Bayis magazine - issue 6

History of... Soap | Shabbos Halacha: Toys on Shabbos

Recipes in the

Kitchen

Issue 6

19 Cheshvan 5777

November 20, 2016

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Teaching 101

Parenting

Humor

Table of Contents

24

29

“

warm, comforting soup

Kitchen Gadgets

In The Kitchen

”

4 Inspiration

Can you Handle the Truth?

6 Parenting

Seeing the Silver Lining

12 Teaching 101

The Challenge Of Inclusion - Part I

22 History of...

Don't Refridgerate Just Yet

Alkaline vs. Acidic

34 Serial

Finding Chava: Chapter 6

42 The Broken Crown Part 2

Soap

30 Tips for Healthy Living

32 Eye on Health

48 Shabbos Halacha

Toys on Shabbos

50 Humor

14

I Need A Raise

8 Artist Spotlight

Go Natural

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Jerusalem Soap Company

Editor-in-Chief Rabbi Noach Tuchinsky Managing Editor Rena Tuchinsky Executive Editor Sarah Glanz Proofreaders Esther Rosenbaum Estee Tannenbaum Creative Director Brachi Rosenes Contributing Writers Chaya Steinman, Shira Katz, Hadassah Glanz, Rabbi Zechariah Steinman, Rabbi Dr. Yoseif (Jeffrey) Glanz, Yaakov Grossman, Dr. David Tuchinsky, Naomi Lerman, Lily Rosenberg Advertising Manager Adam Tuchinsky advertise@bayismagazine.com Bayis Magazine – www.bayismagazine.com Editor@bayismagazine.com Contactus@bayismagazine.com We Look forward to hearing from you!

To subscribe via email: subscriptions@bayismagazine.com Bayis Magazine. Published by Bayis Magazine LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form without prior written permission from the publisher is prohibited. The publisher reserves the right to edit all articles for clarity, space and editorial sensitivities. Bayis Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content of the articles or advertisements in the publication, nor for the contents of the books that are referred to or excerpted herein.

Welcome Welcome to Bayis, the Jewish woman’s free digital magazine! We are so happy to invite you in. With Hashem’s help, we have gathered an amazing array of fascinating, entertaining, and informative articles and stories for your reading pleasure. Sit back and enjoy reading these remarkable articles at your convenience on your computer, e-reader (tablet), or mobile device. For all you “Shabbos readers” out there, you can easily print out the pages you want from the downloadable PDF Shabbos edition or from our website. Our hope is to provide you, our readers, with quality kosher content for free!

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Inspiration

A

Rabbi Noach Tuchinsky

Can you Handle the Truth? n unnamed Rav is traveling for the first time on an airplane.

His entourage trails behind him in the long line waiting to go through airport check-in. It is finally his turn and the ticket-agent behind the counter asks, “where are you traveling to today?”

The Rav replies, “Israel.”

“And did you pack your bags yourself?” she asks.

“No,” responds the Rav. The ticket-agent continues, “and were these bags with— wait you didn’t pack the bags?”

“No,” the Rav answers once again.

“Were you there when they were packed?”

“No.” Now the ticket-agent seems flustered, “who packed them?”

“I’m assuming a family member, but I cannot be sure,” the Rav answers.

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“Um—um,” the ticket-agent seems lost. It is quite apparent no one has ever answered no to all these questions.

What was the Rav doing?

Couldn’t he just have lied, everyone else does it? Is it even a real lie? It’s just a small white lie.

Obviously, the lesson behind this story is the importance of emes and how in all situations, no matter how inconvenient, emes takes precedence (except when it affects shalom which is another subject). But what was wrong with saying one little white lie for convenience?

To answer this question let us explain what the relationship between emes and the world is. The Gemara says that emes is what Hashem uses to sustain the world. All the letters of emes have two legs. The letters ‫א‬, ‫מ‬, and ‫ת‬, all have two “feet” touching the ground. Whereas the letters of sheker, ‫ש‬, ‫ק‬, and ‫ר‬, have only one leg touching the ground.

Emes is what Hashem uses to

keep the world “standing” or existing.

The Shaarei Teshuva explains that emes is even the foundation of the soul! Just as emes keeps the world “standing” so to it is what supports our souls. Now maybe we can understand why the aforementioned Rav was so careful not to even say the smallest bit of falsehood. What could happen if there is even a little weakness or small cracks in the foundation of a building?

The building could fall! Can we imagine what happens when we bring even a little sheker into the world? Emes is the foundation of our souls and the world, and if we speak sheker we cause cracks in that very foundation. We have to strengthen ourselves against falsehoods, no matter how small, and only speak Emes. And with us helping to sustain the world and fortify our own souls, may we be zocheh to see Mashiach B’mehaira B’yamainu.

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Parenting

Seeing the Silver Lining

M

rs. Davis was upset when her 5-yearold daughter Shira barked, “MOVE!” at her 3-year-old sister. But she calmed down when she reminded herself that Dina usually would have added a strong shove that would have left Malky wailing. So when she opened her mouth to react, she said, “Wow, Dina, I’m really impressed! You only used your words, not your hands!” Dina smiled and played nicely the whole afternoon.

Does this sound crazy? Are we supposed to compliment our kids for their bad behavior? I wouldn’t phrase it quite like that. The fact is that there are two ways to encourage growth.

Let’s look at ourselves. Perhaps we want to stop saying loshon hora, or start davening with more kavana. Maybe we always forget to include “yaaleh v’yavo” in bentching and davening, or days go by without our folding the laundry. One thing we can, and what many of us indeed do, is to kick ourselves when we mess up. This fixation on what

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we’ve done wrong might keep us stuck — again we only remembered yaaleh v’yavo the first day of Rosh Chodesh, and again we only folded one load of laundry the whole week. Forget it, we’re never going to improve.

But we can tell ourselves something else instead. We can pat ourselves on the back when we have successes, even tiny ones.

Focusing on the positive inspires us to continue trying by showing us that we are capable and can do it — see, we already have.

We held back from sharing the loshon hara with that one friend, although we said it to someone else before and to another person after. We had kavana for the first brocha of shemoneh esrei, albeit none of the other ones. We can use the same method when dealing with our children and how we react to their behavior, with incredible results.

15-year-old Shevy consistently came late to school, and as two latenesses equaled a detention,

she had to constantly stay after school hours. One morning, in a funny twist of her scatterbrained behavior, she forgot to change her clock when the rest of society did, and she actually got to school early! The principal greeted her at the door with a smile and said, “Wow, Shevy, good for you! I’m so proud that you came on time that I am giving you 5 free latenesses! That means that you won’t have to sit in detention for them.” Wouldn’t you know, it was another month before Shevy had to even use one of them. She did not sit detention again that whole year.

6-year-old Efraim was in the habit of waking up early, and — being bored — would wake up the entire family. One night, his mother begged him to please not wake anyone up until his (digital) watch showed 7:30. The next morning, Efraim came to his mother’s room, with 7:03 displayed on the watch. His mother explained to him that it

Q A

Now that the school year is underway, what can I do to promote my children’s well-being in school with regards to their teachers and school staff?

Teachers, principals, and other people in positions of power in the school setting come in various stripes, just like the rest of humanity. We don’t always know what our children will be in for or up against, but we can take certain steps to maximize the positive attention and care they will receive from their authority figures. We can also learn how to help them deal with their experiences in the way that will best benefit them.

The first thing is to be proactive. Now, at the beginning of the school year, is the time to start calling the teachers. Introduce yourself, compliment the teacher, tell him that you’re looking forward to a year of growth and success for your child, and that you intend to be involved. After that, you should call about once a month for an update on how your child is doing. Keeping in touch shows the teacher that you care, and the fact is that teachers pay more attention to the children whose parents show that they are deeply invested. They also know that they are going to have to know what to say when you call them, so they will make sure to pay attention.

If financially possible, take every opportunity to give gifts or money, such as Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, and Purim. If this is not feasible, even a card will go a long way in ensuring that the teacher definitely has his mind on your child.

Always compliment the teacher, and if it turns out that he/she is perhaps too strict or maybe too hung up on his own honor, you must really go all out and praise him to the skies. This goes for anyone, teacher, principal, assistant principal, etc., who might be exhibiting this sort of behavior if it is negatively affecting your child. By complimenting them you are winning them over to your side and you can slip in some sort of comment. This enables them to take it into consideration without feeling that their authority is threatened or their competence called into question.

One more thing, sometimes a child will misbehave, and the school will demand that you as a parent deal with it seriously or severely. I am not saying that this is never correct. But the factors that pertain to what is best for your child must be considered, perhaps spoken over with an outside mentor. In such a case, if what is truly best for your child is a more gentle approach, then you tell the school that you are dealing with it as they instructed, and then do whatever is truly best for your child. This is not forbidden but rather a must. As a parent your first duty is to do what is best for your child.

Wishing you a successful and fruitful year.

was not the time she had asked for, at which Efraim proceeded to make as much noise as possible so that the whole family was woken up. This same scenario played out for three consecutive days. On the fourth day, it

was again 7:03 when Efraim came into the room. This time, though, Mommy exclaimed, “Wow, Efraim! Your watch shows a 7, a 0, and a 3, all the numbers I asked for! Way to go!”

Efraim beamed, then sat on the

Hadassah Glanz couch looking at books quietly until everyone woke up. The next day he came at 7:30, and the next, he overslept!

There are so many opportunities to see and comment on the positive, even if there is negative as well. In the scenario with Shira barking at her sister, her mother acknowledged that a lack of a negative is something positive. Shevy’s wise principal grabbed the opportunity to catch Shevy doing it right, even accidentally, and make a big deal of it. With Efraim, showing him what he did get right gave him a good feeling that encouraged him to get it even better and to continue being good.

So let’s remember these ways of focusing on the positive and using the positive as an opportunity to encourage good behavior: A lack of a negative is a positive.

Catch them doing it right and acknowledge it effusively.

Focus on what was done right and ignore what was wrong.

