CitySpirit June2011

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Volume 3 Issue 5 June 2011 | Sivan 5771

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get get into into the the spirit spirit Editor Tova Klein Contributing Writers Rabbi Gershon Bess Rabbi Shimon Finkelman Rabbi Chanan Gordon Hershel Lieber Manny Saltiel, Pharm.D Rabbi Yosef Radner Publisher Mati Jacobovits Food Faigy Grossman kidSpirit Fraydee Mozes

CitySpirit NEXT issue Advertising Deadline Sept. 1 Publication Date Sept. 21 cityspiritmag@gmail.com www.cityspiritmagazine.com

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CitySpirit is published five times a year and distributed free to area locations.

The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertisement material.

CitySpirit accepts no responsibility for typographical errors or reliability of Kashrus of any advertisements. All submissions become the property of CitySpirit and may be shortened and/or edited for length and clarity. Articles and letters published in CitySpirit express the views of the individual writers and may not necessarily represent the views of CitySpirit. No artwork or any part of this magazine may be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without the written permission of the publisher.

Dear Readers, Today, Lag Ba’omer, my husband and I, as well as my in-laws, are celebrating our wedding anniversaries, totaling together 93 years, B”H. As I sit on a plane, once again travelling to NY for simchas, I look out the window, and gaze at the beautiful field of clouds going as far as my eyes can see. It is totally awesome as well as humbling.

I only hope that I can try to grow in ways Hashem will be proud of and be a walking kiddush Hashem to prepare myself enough for the acceptance of the Torah.

We have been counting upward since the second night of Pesach to commemorate and actually reinact the biggest event in our history – Matan Torah on Shavuos.

There are mixed emotions during this happy counting period with the tragedy of R’ Akiva’s talmidim. This is a time where thriving to achieve a closeness to Hashem needs the element of working on achieving closeness through caring for each other, each person in klal Yisroel.

In our feature article (page 23), Chaim Walder, through his amazing stories, indirectly shows us how the power of simply caring can have a tremendous impact on affecting those around us. His new book People Without Masks is a must read.

In our midst is a woman who has not only affected local and state poli-

tics, but as head of foreign affairs committee is making an impact throughout the United States. (See page 14).

Marc Lumer has done it again (page 20) – with his amazing illustrations featured in a new children’s book Hashem Is Truly Everywhere. A great inspirational gift for children and adults of all ages.

Introducing Rabbi Yosef Radner from the Waterbury Yeshiva in Connecticut. His inspiring article (page 36) takes us from slavery to freedom.

Also new to CitySpirit is Rabbi Shimon Finkelman (page 34). His explanation on the customs of eating dairy on Shavuos is something we can all learn from.

Heshy Lieber (page 38) concludes with us his adventurous trip to Spain.

Hungry for cheese cake? Manny Saltiel gives us over-the-counter advice (page 40) about having your cake and eating it, too.

Enjoy a selection of delicious dairy recipes for your Yom Tov meals (page 42) thanks to Faigy Grossman and Dining In Again.

Children, check out the fun with our games and contests, beautifully illustrated by Fraydee Mozes (page 44).

Have a wonderful Yom Tov from all of us at CitySpirit!

Tova

june 2011

contents features

23 When Chaim Walder

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

18

Gateways LA Retreat

tells a story, people listen. And when he writes, well, people read. Enjoy a sampling from his new book, People Without Masks from Feldheim Publishers.

20

Local Artist, Marc Lumer

community spirit 8

Letters

10

Hatzolah of Los Angeles Safety Fair

12

Avi Chai Foundation Grant

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Congresswoman

Over-the-Counter Manny Saltiel, Pharm.D. 42 Dining In Again

in this issue 30 Dvar Halachah Rabbi Gershon Bess

34 Inspiration

Faigy Grossman

46 West Coast Directory kid spirit 44 Puzzles, Contest & More Fraydee Mozes

R abbi Shimon Finkelman

36

Point of View

Rabbi Yosef Radner

38 The Wandering Jew Hershel Lieber

40 Advice from

Cover Illustration created in Adobe Illustrator by Mati Jacobovits

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Dear Tova, I was amazed when I read the article you wrote about me in the March 2011 edition of CitySpirit. Your thoughtful questions obviously elicited a lot about life that is rarely shared. I also enjoyed all of CitySpirit.

Your journalism talent reminds me of Patt Morrison who also writes features about the lives of people.

I appreciate the time I spent with you and hope the readers of CitySpirit were informed about the Sheriff’s Department and what one Sheriff believes in: “People.” The story was as much about you as it was about me.

Sincerely, Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff County of Los Angeles Dear CitySpirit, Great magazine. The Pesach recipes were great and easy – my family and friends were so impressed by my culinary skills – thanks.

Chaya W. 9213 W. Pico Blvd.

Los Angeles

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Hatzolah Update 800-613-1911 Safety Fair: Sunday, June 19th (See ad on page 15 for details)

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

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hile the rest of the community was preparing for Pesach, Hatzolah of Los Angeles was doing some preparation of their own. We know that the volunteers of Hatzolah stand ready to assist the community on a moments notice, but what we don’t usually think about is the time, effort and preparation it takes to be available on a moments notice. Stocking supply bags, refueling ambulances and response cars, dealing with all the paperwork that is involved in running a life saving organization such as Hatzolah takes a lot of work. But what made this Pesach season a little more challenging this year for a smaller group of Hatzolah members, was the fact that Hatzolah was preparing for its annual compliance inspection with the State of California.

This yearly inspection combs through each and every detail of the Hatzolah operations and, as one might imagine, takes an enormous amount of time to prepare for. The inspection itself is an all day event scrutinizing paperwork, member’s certifications, insurance compliance, vehicle inspection, including maintenance logs and how the vehicle works (lights and sirens) and, of course, that they are stocked with all the necessary equipment required by law. With the help of the special team of Hatzolah volunteers assigned to this process,

this inspection was passed with the State finding no deficiencies, staying true to what California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joseph Farrow said at the recent Dinner, “Hatzolah is the only ambulance company that consistently passes its yearly inspections on the first try; it typically takes a few inspections to pass and remain in service”.

With Pesach behind them and the inspection over, Hatzolah can now begin to truly focus on their next big event, the Annual Safety and Disaster Preparedness Fair. This Fair which brings agencies from all over Los Angeles County together to promote safety and disaster awareness, will be held on Sunday, June 19, 2011 on the Campus of Shalhevet High School. “We have added some new features to this year’s Fair” said Michoel Bloom, Safety Fair coordinator, “there will be live safety demonstrations, blood pressure monitoring stations as well as the very popular Jaws of Life demonstration”. This year Hatzolah has partnered with Bikur Cholim to add a Blood Drive at the event.

“Hatzolah is excited about this new format and the ability to bring together City, County and State agencies as well as our local community agencies” said Ari Stark, spokesman for Hatzolah. “We are especially grateful to Shalhevet for opening their doors to us and we feel that it’s central location is perfectly suited to an event like this” he said The Safety Fair is a family friendly environment and will be held on Sunday June 19th 2011 from 1:00PM – 5:00PM at Shalhevet High School, 910 S. Fairfax Ave. in Los Angeles. There is a suggested donation of $36 per family. For more information please call the Hatzolah information line at (310) 247-0584 or e-mail PR@hatzolahofla.org.

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ewish day schools in greater Los Angeles can look forward to a stronger financial position and greater affordability in years to come, thanks to a collaborative effort between LA-based BJE: Builders of Jewish Education (BJE), the national Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE), the AVI CHAI Foundation and local donors.

Los Angeles is one of three communities nationwide selected to participate in the first round of the “Generations” program. Baltimore and a third soon to be announced community, were also selected. A $3.1 million grant from the AVI CHAI Foundation will make it possible for up to seven schools in each of the three communities to receive coaching, marketing support, training and incentives to launch multi-year endowment and legacy giving campaigns beginning in Fall 2011. Locally, BJE has secured pledges from Los Angeles donors, representing a one-to-one community match to the AVI CHAI Foundation grant earmarked for the program in L.A. Through “Generations,” participating schools will be supported in generating endowment gifts and pledges of $4,0006,000 per enrolled student in a combination of current and planned gifts such as bequests and trusts. According to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), 75% of private non-boarding schools nationwide (including secular and religiously affiliated institutions) had endowments of $3,102 per student in 2009-10, and 50% had endowments of more than $9,000 per student.

The “Generations” partnership is the latest in a series of BJE initiatives aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of Jewish day school education in Los Angeles. A $5 million challenge pledge from the Simha and Sara Lainer Family Foundation, together with 7-figure gift commitments from the Estate of Eli Wachsberger, the Los Angeles Jewish Federation, and Ruth Ziegler, and support from numerous other donors launched a community-wide effort to raise $100 million in endowment funds for day schools. Concurrently, five high schools were selected to participate in a $12.7 million grant from the Jim Joseph Foundation focused on high school affordability through endowment creation. Funding from Janine and Peter Lowy also enabled PEJE and BJE to launch the Leadership and Fundraising Academy, a program to strengthen fundraising capacity in ten schools.

BJE Executive Director Dr. Gil Graff explained, “Many Jewish day schools in Los Angeles are fairly young and have focused, by necessity, on building programs and campus facilities. BJE, with the support of its day school capacity building

initiative from the L.A. Jewish Federation, is honored to have been selected by numerous foundations and philanthropists to assist Jewish schools in securing their financial futures.

By fostering a collaborative effort among schools that operate independently and serve diverse segments of the Jewish community, the impact of these forward-thinking foundations is already evident. The “Generations” program will build on the success of the Jim Joseph High School Affordability Initiative and the Leadership and Fundraising Academy, assisting twelve out of 38 BJE-affiliated day schools in the region as they actively invest in the future by building endowment funds.”

