Dear Readers,
Since October 7th, each time I sit down to write the ‘Dear Readers’ column, it’s been nearly impossible to focus on anything but the painful situation in Israel. How can anything else matter when our nation is locked in a brutal war? The heartbreak deepened this past week with the tragic news of six captives who, after enduring the horrors of October 7th and nearly a year of torturous captivity, were cruelly murdered. We held onto hope that they would be freed and given a chance to rebuild their lives but, instead, their stories ended in devastation, leaving their families and all of Klal Yisrael shattered.
This past year has been marked by unrelenting grief, fear, and uncertainty and the weight of our collective pain has been overwhelming. As we embrace Elul and the New Year, it feels as though the challenges we’ve faced were destined for us, particularly given that this past Rosh Hashanah fell on Shabbos, preventing us from blowing the shofar.
The absence of the shofar was profoundly felt. Its piercing cry, which usually awakens our hearts and stirs us to repentance, was missing when we needed it most. Chazal
teach that the shofar moves Hashem from the Throne of Judgment to the Throne of Mercy, yet this year, the first day of Rosh Hashanah passed without its transformative call. We experienced the weight of judgment without the familiar sound that lifts our spirits and softens the harshness of the decree.
The Gemara teaches, “
year that begins without the shofar’s blast often sees hardship by its end.
Looking ahead, we have a renewed opportunity. This year, we will experience two days of shofar—a double chance to shift Hashem from the Throne of Judgment to the Throne of Mercy. The sound of the shofar will fill the world with compassion, offering hope that after a year of silence, we can finally find renewal. We say, “
the year and its curses end, and may a new year filled with blessings begin. May the fresh shofar blasts of Elul and Rosh Hashanah usher in a year of healing, peace, and Geulah for us all.
Wishing everyone a peaceful Shabbos, Aaron Menachem
mazal tovs to
TEAM BALTIMORE
Eliezer Abramson (captain)
Gary Bauman (captain)
Tzvi Feigenbaum
Larry Franks
Eli Greengart
Nechemya Jakobovits
Zalmy Lavi
Yechiel Levin
TEAM MOSHE
MoDo Artman
Shuey Goldstein
Sruli Lerner
Naftali Moskowitz
Doniel Moskowitz
(captain)
Binyomin Wealcatch
Shmuli Wealcatch
Aaron Loeb Moshe Mayer
Alan Aharon Newman
Aryeh Nirenberg
Ephey Rosenbloom
Jeremy Schnittman
Chaim Dovid Strauss
Larry Strauss
Neil Sweren
Betzalel Tusk
Ben Weiskind
Baltimore’s Cheder Chabad Welcomes the New School Year with Growth and Enthusiasm
By: BJLife Newsroom
As the sun rose on 29 Av, the hallways of Cheder Chabad of Baltimore came alive with excitement, marking the beginning of a promising new school year. This year, the excitement was even greater as the Cheder welcomed a 10% increase in its student body compared to the previous year—a clear testament to the school’s growing reputation and impact within the community.
From the youngest Gan students to the older boys and girls, everyone was eager to embark on the journey of learning and growth that 5785 promises to bring. The day began with Gan students spending time with their parents, getting oriented with their new Morahs, exploring their classrooms, and reacquainting themselves with the campus amenities and playgrounds.
In both the Boys School and the
Thalia Resnick Girls School, the day kicked off with assemblies led by their respective principals. These assemblies set a positive and inspiring tone for the year ahead, emphasizing the importance of Torah learning and personal growth. Following the assemblies, teachers warmly greeted their
students, offering words of encouragement that established a foundation of collaboration and mutual respect.
The classrooms were more vibrant than ever, filled with the sound of Torah learning as students eagerly opened their siddurim, Chumashim, and Gemaras, diving into the texts that would guide them throughout the year. The powerful atmosphere of unity and devotion was palpable, with even the youngest students participating with
Behind the scenes, the dedication of the teachers played a crucial role in creating this positive environment. In the days leading up to the first day, teachers spent countless hours, often late into the night, meticulously preparing their classrooms. Their hard work and creativity were evident in the vibrant and personalized spaces they created, each classroom reflecting the individuality and passion of the teacher who prepared it. “The greatest part of this visit is seeing how even at this late hour, individuals from our community are still here preparing for the school year,” remarked a key supporter during a late Sunday night visit
A special thank you goes to Facilities Director Mr. Nesanel Gerstman for his total devotion to ensuring that the entire campus was ready and prepared for all the students and teachers to begin successfully.
As the first day concluded, there was a shared sense of accomplishment and excitement for what lies ahead. Students and teachers parted ways with a feeling of purpose and determination to make 5785 a year of significant achievements and meaningful connections to Torah and Yiddishkeit.
Gratitude is also extended to the PTA for their assistance in decorating the campus with back-to-school flair and new in-school designs that highlight the school’s themes. Their efforts added an extra layer of warmth and excitement to the start of the school year. With its growing student body, dedicated teachers, and supportive community, Cheder Chabad of Baltimore looks forward to a successful and enriching year, filled with learning, growth, and the warmth of a true Chassidishe environment.
BJSZ, BridgingLife and Jewish Caring Network invite the community to
DIP THE APPLE IN THE HONEY
Our Struggle to Taste the Sweetness when Experiencing Loss and Challenges
Se pt em b er 10, 202 4 • 8 p.m.
Bnai J acob S h aa r e i Z ion
6602 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore
Men and women welcome
Introduction remarks by Rabbi Daniel Rose
Lecture by Mrs. Zahava Farbman, MSW
About Zahava Farbman, MSW
Zahava Farbman, MSW, is a veteran traumatologist who has been working in this field for 25 years. Her work focuses on helping individuals, families and communities locally, nationally and internationally prepare for and respond to a full range of crises, traumas and tragedies. Zahava has spoken both nationally and internationally and is widely recognized as the go-to professional in responding to crises in the Jewish communit y
For more details, email classon@lifebridgehealth.org.
Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion
Message Sent to Kehillas Derech Chaim from Ner Tamid Cong.
Rabbi Yisrael Motzen
Lichvod HaRav
Pinchas Gross,
Kodesh
Shlita and Kehilas
Derech Chaim,
Every time I pass your beautiful new shul on Pimlico Rd., I am overcome with a mix of joy and sadness. Joyful that your flourishing Kehila will have the Mikdash me’at it truly deserves, and sadness over our shul’s loss.
It’s hard to believe that it has been almost a decade since we began sharing our space together. During that time, you have infused our shul with an immense amount of kedusha. I recall, years ago, when you requested to use the chapel in the evenings for Night Seder. The admiration that we experi-
enced knowing that so many people, after a busy day at work, would come to learn for hours, was palpable. Even after you moved your Beis Medrash down the block, the Kol Torah on Shabbos afternoons directly impacted our community’s limmud Torah.
The energy of your tefilos has served as an inspiration to us as well. Most especially during the Yomim Noraim when your tent walls could not contain the thundering ‘Y’hei shmei rabbahs,’ I heard from so many how moved they were by your davening. You would always thank me for plugging in to my home, but it was you who provided us with the true energy.
In addition to the kedusha, and perhaps even more impactful, was the co-existence of two very differ-
ent kehilos. Yes, there were bumps – that was to be expected. What was remarkable was the fact that we were able to ultimately work things out together. The ‘Good Shabbos’ in the hallways that blossomed into friendships, and the ability to respect one another is a unique expression of genuine achdus (as the Netziv famously describes achdus between different types of Jews). Where else can you find two kehillos of this nature coming together under one roof?
The Ran in Derashos (8) justifies the universal minhag of davening at kivrei Tzadikim despite it appearing to be a form of being doreish el hameisim. He explains that we are not davening to the deceased but rather, after a lifetime of Torah and Mitzvos,
the Tzadik’s physical body is infused with kedusha, to the extent that after the neshama leaves, it retains kedusha, thus making their grave a unique conduit to Hashem.
Though you will no longer be learning Torah and davening in our shul, the kedusha remains. We will forever be inspired by the Kol Torah and Kol Tefillah that you infused into our shul.
I am hopeful that as we pass each other by, we can continue to wish each other a ‘Good Shabbos,’ and continue to model achdus to the broader community.
With a bracha for your continued growth l’hagdil Torah ul’hadirah, Yisrael Motzen and the Ner Tamid Congregation
Greater Washington Weekday Minyanim Guide
6:15 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M-F
6:25 am Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
6:30 am Beth Sholom Congregation M-F
Beit Halevi (Sfardi) M, T
Chabad of Silver Spring M-F
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S YGW M, Th
6:35 am Ohr Hatorah M, Th
6:40 am YGW S, T, W, F
Magen David Sephardic Congregation M-Th
6:45 am Beit Halevi (Sfardi) S, T, W, F
Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th
Ohr Hatorah T, W, F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah M, Th
6:50 am Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah M, Th Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County M-F
6:55 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah T, W, F
7:00 am Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S Silver Spring Jewish Center S
POTOMAC
BETHESDA
Magen David Sephardic Congregation [S] 11215 Woodglen Dr, North Bethesda, MD 20852
GAITHERSBURG
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County [Ari]
11520 Darnestown Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
OLNEY
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah (OSTT)
18320 Georgia Ave, Olney, MD 20832
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah T, W, F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac T,W,F
7:05 am Kesher Israel M, Th
7:15 am Kemp Mill Synagogue M, Th
Kesher Israel T, W, F
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue M-F
Ohr Hatorah S
7:30 am Chabad of DC M-F
Chabad of Potomac M-F
JROC M-F
Kemp Mill Synagogue T, W, F
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua M-F
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) M-F
7:45 am YGW (Yeshiva Session Only) S-F
8:00 am Beth Sholom Congregation S Kemp Mill Synagogue S Kesher Israel S
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY S
Southeast Hebrew Cong., Knesset Yehoshua S
8:00 am Chabad of Upper Montgomery County S
or additions email ads@baltimorejewishhome.com
Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah S YGW (High School; School-Contingent) S-F
Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac S Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sfardi) S
8:15 am Ohr Hatorah S Kehilat Pardes / Berman Hebrew Academy S-F Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
8:30 am Chabad of DC S Chabad of Potomac S JROC S Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue S Silver Spring Jewish Center S YGW (Summer Only) S-F
8:45 am Young Israel Shomrai Emunah S-F
9:00 am Chabad of Silver Spring S Kemp Mill Synagogue S
mincha/maariv Before Shkiah, S-TH
Beit Halevi (Sfardi)
Beth Sholom Congregation
Chabad of Potomac
Chabad of Silver Spring
Chabad of Upper Montgomery County JROC
Kemp Mill Synagogue
Kesher Israel
Magen David Sephardic Congregation
Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah/The National Synagogue Ohr Hatorah
Silver Spring Jewish Center
Southeast Hebrew Congregation, Knesset Yehoshua Woodside Synagogue/Ahavas Torah Young Israel Ezras Israel of Potomac Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Asheknaz) Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Sefarhadi) maariv
8:15 pm OSTT (OLNEY) S-Th SHC, Knesset Yehoshua M-Th
8:45 pm YGW
1:50 pm YGW Summer
2:15 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center M-F
2:20 pm YGW School Days
2:45 pm YGW S-Th
4:30 pm Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah OLNEY S-Th mincha
SILVER SPRING
Beit Halevi [Sefardic] 1009 North Belgrade
9:00 pm Silver Spring Jewish Center Fall/Winter
shacharis
REAL ESTATE IN ISRAEL
BALTIMORE
ALIYAH CONSULTING BY NEFESH B'NEFESH
Former Baltimorean Meir Raskas: Heroic Actions Avert Tragedy in Carmei Tzur Terrorist Attack
Meir Raskas of Nvei Daniel
On Friday night, the head of security at Carmei Tzur was stationed at the front checkpoint, known as the Shin-Gimel, when a car approached, driving towards him. He managed to get off two shots, but the driver sped off into the Yishuv. The guard pursued the terrorist in his own vehicle as the terrorist drove past an area near the front gate where many kids were gathered.
The head of security then rammed into the terrorist’s car, causing the vehicle to stop. He then shot the terrorist, and one of his shots hit the explo-
sive-laden car, which then exploded. It was only at that moment that the guard realized the car had been rigged. B’Chasdei Hashem, no one was seriously hurt, and it’s a major neis that no one in the Yishuv was killed.
At approximately the same time another explosives-laden vehicle plowed into a nearby gas station and exploded.
We were told after Shabbos that video shows that this same vehicle approached Nvei Daniel where we live. Upon seeing that the gate was closed for Shabbos, the terrorist turned around and fled the area.
Today, a gathering took place at the Gush Etzion junction for prayer, singing, and words of comfort from rabbis and political leaders. This occurred
Baltimore Celebrates a Hachnasas Sefer Torah
By: BJLife Newsroom
Close to 200 community members took part today in a beautiful Hachnasas Sefer Torah In memory of Moshe
Avraham ben Tzvi, z”l, and Chaya Sara bas Eliyahu, a”h, which took place today at PJC - Pikesville Jewish Congregation (Rabbi Daniel Lerner) on Carla Road, off Smith Ave.
right next to the gas station where the car exploded, likely on its way to a major terrorist attack that, B’Chasdei Hashem, was thankfully averted. Rabbi Rimon, Chief Rabbi of Gush Etzion, just recited the bracha of Gomeil (םשה םש ילב). This area is not only our neighborhood but also our main retail shopping center.
PREPARE TO MEET THE KING
Inspiring insights and stories to elevate your Elul and Yamim Noraim
From Rosh Chodesh Elul to Yom Kippur, we are given a precious opportunity to draw closer to Hashem, our Father, our King. In Steps to the Throne, Rabbi Nosson Muller, a renowned mechanech and public speaker, shares powerful insights and heartfelt stories that help us unlock the potential of these special days of Siyata D’Shmaya, Divine assistance. Discover the unparalleled opportunities for growth we are given as we embrace the chance to truly connect with the King!
both Hebrew and English editions in hardcover and paperback
Gain a new understanding of the Chumash with this full-color volume!
imelines show when events described in the Torah took place.
• Charts present concepts in ways that make them clearly understood. Illustrations bring information to life.
Maps offer an understanding of where events in the Torah occurred.
Special illustrated sections on the Mishkan and Kohanim’s garments and on the Korbanos clarify these difficult-to-understand topics.
An invaluable reference work for home, school, or shul. priced for use in schools and study groups!
The Jewish Community Night Softball League (JCNSL) by “Tripping Kosher” returns for 4th Season
JCNSL by Tripping Kosher kicked off their 4th annual season on Sunday evening, August 11th, with exciting games played at the Reisterstown Regional –by Web Interactive Solutions fields.
Prior to the opening week, the league’s 96 players were divided between eight teams via a draft system. The teams are named for their individual team sponsors: Clothier, Columbia Group, Fired Up Promotions, The Fireside Bakery, Miracle Massage, Naftali Gerstman – Allstate Insurance, Pricebusters, and Tov Pizza.
Following the draft, teams were provided with their high-end, button-down team jerseys, sponsored by BZ Cosmetics/JBZ Management. Teams also came prepared for opening day by reviewing the league’s highly detailed, Donny Ankri Architects League Rules and Regulations. (With almost each week of the season containing doubleheader games, there was plenty to review!)