We would be pleased to focus on your positive and publish your successes here in Bayis’s parenting column. Please write and let us know if these ideas worked for you.

Hadassah Glanz trained under Rabbi Brezak, a worldrenowned expert in parenting and author of the book "Chinuch in Turbulent Times". Most stories told were heard from Rabbi Brezak.

Want to get your question answered? Send us your parenting question to parenting@bayismagazine.com Bayis |

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

By Naomi Lerman

As a child of hippies, Yitchok Moully is not your typical chas-

sid. At an early age, Moully’s family moved from the Australian Outback to Melbourne when his grandfather became ill. While in Melbourne, Moully’s mother heard a Chabad rabbi speak, which led to Moully’s enrollment in Melbourne’s Chabad day school. When his grandfather passed away on Moully’s first day of school, it felt as though his grandfather had been holding on in order to make sure the family was taken care of spiritually.

After his grandfather’s passing, Moully’s parents were ready to move again, but the question was: where to? They dreamt of a place that would combine their love of nature and their newfound love of Judaism, and eventually decided on a religious kibbutz in Israel. Their flight from Australia was routed through Los Angeles and New York before arriving in Israel. They arrived in New York in Tishrei 1985/5746 and planned to stay for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. They stayed with total strangers in Crown Heights in Brooklyn. People they met encouraged them to write a letter to the Lubavitcher Rebbe to seek a blessing for their move. In his response, the Lubavitcher Rebbe said: stay in New York for the time being and through friends accomplish what you are here to accomplish. This reply changed the direction of his life and his parents lives forever.

I spoke with Moully to discuss his art and his incredible story.

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Where would you be now without that reply from the Lubavitcher Rebbe?

I know myself and my lowest common denominator tendencies. I wouldn’t be married, have kids, or a job, it would just be me and the waves. Surfing is wonderful … but I felt then, and still feel, that the Rebbe saw potential in me. I eventually became a shaliach.

What more could I hope to achieve than to share my love of Judaism with others?

I discovered my art after serving as a youth rabbi. It was a long soul-searching journey, but I realized that what I was really here for was to share my art. As a shaliach I was really doing a mitzvah that someone could do on my behalf, but some things you can only do yourself, which for me is my art. Today I’m no longer a youth rabbi. My art is both my shlichus and my calling; it gives me a degree of clarity, and comfort, and resolve.

Tell me a bit about your parents.

My parents are hippies, which I say with a tremendous amount of pride. They aren’t artists per se, but they are incredibly creative; I definitely get that gene and energy from them.

They became frum and I came along for the journey when I was young, so I think that really had a very big impact on my creativity.

How did your journey with art begin?

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HASHEM CREATED EACH JEW WITH AN INDIVIDUAL UNIQUENESS AND WE NEED TO CELEBRATE THAT UNIQUENESS As a child, photography was my medium of choice…When I bumped into this thing called silkscreen I was 26, married with two kids, and serving as a youth rabbi in a Chabad center in New Jersey, and I was developing photography as passion and hobby. When I discovered silk screen—it blew my mind.

It took me a year, through trial and error, to learn. I eventually found a silkscreen place, but it turned out they were really a commercial silk screen supply company and they had no time or patience for a wannabe artist who didn’t know what he was doing. Every time I went they would tell me to leave. Every few weeks, I would pick myself up and go back to the shop (which was very far away). Step by step I was slowly getting there.

Eventually they told me they didn’t have the time or resources to help me. By then I had created my first piece [and] there was no looking back.

Do you have any formal training?

Once I had learnt a bit about the medium through trial and error, I did a one-week course at a place called the Lower East

Side Printshop. It was amazing! I would be there at the door a half an hour before they opened, and they would have to kick me out at the end. I felt every moment was precious.

Your work has been compared to that of Andy Warhol. How does his art influence you?

I didn’t study art or art history, so my first awareness of silkscreen was through Pop Art …

The simplicity, crispness, and bright colors of Warhol’s work really spoke to me …Warhol’s messages were all about tearing down the consumerism of American society, while my images of mitzvahs are about lifting up everyday life. With my ritual artist series I pair a kiddush cup with a martini glass, shabbos candles with a zippo lighter and a Chumash with an ipad. Technically, you can take a zippo lighter on a friday afternoon, make a brachah and light the zippo lighter. It’s counterintuitive to our sensibilities, and to our views on a davar mitzvah, but you can also connect to G-d when you learn with an ipad...

Judaism is all about using the items of the world, the hardware, to create spirituality.

Is that the main message of your work?

I have 3 bodies of work: Pop Art, which is my first series, Post Pop, where I take the same silk screening images and approach them in a more painterly fashion, and the third set is fully

abstract. With Post Pop, I have been trying to visualize the power of a mitzvah. That is where I’m going with all of my art and concepts. G-d exists in this world, yet we don’t see the power of a mitzvah. We don’t see the ripple effect. When you put a coin in a pushke or you light shabbos candles you are making a real affect on the world. We don’t realize that, and I am trying to visualize that reality.

I noticed on your website a piece based on your reaction to the Har Nof Massacre.

The massacre in Har Nof happened almost two years ago on a Tuesday, and I go to an art class on Tuesdays. Because of the time difference, when we woke up it was all over the news.

I called a Rav after grabbing a tallis and I asked him if I can rip the tallis in order to convey what I was feeling. He said that as long as the strings are intact it’s okay, so I ripped the tallis and essentially recreated the scene. The piece is a commemoration of what happened that

day in Har Nof; even as time moves on it is a visual reminder of the tragedy.

When I finished, I noticed that there was an extra piece of tallis that didn’t fit on the canvas. I wanted to take this extra piece and use it to create something positive and uplifting, because what happened in Har Nof is not the whole story. I kept talking about it, but I couldn’t come up with anything… Almost a year ago, Sarah Litman was getting ready to get married and her father and brother were murdered. At the shiva she said that the wedding would go on and that she wouldn’t let the monsters take away their joy.

She invited all of Am Yisrael to her wedding, and thousands of people came from chutz l’aretz and Israel to be there I saw that, and I thought—that’s my piece!

I used the extra portion of tallis from the Har Nof piece to create the chuppah. The second piece is called Am Israel Chai. The pieces fit together and they belong to each other. The idea is that we rise up from the ashes.

So powerful! Before we end, let me mention that I love the quote on your website: “Under the black hat there is a wealth of vibrant colorful energy waiting to be released”.

It is one of my favorite pieces, my self portrait that sums up all of my work: the Orange Socks.

It’s a bunch of men all dancing to the beat of the same drum on the straight and narrow path, and one guy has orange socks. The idea is that we each must, I believe we must, personalize our Judaism. If all of our Judaisms are carbon copies then we are doing ourselves and our community a big disservice. Hashem created each Jew with an individual uniqueness and we need to celebrate that uniqueness. People look at a chassid and they see a person dressed in black and white, they all look the same — that’s the idea of under the black hat… It’s not only color, it’s also joy. Each Jew has so much to give. We aren’t just rigid and stoic carbon copies of each other.

You can find Yitchok Moully’s work on his website: https://moullyart.com

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Teaching 101

THE CHALLENGE OF INCLUSION - Part I

T

he ultimate rationale for inclusion is based not on law or regulations or teaching technology, but on values. What kinds of people are we and what kind of society do we wish to develop?

What values do we honor?

—A. Gartner and D. K. Lipsky

In my previous two columns I wrote about the necessity of every teacher to understand the learning needs of students with disabilities as well as being able to differentiate instruction to actually meet the needs of all students.

In this column (and probably in the next several) I’d like to discuss a particular passion of mine; i.e., inclusive practice.

Inclusion is a belief system. It is a process of facilitating an educational environment that provides access to high-quality education for all students.

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Most classrooms are not inclusive. We segregate students based on ability and we claim we do so in best interests of the students. That’s a lie!

Effective teachers believe that all children can learn together in the same schools and the same classrooms, with services and supports necessary so that they can succeed. Maintaining high expectations for all students, believing in their potential, providing needed services to fully participate are essential.

No child should be demeaned, nor should students have their uniqueness ignored or belittled. Students with disabilities should be educated with students without disabilities as much as possible.

Special classes or removal of children from the mainstream education environment should occur only when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in the classroom cannot be

achieved satisfactorily with the use of supplementary support services.

Inclusive practice is part of our Judaic tradition. Allow me to share some thoughts about inclusion that I heard from Rabbi Yamin Benarroch, a former student of mine and now a school principal.

“Ability grouping (i.e., separating students based on presumed academic ability) can be traced back directly to Talmudic times. One can easily find a multitude of examples in which various sages modeled their yeshivot in a manner that allowed for only homogeneous classes. This, in fact, is the standard practice throughout the yeshiva world today. Recruiters for one year programs test students and rank them according to ability in order to determine exactly which level of shiur would best suit them. In describing the makeup of the Ark, the Torah states as follows:

By Rabbi Dr. Yoseif (Jeffrey) Glanz

“They shall make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits its width, and a cubit and a half its height. You shall cover it with gold, from within and from without you shall cover it, and you shall make on it a gold crown all around” (Shmot 25:10-11, Art Scroll Stone Edition).

A unique feature of the Ark was that it was it plated with gold on the outside for everybody to see, it also had a layer of gold on the inside which was not visible from the outside. Rashi quotes the Talmudic dictum that a Torah scholar must be consistent in his actions and beliefs. His inner character must match his public demeanor, and his actions must conform to his professed beliefs (Shmot 25:1011, Art Scroll Stone Edition).

The Talmud in Tractate Brachot 27B tells the story of a dispute that took place between Rabban Gamliel, who at the time was the head of the academy in Yavneh, and Rav Yehoshua. As a result of this dispute, Rabban Gamliel was relieved of his duties as the Nasi, and was replaced by Rav Elazar ben Azarya. The Talmud dictates some significant happenings and changes that took place on the first day that Rav Elazar became Nasi.

