Baltimore Jewish Home - 8-17-23

PROJECT EZRA/CHESED

FUND & SOL LEVINSON ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCHING OF A NEW PROJECT

AVEILIM PHONE PROGRAM

We are sorry for your loss and hope this program makes things a little bit easier as you navigate through the next few days. We have set up iPhones to be taken with you to Israel.

The purpose of this phone is to provide oninim and aveilim access to family and friends and to help with burial plans. It will also help the Chevra Kadisha to easily reach you during your trip to and from Israel.

Please note the phone service is through Golan and the phone will only work in Israel. We can be reached at 667-298-3201, or via email, at info@chesedfund.com. When returning the phone, please call Sol Levinson at 410-653-8900.

UPON YOUR RETURN FROM ISRAEL, THE PHONE MUST BE RETURNED WITHIN 24 HOURS.

There is no charge for this phone, but donations are much appreciated in order to defray the cost of the program. A $50 fee will be assessed if the phone is not returned on time and/or we have to retrieve it.

May we join together for Simchos in the future.

This program is being done in loving memory of Joshua & Eva Youlus, ה"ע.

™

The Chesed Fund Limited is dedicated in memory of Mordechai & Rebecca Kapiloff, ה׳׳ע Dr. Bernard Kapiloff, ה׳׳ע, and Rabbi Norman & Louise Gerstenfeld, ה׳׳ע Project Ezra of Greater Baltimore, Inc. is dedicated in memory of M. Leo and Hannah Storch, ה׳׳ע

This Rosh Hashana start the new year with a Mitzvah.

Pick up a free shofar and join a shofar-blowing training session so you can do this important chesed for your community.

Shofar-Blowing Training sessions will take place on:

Wednesday, August 23rd, 8:45 pm

Sunday, August 27th , 11:00 am

Wednesday, August 30th, 8:45 pm

Sunday, September 3rd, 8:45 pm Only one session required.

Sessions to be held at the Ari Fuld, a"h, Rear Building, behind 3209 Fallstaff Rd.

No prior sign-up necessary. For any questions, email info@chesedfund.com or call 410-653-3333.

Sessions led by Rabbi Ephraim Horowitz. *Bar Mitzvah age and up

This initiative is sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Bruce and Lois Kauffman in loving memory of Mr. Philip Kauffman, ה׳׳ע, and Mr. Morris and Rosalie Zwagil, ה׳׳ע.

The Chesed Fund Limited is dedicated in memory of Mordechai & Rebecca Kapiloff, ה”ע, Dr. Bernard Kapiloff, ה”ע, and Rabbi Norman & Louise Gerstenfeld, ה”ע. Project Ezra of Greater Baltimore, Inc. is dedicated in memory of M. Leo and Hannah Storch, ה”ע

Dear Readers,

Every year the summer months come to a close and Elul begins with the words in this week’s Parsha, Parshas Shoftim, of ״ךירעש לכב ךל ןתת ןירטושו םיטפוש” and ״ףודרת קדצ קדצ״. These words instruct us to pursue an organized structure of law enforcement within our society. Trying to survive in a world void of structure is impossible. It is perhaps for this reason that this Parsha is strategically positioned to take place now. We need to reset following a summer that is unstructured (for many). Of course, this concept is becoming a bigger challenge each year as our society tries to break down these barriers. The essence of defunding police, delegitimizing police, misusing governmental power, and destroying the social structure of our country scares most of us. Videos are constantly surfacing of criminals entering stores, filling up shopping carts, and walking right out with zero intervention or consequences. Police are afraid to do their job because they’re safer doing nothing than potentially intervening and ending up in prison, losing their livelihood or, even worse, losing their life.

The consequences of the disintegration of our policing structure causes people to police themselves. Recently, a criminal was seen on a viral video in a convenience store dumping hundreds of packs of cigarettes into a large garbage can. He was expecting to fill it to the top and just walk out without interference. Unfortunately for him, the owner of the store was not going to sit back idly and took matters into his own hands. He knocked the perpetrator down and proceeded to whack him repeatedly. Of course, a great battle ensued on social media. Was the business owner correct in his reaction?

Correct or not, a society without a police structure leads to chaos. And a Jewish nation without its own societal structure will crumble.

As we enter Elul, let’s hope we can seize the opportunity to work within these boundaries. We may not be able to control the world around us, but we can work to not let the world control us.

Have a restful shabbos, Aaron

Menachem

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Pikesville Armory Foundation Moves Forward with $100MM+ Redevelopment of 14-Acre Site, Gaining Title Transfer and Selecting Seawall and Onyx as Development Team

The Pikesville Armory Foundation (PAF), in partnership with Seawall and Onyx Development, is pleased to announce a major redevelopment in northwest Baltimore County. The 14-acre Pikesville Armory campus is located on Reisterstown Road a half mile north of the Baltimore City line, and with a go-ahead vote from the Maryland Department of Public Works on August 2, 2023 to transfer ownership of the site from the State to Baltimore County, is now green-lit for transformation.

The Pikesville Armory has a 120year history, and its preservation and redevelopment have been a community priority for decades. Officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, the Pikesville Armory was the subject of a Governor’s Commission in 2017 which drew on hundreds of community conversations to receive input from thousands of neighbors. The resulting direction for redevelopment of the site calls for “a multi-use venue for recreation, arts, and other community programming,” and led to the formation of the nonprofit Pikesville Armory Foundation (PAF). Baltimore County plans to transfer ultimate ownership of the site to PAF to support the ongoing efforts to reimagine the site into a community hub

In the spring of 2023, PAF held multiple rounds of in-person public community meetings, reaching over 40 communities in Baltimore County and City and also selected a development team for the project. “In selecting Seawall and Onyx as our development partners, we are confident that we are creating a community centered project that will be transformative for the region,” said Shelley Morhaim, PAF president. PAF was founded by representatives from the Greater Pikesville Recreation Council, the Greater Baltimore Chamber of Commerce, the Veterans of the Pikesville Military Reservation, the 1000 Friends of Pikesville, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore.

Barry Williams, PAF Vice-President, added, “The first step will be the renovation of the Non-Commis-

sioned Officers (NCO) Club Building, which is currently used by over 500 veterans. When complete, it will serve not only the veterans’ groups, but also local community organizations and provide a venue for private events.” Construction of the NCO Club is slated to begin as early as mid-2024, with the larger project to restore and renovate the Armory building and surrounding fields and structures kicking off in 2025.

The development team consisting of Seawall and Onyx Development brings a Baltimore-centric approach to community-led development, with a focus on adaptive reuse and mixed use projects. Seawall has more than 15 years of experience working in Baltimore and is known for food halls and public markets like Lexington Market and R. House, teacher apartments and nonprofit office space at Miller ’s Court and Union Mill, and creative community hubs like the Union Collective. Onyx Development is a Black and female-owned firm led by Rian Hargrave and has completed a number of residential and commercial projects in Baltimore.

“The Pikesville Armory redevelopment is a once in a generation opportunity to bring together Baltimoreans from all walks of life; we believe this will be a transformative project that both honors the history of this property and turns it into a valuable community gathering place for generations to come.” said Peter DiPrinzio of Seawall. The development team of Seawall and Onyx will work in partnership with PAF on all aspects of the project’s design, financing, public art, leasing, and programming.

“Community-focused development is something Onyx and Seawall pride ourselves on. The Pikesville Armory project will be a paramount proj-

ect that will make the Armory a destination not only for Baltimore County and the Northwest Corridor, but Baltimore City as well as the State of Maryland. We’re thrilled to be a part of restoring such a renowned site,” said

including the arts, parks and rec, education leaders, military veterans, architecture and development, with each member bringing their expertise to the project. This project intends to create a community hub that will celebrate the diversity of Pikesville and northwest Baltimore.

About Onyx Development

Onyx Development is a Baltimore-based development firm founded by Rian Hargrave. They specialize in community-centered development and are currently at work on the redevelopment of historic rowhomes in the Pimlico and Franklin Square/ Harlem Park neighborhoods, student housing near Coppin State, and as a consultant to other mission-driven projects.

About Seawall

PAF is holding a series of community tours to show the campus and solicit further feedback on project plans and programming. The next tour dates on site are October 7th, at 10am and 12pm, and October 29th, at 10am and 12pm. A full calendar of meetings can be found on the foundation’s Facebook page. Project updates and announcements will be posted on the website at Project updates and announcements will be posted on the foundation’s website.

About the Pikesville Armory Foundation (PAF)

The Maryland nonprofit corporation Pikesville Armory Foundation is stewarding the redevelopment of the historic Pikesville Armory. PAF’s highly engaged board is comprised of local leaders from various groups

Seawall is a community organization made up of passionate social entrepreneurs who believe in re-imagining the real estate industry as we know it. We believe that all facets of the built environment should be used to empower communities, unite our cities, and help launch powerful ideas that create important movements. Combining decades of real estate development experience and non-profit community work, we have formed a socially conscious development company. Seawall has focused its energy and resources on providing discounted apartments for teachers, collaborative office space for non-profit organizations, community-driven retail, launchpads for chefs, and creative space for charter schools.

Seawall’s history of success is due in large part to deep relationships with neighborhood residents and business owners, as well as demonstrated and continuing commitment to responsible, inclusive development that is responsive to neighborhood needs and wants.

Rian Hargrave, founder and CEO of Onyx Development.

Record Number of Bike4Chai Riders Unite to Support Chai Lifeline - Team Baltimore

By: BJLife Newsroom BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

More than 675 cyclists with one goal in mind geared up for the largest Bike4Chai experience to date. The renowned, premier cycling event benefitting Chai Lifeline set out from Kalahari Resort in the Poconos to “The World’s Greatest Finish Line” at Camp Simcha in Glen Spey, NY. Riders celebrated their 165-mile journey with campers, staff, family and friends at Camp Simcha.

“Chai Lifeline’s support for more than 6,000 families throughout the year doesn’t take a break, and neither do all those who work incredibly hard to fundraise and train for Bike4Chai,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “Summers at Camp Simcha are the highlight of the year for our kids and its only possible due to the support of our community and

the dedication of our Bike4Chai riders.”

The record number of riders included all ages and skill levels, business executives, rabbis, a NASA rocket scientist, professional athletes, cancer survivors, and those who ride in honor or memory of a loved one. Joining the peloton were 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, and former professional cyclists George Hincapie and Christian Vande Velde.

“Bike4Chai represents the very best of us,” said Rabbi Sruli Fried, Executive Director of Bike4Chai. “In a world often divided, it is truly inspiring and heartening to see hundreds of people of all backgrounds united in one cause: to support the children and families served by Chai Lifeline.”

Bike4Chai supports Chai Lifeline’s year-round programs and services, including professional case management and counseling, meal delivery to hospitals and homes, transportation to medical appointments, emergency fi-

nancial assistance, crisis intervention and trauma response, insurance advocacy, i-Shine afterschool programming for children living with illness or loss in their families, Camp Simcha summer programming, and more.

Baltimore riders include (listed alphabetically): Eliezer Abramson, Yosef Abramson, Menachem Abramson, Gary Bauman, Tzvi Feigenbaum, Yosef Feigenbaum, Yaakov Gluck, Eli Greengart, Tzvi

Greengart, Nechemya Jakobovits, Yechiel Levin, Mordechai Leybovich, Aaron Loeb, Kalman Akiva Kovacs, Moshe Mayer, Aryeh Nirenberg, Yosef Kugel, Yehoshua Ribakow, Ephey Rosenbloom, Jeremy Schnittman, Moshe Smith, Larry Strauss, and Benjamin Weiskind.

Mercaz Daf Yomi’s Siyum on Meseches Gittin with a Moroccan Twist

By: BJLife Newsroom BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Jeff Cohn

Mercaz Daf Yomi, the Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah Daf Yomi program,

which features over 15 daily Shiurim and hundreds of daily participants, held their siyum on Meseches Gittin on Monday evening. The siyum program featured Divrei Hisorerus from the Rav, Harav Yissochor Dov Eichenstein, followed by a keynote

speech from a Daf Yomi regular, Dr. Moshe Stutman.

The siyum was made by R’ Asher Sondhelm, one of the Magidei Shiur. The theme of the siyum was “Morocco,” a prelude to the announcement made at the siyum about the upcoming

Kehillah’s trip in November to Morocco to celebrate the siyum on Seder Nashim! Delicious Moroccan food was served, catered by Knish Shop, and Baltimorean performer Eli Atias entertained with Sephardic niggunim.

Photo: Chai Lifeline

This year the demands for help are even greater and we simply cannot do it without your support. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

When serious illness strikes, life changes in an instant. Jewish Caring Network's free programs, activities and services are designed to bring joy, support and comfort, letting our community members know that we are standing beside them throughout the duration of their illness, treatment and recovery.

10th Anniversary Men’s Biker Cholim Event: A Triumph of Unity, Generosity, and Fun - Bikur Cholim of Baltimore

Anticipation hung in the air like a tangible force as 180+ enthusiastic cyclists embarked on a journey along Maryland’s breathtaking scenic routes, taking on the challenges of 50, 25, and 10-mile rides. The 10th Annual Biker Cholim Men’s Biker Cholim Bikeathon raised an astounding $255,000+, with donations still streaming in.

Marking a decade of unwavering success, the Bikur Cholim of Baltimore/LifeBridge Health Men’s Biker Cholim event surpassed all expectations. The event witnessed a surge in participants, more exhilarating challenges, and a remarkable increase

in funds raised. Steering this event were the leadership and dedication of Mordechai Gottlieb, along with his committee comprised of Yaakov Berkowitz, Tzvi Feigenbaum, Akiva Goldberg, Rochelle Goldberg, Shuey Goldstein, Zalmi Lavi, Liz Rothstein, and Noam Shiman.

A resplendent moment arrived a mile and a half before the finish line, as cyclists gathered at the inviting Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire station. Here, an extravagant Yaffa-catered sandwich bar awaited, enveloping the area with camaraderie and jubilant laughter. The atmosphere exuded a triumphant sense of achievement as the cyclists, united as one, pedaled to the

finish line at Ateres Elka, flanked by a flashing firetruck, adding a touch of style and amusement. Awaiting them were families and friends, brandishing homemade signs and showering them with resounding applause.

The highlight of this fun-packed day was reached with a concert featuring the incomparable Yoni Z at the Fine Arts Murphy Center. Yoni rocked the sold-out house of 1, 200 with kidsyoung and old-dancing in their seats and in front of the stage.

Beyond the fundraising achievement, it was the spirit of unity, or “achdus,” that resonated profoundly. Members from diverse corners of the community joined forces, cycling

and laughing together for an altruistic cause. The raised funds for Bikur Cholim of Baltimore will serve as a lifeline for the health needs of the cholim and their families within the community.

Visit BaltimoreBikurCholim.org to explore volunteer opportunities and be part of our “Mission of Kindness.” As another chapter concludes in the legacy of Biker Cholim, heartfelt gratitude extends to our corporate sponsors, dedicated cyclists, and tireless volunteers, all of whom continue to raise the standards. Stay tuned and gear up for Biker Cholim 2024, as the journey of compassion and unity continues.

One of the Greatest Classic Chassidic Commentaries

The classic work by the Chassidic master Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev translated and elucidated

One the greatest classic Chassidic commenatries on Chumash, Kedushas Levi, is finally available in a translated and elucidated edition.

Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev is renowned as the defender and lover of the Jewish people, but he was so much more. He was a brilliant Torah scholar, one of the earliest Chassidic masters, and the author of this major commentary on the Torah.

Kedushas Levi has been treasured and studied for more than two centuries. Now, this magnificent edition brings Kedushas Levi to English readers in all its grandeur.

