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Issue #19
www.CHAZAQ.org July - August, 2011
In Loving Memory of Uriel Rafael ben Sarah
Successful Marriage, Successful Parenting
המפתח להצלחה בנישואין
A Thinking Man's Introduction to Life The Impact of a Smile
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Contributing Writers Yehuda Azoulay Dr. Edward Bennett R’ Shlomo Zalman Bregman R’ Yitzchok Fingerer Myriam S. Gabbay R’ Jonathan Ghermezian Arthur Gukasyan Ariella Horowitz, RD, CDN R’ Paysach Krohn R’ Yehoshua Kurland R’ Chaim Levy Rabbanith Ruth Menashe Isaac Nektalov R’ Refael & Mrs. Adina Ribacoff R’ Ben Tzion Shafier Dr. Shmuel Shields Howard Spielman Spencer Spielman Eran Varnai Ephraim Zucker
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Table of Contents A Thinking Man’s Introduction to Life Don’t Let That Man Be You Successful Marriage, Successful Parenting The Impact of a Smile Transforming Physical into Spiritual The Three Relationships Mazal Tov Travel: Packing Tips The Only Cure for Israel’s Woes Recent CHAZAQ Programs The Passing of 3 Great Torah Leaders Hacham Abdallah Somech Wedding Insights: Ring Finger It Ain’t Just Luck Water: Drink to Life
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Issue # 19 July-August, 2011
You Can Do It Eat Your Way to Lower Cholesterol Finance: 1031 Exchanges A Father’s Echo Strange but True News Recipes Fun Page Soduku Puzzle Life is Good Auto: Finding a Good Mechanic Classifieds Parking and Sanitation Directory of Advertisers Hebrew Articles
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Disclaimer: CHAZAQ bears no responsibility for the Kashrus, quality, or typesetting errors of our advertisers. We reserve the right to edit or refuse advertisements submitted to our magazine. All items submitted to our office become the property of CHAZAQ Magazine and will not be returned unless otherwise arranged.
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A Thinking Man’s Introduction to Life By R’ Ben Tzion Shafier Little children are so curious. They are always asking, why? "Why this, and why that? Why is the sky blue and why do frogs have webbed feet? Why is there sand on the beach? Why does a ball fall down and not up? Why, Why? Why?"
Often times, the questions that we ask are even more important than the answers, because the questions keep us thinking, keep us alive. If we could learn to ask questions again, we could find so much depth in the things that we experience. Instead of just settling into a mummified existence and feigning life, we would approach things as if they have meaning. Instead of existing in our stratified mode of acceptance, we would look at the wonders of this world with an open eye to understand. "Why? How did it come to be? Why does it have to be that way? Why? Why? Why?"
Isn’t it sad that when we grow up, we stop asking questions? It isn’t so much that we know all the answers; it’s more that we lose hope of finding real answers, so we stop asking. In our school years we are trained to accept pat answers, “That’s the way it is, that’s the way it’s always been, that’s the way it’s going to be, just accept it.”
But we stop asking.
After a while we realize that these are the type of answers that the people around us are happy with, and we start to ask less and less, until we lose the ability to even question anymore. We even stop asking those questions that begot the pat answers. We become socialized into acceptance. “That’s the way it is, that’s the way it’s always been, that’s the way we do things. Just do it, and stop asking so many questions.” Or, "we don’t need questions around here; we need people who get things done!”
In truth, it makes it easier this way- easier to function, easier to get by, easier to get on with the “truly important things in life.” But the one “Why” that a thinking, intelligent, human being can never stop asking is, "why am I here?" I accept that Hashem created the world. I know that He created the galaxies, the cosmos, and all it contains. I also understand that Hashem created me. But why? What is my purpose? What is it about? Why? Why? Why?
Isn’t it amazing? Aren’t we human beings a strange breed? We can go about life, busy as beavers, with plans and goals - five-year goals, ten-year goals. "I will live here, get that job, marry that kind of person, send my children to that sort of school, and teach them these life lessons." We are so well worked out, so thought out, so planned. Yet we don’t have the foundation to it all. Why do it? Why pursue it? What are we striving for? What is the purpose of it all?
Can I live without knowing the answer to this question? Isn’t this the most basic and fundamental question that a human must answer? Forget learning, forget religion. There is one simple, vital question that absolutely demands being asked. What am I doing here? What does Hashem have in mind for me? Why did he create me? What is my purpose in life? Can a thinking person really go through life without at least asking this question? Can a person rest until he has found the answer? Isn’t this the underpinnings of everything that I do? Isn’t this the aim of my entire existence? What relevance is everything else that I do, if I can’t even answer this one most rudimentary and essential
It’s so unfortunate that we lose that instinctive desire to ask, the thirst to know why, because from questions comes knowledge, and from knowledge comes understanding.
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question? And even more, what meaning can my life really have if I can’t answer it? How do you get up in the morning without an answer to this question? How do you pursue a life’s course? Maybe you are contemplating getting married and raising a family. Maybe you are already well on that path. What are you teaching your children? This question is surely going to come up. It comes up in everything that we do, in everything that we value, in everything that we impart as life lessons to our children, and to those around us. If I am alive, if I am a thinking, intelligent person, how can I continue without a solid answer to this most elementary question: What is the purpose of my life? For answers to these and many other life questions, please read the new Shmuz book: Stop Surviving Start Living. It is available at Sefarim stores or by calling 866-613-Torah (8672) or online at, www.TheShmuz.com
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Don’t Let That Man Be You By Rabbi Paysach Krohn Rabbi Myer Schwab is the founder and dean of the Bais Yaakov High School of Denver, Colorado. He’s also responsible for the financial stability of the school, and in this role he often meets with philanthropists, to enlist their support. In the early 1970’s there was a millionaire in Denver, an elderly gentleman named Max Rabinowitz (not his real name) who had remained Jewishly observant even though most of his friends and family were not. He gave charity, but his parameters for giving were not in proportion to his wealth. He considered $500 a large donation, when in reality he could easily have given 10 times that amount. His children were independently wealthy, he owned factories and real estate, but he could not part with large sums of money except for business investments. Indeed, the most Max ever donated to the Jewish schools in Denver was $500. One morning as Rabbi Schwab was teaching a class, he was interrupted by his secretary. “I am sorry to disturb you,” she said with urgency, “but you have an extremely important phone call.” Reluctant to stop the lesson, Rabbi Schwab asked the secretary if the call could possibly wait till later. “No,” she said, “they are calling from the hospital.” Rabbi Schwab rushed to his office and picked up the phone. It was Max Rabinowitz. “Rabbi,” he said, “I must see you right away.” Six months earlier, Max had asked Rabbi Schwab to get him a prayer book that contained the Viduy confessional prayer customarily recited on a death bed. Now, on the phone, Max pleaded with Rabbi Schwab to come immediately. “By this afternoon, it will be too late,” Max said softly. When Rabbi Schwab came to Max’s room, family was gathered at his bedside. After Rabbi
Schwab greeted all those present, Max asked everyone to leave the room. Slowly and carefully, Rabbi Schwab recited with Max the poignant words of Viduy. When they finished, silence enveloped in the room. Then Max said softly, “I remember when I was a little boy and there was a rabbi who came to our town. He spoke of the importance of giving charity, and mentioned over and over the expression, ‘Charity rescues from death.’ Before my end, I would like to fulfill that mitzvah and be clear with G-d. I have prepared two checks: one for the Jewish girls’ school and one for the boys’ school in Denver. Please take them out of the drawer and deliver them.” Rabbi Schwab thought hopefully that perhaps his budgetary problems for the year might be over. He opened the top drawer of the cabinet and took out the two checks. He could not believe his eyes. Each check was for $500. Rabbi Schwab stared at the checks and was incredulous. “Max,” he exclaimed, “you have the opportunity to acquire a share in the World to Come as you never did before. Our girls’ school is now housed in trailers. We need a building. Max, give us $50,000 and we’ll put your name on the building as an everlasting testimony to your charity. You’ll be helping hundreds of girls who are the future mothers of our people. This is your last chance.” Max thought for a long moment and then said, “Believe me, my heart wants to give, and my head understands that it’s the right thing to do — but my hand refuses to let itself be opened.” Max died that night, forever bereft of the opportunity of magnanimous eternal reward. Days later Rabbi Schwab defined this episode. He said, “In discussing a person’s reluctance to give charity, the Torah warns, ‘You shall not harden your heart or close your hand’ (Deut. 15:7). The Torah says that there are two parts to the mitzvah of charity - the heart and hand. A person can understand that his financial help is needed and that the situation is dire, but if Continued on pg. 14
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he is not trained from his earliest years to open his hand to benefit others, he will find it all but impossible to part with his money.” Rabbi Schwab’s son-in-law, Rabbi Jonathan Aryeh Seidemann, told this story to a group of his congregants in Baltimore, Maryland. When he finished the story, he said: “A person has to have a special merit to give charity. Max could have earned eternal reward for his philanthropy, but he passed up the chance. We, while we are in this world, should not lose the opportunity when it presents itself.” After the class, one of the attendees, Mrs. Gretta Golden, said to Rabbi Seidemann, “Rabbi, you told this story in the past. You mentioned it in a class three years ago!” “And you remember it from then?” asked Rabbi Seidemann, surprised and complemented that someone would remember something he said years ago. “Oh yes,” she said, “I remember that story so well. It made such an impression on me. And Rabbi,” she added, “I should really tell you a story about that story.” Mrs. Golden was employed by the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where she was a marketing representative of international services. She headed the Israeli unit. Since Johns Hopkins is one of the finest hospitals in the world, it attracts patients from around the globe. Just two weeks after Mrs. Golden first heard the story from Rabbi Seidemann, an Israeli family came to Johns Hopkins with their 8-year-old son who needed major surgery. They brought along all the boy’s medical files and explained to Mrs. Golden that they could not afford to pay for the operation the child so desperately needed. As she leafed through the boy's files, his father said that a few months earlier a relative of theirs had suggested that they write a letter to a certain Jewish philanthropist who had recently been written up in The New York Times.
along with the medical records. Mrs. Goldman read and reread the letter and thought of the story she had heard from the rabbi. That night she composed a letter to this philanthropist, explained the nature of her work, and detailed the situation of the little Israeli boy. She finished the letter with the story about Max Rabinowitz and his inability to give charity even at the end of his life. Mrs. Golden’s final sentence in the letter was, “Don’t let that man be you.” Two weeks later, Johns Hopkins received a check of over $40,000 from that philanthropist to cover the entire cost of the operation. Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn is a fifth generation mohel, who is also known throughout the Jewish world for his books and lectures. He has written a series of books of Jewish short stories, known as the Maggid Series, as well as other titles. He has lectured in cities around the world and is a frequent lecturer at CHAZAQ Programs. This story is reprinted from Reflections of the Maggid, published by ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications Ltd., Brooklyn, NY.
“You have nothing to lose,” said the relative, and indeed they found someone to write a letter in English, explaining their child’s desperate situation. A few weeks later the family received a reply from the philanthropist — wishing their son a complete recovery but adding that he could not help financially. This letter was in the file
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Successful Marriage, Successful Parenting
Three reasons why the most important ingredient in successful parenting is a successful marriage.
By Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin As parents, we are constantly faced with new challenges along the developmental process. We are "forced" to find a solution to bedtime resistance, potty training, tantrums, etc. So we read books, we learn strategies and techniques. We do everything possible not to "ruin" our children, to do it better than our parents did with us. We want them to grow up with healthy self-esteem, a love for Judaism, good character traits, etc. But somewhere along the way, we have forgotten about the most important ingredient in successful parenting: a successful marriage. Here are three reasons why a successful marriage is essential to successful parenting: 1) Modeling: The way we act towards our spouse has a direct effect on our children. If you were ever surprised to hear your child repeat something they overheard you say, then you know what I mean. Children look up to parents as models for how to be in this world. If kids witness parents yelling at each other or making demands and not saying "please" and "thank you," it is quite likely that they will engage in relationships in a similar fashion. While we may prefer to think that they learned it at school or a friend's house, the necessary first step is self-reflection. Think for a moment about all of your children's undesirable behaviors, and ask yourself if you and your spouse treat each other that way. We can verbally teach our children what is "proper," but if we do not model that behavior and practice what we preach, they will pick up on our insincerity and not be receptive to our wishes. You are not only assisting them in their current interpersonal relationships, you are ingraining in them the proper traits that are necessary for a healthy marriage one day. Modeling is the most
obvious way your marriage affects your children. 2) The Family System: While the effect of marital strife on a family is quite obvious in a home where the marriage is in crisis, it may be less apparent in a home where a "cold peace" exists. Although the parents may not see it, kids are brilliant. Even when a marriage remains intact, kids can detect there is something unhealthy in the relationship. This affects a child's sense of self, as children need to feel secure in their home environment. We often see children acting out. Stopping the behavior is not the ultimate solution, because their actions are telling us something about the system as a whole. We know of plenty of families that have their "problem child." Perhaps the child has been diagnosed with some "disorder," or is not necessarily behaving in the way we want them to. It is quite easy to view the child as the problem or the "identified patient." What takes more maturity is to look at the family as a whole, starting with the parents. Even if your marriage is livable, is it vibrant? Peace in the home, shalom bayis, does not mean the absence of conflict. Shalom is opposing forces working together in harmony. It is a sense of wholeness that allows for a life filled with blessings and joy. When parents build a strong foundation for the home, they will find themselves having a much easier time as parents. And while your children may act out on occasion, you will be much better equipped to deal with them. How many arguments stem from how to parent a child? One parent feels the spouse is the enabler, while the enabler feels the other one is too harsh. When a husband and wife learn how to be in relationContinued on pg. 18
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ship with each other, to talk to each other, and to understand each other, they will be able to form a united front as they parent their children. Otherwise, there will always be one parent who feels that his or her efforts are being undermined. 3) Do No Harm: Despite our best intentions, we inevitably will harm our children. We are only human and cannot possibly know and/or meet all of their needs. This means we will likely not give them all of the love, visibility, confidence, etc., that they need. Our job is to do our best. One way to minimize the damage is to become more conscious about ourselves and how we behave in relationship. It is a fact that our children will do certain things that push our buttons. Why is it that a particular behavior that bothers you does not bother your spouse? The reason we are triggered by some things and not others is that these are areas which lie on our "growth edge." Perhaps our children remind us of our own behavior as children, which was met with negative messages from our parents. Perhaps it wasn't okay for you to cry or to feel emotions. When you see your uninhibited and vibrant child sobbing, it may
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trigger your own judgments about that behavior. How do you react? Do you act from a place of consciousness, understanding the 90/10 rule – that 10 percent of anything that bothers you is the actual stimulus, and 90 percent is what it triggers in you? Or do you unconsciously pass on that same unhelpful message you received as a child? Most of us are unconsciously passing on generations of negative messages. This is one tradition we do not want to transmit to our children. One way to become a more conscious parent is to first become a more conscious spouse. If you look closely, you may find that your children push your buttons in the same way that your spouse does. As you work together with your spouse on these global relational growth opportunities, you will be able to approach your children as a more whole and complete parent, a parent who acts consciously as opposed to reactively. The best gift you can give your children and future generations is to work on your relationship. Good intentions aren't enough; make your marriage a priority.