“On that day they removed the doorkeeper and permission was given to any student

to enter (the beit midrash) for Rabban Gamliel announced that no student whose character does not correspond to his exterior may enter the house of study. That day many benches were added. Rav Yochanan said: Abba Yosef ben Dostai argued this point with the sages. One claims that four hundred benches were added and one claims that seven hundred benches were added … On that day, Tractate Eduyot was written … and there was not a single law in the study hall that had been left unresolved” (Brachot 27B-28A, Art Scroll Schottenstein Edition).

The dispute between both sages can be attributed to a fundamental disagreement; whether to create a homogeneous or heterogeneous educational environment within their yeshiva. It is clear from the text that the change made by Rav Elazar not only significantly increased the number of students that came to learn on that day, it also affected the quality of learning that took place. The latter is made evident by the fact that the text stresses how the Tractate Eduyot was taught on that day and that all laws were resolved. The Talmud describes Rabban Gamliels’ emotions on the first day that Rav Elazar became Nasi: “Rabban Gamliel was dispirited. He said: Perhaps, God

forbid, I have withheld Torah from Israel! They showed him in his dream white pitchers that were filled with ash. But that was not the case; it was only to put his mind at ease that they showed him this.”

The Maharsha explains that the dream was in essence telling Rabban Gamliel that the students appear worthy (beautiful white pitchers), but truly were unworthy (worthless ashes on the inside). The Gemara’s conclusion is that Rabban Gamliel was shown this dream so that he not feel despondent. In truth, however, his policy was in error (Brachot 28A, Art Scroll Schottenstein Edition).

An argument can therefore be made, based on this Gemara, that Chazal did in fact favor a more heterogeneous, inclusive academic setting.”

In Part II, in the next issue of BAYIS, I’ll give you some practical suggestions for making inclusion work.

Rabbi Dr. Glanz earned his Ed.D. degree in education from Teachers College, Columbia University. He taught for 15 years in elementary and middle school classrooms, served as a school administrator for five years, and has taught at the college/university levels for the past thirty years. Currently, he lives in Eretz Yisroel and serves as the Program Head for Michlalah-Jerusalem College's master’s degree in educational administration. He also teaches online for Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Gradaute School of Jewish Education and Administration. He hopes to stimulate dialogue and welcomes your comments. You can contact him at Teaching@bayismagazine.com For the author's latest book that was just published, see http://www.yourlivewebdemo.com/landingpages/ ENGAGE/index.html

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GO

NATURAL Do you know how safe your cleaning products are?

By Chaya Steinman

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Oh Say Can You Say?

Are you ready for some tongue twisters? Try to say this: Phthalates. Perchloroethylene.

Quar ternar y A m mon iu m Compounds. 2-Butoxyethanol.

“If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it,” has become the anthem for healthy, natural eaters. We all know that food products with long lists of processed, chemical ingredients are considered less nourishing. It’s common knowledge that the food we put into our body affects our overall health, but what about the products we put on our body? What about those that fill the air we breathe and cover the surfaces in our home? Household cleaners, beauty products and air fresheners are rife with chemicals.

Actually, the above-mentioned fun list of chemical tongue twisters includes some of the potentially harmful toxins found in common cleaning supplies.

In the last few years the natural lifestyle movement has modified the aforementioned dictum,

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proclaiming “If you can’t pronounce it, don’t use it,” and eschewing all items that contain more than just simple and basic ingredients. The “All Natural” label is popping up on packaging everywhere, marketing a slew of natural products to the chemical-adverse consumer. Of course, everyone wants to do what’s best for their health and wellbeing, but does that mean tossing out our chemical-filled Herbal Essences shampoo in favor of the latest sulfate-free hair cleanser? Is it time to trade our Glade air freshener for an essential oil diffuser?

Should we replace Spic and Span floor cleaner with a homemade vinegar mixture and swap out Scrubbing Bubbles for a baking soda paste to clean shower tiles?

Let’s take a tour of your home, peeking into the cabinet under your sink, your makeup bag, medicine cabinet, and shower shelf — to see what hidden threats can be lurking in your household products.

A Breath of Fresh Air It’s not a great sign when your favorite scent of room spray has a warning label reading, “Concentrating and inhaling the contents can be harmful or fatal.” Fatal!? This shocking cautionary note is found on familiar brands like Glade and Air Wick. How could something that smells so nice be dangerous? It turns out that in addition to

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You don’t have to have symptoms.

Just because it doesn’t kill you, it doesn’t mean it’s not harming you.

making your home smell like apple-cinnamon-strudel or a meadow-at-dawn, air fresheners are also depositing toxins into the air you breathe including: carcinogens, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and phthalates.

Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Melbourne, Anne Steinemann, reports that up to ¼ of ingredients in a given air freshener are hazardous. “Ultimately your risk depends on exposure,” she warns. “You don’t have to have symptoms. Just because it doesn’t kill you, it doesn’t mean it’s not harming you.

Some effects are not immediately obvious.”

A 2015 research paper in the Journal of Toxology claims that, “Air fresheners can work by interfering with your sense of smell by coating your nasal passages with an oily film, or they can contain nerve-numbing agents.”

Yet not all scientists are chucking their Febreeze for good. Kent Pinkerton, Ph.D., an inhalation technology expert, presents a slightly more optimistic opinion: “I’m not sure that we should say air fresheners should be banned from use. We don’t really have solid evidence of that. But certainly some of the chemicals that have been measured from air fresheners should draw caution.” He explains that the lungs are designed as filters, and we are constantly breathing in harmful air and blocking toxins with the body’s natural defenses. Pinkerton does however, recommends caution with children: “Whatever is in the air, a child may have as many as 30 times greater exposure because of their size and their level of activity.”

For those who do want their air freshener, Dr. Steinemann advises a natural alternative like brewing mint tea or grinding a fresh orange, though the best way to freshen air is to open a window. “Why use an air freshener at all? It’s not designed to clean and disinfect the air; it’s a chemical mixture that masks odor,” says Dr. Steinemann. “The best smell is no smell. That means your house really is clean.”

A Hairy Situation When it comes to lathering up your locks, the two controversial shampoo ingredients are sulfates and parabens.

Natural Non-Toxic DIY All-Purpose Cleaner ⅟₄-⅟₂ cup of white vinegar 2 tablespoons of baking soda Several drops of tea tree or eucalyptus essential oil Spray bottle, preferably glass Water to fill the bottle Pour white vinegar in a spray bottle and add baking soda. Put in a few drops of essential oil and fill the bottle to the top with water.

Shake and let settle before using.

Sulfates are the ingredient in shampoos that create that foamy lather that we associate with a clean head of hair, and they serve to remove grease and buildup. The flip side of their effectiveness in cleaning is that sulfates can strip your hair of necessary oils, creating dry, frizzy hair, and split-ends. And don’t you hate that stinging feeling when shampoo gets in your eye? Sulfates are to blame for that too.

They are a known skin and eye irritant and are especially damaging for people with sensitive skin, allergies or eczema. For those who want to forgo sulfates, there are a variety of inexpensive drugstore brands, such as L’Oreal, that offer a sulfate free formula.

Parabens are preservatives with both antibacterial and antifungal properties, which in addition to shampoo, are used to enhance the shelf life of skin moisturizers, toothpaste, shaving cream, shower gels, make up, sunscreen, and deodorants. In 2004 parabens were found in breast cancer samples, igniting a debate about the danger of this chemical additive.

While many choose to avoid parabens in their hair and beauty products, there is no proven scientific link between parabens and cancer. In fact, the FDA, American Cancer Society and the World Health Association are all in agreement that parabens are safe in low levels.

However, while many consider parabens in shampoo and facial beauty products to be harmless, Molecular Biologist Phillipa Darbre is concerned about chemicals in deodorant as “parabens found in the tumors indicate that they came from something applied to the skin, such as an underarm deodorant, cream or body spray.” She mentions that up to 60% of all breast tumors are located close to the underarm. Deodorants — specifically antiperspirants, are also getting a bad rap for their aluminum content, which serves to plug the sweat ducts.

Not only is the aluminum absorbed into the

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skin, reducing sweat disables the body’s temperature regulation and toxin elimination process. Unfortunately, the natural deodorant options on the market are typically more expensive and, according to many, less effective than regular deodorants.

WARNING PRODUCT CONTAINS…

2-Butoxyethanol: Avoid inhalation, contributes to narcosis, pulmonary edema, and severe liver and kidney damage Ammonia: Powerful irritant, poisonous if mixed with bleach Chlorine: Respiratory irritant and thyroid disrupter Sodium Hydroxide: Extremely corrosive, avoid skin contact and inhalation Phthlates: Endocrine disrupter

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The Dirt on Cleaning Products While we know that there are many potentially dangerous chemicals used in cleaning products, consumers are largely in the dark about the exact ingredients used in each item. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, a regulation that promotes safe ingredients, does not include cleaning products. There is no legal obligation for cleaning product companies to list their full ingredients on the package. The Environmental Protection Agency requires that companies label “chemicals of known concern” but there is no mandatory testing of ingredients, nor is there any regulatory agency monitoring them.

For example; a bottle Clorox Bathroom Bleach Foamer lists: “Active Ingredient: Sodium Hypochlorite, 2.40%, Other Ingredients 97.60%” which is printed next to an all-caps bold warning stating “KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN WARNING: EYE IRRITANT, USE ONLY IN WELLVENTILATED AREAS”.

On a related note, when cautionary labels warn that a product should be kept out of children’s reach, this is

not just referring to ingestion, but also skin contact and inhalation.

Maid Brigade, a green-living website, explains; “children are frequently in contact with the chemical residues housecleaning products leave behind, by crawling, lying and sitting on the freshlycleaned floor. Children, especially infants and toddlers, frequently put their fingers in their mouths and noses, increasing risks for exposure. How common is it that the food is placed directly on a high chair tray that has just been wiped down with a household cleaner or dish detergent?” Considering that they’re smaller and their immune systems are not fully developed, kids are the highest risk population for chemical exposure through cleaning products.