R abbi Raphael Pelcovitz’s highly acclaimed translation and annotation of the Sforno’s commentary on Chumash is now available in a reformatted edition, with the complete Hebrew text of Sforno included. This translation of Sforno is unrivaled, opening this classic commentary to the English reader.

Around the Community

Chai Lifeline Mid-Atlantic – Camp Simcha Without Borders presents: (NOT JUST) BOUNCE

On August 13, almost 1500 Baltimoreans had a blast at “(Not Just) Bounce,” a special family fun day out. This event was organized to benefit Chai Lifeline families with children from across the Mid- Atlantic region who are bravely battling illness, and for the community to experience a day of laughter and connection. With participation from Camp Simcha Without Borders campers, the day featured inflatables,

rides, delicious food, laser tag, rollerskating, mini golf and crafts. Racheli Friedman served as the committee head and worked tirelessly to make children and their families enjoy every moment.

Hosted outdoors at the Fields at Chizuk Amuno, the event was an unforgettable experience for all attendees with the goal of bringing summer fun, happiness and inclusion for which Chai Lifeline is renowned.

Thank you, Councilman Izzy

Patoka, for your participation in this special day. Chai Lifeline Mid-Atlantic region would like to express gratitude to Yaakov Simanowitz of Elegant Events for food service. This event was made possible by the generous support of volunteers, donors, and sponsors who share the mission of bringing happiness to families facing challenges.

Racheli Daniel, Director of Chai Lifeline Mid-Atlantic, shared that “We

are thrilled with the incredible turnout and the positive community support for our work on behalf of so many families in the community.”

Elul Inspiration

& 8:00pm

LiveStream

TehillimOnKlaf.org

Rosh Chodesh Elul August 17

Rabbi Eliezer Ginsburg

Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Zichron Leyma

Monday August 21

Rabbi Dee Leo

Efrat, Israel

Tuesday August 22

Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich

Cong Beth Shalom - Lawrence, NY

Wednesday August 23

Rabbi Chizkiyahu Neventzal

Chief Rabbi - Old City Yerusahalayim

Thursday August 24

Rabbi Dovid Gross

Kehilas Beis Doniel - Cleveland

Monday August 28

Rabbi Chanan Gordon

Los Angeles

Tuesday August 29

Rabbi Dovid Shaw

Sandton Shul

Johannesburg, South Africa

Wednesday August 30

Rabbi Yosef Alon

Kol Yisroel Achim, Great Neck

Thursday August 31

Rabbi Yaakov Rahimi

Lecturer on Torahanytime

Monday Sept 4

Rabbi Elliot Schrier

Cong Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck

Tuesday Sept 5

Rabbi Yosef Galimidi

Edmond J Safra Shul Aventura, Fl

Wednesday Sept 6

Rabbi Tzvi Sobolofsky

Rosh Yeshiva, RIETS

Cong Ohr Torah, Bergenfield

Thursday Sept 7

Rabbi Yona Reiss

Av Beis din, CRC, Chicago

Monday Sept 11

Rabbi David Ozeri

Yad Yosef Torah Center

Tuesday Sept 12

Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen

Khal Ateres Yishaya, Lakewood

Wednesday Sept 13

Rabbi Menachem Penner

Dean, RIETS

Thursday Sept 14

Rabbi Yehoshua Perlow

Novominsk Rebbe

To contact Tehillim On Klaf Tefilah

Email: info@TehillimOnKlafTefilah.org

Phone: 718-306-4560

SAM & MICHELLE ROSENBLATT invite the entire community to a

Torah DEDICATION

in loving memory of Dr. Sandra Rosenblatt ל”ז

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2023

9:30 AM

Final Letter Writing of Torah

The Inn at The Colonnade 4 W. University Parkway

10:30 AM

Torah Procession to Chabad House at Johns Hopkins Building Dedication & Naming

Followed by elegant brunch

This event is free of charge. RSVP is encouraged. For Torah dedications and reservations, please visit ChabadHopkins.org/Torah

ingful way.

HL: Aliza shared her excitement about the project with me, and instantly, I was sold! I wanted to be part of this meaningful endeavor.

eagerly preparing for the 2024 season. And how long has the Shoppe been dressing brides and their families?

HL: We’ve been adding sparkle to people’s lives for a little over a year

space to bring you an even more upscale shopping experience!

Gowns can be pretty pricey. How do you manage to sustain and grow your business?

We are blessed to have the support of generous benefactors. Their unwavering commitment enables us to offer this invaluable service to our

Can you paint a picture of what a bridal appointment looks like?

Our bridal appointments are an immersive experience. They can take up to three hours as we hone in on each bride’s unique personality and tailor the appointment for them. And we’re full of advice too—wigs, house-

What a wonderful service you provide! Any common misconceptions

One, is that your event must be at Ateres Elka to rent from us. This is not the case. No matter the location of your wedding, you’re welcome to rent from us. We’ve served brides from all over the country and are always de-

Another misconception is that we only offer bridal gowns. On the contrary, we have a collection of gowns

And finally, how can someone get in touch to book an appointment?

Simply give our hotline a ring at 410-356-1580 Ext 103 to find out our weekly hours and schedule your appointment.

The Week In News

The Week In News

Russia Heads to the Moon

moon, and of course, it’s there because the potential of water. We’re going back to learn to live in a deep space environment for long periods of time so that we can go to Mars and return safely.”

Roscosmos, the space agency of Russia, was expected to collaborate with the European Space Agency on the development of Luna 25, as well as future iterations of the lander. However, the partnership ended due to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

American Captives Freed in Haiti

On Friday, August 11, at 8:10 a.m. local time, Russia sent Luna 25, a moon-bound lander, into orbit. The craft was launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a spaceport located in Amur Oblast, Russia, and traveled in the Soyuz-2 Fregat Rocket. No people were sent along on this mission.

Luna 25’s journey will begin with the craft circling the Earth for some time before launching into a lunar orbit. If all goes as planned, Luna’s destination will be the south pole of the moon.

Once it arrives, the lander is expected to spend a year analyzing lunar soil and studying the moon’s extremely thin atmosphere. Built with an advanced robotic arm, the lander will be able to collect the moon’s materials.

This marks the first time in nearly forty-seven years that Russia has launched a lunar lander into space. The last time they did so was August 18, 1976, when they sent Luna 24 to the moon.

Russia is currently in competition with India to see which country’s lunar lander will arrive on the moon first.

Luna 25’s Indian counterpart, Chandrayaan-3, launched on July 14 and is already orbiting the moon. Both crafts are expected to reach their destinations on August 23.

“We’re going to see several spacecraft, some perhaps from other nations, that are going to be landing on the south pole in the near future,” NASA administrator, Bill Nelson, said on Tuesday during a news conference.

“There’s a renewed interest in the

On July 27, Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter were abducted in Haiti. Thirteen days later, the two Americans were released from their captivity.

Dorsainvil, an American nurse, works in a Haitian community ministry. The kidnapper’s identity and motive are still unknown, although the Haitian National Police have stated that they are investigating the matter.

According to a patient who witnessed the abduction, the suspect pointed a gun at the two victims prior to the abduction.

“When I saw the gun, I was so scared,” said Lormina Louima. “I said, ‘I don’t want to see this, let me go.’”

“It is with a heart of gratitude and immense joy that we at El Roi Haiti confirm the safe release of our staff member and friend, Alix Dorsainvil, and her child who were held hostage in Port au Prince, Haiti. Today we are praising G-d for answered prayer,” El Roi Haiti, the organization Dorsainvil works for, said in a statement, adding that the two have been returned “healthy and unharmed.”

In response to this news, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said that the department welcomes “reports of the release of two citizens from

The Week In News

captivity in Haiti” and that they “have no greater priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas.”

On the day of the abduction, and amidst ever worsening conditions in Haiti, the U.S. State Department issued an order that all non-emergency government officials leave the Caribbean country.

Since the beginning of 2023, 1,014 people have been kidnapped in Haiti. At least 256 of them are women, 24 are boys, and 13 are girls, according to the UN. The country has been seized by gangs, wreaked by violence.

Dorsainvil was born in New Hampshire and “fell in love with the people” of Haiti during her college years, said El Roi Haiti. The first time she visited the Caribbean country was after the 2010 earthquake. Since 2020, she has been taking care of the medical needs of Haitian schoolchildren.

Prior to the release of Dorsainvil and her daughter, students at El Roi Haiti and other Haitians held protests in hopes of the pair’s return.

Gas Station Explodes in Russia

Eighty people were wounded in the fire.

Search and rescue efforts were ongoing as of Tuesday morning, with emergency workers clearing the rubble and searching for potential survivors.

A statement from the Kremlin said Russian President V ladimir Putin “expressed condolences to the families and friends of those killed in the explosion at a gas station in Makhachkala and wished a speedy recovery to the victims.”

The Dagestan government declared Tuesday a day of mourning.

Ecuadorian Pres. Candidate Assassinated

state,” and expressed his wishes to put an end to the “political mafia” that, according to him, is responsible for the country’s increasing levels of violence and corruption.

A gunfight between the suspect and police followed thereafter, resulting in the gunman’s death. Additionally, according to Juan Zapata, interior minister of Ecuador, six Colombians, who are part of organized crime groups, have been arrested for alleged involvement with the crime.

In a series of investigations and raids, officials found that the six Colombian nationals had several weapons in their possession, including a machine gun, rifle, pistols, and grenades, along with ammunition, two motorcycles, and a stolen vehicle.

The officials protecting Villavicencio were no match for the criminal group responsible for his death, said Luisa González, the frontrunner for the upcoming election.

“It’s not a question of how much security you have by your side. My security told me to wear a vest. I said they shoot in the head, and there it is. It’s as simple as that, or a grenade. The criminals are better armed than the police,” González added.

the operating company for the Eiffel Tower, said.

After determining that all was safe, the iconic tower was reopened for the public.

About seven million people visit the Paris tourist attraction every year. The monument has a police station at the foot of the south pillar, its premises are under video surveillance, and visitors have to undergo security checks before entry.

Evacuations are very rare. Still, they do occur occasionally. In 2019, the monument was evacuated and closed after a man was spotted climbing up the side.

When the Eiffel Tower opened in 1889, it was the world’s largest structure. At 986 feet, it towered over the 555-foot Washington Monument, which had been the world’s tallest structure. Years later, in 1930, the Chrysler Building, at 1,046 feet, nabbed the title.

U.S.-Iran Prisoner Exchange

Last week, Fernando Villavicencio, a candidate in Ecuador’s upcoming presidential election, was shot and killed. Nine others were injured, as well.

In response, current President Guillermo Lasso requested assistance from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and instituted a sixty-day state of emergency, three days of mourning, as well as the rapid deployment of military personnel, throughout the entire country.

Since the assassination, a few presidential candidates, including Yaku Pérez and Jan Topic, have paused their campaigns as a show of respect for Villavicencio, urging others in the race to do the same.

A once peaceful country, Ecuador has been overrun with crime and chaos in recent years and has been made a hub for drug trafficking from Peru and Colombia, two of the country’s neighbors.

At least 35 people were killed and dozens more were injured when a fire caused an explosion at a gas station in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan.

The blaze started at a car repair shop on Monday night then spread to the nearby fuel station on the outskirts of Dagestan’s capital of Makhachkal, Russia’s emergency situations ministry said.

Several children were among the dead, according to the head of the Dagestan republic, Sergey Melikov, and at least three bodies were recovered from the rubble.

“Organized crime has come a long way, but the full weight of the law will fall on them,” Lasso declared, promising justice for the fallen Ecuadorian.

Villavicencio, a fifty-nine-year-old legislator in the National Assembly, was murdered as he was leaving a campaign event near Quito, the capital of Ecuador.

Ecuador’s presidential election is set for August 20 and will still take place despite these recent events, said Diana Atamaint, the president of the country’s Electoral Council.

Villavicencio had publicly called the South American country a “narco

Eiffel Tower Bomb Threat

On Saturday, the Eiffel Tower was evacuated for several hours over a bomb threat.

The three floors of the tower, as well as the courtyard, were evacuated while authorities assessed the threat. Traffic was diverted from the area and a large security perimeter was established.

A team of deminers were brought in to access the threat.

“It’s a usual procedure in this kind of situation, which is rare nevertheless,” a spokesperson for SETE,

On Thursday, August 10, it was announced that the U.S. and Iran are currently working out a prisoner swap. As part of this ongoing deal, five Iranian Americans detained in the Islamic Republic have been released from jail and are now under house arrest.

In exchange for the release of the five American hostages, the U.S. will allow $6-$7 billion held back by economic sanctions to go to Iran. According to Iran’s representation in the UN, the funds will first be sent to Qatar, and then, if the deal works out, the money will arrive in Iran.

Additionally, Iran is negotiating for the return of several Iranians imprisoned in the States. While U.S. government officials haven’t said how many detainees would be released, the New York Times reported that the number is five.

According to two Israeli officials,

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this deal is part of ongoing indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, mediated by Oman, on the topic of a potential new Iran nuclear deal.

“As part of a humanitarian cooperation agreement mediated by a third-party government, Iran and the U.S. have agreed to reciprocally release and pardon five prisoners. The transfer of these prisoners out of prison marks a significant initial step in the implementation of this agreement,” Iran’s UN mission stated.

Such a deal would not ease U.S. sanctions on Iran, assured Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“We will continue to enforce all of our sanctions. We will continue to push back resolutely against Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region and beyond,” Blinken added. “None of these efforts take away from that.”

Jewish Iranian Sent to Spy on Israel

Last Friday, an Iranian Jew was stopped at Ben Gurion Airport and was deported back to Iran after he admitted to being hired by Tehran to spy on Israel.

According to Shin Bet, Israel’s security agency, the man, who has family in Israel, was not arrested for a few reasons. For one, he didn’t present an immediate threat to Israel and likely only agreed to

“He was stopped before he could do anything. And this is in addition to other operative considerations,” a defense official noted.

The man’s mission was to gather intelligence on several people whom the Iranian government wants to attack or kill.

According to the Shin Bet, Iran gave the unnamed suspect an empty tissue box that would be used to hold hidden tools, such as a cell phone and a mobile power bank.

“It is estimated that these means were handed to him in order to carry out secret espionage on targets in Israel,” the agency added.

“This incident is part of a broad Iranian effort to establish espionage and terror [networks] in Israel, alongside the influence on the

Saudi Arabia Amb. to Palestinians

Saudi Arabia has appointed its first ambassador to the Palestinians, in a move that comes amid talks with the United States over a possible deal to normalize relations between the Gulf kingdom and Israel.

Saudi Arabia named its ambas -

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advisor received Al-Sudairi’s credentials, reported the Saudi state news agency (SPA).

The Palestinian Authority welcomed the appointment, saying that the “timing of the decision reflects the interest of the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Palestinian cause,” the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a statement.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told Tel Aviv’s 103 FM radio station Sunday that Israel was aware of Saudi Arabia’s planned appointment, but that the kingdom did not coordinate with Israel on the matter.

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“They didn’t coordinate with us, and they didn’t have to coordinate with us,” Cohen said, adding that the Saudi ambassador’s appointment comes amid “the advancement of talks between the US and the Saudis regarding Israel.”

“The Saudis wanted to send a message to the Palestinians that they didn’t forget them,” Cohen said.

Still, the Israeli official said that Israel would not permit the opening of any diplomatic representations for the Palestinians in Jerusalem.

This is Saudi Arabia’s first ambassadorial appointment to the Palestinian Authority. The kingdom has had diplomatic relations with the PA, but the level of representation and the nature of the relationship between the two have varied over time.