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The Impact of a Smile By R’ Jonathan Ghermezian We derive much of our direction from the short but powerful statements which our sages passed down to us. When asked, “Who is a rich man?” or “Who is a wise man?” or “Who is a powerful man?”, we know to answer, “He who...” This, and much other “sage advice,” can be found in Masechet Avot – Ethics of our Fathers. But where did this advice originate? Many suggest that our sages acquired these insights through their own intellect and life experience and not necessarily from the Torah itself. However, this does not seem to be the case. The first mishnah in Avot begins with the words, “Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and passed it down to Yehoshuah...” This statement is seemingly in the wrong place. Would it not be better placed at the beginning of the first tractate, Berachot, as opposed to Avot, which is almost 40 volumes later? Rav Ovadiah MiBartinura (1445 – 1488) comments that this statement is deliberately placed there to empathize that although it may seem that Avot is just a book of personal recommendations, in truth, all its wisdom originates from G-d at Sinai, and was passed down to us within the tradition we call the “Oral Torah.” Moreover, the Vilna Gaon (1720 – 1797) also wrote a commentary to Avot, only his work provides merely sources, not explanations, for each statement and to its corresponding source in the Tanach. It’s truly remarkable how all this wisdom can be traced back to the written Torah. That being the case, I would like to suggest that even one of the most basic actions, one we perform multiple times daily, is actually grounded in that powerful tradition from Sinai: SMILING. The Mishnah in Avot (1:15) states, “Greet every person b’sever panim yafot (with a pleasant countenance).” Where in the Torah do we find any mention of this? According to the Vilna Gaon, its source is in the blessing of abundance that Yaakov Avinu bestows upon his son, Yehudah, “His eyes shall be red with wine (many vineyards) and his teeth white with milk (much pasture)” (Bereshit 49:12). No mention of smiling there; however the Talmud (Ketubot 101b) reads this passage a little differently. “Said the Jewish people to the Almighty, ‘the smile of Your eyes (to me) is more savory than wine and the white of Your teeth (when you smile) is more
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delicious than milk.’” Based on this interpretation, R’Yochanan affirms that smiling at a friend is greater than giving him a glass of milk. Thus, the source for smiling. What’s strange about this alternative reading is that it describes smiling with both one’s teeth and one’s eyes. How do eyes smile? The Real vs Fake Smile
Did you ever wonder why you can sometimes sense that somebody’s smile is nothing more than a passing formality? Researchers think that they have an answer. In the mid-19th century, a French physician named Guillaume Duchenne (1806 – 1875) discovered that what distinguishes a real “Duchenne” smile from an artificial smile is that some of the facial muscles required to produce a real smile cannot be controlled voluntarily but move only with real emotion. One of those muscles is called the obicularis oculi, which pulls back slightly the outer corner of the eyes and produces creases at the outer edge (notice the lines around the eyes in the picture above). Thus, we can shine those pearly whites as much as we like, but the true intent is seen through our eyes. This may be what the Torah is conveying- we desire the genuine smile of G-d and others, the smile that includes the eyes. The Challenge The mishnah’s command to greet everybody with a pleasant countenance may seem daunting. How are we expected to do so even when we are just not feeling it? Isn't smiling something that we do only if we are happy? To answer, I would like to challenge the axiom that being a ‘nice guy’ is not optional, but rather Continued on pg. 22
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an obligation. To illustrate, there is a well-known story of a would-be convert who was thrown out by Shammai because he wanted to learn the entire Torah while standing on one leg. Hillel, on the other hand, embraced him and stated, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It is surprising, then, that the author of the mishnah concerning a pleasant greeting is the unyielding Shammai, not Hillel – the seemingly nice guy. R’ Eliyahu Dessler (1892 – 1953) derives from here that Shammai understood that pleasant greetings are a social obligation, even though he usually took a more stringent position in Jewish law. Why is it that smiling is so important? Better yet, why is it that we feel slighted when we do not get that smile? Nothing was even taken from us! One Yom Kippur eve, Rabbi Yisrael Salanter (1810 – 1883), the founder of the modern mussar movement, met a person on his way to synagogue for Kol Nidrei prayers. Rabbi Salanter greeted him warmly, but the person was so absorbed with the awesomeness of the Day of Atonement that he did not return the greeting. Rabbi Salanter then remarked to his disciple, Rabbi Itzele of Petersburg (1837 – 1907), "Why must I need to suffer because of his preoccupation with the Divine judgment?" Rabbi Salanter was teaching his student that regardless of our mood, we have a responsibility to greet everyone with a cheerful and pleasant countenance. The Alter of Slabodka (1849 – 1927) teaches that our facial expression can affect the moods of those around us; thus, our face is considered to be within the “public domain” and not the ”private domain.” As a proof, he points out the irony that a person never actually sees his own face (other than through a reflection). In 1936, Dale Carnegie (1888 – 1955), a pioneer in the development of secular, self-improvement courses, authored a book titled, How To Win Friends And Influence People, which has since sold 15 million copies worldwide. He writes that one of the most important principles of getting people to like you is to smile, a subject to which he devotes an entire chapter.
myography (little sensor pads that were stuck to their faces). When exposed to happy faces, participants moved their zygomatic major muscle (used in smiling); when exposed to sad faces, participants moved their corrugator supercilii muscle (used in frowning). Participants did this even when the stimuli were hidden and rapidly presented and usually were not even aware that their muscles moved.”(quoted from an article at positivepsychologynews.com.) This suggests that there is a somewhat contagious effect our expressions have on others, similar to yawning, that almost forces them to mimic our expressions. Some maintain that it is for this reason that older couples sometimes resemble each other. Years of this facial mimicry can cause them to develop similar creases and muscular positions in their faces. More remarkably, Daniel Goleman (1946 – ), in his book Social Intelligence, describes a patient who “had suffered two strokes that destroyed the connections between his eyes and the brain's system for sight in the visual cortex leaving him completely blind – or so it seemed. On tests where the patient was presented with various shapes, like circles and squares, or photos of faces of men and women, he hadn’t a clue what his eyes were gazing at. Yet, when he was shown pictures with angry or happy faces, he suddenly was able to guess the emotions expressed, at a rate far better than chance. But how? (p. 15)” The researchers realized that there are two separate pathways that our seeing takes after an image has been processed by the brain. One pathway leads to the visual cortex, the other to the amygdala, a section of our brain that registers emotions. Remarkably, although this patient had destroyed the visual pathway, the emotional one was still fully intact. Thus, he could not see the smile but he could feel it! Can Smiling Actually Make You Happier?
What makes a smile so powerful? A Little Science “Research conducted in Sweden by Drs. Ursula Hess and Slyvie Blairy exposed participants of a study to images of faces while they monitored their facial muscle movements through electro-
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The Sefer HaChinuch, a 13th-century work discussing the meaning behind mitzvot, reveals that external actions influence emotions. Thus, smiling, even superficially, can have the effect of producing real cheerfulness.
come happier and cause others to smile, making them happier and even causing them to feel its warmth.
“In 1988, a team led by Fritz Strack came up with a brilliant cover story that allowed them to manipulate facial expressions of participants in a study without their awareness. The researchers told participants that they were studying lifestyles of people who had lost the use of their hands. Such individuals would need to use their mouths to hold pencils for writing, or to use a television remote. The participants then held a pencil in their teeth (which naturally activates the muscles typically used for smiling) or lips (which does not activate those muscles), and then rated several cartoons for funniness. Those who were (unknowingly) ‘smiling’ rated the cartoons as funnier than the people who weren’t smiling.” (Quoted from an article by D. Munger)
R’ Dessler illustrates, based on his understanding of Shammai’s mishnah, how this greeting should be done. The mishnah states,“Greet others b’sever panim yafot.” ”B’sever,” from the word savar, meaning “to turn one’s body toward a person” (showing more interest);”panim” – then, show them your face (don’t look around); and, ”yafot” – present that face beautifully. R' Avrohom Grodzinski (1883 –1944) embodied this teaching. He spent much time in front of the mirror practicing his smile, and worked for two years on greeting others pleasantly even while living through the horrors of the Holocaust. A great Rabbi once said that a smile is likened to a candle. Many candles can be lit from a single one, but that never diminishes the original candle's light. If you smile today to five people, and each of them to five others, then, by the fifteenth step in this chain, you will have smiled to all of mankind.
Putting It All Together Therefore, it seems that when we smile, we be-
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In Practice
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BS”D
The Glow Maternity “dress to glow”
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Women Transforming the Physical into the Spiritual By Rabbanith Ruth Menashe of Midrash Ben Ish Hai It has become the fashion in the last few years for people to declare that they are “spiritual.” Why not? It seems rather impressive to associate oneself with what is holy and pure, rather than physical and materialistic. We can understand why some people will strive to define themselves as "spiritual." Let us, for a moment, step back into the lives of the Children of Israel in the wilderness over three thousand years ago. No one had to get up in the morning to go to work. Food came straight down from Heaven. Clouds of Glory surrounded the nation twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. The supply of water traveled with them wherever they went. There was no need to spend time or money at the malls, as the clothes miraculously grew with the people and were washed and ironed by the Clouds of Glory (Rashi, Deuteronomy 8:4). There was all the time in the world to sit and study Torah with the greatest prophet of all time, Moshe Rabbenu, our master. Spiritual life par excellence, indeed! There is an opinion that the Jewish people did not want to go to the Land of Israel because they desired to hold onto this spiritual life that they led in the desert. After all, in the land of Israel they would have to work the land in order to grow bread, clothes would have to be washed and sewn, a major part of the day would be devoted to physical, everyday activities, and there would not be much time for the study of Torah. This seems like an acute decline in spirituality! One of the commandments connected specifically with living in the land of Israel is also one of the three primary commandments given to women, that of Hafrashath Hallah (separating the dough). “When you come to the land to
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which I bring you...when you will eat from the bread of the land, you should set aside a portion for G-d.” (Bamidbar:15:18-19). Rabbenu Behayye, in his interpretation on the Torah (Bamidbar 15:20), explains that the Children of Israel were not obligated to keep this commandment in the desert, but rather, immediately upon entering the land of Israel. Why? Why only in the land of Israel? The Commentary explains that the Manna they ate in the desert was itself a holy entity, bread from Heaven - “spiritual bread.” Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, teach us that it was completely absorbed by the body without any waste. However, manmade bread, the bread of the earth, has no holiness whatsoever attached to it. That bread is simply a typical physical substance grown in the ground. Can this bread be elevated and sanctified? Through the action of performing a commandment with it and by following G-d’s will and separating Hallah, we have the power of transforming that which is “from the ground” to that which is “from Heaven” - the physical into the spiritual. Now we understand why once the Manna, the “spiritual bread,” stopped coming down from Heaven and we had to plow the land, plant the seeds, grow the wheat and take all the additional steps necessary for making bread, we were given this unique commandment. We were given the opportunity to consume holy, spiritual bread. There is a powerful message, especially for us women, hidden in our special commandment. It is up to us to reveal the holiness concealed within the Creation. Many of us often wonder what meaning and purpose there is to our everyday ordinary activities. Is there any underlying meaning to the daily activities such as cooking, cleanContinued on pg. 30
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ing, washing and ironing we do? Yes there is. Just as it is up to us to uncover the sanctity hidden in the dough, so too it is in our power to recognize the spiritual component in every facet of our lives. When we prepare meals for our husbands, or put out clean clothes for our children, we should not look at these tasks as menial. Rather, we should see it as building a Jewish home, which is our holy mission. Leading a spiritual life is attainable in our modern world, be it in New York, Paris, Sydney or Yerushalayim, and not only in the desert. All we have to do is follow the light of the Torah, the path of the Misvoth, and be elevated to the true meaning of what spirituality is all about. To read more by Rabbanith Ruth Menashe, please visit: http://www.atorahminute.com and http://www.midrash.org The fascinating new release, A Torah Minute, volume 2: A Treasury of Torah Gems and Practical Laws book and volume 1: 300 Gems from the Ben Ish Hai, both include an inspiring “Women's Corner” section by Rabbanith Ruth Menashe, and are now available. For more information or to purchase, please visit midrash.org or ATorahMinute.com. Also available at all good Sefarim stores and at the Chazaq shop, Chazaq.org.
