never fought anything in my life. I’m a people pleaser. I will say whatever seems like it will inconvenience people the least.
So I called a law firm that my wife had originally found for me to call, I think based on the fact that the name of the firm sounded Jewish. Though looking at these letters I got, the name of every firm sounds Jewish. Except for the postcard one. But they did advertise that they give free ten-minute phone consultations. So I asked them some hard-hitting questions, like, “Would there be a benefit to my hiring a lawyer?” and they answered objectively that yes, I should definitely hire a lawyer, and preferably them, in their unbiased opinion.
“We can get you off,” they said. Only they can get me off? What about all these other people who mailed me?
So I asked, “What’s your success rate?”
And they said, “We have a phenomenal success rate. Don’t even worry about it.”
So I said, “Okay. And what’s the success rate of people who don’t use a lawyer?”
And they said, “Well, we obviously don’t have the stats for that. The people who don’t
By Mordechai Schmutter
use a lawyer don’t call us afterward to tell us how it went. Everyone we know uses us.”
So I said, “Well, then what good are you? All you know are reasons I should hire you. Who can I call for unbiased opinions? Is there like a judge I can call?”
So I called my uncle, who’s in insurance. But not car insurance. That’s the official reason I called him, but he also strikes me as someone who may have experience with moving violations.
I asked him, “Do you think I could do this myself?”
And he said, “Of course you can. All you have to do is show up with an argument.”
So I said, “Listen, I can’t think on my feet. This lawyer that I just called was sure that he could get me off. Maybe it’s worth hiring him just to take some of the stress off me.”
So he said, “I’ll tell you what: Call them back and ask them if they’d stake their pay on it – in writing – that if they don’t get you off, you don’t have to pay them. And if they’re willing to do that, keep their number. And also send it to me.”
So I called the law firm back, and they said, “No way.”
And I asked, “Why? You said you’re sure!”
And they said, “We can’t do this for free!”
And I said, “I’m not asking you to. You’re going to get me off, and I’m going to pay you. You can do this!”
I think the fact that I asked that question in the first place made them nervous that this was going to be a harder case than usual. Though I don’t even know why they were scared. They’re lawyers; they could have agreed to what I said and then argued out of it later. Were they afraid I’d have my own lawyers read over their contract for loopholes so they couldn’t? If I have my own lawyer, why am I calling them?
Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writer and a humor columnist for Hamodia and other magazines. He has also published eight books and does stand-up comedy. You can contact him at MSchmutter@gmail.com.
Israel Today Yosef Has a Story to Tell Me
Despite being close to 70, Yosef continues to work. He lives in Pisgat Ze’ev, from where he drives to his workplace at a supermarket on the other side of Jerusalem. Once there, he slips on a green security vest, makes a cup of tea, then sits on a chair by the exit. His only job is to stamp customers’ receipts as they’re on their way out the door. He occasionally gets a friendly “hello,” but he mainly sits in silence as people pass him on their way in and out. I don’t consider the job exciting or productive. Yosef, however, doesn’t view it this way. While not overly effusive about his duties, it’s a job he is proud of.
We’ve struck up a friendship. I enjoy our conversations. I’ll sometimes purchase some burekas from the bakery next door to go with his tea. I find him enchanting. For months, I wished to learn more about him, his job, his life. I never pressed him, even though I sensed he had a story to tell. I waited for six months before asking him if he’d care to share some with me.
He became instantly defensive.
“I can’t! I still have family in Iran. If any connection to them can be made to me, they could find themselves in trouble.”
There was no need for me to push him further. I respected him enough not to press the point. A month passed without our paths crossing. Then, before Pesach, I walked into the supermarket. Yosef rose from his seat and limped heavily in my direction. I’d never seen him walk before.
“I have a story to tell you,” he said placing his arm on my shoulder.
“What happened to your leg?” I asked.
“Didn’t I tell you? I lost it during the Iran-Iraq War,” he said dismissively, pointing to his upper, left thigh. “Do you have a minute?”
By Rafi Sackville
He told me he’d told his two sons about me. They, in turn, had told him he must tell his life story. “They keep on telling me it’s something I must do.”
One story only? I asked. I was bemused but attentive. I told him I’d see him after I checked out. While I was in the freezer section, he approached me again. This time, he put his arm on my shoulder and said, “Listen to the story that changed my life.”
So there, among the frozen vegetables and ice creams, I listened as Yosef leaned in towards me and told me the following story.
“They sent me home after the IranIraq War. I stayed indoors for a year. I never left the house. It was a terrible period of my life. I was depressed and felt very sorry for myself. I had no motivation. To think that before I lost my leg, I was so active. I used to climb mountains! Mountains!
“One day, my brother comes to me and says he knows someone who can cure me. He wouldn’t answer my questions about who or where. Instead, he helped me into his car. We drove
for hours and hours until we eventually came to a hospital in Tehran. He wheeled me inside.
“We walked down long corridors until we finally came to a small room. There was a single bed there. On it lay a man covered up to his neck. My brother left, saying he’d be back shortly. The guy on the bed just stared at me. We never exchanged a word.
“My brother eventually returned, but he wasn’t alone. There was another fellow with him. Without speaking a word, they walked to the bed and pulled back the blanket covering the man on the bed. They then left as silently as they’d entered.
“I was staring at this guy. I was shocked by what I saw because he had no arms and no legs. He, too, seemed to have been wounded in the war.
“I couldn’t take my eyes off him lying so helplessly on the bed. Then he spoke to me with without so much as an introduction and with such blunt force that I was left speechless.
“‘Would you prefer to be like me?’ he asked almost accusingly. ‘Would you?’
“I finally understood what my brother had meant by having found a cure for me. I was confused by this frightening confrontation, but mesmerized.
“‘I’ll ask you again, would you prefer to switch places with me?’
“I had difficulty replying.”
“‘If I want to eat, someone has to feed me. If I want to go to the bathroom, someone has to take me. If I want anything at all, I have to depend on others to help me do it. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?’
“Rafi, the message hit me with such force. I hadn’t been able to leave the house for a year because I’d lost a leg. Compared to this guy? He would have been happy to be in my place. I had two arms. I had my right leg. I had the ability to get around. What was I complaining about?”
Yosef still had his hand on my shoulder. In his heavily accented Hebrew, he told me that coming face to face with this limbless soul had turned his life around.