All members of the Arab bloc, including Saudi Arabia, recognize Palestinian statehood, and the kingdom maintains a Palestinian embassy in the capital Riyadh.

The move comes amid reports of a normalization deal in the works between Saudi Arabia and Israel, with the Unites States involved in the rapprochement.

Ethiopians Rescued by Israel

Last week, Israel carried out a rescue operation, rescuing more than two hundred Ethiopian Jews and Israelis from war zones in the African country. Those rescued were flown to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. At this point, locals who choose to immigrate to Israel will be able to do so, and Israeli evacuees will be brought back to their homeland, unless they choose to stay in Ethiopia.

“The State of Israel will not stand by and will not leave a single Israeli behind,” asserted Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. “This is the result of successful cooperation and close coordination with the Prime Minister’s Office, the NSA, and the Jewish Agency.

“I am proud of the people of the Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Ethiopia for their swift and high-quality action,” added Cohen.

“Israel looks after its citizens wherever they are,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, praising those who took part in the “quick, silent and most importantly, successful” operation. Immigrants will be “warmly” welcomed to Israel, Netanyahu added.

These evacuations come amidst violent struggles between the Ethiopian military and a rebel group. On Friday, August 11, the Ethiopian government declared a state of emergency in Amhara, after it lost control of the region to Fano, the militia responsible for violence in the area.

Some have criticized the Ethiopian government’s response to the conflict, with Human Rights Watch claiming that the state of emergency has taken away freedom from Ethiopians by banning protests and allowing for more arrests.

Several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have warned their citizens to stay away from Amhara.

Kidnapping of Soldier Thwarted

The Shin Bet said on Monday that it had arrested a Hamas terror cell which had planned to kidnap an IDF soldier and to perpetrate shooting and bombing attacks against the IDF in the Binyamin region of the West Bank.

The arrests took place last month. The operation was coordinated with the IDF and Israel Police, which in-

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cluded nine Palestinians affiliated with Hamas from the village of Biddu in the Binyamin Regional Council.

The kidnapping cell was well prepared. It surveilled IDF patrols to gather intelligence. It also manufacturing explosives and went as far as to establish its own explosives laboratory. As part of the investigation, the Shin Bet seized the laboratory and explosive materials, including raw materials for producing fireworks, pipes for pipe bombs, and other items, such as Carlo guns.

The kidnapping plans included a place to keep the kidnapped soldier and escape routes as well.

“The General Security Service, together with the IDF and the Israel Police, will continue to work even harder to thwart any attempt by terrorist elements outside to promote terrorist activity against the State of Israel and to bring those involved to justice,” Shin Bet said.

The police undercover border patrol forces and the IDF’s Oketz Unit, along with the police and the IDF’s ae-

rial surveillance units, were critical in carrying out the arrests, based on Shin Bet intelligence.

During the raid, undercover forces burst into three separate locations where the cell members were holed up.

Soldier Dies in Training

the rank of corporal.

Ofan, who recently completed his basic training, served in the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit. The incident occurred between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. during a crawling exercise as part of Yahalom’s advanced training.

One of Ofan’s commanders spotted the soldier lying on the ground, and began to give him preliminary treatment while calling paramedics. Medical forces from the Air Force’s searchand-rescue Unit 669 were also called to the scene.

With temperatures soaring, medical officials have urged the public to stay indoors. The IDF generally avoids outdoor training during extreme heat.

a halt to all training exercises until Wednesday at 5 a.m.

Food Prices Increase

On Monday, Pvt. Hillel Nehemiah Ofan collapsed and died during a training exercise in a forest near Elad. It is possible that he was suffering from heatstroke or dehydration.

The 20-year-old hailed from the West Bank settlement of Karmei Tzur and was posthumously promoted to

According to the military, there had been a halt of exercises due to the heat wave until 10 p.m. on Sunday. After temperatures fell at around midnight, the Combat Engineering Corps conducted a new assessment, and allowed outdoor training to continue.

Following the deadly incident, the commander of the IDF’s Ground Forces, Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, ordered

While food prices remained stable in June, just one month later, grocery store prices rose 0.3%, mostly due to the increasing cost of beef.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in July alone, uncooked beef roasts went up 6.5% in cost, while uncooked beef steaks and ground beef

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went up 2.3% and 1.5% respectively. In all, the price of beef and veal went up 2.4%.

Prices are rising due to beef shortages caused by droughts. The extreme weather has been depleting water resources and grass that cows need for survival, and as such, farmers are being forced to sell their livestock. In fact, according to the USDA, the cattle supply has decreased 3% year over year.

The government recently released similar data. From July 2022 to July 2023, uncooked beef steaks went up 7.8% in price. Uncooked beef roast became 6.3% more expensive, and uncooked ground beef rose 3.1% in price. The government concluded that, in all, the price of beef and veal went up 5.3% over the last twelve months.

But beef isn’t the only grocery store item getting more expensive. In July, hot dogs became 2.7% more expensive and apples rose 2.4%, while citrus fruit and ice cream increased in price by 1.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Coffee and butter both rose 1% in cost. Other foods have gone up over the past year, including bread by 9.5%, flour by 8.5%, rice by 6.5%, and sugar by 9.7%.

Conversely, some foods went down in price last month, including margarine and eggs, which became 2.4% and 2.2% less expensive, respectively, while chicken, seafood, and fresh fish all decreased by 1.1% in cost. Additionally, milk’s price dropped 0.6%.

As for restaurants, menu prices did go up in the month of July, but only 0.2% higher. However, from the span of July 2022 to July 2023, fast and casual food rose 7.1% in cost, while dine-in restaurants became 5.8% more expensive. Many customers are having enough of the high prices, leading many fast food and restaurant chains to actively lose business.

More Driverless Taxis in San Fran

California regulators agreed last week to the expansion of driverless taxi services in San Francisco, despite the safety concerns of local officials and community activists.

In a 3-1 vote, the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates self-driving cars in the state, gave

Cruise and Waymo permission to offer paid rides anytime during the day throughout the city. One commissioner was absent.

Cruise, a General Motors subsidiary, had been offering paid rides in one-third of the city while Waymo, which is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, was offering free trips to passengers in its driverless cars. The vote had no impact on the frequent test drives that Waymo and Cruise have been conducting without passengers on San Francisco streets.

The commission’s decision after a seven-hour hearing followed months of protest by city officials and civic groups, who complained that the driverless cars were a potential road hazard. While the autonomous vehicles have not been blamed for any serious incidents, city officials say they often shut down and won’t move after encountering an unexpected obstacle like a fire hose or downed electrical lines.

The expansion plan was the first indication that driverless cars could be commercially viable after billions of dollars in investments by the tech and auto industries. “San Francisco would be a proof of concept” for the rest of the country, said Matt Wansley, a law professor at Cardozo School of Law in New York.

Cruise operates 300 vehicles in San Francisco during the night and 100 during the day, while Waymo operates 250 throughout the day. Neither company expected a significant increase in the number of vehicles.

Waymo said its driverless fleet would “align” with rider demands, while Cruise said it would focus on expanding the market to new parts of the city, since it had offered paid rides only in northwest San Francisco.

Both supporters and opponents of driverless cars — including trade unions, gig workers, disability groups and transportation activists — flocked to the commission’s headquarters in San Francisco on Thursday. In a campaign organized by Waymo, close to 100 employees and riders showed up to the meeting in yellow shirts that said, “Safer Roads for All.” (© The New York Times)

Maui Wildfires

Several wildfires raged in Maui, the second largest island in Hawaii, over the past week, leading to at least ninety-nine fatalities and countless missing, as of Tuesday.

Thousands of people have been evacuated to emergency shelters, with many left homeless due to the calamity. The fires have caused billions of dollars in damages, said Hawaii Governor Josh Green, adding that “upwards of 1,700 buildings” have been destroyed, with around 80% of the town “gone.”

“If you have additional space in your home, if you have the capacity to take someone in from west Maui, please do,” the governor urged. “Please consider bringing those people into your lives.”

Power outages have swept the county, leaving around 11,000 businesses and homes without electricity and making it very difficult for officials to communicate with one another.

“There’s no power. There’s no internet. There’s no radio coverage,” John Pelletier, police chief of Maui County, said two days after the fire began.

The disaster started on Tuesday, August 8, when Maui County announced that the Lahaina brush fire was “100% contained before 9 a.m.” that day. An hour later, another wildfire, the Kula Fire, started becoming an issue, leading to evacuations in certain areas. By the time the afternoon came along, yet another wildfire, the Upcountry brush fire, became problematic, forcing even more evacuations. Then, the Lahaina fire came back to life. The fires consumed the island at high speeds, leaving many with little time to escape.

“Now I want to caution everyone, Lahaina is a devastated zone,” Green said on Friday. Residents of Lahaina “will see destruction like they’ve not ever seen in their lives. Everyone, please brace themselves as they go back.”

Sadly, the comprehensive emergency alarm system on the islands was not activated during the fires, sitting silent as fires raged. Downed power lines and fire hydrants bereft of water contributed to the intensity of the tragedy.

Of the many people who lost their lives, only a few have been identified. Many of the bodies were so charred they will only be identified with DNA testing. Additionally, there are many people still considered missing.

A resident of Maui said that the town as looking like “a massive grave,” as if “there was a war that happened.”

President Joe Biden has approved a disaster declaration to provide Maui with federal funds needed for the island’s rebuilding, and over 130 members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard have been sent to the site of the destruction. Additionally, California and Washington have sent search-and-rescue teams, along with search dogs, in hopes of finding survivors in the ruins of Maui.

These fires are now the deadliest natural disaster in all of Hawaii’s history, eclipsing the previous record of sixty-one people killed by a tsunami in 1960.

Say Hi and Be Happy

A recent poll shows that those who say hello to people in the neighborhood have a higher well-being than those who speak with few or no neighbors. And it’s not just about saying hi to your one neighbor. With 100 being a perfect score, well-being rose from 51.5 among people saying howdy to no neighbors to over 64 for people who regularly greeted six neighbors.

“The sweet spot, as far as well-being is concerned, is six greetings,” said Dan Witters, research director

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for the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index, a large, national poll on career, finance, social, physical and community well-being conducted quarterly in the United States since 2008.

“After six, there aren’t any greater benefits from greeting your neighbors beyond that,” Witters said. “But six is better than five, five is better than four, all the way down to zero.”

Witters says that it’s more about saying hello than having a chat every day, although “presumably, the more people to whom you say hello, the greater the probability is that you’re actually going to strike up a conversation with them as opposed to just wave.”

And how often do you have to be friendly in order to be happy?

“We leave that up to the respondent to interpret, but our intent was for this to mean all the people to whom you greet whenever you see them,” Witters said. “Some days might be zero, some days might be every one of them.”

Saying hello boosted much more than a person’s social success, according to an analysis of the survey data. Regular greetings also improved a person’s physical, financial, career and community health.

There are a few types of well-being. Community well-being was defined as feeling safe, having an emotional attachment, and giving back to a neighborhood, Witters said. “If you have very strong community well-being, that’s going to increase the chances that you’ll say hello to neighbors and saying hello to neighbors is going to improve your community well-being.”

Career well-being measured a person’s sense of satisfaction, which Witters explained included whether someone was a good fit and utilizing their strengths. When it came to physical well-being, you didn’t need to do 100 sit-ups a day; Gallup defined it as “having the energy you need to get things done in your life.”

Financial well-being is defined in the Gallup survey as not how much money you make but having responsible spending habits and building toward financial security, Witters noted.

“It’s probably fair to postulate that the rise in financial well-being due to greeting neighbors is because people with greater levels of financial

well-being are more likely to be living in a safer area where they are more comfortable being out and about.”

Most Americans say hi to an average of five neighbors regularly, with 27% reporting greeting six or more people in their neighborhood, the survey found. But younger people are less friendly. Adults younger than age 30 greeted an average of 2.9 neighbors, with only 14% greeting six or more on a regular basis.

In comparison, 41% of adults 65 and older typically spoke to an average of 6.5 neighbors or more, the survey found.

Gas Prices on the Rise

Pump prices are creeping towards $4 a gallon nationally.

The national average for regular gasoline hit $3.85 a gallon on Monday, according to AAA. That’s the highest level since October 19 – and comes right before many families hit the road for their last summer vacation.

The national average is up by two cents over the past week.

Gas prices have climbed by 28 cents over the past month and 32 cents since the Fourth of July as a result of higher oil prices caused by Russia and Saudi Arabia cutting supply and extreme heat sidelining some U.S. refineries.

According to AAA, there are now 11 states averaging $4 or higher, including Arizona, Illinois, and Utah. Colorado and Michigan aren’t far away.

OPEC leader Saudi Arabia earlier this month extended its oil production cut at least until September. An official source from the Saudi Ministry of Energy told state-run news agency SPA on August 3 that the kingdom will extend this voluntary cut of one million barrels per day.

sandwich billed as one of the world’s largest was unveiled at a central Pennsylvania fair last week.

The 150-foot-long sandwich was created Tuesday night at the Lebanon Area Fair by a large crew of volunteers known as the “Bologna Security.” Lebanon bologna is known for its distinct smoked and tangy flavor.

Every footlong “bite” was sponsored at $100 per foot. The money was donated to those suffering from poverty.

Lots of stuff went into this overstuffed sandwich. The group used 600 slices of provolone cheese and 1,200 slices of half-sweet and original Seltzer’s Lebanon Bologna to create 900 sandwiches, or six sandwiches per foot. Fairgoers had a chance to enjoy the sandwich for free Tuesday night.

Sounds like a real bunch of bologna.

Student Driver

Some student drivers have trouble turning, some student drivers don’t know how to park, and others just really shouldn’t be driving.

Last week, an employee at a driving school in Colorado made an unforgettable entrance into the building.

While attempting to park a Hyundai Tucson in a spot in front of the Community Driving School on Wadsworth Boulevard in Lakewood, the driver accidentally drove straight into the building.

“Thankfully, there was only one minor injury,” Lakewood police wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. The driving school made sure to announce that the person driving the car was not an instructor at the school.

“The person who drove his vehicle into the building was a new employee on his second day. He was observing classroom instruction. He had not started any training to be an in the car instructor,” Community Driving School Owner Steve Rohman said.

The employee was driving his own vehicle and not one used by the school.

Buried Treasure

A Bunch of Bologna

I guess you can say he failed his road test.

Recently, a cache of more than 800 Civil War-era gold coins were unearthed in a Kentucky cornfield — a treasure worth millions that experts are calling one of the greatest finds of the 21st century.

“It’s hard to put this in context because there are so few instances of coins of this nature with this level of rarity being found in the ground in the United States,” Andrew Salzberg, executive vice president of the Numismatic Guaranty Company’s (NGC) Certified Collectibles Group, explained.

A grading service put the value of the coins at $2 million.

“Most of them are gold dollars, which in and of themselves are really interesting pieces of numismatic history,” Salzberg said.

In addition, he added, there were some $20 gold pieces — “a couple of which were dated 1863 and graded MS 64, which is the highest grade that has ever been graded,” he said.

The story behind who buried the coins, and why, is something Salzberg said he finds fascinating.

“Back in those days, you couldn’t always go to a bank or put them in a safe or store them in a vault,” he said. “Nothing was really available to somebody looking to hide their wealth, so the best way to do it was to bury it in the ground.”

It is unknown to whom these coins belonged. Experts say that the person probably buried the huge chunk of change hoping to return to unearth them. Unfortunately, they must have died before being able to do so.

“The chances of finding something like this, I would say, are in line with winning the lottery,” Salzberg said.

“It’s a truly historic and rare find. I can’t disagree that, as far as coins being found in the ground, this is one of the most significant finds of the 21st century.”