When trying to move towards safer, more natural products, it’s advisable to read labels and avoid products with a signal word stronger than “Caution.”

Whenever possible, choose a scent-free option. Try out inexpensive, easy homemade cleansing solutions that use old-fashioned natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and borax. And when you can’t avoid using a chemical-laden product you can take solace in the fact that infrequent exposure to low doses of harmful toxins will usually not cause major damage to your body.

“IN ORDER TO BE A REALIST, YOU MUST BELIEVE IN MIRACLES”

H O L I S T I C H E ALT H AND W E LLN E SS C O A C H 84 5 - 5 5 8 -7 64 7 L a u re l Le d e rm an @g m ail . co m

LAURELLEDERMAN.WEEBLY.COM

By Naomi Lerman

Jerusalem Soap Company

S

hoshana, founder and soap artist at Jerusalem Soap Company, grew up in the United States without a strong connection to Israel. When she came to Israel on Birthright, she was shocked to discover a deep, spiritual connection to a country that had never been a big part of her life. Her instinct was to gather as much of Israel as she could to bring back with her to America - she found herself filling a glass bottle with water from the Sea of Galilee and pressing weeds that grew out of the cracks in the Western Wall in the pages of her journal. She bagged dirt from Masada, seashells from Tel Aviv, and she even tried bringing back delicious cucumbers and tomatoes that were unlike any she had ever tasted before (learning experience - she was highly disappointed when they were confiscated at customs).

Long story short, she met and married her husband in the holy city of Jerusalem. She now lovingly refers to him as her left-brained spouse which she stresses is necessary for crafters - of course said with a glint in her eye and a beaming smile. They have lived in Israel ever since, starting out in Jerusalem and then more recently moving to Beit Shemesh, with their three children who were all born in Israel.

Over the course of several years, she mastered the art of soap making. From a modest first bar, which she still keeps as a memento, she slowly improved her bars through creating her own recipes and discovering which ingredients pair well together and which are the best for different skin types. Creating soap has taught her how to utilize the varied benefits of oils, butters, and botanicals. She also began studying the effects of different local ingredients on lather, mildness, exfoliation, scent, and color.

Throug h t he a ncient cold-process method, she has developed the best possible, natural and nourishing soaps for the skin. Using her unique recipes and fragrance blends, she designs the soaps with as many local ingredients as she can grow, source or forage. From collecting rainwater in buckets on her balcony to pureeing local fruit, each soap is lovingly crafted from the best ingredients.

After pouring, she sculpts the tops of the soap to express the essence of each small batch.

No two bars will ever be the same. She cures them for

has developed a unique experience, knows as the Build-A-Bar Workshop. During this workshop, participants expand their horizons by learning about the history and chemistry of soap and actually building their own bars from scratch. Shoshana currently offers t wo workshops: advanced and kid-friendly.

Shoshana is known for her incredibly friendly, chatty yet informative presentation style, which comes across in every workshop. Through her years of theater and music experience, Shoshana utilizes her well-honed performance skills to create an interactive and high-energy experience.

Created in Israel and filled with local ingredients, her soaps are an homage to the country that she fell in love with after high school.

Through her soap making, she has discovered a practical and tangible way of capturing the nourishment our bodies and souls receive from the Holy Land of Israel. Her soaps are an answer to the part of her that wanted to take it all in and take it all back with her.

Her wish is to share Israel with people who have a great love for the country, but are unable to live in Israel.

several weeks in her home studio in Ramat Beit Shemesh so that they will be gentle and long-lasting for her customers’ enjoyment.

Alongside her local sales and worldwide shipping, Shoshana

For more information on workshops, local sales, customized options for special and wholesale opportunities visit her website at JerusalemSoapCompany.com.

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History of...

1

SOAP

The use of soap originates in ancient civilizations. Soap was even found in a clay pot dating back more than four thousand years during an excavation in an ancient Babylonian ruin.

3 4

With Rome came the famous bath houses. Although Greek bath houses existed beforehand, the Romans elevated them in both size and luxury. However, there is a lot of criticism regarding their cleanliness. The water used in the bath houses were rarely changed and the heat, dirt and oil from the bather’s bodies led way to dangerous conditions.

Ashes. Yes, ashes were one of the key ingredients in soap.

Today Alkali, from the Arabic word for ashes, al-galy, has replaced actual ashes being used to produce soaps.

5

How does soap work? Soap makes previously insoluble particles to become soluble. In other words, soap helps water pick up dirt.

6

In 1886, William Hesketh and James Lever bought a small soap making factory in England. Originally it was called Lever Brothers, today it is one of the largest companies in the world, Unilever. Unilever now boasts some of the most well-known soap companies, such as Dove and Axe, and also many of the most well-known food companies, such as Hellman’s and Lipton.

7

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2

In ancient Egypt bathing was a regular occurrence.

The Ebers Papyrus from three thousand years ago explains how to produce soap and that they should be used for certain skin diseases and washing.

The ingredients are animal and vegetable oils with alkaline salts.

Although there were a few other soap companies that produced liquid soap, in 1898 B. J. Johnson tried his hands in the business as well. Made of palm and olive oils he called his soap Palmolive.

The soap was so popular he later changed his company name from B. J. Johnson Soap Company to Palmolive.

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in the

Recipes and Photos By Rena Tuchinsky

Kitchen Fall Comfort

Soups

This time of year, many of us have our soup pots out most of the week. There is just something about the fall and winter months ahead that call for big bowls of warm, comforting soup. Oh ya, it’s called – cold weather! Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

Hearty, filling, healthy, and delicious soups, you need to try them all!

Let me know if you have tried any of the recipes featured here, or if you are looking for anything specific. Send an email to recipes@bayismagazine.com. I’d love to hear from you!

Stay warm!

QUINOA MINESTRONE SOUP Not your typical pasta-filled minestrone soup, but just as good — if not better. This soup is filled with tons of vegetables and protein, and is sure to keep you warm as the weather gets cooler.

1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 1 large carrot, chopped 2 stalks celery, sliced

1 zucchini, diced 1 cup frozen or fresh cut green beans 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes 1 ⅟2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon dried parsley 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 tablespoon sugar 8 cups water ⅓ cup quinoa 1 15oz can northern white beans, drained and rinsed ⅟2 teaspoon salt pinch of black pepper

1. H eat the oil in a large soup pot. Sauté the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic for about 5 minutes.

2. Add in zucchini and green beans and cook another 5 minutes.

3. A dd in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, quinoa, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 40 minutes.

4. O nce quinoa has cooked add in the beans, salt and pepper.

Cook another 15 minutes.

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BUTTERNUT SQUASH RED LENTIL SOUP This soup is not only hearty, but super healthy. Adding turmeric, a “super spice,” is not only great for your health, but works perfectly to make this soup taste delicious.

1 medium onion, chopped 2 medium carrots, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 cup dry red lentils 2 medium butternut squash 7 cups water, more if needed to thin 1 teaspoon each of salt, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and turmeric.

Pinch of black pepper 1. Cut the butternut squash in half.

Scoop out seeds, pierce with a knife and bake in a 375oF oven, uncovered, till soft in center, about 30 minutes. Scoop out and mash a bit with a fork, leaving some chunks.

2. H eat oil in a large soup pot, and sauté the onion, carrots, and garlic for about 5 minutes till the onions are soft. Add lentils and seasoning and stir till fragrant.

3. A dd in the 7 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then add in the mashed butternut squash. Stir and let simmer 30 minutes or until lentils are soft.

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TURKEY BARLEY SOUP Don’t knock it till you try it! This soup is an all-in-one meal that is a highly requested in my house. When I serve it I know everyone will be full and satisfied.

1 lb ground turkey 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 chopped onion 2 sliced carrots 1 teaspoon dried dill 1 teaspoon dried parsley ⅛ teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste ¼ teaspoon celery seed 6 cups water, plus more if needed to thin soup ⅓ cup barley 2 handfuls of chopped spinach- I used frozen 1. H eat the oil in a large soup pot. Add in the ground turkey and allow to cook through while breaking it up into very small pieces.

2. A dd in the onions and carrots.

Sauté till the onions begin to soften. Then add in the spices, barley and water.

4. B ring to a boil and then simmer, covered, till the barley is soft, about 45 minutes.

5. A dd in the chopped spinach and cook for another 10 minutes. Add more water if soup is too thick, and more salt if desired.

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Must-Have Kitchen

Gadgets CHEF’N XL GARLIC ZOOM

Mincing garlic can be annoying, how about making it fun instead!

This garlic zoom does just that. Simply place the garlic inside and be a kid again, rolling it around on your kitchen counter.

Click Here

OTOTO NESSIE LADLE This soup ladle is too adorable not to include. Serve your soup, stand the ladle up and watch your guests compliment you on that cute ladle they must know where you got it from.

Click Here

ORBLUE SILICONE SPOON REST No more messing up your counters with dried up soup from placing the ladle down. Instead, use these handy spoon rests that are easy to store and clean.

Click Here

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Tips for

Healthy Living

Don’t Refrigerate your Vegetables…Yet! How many times have you gone shopping really motivated to buy lots of healthy fresh produce? How many times have you filled up your shopping cart with a variety of fruits and vegetables looking forward to the healthy week ahead? And lastly, how many times have you stuffed most of them into your fridge, only to find them a week later still sitting there and rotten?

If this happens to you more than you’d like to admit then follow these tips for successful produce-shopping and prep so nothing goes to waste.

1 2

ONLY BUY WHAT YOU NEED Yes, you just saw a new exotic fruit, and it looks incredible, and you know you can make an amazing salad with it since you saw a recipe for it… somewhere… STOP! That is most-likely not going to happen.

Just buy one, give it a try, and if you really plan to use it next time get only the amount you need.

LOOK FOR BRUISING Any fruit or vegetable that is already bruising won’t last very long. Don’t even bring it into the house.