The thoughts of the thousands of wounded soldiers and civilians who have suffered since last October flashed before me. The country is still deep in shock. As little solace as it gave me, Yosef crystallized that age-old notion that there’s always someone worse off than you.
“Rafi, I want to invite you and your wife to my apartment in Pisgat Ze’ev. We’ll drink coffee, and I’ll tell you more stories. I have so many.”
I got home and told Keren about my encounter with Yosef, adding that he’d given me a scrap of a story that was, in all truthfulness, a life lesson to us all.
And to think that I’ve hardly scratched the surface of what Yosef has to tell me.
Rafi Sackville, formerly from Cedarhurst, teaches in Yeshivat Horev in Yerushalayim.
Borscht Belt Humor
From the 1940s to the ‘60s, many comedians got their start telling jokes in the Borscht Belt, which was the name for the various Jewish summer resorts located in the Catskill Mountains. Here are some of those lines:
“Someone stole all my credit cards, but I won’t be reporting it. The thief spends less than my wife did.” - Henny Youngman
“I’ve got a friend who is half-Jewish and half-Italian. If he can’t buy it wholesale, he steals it.” - Jackie Mason
“The guy who invented the first wheel was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three, he was a genius.” - Sid Caesar
“The first time I see a jogger smiling, I’ll consider it.”Joan Rivers
“I never forget a face, but in your case, I’ll make an exception.” - Groucho Marx
“I could tell my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.” - Rodney Dangerfield
“The doc told me I had a dual personality. Then he lays an $82 bill on me, so I give him 41 bucks and say, ‘Get the other 41 bucks from the other guy.’”- Jerry Lewis
“I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places.” - Henny Youngman
“A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours.” - Milton Berle
“Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving cabs and cutting hair.”George Burns
“I hate housework. You make the beds, you wash the dishes, and six months later you have to start all over again.”- Joan Rivers
Riddle Me This
A man drove from New York City to Woodborne. At the end of his trip, he discovered that one of his tires had been punctured. How was he able to make the drive?
Answer: It was his spare tire.
Things to Remember Before Boys’ Visiting Day
Covid protocol is still observed in camp – if you try hugging your son, he will call Fauci to arrest you.
If your son’s bunk smells like a barn, that’s an improvement. Imagine what it smelled like before they bribed the kids with Dougie’s to clean it for Visiting Day!
The parking lot will be muddy, even if it hasn’t rained in two weeks.
You must take your son to Walmart… because you already bought out Amazon before camp.
Your son definitely needs more soda, even though he brought 60 cans to camp and has only been there for 10 days.
Your son is saving all of his deodorant for the deodorant spraying battle on the last night of camp.
Toothpaste is magical – no how much the kids “use it every day,” it somehow remains full.
If your son’s counselor looks like he is 14, that’s because he is 14.
What to Remember Before Girls’ Visiting Day
Just because your daughter’s bunk is immaculate, her clothing are pressed, and her nosh basket looks like a vending machine, don’t expect her to be that way when she gets home.
You Gotta Be Kidding!
Yankel was concerned about his wife’s hearing. He decided to test it without telling her. He went to the corner of the room about 15 feet away from her and said, “Sarah, can you hear me?”
No response.
So he went about 5 feet away from his wife and again said, “Honey can you hear me?”
Still no response.
So he leaned over the back of her chair and raised his voice asking, “Sarah! can you hear me?”
Sarah put down her book and replied, “Yankel, I said ‘Yes’ three times!”
Notable Quotes
“Say What?!”
Well sure but I was doing a … lot of other things, like wars around the world.
- Pres. Biden when asked by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos why he hasn’t been challenging Trump’s “lies” over the past few months
I’m the guy that shut Putin down. No one thought that could happen.
- Ibid.
I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and did the goodest job I know I could do.
- Ibid., when asked how he would feel if he loses to Trump
The fact of the matter is, how can you assure you’re going to be on — on, you know — on your way to go to, you know, work tomorrow? Age — age wasn’t, you know, the idea that I’m too old.
- Ibid.
Keep in mind, that sound bite is supposed to be reassuring to those Democratic supporters who have gone wobbly.
- Jake Tapper, CNN, talking about the above quote
There are certain immutable facts of life, and those were painfully obvious on that debate stage, and the president just doesn’t seem to come to — he hasn’t come to grips with it. He’s not winning this race.
- David Axelrod, a senior adviser in the Obama administration, on CNN’s “Inside Politics” calling on Pres. Biden to bow out of the race
If you just look at the data and talk to people around the country, political people around the country, it’s more likely that he’ll lose by a landslide than win narrowly this race. And if the stakes are as large as he says, and I believe they are, then he really needs to consider what the right thing to do here is.
- Ibid.
Nothing is for granted in this life. We all learned this firsthand in the past year. This land, the people on it, the feeling of security, sunrise, sunset, the excitement of a mother for her son walking a few meters at the age of 35.
- Israeli singer-songwriter and Fauda star Idan Amedi, who was seriously wounded in battle in Gaza, in footage on Tuesday from rehab
Why are you littering?
I am lazy.
I don’t care about natural areas.
Mommy still cleans up after me.
All of the above.
- One of the signs that is part of Babylon Long Island’s effort to stop people from littering
Did you notice how the names of all of Israel’s enemies start with H? Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, Ha’aretz…
- Tweet by Uri Kurlianchik
I could have diagnosed him from across the mall.
- Dr. Tom Pitts, a board-certified neurologist, telling NBC News that President Joe Biden is displaying symptoms of Parkinson’s
It would be better for the state attorney to remember that he is the attorney of the State of Israel, and not of its enemies.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir lashing out at State Prosecutor Amit Aisman who is investigating three heroic civilians who ran into the line of fire on October 7 and saved many lives who are now being accused of “murdering” one of those sick and evil terrorists
May he continue to have fun on his yachts. I prefer to work.
- Elon Musk, on X, responding to a video of Mark Zuckerberg surfing on July 4 in a tuxedo, while holding a an American flag and drinking a beer
I have the answer to the Crooked Joe Biden Incompetence Puzzle — Let’s do another Debate, but this time, no holds barred – An all on discussion, with just the two of us on stage, talking about the future of our Country. The ratings were massive for the First Debate, record setting, in fact, but this one, because of the format, would blow everything away!