What a lucky penny.

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Torah Thought Take Control

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

The great Rebbe, Reb Zusha of Anipoli, upon observing one of his disciples tearfully inspired towards repentance, felt suddenly inadequate as he had yet to repent and emote similar fervor. In anguish he turned his eyes towards heaven expressing, “Oy Gutt, teshuva is such an elevated goal, yet it is so difficult to attain, please Hashem, let me at least offer to You at least each letter of this noble word הבושת.”

)גי חי םירבד(... היהת םימת, You shall be wholehearted with Hashem, your G-d

(ח זט םילהת(... 'ד יתיוש, I have set Hashem before me; always because He is at my right hand

(חי טי ארקיו(...ךערל תבהאו , You shall love your fellow as yourself

ing teshuva, by intimating that if we strive to obtain an element, a mere letter of this marvelous quest, we may yet acquire a full return.

Each of these goals outlined within these five verses impact directly on our ability to begin the path towards repenting fully for our sins.

tive of teshuva specifically.

The Torah commands us to be ‘wholehearted’ with G-d, by refraining from engaging in the abominable practices of the other nations who resort to divination, sorcery, animal charming, astrology, omens, and consulting the dead, in their desire to foretell the future and act accordingly. These foreign rituals are anathema to our relationship with G-d. We must not utilize these devices in gaining information, since we possess healthier means in gaining access to the word of G-d — the prophets.

(

ו ג ילשמ(... ךיכרד לכב, Know Him in all your ways

Most often we simply lapse in our consciousness of His presence in our life, carelessly succumbing to instinct. Setting Hashem as an ever-present reality will certainly give us pause before we sin. I have set Hashem before me; always because He is at my right hand.

(

ח ו הכימ(... תכל ענצהו, And to walk discretely with your G-d

Reb Zusha in his inimitable warmth and wisdom offers us a path towards that great challenge of achiev-

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The duty to love our fellow as ourselves is critical in our fully returning to Hashem since unless we rectify our having been deficient in our responsibilities to our fellow man, we are prevented from standing fully ‘before Hashem’. You shall love your fellow as yourself.

Another major facet in achieving teshuva is in acknowledging that every action we take, and each encounter we have, must be defined by His will. We must take inventory of all that we do and measuring honestly how well we have fulfilled our dues. Know Him in all your ways.

Too often, our ego interferes with our ability to perform properly. It isn’t only when our egos drive us toward inappropriate ambitions and expectations that lead us to sin. Our egotistic attitudes also don’t permit us to accept failure, one of the most important requisites for teshuva. If we can’t be honest that we’ve failed, we certainly can’t correct the error. Often, our deflated egos bring us to depression and dejection tempting us to give up, remaining hopeless. Authentic humility — the realization we are totally dependent on G-d — is therefore an absolute must in the journey towards teshuva if we are going to improve. And to walk discretely with your G-d.

The very first verse though, seems misplaced in the context of this objec-

The basic need to foresee the future is not inherently in conflict with our duties towards G-d. Although it is certainly commendable to place our faith wholly in His trustful hands and have no fear of the future, why is this the first and most fundamental principle in correcting our erroneous ways and affecting teshuva?

These listed practices weren’t just about prognosticating. Sorcery and the casting of spells were utilized in gaining control of others and wildlife, manipulating them to fulfill one’s wishes. The passing of children through fire was a ritual whose practitioners promised health and success for the other children. The common denominator of all these practices was man’s need for control. We each possess an innate desire to control our lives and destiny. We believe that if can predict the weather, events and outcomes of our endeavors, we will be assured success. If only we could quell others plotting against us, we think we would be secure. If only others would heed our wishes would everyone be happier.

Our entire lives are devoted to strategizing how to utilize our time, resources, and energy in gaining an advantageous position in life. That quest often impinges on our other obligations. In doing the things ‘we have to do’, we are left with minimum or no time to daven properly, learn enough or devote time to our spouses and children, let alone engage in chesed Surely there are circumstances where

Torah Thought

one really has no choice if one wants to simply survive. But most often it is our devised ‘needs’ that govern our disproportionate allotment of time and effort in our drive to ‘gain control’ of life as we determine it.

We are too often left with no ‘room for G-d’ in our busy lives. It is one problem when it’s our preoccupation with making a livelihood that distracts us from our spiritual duties, but it is a veritable crisis when the things that we seek in life are the pursuit of pleasure, and time-consuming pastimes, that we refuse to give up, that leave us no room for Hashem.

Before we can even begin to examine our deeds and misdeeds in our service of Hashem, we must first ascertain that we are on the playing field of that quest.

The relinquishing of control on our lives, placing it properly into His do-

main, is the prerequisite on the road to repentance.

The frustration we exhibit when others ‘seemingly’ affect our lives negatively, taking away our personal right to be free of others and in control of our destiny, is the source of so much stress, tension, anger, and desire for revenge, we become blind to all else, consumed with rage. The moment we realize no one controls me but Hashem, and in truth it is my choice to make that decision — to place my fate absolutely into G-d’s hands — is the moment we gain real control on our lives.

A woman who went through a terrible marriage, suffering much physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband, as well as enduring the trauma of divorce and all its bitter consequences, shared with me a profound and awe-inspiring demonstration of the fulfillment of this command

‘to be wholehearted with Hashem’.

Recently she found herself at a wedding where her former torturer had been invited as well. Evidently, they both had strong connections to the parties celebrating and leaving the wedding wasn’t an option. She was still haunted by her past, sensing terrible resentment and anger welling up within her. At that moment she had an epiphany. She thought to herself, why should I let my tormentor continue to abuse me? Nothing can happen without G-d’s decreeing it. She decided that for the five hours she’d be spending at the wedding, she would focus on the concept, דל ודוה — Give thanks to Hashem for He is good, ודסח םלועל יכ — His kindness endures forever.

She said that thinking about Hashem was all that she had in those five hours. At that moment she took back the reigns on her life.

Very soon, we will once again be singing the joyous words in that uplifting piyut of אוהש םינימאמ לכו

Near the conclusion we declare:

םמתמו םתה קדצ טפוש אוהש םינמאמ לכו םימימת םע — All believe that He is a righteous Judge, Who is perfect and deals perfectly with the wholesome ones!

Many explain our original verse as expressing this very notion.

If, היהת םימת — you will be wholehearted, then ךיקלאד םִע — Hashem will be with you.

We determine the relationship. It is up to us to regain control of our lives.

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

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Baltimore Weekday Minyanim Guide

Shacharis Mincha

Neitz Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] M-F

Ohel Yakov S-F

6:00 AM Shomrei Emunah Congregation M-F

6:10 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, Th

6:15 AM Kol Torah M, TH

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah M-F

Shearith Israel Congregation M, TH

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel M, TH

6:20 AM Agudah of Greenspring M, TH

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S-F

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M-F

Kehilath B'nai Torah M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S, M, TH

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

6:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring T, W, F Chabad of Park Heights M-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Kehilath B'nai Torah T, W, F

Khal Bais Nosson M-F

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek M-F

Kol Torah T, W, F

Ohr Yisroel M-F

Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

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

Ohel Moshe M, TH

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

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M, TH

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

Beth Abraham M, TH

Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue M-F

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Ner Tamid M-F

Ohel Moshe T, W, F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim M-F

6:50 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] M, TH

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh M, TH

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation T, W, F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh M, TH

Derech Chaim M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center M, TH

6:55 AM Beth Abraham T, W, F

Kol Torah M, TH

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

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] T, W, F

Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's)S

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh T, W, F

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh T, W, F

Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach TzedekS

Kol Torah T, W, F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah M-F

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

Shearith Israel Congregation S, M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh M-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center T, W, F

Tiferes Yisroel M-F

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

7:15 AM Kedushas Yisrael S

Kol Torah S

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

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Ner Israel Rabbinical College S-F

7:15 AM Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F Shomrei Emunah CongregationS

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei IsraelS

Tzeirei Anash M-F

7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH

Beth Tfiloh Congregation M-F

Kol Torah M-F

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH

Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH

7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F

Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] S

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore S-F

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh S

Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationS

Chabad of Park Heights S

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh S-F

Darchei Tzedek S

Kedushas Yisrael S-F

Khal Bais Nosson S

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) S-F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

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

Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F

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

Talmudical Academy S-F

Darchei Tzedek M-F

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

Mesivta Kesser Torah S-F

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim S-F

7:50 AM Derech Chaim S

Ner Tamid S

Ohel Moshe M-F

8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Beth Abraham S

Darchei Tzedek S

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach TzedekS

Kehillas Meor HaTorah S

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Ohel Yakov S

Ohr Yisroel S

Pikesville Jewish CongregationS

Shearith Israel Congregation S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

The Shul at the Lubavitch CenterS

Tiferes Yisroel S

Tzeirei Anash S

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah S-F

8:15 AM Kehilath B'nai Torah S

Kol Torah S

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F

8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F

8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S-F

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Ohel Moshe S

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Shomrei Mishmeres HakodeshS

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

9:00 AM Aish Kodesh S

Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S

Beth Tfiloh Congregation S

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion CongregationS

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Moses Montefiore Anshe EmunahS

Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F

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

9:30 AM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

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

10:00AM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F

Mincha Gedolah Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek

1:45 PM Ohel Moshe

1:50 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Neuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber Wealcatch Insurance

2:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room

Kol Torah Market Maven

Reischer Minyan 15 Walker Ave 2nd Floor

2:30 PM Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh

Ner Israel Rabbinical College

Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)

2:45 PM Shearith Israel Congregation

3:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

3:05 PM Kedushas Yisrael

3:15 PM Hat Box

4:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

5:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

5:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

6:00 PM Kedushas Yisrael

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

7:00 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah Friday at 6:30

8:00 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

14 Min Before ShkiAh Kol Torah

Mincha/Maariv Before Shkiah

Aish Kodesh

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Agudah of Greenspring

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Beth Abraham

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation

Darchei Tzedek

Kehillas Meor HaTorah

Kehilath B’nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill’s)

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

Ner Tamid

Ohel Moshe

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]

Ohr Yisroel

Pikesville Jewish Congregation

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Shomrei Mishmeres

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center

Tiferes Yisroel

Maariv

8:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah

8:45 PM Darchei Tzedek

Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina)

Ohr Yisroel

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

8:55 PM Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

9:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Arugas Habosem

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim

9:20 PM Kol Torah

9:30 PM Agudah of Greenspring

Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Kedushas Yisrael

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

9:40 PM Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi]

9:45 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim

Kollel Erev Birchas Yitzchok (Luries)

Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's)

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah

9:50 PM Aish Kodesh

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh

Ohel Moshe

10:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Darchei Tzedek

Kehilath B'nai Torah

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Shearith Israel Congregation

Shomrei Emunah Congregation

10:05 PM Kol Torah

10:10 PM Ner Israel Rabbinical College

10:15 PM Derech Chaim

Khal Bais Nosson

10:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

11:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore

Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah

Agudah of Greenspring - 6107 Greenspring Ave

Agudath Israel of Baltimore - 6200 Park Heights Ave

Ahavat Shalom - 3009 Northbrook Rd

Aish Kodesh - 6207 Ivymount Rd

Arugas HaBosem - 3509 Cwlarks Ln

Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim - 3120 Clarks Ln

Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore - 6823 Old Pimlico Rd

Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh - 6618 Deancroft Rd

Beit Yaakov - 3615 Seven Mile Ln

Beth Abraham - 6208 Wallis Ave

Beth Tfiloh Congregation - 3300 Old Court Rd

Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation - 6602 Park Heights Ave

Chabad of Park Heights - 3402 Clarks Ln

Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh - 3800 Labyrinth Rd

Darchei Tzedek - 3201 Seven Mile Ln

Derech Chaim - 6229 Greenspring Ave (Weekday)

Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue 6611 Greenspring Ave.

Kedushas Yisrael - 6004 Park Heights Ave

Kehilath B’nai Torah - 6301 Green Meadow Pkwy

Kehillas Meor HaTorah - 6539 Pebble Brooke Rd

Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek - 6811 Park Heights Ave

Khal Bais Nosson - 2901 Taney Rd

Kol Torah - 2929 Fallstaff Rd

Machzikei Torah - 6216 Biltmore Ave

Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah - 6500 Baythorne Rd

Mesivta Kesser Torah - 8400 Park Heights Ave

Mesivta Shaarei Chaim - 3702 Fords Ln

Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah - 7000 Rockland Hills Dr

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

Ner Israel Rabbinical College - 400 Mt Wilson Ln

Ner Tamid - 6214 Pimlico Road

Ohel Moshe - 2808 Smith Ave

Ohel Yakov - 3200 Glen Ave

Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] - 6813 Park Heights Ave

Ohr Yisroel - 2429 Lightfoot Dr

Pikesville Jewish Congregation - 7644 Carla Rd

Shearith Israel Congregation - 5835 Park Heights Ave

Shomrei Emunah Congregation - 6221 Greenspring Ave

Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh - 2821 W Strathmore Ave

Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim - 7504 Seven Mile Ln

Talmudical Academy - 4445 Old Court Rd

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

The Shul at the Lubavitch Center - 6701 Old Pimlico Rd

Tiferes Yisroel - 6201 Park Heights Ave

Tzeirei Anash - 6706 Cross County Blvd

Wealcatch Insurance - 37 Walker Ave 2nd floor

Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah - 6819 Williamson Ave

For edits, additions, or sponsorships, email ads@baltimorejewishhome.com

Attachment Theory and the First Year of Marriage

By Rabbi Azriel Hauptman

When a young man and woman are engaged to be married, they each study with a mentor the relevant Halachos, Hashkafos, and practical knowledge that they will need in marriage. Securing an experienced and wise Chosson or Kallah teacher is imperative to avoid all kinds of problems that can emerge in the absence of appropriate guidance. However, even if one has the best mentor in the world, the first year of marriage can present difficulties and complications. Young couples blissfully think, “That will never happen to me.” When it invariably does occur, they are blindsided and completely caught by surprise. Why is the first year so difficult? That is the vexing question that we will attempt to answer.

The first year of marriage is fraught with challenges such as learning how to share space, reconciling differences in routines and habits, confusion about time not spent together, shifting expectations, sharing finances, and loss of freedom and control. In this column, we generally offer a psychological perspective and therefore we will use attachment theory as the lens through which we will view the evolving relationship of the young couple.

Attachment theory was first developed to explain the different ways children relate to their parents or pri-

mary caregiver when they feel stressed as a predictor of long-term emotional health. This theory was later applied to adults as well. In the context of a marriage, we can break down the different attachment styles into four categories: secure, anxious, dismissive-avoidant, and fearful-avoidant.

Secure: When one has a secure attachment in a marriage, one is not concerned about the strength of the relationship and is not nervous about the commitment level of one’s spouse. Additionally, there is no fear of being smothered in the relationship and therefore the closeness of marriage does not provoke anxiety. Spouses feel comfortable depending on each other and they are not afraid to be vulnerable with each other.

Anxious: When one has an anxious attachment, one is very nervous and insecure about the integrity of the relationship. This leads to high levels of drama in the relationship as they are constantly questioning the commitment of their spouse. Although they greatly want a close relationship, their actions can often sabotage the very same relationship that they are trying to rescue.

Dismissive-Avoidant: A dismissive-avoidant attachment style is when one wants to be independent. This clearly will not work in a marriage. The bedrock of a marriage is the fusing of two lives so that they depend

on each other. Human beings naturally want companionship, but sometimes people are in denial of this basic need.

Fearful-Avoidant: Sometimes, someone can be so afraid of being hurt in a relationship that they avoid it entirely. Although they do not want to be independent, they often end up being isolated as they are too nervous to really commit to a relationship.