About BJE BJE: Builders of Jewish Education is dedicated to enhancing quality, ensuring access, and encouraging participation in full-time, part-time, and informal Jewish education throughout the Jewish communities of greater Los Angeles. Affiliated institutions represent the broad spectrum of Jewish religious movements and serve children and their families from “Mommy and Me” through high school. BJE was founded in 1937 as the Bureau of Jewish Education, a department of the Los Angeles Jewish Federation and became an independent 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization in 1991.

For more information, visit www.bjela.org.

About PEJE The Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE) was founded in 1997 with a core mission of helping to fund new day schools. Today PEJE is exclusively dedicated to catalyzing the Jewish day school field to create an exemplary and affordable education, connecting and empowering Jewish day schools across the denominational and geographic spectrum and fostering financial sustainability. For more information, visit www.peje.org.

About AVI CHAI The AVI CHAI Foundation was founded in 1984 by Zalman Chaim Bernstein z”l. The foundation’s mission is to strengthen Judaism, Jewish literacy, and Jewish tradition in North America, Israel, and the former Soviet Union; and to sustain, enlarge, and enrich Jewish commitment to the State of Israel. In North America, the foundation’s focus is to foster and nurture the energizing nucleus of the American Jewish community by investing significantly in Jewish day school and overnight summer camps. For more information, visit www.avichai.org.

Advertising Deadline: September 1 Distribution: September 21 Visit us online at CitySpiritMagazine.com

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

CitySpirit Rosh Hashana 3rd Anniversary Issue

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 community spirit

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Committed to Making a difference

C

ongresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was born in Havana, Cuba on July 15, 1952. Forced to flee Cuba at age 8, Ileana and her family settled in Miami, Florida and put down roots. Ileana attended Southside Elementary School in Little Havana and graduated from West Miami Junior High and Southwest High School.

Ileana obtained her Associate of Arts degree from MiamiDade Community College, Bachelors and Masters Degree in Education from Florida International University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Miami.

Ileana spent the early part of her career as a Florida certified teacher in the Miami-Dade Public School system. In 1981, Ileana founded Eastern Academy, a private elementary school in Hialeah where she served as teacher and principal. Ileana was inspired to run for public office by her students’ parents,

who like so many in our community, were struggling to afford the American dream of owning a home and save for their children’s future education.

In 1982, Ileana began her series of “firsts” by becoming the first Hispanic woman in the Florida House and in 1986, the Florida Senate. Ileana authored the Florida Pre Prepaid College Plan, the largest pre-paid college tuition program in the nation. Since the program’s inception, more than 1.4 million families have used this savings tool to send their children to college.

Ileana entered Congress in 1989, after winning an 11 candidate special election to fill the seat held by the late Claude Pepper. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen immediately set to work to improve the lives of her constituents and community.

While in Congress, Ileana has fought to bring fiscal discipline to Washington, keep taxes low, preserve seniors’ benefits such as Medicare and Social Security, and invest in a robust education for our students.

In recent years, Ileana has fought to end runaway spending and scale back our bloated deficit. She supports legislation to freeze unnecessary spending and eliminate all duplicative and wasteful government programs. Ileana supports legislation to require a balanced federal budget and has consistently voted against job killing, unnecessary regulations and tax increases.

Ileana believes that true reform should include tax incentives to families and businesses. Small businesses are a main engine of economic growth in South Florida and their ability to grow is vital for the long term stability of our economy. Ileana also supports providing tax savings to small businesses which provide healthcare benefits to their employees.

Continues on page 16

A time for dance

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

Seventh Annual Dance & Musical production

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A Time for Dance will be holding their seventh annual dance and musical production, Alice in Wonderland on June 12 at 11:00 am. The show, held at Beverly Hills High School will include a theatrical performance of Alice in Wonderland along with a showcase of dances in ballet, pointe, gymnastics, tap dance. The performers range from ages 2- teen and come from A Time for Dance’s 3 studios located in the Pico Robertson, Beverly Labrea and North Hollywood. It is a fun and exciting event that the community looks forward to each year.

Advance discounted tickets available by calling: (323) 4040827 www.atime4dance.com

Continued from page 14 Ileana has fought to ensure the financial stability to Social Security and Medicare. She is the co-author of legislation to increase criminal penalties for perpetrators of Medicare fraud. Medicare fraud robs our seniors of their hard earned benefits and costs taxpayers billions of dollars.

Education remains one of Ileana’s top priorities. She supports legislation to increase the availability of student financial aid, and reduce the paperwork burden for students and parents applying for financial aid for college. Ileana is also a strong supporter of the Head Start program for elementary education, and curriculums which incorporate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—critical learning blocks of a 21st century education.

A champion of the environment, Ileana is a strong supporter of coral reef conservation programs, has worked to bring improved water quality to the Florida Keys, as well as combat beach erosion throughout Miami Beach.

As South Floridians continue to suffer the devastating consequences of hurricanes and other natural disasters, Ileana has worked to improve the National Flood Insurance Program. She supports a permanent extension of this important program to provide necessary flood insurance to South Florida homeowners. Ileana also supports the creation of a

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Ileana serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. In that role, Ileana is an outspoken advocate for human rights. She has led the Congress on human rights issues pertaining to Tibet and Darfur, even authoring legislation to award the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal.

Ileana is one of Congress’ leading supporters of the State of Israel. She is also working with her colleagues to provide for a strong national defense and fight against Islamist extremism overseas. In the Western Hemisphere, Ileana supports trade agreements with Colombia and Peru and remains committed to helping the people of Haiti recover from the devastating earthquake of 2010. She is also a champion in the domestic and international fight against HIV/AIDS. As a Cuban refugee, Ileana’s dedication to a free Cuba is at the heart of many legislative battles. Her interactions with former political prisoners of Castro’s gulags serve as inspiration to relentlessly speak out in favor of human rights, democracy, and respect for individual liberties.

Ileana is married to Dexter Lehtinen; the couple has two adult children. Ileana is also a proud step-mother and grandmother.

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Gateways LA Retreat A Paradigm Shift for the LA Jewish Community

By R’ Chanan (Antony) Gordon

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

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otwithstanding having had the distinct privilege and G-d given drive and energy to have been able to be involved in community activities in the Torah community of Los Angeles for almost 20 years, it became apparent to me very quickly that the “Gateways LA Lag B’Omer Retreat” was going to be unique at The Marriot Hotel of Woodland Hills on Friday early afternoon, May 20th.

Like world class athletes arriving at the Olympic Village ready to break world records in the greatest sporting event on the planet, lehavdil, over 325 men, women and children began lining up at the Gateways Registration Desk a few hours before Shabbos, Parshas Bechukosai. The external garb of all those waiting to collect their hotel keys and be handed the famous ‘Gateways Schedule of lecturers and activities’ by Rabbi Avrumy Jordan, the Director of Operations of Gateways was far from homogenous. Having said that, these ‘spiritual athletes’ clearly had one common goal - to make sure they would not be leaving the hotel on Sunday afternoon, May 22nd the same people that walked into the hotel only two days before.

In many respects Shabbos Bechukosai, followed by Lag B’Omer, was a first in LA. It was the first time that Gateways, one of America’s premier Jewish educational institutions founded in 1998 by Rabbi Mordechai Suchard, had ventured out of the tri-state area on the East Coast to host a life changing opportunity for the Los Angeles community in which to experience an environment of immersion in learning, life wisdom and to appreciate world events through the prism of the Torah. While it took an intense education and awareness campaign before the LA Jewish community embraced the concept - which made the going tough in the earlier stages - the well known “LA 11th hour phenomenon” did not disappoint and Gateways began the painful process of having to turn away reservations during the “home stretch,” a couple of weeks before the big event.

In the polarizing world in which we live, another first for the LA community was seeing the successful execution of the so-called “Two Track” Retreat approach. It was moving and refreshing to see those who have spent their wholes lives in the “yeshivishe world” learning, eating and growing right next to and at the same time as many young Jews who were just beginning their “GPS spiritual journey to recalculate” ...

Another first, and what will no doubt become a new paradigm in Los Angeles, was to see, for those who were traversing

the more “exploratory beginners track,” several outreach organizations based in LA collaborating and pooling resources with Gateways to open up the riches of our Jewish heritage in an informative and entertaining manner. To experience the likes of Aish LA, Ashreinu and Yachad Outreach Center all encouraging their respective constituents to avail themselves of this unique opportunity was a wonderful illustration of community achdus in action.

The weekend activities and presentations were vast and addressed topics and themes that many in the Jewish community are bothered by, but few are equipped to handle, in an entertaining manner and yet with deep knowledge.

Friday evening saw the classic two track paradigm with a traditional and yet musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service led by R’Avrumy Jordan on the one hand while I was welcoming in Shabbos to those with very little background in their Jewish heritage dispelling the preconceived myths that many Jews have common themes and topics such as why by definition one cannot achieve any form of greatness without ensuing pain, on the other hand...

The presenters throughout the weekend included many of the renowned Gateways all star team lecturers such as Rabbi Mordechai Becher, Rabbi Akiva Tatz, Rabbi Jonathan Rietti and Rabbi Mordechai Suchard as well as a special guest presenter, Ms. Suri Kest who addressed several topics more endemic to the unique challenges of Jewish women in society today.

Of all the exasperated comments and observations that seemed to reverberate through the Retreat, one major question that kept being raised, albeit in different iterations, was why is it that those who supposedly come from traditional Orthodox backgrounds and who attended so-called “mainstream Yeshivas” felt that they have never had the opportunity to tackle some of the questions that were posed and had, until the Retreat, never felt satisfied with the answers to these questions?.

The topics that were tackled at the Retreat included presentations that many amongst the established Orthodox attendees found to “game changers” included the likes of: • “The Problem of Free Will” • “Why the Torah does not mention Olam Haba;” • “The Problem if Happiness;” • “Fingerprints of Divinity” etc Continues on page 20

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You can donate used furniture, gently worn clothing and toys...