3

PREP—THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP TO FOLLOW When you get home from shopping, place all the fruits and vegetables on your counter in front of you. Next— wash, dry, peel and cut (if needed) right away. Place them into either one big container or a few small ones, but be sure that before they go into the fridge they are ready for consuming. That way they are easily accessible to you and your family, which will make them more likely to be eaten before they go bad.

Don’t assume you will eventually get to it. Prep them before so you will eat them later.

Enjoy your salads!

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Eye on Health

Are you alkaline enough or too acidic?

O

ne of the many downsides to a modern junk food diet low in vegetables is that it makes your body too acidic. The human body must maintain a healthy pH for optimal cellular function. When it’s too acidic, diseases take root. A body that is overly acidic sets the stage for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, chronic pain, inflammation, autoimmune disease, and other chronic health problems. Fortunately, you can sway your body toward a more healthy and alkaline pH through your diet.

Testing how acid or alkaline you are

People use several different methods to identify pH levels, but not all are reliable. The most well-known test is a salivary pH test, however this method does not have much support in scientific studies. Testing blood pH is also not accurate because it only fluctuates in events such as poisoning, kidney disease, or lung disease.

Urine testing has shown to accurately reflect how acidic or alkaline you are. It can also help you assess whether dietary changes, such as eating more leafy green veggies and less sugar, are helping you become more alkaline. Ideal urinary pH is between 7.2–7.8. Please note, however, that infections, bacterial overgrowth, dehydration, incontinence, and other issues can affect your results.

How do you become more alkaline?

The modern American diet makes it easy to become too acidic.

Sugars, processed starches, industrialized oils, and junk foods promote excess acidity. Excess caffeine, sodas, and alcohol also promote acidity, as does too much meat and not enough colorful vegetables and fruits. You do not need to become a vegan or vegetarian to maintain good alkalinity, however your diet should be based primarily on leafy green and colorful vegetables and low-glycemic fruits. An alkaline diet is rich in magnesium, potassium, calcium, and other minerals that help maintain a healthy pH. An added bonus: A plant-rich diet also feeds the right kind of bacteria in your gut so that you are less prone to food sensitivities, enjoy better brain function, and better immune function. But avoid an alkaline stomach!

The stomach needs to stay strongly acidic in order to digest proteins and fight pathogens. Many people suffer from insufficient stomach acidity, which paradoxically causes symptoms of acid reflux.

Health conditions that promote being too acidic

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Dr. David Tuchinsky

SYMPTOMS OF BEING TOO ACIDIC Many people are too acidic but are not aware of it.

Below are common symptoms of over acidity: • Swelling and bloating • Frequent urination • Poor brain function • Brain fog • Salt cravings • Muscle cramps • Muscle twitches • Constipation • Reduced endurance for exercise • Difficulty holding breath • Rapid, shallow breathing • Poor sleep

While being overly acidic can promote poor health, certain health conditions can likewise promote acidity. These include anemia, asthma, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), or high blood sugar (insulin resistance or diabetes). Acidity that is too severe becomes life threatening.

Diabetes, kidney disease, and lung disease acidify the body to a severe degree and require medical attention..

Chapter 6 Chava meets Shoshana who invites her to spend Shabbos at her house. Chava accepts, even though she has no idea what she has gotten herself into, she is excited for the opportunity...

“S

o, you’re just, like, sleeping at a stranger’s house?”

“I know,” Chava said. “I know.”

Evie began to giggle, and Chava groaned and put her face in her hands.

“It’s crazy, isn’t it?”

“I mean—” Evie paused, and Chava looked up at her.

They both started laughing. “I’m not going to say that what’s happening with your parents isn’t also crazy,” Evie said.

They were sitting in Starbucks in the Commons, waiting for art class to start. Evie was still laughing over the whipped topping of her drink, which she was stirring with a straw.

“It really is crazy,” she said.

“I know,” Chava said. “I feel like a spy. Like I’m in the FBI.” Evie snorted. “The Mystery of the Name, starring Ava Borden.”

“Chava,” Chava said. She tried to pronounce the first letter properly, but it came out sounding like a gag and a cough.

“Honestly,” Chava said, “I just really want to know who this Yaakov person is.”

“It’s kind of scary. Like who knows what our parents

finding chava By: Shira Katz

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did with their lives before we existed.”

“Well, don’t you expect them to just—I don’t know—tell us?”

Evie was quiet for a moment. They both stirred their drinks. Evie’s parents had always been the more easy-going ones, the ones who were warm, welcoming, and open about their ideas, hopes, dreams, and

I’ve never heard good things about super religious people. They’re kind of weird especially their past. Chava’s parents had been the uptight ones, the ones who needed two weeks notice before she and Evie had a playdate or a sleepover, the ones who didn’t let her go out with Evie because she needed to study for her SATs. Evie didn’t have to worry about family secrets.

“So you’re going to stay by these strangers,” Evie said again.

Chava nodded. “I know her name, at least. They seem nice.”

“I don’t get it; this is just

Rabbi Dr. Yoseif (Jeffrey) Glanz

something that Jews do?”

“Honestly? I don’t know.”

Evie sipped the last of her drink and threw out the cup. “I mean, how much of this Jewish stuff are you going to do?”

Chava took a big sip of her drink and swished it around her mouth. Evie had listened with rapt attention to everything Chava had told her about the picture, the gown and the hat, and the note to the mystery man.

She had nodded the entire time Chava talked about the Jewish town, but she had also shifted uncomfortably when Chava had started to talk about her Jewish background. Really religious people were bigoted, she had said.

Chava shrugged. “I just want to know more about my background. Shouldn’t I?” “I just don’t know if you’re going to like being around them,” Evie said. “I’ve never heard good things about super religious people.

They’re kind of weird, and they really don’t like outsiders.”

“Everyone I’ve met so far has been really nice. I just don’t want to be in the dark anymore. About anything.”

“I know,” Evie said. “I just don’t want you to become a crazy person and move to a compound in Utah or something.”

They both laughed. “I don’t

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think that will happen,” Chava said. “These people are normal. I’m excited.”

“Good,” Evie said. They began walking towards the art class.

“I’m glad you found something that’s meaningful,” Evie said.

Chava nodded. Evie knew how much she had struggled with the idea of going to college. And Chava knew Evie was having ideas of her own.

“How is planning for the Europe trip going?”

Chava asked.

“It’s going,” Evie said. “I’ve only planned one leg so far. It’s a lot of work.” She smiled at Chava. “You’re still invited,” she said.

“I know,” Chava said. “And I’m still not going.” The last time they had spoken about this, Chava had felt a confusion that bordered on desperation, a heavy burden chaining her to the basement of her house, and the picture of her parents.

Now that she had made progress, now that she had made connections with real life Jews, and would have the opportunity to decode her parents’ past, she no longer felt so bleak. She felt like she would soon be in the light.

They walked up the stairs to the studio together.

• • • On Friday afternoon, Chava

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said goodbye to her parents, assuring them she would be at Evie’s the whole weekend, and then started her car and drove in the other direction.

She called Evie to make sure she remembered the plan.

They had decided that Chava would come back to Evie’s place on Saturday night so they could discuss everything that had happened. Chava smiled just thinking about it. She shifted her leg as she drove, feeling uncomfortable in the skirt, since she almost never wore them, but glad that she had found one in the back of her closet so she wouldn’t stand out quite so much. She had also found a cute blouse with see-through sleeves. It was still summer and she didn’t want to be boiling, so she figured this was a good compromise.

Chava hadn’t spoken to Shoshana all week, but had gotten a text from her last night with her address and the time she was supposed to get there. Chava glanced at her GPS and was glad to see she had plenty of time. As she drove, she thought about the different things she had read in her Shabbos book about resting, and being a day for G-d. She had never thought much about G-d before. She

didn’t know what she thought now, either. The book talked a lot about G-d. She had gone through all the sections about the creation of the world, and the creation of the Shabbos day, and how resting was achieved through abstaining from creative works. It helped make a little of what Shoshana had told her make more sense. There was a lot she definitely still did not understand, and a lot of the book she had skipped because it was too dense. But she was glad she had some baseline of knowledge going into it.

As she approached the town and drove down the main street, she marveled at the fact that the sidewalks were empty. All of the bustling stores she had seen last week were closed. But it was still at least an hour before sunset.

Why did they all have to close so early?

As she turned into Shoshana’s neighborhood she saw a few young girls dressed in fancy outfits walking down the sidewalk hand-in-hand. She slowed down to look for the right number, and as she pulled up close to the curb next to number 52 she saw Shoshana coming down the driveway towards her, waving.

“You made it!” Shoshana said

Rabbi Daniel Glanz

as Chava locked her car and swung her backpack over her shoulder. They smiled at each other. Shoshana’s hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail, and instead of her collar and pleats, she was wearing a tailored dress with a sparkling necklace. Chava immediately felt underdressed.

“You look really nice,” Chava said.

“Thank you.” Shoshana opened a side door to her house. “We like to wear our best clothes for Shabbos, in honor of the day.”

Chava nodded. She thought she had read about that somewhere in her book. “Oh,” she said, not fully realizing she was talking out loud. “I meant to buy you flowers. The book said something about flowers.”

Shoshana smiled. “That’s so kind of you! Don’t worry about it. My father always buys flowers anyway. We’re happy to just have you as a guest.”

Shoshana opened another door, this time to a bedroom.

“You can put your stuff down here,” she said. “The bathroom is to your right. When you’re ready you can come downstairs, and I’ll introduce you to my family.”

Chava thanked her, and when Shoshana left the room and closed the door behind

her, Chava dumped her bag on the bed and went to the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. She had thought she’d found a good outfit, but now she thought Shoshana looked a lot fancier than she did.

Chava turned from side to side, examining her skirt. It was definitely cute, but she was regretting not looking longer for something more formal.

Chava shrugged, brushed out her hair a little bit, and then dropped her phone into the pocket of her skirt. She took out her toiletries and arranged them in the bathroom. She was standing there, staring at her toothbrush, unsure why she was hesitating to go downstairs. She tried to breathe in deeply.

“It’s okay,” she said to herself.

Shoshana was perfectly nice.