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s”xc
t h e t h r e e r e l at i o n s h i p s by
M y r i a m S. Ga b b ay B ased
on
s hiur
of
r aBBi Z echariah W allerstein ~ K edoshim 5/4/11 o hr n aava
Know Thyself
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ost people assume, as I did, that there are Two basic relationships In this world; Between Man and Man and between Man and G-d. But lately I was taught that there Is a third and most Crucial relationship, that of Between Man and Himself. In order to achieve success In this world and the next We must possess an adequate Amount of sense of self. 1 This Is fundamental. The vessel Must have a foundation in Order to build it up. There Must be a healthy, underlying Sense of self before we can Start that all important And lifelong challenge of Refining our character Traits in Hashem’s image. Since it’s a rule of nature That man is closest to Himself, then this seems The logical place to start This all important process. Who knows yourself Better then yourself? Who is closer to Yourself than yourself? So
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he first step in Creating this relationship Is self knowledge. There Are many, many people who Don’t even know themselves, As shocking as that may
Know Thyself Sound. They spend their Lives with their distractions And indulgences 2 and never Even get to know who They themselves are; what Their strengths and talents Are and what their flaws And weaknesses are. If
Y
ou are not aware of Your weaknesses then How can you prepare a Strategy to overcome that Weakness? You will continue To stumble over the same tests, Over and over again and Continue to scratch your Head in confusion as to Why this keeps happening. In short, if you don’t Know what your flaws And weaknesses are, you Are totally clueless. Not An enviable position to be In while navigating this World. But even worse Than that, is not knowing Your strengths and talents. A great Rabbi once said 3 That if one doesn’t know Their flaws, that is indeed Not a good thing, but Oy va voy if he doesn’t Know his strengths and Talents, because without Being armed with this Knowledge he will never Be able to do his mission In this world. Since
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he ultimate love is The love that one Has for himself. If This is not affixed in Place then one will not Be able to love Hashem And ever further; if You don’t love yourself You cannot truly love Anyone else. This lack Will create a shell so Coarse and so hard that You will literally waste The most precious gift That Hashem has given You, i.e. time itself.
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ll your so called “Relationships” Whether they be with Man or with Hashem will Only be an attempt at Imitating life. You will Act the part but there Will be no real substance. Everything you build will be so fragile that it Can be blown over with A breath. But Hashem Has given us a hint as
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ow to build Ourselves; lunf lgrk ,cvtu Love your best friend Who is none other than Yourself, like yourself. Because your best friend Is yourself. And then Continued on pg. 32
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Hashem signs that Directive with eueh hbt, I am G-d. So, if your
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ense of self is secure And your self love is Where it should be, then You will be capable of Taking that love and Turning it over to Hashem Himself. That is in essence The meaning of Hashem’s Seemingly incomprehensible Request of hbt ase hf uhv, ohase Be holy because I am holy. How can we possibly use Hashem as an example of What we should be? Where Is the interface between Us flawed mortals and Hashem Himself? The Interface is found in Our ability to take our Most precious possession Which is our self-love And offer it up to Hashem Himself. Thus, we are effectively Interacting with Hashem Thus creating a partnership. Once a partnership is Created, then we are able To dovetail with the Source of infinity itself.
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nd it goes without Saying that if we Can dovetail with Hashem Himself than Surely it is relatively Easy to then love Hashem’s children, i.e. Our fellow man with Everything that we Have. And it then Follows that through Self knowledge, and Its’ application to the Other two relationships In life, our personal Life’s mission will Become crystal clear. True self knowledge Will clear away the
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Doubts and uncertainties That plague so many. It
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ill also allow us to Traverse our spiritual Path and reach the goals That we set for ourselves Because those goals Will be tailor made to Fit who we are. Without Adequate self-knowledge We can make the mistake Of choosing goals that are Not suited to us at a given Moment and end up falling In a very big way. This Then might cause us to Turn our backs on Hashem And His people, G-d forbid. 4 So let us shed those
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asks 5 which impede Us from really getting To know who we are. After All, each one of us is truly Unique. Hashem creates Only one of each of us. So how do we manifest That singularity of ourselves? By being ourselves! If you Wear a different color Dress than everybody Else then you might look Different from everybody Else but you will not be Different. By being Yourself, which is a Unique being that never Was and will never be Again, then you will truly Be different.
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his is like Rabbi Akiva, Who lost 24,000 Students in one fell swoop Yet, did not despair. From Where did this enormous Reserve of strength come From? It came from his Sense of self which was An outcome of lunf lgrk ,cvtu. This is why he said about
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This verse: vru,c kusd kkf vz. This is a Great Principle in The Torah. And due to this,
H
is outlook was like The wonderment of The young child who takes A step and falls, yet gets Up immediately to take Another. Why? Becuase He, unencumbered by the Visiccitudes of life realizes This simple truth. If I took One step, then I can take Another, even though I fell! So too, did Rabbi Akiva. He said, “If I was able to Create so much Torah and So many students, then That means that I have the Ability to do that, so I will Do it again!
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nd we know that the Oral Law, as we have It today, came down from Rabbi Akiva and his five Students that he took after He lost the 24,000. For the
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irst forty years of his Life he did not know Who he was. It took a Rochel, 6 who saw his Potential to open up his World and his soul to Himself. So apparently Rochel too possessed this Quality of self and she Gave it over to Rabbi Akiva who went from Being an untutored man Who despised the Rabbis 7 To being the one whose Torah saved Am Yisroel. So Clearly, he took this Self-love and gave it Over to Hashem and thus Merited to save an entire Generation and the Generations to come. So Let us take the example Of Rabbi Akiva and
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Realize our true potential through Self Knowledge, And Self-Love and then The giving over of That love to Hashem Himself, and Implement it by Never giving up, even In the face of the Greatest adversity. This surely will bring The potential of the World to fruition, which Is the Messianic Age For which we all Yean for, may it come Speedily in our days!
Know Thyself
Sources Note: The poem is based on Rabbi Wallerstein’s shiur on Kedoshim but I did bring in a few ideas from other sources, which are listed below. 1. Shiur Rabbi Gil Frieman - Shelach 6-18-11 - Ohr Naava 2. i.e. cellphones, facebook, computers and all the myriad of things and electronic devices which don’t allow us to get to meet ourselves. 3. I saw this quote in either Binah or Mishpacha Family First within the past month but have not been able to find it so I don’t know the source. 4. Shiur of Rabbi Skaist 5/24/11 Bamidbar/Shavuos - Ohr Naava. “If You Don’t Know Yourself You Can’t Sustain Spiritual Growth” (Paragraph title). However, someone who tries to accomplish growth and they don’t really know themselves and they just listen to a shiur or listen to someone who says something inspiring and they get super inspired and they say, “that’s it. I’m going to do this and do that. And I’m never going to do this again, I’m never going to do that again” and they’re very sincere about it but it’s not coming from a “lech lecha”, it’s not coming from knowing themselves, so those people, they may be able with great strength and courage to hold onto it for a while; it might be a month, it might be 6 months, it might be 6 years but eventually they will not be able to sustain it because since they don’t know themselves so they can’t ultimately be real.” “So Rabbi Miller (from England) says that this was the difference between Avraham and Lot. Hashem said to Avraham, “lech lecha, go to you” and that’s what Avraham did. It’s true that he traveled. It’s true that there was a physical expression of that lech lecha also, but it was lech lecha, ultimately, about self-knowledge, about self understanding and about growth that was conscious of what he was capable of and where he was holding.” 5. “those masks”: i.e. those modern day devices and conveniences which prevent us from getting to truly know ourselves. 6. “It took a Rochel” - Kabbalistic sources say that Rabbi Akiva and his wife Rochel were gilgulim (reincarnations) of Yaakov Aveinu/Jacob our forefather and his wife Rochel Imeinu/Rachel our foremother. 7. Because he did not know himself. Refer to footnote 4.
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CHAZAQ Director
R’ Ilan Meirov
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Mazal Tov! Bar Mitzvah
Birth – Boy
Yehuda Kalker Boruch Moskovits Ari Shor Eli Stern Chaim Katz
David and Malka Edrei Shmully and Sara Toby Goldberg Nechemya Dov and Bracha Friedman Sruly and Esti Dancziger Chaim and Aliza Stern Heshy and Malya Blumenfrucht Moshe and Leah Semmel Aron and Chaya Rochel Schiller Eli and Chagit Kaikov Shaya and Gitty Wasserman Eli and Zisi Lehrer Yoni and Daniella Meirov Boruch and Penina Goldman Dan and Sara Levinger
Engagement Yehuda Gotcher to Pegah Rahmani Yonah Kaplovitz to Miriam Wakter Akiva Dym to Stephanie Wasserman Hillel Feuerman to Shani Arieff Yisrael Geizhals to Nava Fox Menashe Pollak to Devorah Deitel Dov Kerner to Jessica Cohen Max Shapiro to Kayla Rosenblatt Dave Sachs to Yael Werber Benzi Perlberg to Sarah Firestone Dovid Ray to Ahuva Herschfus Yisroel Isaacs to Devorah Leah Glatzer Eric Shein to Devorah Paley Levi Shalomayev to Tziporah Bangiyev Yaakov Zimmerman to Judy Grossman Daniel Kadosh to Malkie Krupka
Birth – Girl Meir and Esti Iczkovits Motti and Ilana Wein Tzvi and Dvora Gershbaum Shua and Miriam Krupenia Shloime and Suri Milworn Yehoshua and Malka Bamberger Naftoli and Allie Klein Chiya and Chaya Aryeh Gabi and Sarah Gittleson Avrumi and Sara Blonder Moshe Yoel and Fraidy Bree Dovi and Aviva Breskin Yudi and Miri Schonfeld Tzvi and Sonya Meirov Lazer and Rikki Daskal
Wedding Tzvi Dana and Shoshana Gottisman Avi Soleimani and Moreeyah Nissianian Shalom Meirov and Suri Fatakov Mendy Elias and Adina Pernikoff Yoni Unger and Shira Burstyn Ronen Meirov and Tzipora Fozailov Moishe Sobel and Sarah Wecker Paul Weinberg and Shaindy Cohen Meir Graff and Itta Remer Moshe Singer and Leora Horowitz Avi Herskovic and Michal Spira Levy and Shoshana Masturov Elliot Samuels and Aliza Rauzman Yosef Ifraimov and Bracha Yadgarova Meir Sharp and Dina Brimm Dov Poplack and Danielle Todfeld Avrumi Gross and Chani Burns Tzvi Auman and Shira Davis Avrumie Roberts and Shira Soll Naomi Weisel and Shlomo Perles
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TRAVEL Packing Tips
There are two kinds of travelers in the world: those who packed sensibly and those who wish they had. To pack as practically and safely as possible, follow these helpful packing tips. 1. Security and Keeping Details Safe Scan your passport, passport photos and paper tickets (if not the e type) in. Store this in your email account. You can also store the details of your emergency 'lost card' telephone numbers in your email account so you know who to contact if your credit card or ATM card is lost or stolen. This way, even if you lose everything, you have immediate access to your all important information. You can even email the details page of your passport to the embassy or consulate when applying for a new one. Also consider writing your home and destination address (and mobile number if you have one) on a self-adhesive sticky label to stick INSIDE your luggage in a visible place. If your luggage is lost and the baggage label has come off, at least the airline can still figure out whose luggage it is. 2. Split up your Valuables Split up your bank cards, cash, travelers' cheques and credit cards as much as possible in different pockets, bags and wallets when packing. In case you do get robbed, at least you won't be strapped for cash (unless you have all your bags AND your wallets stolen of course!). 3. Small Bottles Use small bottles to pack toiletries and other small items. There are several sturdy and (very nearly) waterproof ones, with clear/see-through ones being preferable. You can also use small bottles to repack shampoo or lotions so that you don't always have to carry a big bottle with you. This is especially useful if you normally take these items in your carry-on luggage, which is much more restricted now than ever before. 4. Backpack Tips When you are packing things into a backpack,
place the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier ones on top. Your bag will feel lighter this way, as the pack rests on your lower back. It is also smart to place the things you use the most on top. Dirty clothes are perfect to pack at the bottom of a backpack. 5. Plastic Bags It is always handy to have a few plastic bags around certain items, especially toiletries. Not only does it counter any leaking, but the bags can also come in useful to keep dirty clothes in, as garbage bags or even as makeshift umbrellas. Ziplocks and other airtight plastic bags are the best. 6. Pack in Plastic Pack everything in clear plastic bags (preferably ziplock), divided into items, e.g. underwear, t-shirts, shorts, etc. before packing them in your suitcase or backpack. Use one plastic bag for each type of clothing. This is extremely useful in various ways. When you unpack your bag you just take out a series of bags and you can see immediately what you want; so an overnight stay somewhere just means taking one item out of a bag - no rummaging! In addition, if you have to unpack at customs, instead of having to disgorge all your clothing in front of everybody, you can calmly take out five or six bags, the contents of which can be clearly seen by the officials. To repack then is also dead easy. 7. Clothes Pack only what you know you will use and if you’re traveling for more than three weeks, plan to wash on the road. You can cut back on the number of clothes items by packing multi-purpose clothing; for example, items that can be worn both during the day and double as sleepwear. 8. Split up Clothes when Traveling with Others When you are flying somewhere and especially if you have a few stopovers, divide the clothes between different suitcases/backpacks/bags, etc. Continued on pg. 40
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If one person’s luggage doesn't arrive at the destination, they'll still have clean clothes available. Airlines generally don't compensate lost luggage for the first 24-48 hours, so this will save money if it happens to you. 9. Carry-On Keep any medication and important papers in your carry-on bag. On long flights with multiple stopovers (especially if flying via London, LA or other major airports), packing a fresh change of clothes is a good idea, as bags tend to get delayed or lost on long haul, multiple-stop flights. You don't want to end up stuck without medication, clothes or your important papers, even just for a few days.