Busy distributing toys and jewelry...

You can rummage through your home for unused shampoo, cleaning supplies and canned food..

Busy distributing presentable furniture or a reliable used car...

You can give of your time to help us pick up and distribute...

How do we do it, you ask?

You can open your checkbook or take out your credit card and send us a tax deductible contribution.

Busy distributing food...

It isn’t easy, but we have been fortunate. Through the generous donations of our supporters, we have been able to keep our doors open, and respond to those in need. But it’s not enough.

It’s not enough until the tuition is paid...

It’s not enough until the washing machine is repaired...

Do it now – help our neighbors and community members prepare for Yom Tov with dignity and ease.

In the merit of your generosity, we wish you and your family a happy Shavuos!

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 community spirit Continued from page 18 Given the enormous crisis with respect to younger Jewish men and women seeking out their ‘right partner,’ it is no wonder that it was not easy to get an appointment with Rabbi Yisroel and Rebetzzin Ahuva Cherns, a dynamic husband and wife team who spearhead “Gateways Connections,” one of the most successful and thorough shadchan programs in the country today.

An uplifting and meaningful Shabbos came to a crescendo with a moving Havdalah service in the temporary Shul in the hotel followed by a Lag B’Omer Melave Malke where the stunning dessert of Culinary Creations by Chumie, the heartwarming tunes of Brad Schachter and the never ending laughter and shouting of the many kids away from the daily “Gateways Camp”, set the tone which finally came to a finale around a make shift Lag B’Omer bon fire in the hotel courtyard.

As the weekend eventually wound down to the final class on “Why do bad things happen to good people,” it was clear to all that something was very different about the Shabbos that was just celebrated by such a dynamic and multi-faceted group … everyone came away with something a little different … some came away with their souls ignited and com-

mitted to strive for greatness rather than mediocrity; some were teary-eyed, exchanging contact information with new friends; others still looked relieved that questions that had been festering for so long seemed suddenly of little concern ... Whatever the case, there did seem to be one question that everyone articulated in one form or another … “Can we please make sure we do this again next year?”

Considering the dynamic energy, the standing room only attendance at almost every lecture and the conspicuously uplifted faces of participants of the Retreat in the check- out line, the answer is a resounding “yes!”

R Chanan (Antony) Gordon, the official “host” of the “Gateways LA Lag B’Omer Retreat” has been involved as a lay leader and teacher in numerous aspects of “kiruv rechokim” and “kiruv kroyvim” in LA and on a national level. Chanan manages a jam packed scheduling balancing the demands of a full time job in the investment world with many hours of dedication to teaching and producing many initiatives focused on the continuity of the Jewish People and how to confront some of the most vexed issues in the Torah community today.

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ometimes children picture Hashem as a distant Figure, living in the heavens or the sky. Yet, one of the most basic concepts in Judaism is the recognition of Hashem as the Creator of everything, the Original cause and source of all, and a Presence in every aspect of His creation.

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Written by Chani Altein – this book’s bouncy rhyming text is a joy to read. Remarkably illustrated by local artist and former Dreamworks animator, Marc Lumer, featuring stylish hot air balloons, a retro submarine and a classic rocket ship complete with splash-down capsule, it will enchant children and adults of all ages!

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“When you tell a story, people will read it, for one simple reason: people love stories.”

– Chaim Walder Feldheim Publishers has done it again, with their newly released book, People Without Masks. Through the use of fiction, master storyteller Chaim Walder reveals his thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Taken at face value these vignettes appear to be simply touching tales. The characters portrayed are sometimes daring, sometimes funny, but always inspirational. And the plots, while entertaining, are really meant to have a positive influence on the reader.

We invite you to read one such story; The Scorned Son, one of ten stories in People Without Masks. So kick your shoes off and unwind for this engaging tale – but remember, hidden behind the mask of storytelling is a lesson to be learned.

The Scorned Son He sat in the waiting room, all pins and needles. The little gemara that went with him everywhere was open on his lap, and he tried valiantly to study the daf, but every now and then he stopped to look at his watch and click his tongue as if to say, “One more minute, and I’m getting out of here.”

Actually, the question he was asking himself was not when he would get up and leave, but why he had come here in the first place.

He was waiting to speak with his son Moshe’s rosh yeshivah. He had sat here waiting like this in the rosh yeshivah’s house many times before, and every time he had promised himself that this would be the last time.

Even that first time, he had guessed that he hadn’t been asked to come in order to hear compliments about his son, and this guess had been proven correct time after time. Moshe knew how to embitter his father’s life. Reb Refael was sick and tired of Moshe, and he had even less patience to sit here and have the rosh yeshivah telling him things he already knew. Moshe was immature; he got along with no one; he wasn’t learning; instead, he

was spending his time disrupting the shiurim and fighting with his fellow students.

Why should all this be his problem?

True, Moshe was his son. But what had he done to deserve this? No one could claim it was his fault. If any proof were needed, one only had to look at Reb Refael’s other nine sons, all of them geniuses and diligent students. Any way you looked at it, Reb Refael’s house was as solid a Jewish home as you could ever hope to see.

They’d never had much money, but they were overflowing with Torah. Even as young children, his sons were focused on learning; they were always at the head of the class, going beyond what their teacher at the Talmud Torah demanded of them, and doing it with joy and zest.

He spent hours with every one of them, studying with them and testing them, instead of lying down to rest. His children sensed this, and they tried their very best to reciprocate in kind. The only exception was Moshe.

Ever since Moshe had gone to nursery school, Reb Refael had been asked to take him to various specialists. Moshe was jumpy, Moshe was hitting others, Moshe wasn’t reading well, Moshe wasn’t listening.

Moshe, Moshe, Moshe.

Why did he always have problems with Moshe? What did the Ribono shel Olam want from him? Didn’t he devote all his days and nights to his children’s education?

And now it was time to face the humiliation again. The rosh yeshivah might just as well skip this meeting, for Reb Refael knew it all by heart; and he had plenty to add to it, as he did every time. So why was the rosh yeshivah putting him to the trouble of coming here

and hearing the same things over and over again? ******** The door opened. Reb Refael went in, sat down, and said to the rosh yeshivah, “I know what you want to say, but I would prefer to ask you this: I have ten sons.

Nine of them are on the right derech; they’re growing and blossoming in Torah and avodah. I don’t need to bring any more proof of the kind of father I am. Then the tenth son comes along and insists on being the exception. I’ve tried to meet him halfway, but for every step I take towards him, he takes a few steps backward.

What do you want me to do? I gave up on him long ago. You want to throw him out? Go ahead, throw him out. I won’t object. On the contrary, I respect you for all the time you’ve been willing to keep him.

If I were in your place, I wouldn’t keep a boy who doesn’t learn, doesn’t listen, and does nothing but ruin the yeshivah. I understand your position, so why don’t you just get it over with?”

The rosh yeshivah stared at him, astonished. He had seen parents in moments of despair before, but none of them had ever sounded as convincing as Reb Refael. He decided to bring up another topic instead of saying what he had planned.

“A moment ago you said, ‘I don’t need to bring any more proof of the kind of father I am.’ Can you actually show me such a proof?”

The father smiled, half in mockery and half in anger. “Six out my ten sons have learned in your yeshivah, and after that, you ask me such a question? Have you ever seen a masmid like Tzvi, a tzaddik like Naftali? A boy as diligent as Eliyahu, or one as astute as Baruch? Or one who knows halachah as well as Yaakov?”

“You certainly do have exemplary sons. But where is the particular evidence, the proof you were talking about?”

Reb Refael was beginning to get really upset. “Taken all together or as individuals, aren’t my other sons sufficient proof?

Do my wife and I have to apologize for the fact that HaKadosh Baruch Hu chose

to saddle us with Moshe?”

“Well said,” the rosh yeshivah replied.

“When HaKadosh Baruch Hu gives you a child like Moshe, you think of him as a burden and want to disassociate yourself from him, whereas when you reap rewards from your other children, you embrace them happily and present them as your own achievements.”

“I don’t present them as my own achievements,” Reb Refael objected.

“Only as proof that as parents, we’ve been successful.”

“And I am telling you that if you don’t do everything you can to encourage Moshe and he ends up going completely off the derech, I will view you as a total failure at raising your children.”

“Excuse me. With all due respect,” said Reb Refael hoarsely, “I don’t have to listen to these insults. What right do you have to negate all our accomplishments as parents and claim that our entire success or failure depends on this one rebellious son? Am I the one who is disassociating himself from my other children, or is it you?”

“I see that you need to learn the principles of chinuch starting from ABC,” said the rosh yeshivah. “The first thing you should know is that a man is not measured by his successful sons and daughters, who would have done well even without his help, but davka by the children who were put into his hands so that he should guide them on the right path.”

The father looked at the rosh yeshivah with a mixture of ridicule and curiosity on his face. “What’s your source for this statement? Baruch Hashem, I’m wellversed in Torah, Gemara, Rishonim and Acharonim, and the pathways of halachah are clear to me, as well. I’ve never come across such a statement anywhere. Perhaps I’ve missed something? Perhaps his honor can enlighten me on this point?”

“The statement I’m alluding to was written by a well-known Yid who lived long ago in a faraway land — but let’s call him ‘Reuven’,” the rosh yeshivah replied.

Reb Refael wasn’t prepared for such a

poor answer, and it brought out the worst of his venom. “Well, what do you know!” he said sarcastically It was written by a Yid! And you’re not even telling me his real name. Excuse me, but you aren’t talking to a child here. Who exactly are you talking about?”

“First I want to tell you a story about this ‘Reuven’,” said the rosh yeshivah.