- Social media post by Trump
Likewise it would be yet another test for me. What a great evening it would be, just the two of us, one on one, in a good, old fashioned Debate, the way they used to be. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE!!!
- Ibid.
In recent weeks, Iranian government actors have sought to opportunistically take advantage of ongoing protests regarding the war in Gaza, using a playbook we’ve seen other actors use over the years.
- Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines
We have observed actors tied to Iran’s government posing as activists online, seeking to encourage protests and even providing financial support to protesters.
- Ibid.
The media didn’t panic because they saw Biden [at the debate]; they panicked because YOU saw it.
– Greg Gutfeld, Fox News
Democrats in Congress are reportedly trying to find the best way for Biden to “move forward,” which is probably with one of those walkers with the tennis balls on the bottom of them.
- Kathryn Hahn, guest host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live”
There’s a concept in Judaism called lashon hara, which is translated into, quite literally, evil speech. The idea is that speaking poorly of another is almost the moral equivalent to murder because you can’t really repair it. You can apologize, but you can’t repair it. Another component of that is that it does as much damage to the person saying the words than it does to the person receiving them. And I think about that a lot. I talk about this concept with my kids a lot, and I’m not willing to pay the price of that fleeting and momentary satisfaction of sort of swinging back because I think it would be too expensive for my soul.
– Ivanka Trump on the Lexi Friedman podcast explaining why she didn’t respond to the many vicious critics that she had during the Trump presidency
He is not a pleasant person to be around when he’s being briefed. It’s very difficult, and people are scared … of him.
- An unnamed senior Biden administration official disclosing to Politico – now that the normally left wing press turned on Biden –that Pres. Biden is difficult to be around
By the way, I’m proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, first black woman, to serve with a black president.
- President Joe Biden in a radio interview with Philadelphia’s WURD
Walk around San Francisco. It is not America anymore. It just isn’t. What a wasteland. All of these places shutting down. It is not a partisan argument. When a Walgreens shuts down and a drug store shuts down and a convenience store shuts down, a bodega shuts down, that’s nothing to do with whether you’re blue or red.
– “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary
Political Crossfire
As Biden Slips Toward the Edge, NATO Holds Its Collective Breath
Next week’s 75th anniversary celebration of NATO was planned in part as a triumphal valedictory for President Biden. The 31 other members would celebrate his leadership in rebuilding and expanding the alliance and in standing firm with Ukraine.
But that was before Biden’s dismal performance in last week’s debate. Now, says one senior administration official who had been involved in the planning, the NATO summit will be a moment of trepidation and peril. Every European eye will be on Biden, wondering whether he can recover physically and politically.
If Biden withdraws from the presidential campaign by next week, NATO leaders will give him a heartfelt pat on the back – even as they nervously eye the polls. A Donald Trump victory, many Europeans fear, could separate the United States from its European allies. What NATO touts as the world’s most successful military alliance would be adrift in stormy seas.
“The summit has gone from an orchestrated spectacle to one of the most anxious gatherings in modern times,” said the official, who requested anonymity to speak frankly about issues surrounding Biden that have transfixed Washington and the world.
The quiet concern among top national-security officials over the past week has been that a foreign adversary might seek to exploit a moment when the commander in chief is in political limbo and his administration is distracted. The two potential troublemakers that most concern U.S. officials are Russia and North Korea.
U.S. officials don’t see any imminent crisis. But it’s a fact that Russia and the United States have been moving up the escalatory ladder in Ukraine in recent months. Biden crossed two previous “red lines” when he approved shipment of
By David Ignatius
ATACMS long-range missiles this spring and then authorized the use of such U.S. weapons inside Russian territory.
Russia has responded with a little-reported wave of sabotage attacks in NATO countries, striking at facilities that distribute weapons to Ukraine, but strikes on targets inside America haven’t been reported so far.
Strikes on targets inside America haven’t been reported so far. But a sign of vulnerability came with a reported explosion Wednesday at a General Dynamics defense plant in Arkansas that produces Javelin and Hellfire missiles, both used in Ukraine. At least two people were injured, according to the Associated Press. An official with the Department of Homeland Security told me law enforcement officials are gathering information about the incident.
North Korea is another wild card. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang last month and announced a “breakthrough” partnership in which
each country pledged to defend the other. Some analysts had warned me that North Korea might use this new Russian leverage to launch new provocations. But a Communist Party plenum in North Korea last week focused on economic issues rather than new military threats.
Past presidents have struggled with problems of old age, but public discussion has usually been suppressed. President Woodrow Wilson suffered a pre-stroke breakdown in late September 1919 (“I don’t seem to realize it, but I seem to have gone to pieces,” he said). Then came a debilitating stroke on October 2. But Wilson officially served out the last year of his term, largely invisible. His wife, Edith, took control, writing in her memoirs that she decided “what was important and what was not,” according to biographer August Heckscher.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s frailty was obvious a year before his death on April 12, 1945. But, again, it was shielded from public view. Biogra-
pher Jean Smith writes that by the early spring of 1944, “the president was slowing down: the dark circles under his eyes grew darker; his shoulders slumped; his hands shook more than ever when he lit his cigarette.”
A doctor examined FDR that spring. His heart was enlarged; his blood pressure was 186 over 108. He was slowly dying, but his wife, Eleanor, and his inner circle pulled the veil of privacy tight. As FDR grew weaker, he made one decisive move: He replaced Vice President Henry Wallace with Harry S. Truman. It was one of the wisest and most consequential decisions of his presidency, for Truman turned out to be a president who could safeguard the future.
Biden on this Independence Day was shielded by his wife and advisers, much as his predecessors were. He admits to fatigue and poor debate performance but, for now, continues his campaign for a second term.
Surveying the trauma facing the nation, a senior administration official wondered aloud to me whether perhaps we misunderstand the meaning of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which we sing on this holiday and on so many public occasions. Our voices surge at the triumphal verses, about how amid the “rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,” our flag waves “o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
But if you read the words carefully, our national anthem is about resilience under pressure. The flag that onlookers had saluted at Fort McHenry “at the twilight’s last gleaming” had survived a ferocious bombardment and was somehow still “gallantly streaming” in the “dawn’s early light.” It’s not a victory anthem. It’s about surviving the night.
Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
I have been dating for two years now and have noticed something that I wanted to run past you.
I am the third-to-oldest in my family. We are six siblings in all. My two older siblings are married.