This now brings us back to the first year of marriage. The only attachment style that is healthy is a secure attachment. Spouses who are securely attached are not doubting the integrity of their relationship, they enjoy being dependent on each other, and are not trying to avoid deepening their relationship. However, in the early stages of a marriage, when the attachment is being formed, it is common for couples to temporarily pass through periods of the unhealthier forms of attachment.

The reason for this is that when

unique to the relationship. But in the nascent stages of a marriage, the differences can be terrifying. They are anxious about their relationship and can therefore become preoccupied or avoidant. They often even attempt to change one another to avoid the differences.

This is normal as long as it is only a phase. If a couple gets stuck in an unhealthy attachment, it is possible that there are unresolved relationship and attachment issues that are hampering their marriage. A clinician with wisdom and expertise can be a vital resource in helping them become unstuck.

Ultimately, a healthy marriage is one where the husband and wife use their differences to work together and continuously move forward in the evolution of their relationship. Then, they will not only merit genuine happiness and joy in their home, they will also be host to Hashem’s Shechinah.

Tech Triumphs

YOU’RE FREE By Rebbetzin Sara Gross

Iam steadily working on controlling and cutting my tech use, but sometimes I worry that I am inconveniencing other people because of it. At times, I feel like my choice to minimize my tech use causes trouble for my friends and acquaintances by making me less accessible, and I wonder how fair that is. Then something happened to give me clarity.

I was working on a project with someone who wanted to send me information via WhatsApp. I apologized that I no longer used WhatsApp and felt guilty to make thing more complex for him. After several attempts to send the information in different formats, I began to feel worse about his trouble. I meekly apologized for not having WhatsApp, and his response

surprised me. He said without any frustration, “No need to apologize, you are free! Enjoy that freedom.”

The memories of being a slave to my chats flooded through my mind. No matter how hard I tried not to check my WhatsApp messages, I could never be free. I would just check quickly and then go check again a few minutes later. Though my choices may cause some inconvenience to others, I need to live for myself, not for others.

DID YOU KNOW

Did you know that technology use has strongly affected the patience levels of our generation. Forty years ago, it was normal to play chess by mail. The two players would play a game that would last months, by sending

one move at a time to their opponent by mail. Today, if a purchase is not delivered by the next day at the latest, people feel impatient. If a text is not responded to within ten minutes, we find it extremely rude. Children of this generation have never experienced the norms of the past, waiting for the oven to cook the food, not a microwave. In fact, this generation is often referred to as “A Microwave Generation.” The

effort that goes into doing a job properly or learning a new skill is difficult to cultivate with those of this generation. We need to be wary of this phenomenon and put effort into combatting the lack of patience so prevalent today.

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

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

THE BJH PRESENTS: A BOOST OF “INSPIRATION” A Snippet From

Judaism’s Number One Podcast

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

ivan Rahav Meir is an Israeli journalist, lecturer, and media personality. Born in 1981, she has become one of the most prominent voices in Israeli media, known for her insightful commentary and thoughtful analysis of current events. Meir began her career as a journalist in the Israel Defense Forces Radio station, where she worked as a reporter and anchor. She later joined the Israeli television station Channel 2, where she worked as a political correspondent and news anchor. Today, Meir is a columnist for the Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon and serves as a commentator on Israeli television and radio programs. She is also a sought-after public speaker, known for her engaging and inspiring talks on topics such as Jewish identity, Israeli society, and the power of the individual to effect change in the world.

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

something and so brought her back. She says, “If you find the right opportunity you can change someone’s life in a second”.

with you for tomorrow, give it to the people, and share it with others.

My Journey to Orthodoxy & Israel’s Top News Anchor: Sivan Rahav-Meir ELI PALEY CEO OF MISHPACHA

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

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

She found a balance between being frum in a secular family until she married. What was a bigger challenge was her colleagues on TV where she had worked since the age of 6. Suddenly she wanted to work only 6 days a week and people in Israel saw her changing. She realized she had to find deeper content and started dealing with the weekly Torah parsha.

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

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

Sivan Rahav-Meier has been voted by Globes magazine as the most popular female media personality in Israel and by the Jerusalem Post as one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world. She is an incredible journalist who brings something so different to Israeli TV.

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

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

Sivan did not grow up religious. At the age of 15, she discovered her Jewish identity after three girls invited her for Shabbos. Just because someone cared about her meant so much and she realized that inviting someone to a Shabbos meal can change a person’s life as it did for her. Years later when she asked why she had been invited she was told that Shabbos is “our mutual treasure”. They saw that she had lost

Sivan spoke about the many people she has interviewed including Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, politicians, and victims of terror that remind you what is important in life. She has also interviewed “the real Jewish heroes” from Ukraine, olim chadashim, and holocaust survivors. She says she hopes her most interesting interview is yet to come.

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

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

News is only new for a few hours, the next day it is old. She tries to create news that will still be meaningful in 5 years. She always tries to do “tachlis”, something practical. This means “Give me something that I can take home with me, something accessible, applicable, something I can take into my life immediately.”

She feels privileged and loves to be able to cover the various peace agreements. She says when you meet someone huge, try to take something

Sivan discussed the challenges of being such a public person. She started working in media at the age of 6 and she feels Hashem blessed her as it can be a disaster to sudden ly become a personality. She says she is used to being recognized, she belongs to the public and she loves it. She has been recognized for 35 years and she feels like a “shaliach tzibur”.

say Mazaltov to a new celebrity couple who got engaged where the one party was not Jewish. She was accused of being a racist but she cannot say Mazaltov “when it comes to assimilation.” She has been accused of being too extreme but reiterates, “Be proud and know your values, usually people appreciate when you say what you think.”

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

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

Her favorite mitzvah not surprisingly is Shabbos, as it was her first experience of Yiddishkeit. She feels if you keep Shabbat you will be connected to all the other mitzvahs. On Shabbos, you get to taste heaven, who would not want to taste the world to come every week?

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

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

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

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

She was asked how she balances being a mother and having such a successful career. It is a challenge for everyone to build a family privately in a world where everything has become so public. We have a spiritual mission and it takes time to build your personality, your neshama. We are living in the busiest time that ever existed and yet we have no time to be ourselves or for our family. We should take advantage of all the technical tools and find time to learn more Torah, to be with our children but unfortunately, the opposite has happened.

If she could spend time with someone who is no longer in this world she would choose the Lubavitcher Rebbe although she would be afraid of what he would say. She is not officially Chabad but feels everyone has to be a shaliach. When visiting America Sivan always goes to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Ohel. The Rebbe was a very practical leader and someone who created so many unique projects yet still remembered each individual. He inspired millions including her.

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

Sivan is often put in the uncomfortable position of being asked to give up some part of her Yiddishkeit. She said if it did not happen then she would be worried. She gave the example of refusing to interview after Shabbos in Israel but when it would still be Shabbos in America which some people find extreme. She also once refused to

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

People always want to be remembered. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks once said the most common question he was asked is, “Rabbi do you remember me?” We can discuss ideologies but at the end of the day we want a connection and it is the same when it comes to our relationship with Hashem. Hashem loves and remembers us and that is the most important thing.

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

“If you find the right opportunity you can change someone’s life in a second.”

Israel Today Let’s Eat

By Barbara Deutsch

For some reason, no matter how many days, weeks or even months are planned for vacation, it all seems to go too fast. Maybe that is true for a lot of things, but for us, no matter how long we stay, it’s never enough.

I guess that’s why we are coming here to stay, hopefully without too many hurdles or glitches. It’s time to make the big move.

What I do know is that while Israel has so much to offer and is our dream home, it’s not all golden and the friends and family who live here have been honest and forthcoming about what it takes. Living in Israel is not for the weak of heart and is a challenge for young to old.

Every age group comes with its own issues. Yet, anyone who has taken the big step tells us that they would not live anywhere else in the world.

When we spend our summers in Israel, we try to mix adventure with hanging out and doing nothing. For me, still busy with school prep, I have trouble figuring out how to relax. I need to have a plan and do something every day. It can sometimes be annoying to those I love.

Some plans are made well in advance –a tour, a long trip or a visit with family who live far away. Some plans are spontaneous – breakfast with friends, a walk or sitting around the pool reading. Whatever the plans and wherever we go, my brain keeps churning and working. It’s a byproduct of my superpower, ADD.

Whatever we do, I’m always observing, processing and filing away for future use. For example:

We went to buy the famous Marzipan rugelach in the shuck; there is nothing better than those gooey, chocolate delights hot and fresh out of the oven. As we were checking out, one of the cashiers called us over to her shorter line; the store was packed with people, and there were multiple lines.

As we turned to get into her line, a short, determined woman pushed me aside, got in front of me, started counting

pennies, finally paid, took my “waiting to be paid for bag,” got yelled at by the rolling-her-eyes cashier quietly observing all of the goings on, responded, “I did not see her” and left in a huff.

There is a tiny coffee shop situated near a bus stop on a busy corner on Usishken in Jerusalem. It only sells coffee. If you are lucky, there may be a hot delicious chocolate chip cookie to grab as well. So far this summer, he has never been open for us. His posted hours are “whenever he gets there” to “whenever he has to get home for his kids.”

When he is open, long lines of coffee connoisseurs wait patiently for his delicious fresh ground coffee. It’s worth the wait, and it seems that there are many who don’t mind his schedule.

Ever-resourceful coffee-loving Israelis have created a Natan’s WhatsApp group to support their coffee cravings.

for the opportunity to sit outside in the blazing sun while indulging.

I was too worried about the street food vibe’s effect on my fragile stomach, so I did not partake. My gluten-free, very careful eater daughter enjoyed her delicious gluten-free wrap.

For those who need to know, there are many places, even in the Golan, where there is delicious gluten-free food available. There is even a store in the shuk called Gluless that is filled with delicious cakes and breads, all gluten-free.

And for those who want to enjoy a nice meal, go to Kazze for spaghetti so good that you won’t taste the difference between what you are eating and what you remember.

Of course, as soon as we got up the steps to the shul, I heard my name called, “Hi Barbara, what brings you here?” by one of the diners sitting at an outdoor sort of table. The person calling my name was a new

and wonder as to what we as a people are doing wrong. In an age of easy access to so much knowledge and information, how is it that an educated person, albeit not connected to Judaism, cannot know the Kotel?

So much heavy lifting to be done.

In Israel, connections can be found in so many ways, especially through food. Night and day, the restaurants are filled with diners young and old, charedi and chiloni, enjoying anything from delicious street food to indulging in fine dining.

The homegrown ripe fruits and vegetables are magnificent in their taste and beauty, especially now that we are post Shemitta.

This summer, we have eaten in almost every Mehadrin dairy and meat eatery in Jerusalem. When we are alone or with friends, we have allowed ourselves to sample Rabbanut approved eateries.

There is a boureka bakery in the shuk that sells piping-hot bourekas by the pound. What most don’t know is that down a dingy alleyway, there is an old time cafe with a few tables and waiters who serve boureka sandwiches which are yummy. You have to look closely for the alley entrance or you might never find it.

When we went to Tzfat, an old city with a complicated story, at the top of the road which leads to the Ari’s shul, a Kabbalist rabbi from the Middle Ages who many turn to in prayer for guidance, adjacent to a famous artists’ colony, is a Yemenite food stand. A pony-tailed vendor makes a concoction that looks like an omelet wrap that he fills with all kinds of Middle Eastern delights. Long lines wait

friend that I had made last year in Israel. Among other incredible acts of chesed, she leads a group of TJJ/NCSY moms whose unaffiliated children participate in a camp group who explore Israel during the summer. The program is so successful that it has expanded to include moms and now the dads of the TJJ campers.

The moms that I met travel up and down Israel connecting with their Jewish roots. I asked one of their leaders if the trip really makes a difference over the long run. My friend responded, “We were at the Kotel and one of the Mom’s asked in all innocence, ‘Why are we here? What’s the Kotel?’”

This response shocked and rattled me; it triggered an overwhelming feeling of loss

It is so much fun to have free rein over the bounty and talent that this nation offers to its citizens and guests. How amazing is it to be able to sample pizza or schnitzel on every corner and not be limited to only the one option in town.

When we look at a map of Israel, we see mountains, deserts, rivers and wide open spaces. Too bad we don’t get a glimpse of the potpourri of the colorful population, their customs and their delicious cuisine.

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.

His posted hours are “whenever he gets there” to “whenever he has to get home for his kids.”

Ifyou grew up before YouTube and Instagram and WhatsApp statuses, chances are you listened to your Jewish music on a CD or a DVD or even a cassette recorder. And chances are your go-to favorite singers and choirs were all male. Back then, everybody was singing along with MBD or MBC or Avremele because there really were no other options for women.

Fast forward to our current music scene, and wow – times have really changed. The industry has literally exploded with energetic and talented singers, refreshing and creative songs, sophisticated musical arrangements, and – incredibly – a wide range of super-talented female artists and performers who are achieving remarkable recognition and success.

Shaindel Antelis is one of those popular female vocalists who is well known in the industry. She spoke to us about her career, the evolution of Jewish music for women, and her advice to talented young girls who are considering a career in this field.

For Shaindel, joining the music industry was pretty much a no-brainer. She grew up in Brooklyn in what she describes as a very musical family. “We had a studio in our home,” Shaindel says, “so there was always lots of singing and drumming and choirs. People were constantly coming to our house to record their music.”

Growing up, Shaindel remembers just a handful of popular female vocalists in the industry.

“Back in the ‘90s, there was Kineret and maybe one or two others that I knew of,” she recalled. “I loved their music, but

Sharing Her Song

Singer Shaindel Antelis and the Evolution of Jewish Music For Women

By Malky Lowinger

it didn’t seem possible for more women to break into the field at the time.”

Things began to change when Shaindel went to seminary in Israel. She participated in a singing competition and performed at weekly open mic nights for women which didn’t exist in America at the time. While in Israel, she also wrote hundreds of songs filled with inspiration which she got from her classes and the holiness that surrounded her.

Suddenly, it seemed like it was possible to be a gifted female singer and share your

Times have certainly changed. Today, women’s music is super popular. Concerts are sold out within days as are productions and plays, and the energy level at these events is off the charts. Women’s DVDs are placed front and center at seforim stores and are selling briskly. Ladies-only videos are accumulating tens of thousands of views on social media. The field has literally exploded. And that’s a good thing, says Shaindel.

“I think it was actually the pandemic that triggered the massive popularity that

this issue. Most frum women performers seek halachic guidance from a rav or personal posek.

It’s not simple, says Shaindel who is passionate about bringing her message of chizuk and inspiration to her listeners while maintaining proper halachic guidelines. She knows that a presence on social platforms can bring tremendous exposure, but she is also careful about it. She discussed it with her rav, and together they worked out a solution that allows her to inspire others while maintaining her standards.

“It was hard,” she remembers. “Many people were very supportive, but some of my listeners were critical of me. When I started out, there were no Orthodox women’s music videos on YouTube and my account was private, which means it was hard to find my videos. I remember one woman telling me that if I’m on YouTube I must have a big yetzer hara. That really hurt.”

While Shaindel is careful to follow halacha, she is also a bit of a free spirit. She describes herself as a colorful person.

message with the world. Shaindel optimistically began to hone her own talent.

“I released my first CD when I was about twenty years old,” she remembers.

But it was an uphill battle.

“At first, Jewish music distributors told me that women’s music doesn’t sell. They weren’t interested in carrying my CDs. A few years later, after getting lots of requests for my CDs, they agreed to distribute them, but they were being placed on the bottom shelf in the back of the store.”

we are seeing today,” says Shaindel. “That’s when the women’s music industry really blew up. There were so many months of lockdown, and women were looking for kosher entertainment. Parents wanted their daughters to listen to appropriate, quality content, and female singers and musicians were happy to fill the void.”