Teams showed up to the beautifully manicured fields by 7:30 PM (thanks to the support of Eco Pro Restoration) and were provided with league equipment to include bases, balls, catcher’s masks, etc. sponsored by The Friendship Circle. Games have all been expertly officiated by a team of highly experienced umpires, sponsored by I Heart Remodeling.
All eight teams will compete for seven regular season games, with the top four teams facing off in the Lazar Real Estate postseason. The playoffs winners will then battle each other in the championship for the right to bring home the coveted MDSC trophy.
A special thank you to the JCNSL Media Sponsor, Baltimore Jewish Home!
Continue for some of the excitement from the first few weeks of the season.
Week 2-3
Naftali Gerstman - Allstate 21 Miracle Massage 10
Gerstman-Allstate entered the nightcap with an 0-2 record, having under-
achieved during the first two games. Their season was hanging in the balance and they faced Miracle Massage, who came in having dominated in their first two games. It took Allstate all of one inning to make a statement that this game was going to be different. Leading off the first, Shimon Katz smacked a single, as did Ephraim Dickstein. Eli Dollman, Moe Krohn, and Avi Stein singled in the inning as well. With Allstate running the bases with reckless abandon, the five first inning singles were turned into four runs.
Allstate was held to 1-2-3 in their half of the second inning. In the bottom of the second, Miracle Massage’s speedster Zack Lerner unfortunately pulled his hamstring hustling to first on a ground ball. As a result, the team was forced to play the rest of the game with only three outfielders.
In Allstate’s third inning, a double by Dickstein was followed by an RBI single by Avraham “Frosty” Frost. Dollman singled as well and the score was 6-0 Allstate. Justin Joffe led off Allstate’s fourth with a solid double. Reuvain Borchardt then crushed the first pitch he saw over the left fielder’s head for an RBI triple. Borchardt scored on a single by Donny Basch for Allstate’s eighth run.
In the fifth inning, after Frosty doubled, Dollman sent a shot to deep left center. It went way over everyone’s head, and Dollman sped home, with a two-run bomb that gave Allstate a 10-2 lead. Coach Akiva Katz boomed a double to left but was left stranded there.
However, Miracle Massage was not going to go away easily. In the bottom of the fifth, they scored the maximum six runs, including a HR by Mordechai Scheirmeyer. But Allstate ace Naftali Gerstman settled down, with two more solid innings of pitching. And in the final two innings, his team busted it wide open. Borchardt led off the sixth with a hard single inside third. Hits and runs kept pouring in, and it was the same story for the 7th inning. The final score was a resounding 21-10 victory that left Allstate with a 1-2 record and put them right back in the playoff hunt.
Miracle Massage 11
The Fireside Bakery 6
The Massagers started the game at a significant disadvantage, with captain Aron Meister and team owner/ catcher Yitzchak Sheen stuck on the highway, changing a flat tire at the time of the first pitch. But the Miracle boys rallied (playing with only 8 play-
ers for the first two innings) to keep the game close. Once Meister and Sheen arrived, it was a different game and Miracle continued their dominance over the league. Of special note was Mordechai Schiermeyer’s stellar defense, which helped contribute to the 11-6 win.
Tov Pizza 13
Clothier 7
Following a less than impressive Week 1 outing and without team captain/All-Star Shua “The Stache” Novograd, Tov Pizza entered Week 2 with plenty to prove. But just like the pizza joint has been consistently serving our community since 1984, the Tov Pizza team came ready to play in week 2. Led by clutch hitting from Ezra Bregin, Gavriel Boroosan, and Dovid Eli “Deli” Traub, along with some breathtaking defense in RF by Yaakov “Altuve” Furman, Tov took home the respectable 13-7 win.
Pricebusters 12
Fired Up
0
With more Strauss brothers and nephews ever seen in one location before, Pricebusters played dominantly from the first pitch until the end of the 5th, in which the game was called on account of the mercy rule.
The Fireside Bakery 10
Tov Pizza 0
The Fireside Bakery secured their first win of the season in dominant fashion, defeating their opponents 10-0. The victory was built on a solid all-around defensive effort led by David Pensak, Yehuda Elman, and Yoni Levin, who were exceptional in the field. Jacob Benzaquen delivered a brilliant complete shutout, keeping the opposing team scoreless throughout the game. Timely hitting was key, with Baruch Glazer, Elman, and Brian Ponczak each contributing crucial hits. Glazer was particularly clutch in every at-bat, while Ponczak delivered the game-winning hit. Levin made an exceptional sliding catch in foul territory, further solidifying the team’s defensive prowess. Pensak was seemingly everywhere on the field, making key plays that kept the momentum in The Fireside Bakery’s favor.
It is with tremendous excitement and gratitude to Hashem that we welcome the Chavrei HaKollel to our Kehillah and community!
Rabbi Aryeh Hartman ROSH KOLLEL
Rabbi Moshe Kirwan 2ND SEDER ROSH CHABURAH
Rabbi Eliezer Epstein
Rabbi Aharon Hyman
the Old Shul Open to All 7:00
Rabbi Mordechai Jacob
Rabbi Sholom Dov Klein
Rabbi Reuven Medizadeh
Rabbi Moshe Rozwaski
Rabbi Binyomin Wininger
right Rosh Kollel, and the process of searching for a Rosh Kollel has taken a while. B”H the breakthrough came this past winter, when the Rebbe Shlit”a met with Harav Tzvi Kaplan Shlit”a in Eretz Yisroel. As it turns
hundreds of people that learn here daily, the Avreichim of this Kollel bring with them an atmosphere of purity and elevated Avodas Hashem which we believe will cause a qualitative transformation. A group immersed in learning full time raises the Madreiga of all
river when they were entering Eretz Yisroel. Metaphorically, this concept applies to the support of Bnei Torah as well. The Avreichim who are learning full time are like the Aron, and those who provide financial support are like those carrying the Aron. Supporting a Kollel not only will not be a drain on the community, but in fact will be the very source of tremendous Bracha and
BJH: Wow. This sounds incredi-
SE: The Rebbe Shlit”a has stated clearly that he hopes and envisions that this Kollel is just the beginning for Baltimore, and that over time it will become the standard that every Kehillah has an integrated Kollel, as has become the case with Night Seder. B”H there are already several Kollelim opening this Zman or will be opening in the near future, and it is our fervent hope and wish that the significant increase in Bnei Torah and Limud Torah in Baltimore will make Hashem
Rabbi Shaul Edelman, Executive Director of Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
The Week In News
pend 30 of 350 arms licenses did not amount to a blanket ban or an arms embargo; it only involved items with concerns over their use during the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
UK
Suspends Some Arms Licenses with Israel
On Monday, Britain said it would suspend dozens of arms export licenses with Israel because there is a risk the equipment might be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law. The suspension was effective immediately.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the decision to sus-
“It is with regret that I inform the House [of Commons, the lower house of parliament] today the assessment I have received leaves me unable to conclude anything other than that for certain UK arms exports to Israel, there does exist a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law,” Lammy said.
“The UK continues to support Israel’s right to self-defense in accordance with international law,” he added.
Soon after the Labour Party won an election in July, Lammy said he would update a review on arms sales to Israel to ensure these complied with international law.
Unlike the United States, Britain’s government does not give arms directly to Israel, but rather issues licenses for companies to sell weapons, with input from lawyers on whether they comply with international law.
Noam Feld (Baltimore) & Shiffy Goldstein (Cleveland)
Shmuli Schafler (Long Beach, NY) & Tehila Goldberger (Baltimore, MD)
Shlomo Serkez (Monsey) & Shoshana Lieder (Baltimore)
Yaakov Eisenmann (Hollywood) & Yaffa Caplan (Baltimore)
Daniel Gross (Lakewood) & Tova Cohen (Baltimore)
Responding to the announcement, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Israel was “disappointed” with recent decisions made by the UK government relating to the war in Gaza.
“Israel is a state of law that operates in accordance with international law and has an independent and respected judicial system,” Katz said. “We expect ally nations like Britain to recognize that every day, and especially mere days after the execution of six Israeli hostages by Hamas terrorists.”
He said that “a step like the one taken now by Britain sends a problematic message to the Hamas terrorist organization and its handlers in Iran,” but that he hoped the relationship between Israel and the UK could remain strong in the future.
Defense Minister Gallant said in a statement that he was “deeply disheartened to learn of the sanctions placed by the UK” and that he stands by the IDF and Israel’s security agencies.
British exports amount to less than one percent of the total arms Israel receives.
The export licenses pertain to com-
ponents for Israel’s aerial systems, including fighter jets, helicopters, and drones. It does not pertain to the F-35 program, which is a multinational project that pools parts before disbursing them to participating countries, including Israel.
British officials have not said that Israel is violating humanitarian law, but believe there is a serious risk, according to a two-month assessment. The suspension could be lifted in the future if the UK assesses that the risk of violations has diminished.
Britain’s center-left Labour government has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and for the speeding up of aid deliveries into Gaza since taking power on July 5.
War Takes Toll on Vegetation
From the tragic day of October 7 to the end of July, approximately 146 square kilometers of vegetation near the Israel-Lebanon border and eight square kilometers of vegetation near
Berel Katz (Baltimore) & Tzipora Dworkin (Cleveland)
Benny Cohen (Chicago) & Yehudis Jukowitz (Baltimore)
Boaz Dovid Edinger (Baltimore) & Sara Rubovits (Milwaukee)
Brian Spern & Chana Friedman (Both Baltimore)
Want to see your simcha here? Email mazeltov@baltimorejewishhome.com or text 443-675-6507 to submit your simcha!
The Week In News
the Israel-Gaza border have been burnt, largely due to fires started by rockets sent by Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations, according to a report released last Thursday by the Environmental Protection Ministry.
All bushfires in Israel are manmade, as there are no summer storms in the Jewish state to naturally spark them. Since October 7, Gazan terror groups have fired 13,000 rockets at Israel, while Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, has fired around 8,000 projectiles. That number doesn’t include Lebanon’s drones and anti-tank guided missiles, as well as projectiles launched from Yemen and Iraq.
In all, the environmental ministry believes that 145,000 tons of dry vegetation have gone ablaze from October 7 to the end of July. The fires have also reportedly taken a toll on the environment, making up 44% of carbon monoxide emissions during the time, as well as 13% of fine particulate matter (2.5 microns or less), 12% of particulate matter (10 microns or less), seven percent of non-methane volatile organic compounds, and one percent of ammonia and nitrogen and sulfur oxide emissions. Because of the ongoing war in Gaza, nine out of forty big companies based near the northern and southern borders have gotten away with not reporting their emissions, although the law requires them to do so.
However, Israel made some environmental improvements in 2023 compared to 2022. According to the ministry, in 2023, the emissions’ indirect costs, which were mostly accrued from transportation, electricity gener-
ation, and industry, would be around NIS 38 billion ($10.3 billion), which was NIS 1.3 billion ($353.5 million) lower than in 2022.
29K New Olim
Since October 7, more than 29,000 new immigrants have arrived in the Holy Land from various countries, according to new data released by the Immigration and Absorption Ministry last week.
Immigration and Absorption Minister Ofir Sofer (Religious Zionists) said the “growing desire to make aliyah right now may lead to tens of thousands of olim in the coming years.” Thousands of the olim who arrived during the war came during the summer months.
According to the Jewish Agency‘s Global Aliyah Center, more than 30,000 people have opened aliyah files with the Immigration and Absorption Ministry and agency since October 7.
Data shows that there has been an increase in aliyah inquiries from people in Western countries over the same period last year. For example, France registered a 355% increase over the same period last year with more than 5,500 aliyah files opened. More than 6,000 files were opened in the U.S., a 62% increase. Canada recorded an 87% spike with more than 800 files opened. The UK showed an increase of 63%.
“Many Jews decided to make aliyah during a trying war, to strengthen the State of Israel, express solidarity, and take part in the Zionist story,” Sofer said. “I congratulate the new olim who arrived, thank them for the important decision they made, and call on Jews from all over the world: join and immigrate right now.”
He explained that throughout the past year, the Aliyah and Absorption Ministry announced various special programs and benefits for olim, “such
The Week In News
as reduced purchase tax for the purchase of an apartment, extensive rent assistance in the Negev and Galilee, dedicated programs in academia, significant grants for doctors making aliyah, and an immigrant support system.”
Jewish Agency Chairman Doron Almog said, “These fill the heart and strengthen us in these difficult days. The presence of the olim alongside the State of Israel symbolizes hope.”
World Zionist Organization chairman Yaakov Hagoel sees aliyah as the “fulfillment of the vision of generations before.”
He said, “Even after the October 7 massacre and the continued war for our security, we are witnessing an exciting influx of about 25,000 new immigrants to our country. This is a strong message of determination, faith, and deep love for the Land of Israel. This wave, along with the opening of many other immigration cases, shows the world that the Jewish people are determined to continue building their future here, in the land of their
ancestors. We will continue to absorb, build, and strengthen together, even in the most difficult times.”
Six Hostage Bodies Recovered
The bodies of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Ori Danino, 25, Alex Lobanov, 32, Carmel Gat, 40, and Almog Sarusi, 27, were recovered from the southern Gazan city of Rafah by the IDF on Saturday, according to the military. Aside from Gat, who was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri, all the other recovered
abductees were taken hostage at the Supernova music festival.
As per autopsy reports, all six of the hostages suffered from several gunshot wounds and were likely murdered by Hamas last Thursday or Friday morning, around forty-eight to seventy-two hours before the autopsies were conducted.
The six hostages were “brutally murdered” by the terror group, according to IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, just one or two days before their bodies were recovered by the military.
“According to an initial assessment… they were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists a short while before we reached them. They were abducted alive on the morning of October 7 by the Hamas terror group,” Hagari stated. “Their bodies were found during the fighting in Rafah, in a tunnel, about a kilometer away from the tunnel from which we rescued Farhan al-Qadi a few days ago.
“Since Farhan was found, troops were given an emphasis on operating
carefully even more than usual, because of the understanding that additional hostages may be in the area. We did not have information on the exact location of the hostages,” Hagari added.
The hostages were found in the afternoon around twenty meters underground in a tunnel complex. Overnight, they were brought to Israel to be identified.
After hearing news of the six hostages’ deaths, President Joe Biden said he was “devastated and outraged.” He added that he was especially saddened by the death of Hersh, an Israeli-U.S. citizen, whose mother, Rachel Goldberg, campaigned endlessly for her son’s release, making connections with world leaders, taking part in interviews, and speaking frequently.
“It is as tragic as it is reprehensible. Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages,” Biden said. “I have worked tirelessly to bring their beloved Hersh
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safely to them and am heartbroken by the news of his death.”
Kamala Harris, the U.S. vice president and Democratic presidential nominee, also condemned Hamas and expressed her condolences to the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
“The Goldberg-Polin family is devastated to announce the death of their beloved son and brother, Hersh,” Hersh’s family said in a statement after Hersh’s death was announced. “The family thanks you all for your love and support and asks for privacy at this time.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said that the “heart of an entire nation is crushed into pieces,” following news of the six hostages’ deaths.