Want to Help CHAZAQ Out? We Need All the Help We Can Get. Volunteers are Needed! To See how YOU can get involved with CHAZAQ please Call 917-617-3636 or Email: Info@Chazaq.org
10. Flashlights/Battery-Powered Devices When packing a flashlight or torch (or any other item with batteries for that matter), turn the batteries around so that if the item is accidentally turned on, you won't empty the batteries. Don't forget to turn the batteries back around when using the device.
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“The Only Cure for Israel’s Woes” By Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Bregman Regrettably, the past year has once again been marred by violence, terror, and missile attacks for the Jews of Israel. Irrespective of national origin and religious observance, we have all been moved by the unforgettable images of tragedy to which we’ve sadly become accustomed over the past many years. It has reached the point where the uncertainty of daily life in Israel has become commonplace and the norm. To make matters worse, Jews in Israel and throughout the world have awoken to the realization that the situation is quickly deteriorating. The events of the past year have revealed that the United States (and the Obama administration in particular) may not be there for us in our time of greatest need, and with a showdown with a nuclear Iran looming, the situation appears to be truly grave. In the eyes of many, our control over the Holy Land seems to be slipping away, and many voices have been heard openly questioning whether the Jews of Israel have any future there. Worse yet, there appears to be no end in sight to either the Islamic terrorism or fresh threats of violence. With frayed nerves and our energy spent, many have despaired of finding a respite to our suffering. In the words of the prophet Jeremiah (Eichah 5:5), “We are exhausted but are allowed no rest.” Despite all that has transpired, many of our Jewish brothers and sisters respond in the all-too-predictable manner, “If we can only find the right mix between diplomacy and military muscle and elect the right government, then we’ll finally achieve peace.” It is clear to even the most stubborn of observers that this approach has caused us to “struggle in vain and produce for futility” (Isaiah 65:23). On the other hand, those among us who are more religiously-oriented search for clues in the Torah, the eternal instruction manual, as to how we can ameliorate our suffering. Without question, the Torah speaks of the current situation, and the
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Gedolim (the elite Torah giants of our era) have imparted to us clear instructions as to how we must proceed. ON ONE CONDITION… A recurring theme mentioned throughout the Torah, and particularly in the weekly portions read throughout the summer months, is the lone condition upon which the Jewish people will inherit the Land of Israel. Again and again, Hashem reiterates that the ability of the Jewish people to successfully possess and endure in the Land of Israel is entirely dependent upon our observing the commandments of the Torah. [For example, see Parshas Va’eschanan which contains a stunning ten mentions of this concept, ex. 4:1, 4:5, 4:25-27, 4:40, 5:28, 5:30, 6:1, 6:3, 6:17-19]. As the Torah states in unambiguous language, “You shall observe His decrees and His commandments that I command you this day, so that He will do good to you and to your children after you, and so that you will prolong your days on the land that Hashem, your G-d, gives you, for all the days” (Devarim 4:40). It is interesting to note that analyzing the above principle from a purely objective and historical perspective, this phenomenon has not-so-coincidentally held true throughout the ages. It should come as no surprise that the periods prior to the destruction of the First and Second Temples and the subsequent exiles were marked by rampant neglect of Hashem’s Torah. Conversely, the periods preceding the destruction, which featured peaceful Jewish dominion over the Land, were characterized by extraordinarily high levels of mitzvah observance. Unfortunately, the passage of time and our inability to look at Jewish history as a unified whole render it almost impossible for the layperson to take notice of and appreciate this trend on their own, for if it were, this “coincidence” would certainly impress and shock the hearts of even the most spiritually detached members of our nation.
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A DIFFERENT KIND OF GIFT Most certainly, the notion that the successful establishment of a Jewish presence in the Land of Israel is wholly predicated on Torah observance is a foreign concept to some ears. However, a deeper understanding of the relationship between Hashem’s Torah, the Jewish people, and Israel reveals why this is the case.
is wholly absurd to imagine that if Hashem Himself has told us the one and only thing that will bring us the peaceful existence in the Land we so desperately seek, that we should achieve the object of our desires by alternative means. Our Gedolim have made it clear that we have been humbled and are in failing health, for ignoring Hashem’s prescription has imperiled our very existence.
Even Jews who do not consider themselves to be ‘religious’ know that G-d gave the Land of Israel as a gift to the Jewish people. However, what most fail to realize is that Israel is not a “gift” in the conventional sense of the word. As a general rule, there are two ways one can give a gift: 1) unconditionally, such that receipt and continued possession of the gift are entirely independent of the recipient’s conduct, and 2) conditionally, such that receipt and continued possession of the gift are linked to the fulfillment of certain conditions on the part of the recipient. The Land of Israel, Hashem’s gift to the Jews, most certainly falls into the category of the latter; our receipt of Israel is solely conditioned upon our fulfillment of His will as expressed in the Holy Torah.
CHARTING A NEW COURSE Over 60 years have passed since Hashem gave the Jewish people a fresh start in our ancestral homeland. Although there is a high level of Torah observance among segments of the Israeli population and throughout the world, we have to be honest and admit that the majority of the Jewish nation has not kept the Torah—the very condition upon which our existence in the Land depends. The Torah describes this phenomenon: “When you beget children and grandchildren and you will have long been in the Land, you will grow corrupt…and you will do evil in the eyes of Hashem…you will surely perish quickly from the Land…you shall not have lengthy days upon it.” (Devarim 4:25-27). Since we are witnessing the fulfillment of this nightmarish prophecy on a daily basis, our Torah sages have told us that now is the time for a collective call to action for all Jews to strengthen our observance of Torah.
VISIT TO THE DOCTOR Consider the following analogy: There once was a man who suffered from a grave illness. By stroke of great fortune, this sick individual discovered that the world’s leading doctor had recently published an essay detailing how to cure the very same ailment from which he was suffering. In his research, the doctor concluded that there is only one form of treatment that is effective in dealing with this malady. Astonishingly, the sick man, possessing no expert knowledge of medicine, chose to ignore the doctor’s wisdom and instead attempted to cure himself with whatever remedies he could dream up. As we could expect, ignoring the doctor’s sage advice resulted in a deterioration of his condition and an exponential increase in his suffering. His friends pleaded with him, “Take the true cure! It’s the only thing that can save you!” Humbled and in failing health, the man finally conceded that all other remedies were fruitless. When he relented and finally heeded the doctor, the illness quickly disappeared and the man was miraculously restored to complete health.
The road to recovery can begin only after we have honestly diagnosed the illness. We’ve tried every other political and military strategy to no avail; it’s time to give Torah observance a chance. The Gedolim of our era have told us that if it feels as though Israel is slipping away, it is only because we are allowing our collective Torah observance to slip away. In the merit of strengthening our own commitment to Torah and gently encouraging others to do the same, may we witness the fulfillment of the verse (Devarim 4:4), “You who cling to Hashem, your G-d, you are all alive today.” May we live in times of Torah observance, now and forever.
Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Bregman is Founder of the Jewish Executive Learning Network (JELN), a Lakewood-based organization that shares the beauty of Torah study with young professional men in their 20’s and 30’s in the New The above parable, adapted from Rabbi Moshe York City area and beyond. His JELN classes are available Chaim Luzzatto’s classic work Mesillas Yesharim in video and MP3 format at TorahAnytime.com. In addi(“Path of The Just”), succinctly describes our cur- tion to his communal work, Rabbi Bregman manages his rent dilemma in Israel and why the majority of own law firm, specializing in Corporate Law and Trusts efforts at rectifying the situation are misguided. It & Estates. He may be contacted at bregmanlaw@aol.com.
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This past month the world has lost great Torah leaders in 3 different countries - Israel, United States and Switzerland. Rav Yitzchak Dov Koppelman, zt'l In a massive funeral in Jerusalem, thousands came to bid farewell to HaRav Yitzchak Dov Koppelman. Born in 1905 in Kharkov, Ukraine, he was a leading disciple of Rabbi Shimon Shkop, the Rosh Yeshiva of Sha’ar HaTorah in Grodno, Poland. During World War II he traveled through Siberia and Uzbekistan. After the war he got married and founded Yeshiva Shaarei Yosher in Brooklyn, New York. In 1963 he was appointed as the Rosh Yeshiva of Lucerne Yeshiva in Switzerland, which attracted students from all over the world including Israel, England, Belgium, Austria, United States and Canada. The students were comprised from all denominations, from Litvaks, to Chasidim, to German Jews and Sefardim. He was remembered as a father to all his students, giving them individualized attention. Even in his advanced years, he was always found in the Yeshiva giving regular classes, as well as being completely accessible to all the students. We have lost a truly big Torah personality from the previous generations, of the likes which cannot be unsurpassed. Rav Koppelman passed away at the age of 106 on June 17, 2011.
Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, zt'l Eyes were clouded with tears, as over one hundred thousand people attended the funeral to mourn one of the Gedolei Hador, Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz. He served as a beacon of light and inspiration for the entire Jewish nation. Thousands came to his door for advice and guidance. Born in the city of Valozhin in 1913 he moved to Israel in 1936. For over 50 years, He served as the Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh L’tzeirim in Bnei Brak, where he spread Torah and yirat Shamayim to multitudes. He authored Chiddushei Rav Shlomo, the teachings of his teacher Rav Shlomo Heiman, as well as Minchas Yehuda on the Talmud. Rav Lefkowitz passed away at the age of 97 on June 27, 2011.
Rav Chaim Stein, zt”l In Wickliffe, Ohio, there was a Rosh Yeshiva who spent his days and nights toiling in Torah and dissemating it to the next generation. Raised in the Telshe Yeshiva in Lithuania, Rav Stein learned under some of the greatest Torah leaders of the time. As the war broke out, he found himself fleeing the hands of the Nazis to Russia, the Far East and, eventually, Australia. Rav Stein eventually found his way to Cleveland, Ohio, and became part of the Telshe Yeshiva, moving his way up until he became Rosh Yeshiva. It was said that he had completed the seven year daf yomi cycle since its inception by Rabbi Meir Shapiro in the year 1923. Rav Stein passed away at the age of 99 on June 29, 2011.
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Hacham Abdallah Somech Baghdad, Iraq 5573 - 5649 / 1813 – 1889
By Yehuda Azoulay Hacham Abdallah Somech zt”l was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 5573/1813. He was the son of the great talmid hacham R’ Abraham Somech. He was the eldest of eight brothers and eight sisters. He married Sarah, and had nine great children; Saleh, Aharon, Raphael, Khatoon, Abraham, Sasson, Massouda, Rachel and Simha. He was one of the greatest hachamim of Baghdad and one of the most important poskim (halachic authorities) of his generation. He studied under the great mekubal R’ Yaakob Harofe. He was the greatest pillar of Torah of his time in Iraq. R’ Abdallah was the teacher of R’ Yosef Haim (the Ben Ish Hai). When the Ben Ish Hai gave public speeches in the great synagogue of Baghdad, R’ Abdallah would attend, whenever he could, so that he could hear his student. Another mark of this talmid hacham was that when the Ben Ish Hai made his entry into the bet haknesset, he would rise before him, along with everyone present. The teacher's manners made everyone understand the greatness of the Ben Ish Hai. Hacham Abdallah was a descendant of the important family of R’ Nissim Gaon (990 – 1062 also known as HaMaftech), who authored the vidui for Yom Kippur. He states in the introduction to his sefer Kibbutz Hachamim: "Servant of G-d, Abdallah son of Abraham son of Yosef son of Yehezkel HaSomech, grandson and great-grandson of R’ Nissim who was the rosh yeshivah here in the community of Bavel."