Reb Refael sat back and folded his arms impatiently. Suddenly he remembered that he had sat that way many years ago in elementary school while the teacher told stories. So now I have to sit like a good boy and hear a story that happened to someone once upon a time in a faraway land, he thought. Evidently I need a kapparah, and the Ribono shel Olam has devised a new way of humiliating me.

The rosh yeshivah saw the cynical attitude the father was taking, yet he began his story nonetheless. ******** A spirit of gloom prevailed in the small bake shop in Gdynia, Poland, a spirit of weariness and despair that enveloped everyone in the place. Not that there were many people there. There were two, and neither of them was a customer; only the proprietor, a sour-tempered man, and his unmarried daughter crossed the threshold of the bakery that day.

When there are no customers, there is no income. And having no income, they had no means of escape from their troubles.

Truth be told, the baker would have willingly spent his life in poverty, if only his daughter could find a bridegroom.

But she couldn’t seem to find one. Not for any lack of young men who would jump at the chance, but they were left to stand around jumping, because Chanah spurned them all.

That made her father angry; and why shouldn’t he be angry?

He had long since given up his dream of having a full-time baker as a son-inlaw, who would open up another branch

of the business on the other side of town.

After that, he had given up all thoughts of a son-in-law who would work halftime as a baker and help him in the shop.

Merciful Heavens! He had already agreed to have a son-in-law who wouldn’t be a baker at all. Let him be a tailor, then, or a shoemaker.

But this stubborn girl wanted a bridegroom who would sit and study Torah all day long. How many young men like that were to be found in their town? And if one could be found, why should he want to marry a baker’s daughter? And not just a baker’s daughter, but the daughter of a penniless baker who didn’t even know how he was going to pay for the flour order he’d placed the day before?

When there are no customers and no merchandise, there is plenty of time for grumbling and arguing, and that is just what the baker did most of the day, although perhaps the term “arguing” isn’t strictly applicable to a monologue by an angry father while his daughter remains silent. Either way, it isn’t difficult to see why a spirit of gloom prevailed in that little bake shop. When the baker went to sleep that night, he did so with a heavy heart. ******** Later that night, on the other side of the country, Shimon ben Tzvi was sitting up in bed, unable to sleep. Once again he’d had that dream, the same one that had been bothering him for two weeks now — and normally he wasn’t the sort of man to pay attention to dreams. At first he’d laughed at it, but after he’d dreamed it repeatedly, it began to trouble him.

Shimon was a talmid chacham who sat over his gemara from morning to evening.

He lived in a small, sparsely furnished room and ate scanty meals. His one and only pastime was Torah study.

The shadchanim weren’t in despair over him anymore. They had simply forgotten him, for nobody has a shorter memory than a shadchan who has lost interest in one of his clients. And Shimon

ben Tzvi certainly fell into that category.

Even Shimon seemed to have forgotten that people generally get married at least once in their lives, and that was why only he, of all the members of the ben Tzvi family, remained a confirmed bachelor, forsaken by the matchmakers.

But what his parents and siblings couldn’t do with all their persuasive tactics, the dream was doing. It featured a venerable-looking man who appeared and commanded him to take a wife, for his Torah learning was not acceptable as long as he persisted in remaining single.

At first, Shimon didn’t pay much attention to the dream. Even if the man’s words had made sense, he knew the dictum that “dreams speak in vain”; but the man continued to issue his nightly admonitions, and even to expand on them: “Go to Gdynia,” he said, “and take the daughter of the baker you will find there, for she is an upright, modest woman, who has been designated for the honor of your Torah, and is waiting for it anxiously.”

This was getting more ridiculous every day. Now he was supposed to go and marry a baker’s daughter. This wasn’t only a vain dream, it was a vain, insulting dream.

Shimon ben Tzvi was so insulted that he decided to go to Gdynia and find out for himself if there was really a baker there whose daughter was waiting for him, as the man in the dream had claimed.

When he saw the baker there, sitting morosely by the doorway to his shop, he felt faint-hearted. What wretched mazal had brought him to this? Was he supposed to become connected to such a man, who looked as if he knew no more Torah than a ten-year-old cheder boy? When he saw the baker’s daughter, however, he realized that he needn’t have felt so faint at heart, although that didn’t change his mind about her father by one iota.

As you can see, Shimon was not an easy-going man at all, and he wasn’t accustomed to letting go of any opinion he had formed about another, but on

the other hand he was brilliant in Torah and halachah, and he wasn’t aware of how rigid he was.

To be truthful, there was another person in the universe who wasn’t aware of how rigid she was, either, and that person was none other than Chanah, the baker’s daughter. Immediately she saw that the talmid chacham she’d been waiting for all these years had come, even if he was rather late, and before you could say “the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker,” they were married and expecting a child.

The first months of their marriage were the happiest months Chanah had ever experienced in her life. If you think their happiness had anything to do with the nice house they were given, you should have seen the foul hovel they rented for themselves. And if you think that he took her on a honeymoon, or that they had carefree outings together, or that he sat and chatted with her about this and that in order to make his bride happy, then you are hereby informed that Shimon didn’t alter his customary routine in the least. He sat and learned, and after that, he sat and learned, and then for dessert, he sat and learned.

And his wife — she was happy as a lark, for her dream had come completely true, just as his dream had come completely true, with only one difference: she had dreamed her dream while wide awake, and willingly; he had dreamed his while sleeping, and he had no choice in the matter.

She served him joyfully, and felt privileged to be married to such a great man, to cook his meals and launder his clothes, and all she wanted in return was to be allowed to listen to the sound of his learning.

In the face of such an overflowing cornucopia of giving, even the most rigid of men would begin to soften, and that is what happened to Shimon. His hard nature grew softer, and he began to see some sense in the words of the man who had appeared to him in his dreams. In

fact, he began to grow fond of the fellow, but he had no opportunity to thank him, because he had vanished just as mysteriously as he’d appeared.

Shimon began to give back to the wife who gave him so much, praising her effusively for her acts of devotion. Of course these words of appreciation, which she’d never heard before in her life, made Chanah even happier.

The only trouble was that those first happy months of marriage were the last months of Chanah’s life.

The day of her son’s birth arrived, and it did not go well for Chanah. She had time to see him and give him her blessing, and shortly afterwards, she gave up her soul. ******** Thus it was the boy’s fate to be orphaned of his mother at birth, and to live with a father who knew how to take care of babies as well as he knew how to keep house — in other words, not at all. As if this weren’t enough, he was the grandson of a baker who, if he was sour-tempered before, was seven times as sour-tempered now. For despite all the arguments he’d had with his daughter, there was no creature in the world that he loved more than her. The death of the daughter who was more precious to him than anything was a sorrow that shattered him into a thousand pieces.

At the age of eight days, the infant was brought into the bris of Avraham Avinu, and his father named him Reuven.

The first years of Reuven’s life were miserable, as might be expected, except that he didn’t know that yet. He was somehow passed from hand to hand, from foster family to foster family, never receiving any love or warmth. When he was five years old, his father took a second wife, who gave him sons and daughters. She took Reuven in as a matter of course, but treated him indifferently.

What could possibly come of a child like this?

To make matters even worse, Re-

uven had a comprehension problem: he seemed unable to understand what he was taught. And let’s not forget that Reuven’s father was not the baker, but Shimon, the great scholar with so much knowledge and so little patience, a combination of dire consequences for poor little Reuven. Perhaps you’re thinking that although he might have had some learning difficulties he could have made up for it with a strong desire to learn.

On second thought, why should you think that? How could there be a child who never saw his mother, and whose whole life has been a series of tribulations, and yet he has a desire to learn?

And indeed, little Reuven had neither the ability nor the desire. This led his father to conclusions that weren’t very positive concerning his firstborn son. In fact, Shimon looked at his son with very critical eyes, and one could even say he was very, very angry with him.

The more Shimon tried to teach Reuven, the more frustrated he became.

Each learning session inevitably ended with the father berating his young son, which didn’t increase the boy’s desire or ability one bit. Of course, this led to the boy acting out in ways that further displeased his father.

Reuven became an object of contempt throughout Gdynia, for as people will do, the Jews of the city had forgotten that Reuven had never seen his mother, and that even his father was alienated from him. All they saw was a boy who was a disgrace to his father, the talmid chacham, and they despaired that Reuven would ever change.

When he was eight years old, Reuven heard his father talking with his stepmother. “He’s nothing but an outright rebel,” his father was saying. “I’d like to throw him out of the house.”

At those words, Reuven’s kettle of pain boiled over. He quietly got dressed, climbed out the window, and started walking. ******** He walked most of the night through

the streets of Gdynia, and finally, he reached a shul at the edge of the town.

He went in, laid down on a bench, and fell asleep.

At dawn he woke up and decided to leave town, in order to escape his suffering and his fate. Not knowing where his legs were carrying him, he walked for days and nights, passing through towns and cities. If mazal smiled upon him, he found a shul where he could lay down his head; and if not, he slept under the open sky.

Many hardships came upon young Reuven, hardships that would surely have broken any other boy, but Reuven was not like any other boy. Alone and isolated, he thought about the world in which he lived, about his aspirations, and about his place in the scheme of things.

For now, he was busy running away, but Reuven knew that he wanted not just to run away, but to find a place where he could belong.

But where?

After two months of wandering, Reuven came to a large city.

He arrived in the middle of the night, looked for the nearest shul, and managed to clamber in through an open window.

He settled down on a bench and dozed lightly, and after a while he fell asleep.

Before dawn, someone came in.

Without noticing the sleeping child, he sat down to learn.

But then, Reuven tried to turn over in his sleep, as if he were in a regular bed, and suddenly he fell to the floor.

The fall made enough noise to attract the attention of the scholar, engrossed as he was in his studies. He went over to the bench and saw a sleeping child on the floor, and his heart melted. The poor boy was so fatigued, he hadn’t even been awakened by the fall.