“In the name of the entire State of Israel, I hold their families in my heart and ask forgiveness. Forgiveness for not being able to return your loved ones home safely,” Herzog said.
Herzog’s words were echoed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also apologized for not bringing the six hostages home alive in time.
Amid news of this unspeakable tragedy, some have condemned Netanyahu for allegedly sabotaging hostage release and ceasefire deals by insisting on maintaining a military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor.
There are currently 97 hostages remaining in Gaza, thirty-seven of whom have died or were killed in Hamas captivity, according to the IDF.
Three Officers Killed
On Sunday morning, three Israeli police officers were shot dead by a Palestinian terrorist on Route 35 in the West Bank, near the southern Idhna-Tarqumiyah junction and a checkpoint between Israeli and Palestinian territory. The fallen officers were identified as Ch. Insp. Arik Ben Eliyahu, Command Sgt. Maj. Hadas Branch, and First Sgt. Roni Shakuri.
Officials declared Ben Eliyahu and
Branch deceased at the scene of the attack. Shakuri passed away while on the way to the medical facility.
The terrorist, who was named as 31-year-old Muhannad al-Aswad from Hebron, is said to have shot at the police car while in another vehicle, after which he ran away on foot. It is currently unclear if he acted alone. Later, the terrorist was killed in a building in Hebron after exchanging fire with troops from the Duvdevan Commando Unit, who found him thanks to intelligence from the Shin Bet and Military Intelligence Directorate. Al-Aswad, an ex-guard for the Palestinian Authority’s president with connections to the PA’s Fatah movement, was killed after the building he was in was hit by a series of shoulder-launched missiles; he was found dead with an M-16 assault rifle on his body.
Ben Eliyahu, 37, was a husband and a father of three from Kiryat Gat. Branch, 53, was a wife and mother of three with one granddaughter. Shakuri, 61, was a husband, father, and grandfather. According to Danny Levy, the police commissioner of Israel, all three worked in the West Bank district.
Shakuri’s daughter, police officer Mor Shakuri, was tragically killed on October 7 while fighting Hamas terrorists who were attempting to take control of the Sderot police station.
Since the horrific day of October 7, when Hamas killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 others, 29 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank.
The Zero Price Effect
According to a Tel Aviv University study published in July, homeowners who advertise their houses on free platforms tend to lose more money in the sale than those who sell their homes with paid services.
As part of the research, Prof. Danny Ben-Shahar and Dr. David Ash, the
director and research associate of Alrov Institute for Real Estate Research at Tel Aviv University’s Coller School of Management, respectively, analyzed more than 15,000 real estate listings published on classified ad website Yad2 from 2014 to 2016, when the service used to be free.
The study compared houses sold using free advertising platforms and those sold with paid services. Homes advertised on paid real estate websites ended up selling for, on average, 3.5% to 3.8% (or, on average, $12,000 to $13,000) more than houses listed on free websites. Additionally, houses listed on paid websites sold 10% to 15% faster and received 130% more clicks.
This research highlights the “zero price effect,” an irrational psychological phenomenon wherein people prefer paying nothing, even in cases where some spending could save more money in the long run.
“Zero is a special number. People feel and think that a service or product that they get for free has better qualities, even if you give them the same product or the same service for a difference of one cent,” Ash explained. “The ‘free’ is the problem. When someone sees free, it’s hard. If you see a free service, you think it’s better, even though the premium service that costs money is much better.”
“The tendency is to be attracted to a zero price; one needs to be very cautious,” Ben-Shahar added. “Generally, we do a cost-benefit analysis, but when things come to a zero price, we don’t do this analysis in the same way.”
Despite the fact that something may be free, “there is a cost,” maintains Ben-Shahar.
U.S. Charges Hamas Leaders
The U.S. Department of Justice is charging six leaders of the Hamas terror group with seven charges over the October 7 massacre. This is the first
criminal step by the Justice Department to hold people accountable for the heinous attack in Israel.
The six defendants – Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammad Al-Masri, Marwan Issa, Khaled Meshaal and Ali Baraka – are facing several charges, including terrorism charges, conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction resulting in death.
The complaint, which spans across several decades of alleged terrorist acts from Hamas, focuses in part on the October 7 attack against Israel.
“On October 7, 2023, Hamas committed its most violent, large-scale terrorist attack to date,” the complaint says, detailing how “in the early morning hours … Hamas sent more than 2,000 armed fighters into farms and towns in southern Israel, where they carried out the massacres of over a thousand people and the kidnappings of more than 200 others.”
It added, “As of the date of this Complaint, at least 43 American citizens were among those murdered, and at least ten American citizens were taken hostage or remain unaccounted for.”
The charges were originally filed on February 1, 2024, but kept under seal in case the Justice Department had the opportunity to arrest any of the defendants, a Justice Department official said on Tuesday, when the indictment was released.
“Following Haniyah’s death and recent developments in the region, it was no longer necessary to keep those charges under seal,” the official said.
Three of those charged are dead.
Sinwar was named leader following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. Sinwar is widely believed to have planned or been the mastermind behind the October 7 Hamas massacre on Israel. He was sentenced to four life sentences by Israel in 1989 for the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians he believed were collaborators. He served 22 years of that sentence but was released in 2011 in the Gilad Shalit deal.
Mohammad al-Masri is better known as Mohammed Deif and is the head of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, which is the military wing of Hamas. Israel says that they killed him in an airstrike on July 13; Hamas
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denies those claims.
The announcement comes on the heels of the confirmed death of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin in Gaza, which prompted President Joe Biden and other top U.S. officials to vow that Hamas leaders would be held accountable.
Biden said over the weekend that Goldberg-Polin’s death was “as tragic as it is reprehensible.”
“Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes,” Biden said.
In a recorded statement, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that the Justice Department is investigating Hersh’s murder.
“We are investigating Hersh’s murder, and each and every one of the brutal murders of Americans, as acts of terrorism. We will continue to support the whole of government effort to bring the Americans still being held hostage home,” Garland said.
Hersh was killed by Hamas terrorists mere days before Israeli troops found his body – along with the bodies of five other hostages – in a tunnel dug by Hamas.
Nearly 1,200 people were killed on October 7, including over 40 Americans. Hundreds of civilians were kidnapped.
Chestnut is a Champion–Again
Joey Chestnut is still the king of the hot dog. On Monday, he demolished his record by beating longtime rival Takeru Kobayashi in a showdown billed as “unfinished beef” between the two biggest global stars in professional competitive eating.
Chestnut devoured 83 all-beef
hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Kobayashi managed to consume 66 hot dogs and buns in the Netflix Labor Day event at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas.
Eighty-three franks is a huge accomplishment. In fact, three years ago, Chestnut downed a then-world record 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
“It’s amazing. I’ve been trying to hit 80 hot dogs for years, and without Kobayashi I was never able to do it. He drives me,” the 16-time Nathan’s Hot Dog champion said after the event.
“We were not always nice to each other,” he admitted. “We’ve pushed each other to be our best.”
This was the first time the two nemeses have faced off in 15 years.
“I feel like I did everything I could,” Kobayashi from Japan said via his interpreter.
With the victory, Chestnut earned $100,000 in prize money, a hot-dog shaped trophy, and a World Wrestling Entertainment-designed championship title belt.
Hot dog!
It’s
Pajama Time
Ever have a nightmare that you show up to work in pajamas? 2,052 employees at an Ikea store in Sweden lived that dream last week when they showed up to the world’s largest pajama party.
The record took place at the store in Almhult, where hundreds of people showed up in two-piece matching blue and yellow pajamas. The PJs featured veggie balls with lingonberry jam and gravy motifs — a tribute to Ikea’s iconic Swedish meatball.
Company officials said the record attempt was part of Ikea’s initiative to create bedroom décor designed to improve sleep.
“We’re thrilled about this collective effort, coming together to highlight the importance of sleep,” Fredrika Inger, managing director of Ikea of Sweden,
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said in a news release. “Good sleep benefits everyone, and we believe that by prioritizing it, we can genuinely make a big difference. Small adjustments, like choosing the right pillow or lighting, can lead to big improvements. Our goal is to make these improvements accessible to everyone because good sleep should be something everyone can achieve.”
You know what they say: if you snooze, you lose.
Delivering to the Great Wall of China
Hiking the Great Wall of China? If you get hungry, don’t worry. There is
food available for delivery – from the air.
Chinese food delivery giant Meituan says its new drone service will bring food, drinks and other goods such as medical supplies to customers at a farflung section of the ancient monument on the outskirts of Beijing.
The Great Wall drone route extends from a nearby hotel rooftop to a watchtower on the southern extension of Badaling, the most popular section of the massive fortifications snaking across northern China.
Opened last year, the extension, which has preserved the ruined state of the ramparts on the wall, typically experiences sweltering summer temperatures and has no commercial facilities.
“Through drones, we can make trips that take 50 minutes on foot in five minutes and deliver heat relief items and emergency supplies to visitors,” Yan Yan, public affairs director of Meituan’s drone business, said.
Getting food flown in won’t break the bank, with a service fee of around 56 cents. The service will take orders
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., after which the drones will be tasked with carrying trash to recycling stations.
The drones deliver the food to a watchtower, where a worker receives it and gives over the package to customers.
Speedy delivery.
Hotel Workers Strike
Hotel union workers went on strike at hotels across nine U.S. cities early Sunday morning. More than 10,000
workers walked off the job at 25 hotels over the Labor Day weekend. At least 840 of them returned to work on Tuesday, as planned. In Baltimore, 200 workers in the Unite Here union at the Hilton Inner Harbor went on strike on Tuesday morning.
“I walked out today because we just cannot keep working paycheck to paycheck, not able to pay our bills,” Jerome Roberts, a dishwasher at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, said. “Going on strike is hard, but not nearly as hard as trying to get by on what we are getting paid. We told the bosses in our negotiations how much we are struggling right now but they didn’t care. We are on strike to make them pay.”
Workers want higher pay, better conditions and more staff to help. The union is asking for a restoration of many of the pandemic-era cuts that hotels made, including daily room cleaning. The union says the travel and hotel industries have recovered from the pandemic, but worker salaries have not reflected the comeback. Hotels are still open, although they
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are dealing with less staff and may not be able to provide full services to guests.
“We’re on strike because the hotel industry has gotten off track,” Gwen Mills, International President of Unite Here, said in a statement on Sunday morning. “During Covid, everyone suffered, but now the hotel industry is making record profits while workers and guests are left behind. Too many hotels still haven’t restored standard services that guests deserve. Workers aren’t making enough to support their families. Many can no longer afford to live in the cities that they welcome guests to.”
The hotel chains facing striking workers include Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott. The hotels have 23,776 rooms between them in the cities of Baltimore, Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, as well as Honolulu and Kauai in Hawaii, and Greenwich, Connecticut, according to the union.
Unless their voices are heard, the union is threatening to expand the
same union went on strike during the Fourth of July holiday weekend at 65 hotels in Los Angeles and Orange counties in Southern California. They returned to work a few days later but staged a series of rolling strikes in the months that followed, sometimes tied to major tourist periods.
These strikes are set to end after three days.
No More Rush Hour?
Hate your commute? It seems that a lot of workers are shunning traditional 9-to-5 work hours and avoiding the rush hour commute by working 10-
through a 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard released in June by INRIX Inc., a traffic-data analysis firm.
“There is less of a morning commute, less of an evening commute and much more afternoon activity,” said Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst and author of the report. “This is more of the new normal.”
Now, there is a “midday rush hour,” the INRIX report found, with almost as many trips to and from the office being made at noon as there are at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Additionally, commuters are avoiding public transportation. Ridership decreased during the pandemic, and many workers are finding other ways to get to work, resulting in a surge in traffic congestion throughout the peak midday and evening hours.
“Pre-Covid, the morning rush hour would be a peak and then the evening peak would be much larger,” Pishue said. “Now, there is no valley.”
“Employees have become accustomed to the flexibility of working from home and may only come to the office when absolutely necessary,” noted David Satterwhite, CEO of Chronus,
a software firm focused on improving employee engagement. “That means they may jump out early to catch a train home, come in late or pop in for one meeting and then leave,” Satterwhite added.
Also known as “coffee badging,” the habit of only going to work for a few hours a day has become widely accepted, or at least tolerated. More than half — 58% — of hybrid employees admitted to checking in at the office and then promptly checking out, according to a separate 2023 survey by Owl Labs, a company that makes videoconferencing devices.
These days, employees are more likely to consider work/life balance, flexible hours and mental health support over career progression, other reports also show And fewer want to spend any more time at the office than they already do.
If the ability to work from home was taken away, 66% of workers would immediately start looking for a job that offered more flexibility, Owl Labs found — and a bulk of those employees, roughly 39%, would promptly quit.
PARSHA
OVERVIEW
The appointment of judges and police. Prohibited structures, and punishment for idol worship. Authority of the High Court, the Bais Din. The appointment of the king. The rights of the priests and levites. Prohibition against fortune telling. True and false prophecy. Cities of refuge. Laws relating to witnesses and prep for war. The egla arufa.
orah TSparks
Inspiration Everywhere
When G-d is at the center of our lives, we open ourselves up to the glory of creation and the beauty of other people.
-Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt"l
Rabbi Ori Strum is the author of Ready. Set. Grow. (Mosaica Press). His shiurim and other Jewish content can be found on Torah Anytime and Meaningful Minute. He also likes your feedback: rabbistrumo@gmail.com
QUICK VORT
Parshas Shoftim discusses the cities of refuge When a person makes a mistake and kills someone unintentionally, the Torah provides him with a place of safety.
It's interesting and not by chance that this Parshah is always read during this time of year, as we approach the High Holidays. We understand that we've made mistakes and were imperfect We understand we could have and should have spoken less gossip, wasted less time, and not have gone to that place
But just as the city of refuge provides a place of safety for the "sinner," so to us, during Elulwhen Hashem is in the fields - He wants us to come to Him, to approach Him.
When we are in a relationship with Hashem, it is like that city of refuge, which allows for protection and safety.
In Likkutei Sichos, the Lubavitcher Rebbe explains why Rabbi Akiva rejected the notion that a person may exempt himself from the army since he is afraid of his sins."
The fact that he is afraid, shows he has regret, which shows he began Teshuva
As such, he has nothing to worry about and should go to battle!
Think about why the Torah speaks in a very personal way when telling us to establish judges and police, as it says:
The word ךל means “for you.”
Why is there a stress on “for you” when it comes to the establishment of authority?
Something to think about...
Have a holy Shabbos!
Torah Thought
Is Everybody Happy?
By Rabbi Zvi Teichman
םירטושו םיטפוש — Judges and of� ficers shall you appoint,ךירעש לכב in all your cities which G d, your Lord, gives, ךל you, ךיטבשל for your tribes; תא וטפשו and they shall judge the people with righteous judg as a call for each one of us to honestly ‘judge’ ourselves personally as well, as indicated in the words ךל ןתת, gives you, which is written in the singular. The word for cities, ךירעש more lit- , erally translates as ‘gateways’, which
prepare ourselves for the Day of Judgment, Rosh HaShana.