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The sons of R’ Nissim Gaon were Yehoshua, Yosef, and Yehezkel. Yehoshua named his first two sons Abraham and Abdallah, names which are found in the family from generation to generation, including family members today. The family name Somech means support in Hebrew, and its etymology comes from the fact that one member of the family, Yehezkel, was a somech (assistant) of the bet haknesset’s hazzan during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. From early childhood, Hacham Abdallah sought to learn Torah day and night, always dwelling on his love for Torah. He became famous as a renowned scholar at an exceptionally young age. At first, R’ Abdallah was a merchant like most of his townspeople, and was a partner to the great merchant Moshe Kabassa. When he caught wind of the fact that Torah learning was fading due to the lack of a Bet Midrash for Hachamim, he decided to open a bet medrash. He picked ten of the best young scholars he could find and taught them Torah without pay. He became Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivat Midrash Abu Menashe (established in 1840 by Heskel Menashe Zebaida); the yeshivah was later expanded and renamed the well known Midrash Bet Zilka, which remained in operation until 1951. His great sefer, Zivchei Zedek, was published in two volumes after his death. The sefer is a summary of earlier and later scholars' halachic views, and his final piskei halachah (halachic decisions) on various issues. The sefer was widely followed in India and the Far East. The end of the books includes response on the entire Shulchan Aruch. He avoided honor, but it followed him, and despite the fact that he was known as a great gaon who everyone turned to, he was not interested in a formal position. His simplicity and the pleasant way in which he conducted himself made him extremely popular. He returned Torah learning in Bavel to its initial glory. He was loved by the community and called "Asta" by all, which means "my teacher." His reputation as a brilliant talmid hacham became widespread, and he fought the holy war of Torah with great devotion and self sacrifice. The Gaon R’ Gershon Hanoch Henik zt”l from Radzin asked R’ Abdallah to write a haskamah (approbation) for his sefer, Sidrei Taharot, about Masechet Ohalot. In an introduction to the haskamah he writes: "Following is a haskamah by the great, famous and righteous hacham, who is elderly and is in the yeshivah of Israel with its
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holy scholars, Sinai and Oker Harim, the head of the Jewish community of Bavel in Baghdad." R’ Shelomo Hutzin wrote about R’ Abdallah as follows: “If I were to praise him, even just the slightest bit, all the pages in the world would be insufficient. What’s more, this would no doubt displease him, for he was extremely humble and wanted no fame.” R’ Abdallah Somech left this world on Erev
Shabbat, on the eighteenth of Elul, 5649/1889. Incarnation of an Angel One day in Baghdad, policemen came to deliver R’ Abdallah to the governor, who wished to speak with him after he had dismissed a dayan (rabbinic judge) who had proven to be unsuitable for his position. When the policemen entered R’ Abdallah’s home, they froze, seeing him seated among bearded talmidei hachamim who were listening to his teachings. R’ Abdallah’s visage appeared to them like the incarnation of an angel from Heaven, and this sight impressed them so much that they turned around and left. When the governor had asked them why they had not brought R’ Abdallah, the policemen replied: “Do you know who you sent us to get? The prophet Moshe himself !” The governor decided to send honorable representatives to persuade R’ Abdallah to reverse his decision. R’ Abdallah replied, “My decision was made in accordance with the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu. I therefore cannot change it.” The governor understood this point of view perfectly and accepted the righteous words of R’ Abdallah.
London. At the time, there was an outbreak of a terrible disease, cholera, in Baghdad, and R’ Abdallah passed away from this disease. For this reason, he was not buried in the regular cemetery, but in the backyard of Yehoshua the Kohen Gadol. This place was holy to the Muslims as well, and a great dispute broke out about burying the great talmid hacham in a holy place without the government's permission. Eventually the government forced the Jews to remove the Hacham from his grave on the twelfth of Kislev, eighty four days after he was buried. The anti-Semitic mayor of Baghdad took advantage of the situation to imprison several of the leaders of the community and many Hachamim. The local Jewish community sent delegations to influential people in Constantinople (the Sassoon family - The Sassoon family is a family of international renown, which originated in the Jewish community of Baghdad, and it is said to have originally descended from the Ibn Shoshans of Spain. Sassoon ben Salih (1750 1830) was a banker to the Vali (provincial governor) of Baghdad.) and London. As a result, the anti-Semitic mayor was fired from his position, and later the hachamim were released when the government of Britain interfered. Nevertheless, the Jewish community resigned itself to digging up the remains of the illustrious Hacham. Several great talmidei hachamim descended into the kever and asked forgiveness from R’ Abdallah. However, they were utterly astonished when they noticed that the body of their revered Hacham had remained completely intact, exactly as on the day he was buried. Eyewitnesses said that when R’ Abdallah was removed from his grave, he looked as though he was asleep; his flesh had not rotted, his hair was not scorched, and his shrouds had not withered.
Yehuda (Allen) Azoulay was born in Toronto, where he attended Ohr Haemet Sephardic School, Ner Yisrael Toronto, and Yeshiva Darchei Torah. He grew up in a vibrant and authentic Sephardic community which he’s followed passionately. He later attended post high school; Yeshivat Mikdash Melech in Yerushalayim. He studied in Yeshivah Gedola Ohr Hatalmud of Lakewood, and found his bashert, Rena. He currently lives in Lakewood, New Jersey, where he now learns part time at Beth Medrash Gavoha of Lakewood. Yehudah is passionately The Intact Body committed to the objective of spreading awareness of the On Erev Shabbat, the eighteenth of Elul, great knowledge and deeds of the Sephardic Hachamim 5649/1889, R’ Abdallah passed away. However, of the past and the present. He hopes to create, for Sepastonishing events took place around his kever, hardic Jews everywhere, a pride in their heritage and an events which became known not only in Iraq, intensification of their faith in Hashem and His Torah. but all the way to Constantinople (Istanbul) and
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WEDDING INSIGHTS: RING FINGER By Rabbi Refael & Mrs. Adina Ribacoff We are all familiar with the popular children’s song: “Where is thumbkin? Where is thumbkin?” The song goes thru the different fingers of the hand: thumbkin, pointer, tall man, ring man, and pinkie. The finger closest to the pinkie is known as the ring finger and most women (and some men) when they get married wear their wedding band and/or engagement ring on that finger. So why is it when we stand under the Chupah (Marriage Canopy) we place the wedding ring on the right pointer or index finger of the Kallah (Bride)? On a simple level the reasons given are because the custom in those days was that women wore their ring on the right forefinger and that custom, although not so common today, has remained by the wedding ceremony. It is also explained that the right pointer is the most prominent of all the fingers. The index finger is the finger most commonly used to point to things, and therefore the finger most in the forefront and visible. It is also easier for the witnesses to see the ring when it is placed on the index finger. According to the Ben Ish Chai (Shana Rishona, Shoftim, 9) the (secret) reason for placing the ring on the forefinger of the bride is alluded to in Tehillim (Psalms) 19 where it mentions the “Chattan coming out of the Chupah.” Starting from Verse 8 there are 6 passages that contain 5 words and the second word in each is the Name of Hashem. They are: Torat Hashem Temima, etc. “The law of Hashem is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of Hashem is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of Hashem are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of Hashem is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Hashem is clean, enduring for ever; The ordinances of Hashem are true, they are righteous altogether.” If you were to count the words on your fingers starting with the thumb, the second word of Hashem is counted on the forefinger (the finger next to the thumb). By a
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wedding there is a unification of the Name of Hashem: The letter Yud of Hashem’s name is symbolized by the ring itself. The 5 fingers of the Chattans clasping the ring symbolize the letter Heh of Hashem’s name. The outstretched finger of the Kallah symbolizes the letter Vav of Hashem’s name. And the Kallah’s hand which is there to receive the Kiddushin symbolizes the last letter Heh of Hashem’s name. Since the purpose of the Chattan placing of the ring on the Kallah’s finger is the unification of the 4 letters of Hashem’s name, it’s only appropriate to place the ring on the finger which is represented by Hashem’s name (as seen in the above mentioned verses). Another interesting insight is as follows: The word for ring in Hebrew is Taba’at – which is similar for the Hebrew word Teva, which means nature. The ring is placed on the forefinger, which in Hebrew is known as Etzbah. This word appears in the Torah (Shemot 8:15) “It is the Finger of G-d (Etzbah Elokim)!” When it comes to finding your spouse many people mistakenly believe that it is Teva – nature – that it just happens. But it really is Hashem “doing’ everything – just making it ‘look’ like nature. The Midrash explains that “Hashem sits and pairs up couples.” Hashem is the One who makes Matches happen. Therefore the Chattan puts the Taba’at (ring) on the Etzbah (forefinger) to show that all of Teva (nature) is only wrapped around the Etzbah Elokim (Finger of G-d). Everything is really supervised and orchestrated by Hashem – Who is hidden within. Hashem turns things around to appear coincidental and natural – like the ring that surrounds the finger. There is another Midrash which explains that there are 10 fingers corresponding to the 10 Commandments. The Second Commandment of “You shall not have any gods” corresponds to the index finger. When a Chattan says the words of: “Harei at Mekudeshet li B'taba’at zo Keda'at Continued on pg. 54
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Moshe V'Yisrael.” (“Behold you are sanctified unto me with this ring according to the Law of Moshe and the People of Israel”) before placing the ring on the Kallah’s finger, in effect he is stating that that you are prohibited to all men. Just like the Jewish People are betrothed ONLY to Hashem and they are forbidden to worship idols – so too are the Chattan and Kallah to only have eyes for each other – and NO ONE ELSE! They have an exclusive bond that connects them to each other – and only each other! We would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe summer! Rabbi Refael & Mrs. Adina Ribacoff are Chattan & Kallah Teachers, Marriage & Relationship Educators, Family & Life Coaches, Founders of Table for Two – Couple Events If anyone is interested in joining a workshop on communication skills for couples, is welcome to contact us at: rabbi_ribacoff@yahoo.com or adinaribacoff@gmail.com
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It Ain’t Just Luck By Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland Steve leaves his Upper West Side brownstone at 777 West 77th Street at exactly 7:00 A.M. to catch the 7:07 Seventh Avenue Express. On the way to the train, he notices a manila envelope with no name or address on the ground before him, at the corner of 7th Avenue and 77th Street. Curious as to its contents, he quickly picks it up and finds it filled with $100 bills. Frantically, he counts them, amazed at his good fortune to have found $7,700. “Today must be my lucky day!” he exclaims in delight, seven being a lucky number. Steve stuffs the cash into his pockets, and having missed his train, hails a cab instead, to complete his commute to his office at 77 7th Avenue. His excitement is further intrigued, when the cab driver pulls up in front of his building and tells him the fare is exactly seven dollars and seventy seven cents. “Today must be my lucky day!” he shouts out again. “I’m not going to work! I’m going to the racetrack! Driver, take me to Belmont Park Racetrack in Long Island!” Steve is further encouraged when, upon arriving at Belmont, the taxi fare comes to exactly seventy seven dollars and seventy seven cents. “There’s no doubt about it! Today is my lucky day!” he rejoices, as he rushes in to place his bet. There it is on the charts. Seventh Heaven is running at the odds of seven to one in the seventh race. “$7,777 on Seventh Heaven in the seventh race,” he orders the teller, positive that today is his lucky day, and seven is his lucky number. Sure enough, she came in seventh! **** In the superficial existence of a secular world devoid of depth and meaning, good-luck charms and rabbit’s feet are popularly cherished. The notion of something a little more esoteric would be one’s Zodiac sign, as a source for predicting character or innate tendencies. “Hi, I’m a Leo!” “Hi, I’m a Gemini!” Presto! A match made in Heaven! Chinese fortune cookies have even
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invaded the kosher market as a favorite part of the menu of that cuisine. Las Vegas and Atlantic City have gained enormously from such shallowness, which unfortunately has made a major contribution to gambling addictions and the like. Such behavior runs the gamut from the stock market to every conceivable sporting event, from the sophisticated to the contemptible. To our dismay, this has also penetrated the Orthodox Jewish community. Our Sages, however, to whom we turn to for all of our guidance in life, tell us unequivocally “Ein mazel l’Yisrael.” The relationship between Klal Yisrael and the world is not governed by constellations, i.e. the revolving forces that are associated with the course of events. Although mazel is certainly part of the Divine Plan and governs a specific domain for Klal Yisrael (e.g. we wish one another mazel tov at all joyous occasions), it is by no means the end-all. We are privileged to enjoy a special relationship with our Creator that precludes such limitation and extends beyond the world of mazel. Indeed, idolworshippers are referred to using the acronym of “aku”m,” namely, ovdei kochavim u’mazalos – people who worship the stars and the constellations, without any specific mention of molten images or statues that typify idolatry. For a Jew to place his hopes and dreams or his fortune in “good luck” is a distortion of the role he plays in Hashem’s world. It is at times the beginning of the denial of the truth that can lead to even such frivolity as idolatry. One of the reasons a gambler is precluded from being a witness in a Jewish court is because he is not involved in “yishuvo shel olam,” the settling of the world. Not only does he not pursue gainful employment in the practical sense, he grossly misunderstands his unique and important mission, that of bettering his world and destiny. He is preoccupied with the foolishness of chance, when his investments should be in the futures of this world and the next. We dare not gamble away our eternal
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reward for a thrill or two. Our stocks and securi- to snow-boarding; from jet-skiing to parasailties are our good deeds and their merit, and they ing and sky-diving, from binge-eating to alcohol are not on the table for any wager whatsoever. consumption, people cross all types of bridges, banking on their frivolous “E-ZPass” philosophy The Talmud discusses auspicious moments in of living for the moment and reveling in good life, when a person might be more susceptible luck charms. to Heavenly judgment and punishment. The Talmudcites the story of Rav Yanai, who would Our good fortune lies in one number: the numnever cross a bridge without first checking its se- ber one. The Oneness of Hashem and our recurity. He said, “A person should never treat any lationship with Him, determines the foundasituation of chance or potential danger lightly, tional strength of the bridges we cross in life. for who knows if he will be worthy of a miracle As the Kotzker zt”l explained about “Echad Mi that will save him? And even if he is, he will lose Yode’a,” the song in the Haggadah, everything precious zechuyos (merits) in the process.” in creation connects to the commandments of the Torah, since the Torah is the blueprint of The creed of great tzaddikim is always: “katonti creation. Who knows why the word “one” exmikol hachassadim – perhaps I am unworthy or ists in the world? For one singular reason: to have already exhausted all of my merits.” They recognize Hashem as the Source of it all; for are fully aware of the ongoing grace of Hashem, all to proclaim “Echad Elokainu bashamayim and the precarious balance of our merits. To u’vaaretz;” for all to decree in unison, “Shema chance the loss of even one merit for any ven- Yisrael ...Hashem Echad – Hear O Israel ... ture, let alone capricious behavior, is out of the Hashem is One.” question. And yet, even within the confines of observant This is an excerpt from Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland's new Jewry, too many are caught up in their world book "A Time to Laugh, A Time to Listen," available at of adventure and risk. From bungee-jumping Jewish bookstores and at the CHAZAQ Shop.