I have noticed a pattern when I go out with boys who are the youngest in their families. These boys – and they were from different backgrounds – all seem to be “mama’s boys” and they seem to have less initiative than other boys I go out with.
I know there is such a thing about “birth order” and certain characteristics that some people say go with people who are oldest or youngest… Have you seen this in your experience? That youngest boys are more coddled and indulged? Maybe I’m reading too much into the “youngests” who I have dated. Or is there something to it, and I should be wary about going out with boys who are the youngest in their families?
What has been your experience with these things?
Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.
The Panel
The Rebbetzin
Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.
What you are saying does sound logical, but I don’t see this often enough to comment. Family culture with a strong work ethic probably can counteract coddling. Youngest children may have witnessed family ups and downs and may be more mature/resilient. I would not generalize about this.
I do see, however, that youngest children in medium to large Jewish families tend to have more definite ideas about particular attributes of the people they want to date. In other words, they have watched the young couples in their families and like/dislike aspects of their in-law siblings. They may say, “I want
someone as happy-go-lucky as Leora but with the brains of Batsheva and the creative side of Leah.” Youngests in families seem to have noticed differences and are more familiar with the characteristics that seem attractive to them.
The Shadchan
Michelle Mond
Thank you for writing in with this unique question. You are likely a very perceptive person and are therefore picking up on these details regarding the guys you are dating. The concept you are talking about definitely exists. You will often find that a youngest boy within a family will have an extra close
relationship with his parents. You may notice that he talks to his parents about everything, as opposed to an oldest who might be more perceptive to holding it in. Since they have older siblings who took care of a lot in the home, they might be more dependent on family members. It’s not their fault; it’s just the situation they were born into. You cannot make a blanket statement about it, and it also certainly depends on how many children are in the family.
When dating, you can take it at a case-by-case basis. If that is a personality trait that you are sure won’t work for you (i.e. a guy who will often call to ask his mother’s opinion, stop by often on his way home from work, call often, etc.) it is more likely you will see this in the youngests. This personality trait is not limited to only youngests, so don’t think that if you ban all youngest
There is so much more to personality than a person’s birth order.
from your possibilities you’ll be in the all clear.
My advice to you is go out with everybody who seems shayach , despite their birth order. Then be on the lookout while you are dating to see if the young men have these character traits that you
are uncomfortable with. At that point, you can make a decision.
The Zaidy
Dr. Jeffrey Galler
The idea that birth order can affect someone’s personality was first in -
troduced a hundred years ago by Alfred Adler, an Austrian psychiatrist.
Today, psychologists and sociologists enjoy publishing scholarly articles (and being awarded lucrative research grants) in exploring this issue. Typically, they claim that “Youngest Child Syndrome” manifests as both positive and negative traits.
Positive characteristics: The youngest is described as confident, creative, highly social, charming, funny, and
Pulling It All Together
The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
Thank you for your email. Studies have been conducted regarding personality traits, characteristics, and birth order. Oldest children “tend” to take on more responsibility, while youngests have the rap of being more coddled as you said. I can’t tell you what to do, but ruling out youngest siblings will limit you tremendously. There is so much more to personality than a person’s birth order. My experience with these things, in all honesty, is that when it’s wrong, it won’t work and when it’s right, it will flow.
A few years ago, an acquaintance told me one of the best lines I’ve ever heard: “No flow, no go.” While relationships are full of obstacles and hurdles, the space between the two of you should
feel nice and cozy and peaceful. I doubt these youngest sibling guys haven’t been your bashert because they are the youngest. My money would be on your not having met your guy…yet. Your guy may the oldest, the middle, the youngest – or anywhere in between. Look for kindness, menschlechkeit, someone who cares about your emotional well-being, and is in pain when you are in pain. Who hurts when you hurt. For someone who makes you laugh. For someone whom you do not have to chase. For someone with whom you can just “be.” Not for a birth order.
Best wishes! Jen
Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.
easy-going. (This may be because they need to get attention in a crowded family environment.)
Negative characteristics: They are also described as spoiled, temperamental, irresponsible, and self-centered.
My opinion? Not every youngest child fits the “mama’s boy” stereotype, just as not every oldest child fits the “natural leader” or “authority figure” stereotype. Please don’t be insulted when I suggest that it is absolutely nonsensical to try and predict a date’s personality based upon his birth order. Every individual, every family, every human being is predictably unpredictable. Alternatively, perhaps you should check his horoscope? Or see if the gematria of his name bodes good or evil? Or check with a gypsy palm reader? Tarot card fortuneteller? Handwriting analysis?
Every individual, every family, every human being is predictably unpredictable.
I know, I know, I probably sound sarcastic and mean. But there are no shortcuts or easy oversimplifications in dating. There is absolutely no substitute for trusting your own G-d-given common sense and good judgement.
Hormones, produced by the endocrine system, are chemical messengers that play an important role in regulating various processes. Hormonal health is crucial because hormones regulate numerous bodily functions like metabolism, reproduction, mood and overall well-being. Our diet can influence hormone production and balance. Understanding how different foods impact hormone levels can help manage health conditions, enhance well-being, and promote overall health. Let’s discuss the role and importance of hormones, foods that have a positive and negative impact on our hormonal health, and other factors that can impact hormone changes.
Key Role of Hormones
Hormones are tiny chemical messengers made by glands in our body. They control many important functions like growth, metabolism, mood, and reproduction. Even though they are small and produced in tiny amounts, hormones have a big impact on how our body works. Understanding hormones helps us see how they keep us healthy and balanced. Here are the most important functions that hormones play a role in to keep our health in check:
1. Growth and Development: Growth hormone (GH) is essential for childhood growth, as it stimulates the development of bones and tissues and continues to support tissue and organ maintenance throughout life. GH aids in muscle mass maintenance, cell repair, and metabolic regulation. Thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) are essential for regulating metabolism, determining how quickly the body uses energy, and supporting brain development in children. These hormones also influence cogni -
Health & F tness
How Diet Impacts Hormonal Health
By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN
tive abilities, motor skills, and overall growth, ensuring proper physical and mental health.
2. Metabolism and Energy Balance: Insulin regulates blood glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells for energy production or storage. This process is important for maintaining stable blood sugar levels and providing cells with the energy they need to function. Thyroid hormones also increase the basal metabolic rate, which tells the body how fast it uses energy. This regulation makes sure that our metabolism runs efficiently, affecting overall energy levels and bodily functions.