The ultimate goal, however, is not merely to be acquitted on Rosh HaShana, but to attain an improved and joyous relationship with our Father in Heaven, that we hope to celebrate in exquisite joy at the culmination of the Tishrei experience, during ונתחמש ןמז, the time of our rejoicing, on the festival of Sukkos.
The saintly Bnei Yissaschar observes that the total hours during the course of Elul — 696 [29 days multiplied by its daily 24 hours], is equivalent to twice 'חמש', happy, (348 x 2), representing the double happiness of G-d’s delight in us and our joy in return.
There is a more practical connection, however, between these two subjects beyond the perfection of character that brings one to rejoice in G-d.
The great 15th century scholar and kabbalist, Rabbi Avraham Saba, a victim of the expulsion from Spain in 1492, writes in his remarkable work, Tzror HaMor — a book he wrote from memory as he had lost all his possessions together with much of his family — suggests that the juxtaposition of these two portions alludes to the fact that the םירטוש, the enforcing officers of the Judges mentioned in our verse, would ‘police’ the masses of people who came to celebrate the festivals. Out of fear the people might mingle inappropriately in the levity of the
Torah Thought
cops’ or ‘modesty police’ who instilled fear among the celebrants and threatened those who breached the boundaries of propriety with consequences? Or perhaps they were personages whose extraordinary character and stature would inspire piety naturally?
Who qualified to be a רטוש a Jew- , ish policeman? To which tribe did they belong?
The Talmud ):ופ תומבי(, citing a verse in Divrei Hayomim, reveals that initially these ‘policemen’ were selected exclusively from the tribe of Levi. Although the Talmud doesn’t delve into the reason for their greater qualification, we can imagine that it goes back to their long history starting from that first act of law enforcement that Levi undertook together with his brother Shimon to avenge the plunder of their sister Dinah at the hands of Shechem, where they decimated the entire male populace of his city. This profession found expression once again when the tribe of Levi courageously responded to the battle cry of
Moshe rallying to intercede against those who worshipped the Golden Calf in punishing the sinners and quashing the rebellion.
Was it just their loyalty and zealousness in upholding the law that qualified them for this task, or might there be something more profound laying beneath the surface?
In stark contrast to their roles in law enforcement these members of the tribe of Levi were renowned for their exclusive function and ability to sing exquisitely and joyously in the Holy Temple during the services. The imagery of ‘toughened’ officers singing the sweet and soulful heavenly notes that elated the hearts of all who listened, seems incongruous at the very least.
Rabbi Yaakov Skili, the famed disciple of the Rashba, in his masterful collection of lectures entitled Minchas Yehuda, reveals the reason why the tribe of Levi were deserving of being blessed with the talent to arouse joy through song.)ונ השרד(
The children of Levi merited to delight and enjoy in their lifetime this special pleasure (of enchanting heav enly music) as a measure for measure reward, since they who protested in mourning and worry in order to ful fill the command of their Creator, as it says, “and all the Levites gathered around him... let every man kill his brother, every man his fellow... the one who said of his mother and father, ‘I have not favored him’...”, G d said, “by your life, that I will give you eter nal happiness in your lives to counter your having not considered your per sonal trouble and broken hearts...
Perhaps this was not merely a payback of ‘joy’ to replace the agony they endured slaying their very own family and friends, but rather a profound lesson in the formula for joy in life.
One who judges one’s every action in assessing its worthiness and lives a life of disciplined and purposeful reaction, never submitting to instinctive reflexes and emotions, is assured a life of happiness. When we follow the impulses of the crowds, or our own imagined expectations of pleasures that await us if only we obtained ‘that’ article of our dreams, we discover we are chasing illusory bliss. But if we stick to our beliefs not permitting ourselves to simply indulge, restraining that impulse by considering its objective value to our lives, we will find ourselves living lives of serenity and happy calm.
The Levites were mindful of their objectives, thoughtfully judging their every action and implementing extraordinary discipline and restraint, never allowing themselves to be ruled by convention or the path of least resistance.
The first request echoes a verse in Yeshayah that tells of G-d’s promise, ךיטפש הבישאו and I will restore your judges as at the first, and thy counsel ors as at the beginning. )וכ א היעשי(
The Talmud in fact states that this promise in the time of redemption will only be fulfilled at such time when the, םיער םירטושו םיטפוש — the corrupt judges and officers, will be removed and replaced by worthy ones.
).טלק תבש(
This second appeal to remove ‘sorrow and grown, reflects a later verse in Yeshayah — the only place these two nouns appear together — where the prophet foresees a time when the ran somed of the Lord, shall return, and come with singing unto Zion, and ev erlasting joy shall be upon their heads; החמשו ןושש gladness and joy,וגישי they shall obtain,וסנו and shall flee away,החנאו ןוגי — sorrow and groan� ing.)י הל םש(
The antidote to sorrow is joy. The prescription for joy is to live a thoughtful and disciplined life.
The Levites were equipped to sing joyously precisely because they lived happy lives. They developed this talent when they withheld their instincts, submitting their will totally to the will of G-d, agonizing over their role but remaining loyal to the truths they understood so judiciously.
We each long for ‘happiness’ in life, it is the elusive goal we all so pine for. Have you ever wondered that if this is a worthy goal then why we don’t seem to pray for it anywhere in the entire Shemoneh Esrei?
In fact we do. In the 11th blessing, וניטפוש
we pray for the resto- , ration of justice, pleading, Restore our judges as in earliest times and our counselors as at first; remove
, sorrow and groan...
Whether it is the formal judges and officers who inspire us to a life of happiness, or our internal judges and officers, as the Shelah taught, who patrol our every urge and instinct, calling to us to be contemplative and wise in how we distill them, and in the spirit of the Levites, to exhibit supernal self-control in all facets of life, only with that will guarantee us a life of genuine happiness and fulfillment.
Let the month of Elul begin, days infused with joy, by rallying to the battle cry, ילא 'דל ימ — whoever is for G d, join me, discovering in that merit the secret key to unlocking the storehouses of happiness that await all those who respond in kind.
You
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Shacharis
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
Pikesville Jewish Congregation M, TH
Shomrei Emunah Congregation S, M, TH
6:25 AM The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel T, W, F
6:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring T, W, F
Chabad of Park Heights M-F
Darchei Tzedek M-F
Kehilath B'nai Torah T, W, F
Khal Bais Nosson M-F
Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek M-F
Kol Torah T, W, F
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah M-F
Ohr Yisroel M-F
Pikesville Jewish Congregation T, W, F
Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F
Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F
6:35 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) M, TH
Ohel Moshe M, TH
6:40 AM Aish Kodesh (downstairs Minyan) T, W, F
Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M, TH
6:45 AM B”H and Mesivta of Baltimore (Dirshu Minyan) S-F
Beth Abraham M, TH Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue M-F
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F
Ner Tamid M-F
Ohel Moshe T, W, F
Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim M-F
6:50 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH
Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] M, TH
Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh M, TH
Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation T, W, F
Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh M, TH
Derech Chaim M-F
Kol Torah M-F
Ohel Moshe S
Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH
Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH
The Shul at the Lubavitch Center M, TH
6:55 AM Beth Abraham T, W, F
Kol Torah M, TH
7:00 AM Aish Kodesh (upstairs Minyan) M-F
Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F
Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] T, W, F
Arugas HaBosem (Rabbi Taub's) S
Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh T, W, F
Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh T, W, F Greenspring Sephardic Synagogue S
Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek S Kol Torah T, W, F
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F
Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah M-F
Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S, T, W, F
Shearith Israel Congregation S, M, TH
Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F
Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh M-F
The Shul at the Lubavitch Center T, W, F
Tiferes Yisroel M-F
7:05 AM Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) M, TH
7:15 AM Kedushas Yisrael S Kol Torah S
Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S, T, W, F Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F
Baltimore Weekday Minyanim Guide
Ner Israel Rabbinical College S-F
Shearith Israel Congregation T, W, F
Shomrei Emunah Congregation S
Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S
The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel S
Tzeirei Anash M-F
7:20 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore M, TH
Beth Tfiloh Congregation M-F
Kol Torah M-F
Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] M, TH
Shomrei Emunah Congregation M, TH
7:30 AM Agudah of Greenspring S
Agudath Israel of Baltimore S, T, W, F
Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi] S
Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F
Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore S-F
Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh S
Beit Yaakov [Sefaradi] S
Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S
Chabad of Park Heights S
Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh S-F
Darchei Tzedek S
Kedushas Yisrael S-F
Khal Bais Nosson S
Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina) S-F
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F
Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S, T, W, F
Shomrei Emunah Congregation T, W, F
7:45 AM Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation M-F
Talmudical Academy S-F
Darchei Tzedek M-F
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F
Mesivta Kesser Torah S-F
Mesivta Shaarei Chaim S-F
7:50 AM Derech Chaim S
Ner Tamid S
Ohel Moshe M-F
8:00 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F
Beth Abraham S
Chabad Israeli Center M-F
Darchei Tzedek S
Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek S
Kehillas Meor HaTorah S
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F
Ohr Yisroel S
Pikesville Jewish Congregation S
Shearith Israel Congregation S
Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F
The Shul at the Lubavitch Center S
Tiferes Yisroel S
Tzeirei Anash S
Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah S-F
8:15 AM Kehilath B'nai Torah S
Kol Torah S
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F
8:20 AM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S-F
8:30 AM Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F
Chabad Israeli Center S
Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's) S-F
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F
Ohel Moshe S
Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi] S
Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F
Shomrei Mishmeres Hakodesh S
8:45 AM Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F
9:00 AM Aish Kodesh S
Agudath Israel of Baltimore S-F
Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim S
Beth Tfiloh Congregation S
Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation S
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F
Moses Montefiore Anshe Emunah S
Shomrei Emunah Congregation S-F
Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim S-F
9:15 AM Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F
9:30 AM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F
9:45 AM Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah S-F
10:00AM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah S-F
Mincha
Mincha Gedolah
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
Khal Ahavas Yisroel/Tzemach Tzedek
12:30 PM Kol Torah
12:50 PM One South Street, 27th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202
1:00 PM 10055 Red Run Blvd Suite 295
Milk & Honey Bistro 1777 Reisterstown RD
1:25 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim
1:45 PM Ohel Moshe
Wealcatch Insurance
1:50 PM One South Street, 27th Floor (M-Th)
2:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)
Big Al @ The Knish Shop Party Room
Kol Torah
Market Maven
Reischer Minyan - 23 Walker Ave 2nd Floor
2:15 PM Pikesville Beis Medrash - 15 Walker Ave
2:30 PM Bais Medrash of Ranchleigh Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh
Tov Pizza Mincha Minyan
Ner Israel Rabbinical College
Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)
Shearith Israel Congregation
2:45 PM Kollel of Greenspring
Shearith Israel Congregation (S-Th)
3:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)
Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah
3:05 PM Kedushas Yisrael
3:15 PM Hat Box
4:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th)
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah
5:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
5:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th)
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
6:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-F)
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
Shearith Israel Congregation (S-Th)
6:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (S-Th)
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
7:00 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
10 Min Before ShkiAh Chabad Israeli Center
14 Min Before ShkiAh Kol Torah
Mincha/Maariv Plag
Ohel Yaakov
Shomrei Emunah Congregation
Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim
Mincha/Maariv Before Shkiah
Aish Kodesh
Agudath Israel of Baltimore
Agudah of Greenspring
Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim
Beth Abraham
Bnai Jacob Shaarei Zion Congregation
Darchei Tzedek
Kehillas Meor HaTorah
Kehilath B’nai Torah
Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek
Machzikei Torah (Sternhill’s)
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
Ner Tamid
Ohel Moshe
Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]
Ohr Yisroel
Pikesville Jewish Congregation
Shearith Israel Congregation
Shomrei Emunah Congregation
Shomrei Mishmeres
Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim
The Adas: Chofetz Chaim Adas Bnei Israel
The Shul at the Lubavitch Center
Tiferes Yisroel
Maariv
8:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
8:45 PM Darchei Tzedek
Ner Israel Rabbinical College (Mechina)
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah
Ohr Yisroel
8:50 PM Mesivta Shaarei Chaim (Etz Chaim Building)
8:55 PM Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh
9:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore
Arugas Habosem
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah
Shomrei Emunah Congregation
Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim
9:15 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
9:20 PM Kol Torah
9:30 PM Agudah of Greenspring
Agudath Israel of Baltimore
Kedushas Yisrael
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah
9:40 PM Ahavat Shalom [Sefaradi]
9:45 PM Bais Haknesses Ohr HaChaim
Kollel Erev Birchas Yitzchok (Luries)
Kollel of Greenspring
Machzikei Torah (Sternhill's)
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah
Ohr Hamizrach [Sefaradi]
Yeshiva Tiferes Hatorah
9:50 PM Aish Kodesh
Community Kollel Tiferes Moshe Aryeh
Ohel Moshe
10:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore
Darchei Tzedek
Kehilath B'nai Torah
Khal Ahavas Yisroel/ Tzemach Tzedek
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah
Shearith Israel Congregation
Shomrei Emunah Congregation
10:05 PM Kol Torah
10:10 PM Ner Israel Rabbinical College
10:15 PM Derech Chaim
Khal Bais Nosson
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah
10:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah
10:45 PM Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
11:00 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore
Mercaz Torah U'Tefillah
11:30 PM Agudath Israel of Baltimore (Sunday and Thursday)
Mercaz Torah U’Tefillah
DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
HOWEVER, WHEREVER, WHENEVER.
Hillel Anton Dir., Missouri EAO
Rabbi Ariel Sadwin Dir., Maryland Office
Avi Lencz Assoc. Dir., Maryland Office
Rabbi Yitz Frank Dir., Ohio Office
Rabbi Yaakov Berger Associate Dir., Ohio Office
AGUDAS YISROEL
ACROSS AMERICA
FIGHTING FOR SCHOOL CHOICE IN THE MIDWEST ANTISEMITISM ACROSS THE COUNTRY EIRUVIN IN EVANSTON CHOLEI YISROEL FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES RELIGIOUS LIBERTY UNDER ATTACK VOTING BLOC FIGHTING FOR SCHOOL CHOICE IN THE MIDWEST ANTISEMITISM ACROSS THE COUNTRY EIRUVIN IN EVANSTON CHOLEI YISROEL FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES RELIGIOUS
THE DOERS:
They guide us through the events in our lives, advocating on our behalf. They tend to our needs through crisis and celebration, carrying the call of our Gedolim as one unified voice, faithfully and respectfully. They work to protect our families, our yeshivos, and our shuls, spanning state lines and generations.
The road is their home — the sky’s never their limit. Fielding calls, meeting our needs, sacrificing sleep and family time — in dedication to the yochid and the klal.
They do all that so Klal Yisroel has an address to turn to and a number to dial. And when the call comes in, you can be sure they’ll take it. Because that’s what they do.
LIBERTY UNDER ATTACK VOTING BLOC
Rabbi Yossi Kaplan Dir., Colorado Office
Rabbi Yaakov Subar Dir., California Office
Agudas Israel of America
Mental Health Corner
Can Your Personality Be Disordered?