There was no reason why the rest of her family shouldn’t be the same. Chava closed her eyes briefly, and then forced herself out the bedroom door.

She walked down the dark hallway towards the staircase, and as she descended, she began to hear voices.

“Where did you meet this girl again?” A male voice asked.

“In the bookstore, I told you.”

That was Shoshana’s voice.

Chava stopped just before they would be able to see her.

The same male voice laughed.

“Shoshana wants to be mekarev her.”

“Hush, Yosef.” A female voice spoke up. “Shoshana brought a nice girl over for Shabbos, and we are happy to have her as a guest.”

Chava shook her head, not knowing what “mekarev” meant. Were they laughing at her? Because she wasn’t religious? She remembered Evie’s warning about religious people being bigoted. But they were a nice family, she was sure. She reached the end of the staircase, and a woman with a kerchief on her head, Shoshana, and two young boys stood looking at her.

“Welcome!” The woman with the kerchief came to embrace her, and Chava couldn’t help smiling back at her warmth.

“We’re so happy to have you for Shabbos. These are some of my children—this is Shoshana, as you know. These are my twins, Yosef and David.”

“Nice to meet you,” Shoshana said. “Thank you so much for having me.”

“Of course,” Shoshana’s mother said. “We couldn’t be happier.”

The Shoshana and her mother stood there smiling at her, and the boys seemed like they were holding back laughs.

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Table of Contents

Chava cared less about what they thought now that she saw how much younger they were than her.

“My na me is Ava ,” Chava began.

“Chava,” Shoshana said quickly. “Her name is actually Chava. Isn’t that crazy?”

Shoshana’s mother nodded, while looking sideways at Shoshana. She turned her attention back to the kitchen, where she had been preparing a salad. “Boys,” she said while beginning to chop an onion, “please go upstairs and prepare for shul. Shoshana, can you set the table please?”

The boys moved away and up the stairs, and Shoshana headed for a china cabinet behind the dining room table, which was adjacent to the kitchen. Chava began to follow her, but Shoshana’s mother stopped her.

“Please,” she said, “you’re a guest. You don’t need to help.”

Chava muttered a thanks, but felt awkward watching Shoshana set out the dishes.

“I’ve never done Shabbos before,” she said.

“It’s a very special time,” Shoshana’s mother said. “We’ll try to show you—” “This must be Chava!”

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Chava turned to see a man in a suit and a hat, much like her father had worn in his wedding picture, coming down the stairs. He headed directly for a small table near the dining room table, where he began to set up a candelabra with oil and wicks.

“Nice to meet you,” Chava said.

“Where did you get a name like that?” He said.

Chava opened her mouth to answer, but Shoshana’s brothers both came running down the stairs at that moment, dressed identically to their father.

“Ready for shul?” He asked. He exchanged some words with his wife, and then as soon as they had appeared, they all were gone through the front door. Chava blinked.

Shoshana’s mother smiled.

“I’m going to go change, and then we can talk.”

Chava turned to Shoshana, feeling slightly overwhelmed.

“Where did all the men go?”

“To shul.”

“What is shul?”

“Oh, right, sorry—that’s synagogue. You know, like temple?”

“Oh okay.” Chava nodded.

“Have you ever been to temple before?” Shoshana asked.

Chava shook her head, and

felt her cheeks beginning to turn red. She looked away, and her eye caught a painting of a brick wall and men with furry hats and long coats standing in front of it.

“What’s this?” She asked.

“That’s the Kotel.”

Chava turned to face her.

“What’s the—the Kotel?”

Shoshana blinked. “The Kotel, you know. The Kotel.”

Chava shook her head, feeling her cheeks heat up yet again.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know—” “Oh, I’m sorry! I’m sorry, I never did this before.”

“Did what?”

“I mean, I’ve never really interacted with someone who wasn’t religious.”

Chava let out an awkward, involuntary laugh. Was she some kind of freak to her?

“Well, I’ve never really interacted with someone who was religious, to be honest.”

The two girls smiled uncertainly at each other, and Chava didn’t know whether to be offended or find it funny.

Shoshana’s mother came down the stairs, this time without the kerchief and a different dress. Chava didn’t know why she was suddenly showing her hair when she wasn’t showing it before,

but after that conversation with Shoshana, she wasn’t going to ask.

“I’m going to light the Shabbos candles now,” Shoshana’s mother said. She approached the candelabra that Shoshana’s father had set up, and Chava followed close behind her as she struck a match, lit each wick, waved her hands three times, and covered her eyes.

Chava remembered reading about the Shabbos candles, but she had never seen oil candles before. She watched Shoshana’s mother sway back and forth over her candles. She had read about how women lit candles on Shabbos and how it held special power.

“Are you praying now?” Chava asked. As soon as she spoke, Shoshana shushed her and pulled her away.

“You shouldn’t talk to her while she is praying,” Shoshana said. “It could be distracting.”

“Oh,” Chava said. “Sorry,” She moved away and sat on the couch. How many other things would she do wrong? How many other awkward questions would she ask? She glanced at her watch. She had only been here for two hours. Would the whole stay be this way? Chava vaguely considered asking if

she could leave after dinner.

She sat on the couch while Shoshana and her mother talked to her, her stomach rumbling, hardly following the conversation and wondering when dinner would start.

Why did they have to wait so long? How long was temple going to take and how far away was it? She stared at their empty fire place, smashing her hands together in her lap. How was this helping her learn anything at all?

All of the sudden the front door burst open with loud greetings and a little bit of singing. The table was immediately crowded and the men began to sing in what Chava assumed was Hebrew. She waiting patiently by her chair, wondering why nobody was sitting, until their song, which seemed to last forever, finally ended. Shoshana’s father went around the table touching the heads of each of his children and muttering words above them. Was this some kind of ritual? It looked completely bizarre. Chava tried to keep her facial expression normal, but inside her stomach began to tighten up. Her time was being wasted by these crazy people, who were making her

wash her hands with no soap in order to eat bread, and kept whispering to her that she was doing something wrong.

She wasn’t sitting. She was sitting. She was talking. She wasn’t talking. Chava had no idea what they wanted from here. What she did know was that she had made a mistake.

She wasn’t going to learn anything about her parents by sitting here. What had she been thinking?

“So Chava, how did you become interested in Judaism?”

Chava looked up. Shoshana’s father had asked the question while they all munched on the bread, which Chava grudgingly admitted was very good.

“My parents have this picture from their wedding,” she said, “where they all kind of look like you.”

“Look like us?”

Shoshana cut in. “Chava told me that her father has a black hat—” Suddenly, Shoshana went silent. The entire family trained their eyes on Chava.

Shoshana’s mother’s eyes went wide, and one of her brother’s mouths fell open.

Chava’s phone was ringing loudly in her pocket. to be continued...

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Bayis |

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The Broken Part 2

D

evorah knocked on Ruchie’s door for what seemed like two years before it became apparent to her that nobody was answering. She called Elisheva’s phone multiple times, and left the same message each time.

I’m here for you. Shevy, I’m right outside.

Eventually, Devorah climbed back down the stairs. It was very late by now, and she got a cab back towards her apartment. All of her roommates were asleep, and she knew they assumed she had been out on a date. Devorah didn’t want to wake anyone, so she turned off all of the lights in the living room and pulled a blanket onto the couch. In the darkness she willed tears to come, but her eyes were dry. She felt numb. What had she done?

Her roommates woke her up in the morning without asking any questions, and she was so grateful for their sensitivity. She sat up on the couch, her hair a mess, and listened as they prepared breakfast and davened.

She immediately reached for her phone and called Elisheva.

“Sorry I missed all your calls again.”

Elisheva said. She had picked up right away.

“I fell asleep.”

“That’s okay!” Devorah felt a giant weight leave her shoulders. “I thought you were – can I come over now?”

“Sure,” Elisheva said. “But we may have to go out. Ruchie is getting a little antsy.”

CROWN

By Lily Rosenberg

“I’ll take you to Ma’afeh Nechama.” Devorah rushed into her room and started picking out clothes for the day.

“Sounds good,” Elisheva said. After they hung up, Devorah davened as quickly as possible and headed for the door. “ You’re going out t his ea rly? ” Shaindy asked.

Devorah hesitated with her hand over the knob. “I’m just going out for a bit,” she said.

“Don’t forget we have class with Rabbi Stein this afternoon.”

Devorah blinked. In everything that had happened to her in the last two days, she had completely forgotten about class.

Shaindy placed a plate of cut up fruit on the table and looked at her.

“The class with Rabbi Stein,” she said. “for Rosh Hashanah.”

“Right.” Devorah smiled. “Right, I know.

What time is that again?”

“Three.”

“Great!” Devorah was out the door before Shaindy could speak again, but she didn’t miss the weird look Shaindy gave her before she closed the door.

Devorah didn’t have time to think about it.

Actually, she didn’t let herself think about anything. She just focused on how relieved she was that Elisheva wasn’t angry with her.

When they got to the bakery, Devorah picked up five glistening rugelach and a coffee for each of them. She brought them to the table,

and Elisheva thanked her and began to eat.

“I have to meet with Aharon and the Rav this afternoon,” Elisheva said.

“That sounds rough,” Devorah said.

“I just–I want to go back home.”

Devorah nodded. She knew how much work Elisheva had put into her apartment.

“I can’t though,” Elisheva said. She shuddered, and put down her rugelach. “I just don’t feel safe there anymore.”

Devorah swallowed hard, a large gulp of coffee burning her throat.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “Can I go with you?”

Elisheva shrugged. “Maybe.”

There was silence for a bit, and Devorah turned her attention to the people passing on the street. She had been here with Asher, once.

“Are you still seeing that guy?”

“What–” Devorah turned back to look at Elisheva. Everything that happened last night came back at her with a rush. “No, no we–” Devorah was shocked at how hard it was to push the words out. “I’m not seeing him anymore.”

“That’s sad, I’m sorry. You sounded like you liked him.”