There were, and still are, challenges. Frum female artists need to present their content within the boundaries of tznius and modesty, and many struggle with

“I love flowers and color,” she shares. “Hashem made gardens and a beautiful blue sky, and we should enjoy it. When I wear a colorful outfit, I feel happier.”

The burgeoning field of women’s music has spawned a new generation of talented young girls who are hoping to join the industry. Shaindel cautions them to be patient and to wait until they develop their personal style before jumping into the business.

“It’s just not healthy to put yourself

“The truth is that everyone struggles with something, but a lot of people just don’t talk about it. When they listen to my music, they feel validated. I try to explain to them that you’re good enough.”

out there when you’re not ready for it,” she says. “Wait until you can handle it. When you’re a bit older and more mature, you know who you are and then the fame won’t get to your head.”

But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t develop their talents. Shaindel encourages young girls to go for it. She offers practical advice.

“Record one song in a professional studio and send it to family and friends,” she suggests. “It’s an opportunity to share your voice while also inviting constructive feedback from the people you trust.”

Shaindel also recommends learning a musical instrument, specifically the guitar.

“If you want to compose songs, it’s super helpful if you can accompany yourself on the guitar. Learning the basic chords is easy, and it will help you tremendously when you write music.”

Music may seem like a glamorous industry, and sharing your message is very rewarding. But Shaindel cautions aspiring young talent that the road can be bumpy at times. “Yes, you can be frum and talented, and you can spread your message,” she says. “But you also need to develop a thick skin. There are plenty of disappointments and frustrations, and lots of doors that close in your face.”

She advises ambitious young women to stay focused despite the frustrations. “Don’t torture yourself every time you get criticized,” she recommends. “Don’t fret over every little mistake.”

Shaindel herself has performed in countless different venues. She’s been featured at kiruv concerts, Pesach programs, fundraising events, and all types of parties for women. She especially enjoys performing in schools where she can share her own vulnerabilities with students.

“When I share my own struggle with self-esteem and being bullied growing

up, girls actually start to cry because they identify with it,” she says. “The truth is that everyone struggles with something, but a lot of people just don’t talk about it. When they listen to my music, they feel validated. I try to explain to them that you’re good enough.”

Shaindel estimates that she’s written about 400 to 500 songs.

“It’s all from Hashem,” she quickly adds. “Hashem puts the music into my head.”

She likes to keep a voice recorder nearby to capture the moment of inspiration before it floats away.

There’s a powerful positivity to Shaindel’s music, even in the songs that are con templative and thoughtful, and with her strong yet elegant voice, she expresses a wide range of emotions. Her recording of Uri Davidi’s “Jump” together with Mayan Davis is fun, energetic, and fast-paced, while her “All Around The World” is an expression of her deep love for Eretz Yis roel. “Invisible” is deeply introspective about bullying and loneliness; youngsters will surely recognize that feeling of being overlooked and unappreciated in social settings. And the recently recorded “It’s All From You,” written and released by Thank You Hashem, reflects her personal affirmation that Ain Od Milvado, it’s all from Hashem.

“My topics are happiness, connect ing to Hashem, getting through the hard times, and not comparing ourselves to others, just to name a few,” Shaindel ex plains.

In that vein, Shaindel likes to share her personal story, and perhaps that’s why she’s beloved by her many fans. She has turned down offers to work in the secular music industry so she could re main religious and keep the halachos of kol isha many years and advises single women to remain optimistic. “I got married at thir ty,” she says, “to an amazing guy, and I

want people to know that just because you are in your late twenties or thirties or any other age, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams.” Still, it’s important to keep busy while you’re single, she asserts. “I was pursuing my music and doing kiruv during that time so it wasn’t as torturous for me as it can be for some people.”

Now Shaindel lives in the Five Towns and has a baby, baruch Hashem, which changes things considerably. “I used to be out late at night, and I would travel a lot,” she says. “Now I can’t do that as much. My priorities have changed. I love performing and I still do, but I have to balance it with

my role as a wife and a mother.”

Ultimately, her primary mission is to share her music, to inspire people, and to give them chizuk.

“I want to touch people with my music,” she imparts. “That’s why I focus my songs on real life. So many people are in pain, now more than ever. I share my stories with them, I connect with them, and I give them the hope and confidence to face the future. That’s ultimately my goal with my music.”

Shaindel’s music is available on all online platforms and her videos are online as well.

Health & F tness

Oil You Need to Know The Greasy Truths

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

Cooking oils are an essential component of any kitchen, used for frying, sautéing, baking, dressing salads, and more. With a wide variety of cooking oils available, it can be challenging to navigate the options. Each oil has its unique properties, benefits, and drawbacks. In this guide, we will explore various cooking oils, their health benefits, potential cons, and how to use them effectively in your kitchen.

Olive Oil

Benefits: Olive oil is a staple in Mediterranean cuisine and is renowned for its heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. It contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that can protect against chronic diseases. Extra virgin olive oil is the highest quality and retains more nutrients and flavor.

Cons: Olive oil has a relatively low smoke point, making it unsuitable for high-heat cooking. Using it at high temperatures can degrade its healthful properties and lead to a bitter taste.

How to Incorporate: Use extra vir -

gin olive oil as a dressing for salads, a finishing oil on cooked dishes, and for sautéing at medium heat.

Tip: Use extra virgin olive oil spray while cooking instead of a nonstick spray such as PAM. PAM contains processed oils that can negatively impact cardiovascular health and cholesterol levels. Additionally, some aerosols may contain harmful chemicals that can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Prolonged exposure to these substances may lead to respiratory irritation, headaches, and other health problems. Lastly, an EVOO spray bottle can help with portion control, limiting the accidental tendency to be heavy-handed with oil.

Canola Oil

Benefits: Canola oil is a versatile and mild-flavored oil high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids. It has a higher smoke point than olive oil, making it suitable for most cooking methods.

Cons: Canola oil is heavily processed, and concerns have been raised

about the extraction and refining methods. Additionally, it lacks the antioxidants present in unrefined oils.

How to Incorporate: Canola oil can be used for baking, sautéing, and grilling due to its neutral flavor and high smoke point.

Coconut Oil

Benefits: Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides, which are easily digestible and may provide quick energy. It has a unique flavor and can withstand high heat cooking.

Cons: Coconut oil is high in saturated fat, which has been associated with increased LDL cholesterol levels. Although some studies suggest potential health benefits, moderation is essential due to its saturated fat content.

How to Incorporate: Use coconut oil in recipes that benefit from its distinct flavor, such as curries, stir-fries, baked goods, and as a replacement for butter in vegan dishes.

Avocado Oil

Benefits: Avocado oil is rich in

monounsaturated fats, which can support heart health and reduce inflammation. It also contains vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage.

Cons: Avocado oil is relatively expensive compared to other oils. However, its health benefits and versatility make it a valuable addition to your kitchen.

How to Incorporate: Avocado oil’s mild taste and high smoke point make it suitable for high-heat cooking, roasting vegetables, grilling, and as a base for homemade salad dressings.

Grapeseed Oil

Benefits: Grapeseed oil is high in polyunsaturated fats and vitamin E, contributing to heart health and promoting skin health. Its neutral flavor makes it a versatile option.

Cons: Grapeseed oil is susceptible to oxidation due to its high polyunsaturated fat content, which can lead to the formation of harmful compounds if exposed to heat, light, or air for extend-

ed periods. To slow the rate of rancidity, store grapeseed oil in a cool, dark place. Exposure to light and high temperatures can accelerate the oxidation process, so a pantry or kitchen cabinet is an ideal spot for storage.

How to Incorporate: Use grapeseed oil in light sautéing, baking, making mayonnaise, or as a base for homemade vinaigrettes.

Sesame Oil

Benefits: Sesame oil is rich in antioxidants and has been associated with reducing inflammation and supporting heart health. It comes in two varieties: light (refined) with a mild flavor and dark (unrefined) with a stronger nutty taste.

Cons: Due to its robust flavor, dark sesame oil can overwhelm certain dishes if used in excess.

How to Incorporate: Use light sesame oil for high-heat cooking and dark sesame oil as a finishing touch in stirfries, dressings, and marinades for an intense flavor.

Peanut Oil

Benefits: Peanut oil is high in monounsaturated fats, similar to olive oil, and has a high smoke point. Its neutral flavor allows it to blend well with a va-

riety of ingredients.

Cons: Peanut oil is common in processed foods and may cause allergic reactions in individuals with peanut allergies.

How to Incorporate: Peanut oil is good for stir-frying and sautéing and can be used as a base for Asian-inspired dishes.

Sunflower Oil

Benefits: Sunflower oil is a good source of vitamin E and contains a balanced profile of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. Its mild flavor makes it versatile in cooking.

Cons: Sunflower oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids, which, when consumed in excess, can promote inflammation if not balanced with omega-3s.

How to Incorporate: Sunflower oil is

suitable for sautéing, baking, and making homemade dressings.

Safflower Oil

Benefits: Safflower oil is high in linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid that can support heart health when consumed in moderation. It has a mild flavor and a high smoke point.

Cons: Safflower oil is refined, which means it may lack some nutrients and antioxidants present in unrefined oils.

How to Incorporate: Use safflower oil for high-heat cooking methods like

experiences. Make sure to practice moderation. While cooking oils can be nutritious, they are calorie-dense. Also, consider smoke points: Match the oil’s smoke point to the cooking method. Use oils with high smoke points (e.g., peanut oil) for pan-frying and oils with lower smoke points (e.g., olive oil) for low to medium heat cooking. If possible, opt for high-quality, cold-pressed, and unrefined oils whenever possible to retain more nutrients and flavors.

Overall, the healthiest oils to use are extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil for the reasons listed above, but primarily because of the presence of monounsaturated fats in both. Focus on these two, but feel free to incorporate small amounts of the other oils listed to create a diverse and nutritious culinary experience in your kitchen.

frying, baking, and roasting.

To incorporate cooking oils into your kitchen, remember to diversify. Experiment with different oils to enjoy their unique flavors and health benefits. Rotate between olive oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil for varied culinary

Engagements

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

Yitzi Kadar (Far Rockaway) & Ayala Gold (Baltimore)

Baruch Glazer & Shoshana Szajowitz (Both Baltimore)

Avraham Shmuel Stein & Elisheva Kroll (Baltimore)

Eliezer Ambush (Baltimore) & Tzivya Aviva Greenfield (Staten Island)

Yaakov Yisroel Goldberger (Baltimore) & Jenny Haber (Florida)

Experiment with different oils to enjoy their unique flavors and health benefits.

TJH Centerfold

Stuck in Camp Mode?

If you exhibit four or more of the following signs, you are stuck in camp mode and are having a hard time integrating yourself back into society at large

 You bring your own jar of pickles to the Shabbos table.

 When your father brings out the ices, you attack him.

 Right when you wake up in the morning you immediately run to see if the day’s activities are posted on the fridge.

 When your father says it’s time to bench, you jump up on the chair (that your mother just reupholstered).

 You brush your teeth once in 60 days and think that you should get a trophy.

 When you want a cup of ice, you tell your mother that you think you sprained your finger.

 You sleep with a flyswatter.

 You show up at your sister’s wedding wearing Natives.

 When your mother tells you to make your bed, you ask, “Why? Is tomorrow visiting day?”

 You eat three hot pretzels for supper (which is the only meal of the day)

Riddle Me This

Miriam, her sister, her daughter, and her son are playing volleyball. Miriam’s sister is directly across the net from her son. Miriam’s daughter is diagonally across the net from the best player’s sibling. The best player and the worst player are on the same side of the net. Who is the worst player?

Answer:

 You wonder why your family looks at you strangely when you wear the same clothing for six days in a row.

 When you see a chair with a back support on it, you think it may be one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

 When it’s raining outside, you take soap and shampoo and shower outdoors (because you are so funny).

 You don’t like going from the front of your house to the backyard…because you hate walking up “the hill.”

 You take Laffy Taffys from the family’s nosh cabinet and store them under your bed.

 When your mother asks you why you insist on wearing a blue shirt every day, you respond, “Blue rocks, red stinks!”

 When you see someone replacing the garbage bag, you say, “Hey, I didn’t know those things are replaceable!”

The worst player is Miriam’s sister. Draw a diagram, putting Miriam’s sister and son directly across the net from each other. It doesn’t matter whether they’re on the left or the right side of the diagram. Now, try putting Miriam’s daughter on the same side as the sister. The daughter will be diagonally across from the son (the best player’s sibling), meaning that the best player is the daughter. Since the daughter (the best player) is on the same side as the sister, the sister must be the worst player. If you put Miriam’s daughter next to the son, then Miriam will be the best player, but the sister will still be the worst.

August Crossword Puzzle

Down

1. “I have a …”

2. A man of many tricks, including staying in a box under water for an hour

4. FDR stricken with this disease

5. Sales that remind us how fast summer flies by

7. Began in Massachusetts as ex-Revolutionary led an armed mob

8. This machine was patented in 1859, and it simply goes up and down

10. Something many of us do on Sundays in August

12. Nixon’s middle name

13. Proclamation announcing freedom of slaves Across

3. President born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on August 4

6. Francis Scott Key wrote this ever-popular song

9. The first atomic bomb was dropped over the center of this city

11. Games played in August every several years

14. Ends in August, leaving many

with nothing to do for weeks on end

15. Official flower of August

16. This pitcher was so good, an award was even named after him

17. This president signed into law

the first federal income tax, a 3 percent tax on incomes over $800, as an emergency wartime measure

Answers:

DOWN - 1 Dream; 2 Houdini; 4 Polio; 5 Backtoschool; 7 Shaysrebellion; 8 Elevator; 10 Barbeques; 12 Milhouse; ACROSS - 3 BarackObama;

6 StarSpangledBanner; 9 Hiroshima; 11 Olympics; 14 Camp; 15 Gladiolus; 16 CyYoung; 17 AbrahamLincoln

Notable Quotes “Say

What?!”

No comment.

– President Joe Biden after a day of lounging on the beach, when asked about the horrific fire in Hawaii that has killed more than 100 people

I campaigned for you. Now, when I lose dozens of my friends, family, and neighbors, this?

- Tweet by former Hawaii Democrat state Rep. Mark Kaniela Ing, in response to Biden’s “no comment”

No, that’s not appropriate.

I couldn’t care less about the loss… They didn’t have their eye on the ball. They had their eye on their woke activism.

It is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities.

– Ibid.

I think all of the evidence I’ve seen so far, in this case, is that Hunter Biden – he could be a terrible guy, I don’t know, never met him – is being treated worse than anyone else would be. He’s being treated worse the way Donald Trump claims he’s being treated worse. But he actually is because normally this would just be misdemeanor stuff that would be done with. Instead, he’s endlessly investigated because of politics.

- Joy Reid gaslighting on MSNBC

It’s not about race; it’s not about color. A lot of people make a lot of money off of the races fighting against each other and bickering. They’re the ones pushing it in our face all the time, that we’re separate.

- Rapper Ice Cube in an interview with Tucker Carlson

- Chicago’s radical left mayor Brandon Johnson objecting to a reporter referring to a group of around teenagers that ransacked a convenience store as “a mob”

- Megyn Kelly responding to the U.S. Women’s soccer team's shocking early round loss in the Women’s Soccer World Cup

Today, I am pleased to announce that the next steps in our work together will be about further expanding our partnership. In particular, we will discuss the work that we will do together to strengthen our space cooperation. You and I spoke briefly about the beginning of the next era — and, for you, what that means, in terms of your leadership and your vision for the future, and certainly, strengthening our space cooperation would be a part of that agenda — including, of course, using our space cooperation to think about how we strengthen the economic prosperity and development of our nations.