3. Reproductive Health: Estrogen and progesterone in women regulate the menstrual cycle, support pregnancy, and influence female physical development. In men, testosterone is essential for maintaining healthy energy levels and promoting male physical development.
4. Mood and Cognitive Function: Serotonin influences mood, emo -
tion, and sleep. Dopamine plays a key role in the brain’s reward and pleasure systems, impacting motivation and concentration.
5. Stress Response: Cortisol, known as the stress hormone, helps the body respond to stress by increasing blood sugar levels and promoting brain function and plays a role in fight-orflight situations. Adrenaline (epinephrine) increases heart rate, expands air passages, and maximizes blood flow to muscles, preparing the body for rapid physical activity.
When hormones are not in balance, it can lead to health issues across various systems of the body. This can be seen in metabolic disorders like diabetes or thyroid dysfunction, causing symptoms such as weight fluctuations and fatigue. Reproductive health can be affected, resulting in irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, or physical manifestations like excessive hair growth. Mood swings, anxiety, or depression can occur because
of the disrupted levels of mood-regulating hormones. Sleep disturbances can happen due to fluctuations in melatonin and cortisol, impacting overall energy and daily functioning. Hormonal imbalances also pose risks to bone health, muscle strength, skin condition, and cardiovascular health. Therefore, it is crucial that we take care of our hormonal health! One way we can accomplish this is through our diet.
Foods That Have a Positive Impact on Hormones
1. Healthy Fats
a) Avocados: Rich in monounsaturated fats, avocados help reduce inflammation and support hormone production. They also contain beta-sitosterol, which can influence cortisol levels and aid in stress management.
b) Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, flaxseeds, and chia seeds provide essential fatty acids, fiber, and phytoestrogens, which can support balanced hormone levels. Flaxseeds, in particular, contain lignans that can help regulate estrogen levels.
c) Fatty Fish: Salmon, mackerel, and sardines are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation, support brain health, and help maintain healthy levels of hormones such as insulin and cortisol.
2. Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts are high in fiber and contain indole-3-carbinol, which aids in the metabolism of estrogen and supports liver function.
3. Whole Grains: Oats, quinoa, and brown rice are complex carbohydrates that help stabilize blood sugar levels, which can balance insulin and other hormones. They also provide es -
sential B vitamins that are needed for hormone production.
4. Lean Meats and Poultry: Chicken, turkey, and lean cuts of beef provide amino acids necessary for hormone production and maintaining muscle mass. They also contain zinc, which is crucial for reproductive health.
5. Legumes : Beans, lentils, and chickpeas are great plant-based protein sources that support hormone regulation. They are also high in fiber and can help manage blood sugar levels, which is important for insulin balance.
6. Berries: Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are high in antioxidants such as vitamin C and flavonoids, which protect the endocrine system from oxidative stress and support immune function
7. Dark Chocolate: Contains flavonoids that improve insulin sensitivity, reduce stress hormones, and provide magnesium, which is essential for hormone production.
Hormones for Hunger and Satiety
Hormones play a large role in regulating hunger and satiety. Ghrelin, which stimulates hunger, and leptin, which promotes satiety, are two examples. Here are some ways certain foods and nutrients can influence these hormones and help in managing hunger and increasing satiety:
1. Protein-Rich Foods
a) Examples: Lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, and legumes,
b) Effect: Protein increases the release of hormones like peptide YY (PYY) and GLP-1, which promote satiety and reduce levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin.
2. Fiber-Rich Foods
a) Examples: Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and nuts.
b) Effect: Fiber slows down digestion, increases the production of satiety hormones, and helps maintain stable blood sugar levels, reducing hunger.
3. Healthy Fats
a) Examples: Avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and fatty fish.
b) Effect: Healthy fats can increase the release of satiety hormones and help you feel full longer.
4. Water and Hydration
a) Examples: Drinking water, herbal teas, and eating water-rich foods like cucumbers and watermelon
b) Effect: Staying hydrated can reduce hunger and increase satiety.
5. Low-Glycemic Index (GI) Foods
a) Examples: Whole grains, legumes, non-starchy vegetables, and most fruits.
b) Effect: These foods cause a slower, more gradual rise in blood sugar and insulin levels, which can help control hunger.
6. Fermented Foods
a) Examples: Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and other probiotic-rich foods.
b) Effect: Fermented foods can improve gut health, which is linked to better regulation of hunger and satiety hormones.
Foods That Have a Negative Impact on Hormones
1. Refined Sugars: High sugar intake can lead to insulin resistance, which disrupts the balance of other hormones such as leptin (which controls hunger) and ghrelin (which regulates appetite).
2. Trans Fats: Found in fried foods, margarine, and baked goods, trans fats can interfere with hormone function, increase inflammation, and negatively affect cholesterol levels.
3. Caffeine: Excessive caffeine consumption can elevate cortisol levels, leading to chronic stress and disrupted sleep patterns, which further impact hormone balance.
4. Alcohol: Can disrupt the balance of reproductive hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, impair liver function (which is essential for hormone metabolism), and negatively affect the adrenal glands.
Other Factors That Impact Hormone Changes
1. Stress: Chronic stress leads to elevated cortisol levels, which can suppress the production of other essential hormones such as thyroid hormones and reproductive hormones. High cortisol levels can also interfere with sleep, metabolism, and immune function.
2. Lack of Sleep: Poor sleep quality and insufficient sleep can disrupt the release of growth hormone, insulin, and cortisol, affecting overall hormonal balance. The body’s circadian rhythm, which regulates hormone release, can be significantly impacted by irregular sleep patterns.
3. Physical Activity: Exercising regularly helps regulate hormones like insulin, cortisol, and endorphins. Moderate exercise supports a healthy balance, but excessive exercise can lead
to increased cortisol levels and disrupt reproductive hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.
4. Chemical Exposure: Exposure to chemicals such as pesticides, plastics (BPA), and heavy metals can mimic or block hormone action, leading to imbalances. These endocrine disruptors can interfere with the normal functioning of the thyroid, adrenal glands, and reproductive organs.
5. Age: Hormone levels naturally change with age, with significant shifts occurring during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause/andropause. Genetic factors can influence how your body produces and responds to hormones, affecting overall hormone balance.