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Health
Water: Drink to Life By Shmuel Shields, Ph.D., N.Y.S. Certified Nutritionist Water is an essential nutrient, secondary in importance only to oxygen. In fact, the human body is composed primarily of water, with approximately 65% of body weight made up of water. A healthy body thus requires proper hydration.
5. Drink broth-based soups.
All cells require water to carry out their vital work. The body must be adequately hydrated in order for oxygen to be transported to the blood and for nutrients to be carried through it. Water is also necessary for all bodily functions, including digestion, absorption, and circulation, and is essential for toxic removal and maintenance of body temperature as well. Other important health functions include lubricating the joints and maintaining proper muscle tone. In terms of weight loss, adequate water intake has been found to naturally suppress the appetite, prevent fluid retention, and metabolize stored fat.
In addition, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables that are full of water, such as lettuce, watermelon, broccoli, and grapefruit. Keep in mind that pure fruit and vegetable juices provide fluids and contain vitamins and minerals as well. For those concerned about weight, however, fruit juices contain significant calories per serving – as much as 100 calories in an 8 ounce glass. In order to reduce caloric intake, dilute fruit juices with water. Fresh vegetable juices have less sugar and therefore fewer calories than fruit juices. When exercising, cool water is the best fluid to drink since it empties from the stomach quickly and travels to parts of the body where it is needed. Sugary beverages, on the other hand, slow up the stomach emptying time and do not reach all parts of the body as quickly as water. So let’s all drink water – to life!
The exact quantity of fluids needed depends upon diet, body size, activity level, climate, and health status. Typically, an adult requires six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. While filtering tap water significantly improves its quality, natural spring, bottled, or distilled water present other desirable options. It is advisable to check the source and quality of bottled water through Consumer Reports.
For a consultation with Dr. Shmuel (Rick) Shields, N.Y.S. Certified Nutritionist, call (718) 544-4036. Most insurance plans are accepted. House calls, phone and e-mail consultations, and guest speaking can be arranged. For information about VitaShield, a high quality multivitamin and mineral supplement with a well absorbed form of vitamin D, contact Dr. Shields at (718) 544-4036 or e-mail him at rmshields62@verizon.net
Consider the following options to spice up liquids in an effort to stay hydrated at all times: 1. Add a splash of fruit juice for color and flavor. 2. Add a slice of lemon or orange. 3. Freeze strawberries in water. 4. Wean off regular juices by diluting the drinks until they’re half-and-half.
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You Can Do It! By Howard Spielman O Lucky Dog When you take your dog for a walk, you don’t let him run wild. You put a leash on his collar to protect him. You want to keep him from harm. Heaven forbid he should get hit by a car. Well, when I first began to lose weight, I also needed a leash, in fact, I still do. The leash I needed was a food plan, which I use on myself even to this day. I need to be protected. Look at the picture. The more I look at it, the more I recognize its truth and its powerful message. You see, when it came to food, I used to be an animal. I ate like an animal and I acted like an animal! I always had to be first and I always had to make certain that I got the most. If you were full and couldn't finish your food, I would do you a favor and finish it for you. If food was about to be thrown out, I would volunteer to eat it, just so it wouldn't go to waste. My entire life revolved around food and what I was going to eat next. Think about what I'm saying. A food plan for
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me acts like a leash and keeps me in check and well protected. You may still be asking yourself, "What does he need to be protected from?� I say it even more clearly. A person like me can destroy himself with food; in fact, I nearly did. I once weighed more than 400 pounds. I was a diabetic with high blood pressure and a good candidate for either a stroke or a heart attack. All this because when it came to food, I was eating out of control. I needed to be protected from myself. I talk to many people who say " I just can't stop eating!" I understand completely. I can only tell you what worked for me. Think it through until you can admit to yourself that you need a safe way to handle food. You will forever be spinning your wheels. Take a low-fat food plan; one which allows you unlimited vegetables and perhaps think about joining a diet group so you won't feel you are doing it alone. Remember, when you eat with a food plan, it may feel like a leash. However, it also feels good to be protected. You can do it!
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Eat Your Way to Lower Cholesterol By Ariella Horowitz, RD, CDN Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is made in the body by the liver. Cholesterol is a vital component of the formation and maintenance of healthy cell membranes, development of hor mones, production of vitamin D and manufacturing of bile acids which aid in fat digestion. Cholesterol is essential to our lives, but sometimes our bodies produce more cholesterol than we actually need. Often, this is due to a diet high in cholesterol and saturated fat. This excess cholesterol circulates in the bloodstream and can clog blood vessels, which may lead to heart disease and stroke. Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is commonly known as the “bad” cholesterol as it deposits cholesterol on the artery walls and forms thick plaques. High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is the “good” cholesterol that removes excess cholesterol from the bloodstream and carries it to the liver for removal from our bodies. According to the American Heart Association, in order to be at low risk for heart disease, total cholesterol levels should be less than 200 mg/ dl, LDL should be less than 100 mg/dl and HDL should be more than 40 mg/dl in men and more than 50 mg/dl in women. I am often asked by patients what they can do in order to naturally lower their cholesterol level as a last attempt before having to begin a medication regimen. The following 5 “superfoods” have been shown to have incredible cholesterollowering effects: 1. Salmon & fatty fish – Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids; your body needs them but cannot make them on its own, so you must get them through food. Studies have shown that replacing saturated fats with omega-3s such as those found in salmon, sardines, tuna and herring can lower your bad cholesterol and blood pressure and raise your HDL by as much as 4%. 2. Oats – Oats contain soluble fiber which decreases your LDL cholesterol by reducing the absorption of cholesterol in your bloodstream. Changing your breakfast to include two servings
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of oats every day can lower your LDL cholesterol by 5.3% in just 6 weeks. The secret to this cholesterol buster is beta-glucan, a substance in oats that absorbs LDL which your body then goes on to excrete. 3. Red wine – Red wine is packed with several cholesterol lowering compounds. Resveratrol, a compound found in grapes that acts as an antioxidant, has been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease by blocking cholesterol oxidation. As an added bonus, resveratrol has been shown to lower blood pressure and contains cancer fighting properties as well. Red wine also contains high levels of saponins, a compound that binds to cholesterol and prevents its absorption. The darker the wine, the higher the level of these cholesterol fighting compounds. Studies show that just one glass of red wine a day can increase your HDL by 16% and decrease your LDL by 12%! If you want the benefits of resveratrol and saponins without the alcohol, dark grape juice will do the trick. 4. Nuts – Nuts are high in unsaturated fats which help lower “bad” cholesterol levels and increase the “good” HDL cholesterol. They are also high in fiber and phytosterols which compete with cholesterol for absorption. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that people who ate 1.5 ounces of nuts, 6 days a week for just one month, lowered their total cholesterol an average of 5.4% and their LDL cholesterol by 9.3%. Some of the nuts that have been shown to have these cholesterol fighting effects include almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, macadamia nuts and peanuts. Although nuts are heart healthy, they are high in calories so limit your intake to 1.5 ounces a day, the size of a shot glass and a half. 5. Olive oil – Olive oil is rich in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid. Numerous studies have shown that monounsaturated fat is extremely effective in lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol when substituted for saturated
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fat in one’s diet. In addition, unlike polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat does not lower the “good� HDL cholesterol or raise triglyceride levels. In order to avoid weight gain, make sure to use olive oil in place of saturated fats in your diet as it still has the same amount of calories as other oils. Stick to virgin or extra-virgin olive oil as they are less processed and, therefore, contain more antioxidants. For maximum results, incorporate these foods as part of a well balanced diet and exercise regimen. A minimum of 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per day will help lower your cholesterol naturally as well. Ariella Horowitz is a Registered Dietitian and a New York State Certified Dietitian/ Nutritionist. She does private consultations in her Kew Gardens Hills office and makes house calls for your convenience. Weekend and evening hours are available. To schedule an appointment, contact her at (718) 614-2145 or e-mail her at AriellaHorowitz@gmail.com.
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1031 Exchanges By Ephraim Zucker For many people, the biggest transactions they will engage in involve transfers of real estate, often property used in their business or investment property. Of course, it is tempting to "flip" the property quickly to earn a profit. However, a major consideration that should go into planning such transactions is avoiding tax consequences. Knowing the rules before you get close to finalizing any deal can help you avoid later problems.
later than 180 days after the sale of the exchanged property or the due date (with extensions) of the income tax return for the tax year in which the relinquished property was sold, whichever is earlier. The replacement property received must be "substantially identical" to the property identified within the 45-day limit.
One of the most commonly used strategies for shielding proceeds from sales of property from tax is the Internal Revenue Code's section 1031, which deals with "like-kind exchanges." The exchange defers tax on the transfer until the acquired property is sold. If any other non-"like-kind" property, such as money, is received in the transaction, some taxable gain may be triggered. Any taxpaying entity is eligible to arrange such treatment, as long as the original property was not held for personal use.
You need to be careful about certain other details. Sometimes receiving cash will invalidate the entire exchange if it is received before the conclusion of the exchange. Property in the United States exchanged for property outside the United States is ineligible for deferred treatment. Make sure the replacement property is of equal or greater value to that of the old property, and that the mortgage or other debt against the new property is equal to or greater than that on the old property. Certain types of "personal property" are eligible for 1031 treatment, but the rules are fairly strict; for example, cars cannot be exchanged for trucks. Stocks, bonds, receivables, and inventory are eligible for 1031. Even though no tax is owed, 1031 exchanges still must be reported to the IRS with your tax return. Also, beware of doing too many 1031 exchanges too fast - the IRS may reclassify you as being a dealer, which can lead to heavy taxes, as well as social security tax, interest, and fines.
Some leeway is available with deferred exchanges. You have 45 days from the date you sell the relinquished property to identify potential replacement properties. The identification must be in writing, signed by you and delivered to a person involved in the exchange, such as the seller of the replacement property or the "qualified intermediary," who holds the replacement property before it is transferred to the new owner. Simply giving notice to your attorney, real estate agent, or accountant is insufficient. Another requirement is that the replacement property must be received and the exchange completed no
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Ephraim Zucker is an accountant in Flushing, NY. This article should not be relied upon for any tax advice. He can be reached at 718-614-9820.
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A Father’s Echo It has been a long time since I last echoed my father’s sentiments and wisdom. Three years have gone by since my father’s passing and I have yet to find the right words to describe the pain I feel inside my aching heart. At times it feels impossible to fill a void so great and deep. Now, my only consolation in life is to continue with what I was taught by those who have loved me most throughout my life - my parents. I must continue in their ways and impress upon my own children all that has been instilled in me. There are many issues which transcend between parents and their children. Many families have issues which others may find to be minor or of no importance. I, on the other hand, have stumbled upon an issue I myself am guilty of....the lack of GRATITUDE. When was the last time you accepted something from a parent and realized that all they give to you simply means they are giving less to themselves? Certainly, parents have an obligation to feed, clothe, protect, educate, etc., their children, but not to the extent where the parents are left with nothing. By nature, parents have an innate instinct to provide the very best for all their children, but unfortunately, not all children believe that what a parent is doing is in the best interest of that child. Our parents want nothing more than love and appreciation from their children. Even when they cannot, they want to provide only the best life has to offer for the children they worked so hard to raise. I often wonder what and how much my parents had given up just so I can have the life they have willingly provided for me. Why can’t we love our parents even when they have nothing more to give us? The most precious words that come out of any childs mouth are “thank you.” A truly rich man, however, is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.