Personality disorder is a term created by the psychiatric community to describe patterns of thinking or behaviors that deviate from the norm to the degree that they cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. This class of diagnoses encompasses a wide range of disorders, including histrionic personality disorder (excessive emotionality and attention seeking), antisocial personality disorder (disregard for, and the violation of, the rights of others), borderline personality disorder (instability in relationships, self-image,
and emotions), narcissistic personality disorder (grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy), and many more.
The term personality disorder has an inherent flaw. The word personality describes the combination of characteristics and qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character. In other words, every person is unique, and one’s personality is a description of one’s uniqueness. If so, how can this be disordered? Some of us are more outgoing, and some of us are more introverted. Some of us enjoy attention, and some of us are naturally
shy. Some of us are more emotional, and some are more stoic. We are all different!
The answer lies in one specific word that is commonly used in the psychology community, but is not such a common word in the general spoken language, and that is the word “maladaptive”. Maladaptive is when one is not adequately or appropriately adjusting to the environment or situation. In other words, there are certain behaviors or reactions that may be fine or even beneficial in certain situations, but are detrimental in others.
The ability to adapt to every situation is a vital skill that allows us to survive and thrive in difficult circumstances. For example, if someone is naturally a very talkative and outgoing person and is in a situation where being in the background might be more appropriate, then the ability to adapt will allow the individual to go against his or her nature and behave appropriately for that specific situation. When one’s traits are maladaptive, that means that they are maintained even in circumstances where modification of one’s natural inclination would be more appropriate.
Sometimes, a person may develop a coping mechanism earlier in life that was appropriate for that period in their life, but rather than outgrowing that trait, it remains part of their personality into adulthood when it is no longer adaptive.
Let us take one specific example. Narcissistic personality disorder describes an individual who is grandiose, needs admiration, and is so self-centered that they lack empathy for others. If you analyze human beings from a developmental perspective, you will find that this is the norm for early childhood. At that stage in life, all of this is very normal and is actually helpful, since children are so
needy, they need to constantly reach out to their parents for help, disregarding how hard this might be on their parents. As one matures, it becomes adaptive to be more group-oriented than self-oriented. We might say that narcissism was adaptive in early childhood, but becomes maladaptive as time goes on.
Another example is borderline personality disorder. This describes an individual who, in a nutshell, suffers from intense emotional dysregulation, unstable interpersonal relationships, and a distorted self-image. The lack of a healthy sense of self may originate in early-life abuse, where dissociating from reality was a coping mechanism that helped them survive. If the lack of a healthy sense of self endures into adulthood, then you have a coping mechanism that was very adaptive in early life, but is very maladaptive in one’s present circumstances. This is therefore the paradigm for personality disorders. If one’s personality developed in such a way that it is maladaptive for their present stage of life, then they would probably benefit from learning how to adapt their reactions and behaviors in a way that would be more beneficial for their present situation. Therapy for a personality disorder is not a quick fix, but a motivated client will find it a life-changing experience.
This is a service of Relief Resources. Relief is an organization that provides mental health referrals, education, and support to the frum community. Rabbi Yisrael Slansky is director of the Baltimore branch of Relief. He can be contacted at 410-448-8356 or at yslansky@reliefhelp. org
To Raise a Laugh
The Dining Room Rules
It’s back-to-school time, which I’ll admit isn’t super exciting, seeing as most people are probably just going back to the same school they’ve been going to. But the good news is that every school is constantly trying to get better.
We’re learning. It’s a school.
For example, just last year, the mesivta I teach in switched from having the students stay in one classroom every period while the teachers moved around to having the teachers stay still and the students move around. Half the students are moving around anyway.
But while the classroom idea is great on paper, there aren’t enough rooms in my yeshiva to make this happen. That’s how I ended up in the dining room.
Dining room? I don’t know what to call it. Lunchroom isn’t accurate, because they eat all 3 meals there. Dining room implies fine dining, or at least everyone using silverware. And cafeteria implies a much more formal structure, whereas in this yeshiva, there isn’t actually a chef. The yeshiva orders food from a service, and a guy brings it.
I know this, because after class, the entire yeshiva stands out in front of the building to help bring the food in. They don’t even like the food. And it takes maybe two people to carry it in. So they’re going out to be melaveh the food in. Even if the food is late, they will stand out there, with no coats, already holding a plate and fork so they can run alongside whoever’s carrying the heavy pans in and attempt to serve themselves before the food even gets into the building.
I don’t think that’s how cafeterias work.
Sure, I’m happier not switching rooms, but based on my experiences last year, I’ve added a bunch of weird classroom rules to my first-day speech:
- Stop eating.
This isn’t really a new rule. Though technically, the rule used to be, “No eating.” Now it’s, “Stop eating.” Because forget the “no eating in class” rule -- now people who aren’t
even in my class come in just to cook.
I do sometimes look the other way when it comes to eating, because if I tell my students, “No eating in class,” they can say, “Well, by that logic, no learning in the dining room.” But they haven’t thought of saying that yet, because when they eat, their brains shut off, which is why they’re not supposed to eat in class.
- Don’t sit too far away.
The dining room is two table-lengths wide by like a football field long. The door is at one end of the room, and the whiteboard is at the other. There are students closer to me than they are who don’t even belong in the room.
Basically, every grade is divided into a stronger class and a weaker class. And the way the weaker class works is that the first day, everyone tries to sit in the back. Why are you sitting so far back if you’re a weaker student?
I don’t think they’re weaker; I think they just can’t hear me.
And it’s not like I can just sit closer to them. Not unless I get much longer board markers.
Part of the idea of having the kids move to different classroom is that if I want to tell them where to sit, they don’t say, “Well, this is where I sit in the mornings.” But now they just say, “I’m not sitting at your table; that’s where the ninth graders eat.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re not supposed to be eating. Do you think the ninth graders are going to come in and beat you up?”
“No; the table’s a mess.”
And it is.
- Stop handing in sticky papers.
The janitor doesn’t get to finish his job every day of laying supper tablecloths down on sticky lunch tables, because some days he walks in, sees the mess, and goes home to work on his resignation letter. But whatever happens, my table is always the stickiest. The yeshiva has a lot of great qualities, but I don’t think they teach the ninth graders how to eat
By Mordechai Schmutter
without dripping everywhere. Maybe that’s tenth grade. And I know this because for a week or so, I was wondering why there was a section of board that my marker didn’t work on, until I figured out that it was covered by a thin layer of soft-boiled egg. I couldn’t figure out if it was one of the ninth graders who did this, or whether someone egged the entire table of ninth graders. I had to bring in a paint scraper.
This is why you’re supposed to cover your textbooks.
- I’m not holding onto your papers for you.
One of the downsides of the dining room is that there are no lockers. If you have something personal, like a cereal box, you just leave it around, balanced on some of the pipes that go across the ceiling. So no one holds on to anything. They’re not running upstairs to put things away when they have to get outside in time for the nightly supper levayah.
I did have one class last year that actively tried to do something about this: Toward the beginning of the year, one guy commandeered a box of corn flakes and put all the papers in there. Everyone else in the class liked that idea, but instead of getting their own cereal boxes, they put their papers in that same box too, and they wrote on the box, “Mr. Schmutter’s 4th period class -- do not touch,” and they balanced it on the pipes. It was one cereal box for the whole class for the whole year. And no one was in charge of weeding out the papers no one needed anymore. Eventually, the box was ridiculously heavy, and it was always tipping over, and then one day the glue gave way, and there were papers everywhere.
You’d think the students would learn their lesson after that, but the last thing they want to do in school is learn anything.
Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writer and a humor columnist for Hamodia and other magazines. He has also published eight books and does stand-up comedy. You can contact him at MSchmutter@gmail.com.
Headlines Halacha
There is No Virtue Above Their Virtue – and Our Underlying Obligation
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman
Their names and holy souls pull at the heartstrings of any feeling Jew. Many of them exemplified remarkable heroism and sacrifice. They went back to save friends and protect others. We all davened and said Tehillim for them for the past eleven months. And now, sadly, six of the 250 kidnapped neshamos have been brutally and depravedly murdered – 2.4 percent.
Ori Danino, Hy”d Carmel Gat, Hy”d · Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Hy”d · Alex Lubanov, Hy”d Almog Sarusi, Hy”d Eden Yerushalmi, Hy”d
The Rambam in his Yesodei HaTorah of his Mishna Torah writes about them. These six precious souls were murdered solely because they were Jewish, and the Rambam writes in Yesodei HaTorah (5:4), “There is no virtue above their virtue.”
The Rambam applies to those who are murdered solely because they are Jewish. Two verses in Tehillim refer to this: (44:23) “It is for Your sake that we are killed all the time, that we are considered as sheep for the slaughter; and Tehillim (50:5), “Gather to Me My devoted ones, who made a covenant with Me over a sacrifice.”
Let’s focus on two aspects of this Rambam for a moment. They are called, “Harugei Malchus ” and they are also called, “My devoted ones.” But the Rambam lists among them Chananya, Mishael and Azaryah – and they did not die! They were ultimately saved!
That’s one question. But let’s also ask a second question – a question that applies to our current situation. Almost every day we cry. We read in the news of remarkable soldiers who were taken in the prime of their lives. The second question is: how do we get out of this?
The resolution to the first question
is that Chananya, Mishael, and Azaryah were willing to die.
The obvious extension is that every fighting soldier involved in the three conflicts currently facing Israel is included in this category as well.
Which brings us to the answer for
neighbor as ourselves.
So, in order to get out of this, we must all markedly increase our observance and appreciation of this mitzvah of ahavas Yisroel. And we must daven, pray, and search for every means at our disposal to help our brethren out. At ev-
us not to hate your brother in your heart but practice v’ahavta l’rayacha kamocha
The Gema in Brachos (32a) says that our care and concern for others must be to the point that in our ahavas Yisroel when we hear of their difficulty that we become sick over it, citing a drasha of a pasuk, “vayichal Moshe.”
In the Gemara in Yuma 75a, it states, “If one has anxieties, he should relate them to someone else.” The Sefer entitled “Igra d’Pirka” gives an interesting explanation to this. He asks what is the reason for this Gemara. He answers that it will help enable a cure. How so? He can say, “Look, Hashem, I understand why I have received this punishment or travail. But why should my friend also suffer stress on account of this?” With this valid claim, one can shift or change a Divine decree.
Sharing the burden thus helps his or her own situation.
I would like to add another two thoughts. The first is that the Gemara (Bava Kamma 92a) tells us that whoever prays for his friend is answered first. The causing of your friend to pray for you will cause his or her own prayers to be answered first. Having this in mind is a manifestation of ahavas Yisroel as well.
our second question. But first, a remarkable Shela HaKadosh (found in Shaar HaOsios Brios). The Shela notes that there are 620 letters in the Aseres Hadibros, the Ten Commandments. The last seven of these letters form the two words “asher l’rayacha,” a term intimately associated with the mitzvah of v’ahavta l’raya kamocha – loving our
ery opportunity we should be melamed zechus on Klal Yisroel and not like those who assume the worst. We should also practice the notion of “Resha versus Rasha. Always remember the following dictum: ‘Hate the Resha but love the Rasha. Hate the notion of evil but love the Rasha.’” This refers to acheinu bnei Yisroel The pasuk in Vayikra (19:17-18) tells
The second thought is that the TaZ tells us that whenever one prays for another person he should always add the words that Hashem should provide that person with greetings of a refuah shleimah among the other cholim of klal Yisroel. He writes that this, in fact, effects a quicker and better cure.
All this shows the incredible power of ahavas Yisroel.
This article should be viewed as a halachic discussion and not practical advice. The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@ gmail.com.
Common Cents
In the last article, we explored the tremendous power of compounding and how it can help achieve significant financial milestones. This follow-up article focuses on another critical aspect of successful investing: time! We will model three scenarios to illustrate how starting at different ages impacts the final investment value at age 65. Each scenario involves a $500 monthly investment, assuming an average annual return of 10% from the S&P 500 with dividends reinvested. By comparing these scenarios, we will demonstrate why starting early can substantially impact your financial future.
Key Terms and Concepts
Before diving into the scenarios, let’s briefly revisit some key terms and concepts:
1. Compound Interest: Interest calculated on the initial principal, which also includes all accumulated interest from previous periods.
2. Principal: The initial amount of money invested.
3. Rate of Return: The percentage of profit or loss on an investment over a specified period. For our scenarios, we use a 10% average annual return.
4. Time Horizon: The length of time over which an investment is held. Investment Scenarios
Early Earl: Investing $500/Month from Age 25 to 35
Early Earl starts investing $500 monthly for 10 years and never adds another dollar to his investment accounts. The money is left to grow with the power of compounding until age 65.
Initial Age: 25
Final Age: 65
Monthly Contribution: $500
Contribution Period: 10 years (age 25 to 35)
Total Contributions: $60,000
Annual Rate of Return: 10%
After compounding at a 10% rate for 10 years, Earl will have a balance of approximately $95,625 at age 35.
At this point, Earl does not add one more dollar to his account but stays invested in the S&P 500 and keeps reinvesting dividends, generating an average annual return of 10%. At age 65, Earl has an account balance of $1,668,599.
On contributions of only $60,000, Earl has amassed over $1.6 million.
Delayed Dennis: Investing $500/ Month from Age 35 to 45
Delayed Dennis waits until age 35 to start investing, contributing $500 monthly for 10 years, and then stops. The money is left to grow with the power of compounding until age 65.
Initial Age: 35
Final Age: 65
Monthly Contribution: $500
Contribution Period: 10 years (age 35 to 45)
Total Contributions: $60,000
Annual Rate of Return: 10%
After compounding at a 10% rate for 10 years, Dennis will have a balance of approximately $95,625 at age 45.
At this point, Dennis does not add one more dollar to his account but stays invested in the S&P 500 and reinvests dividends, generating an average annual return of 10%. At age 65, Dennis has an account balance of $643,317.
On contributions of only $60,000, Dennis has amassed over $640,000.
Although both Earl and Dennis contributed $60,000, Earl had more than $1,000,000 more than Dennis at age 65 simply by starting 10 years earlier. Time is the most powerful variable for compounding your investments!
Late Larry: Investing $500/Month from Age 45 to 65
By Elliot Pepper, CPA, CFP®, MST
Late Larry realizes he is late to the investing party, so he starts contributing $500 per month for 20 years, from age 45 to 65, instead of only for 10 years like Earl and Dennis.
Initial Age: 45
Final Age: 65
Monthly Contribution: $500 Contribution Period: 20 years (age 45 to 65)
Total Contributions: $120,000
Annual Rate of Return: 10%
After compounding at a 10% rate for 20 years, Larry’s balance will be approximately $378,015 at age 65. On contributions of $120,000, Larry has amassed over $378,000.
Conclusion
The three scenarios clearly illustrate the profound impact of starting early in investing. Here’s a summary of the results:
• Early Earl (Start at 25, invests for 10 years): $1,656,823 at age 65
investing, the more time your money has to grow. Even small contributions can lead to substantial wealth over time due to compounding.
2. Consistent Contributions: Regular, consistent contributions are crucial. Set up automatic investments to ensure you stay on track.