What About Soy?
Soy contains high levels of isoflavones, a plant estrogen, that is similar in function to human estrogen. Since soy is able to act like estrogen and influence hormonal health, there might be possible benefits and risks when consuming soy. Potential benefits include improving menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, bone health in menopausal women, and reducing cholesterol levels to improve heart health. Some studies report possible negative effects of soy products on hormonal health. These potential risks include interference with thyroid hormones, leading to hypothyroidism, inhibit absorption of certain minerals, and endocrine disruption. For girls and young women, there have been studies that suggest that excessive consumption of soy might affect the menstrual cycle and cause irregularities. Evidence on fertility is mixed – while some animal studies have suggested that high soy intake could affect fertility, human studies are less conclusive. Overall, moderate soy consumption is generally not considered harmful.
The effects of soy on hormonal health depend on various factors, including the amount and form consumed, individual genetic factors, and life stage. Consuming soy in moderate amounts is generally safe and beneficial if you choose whole soy foods like tofu, tempeh, edamame, and soy milk being preferable to highly processed soy products. Genetic differences affect how people process phytoestrogens, with those from cultures that traditionally eat soy potentially metabolizing it better. This means that people with a long history of soy consumption in their diet may have developed a better ability to break down and utilize isoflavones, the active compounds in soy. The impact of
soy also varies by age since postmenopausal women may benefit more from its estrogen-like effects for relieving menopausal symptoms and supporting bone density, while younger individuals may see less pronounced effects.
Healthy Hormone Meal Plan
If you’re looking for meal ideas that support your hormonal health, check out this meal plan that can benefit the whole family!
1. Breakfast
a) Avocado toast on whole-grain bread, and a sunny side-up egg with a sprinkle of flaxseeds
b) Oatmeal with chia seeds, almond butter, and berries
2. Lunch:
a) Pesto baked salmon over a salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, slivered almonds, and a drizzle of olive oil
b) Lentil soup with a side of mixed greens salad and whole grain bread
3. Dinner
a) Grilled chicken breast with sweet potatoes and broccoli
b) Baked mackerel with a side of air-fried Brussels sprouts and cauliflower rice
Hormones play an important role in regulating various physiological processes, including metabolism, reproduction, mood, and overall well-being. Maintaining hormonal health is essential as imbalances can lead to a range of health issues. Diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, obesity, mood swings and reproductive problems are a few of the negative health consequences hormone imbalance can bring. Our diet can have a significant impact on hormone production and balance, with certain foods supporting healthy hormone levels while others can disrupt them. By understanding the impact of different foods on our hormones, you can make informed dietary choices that enhance your well-being and promote overall health. A balanced diet rich in healthy fats, whole grains, lean proteins, and vegetables, combined with proper sleep, stress management, and physical activity, can help maintain optimal hormonal health.
Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail. com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer
Common Cents Ladder Up Your Returns: Mastering CDs for Smart, Safe Investing
Last week’s article focused on utilizing a high-yield savings account for your excess cash savings and emergency fund. This week, we will take a deeper dive into cash management with the concept of a CD ladder. Certificates of Deposit (CDs) can offer higher interest rates compared to savings accounts, and using a CD ladder strategy can help mitigate interest rate risk while maintaining liquidity and keeping savers disciplined to stay the course with shorter-term savings goals.
What is a Certificate of Deposit (CD)?
A CD is a savings account with a fixed interest rate and fixed maturity date. Typically, CDs offer higher interest rates than regular savings accounts because your money is locked in for a specific period. The longer the term, the higher the interest rate tends to be, but as we will see below that is not always the case.
Key Concepts
Interest Rate Risk: This refers to the risk that interest rates will rise after you have locked your money into a fixed-rate investment. If rates increase, you might miss out on higher returns available elsewhere. The opposite is true as well: If rates drop, you are locked into the currently higher rate.
CD Ladder: A strategy where you divide your investment into multiple CDs with different maturity dates. This approach helps you take advantage of higher long-term rates while maintaining regular access to portions of your funds.
Building a CD Ladder
Let’s assume* the current average CD rates are:
• 1-Year CD: 5.00% APY
• 2-Year CD: 4.80% APY
• 3-Year CD: 4.50% APY
• 4-Year CD: 4.25% APY
• 5-Year CD: 4.00% APY
With a $25,000 investment, you would divide this into five $5,000 CDs, each with different maturities.
At the end of each year, the matured CD is reinvested into a new 5-year CD, taking advantage of current rates. This rolling reinvestment helps hedge against interest rate fluctuations, ensuring that a portion of your investment is regularly refreshed at the best available rates.
It is worth noting where current interest rates are across the 1 - 5 year timeframe compared to other periods of time. Typically, the longer the term, the higher the interest rate should be. This makes logical sense since the purchaser of the CD is taking on more interest rate risk by locking up their money for longer. However, as the rates above illustrate, that is not currently the case, with 1-year CDs offering 5.00% and 5-year CDs only offering 4.00%. This situation is referred to as an inverted yield curve. Many economists and investors believe an inverted yield curve is a reliable indicator of an upcoming recession. Since Central Banks typically cut rates during a recession to encourage spending, lowering longer-term rates is the market’s way of pricing a recession into the near future. I have no clue when the next recession will arrive, how long it will last, and what impact it will have on people, so my advice is to just stay educated and informed and then act on the information you do have today in a way that best positions your financial plan.
Comparison: High-Yield Savings Account vs. 5-Year CD Ladder
For simplicity’s sake, this example assumes the unlikely scenario that the interest rate on both high-yield savings and CDs will remain the same over the course of five years.
High-Yield Savings Account:
• Initial Investment: $25,000
• Interest Rate: 4.00% APY
• Total Interest Earned in 5 Years: $5,416.32
By Elliot Pepper, CPA, CFP®, MST
• Total Value After 5 Years: $30,416.32
5-Year CD Ladder:
• Initial Investment: $25,000
• Average Annual Return: Approximately 4.51% APY (blended rate)
• Total Interest Earned in 5 Years: $6,178.63
• Total Value After 5 Years: $31,178.63
Benefits of a CD Ladder Strategy
1. Higher Interest Rates: CDs generally, but not always, offer better rates than high-yield savings accounts.
2. Regular Access to Funds: The laddering strategy provides liquidity as CDs mature regularly.
3. Reduced Interest Rate Risk: Staggered maturities protect against fluctuating rates, ensuring that not all funds are locked in at a single rate.