He waited quietly until the boy woke up, and when Reuven opened his eyes, there was a man with a glowing face like an angel’s, standing over him. Never before had anyone looked at him so tenderly.

“Where are you from?” asked the man.

Reuven said nothing.

“Never mind, it doesn’t matter,” said the man after a pause. “After the tefillah, you’ll come home with me and have breakfast.”

When the prayers ended, the man took Reuven by the hand and brought him to his house, where he ate and drank his fill. Then the man asked him his name.

Reuven told him his given name, but not his father’s name, lest the man try to find what Reuven was trying to lose.

“My name is Yosef,” said the man. “I see that you’ve come upon hard times.

Something in your face tells me you’re a good boy, from a good family. Stay here with me until you’re feeling better.” ******** This Rav Yosef was no less than the rav of the city, as Reuven was soon to discover. He treated Reuven like an only son, showering him with love and warmth.

One day, he invited Reuven to sit down and study a bit with him. Reuven agreed happily, and Rav Yosef soon found out that he had an unusually sharpminded boy here.

Study sessions of half an hour turned into an hour, and then into two hours.

Afterwards, Rav Yosef hired additional teachers to learn with the little boy, and before a year had passed, Reuven had discovered the delights of learning, and even began to devote further time to study on his own.

Five years passed.

Reuven reached the age of thirteen, and a bar-mitzvah feast was made for him. All the Jews in town came to celebrate the simchah of the brilliant foundling who’d been raised in the home of their venerated rav, Rav Yosef.

From that day forward, Reuven began to advance so far in his learning that his melamdim dropped him, one after the other, saying that they had nothing more to teach him. And so he sat alone,

delving into the depths of Torah, and only Rav Yosef still remained to serve as his teacher. As the years passed, he treated his talmid more and more as an equal, and foresaw that he would become a great talmid chacham.

When Reuven reached the age of eighteen, Rav Yosef asked to have a talk with him.

“As you know,” he said, “I have never tried to force you to speak about your past. In the course of time, I have grown attached to you, and I feel as if I were your father. But we both know that you have an actual father somewhere. Evidently it was decreed in Heaven that he would not have the privilege of raising you and taking pleasure in you all these years, and instead, that gift was given to me.”

“However,” Rav Yosef continued, “the Mishnah says that the age of eighteen is for the chuppah, and before a person enters into the covenant of marriage, he must perfect himself as much as he can. Now, whichever way you look at it, a person who has cut off all connections with his family cannot be called perfect.

Therefore, I want you to go back to the place you left. Since I’m well aware that this will be difficult for you, I will sit with you and teach you how to conduct yourself on this visit so that you will be shielded from any further injury.”

Reuven had a feeling that his foster father understood very well what had happened to him, even though he had never volunteered much information on the subject. In fact, all he had volunteered was that he was an orphan, and that was only because he had to say Kaddish for his mother on her yahrtzeit. The fact that this day coincided with Reuven’s birthday was not lost on Rav Yosef, and putting two and two together, he had inferred that Reuven’s mother had died at his birth, and that his father had taken a second wife who had not accepted him as a son. This knowledge was never transferred between them by the usual means of speech, but only through those delicate wires of understanding that charac-

terized the strong attachment between them.

Reuven accepted his mentor’s advice — especially the subtle manner of handling the situation that the rav had recommended to him. Parting from his benefactor, he returned to the city of Gdynia to make himself known to his father and stepbrothers.

He arrived in Gdynia on a Friday.

Following his mentor’s instructions, he went to the head of the community and handed him a letter of introduction bearing the signature of Rav Yosef, who was renowned throughout the land.

The face of the rosh kahal lit up when he read the letter. “A talmid chacham has come to our city,” he said. “I have never seen a recommendation like this before for anyone, not even for our own rav, Rav Shimon. Please promise me that you will honor us by speaking before our entire congregation after the Torah reading on Shabbos.”

Reuven promptly assented.

The news that a great scholar had come to town spread like wildfire, and people began streaming to the shul to get a look at the young talmid chacham who had brought a glowing letter of introduction from Rav Yosef, one of the leaders of the generation. But of course, no one dared to invite him for the Shabbos meals, for everyone knew that that honor was reserved for the rav of Gdynia.

To everyone’s surprise, however, Reuven requested to be the guest of the rosh kahal for the Shabbos evening meal — a request that was immediately granted.

Reuven then told him that he would have to pray at a different shul that evening because of prior commitments, and that he would come to the main synagogue only for the morning services.

And so it was. The congregants at the main synagogue were disappointed to see that the talmid chacham everyone was talking about did not join them for Ma’ariv, but they were consoled by the fact that in the morning they would hear his drashah.

Reuven prayed in a small shul that night, and then ate the Shabbos seudah at the home of the rosh kahal. During the meal, he was invited to say a dvar Torah.

He began to speak, and his hosts were stunned by the pearls of wisdom that issued from his mouth. They had never heard such amazing chiddushim before. If the rosh kahal harbored any fears about having impulsively asked this stranger to speak at the most distinguished forum in Gdynia, he now knew, after hearing the visitor’s Torah and witnessing his behavior, he had nothing to worry about.

The next morning, Reuven came to the central synagogue of Gdynia, under the leadership of his father, Rav Shimon.

He had left as a smooth-cheeked little boy, and now he was eighteen, like an elder in Torah yet tender in years, and a youthful beard framed his face. No one there recognized this youth as the wild urchin who had run away from home a decade earlier, and certainly on this festive Shabbos, there was no reason to think back to that forgotten episode.

The Torah portion was read, and then Reuven stepped up to deliver his drashah.

It was a drashah such as no one had ever heard before, spiced with divrei Torah from every one of the five chumashim, gemaros from all over the Shas, midrashim and mefarshim. The explanations and teachings of this young illui were such that the longer he spoke, the fewer were those in the congregation who were able to follow his intricate reasoning.

When he had completed his drashah, the rav of Gdynia stood up, and approached the young speaker. Rav Shimon grasped Reuven’s hands in a warm handshake, and expressed his great pleasure and amazement. The rav, drawing fully upon the authority of his position, added, “I decree upon you that that you join us at our Shabbos table.”

Reuven accepted the decree.

Rav Reuven and all his sons and daughters sat at the table, listening to the young illui, who astounded them with his words of Torah, Midrash and Mussar.

They had never had a guest of this caliber before, and in addition to everything else, he was quite nice-looking.

He was invited to return for seudah shlishis, where the same scene repeated itself. Rav Shimon and his sons were beside themselves with admiration, and the moment the guest left the room for a moment, Rav Shimon’s sons began urging him to “grab” this young illui for one of their sisters who had reached marriageable age.

Rav Shimon didn’t hesitate. He had been thinking the same thought himself, from the moment he’d heard Reuven’s drashah. ******** That night, after Shabbos had departed, Rav Shimon approached his young guest and took him aside for a word in private. “I see that our teacher and master, Rav Yosef, did not exaggerate in the words of praise he wrote. In fact, I would say he understated the case. A most precious vessel stands before me, and I would like you to become my son-in-law.

You may take your pick of my daughters, and I will supply all of your needs.”

Reuven held back his tears, as Yosef did in Egypt, for he knew the moment had come to reveal his identity. Measuring every word, just as the Ribono shel Olam had done with Avraham Avinu, he told Rav Shimon about the tribulations he had experienced over the past ten years. After Rav Shimon had begun to digest the story, Reuven said to him, “I am your son, whom you did not love; I am Reuven, who left Gdynia ten years ago. Through Hashem’s mercy I stumbled into the embrace of the great gaon, Rav Yosef, who raised me as a son, and now, before I marry, I have come to ask you, will you accept me now?”

Shimon fell on his face and wept with loud and effusive weeping. “Oy, what have I done?” he sobbed. “The stone that the builders scorned has become the cornerstone. How can I look you in the face, my firstborn son? How were your fine character and intellect hidden from my

eyes? Woe is me for what I might have destroyed! Woe is me that I did not merit raising you to Torah.”

Rav Shimon embraced his son with tremendous affection and asked for his forgiveness. Afterwards they went out to the room where the brothers were waiting in suspense, and Rav Shimon introduced Reuven to them, saying, “This is my firstborn son, who disappeared ten years ago as a wild little boy, and has come back to me as a great talmid chacham, Rav Reuven ben Shimon.”

That same evening, Rav Shimon called the leaders of the community together, and the daughter of the rosh kahal, a righteous and modest girl, was suggested as a marital match for Reuven. Furthermore, Rav Shimon did not rest until his son Reuven had been officially approved as the heir to his rabbinical seat.

The news spread throughout Gdynia, and even took flight and spread throughout Poland. When Rav Yosef heard the wonderful tidings, he was overcome with happiness. He had fulfilled the task that had been placed upon him, and had returned the gift to its original owner. ******** The rosh yeshivah paused briefly, and then declared, “And Rav Reuven ben Shimon grew increasingly great, and he became one of the most glorious figures of the Jewish nation.”

The story had obviously hit its mark.

The cynical smirk that had played about Reb Refael’s lips as the story began was replaced by a look of deep contemplation.

But his inquiring spirit quickly woke up.

“Well, it’s a nice story and the moral of the story is not lost on me, but for all I know, you could have just made it up for my benefit.”

The rosh yeshivah looked at him. “Do you think I would pull some unfounded story out of a hat?” he asked. The rosh yeshivah then stood up, took an old book off his shelf and opened it in front of Reb Refael. “This book has been in my family’s possession for generations. It was

written by none other than the ‘Reuven’ of our story. Originally it was a handwritten manuscript that was published in print over a hundred years ago by Reuven’s descendants. Here, take a look at this,” he said, pointing to a specific paragraph. “This is where he relates the story of his life. Everything that I just told you is written here.”

Reb Refael leaned in to read the small, uneven letters that had obviously been printed in a previous century.