Devorah swallowed again. She counted to five in her head before she responded. “It happens,” she said. “You can’t always trust people, can you?”

“No,” Elisheva said. “No, you can’t.”

They started to chat about other things.

Devorah talked about Mrs. Potash. Elisheva asked after all of their friends who were still madrichot at their seminary. They talked briefly of a friend who had just had a baby in America.

“Maybe I can go back to America,” Elisheva said, finishing the last drops of her coffee.

Devorah’s heart jumped. “You can’t,” she said automatically. “You have to stay here with me.”

Elisheva narrowed her eyes slightly. “I don’t have to do anything. Maybe America would

be better for me. Wouldn’t you want that?”

Devorah tried her hardest to keep herself from crying. What was wrong with her?

Why was she suddenly walking around Yerushalayim crying in every corner? Why couldn’t she get herself together?

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she said after a moment. “I just don’t want to lose you.”

“Maybe I need a change,” Elisheva said. She stood up. “Are you ready to go back?”

Devorah gathered her things and walked Elisheva back to her sister’s apartment.

They were silent on the walk there. Devorah couldn’t sort out how she felt. Everything was crazy, like Hashem had flipped her upside down and shook out all the contents of her life onto the floor, breaking and smashing everything she held precious in the meantime. She felt a desperate need to talk, she needed to empty her feelings to someone who would listen. But she was shy, and quiet, and private. The only person she had ever trusted like that was Elisheva.

Rabbi Stein’s Rosh Hashanah shiur ended at five, and the girls all rushed back to their apartment to prepare dinner for their chavrusas. They were having a class and dinner for the girls on Elul and preparing for Rosh Hashanah . They had planned it right after the shiur so they could incorporate some of what they had learned.

It helped Devorah to be busy. She did better when she wasn’t able to sit with her thoughts.

Days passed during which she mechanically went to Mrs. Potash, helped out her roommates, and had meetings with different girls in the seminary, without thinking about anything she was doing. She visited Elisheva twice before Shabbos, and spent a quiet Shabbos at home with her roommates.

On Friday night, as she was listening to Kiddush, she had a second where she realized that this was supposed to have been her first Shabbos as a kallah. She didn’t talk Bayis |

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much during the meal.

After Shabbos ended, all of the roommates sat down to divide chores before they left for Rosh Hashanah. Devorah signed up for more than her share, and started on them immediately. By Sunday morning, she had finished all of her chores, and even crossed off some of the ones that had been allotted to other girls. She was awake and working anyway, she figured. When she was done packing, she left a note for her roommates and took her suitcase down the stairs, trying not to make too much noise with the wheels. She took out her phone when she hit the street to call Elisheva, who was boarding the bus to Ramat Beit Shemesh with her, but she found that her phone was already ringing. She didn’t recognize the number.

“Devorah,” the voice began. “It’s Mrs. Silver.”

Devorah stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. She had no idea what to say.

“Um–” “So, I spoke with Asher before Shabbos.”

Devorah took a deep breath. She pushed a stone with her toe.

A woman with a baby carriage started down the sidewalk, and Devorah moved out of the way, onto the grass.

“He told me that you decided to stop seeing each other.”

“I–” “He also told me how you decided to end things.”

“I just–” “I don’t think you ended it very well.”

“I’m sorry,” Devorah said. She couldn’t count how many times she had said that in the last week.

“You must have had a hard time,” Mrs. Silver said. “But the past is past. Let’s talk about the future. I think I have someone else who would work for you.”

Out of all of the things the shadchan could have said, Devorah was not expecting that. “I don’t think I’m ready to date again just now,” Devorah said. Another family with a baby carriage passed by her.

“Well.” Mrs. Silver paused. “That’s fine. You’ll take Rosh Hashanah to regroup yourself, and you’ll call me after.

Kesivah v’chasimah tovah.”

Devorah muttered a response, shook her head, and then placed her phone back in her bag. She walked towards the bus stop.

So he had called the shadchan and told her what happened.

She should have expected that. Of course he did. He was probably shocked, maybe even angry with her. She knew she hadn’t ended it well. She didn’t need the shadchan to tell

OUT OF ALL OF THE THINGS THE SHADCHAN COULD HAVE SAID, DEVOR A H WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT. “I DON’T THINK I’M READY TO DATE AGAIN JUST NOW,”

her that. The idea of starting to date again, of meeting another guy at another hotel, of sharing everything about herself, all over again – sounded awful. She didn’t know when she would ever be ready again.

As she waited for Elisheva to appear, she kept imagining what that conversation with the shadchan must have sounded like. Did he say he was upset? That he hated her? Did he say she was awful? Did he think she had misled him, lied to him?

She imagined picking up the phone, hearing his voice. What would he say to her now?

What would she say to him?

“Hey, stranger.” Elisheva poked her elbow into Devorah’s ribs, and Devorah gave her a hug.

“Ready for the trip?” She asked. She was more than grateful to be distracted from her thoughts.

“You know I love the bus,” Elisheva said.

They lugged their bags up the stairs and found seats near the back. “I’ll probably just sleep the whole time,” Elisheva said.

Life would come around again, Devorah decided as the bus rumbled along. She had Elisheva, and she was going home to see her parents. It was okay. Everything would be okay. 





Rosh Hashanah with her parents passed by quietly, and Devorah soon found herself back on the bus to Yerushalayim with Elisheva.

She had not had much time to herself during the holiday. Her two married siblings had come with all of their children, and the house had been filled with delicious apple kugel and brisket, guests, learning, and laughter. She had not seen Elisheva more than once the entire time. She had dropped her off at her house, said hello to Elisheva’s parents, who did not look happy to see her, and then had seen her once in shul on the first day. The bus ride was quiet, and Elisheva

slept. From speaking to her parents, Devorah gathered that Elisheva’s parents were taking the news very hard. Devorah tried to wake Elisheva several times during the bus ride but she slept on. Devorah just wanted someone to talk to.

When they arrived back in Yerushalayim, Elisheva left quickly for Ruchie’s house, and Devorah made her way back to the seminary. She was hoping for a good new start with Tishrei, but she felt very empty. She kept looking out of her window, staring down into the street, hoping she’d find the thing she was looking for. She awoke early out of a sense of displaced frustration, and watched the sunrise. She watched sunsets.

She davened at the Kotel almost every day of the aseres yemei teshuvah. Yet every time she left, she still felt like something was wrong.

It wasn’t long before Devorah was boarding the bus again to Ramat Beit Shemesh with Elisheva. As soon as they boarded, Devorah leaned towards Elisheva.

“What were you up to all week?” She asked.

“I didn’t hear from you.”

“I’ve been going over to the apartment and packing up my stuff,” Elisheva said.

Devorah looked into Elisheva’s eyes. “You’ve been going to the apartment?”

“Yeah. Well I need to clear it out.”

Devorah blinked several times. Her heart sank. “I thought you said – you said you were too nervous to go.”

“I went with Suri,” Elisheva said.

“Suri Klausman? My roommate?”

Elisheva nodded.

Devorah looked away, out the window again. She watched the soft green-studded rolling hills stretch out into the horizon.

“I said I would go with you,” she said.

“I didn’t purposely not ask you,” Elisheva said. “I just wanted to get it done.”

Devorah shook her head and took in a deep breath. Yom Kippur was coming and she did not want to hold a grudge. She counted to ten in her head and then let out a sigh.

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“It’s okay,” she said. “I’ve just tried really hard to be here for you,” she said. She sighed again. “Shevy, I just want to do what’s best for you. If I’m not doing it right, can you tell me how to do better?”

Devorah watched a small car filled with children pass by them. She looked back at Elisheva.

“Shev—” Elisheva had put earphones in and was resting her head against her hand, her eyes closed. Devorah, too, dropped her head into her hands. It would be the first Yom Kippur she started with a broken heart.

Devorah and several of her roommates, including Shaindy and Suri, had decided to go shopping in Geula. It was a bright, warm day in Yerushalayim, and Sukkos preparations were in the air. All through the city men were carrying lulavim and esrogim, and Devorah and her friends had decided to look for new dresses for the holiday. They had hit up several stores already, and Shaindy had already found two skirts. Devorah wasn’t sure what she was looking for. She wasn’t in the mood to shop, but she hadn’t wanted to be left alone when everyone left to go shopping.

They stopped for lunch at a small shwarma place, and then continued into a store across the street from the esrog shuk. They all filed into the store. Suri immediately found a bunch of dresses to try on. Devorah perused the racks, looking for something that spoke to her.

“This is your color, Devorah.” Said Shaindy, and handed her a black dress with dark blue and purple accents. “This is totally you,” she said again.

Devorah held the dress up in front of her.

Shaindy elbowed her. “Come on, Devorah.

You need to do something for yourself already.”

“What do you mean–” Shaindy had already walked away towards the dressing room, holding two dresses over her arm.

Devorah looked back at the dress Shaindy had picked out, and then went over to the rack where she found it and pulled out three other dresses that caught her eye, and two blouses, one dark green and the other a deep sapphire blue. Why not, she thought. Why not do something for herself?

Devorah moved into the changing room and tried the outfits on. Usually she was fairly conservative with her money, especially since her parents had many other children to support, but today was different.

She bought every piece of clothing she tried on, and she felt good about it. Each dress was well-made, and they made her feel beautiful.

It was the first positive thought she could remember having in a long time. She was looking forward to the beginning of Sukkos, to celebrating with her friends, to sitting with Hashem in His sukkah.

When they stepped down into the street from the store, multiple bags in hand, the bright sun pinked Devorah’s cheeks. She closed her eyes briefly and smiled, letting the feeling of being with friends, of having gorgeous new dresses, of being warm and happy wash over her.

“That’s Asher Rabinowitz.”

Devorah’s eyes flew open. Suri had turned slightly to the side, covering her mouth with her hand as she spoke quietly to the rest of the group.

“That’s the guy I was telling you about.”

Before Devorah’s eyes, three yeshiva bochurs emerged from the shuk, each with a tall lulav and bright yellow esrog in hand. Asher stood on the right, smiling at one of his friends.