I told you LA was finished.

- Rapper 50 Cent posting on social media accompanying a video of a mob of thugs ransacking an LA Nordstrom and stealing $300,000 worth of merchandise last weekend

They are gonna have to lock the doors, appointment only. - Ibid.

For the Tesla FSD test drive in Palo Alto tonight, I will ask the car to drive to [Mark Zuckerberg’s] house. If we get lucky and Zuck…actually answers the door, the fight is on!

- Tweet by Elon Musk on Monday, continuing to hype a possible cage fight with Mark Zuckerberg

Mark is traveling right now and isn’t in Palo Alto. Also, Mark takes this sport seriously and isn’t going to fight someone who randomly shows up at his house.

- Statement by Mark Zuckerberg’s representative

My policy is clear: Anyone who defends himself from stone throwers should receive a medal. I expect the police chief Uzi Levy to advance the investigation quickly and conduct a comprehensive investigation also of all the Arab rioters who threw stones and tried to murder Jews.

- National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responding to the arrest of Israelis who were apprehended after defending themselves from Arab stone throwers

As I am sure you have heard – the island, Maui, where I own a house I have been staying at since the ‘80s – and the small village, city, most magical place on earth, Lahaina, burned to the ground over the last few days. And to make the situation worse, my young niece, her husband, and their little boy had just arrived for a very needed vacation before she started up her school year (on her way to becoming a psychologist) for 10 days. They had one and a half days of fun and then — the fire started.

- Vice President Kamala Harris during a White House press conference with the Prime Minister of Mongolia

– Social media post by Singer Stevie Nicks telling the sad saga of her relative’s vacation that was inconvenienced by the terrible fire that killed over 100 people in Hawaii

I think, and forgive me for being blunt, I think Bibi is an Iranian spy.

-Attorney Ofer Bartel, a former candidate for the High Court of Justice, in an interview about judicial reform on Israel’s Channel 12

If there’s anything that harms the country’s security, economy, society, and every other basic thing in the country, it’s the prime minister. The damage done is so much more harmful than if Iranian rockets were falling here. - Ibid.

Folks, it’s not hyperbole to suggest that there is no national treasure — none that is grander than the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon — one of the Earth’s Nine Wonders, Wonders of the World, literally. Think of that. You know, it’s amazing. An enduring symbol of America to the entire world.

To be honest with you, I can’t relate to what [Joe Biden’s] son was doing when he was vice president. When I was vice president, my son was flying an F-35 for the Marine Corps defending this country.

- Republican presidential candidate and former Vice President Mike Pence

- Pres. Joe Biden, during a speech in Arizona, talking about the “Nine Wonders of the World” which is news to all of those who are only aware of the Seven Wonders of the World

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

My daughter is seriously dating a guy. Things are going well but my daughter is voicing some concerns. He makes fun of her when she does anything klutzy. My daughter is a lot of things, a lot of amazing things, so it hurts that he makes fun of her surrounding the realm of not being so organized or coordinated. Basically what she is seeing is a pattern of poking fun at something she’s bad at. If she drops something, for example, he’ll say, “Oops look like something jumped out of your hands again” or once, she mistakenly knocked over her drink at the Shabbos meal, he said, “Why can’t you just watch where your hand is going ?!” Another time she drove them somewhere and he commented how her car was messy.

Other than that, he balances her out well. Where she is disorganized, he is very organized. Where she is klutzy, he is very careful, and she meshes well with him and his personality in a lot of other ways. What is the panel’s thoughts on this issue? Is this a big red flag, is it normal, or something else we’re missing?

Shannon*

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.

Sharon, this is a serious red flag. He is putting her down, plain and simple. That is not OK! She is being disrespected regularly now and will be at risk for abuse if she stays in this relationship.

She did not recognize this so-called poking fun. You are unsure of what it is and mentioned how he balances her out. You are seeing the plus of putdowns. Get yourselves to skilled help as soon as possible. You both need to recognize red flags and to respect your instincts. This is a process, however, that should not end with her ending the relationship. Empower yourselves and make sure you are respected in all relationships, especially those that will be permanent.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

Iam so relieved to hear they’re dating and not yet engaged. It would be much trickier to offer advice if it were the latter. This boy is quite simply not being nice, and I would advise you to look into whether he has a history of being controlling with other people’s behavior. A young man could be a great learner, good looking, and alah mailos, as they say, but have serious middos issues. When a young woman is dating, she may get so caught up in the excitement of dating a top boy, thereby ignoring the small warning signs of him not being a nice or sensitive person. Perhaps her good-hearted nature will assure her that he is indeed just joking around and

maybe blame herself for being disorganized. It is the easier option for her to keep dating, because nothing is blatantly wrong and she would have to start all over again if she ends it.

She must remember these are things she will have to live with for the rest of her life. Advise her to trust her gut. Assure her that these comments are indeed not nice, and she is not overthinking it. A man should want to be on his best behavior when he is dating, and if he is acting sub-par now, even more so she should think about how it will be when they’re married. At the very least, she should bring this up with him in conversation and let him know that his comments are hurtful. She can gauge his reactions and see if his actions change. If nothing changes or he belittles her feelings, it might just be time to say goodbye.

The

When a young woman is dating, she may get so caught up in the excitement of dating

boy, ignoring the small warning signs of him not being a nice or sensitive person.

tent of his comments and therefore can’t determine if it’s a red flag based on your limited feedback. Does he think he’s being funny or trying to make her feel more comfortable by exercising sarcasm? Has she exercised communication (the most important ingredient in a healthy relationship) to voice her feelings and requests for him to stop? Maybe he’s clueless and thinks she considers his mockery as banter. She can’t truly know the extent of his middot or intentions until she communicate her feelings and needs. After doing so, his response (and time) will determine whether it’s truly a red flag or not.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Idiscussed this question with my wife, who, besides being my partner, is also

my best friend and harshest critic.

I told her that my response would be, “Are they color blind? Can’t they see the giant red flags waving in their faces?”

My wife said, “Don’t write that. Try to be kind. You need to gently and politely explain what’s wrong in this relationship.”

So, here goes. In a healthy, successful relationship, it’s great if one party has skills that the other party lacks. For example, in social situations, my wife is great at friendly small talk, while I’m often tongue-tied; she’s great at remembering people’s names, while I’m often clueless.

In a healthy relationship, it’s OK to playfully tease each other about their foibles, and it’s OK to try and help improve someone’s shortcomings. But it is definitely not okay to belittle, mock, and bully a partner. What you are describing in your letter is not a balancing, complementary relationship, where one partner’s

strengths offset another partner’s weaknesses. What you are describing is a toxic relationship, where a bully is trying to dominate his partner by disparaging her as a person.

Nevertheless, if your daughter still feels that this relationship might be worth salvaging, she must tell him, “I know that I’m sometimes awkward and disorganized. I can try to do better, but that is who I am, and I do not appreciate you making fun of me. For this relationship to continue, I need you to please stop those insulting, disparaging remarks.”

Remember the old cautionary adage,

“Red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning.” This boyfriend’s remarks are a big, giant, red flag.

Dear Shannon,

Thank you for your email! Making fun of someone when the recipient doesn’t find it funny isn’t a joke. It is mean. Some people grow up in environments where people tease or take jabs at each other, and it’s just the culture of the house. If a partner is sensitive to that, it is the responsibility of the joke-maker to be sensitive to his/her partner and stop or cut back on the jokes. Beyond his unhelpful remarks are the condescending remarks where he seems to think he is your daughter’s teacher or authority.

It is very important to marry someone who views you as an equal and doesn’t feel it is his/her place to teach you lessons or change you.

If your daughter hasn’t done so already, I recommend she and her boyfriend go for coun -seling to try to sort this out before they get engaged. It is wonderful that your daughter is expressing her concerns to you. Let her know her concerns are valid and, if you can, gently suggest that she speak with a professional counselor about this. I think you have reason to be concerned as this may be a red flag.

Always encourage your daughter to trust her intuition!

Sincerely, Jennifer

It is very important to marry someone who views you as an equal.

Areader asked me: “I see on the Jerusalem maps that Gonen is extremely well located, so why have I never heard of this community?”

The answer is that, despite the government’s new “Israeli” name, everyone still refers to the Jerusalem neighborhood by its original name: Katamon.

Katamon is located in southern Jerusalem and is bounded by Talbieh to the northeast and the German Colony and the Greek Colony to the southeast. The name Katamon is Greek, meaning “below the monastery,” referring to the nearby San Simon monastery which is surrounded by an enormous beautiful public park. Katamon actually branches out into nine neighborhoods, collectively called Katamonim (or officially: Gonenim), with the oldest and most prime neighborhood called Old Katamon.

Katamon was established just before World War I and became a ghost town at the beginning of the 1948 War of Independence after the Christian Arabs fled. Within a few weeks, it was converted to housing for Jews evacuated from the Old City and for many waves of new immigrants, primarily the throngs of Jews who were expelled from Middle Eastern countries after 1948.

During the War of Independence, the Palmach heroically battled to retain

My Israel Home Why Have I Never Heard of Gonen?

By Gedaliah Borvick

control of Katamon and southern Jerusalem. A memorial is located in the large San Simon Park, bordering the San Simon monastery where a number of fierce battles took place. Today, the scenic park is the central park of the neighborhood, and hundreds of locals meet and greet at San Simon Park every Shabbat afternoon.

ects built to accommodate the large influx of new immigrants, were improved.

Today, a number of new undertakings have been launched to upgrade the community’s infrastructure – such as adding a light rail line – and housing stock. The housing projects include a mix of traditional new construction plus urban renew-

ing communities, such as Talbieh, the German Colony and Rechavia. Families continue to move in, but housing prices in Old Katamon are now similar to the more established neighborhoods. In comparison, pricing in Katamonim varies greatly, based on location and proximity to Old Katamon.

Katamon has dozens of shuls, including many with large English-speaking crowds, such as the Shimon Hatzaddik Synagogue, a/ka the Young Israel of San Simon. In addition, the neighborhood is home to a number of post-high school overseas programs, such as Matan, Nishmat, and Midreshet Torah Va’avodah. Katamon has local supermarkets, cafes and retailers and is a 15-minute stroll from Emek Refaim and a half hour away from the Old City and the City Center.

Prior to the 1967 Six Day War, the Katamonim were located along the Israeli–Jordanian armistice line and had to defend itself against Jordanian sniper fire, hence the name Gonenim, which means “Defenders.” After the Six Day War, the government embarked on a massive urban renewal project in which the neighborhood’s infrastructure and housing stock, much of which was housing proj-

al projects, including TAMA-38 and Pinuy Binuy. Some of these projects have already been completed while others are in various stages of the development process.

With its many tree-lined streets and lovely parks, Katamon is a haven for religious families due to its many community centers and educational institutions and because the cost of housing used to be significantly lower than neighbor -

It is no wonder that many English speakers have moved to Katamon, and many more are interested in joining, as they have found the welcoming community to be a very comfortable fit.

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

Prior to the 1967 Six Day War, the Katamonim were located along the Israeli–Jordanian armistice line and had to defend itself against Jordanian sniper fire, hence the name Gonenim, which means “Defenders.”

Stories to Inspire The Power of Personal Thanks

Based on a story told over by Rabbi Fischel Schachter

Prepared for print by Daniel

Agalar

Heart surgery is an extremely risky procedure for anyone. When Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zt”l, at the age of 102, required a heart procedure, no doctor in Eretz Yisrael was willing to take on the risk of performing it. Instead, a world-renowned heart surgeon from America, along with his team of doctors and equipment, was flown in, despite the considerable expense. During their initial conversation, the esteemed doctor was amazed by Rav Elyashiv’s sharpness. Here was a man of 102 years, asking precise questions with a clarity that surpassed even individuals twenty years his junior.

Thankfully, the surgery was successful, and before the doctor and his team returned to the United States, he made a final visit to Rav Elyashiv. Anticipating this visit, Rav Elyashiv turned to someone and asked, “How do you say thank you in English?” He practiced saying the words “thank you” multiple times until he could say them fluently. When the doctor finished his visit, Rav Elyashiv expressed his gratitude in English by saying, “Thank you.”

People around them were surprised because Rav Elyashiv had been communicating with the doctor through an interpreter throughout their interactions.

They wondered why it was so important for him to personally say “thank you” instead of relying on the interpreter to translate “todah rabba.” When Rav Elyashiv was asked this question, he explained a fundamental concept.

entire congregation bows down and says Modim derabbanan, a prayer of thanks to Hashem. In Modim derabbanan, we personally express gratitude to Hashem, recognizing that our lives are solely in His hands. We can appoint a messenger, the shaliach tzibbur, to beseech Hashem on our behalf for healing or sustenance. The shaliach tzibbur can intercede for us in numerous requests. However, when it comes to thanking Hashem, it must be done personally by each individual. We cannot delegate someone else to say thank you on our behalf because the depth of gratitude varies based on the individual.

The gadol hador referred to a beautiful explanation from the Abudraham. During the chazaras hashatz, the congregation listens attentively as the shaliach tzibbur recites the Shemoneh Esrei. However, when the shaliach tzibbur reaches the bracha of Modim, the

Daniel Agalar is the founder of Stories to Inspire, an organization dedicated to sharing curated inspirational stories from renowned rabbanim. With a widely popular podcast that has surpassed 4 million downloads, Daniel’s passion for spreading positivity shines through. Join the daily WhatsApp broadcast by messaging 310-210-1205 or explore over 4,300 stories on his website at www.storiestoinspire. org. The stories can also be accessed on the hotline at 718400-7145.

He practiced saying the words “thank you” multiple times until he could say them fluently.

Common Cents Riding the Financial Time-Machine: Gates’ Law and the Magic of Compound Interest

By Elliot Pepper, CPA, CFP®, MST

Financial planning and investing can often seem like a daunting endeavor. The quest for immediate returns or get-rich-quick schemes cloud the true essence of wealth accumulation, which lies in disciplined, longterm investing and the magic of compound interest. This phenomenon is encapsulated in a quote by Bill Gates, “Most people overestimate what they can achieve in a year and underestimate what they can achieve in ten years”, often referred to as Gates’ Law.

This law echoes the importance of patience, foresight, and consistent investing for substantial financial growth over time. In the realm of finance, it explains the common mistake investors make – seeking quick profits in the short term while ignoring the profound growth potential of longterm investments.

In the short term, optimism bias can lead to overconfidence. Investors, especially novices, may expect high returns within a short period, investing in volatile assets or risky ventures hoping for a quick windfall. However, the world of finance seldom adheres to such expectations. Market volatility, economic fluctuations, and other unanticipated factors often impede instant financial gains.

Conversely, Gates’ Law underscores the underestimated power of long-term investing and the phenome-

non of compound interest – the principle that makes an investment’s growth exponentially potent over time. Regular investments in stable, relatively low-risk assets, like index funds, may not offer immediate substantial returns, but over a decade or more, they have the potential to deliver considerable growth.

The strength of compound interest – earning interest on the initial principal and the accumulated interest from prior periods – becomes more significant over time. Albert Einstein reportedly described it as the “eighth wonder of the world”, recognizing its potential to exponentially increase wealth in the long run.