“What!?” Reb Refael exclaimed in disbelief. “Do you mean to tell me that this gadol is your ‘Reuven’?”

The rosh yeshivah merely nodded. He then took the book and gently flipped to the back page. “Look at the last page.

He writes down the reason why he chose to include his personal account in this book. These words were written for you, Reb Refael — for you and for other parents who are giving up on their children.

This story cries out to those parents not to cast off their children, not to despair of them, and certainly not to make their lives bitter.

Again Reb Refael leaned in closer and read the last paragraph on the page: And for all those who will ask why I choose to publicize my story, I will answer: So that every father and mother, and every teacher of Jewish children should realize that they are merely emissaries who must not fail in their mission.

A person is not measured by his successful sons and daughters who, even without him, would ascend upward on the path to the House of God; but rather, by those very children who are deposited in his hands to be guided out of love and fear of Heaven along the proper path, so that they may become great through him. That is his mission in the world of judgment.

 dvar halachah

Do Not Follow Their Traditions |Rabbi Gershon Bess The supreme test of the Jewish nation has been the ability to maintain its true identity, even in exile. Orthodox Jewry has done so despite persecution throughout the ages.

The Haggadah states that in every generation our enemies attempt to destroy our nation. The list of these enemies is long, including the ancient Greeks and Romans, the medieval Spanish with their infamous Inquisition, Nazi Germany, and the Arab nations surrounding Eretz Yisroel today.

The Haggadah, however, does not refer only to those who attempt to physically destroy the Jewish nation, but equally to the nations who open their arms to our people and tempt them to assimilate for the sake of “peace and brotherhood”.

In sheer numbers, we have “lost” more Jews to assimilation than any other enemy. A statistical study of the percentage of American Jews who maintain a Kosher home and attend synagogue services is most saddening. The false hope, that through “nihyeh ki’echad min ha’goyim” (let us be like the other nations of

the world), anti-Semitism will be lessened, has produced dismal results. Never has the identity and future of the Jewish people been more endangered.

The Torah warns us in two places that we must not imitate the chukos (customs) of the other nations of the world: u’vichukosayhem lo salaychu (you shall not follow their customs) (Vayikra 18:3) and vi’lo saylchu bi’chukos hagoy (you shall not follow the customs of the nations) (Vayikra 20:23). The Talmud explains that this does not refer to acts prohibited by the Torah, but rather to chukos of the non-Jews that are not, per se, forbidden. Nevertheless, the Torah forbids us from imitating them lest we ultimately emulate them in other expressly forbidden ways as well.

As the Rambam states in hilchos Avoda Zara “...rather the Jew should be separate from them and distinguished by his clothing and other actions just as he is different from them in hashkofo (entire world outlook). He should not wear their types

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of clothing nor grow his hair in their styles, etc.” However, the question arises: Specifically what is forbidden, and what criteria do we use to define a forbidden “custom” of the nations?

Ritual customs 1. Clearly included in this prohibition are any customs with religious connotations. For example, the Medrash states that the custom of our forefathers to sacrifice to Hashem on a matzaiva (altar of stones) was originally beloved by Hashem; however, it is now actually despised by Hashem since the nations began using an that type of altar for their religious purposes.

2. Similarly, the Vilna Gaon states, although it was an accepted custom for Jews to place trees in Shul on Shavuos, it is now forbidden, since the nations began to do so as part of their religious services. [This prohibition does not apply to decorating the Shul with flowers.]

3. Another example cited by many Poskim is the prohibition to conduct a marriage ceremony in a synagogue. In Ashkenazic countries, where marriages were traditionally not performed in a synagogue, but rather “under the stars”, the maskilim (reformers) who tried to introduce weddings in the synagogue were obviously trying to emulate the nations who performed the marriage ceremony in their places of worship. During that era, conducting the marriage ceremony in a synagogue was (and according to some, is still) forbidden by u’vichukosayhem lo salaychu.

Generally, even if a custom is not actually part of a religious service, it is nevertheless forbidden if it is merely related to a religious service.

4. The Ra’avad interprets the Rambam as prohibiting the use of bells as a signal to gather crowds, since bells were used by the nations as a signal to gather for services. Additionally, the construction of shuls in the architectural style used by the nations for their places of worship is forbidden.

5. Imitating the personal grooming customs of other religions is likewise forbidden. In fact, growing certain parts of the hair long or shaving one’s head in a manner of a devotee of another religion is forbidden, even if the intention is not for religious purposes.

Illogical or Superstitious Customs There are customs of the nations termed minhag shel hevel v’shtus (customs without any substance). These unusual customs, with no logical or scientific purpose, are forbidden for us to emulate. The Poskim state two explanations for this prohibition: 1. Since a custom is not substantive, it is assumed to have originally been a religious ritual whose source was ultimately forgotten, and is now forbidden, even if it presently has no religious significance. A classic example is the custom of “knock wood” to ward off the “evil eye”. One is forbidden to imitate

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 dvar halachah

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

Continued from page 31 this minhag shel hevel v’shtus, an act with no scientific basis, even if one has no religious intention nor is even aware of any religious connotation, since its origin was religious. Just under two thousand years ago, someone lost his life when he was crucified on a wooden crucifix. Therefore, the nations “knock wood” as a form of “prayer”. Clearly, although this non-Jewish custom seems to be just a harmless minhag shel hevel, it does, in fact, have a forgotten religious basis.

2. Since a minhag shel hevel is a custom one should logically not follow, the very act of following it is an indication of a desire to imitate and follow the nations. Accordingly, even if we have ascertained that there is in fact no religious source or significance for the custom, it should still be forbidden.

This is one reason why Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Ztz”l forbids a double-ring ceremony. Since non-Jews execute a marriage by exchanging rings and vows, it is considered a minhag shel shtus, [there being no scientific reason why this should be necessary], and a Torah prohibition.

Another example cited by the Poskim is the custom of planting flowers or trees to decorate a cemetery. This is a nonJewish custom, and forbidden because of u’vichukosayhem lo salaychu. (The placing of flowers at a gravesite is surely included in this prohibition.)

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Immodesty Neither immodest clothing fashion nor immodest personal grooming is a Jewish style, but rather, a style of the nations. The Poskim state that when a new style is contrary to the requirements of proper modesty, it is forbidden because one is going in their ways. Accordingly, they write that acquiescing to the pressures of style and wearing a mini skirt is a Torah transgression of u’vichukosayhem lo salaychu. In any case, it is forbidden to wear such clothing in public, as mandated by the laws of tznius (modesty). However, although wearing such clothing alone at home may not involve tznius, it is nevertheless forbidden because of the prohibition of u’vichukosayhem lo salaychu. Similarly, dresses styled with “slits” are forbidden. The obvious intention of the slits is to be suggestive, hence a style of pritzus (immodesty), and is, therefore, clearly included in this prohibition.

Even styles which are not clearly immodest, but which have developed as distinctly ‘non-Jewish’, are forbidden. In Talmudic times, non-Jews used red laces for their shoes, while the Jews used black laces. It was then forbidden to wear red laces, since this was considered to be the more ostentatious way to dress, and was clearly the non-Jewish custom.

Similarly, the Shach forbids a man to grow his hair “like young women” (i.e. for beauty), as immodest behavior, and included in u’vichukosayhem lo salaychu. Interestingly, the Taz forbids a man to grow his hair “wild” in the way that mercenaries do, (i.e. to instill fear in people by looking terrifying, inhuman, and “like a wild animal”). This indicates that dressing or

grooming in a manner not befitting a dignified tzelem Elokim (man is created in the image of Hashem) - by breaking down the dignity of man and equating him with an animal, is also a type of pritzus.

Other Customs The Talmud discusses two “customs” unrelated to religious rituals or breaches in modesty. The custom to burn the personal effects of a Jewish king would have been forbidden, except that the Torah itself contains a source for such a custom. This custom is not based on any religious connotation, but rather as a sign of respect for the kings, “declaring” that no one is fit to use his personal effects.

Similarly, the Talmud relates that it would have been forbidden for a Jewish Bais Din to execute a person in the manner used by the nations, except for the fact that this very method is specified in the Torah. Clearly, this too has no religious implication, nor is it a breach of the laws of tznius.

The Vilna Gaon derives from this gemara that it is forbidden to emulate even “logical” non-religious customs, even if they are perfectly logical and worthwhile.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Ztz”l discusses the permissibility of an “American” custom based on this opinion. For the last few hundred years, people who were menachem avel (consoling a mourner) did not bring food to the avel. Recently, in America, visitors began bringing food and drink to the home of the mourner. (Rabbi Feinstein explains that although it is forbidden to give a gift to a mourner, being a form of “greeting”, the bringing of food during the shiva is not meant as a form of greeting, but rather as a form of “consoling”). Rabbi Feinstein posits that according to the first opinion, since this is a logical custom, it is permitted even if we began this custom by imitating the “American” method of consoling mourners.

However, according to the Vilna Gaon, this is permitted only if we can establish that we independently began the custom of bringing food. If, however, we first noticed it being done by the nations or by assimilated Jews [who learned it from non-Jews] and imitated them, it would be forbidden.

Rabbi Feinstein Ztz”l concludes that, regardless, we should abandon this custom since it was discontinued by Jews for the last few hundred years, and surely with good reason, even though we are not aware of the exact reason.

A question exists whether gowns worn by chazanim (cantors) during services are included in the prohibition of u’vichukosayhem lo salaychu, as copied from gentile services.

Similarly, a question has been raised as to the origin of graduation gowns, and whether they should be included in the above prohibition.

In conclusion, it is our mission to fulfill the chukim (laws and customs) of our Torah that emanate from Hakadosh Boruch Hu (G-d) and not the chukim of the other nations which originate from mortals and their frail and all too human perspectives.