4. Predictable & Safe Returns: CDs offer guaranteed returns, making them a low-risk investment. They can also typically be covered under the same FDIC coverage that a high-yield savings account offers.
Conclusion
While high-yield savings accounts are excellent for maintaining liquidity and earning competitive interest, a CD ladder strategy can enhance your returns with higher, guaranteed rates. By diversifying across multiple CDs with staggered maturities, you can hedge against interest rate risk while ensuring regular access to your funds. This balanced approach provides a powerful tool for conservative investors seeking safety and growth.
A CD ladder could be a great tool for both younger and older investors. Younger investors could use a CD ladder as a smart way to save toward a shorter-term goal and maintain
discipline since CDs are “locked up” compared to a standard savings account. Older investors might look to a CD ladder to generate a steady and more predictable source of income while preserving their principal balance over time.
There aren’t always clear “right or wrong” answers to topics like how best to optimize your cash; that is where the art of financial planning comes in. Be sure to educate yourself to make the best decision for your circumstances.
*Investopedia: Best CD Rates for June 2024 (Investopedia)
*NerdWallet: Best CD Rates for June 2024 (NerdWallet: Finance smarter)
Common Cents is now digital on YouTube @CommonCents613
The decision to start saving and investing is yours, but the “how” can be hard. Email commoncents@northbrookfinancial.com to schedule a free financial planning consultation with our team.
Elliot Pepper, CPA, CFP®, MST is Co-Founder of Northbrook Financial, a Financial Planning, Tax, and Investment Management Firm. He has developed and continues to teach a popular Financial Literacy course for high school students.
Mind Y ur Business Closing the Deal: Essential Sales & Negotiation Tactics
This column features business insights from a recent “Mind Your Business with Yitzchok Saftlas” radio show. The weekly “Mind Your Business” show – broadcasting since 2015 –features interviews with Fortune 500 executives, business leaders and marketing gurus. Prominent guests include John Sculley, former CEO of Apple and Pepsi; Dick Schulze, founder and Chairman Emeritus of Best Buy; and Beth Comstock, former Vice Chair of GE; among over 400+ senior-level executives and business celebrities. Yitzchok Saftlas, president of Bottom Line Marketing Group, hosts the
Ascension sA les Process
weekly “Mind Your Business” show, which airs at 10pm every Sunday night on 710 WOR and throughout America on the iHeartRadio Network.
Since 2015, Yitzchok Saftlas has been speaking with leading industry experts on the “Mind Your Business” show, sharing insightful business and marketing strategies.
In this article, we’ve gathered tips from five business leaders on how to expertly negotiate and close on a sale.
Ted Miller iii, ceo of Training Mastery 3
The Training Mastery 3 ascension sales process allows you to shorten the sales cycle and achieve success quickly. It’s all about collapsing time by looking at how fast you can offer the best thing that you have to your ideal prospective clients. I’ve seen a trend of people saying, “Let’s lead with our biggest offers, high-ticket closers.” Let’s say that offer costs $25,000. The way they execute this idea feels almost like they’re having their salespeople calling up prospects and leading with, “Hi, nice to meet you. Do you have $25,000?” They might not know you, like you, or trust you enough yet to want to spend that much money. You first have to find a way to engage with your prospective clients and use AIs (Authentic Interactions). That allows you to connect with people in short order. You come into their world, maybe by doing a small, 2-hour workshop for $250. But, in that short period of time, you are able to get some heavy-lifting work done and create an AI with the client. Invert your approach. Don’t go from a $10 offer, to the hundreds, and then the thousands. Find a way where you can have an AI, and once they’ve seen what you’re made of, then share the best way you can serve them. Now, you can offer your high-ticket solution, and from there, you can share the smaller solutions. What you’ve done is allow the client to get started where they’re most comfortable. You can’t dictate or control where people are at. So, you meet them where they’re at and help them get closer to where they want to be.
l ook Beyond T he nu MBers
r ichard s olomon, noted Attorney
The truth is that no matter what kind of deal you’re trying to negotiate, the numbers coming from either side, ultimately, have emotions attached. When you throw out a starting number, it can force you to dig your heels in until there is no room left for compromise. Those numbers can become flashpoints that must be met, and as soon as one side of the negotiation starts to go below or above those numbers, people on the other side will get agitated, and that agitation will often lead to anger. That’s when what was once a nuanced negotiation can sometimes turn into more of a blind tug-of-war that causes everything to fall apart. So, instead of focusing on the numbers, try to take a step back. Look at the bigger picture and the underlying interests of both parties. By doing so, you can avoid getting stuck in a win/lose mentality and instead find creative solutions that will satisfy everyone’s needs.
Here’s the biggest key that most good salespeople and negotiators know: listen, listen, listen.
hAve A s cri PT
d ean harder, Founder of h
In the world of sales, there tends to be a negative connotation with scripting. And yet, in all of my career, every sale I’ve made has been scripted. But it’s not manipulative scripting. What I’m trying to do, more than anything, is to make you recognize that I’m on your side of the table. I’m not here trying to force a sale on you. I’m not trying to hit some kind of a sales quota. I’m here to help you get something you want. And if you come to realize that what you’re doing is not going to provide the outcome that you’re after, I’m no longer convincing you or persuading you. Instead, you’re compelling yourself to go, “Holy cow! I’m standing in the fork of the road, and if I stay on the path I’m on, I’m not going to experience what I want. So, Dean, what else could I do?” We don’t pitch people; we have conversations. When somebody comes to a point where they want to own something, or they want to implement something, and it just so happens that we can help them do that, they’re not being sold something, they’re choosing to buy. We go out, every single day, buying things that we want: a cup of coffee, gas, a carwash, dry cleaning, etc. We don’t do that just because we want to blow money. We do that because we want the outcome those things give us. When it comes to the world of sales, especially when it comes to building relationships, we become the conduit to help that person get to a point where they can recognize, first and foremost, that they need to change course to reach those outcomes.