“How–” Devorah swallowed. “How do you know him?”

“Oh you weren’t there, Devorah. I was telling

them all a few nights ago about the date my sister went on.”

“Your sister?”

“Yeah. She got set up with this guy, and she was crazy about him. I forced the name out of her.”

“Him?” Devorah watched him standing on the curb, his face shadowed by the brim of his hat. “That guy?”

“Yeah, I think so. That’s what she said. She pointed him out to me a few days ago when we were in the Rova.”

“She pointed him out to you?” Shaindy asked. “You just saw him walking in the street?”

“Yeah it was the craziest thing. A group of guys walked by us and she just freaked out.

She said it was a great date.”

Devorah stopped listening. Blood rushed past her ears and her cheeks flamed. Without thinking, she muttered something to her friends about the next store over and began walking towards the bus stop. She didn’t need to hear about who Asher was or wasn’t dating. She didn’t need to think about it. She didn’t want to.

Devorah stepped into the street and looked both ways before continuing across. A young boy on a bike swerved directly into her path and she nearly fell sideways as they both tried to avoid each other. She tilted one of her bags as she tried to get steady, and a dress fell out onto the sidewalk. She bent to pick it up, brushing off the dust and folding it, trying to remember how happy she had been when she purchased it, before placing it back in the bag.

“Devorah?”

Devorah stood. She looked down at her bag.

She ran her hands down to press out the wrinkles in her skirt. She knew that voice. When she lifted her head, a few people were looking at her, presumably because of the bicycle.

Most turned away as soon as she stood. One pair of eyes remained.

If she had ever imagined seeing him or

speaking to him again, it would not have been like this. Not in the middle of a crowded street in Geula, with people gliding right past her at lightning speed. It wouldn’t have been in the middle of a boiling hot day. It wouldn’t have been after she found out that he had already moved on.

Devorah looked at him briefly. Her eyes found his. A great cloud of feelings filled her chest.

The entire Rosh Hashanah, the entire Yom Kippur, she had managed to block him from her mind. When she’d seen her sister with her new husband, she hadn’t batted an eye.

When she’d sat next to her other sister’s newly engaged friend, she hadn’t even thought about that night overlooking the Kotel when she‘d refused to get engaged. When she’d sat in shul and seen her brother wrap himself in his tallis, she hadn’t thought about the tallis she never bought for Asher. She had refused to let the thoughts enter her mind. Now, they rushed towards her like the child on the bike.

The wind blew between them and rocked the top of his lulav into the brim of his hat.

She remembered Suri.

Willing herself to move, Devorah managed to turn one foot in the direction of the bus stop, away from him. He was dating someone else.

It made sense, it had been weeks since they had spoken. If that’s what he wanted to do, who was she to stop him?

But it meant he didn’t want her anymore.

He had said he wanted to marry her.

Devorah placed one foot in front of the other.

She had told him she didn’t want to get engaged. It wasn’t his fault.

But he had promised to take care of her for the rest of his life.

She would not turn around. She wouldn’t look back at him. She refused to do so, even as she did it anyway. She refused to see that he was still standing in that same spot, lulav in hand, looking after her as she walked away.

She refused to care. to be continued...

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Shabbos Halacha

Toys and Games on Shabbos 6 (Muktzeh Part II)

With the incredible variety of toys and different ways that they work and are played with, inevitably Shabbos questions arise. We will try to tackle as many of the questions and possible problems that we can. Here are some of the questions that arise: A re Toy s t hat noise Muktzeh?

ma ke

There are three different categories of toys that make noise.

The first category is toys that are made specifically for making musical sounds. This includes a toy drum, guitar, tambourine and the like.

Since making noise with a musical instrument is explicitly prohibited by Chazal (lest it break and you absentmindedly fix it on Shabbos), such toys would have the status of Kli She’milachto L’Issur (a type of Muktzeh, see sidebar) and would only be able to be moved to use them or the space they are occupying.

What about toys whose main purpose is to make noise but not necessarily musical noise, like a rattle or a squeeze toy?

One is not allowed to make noise with something that is made specifically to make noise, like a rattle. So the first

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thing to assess is whether or not you could move this object without it making noise. If you cannot and the noise is inevitable, then the object is forbidden to be moved whether or not it has the status of Muktzeh.

Ok, I have something that is specifically for making noise, can I move it if it won’t make noise?

Yes. Besides for the heter that little kids could play with it rendering it “usable on Shabbos” that we brought from R’ Moshe Feinstein in the last issue, there are other reasons to be lenient here. Therefore you can treat these things as a Kli She’milachto L’Heter.

What is the third category that you mentioned earlier?

That is for toys that have a noise-making function but it is not the main usage of the toy. These kinds of toys

are Kli She’milachto L’Heter and can be moved even for their own sake.

What about electronic toys, or toys that make noise by pressing a button or turning something on? Surely those are Kli She’milachto L’Issur, right?!

Again, you must always assess what is the main function of this toy. If the main function is the electronic part or the noise making part, then it is a Kli She’milachto L’Issur. If it has other functions that are deemed equal or more significant to the noise making or electronic function, then it is a Kli She’milachto L’Heter. And again, even if a toy is electronic and that is its main usage, it is still just a Kli She’milachto L’Issur and can still be moved if you need to use it for something that is allowed on Shabbos or you can move it if you need the space it is in.

Rabbi Zechariah Steinman

The Halachos of Muktzeh Muktzeh is an aspect of Shabbos that affects every person every Shabbos and needs to be understood properly. Any object that cannot be carried is called Muktzeh. Many times people don’t move or touch something they think is Muktzeh even though it is allowed and conversely many people touch or move things that they shouldn’t because of Muktzeh. The laws of Muktzeh are entirely Rabbinic and most Rishonim agree that it is a safeguard against breaking a Biblical Melacha of Shabbos.

There is a popular misconception that there are simply two categories of objects, those that are Muktzeh and those that aren’t. Also there is the mistaken notion that if something is Muktzeh you cannot carry or use it at all. The truth is, like with many other aspects in Judaism, it is a bit more complicated than that. The laws of Muktzeh group different objects into many different categories and these categories have distinct rules as to when you are prohibited to carry or use them. Just because something is Muktzeh does not automatically mean that you cannot carry or use it in all circumstances as we will see shortly. For the sake of simplicity, we will speak only about the categories most relevant to the topic of children’s toys and games.

The first category is objects whose PRIMARY usage is something that is prohibited on Shabbos. This category is called Kli She’milachto L’Issur. An example of this would be a hammer whose primary usage is for building which is not allowed on Shabbos.

The second category is objects whose primary usage is allowed on Shabbos. This category is called Kli She’milachto L’Heter. Examples of this are a pillow, a chair, a ball, or clothing. Again, the emphasis is what the primary usage is, so even if an object might be used in a prohibited way from time to time, all that matters is the primary usage when we categorize the object.

For example, a digital watch would fall under this category even though there are times that one would press the buttons on a watch for the different functions it provides. However, its PRIMARY function is to simply be looked at to tell the time which is allowed on Shabbos.

Determining the correct category is the first and most important thing to do when assessing the Muktzeh status of an object, especially when assessing different children’s toys. The reason for this is that many times toys may have more than one function so one must always ask themselves what the PRIMARY function of this toy is.

Although anything that has the status of Kli She’milachto L’Issur might be called Muktzeh, these objects are not always forbidden to be carried in every circumstance. The rule is that a Kli She’milachto L’Issur may be carried if you need the area that the object is occupying or you need to use the object for a permitted purpose. For example, if you have a hammer that was left on the table when Shabbos came in, you may move the hammer out of the way if you want to now set the table. Or if you want to use the hammer to crack open some nuts that you have, which is a permitted usage, you are allowed to on Shabbos.

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Yaakov Grossman

I Need A Raise

I

’m really glad I don’t run a magazine — it’s fraught with all sorts of difficult decisions.

For example; my boss recently notified me that we’re starting to get paid per word. So, at first I thought I had a great way to make more money… no more words that are more than two syllables!

Uh-oh, syllables has three syllables. Maybe I can get away with syll-ables and they’ll count it as two words.

I actually think it’s a really dangerous move to pay per word, because you see writers can really take advantage of that by writing extremely wordy run-on sentences that really don’t make any sense or fit in with their topic just to add to their word count and that’s why I feel that it wasn’t such a good decision for my boss to tell me that we started getting paid by word and that’s why I think I’m, wait…. I am, going to be in touch with the other 50 | Bayis

contributors to the magazine to hear their input. (Okay I think you get the idea. And by the way, Charles Dickens actually did get paid by the word and was very lengthy and expressive for this reason, but I never noticed because “cliffnotes” took out all that extra stuff.)

But I’m not really sure if it’s fair to pay by page either. I mean, the one who writes the poem at the end of the magazine has got it made. Usually the poem looks like this: I went to The store and Bought my bread And went home.

Then the graphic designer puts a huge picture of a loaf of bread next to the poem and voilà, you got a whole page! I think it’s really unfair: if I wrote the serial I would go on strike.

And why is it that the graphic designer never sticks a random picture in the middle of my article like she does for the rest?

That would definitely add me a

couple of bucks if we start getting payed by the page. But the truth is that every writer does get some extra help, because you’ll always find somewhere on the page some sort of quote from the article blown up and bolded, basically just to take up space.

“But the truth is that every writer does get some extra help, because you’ll always find somewhere on the page some sort of quote from the article blown up and bolded, basically just to take up space.”

Truthfully, it’s not only writers that are getting away with doing less. Have you seen “art” these days? I recently saw a painting which was a huge white piece of paper with a black dot in the middle. That was it. I think he named it something ingenious like “Black Dot.” It probably had some deep meaning behind it, like the expression of his inner anger. I wonder if I can get away with something like that?

Maybe the next article will just be a blank page and I’ll title it “Writers Block.”

Well, in the mean time I filled my quota of words for this article and I did it without any help from the graphic designer!

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