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Dairy on Shavuot

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

rabbi Shimon Finkelman

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Many reasons are offered for the custom of eating dairy on Shavuot: The Ten Commandments encompass all 613 commandments. Thus, when the Jews returned to their tents after the giving of the Torah, they were bound for the first time by the Torah’s dietary laws. Therefore, they could not eat meat, for they first had to prepare a proper slaughtering knife, remove the forbidden fats from the slaughtered meat, salt it and procure kosher cooking utensils. All this made it necessary for them to eat dairy, rather than meat, at that time.

As a commemoration of this, we eat dairy on Shavuot (Mishnah Berurah 494:12).

Kol Bo writes that it is customary to eat both milk and honey to which the Torah is likened, as it is written, “Honey and milk are under your tongue” (Song of Songs 4:11).

Divrei Yedidyah understands honey and milk as an allusion to the hidden facets of Torah, which are tastier than honey and milk but which must remain “hidden under the tongue,” i.e. imparted only to select individuals (see Chagigah 13a).

Why is Torah likened to honey and milk? Honey comes from a bee, which is not kosher, and milk comes from a live animal whose meat is forbidden until the animal is slaughtered. Both honey and milk, therefore, allude to the power of Torah which can transform a sullied soul into one of holiness and purity (from Chag HaShavuot published by Yad L’Achim).

In the writings of Kabbalah, wine and blood symbolize judgment, while water and milk symbolize compassion. Red is also associated with sin and white with atonement, as it is written, “Though your errors will be like scarlet, they will become white as snow; though they will be red as crimson, they will become like wool” (Isaiah 1:18). It is through the purifying process of the Sefirah period that the Jewish people merit Divine compassion on Shavuot, symbolized by the eating of

dairy (Magen Avraham 494:6 citing Zohar; see there for further explanation of this concept).

The Talmud (Makkos 23b) states that the 365 negative commandments correspond to the 365 days of the solar calendar.

According to Zohar, each, day of the year corresponds to a specific commandment.

As mentioned above, in Temple times, the bringing of Bikkurim the first fruits of the seven species with which the Land of Israel:, is blessed, began on Shavuot, and this is one reason why the Torah calls this Festival “Day of the First Fruits.” The Torah juxtaposes, “The first of your land’s early produce you shall bring to the Temple of the Lord, your God,” with, “Do not cook a kid in its mother’s milk” (Exodus 34:26), indicating that the day of Shavuot corresponds to the prohibition requiring the separation of meat and milk.

To symbolize this, we eat dairy and then meat on Shavuot according to the laws prescribed by halachah (Chidushei HaRim).

As mentioned above, Moses was rescued from the Nile River on the sixth of Sivan, the day on which Shavuot falls. The Talmud relates how Pharaoh’s daughter first brought Moses to Egyptian wet nurses, but he would not nurse, for God did not want the mouth that would one day communicate with Him to nurse from a non-Jew (Sotah 12b). Pharaoh’s daughter then had Moses given over to Yocheved to be nursed, unaware that this woman was the infant’s own mother. The eating of milk foods on the sixth of Sivan commemorates this hidden miracle (Yalkut Yitzchak).

Man cannot live on bread alone, nor can he survive on just water. Yet, one of the miracles of childbirth is that a mother’s milk provides her newborn with all the nourishment it needs.

In this sense, Torah is like milk, for it encompasses within it all the sustenance that man’s soul needs for spiritual vitality and growth. Thus, the milk foods of Shavuot allude to the Torah itself (Imrei Noam).

Excerpted from “SHAVUOT” - observance, laws, significance.

Published by ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications Ltd.

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 point of view

zman matan Toraseinu

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

T

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Rabbi Yosef Radner

he Yom Tov of Shavuos is termed Atzeres, the culmination, since Shavuos is regarded as the culminating experience of Pesach. An understanding of the connection between Shavuos and Pesach highlights the significance of Shavuos in the Jewish people’s role.

Shavuos is zman matan Toraseinu, the time of the giving of the Torah. Shavuos celebrates matan Torah over 3000 years ago when Jews were given the Torah. The Jews were charged with the mission of justifying the existence of the world by demonstrating ethical conduct for the world to emulate, thereby fulfilling its purpose. While the original matan Torah occurred over 3 millennia ago, Chazal, our Sages, teach that Jews spiritually reenact their own matan Torah each Shavuos.

Shavuos is called zman matan Toraseinu to underscore this annual reacceptance of the Torah.

The Shavuos experience begins anew each year at Pesach as Jews clean their homes and hearts from chametz and the pursuit of materialism that chametz represents. Jews left the bondage of Egyptian slavery to become a free people with the cognition that true freedom is submission to Hashem’s values and priorities and the rejection of the yetzer horo’s, the evil inclination’s, values and priorities. Just as Jews could not be a free people while they were Paroh’s slaves, they similarly cannot be a truly free people as long as they are subservient to secular values and culture.

The Pesach seder crystallizes the move from slavery to freedom, both physically and esoterically. The seder begins with avdus, slavery, and culminates in chairus, freedom. Reciting the mah nishtana, the inquisitive child grapples with the contradictory demonstrations of avdus and cheirus in the same night. Jews dip foods as aristocrats, a sign of cheirus, but paradoxically dip vegetables into salt water and charoses, symbolizing the tears and mortar of slavery.

This juxtaposition of avdus and cheirus goes to the heart of Yiddishkeit’s purpose. Jews answer their children and themselves that Jews were slaves to Paroh and thereby subjected to a perverse and distorted perspective of the world. Hashem freed the Jews from bondage out of His love for His people and His belief in the Jews’ potential. The night of yitzias Mitzrayim, the exodus from Egypt, celebrates not only the physical Jewish exit from slavery, but Jewish entrance into a new life

of spiritual opportunities afforded by Hashem.

The newly free Jew can sanctify himself and the world around him by becoming a G-d-like giver as opposed to a Paroh-like taker.

Underscoring the connection between Pesach and Shavuos, Jews conscientiously count the days from the first yom tov to the second. Even more, Jews emphasize their transformation from individual slaves to a consecrated nation. At Sinai, the Jews stood unified ki’ish echod bilaiv echod, as one man with one heart. Jews count the seven weeks of sefira between Pesach and Shavuos and prepare for matan Torah by focusing on the concept of viahavta lirai’acha kamocha, loving one’s neighbor as one loves oneself. The sage Hillel stressed this simple and fundamental teaching of the Torah, stating that love of other Jews is the Torah’s essence with other Torah concepts mere explanation.

Jews recognize that they exist to be beneficiaries of the Ultimate Giver’s goodness and to emulate Hashem’s ways.

Jews are instructed to treat others the same way they want to be treated and ultimately the way Hashem treats His creations. Jews climb the steps of sefirah trying to remake themselves into sanctified, selfless people, worthy of being mikablai Torah, receivers of the Torah.

From Pesach to Shavuos, the former slaves transformed themselves, arriving at Sinai, anxious and willing to be charged with ethical and moral imperatives. As Torah Jews, Hashem’s subjects, they inspire the world to the possibility of a spiritually higher life. No longer a splintered group of selfserving hedonists, Jews proclaimed naase vinishma, we will do and we will hear, becoming a unified force together carry Hashem’s banner notwithstanding unknown challenges and distractions. Yearly, they renew that proclamation.

Matan Torah was the Jews’ crowning moment in history.

At that moment the Jews accepted their united mission of fulfilling and mastering the entire Torah with its total submission to Hashem. Echoing that statement and mission every year, Jews dedicate every fiber of their beings to carrying out their sacred task amidst a world of confusion and immorality.

No longer slaves, but free men with a purpose, the Jews were given two crowns by Hashem: one for naase and one for nishma. May we merit those crowns once again this year!

t i r i p S City Celebrate With Us! 3rd Anniversary Issue

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Courtyard of the Lions -at The Alhambra - Granada

lthough the Jewish past of Granada is presently invisible, the city deserves a visit simply to marvel at the Alhambra. The fortress which remained a sanctuary for Moslems after the fall of Cordoba and Seville is absolutely breathtaking. The Alhambra probably features the greatest accomplishment of Islamic art and architecture that can be viewed today. The centerpiece of this complex is the Palacio Nazaries with its patios and intricate stucco and woodwork which is unrivaled anywhere in the world. Exploring the narrow and hilly streets of the old Moorish quarter is a true delight as well.

The Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, as charming as it looks, was the center of Inquisition activities. Jewish life in this Catalonia city has had many up and downs. Though, it was spared the violence against Jews with the help of the city fathers, by year 1400 Jewish life practically ceased. The remainder of Jews and conversos were either expelled or killed by the Inquisition tribunals.

The Calle Menor and the Calle Major are the two areas where Jews lived.

The narrow streets are the same but the buildings are not that old. The recent discovery of a synagogue in a basement and its subsequent restoration are about the only Jewish artifacts that one can see today.

Barcelona has a small but thriving Jewish Community at present. Its synagogue was the first one built in Spain since the Inquisition. Some kosher food is available and catering service to your hotel can be ordered through Rabbi & Mrs. Libersohn of Chabad.

The city is an amalgam of architectural design ranging from medieval castles to modern masterpieces. The pedestrian Boulevard Las Ramblas explodes with life and excitement. Many buildings were designed by the famous Art Nouveau eccentric architect Anton Gaudi. Parc Guell is his creation of a fun filled playground with colorful mosaics, paths and plazas. There is the waterfront, the Picasso Museum and much more. Shopping at the upscale shops is a great draw and prices are a bit lower than other European cities.

Girona is a lovely medieval city whose claim to fame for Jews is its two famous personalities. The Ramban (Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman) and Rabeinu Yonah. The city was the most important Jewish community in Catalonia. The streets of Jewish Calle have been mostly restored and the Jewish presence can be seen though the indentations in many doorways where Mezuzas were hung.