3. Time in the Market: It’s not about timing the market but about time in the market. The longer you stay invested, the better your returns will be.
• Delayed Dennis (Start at 35, invests for 10 years): $636,653 at age 65
• Late Larry (Start at 45, invests for 20 years): $382,848 at age 65 Larry contributes twice as much as Earl and Dennis, and his balance at age 65 is significantly lower. How does this happen? Larry simply doesn’t have time on his side. Earl contributes half as much as Larry but ends up with over $1 million more at age 65. This is the magic of compound interest. Invested money grows exponentially over time, so the more time you give yourself, the more money you will have.
Key Takeaways:
1. Start Early: The earlier you start
4. Patience and Discipline: Successful investing requires patience and discipline. Stay the course and avoid the temptation to withdraw early or make impulsive decisions. By understanding and leveraging the importance of starting early, you can significantly enhance your financial future and confidently achieve your life’s important milestones. Whether you’re just starting your career or approaching retirement, it’s never too late to start investing. However, the earlier you begin, the greater the benefits you will reap. Start today and let the magic of compounding work in your favor. 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.
Parenting Pearls Transition Into a New School Year
By Sara Rayvych, MSEd
The summer flew by, and this week most of our community’s students are returning to school. There will be a mix of emotions: some children excited with the potential of a new year and others nervous, unsure of the uncertainty. There will even be students experiencing both emotions simultaneously!
Change is hard for children and adults alike; there is uncertainty and the unknown ahead. There is comfort in the familiar, and there can be fear in moving away from that. Most of our children will be in the same school as last year with the same class. But many of our students will be changing schools and peers – a full upheaval of all they’ve known.
Of course, we want our children to focus on the positive and potential ahead of them, but we also need to be sensitive to the many changes they will be experiencing and how this will affect them. Transitions –the movement and adjustment from one activity to the next – are a known struggle for many children. Our precious students may need extra support and understanding as they transition and adjust to a new reality.
The Changes
There are many changes students experience in September/Elul. It’s a new beginning, and this comes with both excitement and trepidation.
When children walk into the classroom there will be a new adult in front of that big desk. Their rebbi, morah and teachers are likely different from the previous year and may be completely unfamiliar to them. Your child, as well, is unknown to this new teacher. It’ll take them time to understand each other and build that crucial kesher.
Each year there are some adjustments to the class make-up. Students leave the school, others join. Children can be switched between parallel classes, mixing up the previous groupings. Your child will be walking into a new group of peers, and this can be stressful for some youngsters.
Our community had many graduates in June. Most of those proud students will transition into a new educational framework. Preschool moves to elementary, middle school into high school, and eventually they move on to yeshiva/seminary/college. This is a major adjustment in many areas. Just one of these adjustments is to go from being the oldest kids in their school to the youngest. Those big sixth graders are now little seventh graders when compared to their surroundings.
Graduates often move into a new building with a different structure to the classes. I went to camp in my future high school so I knew where the classrooms were, but I can only imagine how confusing it was for the others. It’s scary not knowing where to go or how to get there.
Students slowly transition from one or two teachers for the entire day until they have a new teacher in a separate classroom for each subject. This, too, is an adjustment we take for granted. Each teacher assigns their own homework and tests, causing the student’s workload to increase dramatically. It’s a major change for a child or teen, and we need to be sensitive to this.
As they reach the older grades or posthigh school, many students will move into dorms. Sleeping away from home is a very emotional adjustment for teens (and parents!). We’re no longer present for them each day as everyone balances the child’s new independence with the unchanging need for guidance and love.
Just being sensitive to these changes provides a measure of emotional support, helping them adjust to the next exciting stage.
Open the Conversation
It can be hard for children to open up and discuss what’s bothering them. They may lack the vocabulary or emotional maturity to verbalize their feelings. Perhaps they feel foolish having these concerns or feel alone in their emotions. Parents can
help by gently bringing up the topic and giving their child a safe space to unburden themselves.
It helps to remember that at this time children don’t want lectures; they want compassion. They need validation, not to hear they’re “being silly.” Only after they’ve felt heard and understood can they think about a practical response.
Parents know their children and recognize who is more likely to have a challenge adjusting. This can guide parents in deciding whether their child needs that talk now or requires a wait-and-see approach. It’s important to remember that children can surprise us, and the often easy-going child may struggle at times, while the generally harder-to-transition youngster may slide into the new year with a smile. Watch your child and their behavior to gauge their ease of adjustment.
When possible, before the first day, parents should prepare their child for any anticipated changes. They will feel more comfortable having the knowledge and awareness of what to expect. Perhaps it’s their teachers’ names, driving past the new building the week before, or sharing with them the name of a familiar classmate who will be with them.
Parents don’t need to know it all themselves. Please reach out to your child’s teacher (current or previous), principal or a professional therapist if questions come up or the child is seriously struggling.
The Benefits of Change
Children are not meant to be chil-
dren forever. It’s our goal to raise healthy, well-adjusted adults who can live independently of their parents. We want them to be able to start families of their own –not depend on us for their entire adult life. We want to support our children, validate their feelings and love them. We don’t want to stifle their development or prevent them from experiencing all discomforts. Change is inevitable, at times painful, but often a tremendous source of growth.
Learning how to move through changes and adjust to the world around them is a crucial skill for children to learn. Throughout their life they will encounter new situations and people. Being able to regroup and process these changes will help them as they move through each new phase of life.
Many children who didn’t succeed in one environment may flourish in the next one. It may be the extra caring teacher that believes in them, or perhaps it’s the different extracurriculars that help them recognize their capabilities. New situations can be opportunities to restart and succeed in ways not previously possible.
Beginnings are often difficult. Knowing to anticipate these challenges helps, as does remembering that things do get easier. I wish all of our students and their families a new year of successful growth and positive opportunities.
Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@gmail.com.
Ilove this time of the year: back to school. It engenders warm, fuzzy feelings of optimism and hope as we embark on a new school year with the Jewish New Year not far behind. Even people who have “aged out” of this phase of back-to-school are caught up in this mood.
Like most things, some planning can help to make a “win-win” for back to school for you and your children. Here are some proven tips to help your family during this important time.
The Sleep Schedule
Public service announcement – sleep with a regular sleep schedule is the best. Getting enough sleep is critical for success in school, including college and graduate school – for most areas of life. Sleep is synonymous with health. Getting sufficient sleep contributes to improved attention, safer driving, less health risks, and a more consistent mood. Honestly, most people are nicer when they have slept.
School-aged children need 9 to 11 hours of sleep nightly and teens need 8½ to 9½ hours. Yes. Those are real numbers.
What should we do to achieve this?
Pay attention now to timing. Shift slowly and start getting ready now. Labor Day weekend is a good time to refocus on sleep schedules. If bedtime has migrated to 10 p.m., for example, and you’re hoping to have your kids sleeping by 8 p.m. for school, start now. Move bedtime forward about 30 minutes every 3 to 4 days.
Next: screens, phones, iPads, computers, etc. – put them away at least 60 minutes before bedtime. It’s no secret that using any kind of screen and exposing ourselves to the light they emit handicaps our natural sleep hormone melatonin from rising and helping our brain drift off to sleep. There should be a hard “cut off” time nightly when all the “toys” are laid to rest. One hour prior to the de -
Health & F tness
Back to School
The 2024 Primer
By Hylton I. Lightman, MD, DCH (SA), FAAP
sired sleep time is the minimum. Rather than having them languish on night tables or desks in rooms, have all screens, tablets, phones, and laptops transition back to “sleeping” in the kitchen.
Backpack Safety
There’s something endearing about seeing kids with their knapsacks. Backpacks are a popular and practical way for children, teenagers and college students to carry schoolbooks and supplies. But they must be used correctly as they are designed to distribute the weight of the load among some of the body’s strongest muscles.
When choosing a backpack, look for:
• Wide-padded shoulder straps. Narrow straps can dig into the shoulders, causing pain and restricting circulation.
• Two shoulder straps. One-shouldered bags running across the body cannot distribute the weight evenly.
• Padded back. This protects against sharp edges on objects inside the backpack and increases comfort.
• Lightweight backpack. The con -
tents are heavy enough. Let’s not exacerbate things.
Do the following to prevent injury when using a backpack:
• Always use both shoulder straps.
• Tighten the straps so they are close to the body. The straps should hold the pack two inches above the waist.
• Pack light. This sounds obvious but please, the backpack should weigh no more than 20% of the person’s weight.
• Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack the heaviest items closest to the center of the back.
• Use school lockers instead of shlepping everything from room to room, up and down stairs. Parents may have to speak to schools about allowing enough time for this.
• Use both knees when bending down.
• Learn back-strengthening exercises to carry the knapsack.
Making the First Day of School Easier
Many children become nervous about
new situations, including changing to a new school, classroom or teacher. This may occur at any age or stage. If your child seems nervous, it can be helpful to rehearse entry into the new situation. Take them to visit the new school before the first day of school. Perhaps they can visit the playground in order to become more familiar with their new environment. Remind them they will see old friends and will meet new ones.
Touch base with your child’s new teachers at the beginning or end of the day so that the teacher knows how much you want to be supportive of your child’s school experience.
Eating During the School Day
You know this, but it is worth repeating. Studies show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast function better. They do better in school and have better concentration and more energy. Some schools provide breakfast. If yours does not, make sure your child eats a breakfast that has some protein.
Most schools regularly send schedules of the lunch program in school or have them posted on the school’s website. With this advance information, you can plan on packing lunch on the days when the main course is one your child prefers not to eat.
Look into what is offered in your school’s vending machines. All foods sold during the school day must meet nutrition standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Let’s aim for a sugar-free or very minimal sugar environment. When a child hits the afternoon energy lows, the front desk should have apples waiting –or the vending machine, which should have zero junk snacks, and is loaded with them together with low-fat dairy products (Cholov Yisrael, of course) and water.
Please don’t tell me these are tacky ideas. I invite you to submit your sug-
gestions how we can begin putting sugar in its place so it topples from its ubiquitous place in our children’s lives (especially schools) while we energize our children properly.
Each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 poisonous calories. Drinking just one can of soda daily increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60%. Not enough said, but I’m leaving it alone for now.
Developing Good Homework and Study Habits
Starting at a young age, create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Children need a consistent work space. Some like the desk in the bedroom. My children have an affinity for the dining room table. What matters is the space is quiet, without distractions and promotes study.
Establish a household rule that television and other electronic distractions stay off during homework time. Many of our children need the computer for homework. Parents: monitor, monitor and monitor, and I’m not talking about a noun that’s part of the computer set-
up. Be vigilant and know what goes on. Need guidance? Reach out to Smart Connections at http://www.smartconnectionsny.com/
Be available to answer questions and offer assistance. Never do a child’s homework for him.
If a child is struggling with a particular subject, speak with the teacher
a homework sheet (younger grades) and then graduating to a homework assignment book.
Some children need help organizing their homework. It’s okay to be a “helicopter parent.” The best way to build independence in a child is to help them to become self-sufficient. And the earlier you start, the better. Some
Studies show that children who eat a nutritious breakfast function better.
for recommendations on how you or another person can help the child at home. If you have concerns about the assignments your child is receiving, talk with his teacher. But not the first week of school. Let things settle in a bit. And teachers are also overwhelmed, too, with the school year kick off. Help your child remember his homework assignments by tracking them on
kids need help organizing their binders, notebooks, whatever. Checklists, timers and parental supervision (this does NOT mean doing their work) can help overcome homework problems. When your child tastes success in this area, he will want to do more.
Medications
Your child may be medicated for
ADD or ADHD, perhaps 365 days per year, perhaps on school days only. If your child’s medication regimen is on hiatus during the summer, before returning to school is the best time to reintroduce the medication protocol. Your child will then have time to adjust. Perhaps the dosage has to be tweaked. Please start this process the week before school resumes.
Structure your child’s environment for success. Plan for healthy sleeping and healthy eating. Make sure your child has the physical “props,” including knapsacks and homework assignment books, to succeed. Go to the Back to School nights where you meet the teachers and hear directly from them about the plans for the school year. Help build your children from the inside out and grow from strength to strength.
As always, daven
Dr. Hylton I. Lightman is a pediatrician and Medical Director of Total Family Care of the 5 Towns and Rockaway PC. He can be reached at drlightman@totalfamilycaremd. com, on Instagram at Dr.Lightman_ or visit him on Facebook.
Life C ach You Can’t Dance at Two Weddings at Once
By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS
What to do with overlapping simchas?
There’s nothing much going on in your schedule. Your time is pretty flexible. Then you get that first invitation.
Yay, great your friend, cousin, valued associate, etc. is getting married. You put the date down on your calendar and mentally make a note of the time and date.
A week later, you see an e-vite. Your best friend’s son is getting married. Finally, he’s picked the girl, he’s set the date, he’s moving on.
Yes, exactly the same time, the same day that you’ve recorded on your calendar.
One major glitch: “geographically undesirable locations.” In other words, too far to get to both!
There are 29 to 31 days in a month. There are 12 months in a year. But you can bank on it, if you have one thing going on, you usually have two.
These are the good but stinky dilemmas.
Just when you want to be in one place you want to, or need to be, at another.
The result: you have to make a painful choice or you miss part of both. Or even, when you’re lucky, cuz the times are different and you think maybe you’ll get to both, so are the neighborhoods. And thus you have to shlep in two different directions. It’s rarely just down the block.
be at both, or they want me at both, or I have no spouse to send, how’s any of that a solution?!
You can opt to decide this one’s closer by – let me just say yes to this one. But, how’s that going to go down with the other friend or relative?
There are 29 to 31 days in a month. There are 12 months in a year. But you can bank on it, if you have one thing going on, you usually have two.
Sometimes you think, well, I can send my spouse to one and I’ll go to the other. That’s only a somewhat workable solution if there’s separate seating and you don’t mind driving alone.
You can then re-think: wait, I want to
This is certainly not a fun dilemma to find ourselves in, yet it’s not uncommon.
In life, you wait for certain events with gusto and then boom, they come at same time – you’ve got to be kidding!
Or maybe you only wait for one with
gusto but attendance at the other has equal importance because it’s an obligation.
Where in the solution books have they grappled with this? One of the great ironies of life: why do events show up in twos?
What can be the fun of having “free choice” if you aren’t challenged to choose?!
The answer to why it happens is as elusive as a formula to decide which to attend.
The only thing I can say is to try to make your decision with flair and aplomb because they’re going to keep coming at you. It may be tough to figure it out but, after all, it’s not what life throws our way that defines us, but how we deal with what comes our way.
Rivki Rosenwald is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with both couples and individuals and is a certified relationship counselor. Rivki is a co-founder and creator of an effective Parent Management of Adolescent Years Program. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or at rivkirosenwald@gmail. com. A book is the ultimate apparatus.
That is so Cliché!
When push came to shove, I took the bull by the horns and decided to kill two birds with one stone. At the end of the day, it was do or die, so I went back to the draw ing board. Lo and behold, I hit the jackpot and made hay while the sun shone. Every cloud has a silver lining, and I was over the moon when I realized I’d knocked it out of the park. That being said, I didn’t want to put all my eggs in one basket or count my chickens before they hatched. Time was of the essence, and I was burning the candle at both ends while burning the midnight oil. I had to shape up or ship out, so I bit the bullet and went the whole nine yards.