The power of compounding is quite telling when considering the wealth path of one of the world’s greatest modern day investors, Warren Buffett. Buffett is known for his folksy midwestern persona and a phenomenal investing track record spanning decades. What is noteworthy is the timing of Buffett’s wealth with over $50 billion earned after his 60th birthday. Buffett has been an investor for over 80 years – he started young, stayed long term focused and never stopped. As Buffett’s partner Charlie Munger says “the first rule of compounding: Never interrupt it unnecessarily”

However one need not be a billionaire to benefit from the beauty

of compound interest. Everyone can (and should!) prioritize saving and investing a consistent amount monthly in a diversified portfolio. While this may not make you a millionaire in a year, by continuing this disciplined approach for ten or twenty years, the power of compound interest can significantly boost your financial growth. Many self-made millionaires and successful investors attribute their wealth accumulation to this strategy of longterm investing and the magic of compound interest.

Gates’ Law encourages financial patience and discipline, reiterating the value of long-term financial planning over quick-profit strategies. It implores investors to adopt a pragmatic approach, setting realistic short-term financial expectations, and focusing on the power of consistent, long-term investment strategies. Remember the Rolling Stones song “Time is on my side”? Who doesn’t want to follow the sage words of Mick Jagger? Maroon 5 might have the moves like Jagger, but you can have the investment outlook of the ageless Stones front man.

As we journey through our financial lives, Gates’ Law is a potent reminder to plan for the long term, believe in the strength of compound interest, and ultimately, harness the potential of time in our journey towards financial growth and stability. The earlier you start investing the better – let compounding do the heavy lifting for your financial future!

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.

SHABBOSDinner

2Challahs

2qtChickenSoup

6pcsRoastedorBBQChicken

Rice,RoastedPotatoes,PotatoKugel,orFarfal

RoastedVegetablesorGreenBeans

2ParveSalads(1lbeach)

(Coleslaw,PotatoSalad,CousCous,CucumberSalad, IsraeliSalad,BabyCornSalad)

SHABBOSLunch

2Challahs • 2Dips • 2qtChulent

1lbLiver&1lbEggSaladorGefiltaFish

1/2lb

PastramiCornedBeef,RoastBeef, orBrisket

1/2lbTurkeyPastrami,Salami,BolognaorTurkey (Gourmet,Classic,Honey,Smoked,orMexican)

6-8PiecesGrilledChickenStripsorShnitzelFingers

8x5Kugel (Potato,SweetNoodle,orYerushalmi)

2ParveSalads(1lbeach)

(Coleslaw,PotatoSalad,CousCous,CucumberSalad, IsraeliSalad,BabyCornSalad,ChickpeaSalad,Quinoa,CornSalad, GardenSalad,orCesarSalad)

Salmon Appetizer • $5 pp

Turkey Salad • $11 / lb (min. 1 lb) London Broil • $9 pp

Brisket and Gravy • $9 pp

Glazed Corned Beef • $9 pp

Salmon Wellington • $14 pp

Grilled Chicken • $5 pp

Pastrami & Kishka Stuffed Chicken Breast • $10 pp

8x5 Yapchick • $14

8x5 Apple Cobbler • $12

Cookies • $8 / box

Forgotten Her es Israel’s B-17 Bombers

By Avi Heiligman

Following World War II there was large supply in surplus aircraft in the United States. More than 300,000 planes and aircraft of all types had been produced during the war, and with the downsizing of the Air Corps, a lot of the planes were destined for the scrapyard. One of the few aircraft that served from the beginning to the end of the war was the Boeing B-17 bomber. Over 12,000 of the heavy bombers were built, and after the war some of them were being employed in interesting roles. In 1948, Israel was on the hunt for any aircraft when agents received word that there were four that they could possibly obtain. Their journey to Israel and subsequent combat is a story often overlooked in IAF history.

The B-17 Flying Fortress was first introduced in 1938 and was a workhorse for the Army Air Corps throughout the war. It was a four-engine bomber that had a 2,000-mile range, flew with a crew of ten airmen and could carry up to 8,000 pounds of bombs. During battle, the high-altitude bomber was used extensively against German and Japanese targets that other bombers couldn’t reach. As World War II ended, most of the planes were flown back to the U.S. where they were sold for scrap. Some were used for transportation, search

and rescue, or stayed in the newly formed Air Force until the 1950s.

Four demilitarized B-17s caught the attention of businessman and engineer Al Schwimmer in 1948. He was on a mission to acquire planes and crews for the IAF, and after tracking down these four planes, they were secretly sold to bolster Israel’s fledgling air force. Two of these planes were bought for $30,000 and had belonged to a company based out of Miami that used them as freighters between the United States and Puerto Rico. Together with another two bought from a businessman from Tulsa, the bombers flew to Puerto Rico and then to the Azores.

At the time, the U.S. had an arms embargo on Israel, and Portuguese authorities impounded one of the bombers. Many other countries also had an arms embargo on both Israel and her Arab neighbors, but Czechoslovakia wasn’t one of them as it was openly friendly towards Israel. The three remaining planes then flew to Zatec, Czechoslovakia, where they were fitted for military use. Although the planes were airworthy, they had holes that needed to be fixed, guns and bomb racks to be placed, and proper military gear to be put into the cockpit. In a twist of irony, German-made bomb racks were

used. Once the planes had the weapons placed and the problems fixed, they were given a new paint job and deemed ready for combat.

The pilots of the planes were instructed to fly to their new bases in Israel but to make a bombing run on the way. On June 15, 1948, they took off from Czechoslovakia and were then given the order to bomb targets over Egypt on their way to Tel Nof Airbase. Only one of the bombers had a working oxygen system and an adequate bomb sight, and it was sent to target the king’s palace in Cairo. The other two were sent to bomb an Egyptian air base. While the bombing runs caused minimal damage, they were a morale crusher for the Egyptians who left their airspace wide open with no air defenses. The planes then landed safely at Tel Nof Air Base in Israel.

The three bombers were the backbone of the 69 Squadron, known as the Hammers, throughout the rest of the Israeli War of Independence and flew over 200 sorties. The squadron transferred the bombers to the Ramat David Airbase where they staged for long-range missions. Many of the airmen that flew on the B-17 were Machal volunteers from outside of Israel and had bomber experience in World War II. The commander of the squadron was Ray Kurtz who had

been a B-17 navigator who had flown 31 bomber missions during World War II.

Most of the aircraft utilized by the IAF in 1948 were fighters, transport and reconnaissance, as most of the fighting was within the borders of Israel. The usage of the long-range bombers was to bomb enemy targets as well as to support missions like Operation Yoav in September and Operation Chorev in late December. There were some missions to bomb locations like Damascus in an effort to strike fear in the enemy. After the war, the bombers stayed in the air force until 1958 – they were used on a small scale during the 1956 Suez Crisis.

Early Israel Air Force missions were a vital part in the success during the War of Independence. While most of the media attention is placed on the fighters, the story of the B-17 bombers is one that needs to be remembers as well. The Machal volunteers that served on the bombers are Forgotten Heroes whose story is finally coming to light in recent documentaries.

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.

Parenting Pearls

Vacation Opportunities

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

We’re reaching that time again when I overhear many families busy finalizing their vacation plans. It’s an interesting time to go away. It’s completely logical to take some time off as the break between camp and school beginning. Alternatively, it’s at a time when the majority of kids – and many adults, too – have usually just completed a relaxing summer and a vacation seems unnecessary.

While many parents will have spent the warmer months at their usual schedules, teachers, therapists and many other professions have a more laid-back environment.

While another trip to relax may seem superfluous at this time, it’s very possible for families to make this time the most meaningful. When everyone is already in a calmer mode, families can utilize this time to focus on each oth -

er and not merely on unwinding – as important as that can be. I’ve written previously on vacations, and I was hesitant to do another article on the topic. But, I still felt there was something to discuss about the unique scheduling of this break period.

I also found it ironic that I was writing about vacations again because I rarely go away; our family tends to favor day trips. I am beyond thrilled that we have exciting plans for this time period, attending the chasuna of a close cousin. She is the first of our children’s generation to get married, and we look forward to many more simchas in the future. Mazel tov to Chaya (Cincinnati, OH) and Yussi (Baltimore, MD) and our entire family. May they be zoche to build a bayis ne’eman b’Yisroel.

A Unique Opportunity

Each time period has a unique flavor to it that comes with special opportunities. The yomim tovim are unmatched in their spiritual potential and meaning. It can be challenging to balance meals and snacks around the sukkah or ensure we are in a chametz-free zone on all outings, but it’s part of what keeps the meaning of the chag on our minds.

Winter break is a quick getaway during the school year, and the kids enjoy a little time to rejuvenate before the next period of classes begins. Similarly, right after school has finished, the kids are emotionally winding down after a

full year has been completed. They’ve worked very hard, especially the older students who have just completed finals or Regents exams. They look forward to the time off, and they need a few weeks to get back to themselves after such a full schedule.

It’s only now, when they’ve had camp or those summer weeks off, that they’re already feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to focus on family. It’s during these few days that many may find they’re more emotionally prepared to spend meaningful time with others.

Grabbing the Opportunity

As much as kids enjoy exotic getaways, they really want time where they feel loved by their parents. A trip to the zoo where they’re doted on is more valued than a trip to the Caribbean that dumps them with a babysitter. Planning any trip – near or far – should prioritize bonding with our precious younger travelers. Our children will notice when our focus is on our family and enjoying their company.

Take plenty of pictures and make sure you get into a few of them – smiling with your child. They’ll love looking back on them years later. Within days of returning, the little ones will most likely already be begging to see those photos on your phone. Other than pictures, leave the phone in your bag – it’s incredibly distracting from our precious priorities.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LAST EDITION’S RAFFLE WINNERs!

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

Zehava Steiner, 9

Tamir Fogel, 7

Orli R, 5

Leah Saposnik, 8

Leah Bracha G. 10

Hillel Davids, 11

Eli Saposnik, 4 Boaz Klein, 5 Ariella, 5 Ariel Simon, 5

Peretz Yehuda Mandel, 7

Chani Waxman

EVEN MORE SUBMISSIONS

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

Yonatan, 2

Yisroel Turk, 5

Tova Baron, 4

Tehilla Simon, 7

Tehilla Rosenbaum, 6

Tamar, 5 and Azi, 3 Weiss

Shira Berry, 5

Shana Fink, 6

Shalvah Mandelbaum, 6 Shalva, 5

Sara, 9

Rachelli Turk, 8

Rachel Lipsky, 6

Moshe Sheynman

Leba S.

Leah Levinger , 7

Leah Katz , 9

Dovid Goldberger, 6

Dalya Klein Chaya N. 8

Chaviva Moskowitz, 9

Chagai S. Ben Golfeyz, 5

Bassie Goldberger, 9

Ari Rosenbaum, 6

Sports fans love when new stars join their teams. Sometimes it’s a promising rookie called up to the majors, like Elly de la Cruz lighting a fire under the moribund Cincinnati Reds. Sometimes it’s a mid-career trade, like Justin Verlander taking the Houston Astros to the World Series. And sometimes it’s a grizzled veteran pining for one last shot at glory, like Tom Brady leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to one final Super Bowl win. (Can Aaron Rodgers do the same for the lowly Jets? Stay tuned!)

Rarely, though, does a single move have the potential to upend a league and change an entire sport. Jorge Mas, owner of Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami club, hopes signing Argentinian forward Lionel Messi can score that goal. The Miami deal should raise the -36yearold Messi’s career earnings to over 1.6$ billion, which, yeah, obviously. But Mas also convinced Messi that playing here as opposed to accepting offers in Barcelona or Saudi Arabia—gives him a legacy-defining chance to score an even bigger goal. Can his brand of magic finally make elevate American soccer to the same level as football, baseball, basketball, and hockey?

Messi is off to a great start, winning his first game with a last-second free kick goal. But it turns out that while he loves

Your Money Goal!

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

scoring, he doesn’t love paying his taxes.

In 2013, Spanish authorities accused Messi of using companies in Belize, Uruguay, and Switzerland to evade €4.1 million in tax on endorsement earnings. Messi, an Argentinean who at that time played professionally for Barcelona, said he wasn’t involved in the details. (Like a player faking injury for a ref, he said,

suspended under Spanish law) and fined the pair another €3.1 million.

Not to be outdone, Messi’s arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese forward who played professionally for Real Madrid, announced later that he would pay Spain 18.7 € million to settle tax charges centered on his endorsements. That meant fans who debated over who’s

bribes, keeping two apartments at New York’s pricey Trump Tower: an $18,000/ month three-bedroom for himself and a $6,000/month one-bedroom next door for his cats. (Must have been quite the cats, right?!?)

IRS Criminal Investigation head Richard Weber couldn’t resist some obvious puns after the eventual arrests, announcing “This is the World Cup of fraud, and today we are issuing FIFA a red card,” he said. But really, the jokes just write themselves. How about “Corrupt soccer officials couldn’t keep hands off the cash”? Maybe “Prosecutors score GOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL against corruption”?

“I just played football,” and claimed he signed whatever documents his father dropped in front of him.) Nevertheless, he made a €5.3 million “corrective payment” equal to the tax plus interest to settle the charges.

But prosecutors insisted on penalty kicks, and in 2016, a court found Messi and his father guilty on three counts of fraud. (Clearly not Messi-ing around, right?) The court imposed a 21-month prison sentence (which was automatically

the better player could start bickering over who’s the better tax evader.

Players haven’t been the only footballers to get yellow-carded for tax offenses. In 2011, IRS investigators used tax charges to “flip” Chuck Blazer, a member of soccer’s international governing body, into wearing a wire to help indict 14 other officials on charges of racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering. Blazer, a 450-pound Lincoln Navigator of a man, lived large on his share of those

Soccer is having a moment here in the States. The Messi deal can’t help but bring more enthusiasm and excitement to the sport. The fans at the IRS will love taking a run at the inevitable millions in endorsements and merchandise. Just remember as you sit down to watch that we’re here to help you score your particular financial goals, too!

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.

That meant fans who debated over who’s the better player could start bickering over who’s the better tax evader.

In The K tchen

Spinach Feta-Stuffed Mushrooms

Dairy / Yields 8 servings

By Naomi Nachman

These are my favorite ingredients all rolled up into one fantastic dairy recipe for the summertime. Summer also means tomato season, with their flavor peaking during July and August. My family loves feta cheese in salads, with pasta, or with this winning combo of spinach and mushrooms. Serve this dish with a nice chilled late Harvest Riesling. The saltiness of the feta and the sweetness of the wine are a perfect marriage of flavors.

Ingredients

◦ 8 portobello mushrooms, cleaned and gills removed

◦ 1 cup cherry tomatoes on the vine

◦ 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

◦ 1 medium onion, diced

◦ 2 cloves garlic, minced

◦ 2 tablespoons butter

◦ 1 (24-oz) bag frozen chopped spinach, defrosted

◦ ½ teaspoon kosher salt

◦ ½ cup heavy cream

◦ 1 container (8 oz.) feta cheese, drained and crumbled

◦ 1 teaspoon kosher salt

◦ ¼ cup panko

◦ 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

◦ 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and coat with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Place portobello mushroom caps and tomatoes on baking sheet; drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes. Set aside. Do not turn off oven.

3. In a small bowl, mix panko, parsley and parmesan cheese. Set aside.

4. Meanwhile, prepare the stuffing: Heat remaining olive oil over medium heat in a large frying pan. Add onion; sauté for 5-8 minutes, until lightly browned.

5. Add garlic and butter and sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes.

6. Add spinach and cook until the liquid cooks off, about 5-8 minutes.

7. Add heavy cream and season with salt and pepper. Add feta and tomatoes.

8. Divide stuffing among the portobello mushrooms and top with the seasoned parmesan panko, return to oven. Roast for 15 minutes.

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.

Food styled by Renee Muller, Photo by Hudy Greenberg