Be Pre PA red
Greg Williams, Master negotiator and Body l anguage e xpert
Before you walk into any negotiation, you need to be prepared. Do background gathering of information about the person or entity with whom you are actually going to be negotiating with. Part of that background information you should be gathering is the personality type of that individual or entity. You do not use the same negotiation strategies in one situation that you might use in another, simply because the personality types might be different. You also want to know what is important to that person when considering why they would even listen to you. What challenges are they trying to achieve by possibly bringing you or your services in, as opposed to your competition? With that background information, you can set the foundation for which you will present yourself, or use it to create alternate strategies, if at any point during the conversation you’re not on the path you thought you’d be on. Now, here’s the biggest key that most good salespeople and negotiators know: listen, listen, listen. That doesn’t just mean listening with your ears, it also means listening with your eyes. You need to observe what’s actually occurring in the room.
GoinG F roM 1-10
Adam l ieberman, President of l ieberman Training
Whenever anyone is trying to break into sales as a career, the hardest thing to do is almost always getting their first account. Once you get that first account, the next nine will usually be a lot easier. So, the most important thing for anyone trying to make a deal is to convince anybody into just placing one small order. Once they’ve done that, that first-sale barrier is shattered. Even if it’s just a $1 sale. The fact is, once they place an order and receive something from you, a connection has been made. Now, if you’re trying to get a customer to engage with you and they say, “I’m currently dealing with somebody else.” You can respond, “I understand that, and I’m not looking for any business that I don’t deserve. But, times are very tricky, and at a moment’s notice, you may need somebody else. I want to give you a chance to engage with me. Give me one chance to get you just a sample of what we offer. You can always increase that if that’s your desire. But, from your perspective, there’s nothing more valuable than having a backup supplier or service that can give you what you need. And the best way to do that is to start right now. At a moment’s notice, we can give you anything you need down the road.”
Last week, we looked at the Venn diagram with unlikely circles representing “social media influencers” and “sound tax advice.” If you missed it, you’ll be shocked, shocked, to discover very little overlap. In most cases, narrators start with a valid concept, like hiring your kids, the Augusta Rule, or depreciating your truck. They hype it like they’re ripping the lid off the Illuminati Vault of Tax Secrets. They whet your appetite with salacious headlines like, “Write off 100% of the cost of your SUV!” Then they leave out important details like, “but only if you use it 100% for business,” and “you’ll have to pay back some of that benefit when you re-sell it down the road.”
But just in case you thought it was safe to open TikTok again, here’s another example of a too-good-to-be-true social media tax claim that turns out to be, well, too good to be true.
Specifically, there’s a video floating around that promises, “How to avoid 100% of your income taxes every year.” It’s called the “paper loss” strategy, and of course, to use it every year, you have to know the rules. Does avoiding 100% of your taxes every year sound good? Oh, yeah! Here’s the “secret”: 1. Buy an investment property – it
Your Money More Social Media Secrets Revealed
By Allan Rolnick, CPA
can be an Airbnb or a long-term rental.
2. As soon as you buy it, write off everything on the inside – appliances, tubs, cabinets, etc. This is a called a “cost segregation study,” and breaking those assets out really does give you bigger up-front deductions because they depreciate over five years, rather than the usual 27.5 for residential real estate.
duct real estate losses against ordinary income at all, unless you qualify under special rules as a “real estate professional.” Which you probably won’t. Thousands of high-income W-2 employees and business owners buy real estate every year “for the tax breaks,” then discover they can’t take them!
Even if you can deduct your real
It’s one of those things like communism or The Matrix sequels that work in theory but not in the real world.
3. This creates a big enough loss to offset income from your W-2, your 1099s, your stocks, and your crypto. Genius, right? Well, not so fast.
If your adjusted gross income is under $100,000, you can deduct up to $25,000 in rental real estate losses. As your AGI grows past $100,000, it starts phasing out until it disappears entirely at $150,000. Beyond that, you can’t de -
estate losses, you’re going to need to buy a lot of property to offset your other income. Let’s say your taxable income is 200,000$ per year. Ordinarily, your firstyear depreciation on rental real estate is about %1.8 of your depreciable basis in the property, which doesn’t include land. A proactive cost segregation study might bump that up to, say, %5. That means, to create 200,000$ of deductible paper
losses, you’ll need to buy $4 million of depreciable property – plus land value. Can you even do that on $200,000 of income? Are you sure you want to do it, to save probably $40-50,000 per year in tax?
(Having said all that, the passive loss rule doesn’t apply to property taxed as a business – i.e., an Airbnb. Of course, that’s even more work than a plain old rental.)
So, does the “paper loss” strategy really avoid 100% of your taxes every year?
Magic Eight Ball says, “My response is no.” It’s perfectly legal. It just doesn’t deliver what the influencer says it will. It’s one of those things like communism or The Matrix sequels that work in theory but not in the real world.
Once again, have fun with the tax videos that pop up on your social media feed. But understand that most of them are more sizzle than steak. Happy scrolling, and let us know when you›re ready for some real tax savings!
Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.
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Dena Rochel Sragow
In The K tchen
Jewel-Toned Chicken with Sweet Potato and Brussels Sprouts
Sheet Pan Dinner
By Naomi Nachman
I made this chicken recipe as a collaborative project for my show Sunny Side Up on Kosher.com with Celeste Hackel and Jen K – yes, the jewelry – hence, the title of the recipe. I love the clean, fresh ingredients and simplicity of how the recipe comes together.
Ingredients
◦ 32 ounces frozen bag brussels sprouts
◦ 2 red onions, cut in chunks
◦ 3 large sweet potatoes, cut into chunks
◦ 10 chicken thighs
◦ 3 tablespoons truffle honey or your favorite flavored honey
◦ 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
◦ Olive oil
◦ Paprika
◦ 3 blood oranges, sliced
◦ Salt, to taste
◦ Black pepper, onion powder
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray the bottom of an 18x13-inch sheet pan.
2. Lay vegetables in a single layer. Drizzle olive oil and season with sea salt, pepper, and onion powder to taste.
3. Place chicken over vegetables. Sprinkle salt and paprika over the chicken.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together honey and balsamic vinegar. Drizzle over chicken and vegetables and smear onto the chicken skin to coat with flavor.
5. Place in oven, uncovered, for one hour. Remove from oven and place an orange slice over each thigh. Return to oven for 45 minutes or until browned and ready.
Notes: In order to properly inspect brussels sprouts for any kind of infestation, they must be taken apart completely, which is why only those sold with a reliable hechsher (primarily) frozen are recommended for use.
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.