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To be frank, when I sat down to write this article, I had writer’s block. Although there are many topics I want to discuss, I find it very difficult at times to express myself correctly. I can spend hours writing an article and then delete everything. However, a few days before I submitted my article for publication, a tragedy occurred close to home, not to me personally, but an event that would make this article more understandable. About two weeks ago, the superintendent of my building had told me that a foul smell had been coming from a certain fifth floor apartment. After three days of knocking on the door, they decided to break open the lock in order to gain access to the apartment. Upon entering, a 60 year old man was found dead, sprawled out on the living room floor. The police were called and the deceased was taken to a local morgue. Out of curiosity, we called the police department to inquire as to the status of our neighbor’s funeral and the cause of death. We were told that this person has been dead for about four weeks and no missing person’s report had been filed. Upon further investigation, we were informed that the deceased was himself a widower with five grown children of his own, all of whom live within the same state and have skilled professional occupations. Let’s review the numbers one more time. Four weeks dead, five children who didn’t care, and finally and most importantly, ZERO gratitude for everything this man did for his children so they can have accomplished careers. Not even one phone call from any of the kids within that month just to see how their father was doing. I was told that three of the children are doctors and two are lawyers. Do you know what it takes to put five children through medical and
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law school? I am sure that this man gave up many luxuries throughout his lifetime just so his children can live a better life than he did as an immigrant. Within a week of notifying the children, one of the sons arranged a funeral to bury his dear father - Thank you o grateful son. Where is the gratitude and appreciation this man deserved from his own children? To My Dearest Father, if I forgot to ever say it, or didn’t say it loud enough, THANK YOU for all you did for me. For everything you gave me, you yourself never had as a child. For all the love you selflessly gave. For all the advice I should have listened to. And most of all, for being my father, the greatest gift of all. How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. Perhaps, the way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost forever. Your Eternally Grateful Son, Isaac Nektalov
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Strange but True News Man pays bill with 2,500 pennies A Utah man has been cited on a charge of disorderly conduct after paying for a disputed medical bill with 2,500 pennies. Jason West went to Basin Clinic in Vernal prepared to dispute an outstanding $25 bill. Assistant Vernal Police Chief Keith Campbell says that after asking staff members whether they accepted cash, West dumped 2,500 pennies on the counter and demanded that staff count them. Campbell says the incident upset staff because pennies were strewn about the counter and floor, and West's action served "no legitimate purpose." Police later issued the 38-year-old West a citation for disorderly conduct. That carries a fine of as much as $140. Or 14,000 pennies. (AP) Sign language or gang signs??? Two deaf men were stabbed in a Florida bar when another patron mistook their sign language for gang signs. 31-year-old Alfred Stewart, who is deaf and mute, and three others including a bouncer are recovering in the hospital from wounds suffered at the Ocean's Eleven Sports Lounge and Grill on Federal Highway, where Stewart and his friends were celebrating a birthday. Police say Barbara Lee became angry when she thought Stewart's party, all of whom are deaf, were throwing gang signs at her. The 45-year-old confronted Stewart and his friends and made gang signs to them. Witnesses say they motioned for the "aggressive" woman to leave them alone. Instead, Lee left and then shortly returned to the bar with a juvenile and 19-year-old Marco Ibanez, who is accused of pulling out a knife and stabbing the men. In the ensuing melee was the deaf men suffered stab wounds to the torso and back while the intervening bouncer was struck on the head with a bottle. Lee and Ibanez were taken into custody and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. (CBS news) Family finds over $40,000 in new home When Josh Ferrin closed on his family's first home, he never thought he'd make the discovery of a lifetime. As he walked into his new garage, a piece of cloth that clung to an attic door caught his eye. He opened the hatch and climbed up the ladder, then pulled out a metal box that looked like a World War II ammunition case. Then he found seven more boxes, all stuffed full with tightly wound rolls of cash bundled together with twine. Ferrin quickly took the boxes to his parents’ house to count. Along with his wife and children, they spread out thousands of bills on a table, separating the bundles one by one. They stopped counting at $40,000, but estimated there was at least $5,000 more on the table. Ferrin thought about how such a large sum of money could go a long way; pay bills and buy things he never thought he could afford. After most of the money was counted, Ferrin called one of the original owner’s sons with the news. Kay Bangerter, a son of the previous owner, said he knew his father hid away money because he
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once found a bundle of cash taped beneath a drawer in their home, but he never considered his dad had stuffed away so much over the years. Bangerter called the money's return "a story that will outlast our generation and probably yours as well." (Yahoo news) FBI: Ohio bank suspect lowers hood when told The FBI says an Ohio bank robbery suspect left authorities with good surveillance photos because he lowered his hood when an employee told him to. FBI Special Agent Harry Trombitas says the man in his mid-20s entered a Columbus PNC Bank with his dark hood up, covering most of his face. Trombitas says in a statement that the bank has a "no hats, no hoods" policy, so a bank employee told the man to pull his hood down, and he complied. The FBI says when the suspect got to the counter, he handed the teller a note saying he had a gun and to give him money or he would shoot. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. Columbus police haven't announced an arrest. (Yahoo news) Man eats 25,000th Big Mac, 39 years after his first A retired prison guard ate his 25,000th Big Mac sandwich, 39 years to the day after eating his first. Don Gorske was honored after reaching the meaty milestone during a ceremony at a McDonald's in his hometown of Fond du Lac. Surely McDonald's most loyal customer, Guinness World Records recognized Gorske's feat three years and 2,000 Big Macs ago, and the 57-year-old says he has no desire to stop. "I plan on eating Big Macs until I die," he said. "I have no intentions of changing. It's still my favorite food. Nothing has changed in 39 years. I look forward to it every day." The sign beneath the golden arches read "Congrats Don Gorske 25000 Big Macs." Gorske, who appeared in the 2004 documentary "Super Size Me," which examined the fast food industry, looks nothing like one might expect of a fast food junkie. He's trim and walks regularly for exercise, and he attributes his build to being "hyperactive." He said he was recently given a clean bill of health and that his cholesterol is low. Gorske's obsession with the burger — two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun, for those not familiar with the once-ubiquitous ads — started May 17, 1972, when he bought three Big Macs to celebrate the purchase of a new car. He was hooked, and went back to McDonald's twice more that day, eating nine before they closed. He's only gone eight days since without a Big Mac, and most days he eats two. Among the reasons he skipped a day was to grant his mother a dying wish. His last Big Mac-less day was Thanksgiving 2000, when he forgot to stock up and the store was closed for the holiday. (Yahoo news) Long lines form after $1.10-a-gallon LA gas goof Word spread quickly about a Los Angeles gas station selling premium unleaded for $1.10-a-gallon, but it wasn't a promotion. The owner says the too-good-to-be-true price was a computer glitch that cost him $21,000. Long lines snaked from the pumps at the Valero station in Wilmington. Police were even called to control traffic. The Torrance Daily Breeze reports that within four hours, about 7,000 gallons of premium were pumped at the discounted rate. Station owner Kenny Nguyen says the attendant on duty was busy staffing the convenience store and register. He says a price change didn't take, so the system defaulted to the $1.10 price — a cut of more than $3 a gallon. Nguyen hopes motorists who got the break come back and pay the real price. (AP)
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NYC taxi driver takes 2 guys cross country A New York City cab driver has racked up the fare of a lifetime. Mohammed Alam is being paid $5,000 to drive a pair of friends to Los Angeles. The trio left on a Saturday night and had reached Las Vegas by Thursday. Investment banker John Belitsky, of Leonia, N.J., tells the New York Post that the idea was hatched during a birthday celebration for Dan Wuebben of Queens. Belitsky said they wanted to do something “magical.” When they decided on a cab ride to California, they found Alam at LaGuardia Airport and brokered the deal. The two friends haven’t decided how they’ll get back yet. As for the cab driver, he says a friend will meet him in Los Angeles and help him make the drive home. (AP) Man fakes mugging after missing out on Oprah tickets A 44-year-old Canadian man says he concocted a lie that he was mugged so he would not have to tell his wife that he had no tickets to Oprah Winfrey's final show. Robert Spearing faces felony charges for telling police that two men roughed him up in Chicago and took the coveted tickets. According to local reports, he later confessed to making up the story because he was afraid to tell his wife that they had travelled all the way to
Chicago without tickets. He told police he faked his injuries by cutting his own forehead with a rock and scraping his hands on the sidewalk. Spearing was charged with one count of felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report. (Reuters) Oregon woman develops foreign accent after surgery Karen Butler has a British-sounding accent, but she's never been to Europe. She woke up from dental surgery one day talking funny. A year and a half later her "foreign" accent remains, and her story has traveled around the world. The 56-year-old tax consultant from Toledo, Ore., has found her life transformed by the dental procedure, which left her with dentures, and — depending on whom you ask — an Eastern European, Swedish or British accent. Butler had all her top teeth and front bottom teeth removed in November 2009 because of gingivitis. A week later the swelling had gone away, but she still sounded strange. Her dentist told her she just had to get used to
her new teeth. But as weeks stretched on with no change, Butler did some online research. She diagnosed herself with Foreign Accent Syndrome, a medical condition with only a few dozen documented cases. The syndrome is often the result of brain injury; though it is uncommon, most neurologists will see at least one case in their career. Sometimes a person just sounds slightly off; other times there may be a more dramatic-sounding accent. In Toledo, a small town of about 3,500 people, Butler is a novelty with her exotic accent. And that was before she went on the "Today" show and was featured on more than a dozen other television shows, newspaper articles and radio stations from Europe to Australia. Aside from the media attention, Karen Butler said her life hasn't changed much. She's less shy because of all the questions she's been asked. For a while her family treated the accent like a "new toy," asking her to say certain words or phrases. (MSNBC)
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By Spencer Spielman (Official Caterer of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Queens)
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Fun Pages By Naftali Szrolovits Winner!! It was a really hot day and Yosef decided he would go get a can of coke. He went to the coke machine and when he put his money in, a coke came out - so he kept putting money in. Since it was such a hot day, a line had formed behind him. Finally, a guy on line said, "Will you hurry up? We're all hot and thirsty!" So Yosef said, "No way. I'm still winning!" Blinker Working? Yosef and Naftali were driving down the road. Naftali, who is driving, looks at Yosef in the passenger seat and asks him to see if his blinker is working. So Yosef looks out the window and says, ''Yes. No. Yes. No.'' Two Lawyers Playing Golf Two lawyers, Jon and Phil, head out for their usual 9 holes of golf. Jon offers Phil a $50 bet. Phil agrees and they're off. They shoot a great game. After the 8th hole, Phil is ahead by one stroke, but cuts his ball into the rough on the 9th. ''Help me find my ball. Look over there,'' he says to Jon. After a few minutes, neither has any luck. Since a lost ball carries a four point penalty, Phil secretly pulls a ball from his pocket and tosses it to the ground. ''I've found my ball!'' he announces. ''After all of the years we've been partners and playing together," Jon says, "you'd cheat me out of a lousy 50 bucks?'' ''What do you mean, cheat? I found my ball sitting right there!'' ''And you're a liar, too!'' Jon says. ''I'll have you know I've been STANDING on your ball for the last five minutes!'' Where’s the Money? A Mafia Godfather, accompanied by his attorney, walks into a room to meet with his former accountant. The Godfather asks the accountant, “Where is the 3 million bucks you embezzled from me?” The accountant does not answer. The Godfather asks again, “Where is the 3 million
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bucks you embezzled from me?” The attorney interrupts, “Sir, the man is a deaf mute and cannot understand you, but I can interpret for you.” The Godfather says, “Well ask him where my money is!” The attorney, using sign language, asks the accountant where the 3 million dollars is. The accountant signs back, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” The attorney interprets to the Godfather, “He doesn’t know what you are talking about.” The Godfather pulls out a 9 millimeter pistol, puts it to the temple of the accountant, cocks the trigger and says tells the attorney to once again ask where is the money. The attorney signs to the accountant, “He wants to know where it is!” The accountant signs back, “OK! OK! OK! The money is hidden in a brown suitcase behind the shed in my backyard!” The Godfather says, “Well….what did he say?” The attorney interprets to the Godfather, “He says that you don’t have the guts to pull the trigger.” Special Day Over breakfast, a woman said to her husband, “I’ll bet you don’t know what day this is.” “Of course I do,” he answered, as if offended, and left for the office. At 10:00 a.m., a dozen red roses arrived at the house. At 1:00 p.m., a two-pound box of chocolates was delivered. The designer dress arrived at 3:00. When her husband came home, the woman ran to meet him and said, “I’ve never had a more wonderful Groundhog Day in my life!” Little Sally Eight-year-old Sally brought her report card home from school. Her grades were good — mostly A’s and a couple of B’s. However, her teacher had written across the bottom: “Sally is a smart little girl, but she has one fault. She talks too much in school. I have an idea I am going to try, which I think may break her of the habit.” Sally’s dad signed her report card, putting a note on the back: “Sally gets it from her mother. Please let me know if your idea works.”. Vice President Tom was so excited about his promotion to Vice
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President of the company he worked for and kept bragging about it to his wife for weeks on end. Finally she couldn't take it any longer, and told him, "Listen, it means nothing, they even have a vice president of peas at the grocery store!". "Really?" he said. Not sure if this was true or not, Tom decided to call the grocery store. A clerk answers and Tom says "Can I please talk to the Vice President of peas?"
Soduku Puzzle
The object of the game is to insert the proper number into the boxes to complete the puzzle. Each box, row, and column must contain the numbers 1 through 9, only one time each. Good Luck!
The clerk replies "Canned or frozen?" Gas Prices vs… People have been complaining about the rising price of gasoline for years, but I have always thought that gas was a good value (especially if you were to take the $0.30, $0.40 per gallon tax off at the pump)! Obviously, others need a little convincing. So an article in "Autoweek" magazine brought it all to light. What if you were to buy a gallon of . . . - Diet Snapple 16 oz for $1.29 = $10.32 per gallon - Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz for $1.19 = $9.52 per gallon - Gatorade 20 oz for $1.59 = $10.17 per gallon - Ocean Spray 16 oz for $1.25 = $10.00 per gallon - Quart of Milk 16 oz for $1.59 = $6.32 per gallon - Evian (water) 9 oz for $1.49 = $21.19 per gallon - STP Brake Fluid 12 oz for $3.15 = $33.60 per gallon - Vicks Nyquil 6 oz for $8.35 = $178.13 per gallon - Pepto Bismol 4 oz for $3.85 = $123.20 per gallon - Whiteout 7 oz for $1.39 = $254.17 per gallon - Scope 1.5 oz for $0.99 = $84.84 per gallon So next time you're at the pump, be glad your car doesn't run on Nyquil or Scope or Whiteout!
Solution to last Issu
e’s puzzle
Fun Facts There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. If you counted 24 hours a day, it would take 31,688 years to reach one trillion!
Can you make us laugh? If so, send in your most hilarious jokes to: Email: Magazine@Chazaq.org Fax: 718-255-5803 Mail: 144 – 02 69th Rd Flushing, NY 11367
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LIFE IS GOOD In Memory of Uriel Rafael ben Sarah.