When the dust settled, I’d passed with flying colors and came out smelling like a rose. It wasn’t rocket science, but it was a tough row to hoe and a hard nut to crack.
I had to take the rough with the smooth and roll with the punches. At times, it felt like I was beating a dead horse or barking up the wrong tree, but I stuck to my guns and weathered the storm.
Long story short, I rolled up my sleeves, put my nose to the grindstone, and left no stone unturned. I crossed my t’s and dotted my i’s, making sure to dot every i and cross every t. It was sink or swim, so I pulled out all the stops and gave it my all. I was in it to win it… When the chips were down, I played my cards right and aced it with flying colors.
Riddle Me This
In the nick of time, I turned the corner and saw the light at the end of the tunnel. It was music to my ears when I realized I’d hit the nail on the head. I was firing on all cylinders, cooking with gas, and firing on all four burners. Still, all’s well that ends well, and now I’m sitting pretty on cloud nine, feeling like the cat that got the cream. I’m on top of the world, riding high, and living the dream. It just goes to show, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and you can have your cake and eat it too.
(Submitted by Moshe Hoffman, utilizing AI)
Create a 7 word sentence using the word “was” 5 times and the other two words being “before” and “is.”
Answer: Before was was was, was was is.
Which Cliché is That Anyway?
Guess the cliché based on the origin
1. Refers to timely sewing, where fixing a small problem early prevents a bigger one.
2. Refers to avoiding hitting the bird directly by beating bushes to scare it out.
3. Originates from the mistaken release of a cat hidden in a sack instead of a pig in marketplaces.
4. Refers to infrequent astronomical events when the moon appears blue.
5. Comes from early military practices, when soldiers bit bullets to endure pain during surgery.
6. From tennis or basketball, where the responsibility to act shifts to the other player.
7. Refers to being born into wealth and privilege.
8. From medieval times when someone who was caught red-handed was found with blood on their hands.
9. From old shipping practices where ships would break the ice in waterways to allow navigation.
10. From falconry, where hooding a bird keeps it calm.
1. A stitch in time saves nine.
2. Beat around the bush.
3. Let the cat out of the bag.
4. Once in a blue moon.
5. Bite the bullet.
6. The ball is in your court.
11. From Ancient Greece, where votes were cast with beans; spilling the beans revealed the outcome early.
12. A phrase of solidarity referring to passengers in a ship sharing the same risks.
13. Biblical phrase describing a narrow escape.
14. From horse riding, when holding the reins too tightly controls the horse poorly.
15. Refers to someone being deceived, from an old practice of pulling wigs over the eyes.
16. Refers to a U.S. weather scale where cloud nine represented the highest height for clouds.
17. Refers to someone taking credit for another’s idea or success, from early theater disputes.
18. Comes from fairs and carnivals where cigars were given as prizes, but near misses earned nothing.
19. Early sailing phrase, indicating when a ship was at risk of losing control.
20. Ancient Roman practice, where a grain of salt was taken to counteract poison.
7. Born with a silver spoon in their mouth.
8. Caught red-handed.
9. Break the ice.
10. Keep it under your hat.
11. Spill the beans.
12. In the same boat.
13. By the skin of your teeth.
14. Hold your horses.
15. Pull the wool over someone’s eyes.
16. On cloud nine.
17. Steal my thunder.
18. Close, but no cigar.
19. Wild goose chase.
20. Take it with a grain of salt.
Clichés:
Notable Quotes
“Say What?!”
The stories I could tell. Not the type of character you want making decisions about your future.
- Jeff Walz posting on Facebook about his estranged brother Tim Walz, who is Kamala Harris’s running mate
Haven’t spoke to him in 8 years. I’m 100% opposed to all his ideology. - Ibid.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino. This ongoing grief and outrage was brutally sown on 10/7. Hamas owns this entire humanitarian catastrophe and my support for Israel is unbreakable.
– Tweet by Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)
We would have had a lot of time to study the jet completely in peacetime, but we do not have the time.
- Oleksiy “Moonfish” Mes, one of only a few Ukrainian pilots trained to fly U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, several weeks before he was killed when his jet crashed on Monday
Americans have long assumed that the Constitution could save us; a growing chorus now wonders whether we need to be saved from it.
- Canadian-born writer Jennifer Szalai’s in a New York Times oped
Trump owes his political ascent to the Constitution, making him a beneficiary of a document that is essentially antidemocratic and, in this day and age, increasingly dysfunctional.
- Ibid.
I don’t think that Vice President Harris is a worthy president of this country. I think we need to have a president who can give an interview, who can articulate a vision, who can put together an English.
- Robert F. Kenned, Jr. in an interview with Chris Cuomo
Foo Fighter’s so dumb they forgot they don’t own their songs.
- One of many tweets making fun of the Foo Fighters who made a big stink about Trump illegally using one of their songs which he actually purchased a license to use from BMI’s Songview service which owns the song
[Kamala] also said, “I worked at McDonald’s.” Turned out she didn’t work at McDonald’s. Did anyone see that? After an exhaustive study that took about 20 minutes, they found out she never worked there.
- Trump at a campaign event
Nobody on the Left is unhappy that she’s suddenly running away from her positions because they know she’s lying.
- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) explaining why Kamala Harris is getting away with all of her flip-flopping
Enough with the games… If Kamala Harris isn’t smart enough to repeat the messaging points her handlers want her to memorize, that’s their problem.
- Jason Miller, senior advisor to Trump, responding to the Harris campaign’s efforts to change the rules for the upcoming debate
They won’t allow Harris to do interviews, they won’t allow her to do press conferences, and now they want to give her a cheat-sheet for the debate. My guess is that they’re looking for a way to get out of any debate with President Trump. Regardless, there’s no way Harris is ready to be commander-in-chief.
- Ibid.
Hamakom yenachem eschem. The Place will Comfort you.
In moments of unspeakable grief, the earth –our very center of gravity – shifts. What once was solid ground opens beneath us and all that felt sure and real now becomes a great void. At this time, we turn to the Light which is unshakable and constant, the Place, the Omnipresent Space, that holds firm, anchoring us to a reality that is steady, eternal and unbroken.
We are hurt and we are suffering, but we will never be broken. Am Yisroel Chai.
- Post by Jerry Seinfeld’s wife Jessica, after the six hostages Hy”d were killed
It was open. She wrapped it up.
- Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) when asked by Bill Maher if it would have made sense to have an open convention rather than just anoint Kamala Harris
I will never forget my meeting last October with the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and other hostage families. Today’s tragic news is a devastating reminder of the need for the unconditional release of all hostages and an end to the nightmare of war in Gaza.
- Statement by Israel hating U.N. Secretary General António Guterres which fails to condemn or even mention Hamas that brutally murdered the six hostages
Political Crossfire
Can We Be a Little Less Selective With Our Moral Outrage?
By Bret Stephens
Of all the world’s injustices, perhaps the saddest is that so many of them are simply ignored.
Protesters the world over loudly demand a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip; a dwindling number of people still take note of Russian atrocities against Ukraine. Otherwise, there’s a vast blanket of silence, under which some of the world’s worst abusers proceed largely unnoticed and unhindered.
Let’s try to change that. For this week’s column, here are some alternative focal points for outrage and protest, particularly for morally energetic college students from Columbia to Berkeley. Venezuela. Last month’s election was stolen in broad daylight by the socialist regime of Nicolás Maduro. He has enforced this theft by using his security services to round up and jail around 2,000 people suspected of dissent, promising “maximum punishment” and “no forgiveness.” This is from a regime that has already caused starvation and the desperate exodus of millions of poor Venezuelans. As of last year, more than 10,000 of them were living in New York City shelters.
If ever there was a case of “Think globally, act locally” to adopt the old slogan, this is it. Especially since the usual forces of social protest have something to atone for when it comes to Venezuela: The regime that Maduro inherited in 2013 from Hugo Chávez, his authoritarian mentor, had no bigger cheerleaders in the West than left-wing magazines like The Nation and political leaders like Jeremy Corbyn of Britain. Contrition is a virtue: Now would be a good time for these (hopefully former) comrades to show it. Turkey. Anti-Israel protesters sometimes respond to the criticism that they are singling out the Jewish state for unfair censure by noting that it receives billions in military aid from Washington. (This pretext doesn’t fly if protests are
in Montreal or Melbourne, Australia.)
But what about another Middle Eastern recipient of U.S. largesse, including the stationing of U.S. troops and nuclear weapons?
That country is Turkey, on paper a secular democracy and a NATO ally. In reality, it’s an illiberal state run for decades by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an antisemitic Islamist who has jailed scores of journalists while waging — sometimes with F-16 warplanes — a brutal war against his Kurdish opponents in Syria and Iraq. For good measure, Turkey has occupied, ethnically cleansed and colonized northern Cyprus for 50 years. Shouldn’t those who argue that occupation is always wrong trouble themselves to protest this one?
Ethiopia and Sudan. Critics of U.S. foreign policy, particularly on the left, often complain that Washington cares more about suffering among white people than Black people. They have a point. So why do those same critics proceed to largely neglect the staggering human rights abuses taking place now
in Sudan and Ethiopia?
In Sudan’s case, the humanitarian group Operation Broken Silence estimates that at least 65,000 people have died of violence or starvation since fighting broke out last year, and nearly 11 million people have been turned into refugees. In Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed — possibly history’s least deserving recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize — first turned his guns on ethnic Tigrayans in one of the world’s bloodiest recent wars, with a death toll estimated as high as 600,000. Now the government is waging war against former allies in the Amhara region, even as the Biden administration last year lifted restrictions on aid owing to its abuse of human rights. How many college protests has this elicited?
Iran. The regime in Iran ought to tick every box of progressive outrage. Misogyny? As CNN documented in 2022, the government responded to mass protests against mandatory hijab by systematically assaulting protesters, men as well as women.
Then there is Tehran’s imperialism. The regime doesn’t merely make a habit of taking unlucky visitors hostage. It takes entire countries hostage, too, none more tragically than Lebanon. Hezbollah, which parades as a Lebanese political movement, is little more than a subsidiary of Iran. The group has turned the south of the country into a free-fire zone while putting thousands of civilian lives at risk for the sake of its ideological aims against Israel. When Lebanese patriots such as the late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri try to stand in Hezbollah’s way, they tend to wind up dead.
It says something about the moral priorities of much of today’s global left that Iran is one Middle Eastern regime toward which they’ve advocated better relations, including the lifting of economic sanctions, while simultaneously insisting on boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. Why that is — the mental pathways that lead self-declared champions of human rights to make common cause with some of the worst regimes on Earth while directing their moral fury at countries, including Israel, that protect the values those champions pretend to hold dear — has been one of humanity’s great puzzles for over a century.
But that puzzle shouldn’t restrain morally minded, globally conscious people from standing up for the oppressed and suffering everywhere they might be. The list I’ve offered above is very partial: There are also Rohingya in Myanmar, Uyghurs in China, Christians in Nigeria and ethnic minorities in Russia, to name a few. They, too, deserve the world’s attention, compassion and, whenever possible, active assistance.
It could happen if only one cause weren’t consuming so much of the world’s moral energies.
© The New York Times
House serves as a home base – physically and emotionally –for Jewish families of loved ones receiving treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Kennedy Krieger Institute, providing stability, comfort, and hope for patients and their families.
Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…
Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters
Dear Navidaters,
Dear Navidaters, I look forward to reading your column every Shabbos. I’m twenty and grew up in Lakewood. In the mornings, I learn in a local kollel in the Five Towns. In the afternoon, I work at a Jewish bookstore. The girl I’m currently dating is nineteen. She recently got back from seminary and plans to work as a teacher’s assistant. She has a lot of bitachon in Hashem and would make a wonderful mother. These are things I look for when it comes to shidduchim. We have been dating for three weeks now. While things are going smoothly there is something that concerns me. Recently, I was made aware that two of her brothers went off the derech. The reason this concerns me is I’ve been told many times regarding shidduchim that the children turn out like the mother’s brothers... Is this a reason to call off the shidduch?
Regards,
Naftali*
Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.
The Panel
The Rebbetzin
Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.
What you are referring to is advice that has a source in Torah Sheba’al Peh. It says that one should investigate the potential partner’s brothers for this reason. There are many factors that are taken into account in such a situation according to the sefarim. Consult a rav on this matter.
Keep in mind that, unfortunately, many families have children off the derech today. Fortunately, many do come back to the fold. It is important that there are healthy relationships in all families, especially those with kids experiencing challenges.
I do think that you should take this shidduch slowly if you are given the goahead. The young woman is just out of
seminary and may be on a spiritual high from the special environment in Eretz Yisrael. Take the time to get to know her and her family well. Take the time to figure out finances and not rely on bitachon alone. The cost of living in the Five Towns is not cheap. Do your hishtadlus and make sure you can handle marriage, both its emotional and practical ends.
The Shadchan
Michelle Mond
Dear Naftali, Shutting things down because of this newfound information about the girl you are dating’s brothers would be wrong. Simply look around, and you will find so many choshuv families who have sons who are off the derech. Does this mean that their daughters are unmarriageable?
I believe you should not take this information as a concern about the shidduch and move forward. Perhaps over time you will get to know her brothers and see that even though they are off the derech, they have positive qualities to them that you can hone in on. Who knows? You might even make an amazing impression and eventually be a catalyst to help the brothers get closer to Yiddishkeit.
One more thing I would like to mention. It is important for you to ask yourself if there is something else that is bothering you about the shidduch. Are you simply looking for a way out?
The Single
Tzipora Grodko
I’m just going to be super simplistic and say that comment about “mother’s
It’s important that you give the most important decision you will ever make the attention and time it deserves.
brothers” is simply not true. On a completely different note, I would encourage you to explore if there is SOMETHING ELSE that’s bothering you, and if you’re just using this example as a scapegoat to justify a different concern that you might be suppressing.
Please, please take the time you need to explore this relationship with professional guidance. (Professional means someone licensed to assist you.) There is NO PRESSURE to make a decision if you’re feeling doubtful. There is NO RUSH. This is your life, and it’s important that you give the most important decision you will ever make the attention and time it deserves.
The Zaidy
Dr. Jeffrey Galler
L et’s see. You’re 20 years old, and every morning you learn in a kollel, and every afternoon you work part-time in a Jewish bookstore.
That sounds like an absolutely wonderful lifestyle. That is, for a semi-retired gentleman between the ages of 70 and 80.
Yes, going to the kollel is won -
derful for learning Torah, and yes, working in the bookstore is wonderful for learning how to deal with people and how to develop a healthy work ethic.
But – is that it? What are you going to do with your life? Until you have some clarity regarding your future, should you really be going on shidduch dates?
Here are three issues for you to please consider:
Issue #1- Kollel
Kollel can be amazing and transformative and can help you develop into a tremendous talmid chacham , but you need to go in with a plan. What are your goals? What is your end game? What do you want to come out with?
Seek guidance from your Rosh Kollel and seek mentorship from more experienced, more mature colleagues and chavrusas in your Kollel.
Issue #2 – Part-time employment
For someone who cannot afford to attend kollel full time, part-time gainful employment is very admirable. Working
Pulling It All Together
The Navidaters
Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists
Dear Naftali, Thank you for your email!
I certainly don’t have the answer as to whether or not to turn down a wonderful human because her brothers are off the derech. I can understand that this is of concern to you because people are telling you that your children may follow in their uncles’ footsteps and this would be deeply upsetting to you. I validate this concern fully.
I would like to present the idea that every family has some people and presenting qualities and charac - teristics that may be un- familiar, scary or downright unsavory. In my humble opinion, while we do marry into a family, we shouldn’t be quick to dismiss someone because of people who are out of our control. In this family, there are “off the derech” brothers, in someone else’s family there may be an uncle sitting in jail, or an alienator, or a few narcissists, or a meddling family
in a Jewish bookstore is safe, educational, and enjoyable but perhaps it would be wiser to find a job that potentially could lead to future career paths.
For example, how about working in a real estate office? Or, working as an assistant to a plumber, electrician, photographer, printer, locksmith, or caterer?
Issue #3 – Part-time education
If a future in a Torah-related occupation, like being a mashgiach or a yeshiva rebbe, is not for you, then you might wish to consider professions that are attainable through part-time study.
For example, you may wish to explore studying to become a sonographer, radiographer, medical assistant, respiratory therapist, bookkeeper, graphic designer, digital marketer, or data analyst.
Your Question:
But let’s address the question that you asked our panel. You are worried that your future children might turn out like your girlfriend’s brothers, who went “off the derech.”
Please note: A nephew shares approximately 25% of his genes with his uncle. This is why a nephew might look somewhat like his uncle. They can have sim-
The question is, do you like or love this woman enough to navigate this family?
ilar facial features, hair color, or height. However, even though genetics contributes to physical traits, they do not predetermine behavioral outcomes, like going “off the derech.” That problem usually stems more from other very important factors, like family upbringing, environment, education, lifestyle, or happenstance.
Your question, and very legitimate concern, underscores how very, very important it is to spend time with, and get to know, a prospective mate’s family. Best wishes to you on your journey.
member. It really is always something. The question is, do you like or love this woman enough to navigate this family? Because someone else will.
In my findings and work, I have found that many people forget what this is really about. It’s about finding your partner. Life is hard and challenges are plenty. We all come with a pekaleh. And if you can walk away from someone wonderful because of her brothers, we do need to explore the depths of your feelings for this woman and also what it is you are looking for in a relationship. There are many wonderful frum families whose children have chosen a different path. And if you are reading this (and I know you are), I want you to know that your children are worthy
of love and you are worthy of love and likely have done a wonderful job raising them and showing them Yiddishkeit. And if they make a different choice, this is most likely in no way a reflection of you or something you did wrong. They are worthy of getting married and so are your other children. I couldn’t not make this point.
I think the world of shidduchim is so messy and confusing and the people dating are receiving a lot of these “scary” messages. Let us remember that Avraham Avinu’s father worshipped idols, and he turned out pretty great. Just some food for thought.
Sincerely, Jennifer
Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.
My Israel Home The Year of the Bumper Sticker
By Gedaliah Borvick
Ioften write articles about people whose names adorn street signs in cities across the State of Israel to learn about individuals who have left their mark on the Jewish nation. Nowadays, new names are emblazoned in public areas across our country, and their legacies are inspiring our country.
Since October 7, grassroots campaigns have taken place to educate the public about our heroic warriors who died Al Kiddush Hashem protecting our nation. The medium used is the humble bumper sticker. These stickers usually feature the person’s name, photo, date of passing, and a quote or value reflecting their spirit.
What began with a few stickers has evolved into a widespread movement of creating multiple-sticker memorials. These memorials now appear in various public spaces—elevators at Ben Gurion Airport, bus stops, lamp posts, train stations, and pedestrian bridges—basically, wherever people gather.
All of our fallen heroes leave behind legacies worthy of emulation. One poi-
gnant example is my dear friend Eli Moshe Zimbalist. Despite his passing at just 21, Eli Mo left a profound impact. The fact that I call Eli Mo a dear friend, when he was barely a third my age, high-
ical hands that he used to fix and build, his powerful work ethic, his disdain for wasting time, and his tremendous love of family and community, but the sticker campaign is a good start. Eli Mo’s legacy
His sticker bears the Hebrew words “Don’t wait for them to ask, just help!” encapsulating his essence as a caring, proactive individual.
lights his unique ability to create meaningful relationships with people of all ages and all backgrounds. His sticker bears the Hebrew words “Don’t wait for them to ask, just help!” encapsulating his essence as a caring, proactive individual. Obviously, a bumper sticker cannot properly reflect the fullness of a person’s essence. There is so much more to say about Eli Mo, including his mag-
of unity and responsibility serves as an inspiring message for our nation.
The proliferation of stickers has prompted many to photograph them, ensuring that the memory of these fallen heroes is preserved. Observing these photographers evokes a range of emotions, eloquently captured by Rabbi Dr. Allen Selis in his poignant recounting of one such encounter.
“I’m about to step onto the train when I catch one last glance of the soldier opposite me. He’s done snapping pictures, but pauses before he turns away from the Coke machine. He reaches up and touches one of the stickers, then pulls his hand back to kiss his fingers. The way we kiss a mezuzah upon leaving home. Or the way many kiss a Torah scroll when it passes near us in synagogue. Or the way we caress a gravestone before leaving the cemetery, embracing the memory of the one we’ve lost by sharing one last kiss. Train doors open. Separately we climb on board. Both of us holding onto something that we can’t quite leave behind.”
May we never leave our courageous and holy heroes’ legacies behind.
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.
Stickers on Masada flagpole
Eli Mo Zimbalist sticker
Political Crossfire
“Moving in the Dark” Hamas Documents Show Tunnel Battle Strategy
By Adam Goldman, Ronen Bergman and Natan Odenheimer
TEL AVIV, Israel — Hamas’ handbook for underground combat describes, in meticulous detail, how to navigate in darkness, move stealthily beneath the Gaza Strip and fire automatic weapons in confined spaces for maximum lethality.
Battlefield commanders were even instructed to time, down to the second, how long it took their fighters to move between various points underground.
The 2019 manual, which was seized by Israeli forces and reviewed by The New York Times, was part of a yearslong effort by Hamas, well before its Oct. 7 attack and current war with Israel, to build an underground military operation that could withstand prolonged attacks and slow down Israeli ground forces inside the darkened tunnels.
Just a year before attacking Israel, Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, approved spending $225,000 to install blast doors to protect the militia’s tunnel network from airstrikes and ground assaults.
The approval document said Hamas brigade commanders had reviewed the tunnels below Gaza and identified critical places underground and at the surface that needed fortification.
The records, along with interviews with experts and Israeli commanders, help explain why, nearly a year into the war, Israel has struggled to achieve its objective of dismantling Hamas.
Israeli officials spent years searching for and dismantling tunnels that Hamas could use to sneak into Israel to launch an attack. But assessing the underground network inside Gaza was not a priority, a senior Israeli official said, because an invasion and full-scale war there seemed unlikely.
All the while, officials now realize, Hamas was girding for just such a confrontation.
Were it not for the tunnels, experts say, Hamas would have stood little chance
against the far superior Israeli military.
The underground-combat manual contains instructions on how to camouflage tunnel entrances, locate them with compasses or GPS, enter quickly and move efficiently.
“While moving in the dark inside the tunnel, the fighter needs night-vision goggles equipped with infrared,” the document, written in Arabic, reads. Weapons should be set to automatic and fired from the shoulder. “This type of shooting is effective because the tunnel is narrow, so the shots are aimed at the kill zones in the upper part of the human body.”
Israeli officials knew before the war that Hamas had an extensive tunnel network, but it has proved to be more sophisticated and extensive than they realized. Early in the war, they estimated that it stretched for about 250 miles. Now they believe it is up to twice as long.
And they continue to discover new tunnels. Just last week, Israeli commandos rescued a Bedouin Arab citizen of Israel who was found alone in an underground warren. The government said Sunday that six hostages had been found
dead in another tunnel.
Sinwar, Israel’s highest-value target, has been suspected of managing the war and evading capture from a tunnel.
The records show how both sides have had to adapt their tactics in the war. Just as Israel underestimated the tunnels, Hamas prepared for subterranean battles that have not materialized. Israel was reluctant, especially early in the war, to send troops underground where they might face combat. Hamas has primarily ambushed soldiers near tunnel entrances, while avoiding direct confrontations.
That has left Hamas to use the tunnels to launch aboveground hit-and-run attacks, hide from Israeli forces and detonate explosives using remote triggers and hidden cameras, according to Israeli military officials and a review of battlefield photos and videos.
These maneuvers have slowed Israel’s assault, but its military has still decimated Hamas’ ranks, routed them from strongholds and forced them to abandon huge swaths of the tunnel network that they invested so heavily to build.
Members of the Israeli military dis-
covered the tunnel warfare document in Gaza City’s Zeitoun district in November, officials said. A letter from Sinwar to a military commander was found that same month south of the city. The documents were made available to the Times by Israeli military officials.
A military spokesperson said that “the fact that Hamas is hiding in tunnels and managing much of the fighting from there prolongs the war.” A senior Hamas official declined to comment on the tunnel strategy.
The markings on the documents are consistent with other Hamas materials that have been made public or been examined by the Times. And Israeli soldiers have described details, such as camouflaged tunnel entrances and recently installed blast doors, that are consistent with the Hamas documents. The documents also describe the use of gas detectors and night-vision goggles, equipment that Israeli forces have found inside tunnels.
“Hamas’ combat strategy is based on underground tactics,” said Tamir Hayman, a former head of Israel’s military intelligence. “This is one of the primary reasons they have managed to withstand the IDF thus far,” he continued, using an abbreviation for the Israeli military.
Since the war started, much has been revealed about the subterranean network, which has been called the “Gaza Metro.” Hamas uses some rudimentary tunnels simply to mount attacks. The fighting manual describes how people should maneuver these narrow passages in darkness: with one hand on the wall and the other on the fighter in front.
Other tunnels are sophisticated command-and-control centers or arteries connecting underground weapons factories to storage facilities — concealing Hamas’ entire military infrastructure. In some cases, Hamas has used solar panels installed on the roofs of private homes to provide power underground.
Some tunnels also serve as communi-
cation hubs. This past winter, Israeli forces discovered a Nokia telecommunications system underneath the headquarters of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.
Such Nokia systems provide voice and data services, according to the manual obtained by the Times, and could have functioned as a switchboard for an underground communication network. But the features require additional hardware, and it is not clear what abilities Hamas had.
Hamas has been known to hold Israeli hostages underground, so every tunnel needs to be investigated and cleared, Israeli officials say.
Destroying a tunnel section can take dozens of soldiers about 10 hours, according to a senior Israeli officer who is an expert on tunnel warfare. Last year, the Israeli army discovered a tunnel that had a depth of 250 feet — about the height of a 25-story building. The army said it took months to destroy it.
“I cannot overstate that in any way. The tunnels impact the pace of the operations,” said Daphné Richemond-Barak,
the subsurface.”
One Israeli special operations officer, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss military activities, said that as soldiers approached the tunnels, Hamas sometimes blasted the ceilings, causing cave-ins that would
plosives per kilometer.
The Israeli military estimates that it costs Hamas about $300,000 to build roughly a half-mile-long rudimentary tunnel. Richemond-Barak said that the letter from Sinwar highlighted the expense and sophistication behind the effort.
The letter was written to Mohammed
Last year, the Israeli army discovered a tunnel that had a depth of 250 feet — about the height of a 25-story building.
block the path.
An Israeli military official said it could take years to destroy the entire tunnel network.
Israel’s military leadership has made the tunnels its main target. But the cam-
Deif, the group’s military commander, who is believed to have been an architect of the Oct. 7 attack. It is not clear when Hamas completed its review of tunnel fortifications or whether it was done in connection to the attack planning. Sinwar
Sinwar authorized the most money for doors in northern Gaza and Khan Younis. Indeed, some of the heaviest fighting during the war has taken place in those areas.
“The Hamas tunnel system was an essential, if not existential element of their original battle plan,” said Ralph F. Goff, a former senior CIA official who served in the Middle East.
It is not clear when Hamas started using the doors, but Richemond-Barak said the group’s heavy reliance on them was new. She was not aware of Hamas using them during a 2014 war with Israel.
Blast doors seal tunnel segments from each other and from the outside, protecting against bombings and breaches. They also hamper the army’s use of drones to inspect and map tunnels.
The Israeli military has repeatedly encountered blast doors as they cleared tunnels. Despite the tactics described in the tunnel-fighting manual, once those doors have been breached, Israeli officials say, soldiers seldom find Hamas fighters
Eitan, 2
Chava Yonteff,
Abby Schwarz
Dassi Schwarz, 7
Eliana Kushner, 5
Nava Mosesson, 5
Nati, 5
Molly Moskowitz, 8
Gavriel Gold, 7
Penina Winchell, 6
EVEN MORE SUBMISSIONS
Note:
Rikki Hollander, 7
Rena Rosenberg, 9
Orli R., 6¾
Ora Leah Grady, 8
Mussa Spitezki, 10
Leah Levinger , 8
Chedvah Mark, 5
Avigail Rosenblum, 7
Atara Ament, 9
Aidel G , 5
Shalom Gryll, 4
Simcha Gryll, 7
Sorala C, 7
Temima Gryll, 10
Yael S.
Yedidya Baron, 9
Yehudah M. 9
Yeshaya Goldstein, 4
Yitzy Delrahim, 9
Yisroel, 7
Shifra Leah Sagal, 7
Shani Schwarz, 5
Ruchama Lipsky, 6
Rosie Anisfeld, 5 Rena, 5
In The K tchen
Chicken and Veggie Sheet-Pan Dinner
By Naomi Nachman
I love the idea of a sheet-pan dinner. It’s easy to make, bake, and serve all on one pan, and it comes with a built-in side dish. You can use any kind of vegetable here as long as it’s cut thin for faster cooking. You can also swap out the chicken for salmon if you prefer a pareve option.
Ingredients
◦ 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (pargiyot)
◦ 1 cup potato starch
◦ 1 teaspoon salt
◦ Pepper, to taste
◦ 1 large red onion, chunked
◦ 8 ounces brown mushrooms, whole
◦ 1 zucchini, cut into 1-inch slices
Sauce
◦ ½ cup teriyaki sauce
◦ ¼ cup honey
◦ 4 cloves garlic, minced or 4 cubes frozen garlic
◦ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
◦ 2 tablespoons olive oil
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Mix the potato starch, salt, and pepper in a bowl and dredge chicken pieces in the mixture. Place the chicken on the baking sheet and continue until all the chicken is coated. Place vegetables on top and around the chicken.
3. In a small bowl, mix sauce ingredients and pour over vegetables and chicken, making sure everything is well-coated.
4. Bake uncovered for 45-60 minutes, or until brown. Remove from oven and mix well. Serve and enjoy!
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.