By Arthur Gukasyan The goodness of Hashem is evident through the acts of the righteous. Yuriy Mamonov exemplified this through his selfless manner and his dedication to friends and family. He suffered from a debilitating disease that ultimately took his life. He could have justifiably lived a life of self-pity, focusing on his own troubles. Instead, he chose to share his joy and showed so many of those fortunate enough to have witnessed it, that happiness is possible in any situation. His journey is a testament to the philosophy that life and love are truly virtues. His experience reaffirms that every day in the light is a gift to be cherished. Yuriy was a profoundly devoted Jew first. So much of his time and energies were committed to the glory and advancement of his faith and its people. He led organizations, actively participated in events and gatherings, and willingly contributed every aspect of his being to the betterment of all Jews. He did all of this with equal measures of modesty and pride. He gave of himself whole-heartedly with no expectation of immediate reciprocation. In these activities he expressed his reverence to the creator, respect for the teachings of the Torah, and his love for his peers.
St John’s University. Always on the go, he managed to work to support himself and meet his needs. Even with this rigorous schedule and the complications of his physical condition, he still found quality time to be family and friend to so many. The Torah teaches us that “True friends are hard to find; it is even more difficult to be one. Having good friends begins with being a good friend.” On many occasions I personally benefited from his advice and support. In him I found a formidable counselor and confidant. It was often through his strength that I found my way through the trials of life. Yuriy was a cherished ally, and every day I spent in his company was a blessing.
In the last hours of his physical existence I found myself tormented by one regret. I was helpless to save him. My one hope is that my presence may have provided some comfort to him in his final moments. The next day at his funeral it was evident that all of his sacrifice was not in vain. Over one thousand mourners came to pay their respects, to recognize that a man of noble character had once lived among them. We all found one consolation at the service. His body may be gone from us but the spirit of love and optimism that he exuded lives on. Hence forth if I ever have doubts about the beauty of Yuriy treated all of his other interests with being alive, I remember the words that Yuri the same enthusiasm. He completed his un- spoke so often. “Life is Good.” dergraduate studies at Queens College and was pursuing a Masters Degree in Finance at www.CHAZAQ.org
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AUTO
Finding a Good Mechanic In a world where few people know their vehicle's workings, it's good to know how to find the right person to keep you up and running. With just a few tips, you'll be driving comfortably for years to come. 1. Ask around. Your friends, family, and colleagues have cars, and have to get them serviced somewhere. Find out how they feel about their mechanics 2. Call the Better Business Bureau to check whether the shop has any complaints on file. 3. Another thing to look for is affiliation signs. AAA (American Automobile Association) will certify some local repair shops after examining their credentials and business policies, and they will have a list of those shops on their website. 4. Try to research various automotive certifications. A good auto mechanic will be ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) Certified and should have a certification indicating what areas he is proficient in. 5. Check the warranty on the repair work before leaving the car at the shop. Six months is great; 90 days is good; 30 days is a little suspect. Find out whether the warranty covers both parts and labor. 6. Check online reviews. Look for reviewers' overall impression, without too much weight given to isolated very bad or very good reviews: a reviewer here and there may be unreasonable, mistaken, dishonest, or simply grumpy. 7. Investigate procedures online. Internet sites and discussions can provide "sanity checks" on prices and reasons for repairs. Bear in mind that prices can vary significantly from place to place and a lot from car to car, and that sometimes things do go bad unexpectedly. 8. "Stake-out" your local shops. This means driving past and checking out the facilities. Look for clean, orderly grounds and work areas and people engaged purposefully in their work. Grounds chock-full of cars being actively worked through aren't a bad thing, though perhaps not for you if you have a very valuable car or show-quality finish to protect from even the slightest tap. Take notice of the makes, quantity, and quality of the other customers' cars. If you drive a five year old Ford truck, and the only vehicles you see around
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are run-down, old Fiats in the parking lot, that probably isn't the place for you. Professional drivers are likely to be well-informed, so taxis, limos, or work vans around can indicate a good economical shop. 9. Balance price and convenience. Any mechanic should work honestly, effectively, and avoid big surprises on cost or time. Going to a more-expensive shop alone doesn't guarantee anything, but recognize that it legitimately costs more to provide: - Convenient location. It costs more to rent, or forego income by not renting out, space in a fancy or densely-populated area. But, if you live or work in such an area, taking your car here may help you get back to your other activities quicker. - Some shops, typically fancy ones like dealerships, provide free shuttles. There are many non-expensive areas within short distances from train or bus stops--consider your safety to, from and at those, though. A cab ride to and from a shop in an inconvenient area may be well worth the money you can save on a repair. Occasionally one of the workers may offer you a lift. Call to ask about transit options before going. - New and spacious waiting, office and repair areas. Buildings, like cars, cost money to build and keep shiny. Accumulation of dirt and serious decay can suggest an attitude problem, though. - More time to talk and mitigate unexpected delays. It can sometimes take a lot of time to explain some problems with a level of detail suitable for those not familiar with cars or to deal with unexpected problems that may appear. A shop that does less business overall may have more time to explain things and may introduce less delay for unusual problems because it already has slack in its schedule. If you expect to have something complicated to ask about at a busy shop, be prepared to wait awhile; better yet, ask what times are less busy before going. - More parts on hand. Larger shops, and those that specialize in particular kinds of work or cars, can often save time with parts taken from a comprehensive inventory rather than waiting for them to arrive from elsewhere, though even that can be pretty fast near a major city.
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- All original-equipment-manufacturer ("OEM") or other new parts. Car manufacturers make, or obtain through their parts suppliers, and sell spare parts that should match the originals perfectly, known as OEM parts. Dealers normally use these. Other, "aftermarket" manufacturers, make new replacement parts. "Rebuilders" or "remanufactures" take apart and clean complex used parts such as engines and transmissions, replace whatever may have broken, readjust, refit or replace whatever tends to wear out, and reassemble, lubricate, and seal them. Aftermarket and rebuilt parts typically cost much less and are often just as good. There are established aftermarket and rebuilding companies with their own reputations to protect. Junkyards, often called "salvage" or "used auto parts" companies, are particularly good for saving money on things that don't wear out, like doors and mirrors, but the particular part to be used has to be examined and the appearance normally won't be perfect. Independent mechanics typically use aftermarket parts, and sometimes rebuilt or salvage parts, but should ask before installing something that is not new. - An insurer may sometimes waive "betterment"
charges for replacing old parts that got broken if you agree to have aftermarket parts used. Ask about this if an insurer is paying for your repairs. - Specialization. Many mechanics can do good work on all kinds of common cars. But many parts on antiques work in odd, obsolete ways, and many parts on top-of-the-line luxury cars or exotic cars can work in odd ways to squeeze out a little extra performance; Replacements can be hard to find. So if you have one of these, look for a mechanic who works with similar cars as a substantial part of his business. If the car has collector value, make sure any replacement parts are sufficiently "authentic." - Dealerships generally charge quite a bit more for parts and labor than other mechanics, but they're supposed to know your vehicle and be able to get the job done perfectly. 10. Talk to the mechanic, ask questions and request to see the old parts when they are removed. When a mechanic puts a face to the vehicle and knows he may be talking with you again he is more likely to be more particular about how he performs the repairs.
visual Experience...
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FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR RENT
Windows office ultimate 2007 full version For more info call 917-325-7983
Apartment for Rent in KGH Beautiful 1 bedroom Double Sink, Ceramic Tiles, Near Ohr HaChaim $995 a month includes all utilities For more info call 718-374-1301
SERVICES Crafters United For Charity Sells hand-made crafts and photographs to help support charities in need www.ArtsAndCraftsForCharity.org
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Apartments for rent Madison / Midwood / Sheepshead Bay Studios, 1, 2, 3 BD’s $800-$2600 Daniel Home Sales Realty Jack 917-596-6507 Mark 646-359-6323
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Computer Lessons for You. Patient, experienced, skilled teacher. General Computer Skills, Office Programs, Graphic Design, Web Design. All ages/levels welcome. Reasonably priced. Bring a friend for reduced fee. Odelia: 718-261-0936, odelia191@gmail.com
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE For all Real Estate Listings Log on to QueensBroker.com _______________________________________________
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1 bedroom co-op for sale 3 bedroom house for rent 3 bedroom co-op for sale Call: 917-497-4195
Car Pool Available All Over the Queens Area Call 718-374-1158 _______________________________________________
Get Divrei Torah by E-mail, or post your own! For more info, or to Join this group, Log on to: www.WeeklyParsha.org
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
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For Registrations and Plates, Surrender Old Plates, Duplicate Lost Title, Renewals and other NY DMV Services contact 917-699-0298
Non profit recruiting & employment agency. Free of charge. If you or anyone you may know are looking to hire an employee or in need of employment email: epinetworking@gmail.com
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Honest and responsible tenants. Seeking 3 bdrm apt with sect.8 voucher. Good References. Pls call 718-692-7229 or 718-755-7224
Looking for frum experienced advertising agent for a future weekly Hebrew radio program. Very attractive salary. Send resume to kolmevasser@hotmail.com or call 718-427-4603
New York City Parking & Sanitation Schedule
Alternate* Side Parking
Garbage** & Recycling
Parking Rules
Banks & Post Offices
Independence Day
Monday
July 4th
Suspended
Suspended
Holiday
Closed
Observance
Monday
August 15th
Suspended
Normal
Normal
Open
Observance
Tues-Thurs
Aug 30 – Sep 1
Suspended
Normal
Normal
Open
*Alternate Side Parking: For snow and other emergencies dial 311 to get an update of parking rules for a particular day
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**Garbage:
Residents who are normally scheduled for collection on the day of a holiday should place their garbage out at curbside on the holiday evening for collection. Some residents will experience a disruption of on-time household collection service.
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Recycling: Residents who are usually scheduled for recycling collection on the day of the holiday will not receive service that week. They should place their recyclables out at curbside the following week on their regular day of service.
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CHAZAQ
Directory of Advertisers AK Studio All My Children Amazeing Balloons AtoZ Home Inspections Best Auto Plaza BH Home Improvement Binah Classical Guitar Lessons Computer Doctor Computer Repair Discount Furniture DJ Atara Dreaming Room E Tech 7 Eastern Mechanical Eran Varnai, CPA E-Z Tax Services Five Towns Jewish Times Green Foot Global Hamodia Hinge Doctor HiTech Mobile Hillside Honda Interact Web Isaac Abraham Law ITP Phone JD Optics JM Auto Leasing Kaddish Kings Judaica Koba Capital Kol Halashon Light House Margaret Tietz
(917) 353-0644 (718) 658-1563 (917) 392-4812 (516) 513-0312 (718) 476-6999 (646) 460-3888 (718) 305-5200 (718) 793-7045 (347) 610-3005 (917) 364-8373 (718) 558-4190 (917) 405-3152 (888) 613-6464 (917) 787-9901 (718) 523-7800 (718) 577-9197 (718) 614-9820 (516) 569-0502 (718) 744-4360 (718) 853-9094 (516) 569-7304 (917) 699-0298 (888-236-5052 (212) 398-3087 (646) 397-9529 (888) 921-5766 (718) 607-2919 (718) 766-7444 (347) 336-8320 (718) 375-7272 (800) 376-5440 (718) 906-6400 (718) 261-0101 (718) 298-7800
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Mark Plaine, ESQ Meal Mart N.N.N Dental Pizza Palace Cafe Print Leaf QJCC R Bdelaa Lighting Regal Plumbing Corp Relax Real Estate Renah Bell, Realtor Sentinel LLC Shimon’s Pizza Solomon Steiman, ESQ Spartan Credit Spencer’s Catering Stephan J. Siegel Stern’e Silver Stir Fry Company Subway Tax & Business Services The Glow Maternity The Jewish Home The Jewish Press The Kosher Clown The Licenator The Shmuz Torah Minute Tov Occasions Traffic Tickets Wall St. Mortgage Yaakov Serle Advertising Yeshivat Ohr Haiim Zelig Solomon, D.M.D
(718) 268-0279 (718) 261-3300 (718) 459-2222 (917) 945-9592 (646)494-5323 (718) 544-9033 (718) 730-9011 (347) 393-8710 (054) 972-4446 (516) 295-5844 (917) 968-2211 (718) 793-1491 (917) 838-5923 (347) 530-3015 (718) 793-4415 (718) 575-3900 (516) 295-7842 (718) 896-0310 (718) 544-7827 (646) 361-0368 (917) 939-2062 (516) 734-0858 (718) 935-1215 (917) 531-5578 (917) 776-4162 (866) 613-8672 (516) 487-6676 (848) 525-5376 (917) 385-3607 (888) 541-7283 (718) 263-2483 (718) 658-7066 (718) 793-4200
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המפתח להצלחה בנישואין מה אנחנו יכולים לעשות כדי לגרום לבני הזוג שלנו להרגיש טוב עוד היום?
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Best Cars, Best Prices, Best Service New 2011 Honda
Odyssey
Jacob Babadzhanov Sales & Leasing Executive
Tel: 888-236-5052 Fax: 718-657-3672 E-mail: Jacob@HillsideHonda.com
139-07 Hillside Ave. • Queens, NY
We Speak Your Language! Мы говорим по-русски •
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6 Blocks East Of The Van Wyck Expwy.
See dealer for details. DCA Lic #672097, DMV #6411318.
îƒŤe Margaret Tietz Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is pleased to announce the completion of the newly expanded Jamaica Hills eruv connecting Holliswood/Jamaica Estates, Hillcrest/Fresh Meadows, Kew Gardens Hills, and our very own Shabbos Hospitality Apartment to our beautifully renovated facility.
Centrally located near the Queens communities of Kew Garden Hills, Hillcrest & Jamaica Estates. Only 20 minutes om Brooklyn, Manhattan & the Five Towns.
A Member of the Beth Abraham Family of Health Services
164-11 Chapin Parkway Jamaica Hills, NY 11432 718-298-7800 www.margarettietz.org