There is a wonderful former synagogue and museum of Sephardic culture at the Bonastrucca Porta Center. There you can learn a lot about the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry and its eventual demise.

Walking atop the wall which runs around the edge of the quarter gives one the greatest views of entire city Touring Spain makes for a real great trip, but the distances are great between cities. To allow for enough time to see and enjoy the seven cities I wrote about and to spend an exhilarating Shabbos in Gibraltar one must allow for a ten to twelve day trip. I have no doubt that the experience will be immensely rewarding.

Bon Voyage - vcuy vghxb, Hershel Do you have a group of friends or belong to an organization that dreams of traveling to foreign destinations together? Hershel has organized and personally guided groups of friends, school classes, and organization members (Gateways & Aish Hatorah) over the past few years on unusual and inspiring journeys. He can do the same for your group personalized to your interests. Contact Hershel Lieber ‘The Wandering Jew’ at 718-256-8156 HarryL46@optonline.net Architectural gem by Anton Gaudi - Barcelona

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Must I Live Without Cheesecake?|Manny Saltiel, Pharm.D., FASHP, FCCP

“Mommy, will you be making your world-famous chocolate-chip Kahlua cheesecake for Shavuos?” asked Talia.

“Of course,” replied Mrs. Silverberg. “It wouldn’t be Shayosef_ad.pdf 7/3/07 6:24:04 PM vuos without it. And it’s been your father’s favorite since before we were married. But this year, I have to figure out someyosef_ad.pdf thing else to7/3/07 make6:24:04 for PMTatty.”

“What do you mean, Mommy? Why can’t he have your speyosef_ad.pdf 7/3/07 6:24:04 PM yosef_ad.pdf 7/3/07 6:24:04 PM cial cheesecake? Did he get allergic to it, like Aunt Chava and her cats?

It’s so sad6:24:04 thatPM she had to get rid of her 10 cats after yosef_ad.pdf 7/3/07 she got allergic to them.”

“No, darling,Corporation Tatty’s not allergic to cheesecake. But ever A Professional

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since his last visit to the doctor, Tatty’s been on a special diet.

And I’m afraid cheesecake just isn’t on that diet.”

“A special diet? Really?!” You mean like Yael? She lost 45 pounds before her chasuna just so she could get into that gorgeous wedding dress.”

“Well, it’s a different kind of diet,” Mommy answered patiently. “Although it would probably be a good idea to watch his weight, Tatty doesn’t need to lose 45 pounds. He just has to change the kinds of food he eats. Say, wasn’t that the front door I just heard? I think he’s home now. Let’s go see Tatty.”

After dinner and Mr. Silverberg’s learning seder, Mrs. Silverberg approached her husband, the afternoon discussion still fresh on her mind.

“Arye Leib, can I speak with you about your diet? Talia was just asking me about cheesecake for this Shavuos, and I know you can’t have that any more. So, I’m wondering what you might want in its place…. You know, something special for Yom Tov.” “Oh, right. I forgot all about that. Ever since Dr. James found out my cholesterol was so high in March, I’ve had to really watch what I eat. But no cheesecake on Shavuos?! None of your famous chocolate-chip Kahlua cheesecake? Oh no. What am I going to eat? Maybe I’ll just have an oat bran muffin for dessert, whaddaya think?” he moaned.

“Now, now, Arye Leib, it won’t be that bad. I’m going to find something special for you, don’t you worry. In fact, I believe Shoshi is studying nutrition in nursing school this semester. I’ll call her for some ideas tomorrow.”

The next day, Mrs. Silverberg called her daughter, Shoshi, a senior at nursing school in Baltimore. After catching up on other items, she asked what she could serve her husband on Shavuos in place of his favorite cheesecake. “Shoshi, dear, you know your father’s cholesterol is high, right? Well, among other restrictions, he certainly can’t be eating cheesecake. And you know how much he loves my cheesecake every Shavuos.

Do you have any ideas for me?”

“Isn’t he taking medicine for his cholesterol? Isn’t he on simvastatin, the medicine that used to be known as Zocor?”

“Yes, that’s right, but shouldn’t he also be watching his diet?”

“Of course, Mommy, but just so you should know, the med-

icine will keep his ‘bad’ cholesterol down by a lot more than some piece of cheesecake will elevate it… unless of course he eats it every day.”

“Wait,” asked Mrs. Silverberg, “Do you mean to tell me that Tatty can go ahead and have my cheesecake after all?”

“Well, maybe a small piece, and only once, but it shouldn’t derail his entire program,” responded Shoshi. “Does he take his cholesterol medicine every night?”

“Every night.”

“And how about the rest of his diet? Like what does he eat on Shabbos?”

“He still eats chicken, but only white meat, and I remove the skin. I also try to include eggplant or okra, and we have beans or peas every Shabbos. Oh, and I use oats in the challah, like you suggested a while back,” answered Mrs. Silverberg.

“Are you using soy protein during the week?”

“Why, yes. I use it in burritos, spaghetti sauce, sloppy joes, chili, all kinds of stuff. Tatty loves tempeh, too. I made Tatty a burger using soy ground round on Wednesday; he took a bite and said he thought he wasn’t supposed to be eating hamburger any more. Can you believe it?”

“That’s great, Ma. Keep it up. I’m really proud of both of you for being good patients. And who knows. Maybe after nursing school is over, I’ll come back to LA and be your private duty nurse.”

“We expect no less, my dear Shoshi.”

Dr. Manny Saltiel received his doctorate in Pharmacy at the University of California in San Francisco , following undergraduate work at UCLA. He completed a residency in Clinical Pharmacy Practice at the University of Illinois in Chicago . He worked at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for 25 years , serving in various capacities, including Clinical Coordinator and Drug Information Specialist. Dr. Saltiel also holds a faculty appointment with the University of Southern California. He has received Honorary Fellowships with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and the American Society of Health-system Pharmacy. Dr. Saltiel has published over 20 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, and has lectured before local and national audiences. He currently serves as a Regional Clinical Director for Comprehensive Pharmacy Services. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and four children.

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CITY spirit JUNE 2011

Celebrate With Us! CitySpirit Third Anniversary Issue

FRIEDMAN

41

 FOOD

Dining In Again with Faigy Grossman Say Cheese. Say it again. And again.

Yes, Dining In Again has got you covered with lots of tasty and unique dairy recipes for Shavuos. Below are a sampling of some of my favorites.

Pick up a copy of Dining In Again for many more that are sure to delight your family and friends all year round.

Stuffed Shells in Cream Sauce

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

To freeze: Do not pour sauce over shells.

Freeze sauce in a container, and filled shells in a tightly covered 9x13-inch pan. When ready to use, defrost sauce, pour over shells, and bake.

1 box jumbo pasta shells Filling: 2 T. oil 1 medium onion, diced 1- 16 oz. bag frozen spinach ½ tsp. garlic powder 2 eggs 2- 8 oz. pkgs. mozzarella cheese 1 lb. farmer cheese Cream Sauce: 1 small onion, diced 2 oz. butter ¼ tsp. salt ¼ c. flour 2¼ c. milk 2 c. American cheese, cut into pieces (approx. 12 slices) YIELD: 9-12 servings

42

Cook shells according to package directions; set aside.

Filling: Sauté onion and spinach in oil; add garlic powder, eggs, mozzarella cheese, and farmer cheese. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until all ingredients are well mixed. Set aside.

Cream Sauce: Sauté onion in butter, add salt and flour. Add milk slowly so mixture doesn’t clump. Bring to a boil.

Lower heat and mix in cheese, stirring constantly, until cheese is completely melted.

Stuff shells with filling, then place in a 9x13-inch pan. Pour sauce over shells.

Bake, covered for 50 minutes at 350°.

or any hard cheese that you like on top of vegetables. Roll up blintz-style. (Fold top and bottom inward, then roll from one side.) Wrap tightly in silver foil.

Place on cookie sheet; bake at 400° for 25 minutes.

Vegetable Cheese Wraps

Never-Fail Soufflé

Cheesy and savory, this twist on grilled cheese sandwiches has become a popular favorite.

1 onion, diced Oil for sautéing 1 red pepper, diced 1 orange pepper, diced 1 yellow pepper, diced 1 green pepper, diced 1- 8 oz. can mushrooms Salt and pepper, to taste 1 tsp. onion soup mix 1 pkg. 10-inch wraps (approx. 5) 5 slices light American cheese (or other) YIELD: 5 wraps Sauté onion in oil until translucent. Add vegetables, mushrooms, and spices. Sauté until vegetables turn soft. Spoon vegetable mixture into the center of each wrap. Place a slice of American cheese

12 large eggs 2 c. milk Pinch red pepper flakes 3 c. grated cheddar cheese, divided 1 loaf white bread, crusts removed, cut into 1-inch cubes, divided Salt and pepper 6 T. melted butter YIELD: 8 servings Beat together eggs, milk, and red pepper flakes in a large mixing bowl until well combined. Sprinkle 1 cup cheese on the bottom of a 9x13-inch greased pan. Add half the bread cubes, then another 1 cup cheese. Season with salt and pepper; repeat layers of bread and cheese. Pour egg mixture evenly over cheese, then drizzle with melted butter.

Refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to

350° and bake until puffed and golden, about 45 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake A different kind of cheesecake for Shavuos dessert.

Cookie Base: 2 sticks butter 1 c. brown sugar ½ c. sugar 2 eggs 2½ c. flour ¼ tsp. salt ½ tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1½ c. mini chocolate chips Additional 2 T. flour Filling: 3- 8 oz. containers whipped cream cheese 3 eggs 1 c. sugar YIELD: 2 dozen servings

Cookie base: Beat butter with sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, then remaining cookie ingredients; beat until well combined. Scoop out one cup of dough; mix it with 2 tablespoons flour and freeze. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake remaining dough in a 9x13-inch pan for 25 minutes at 350°. Cool for ½ hour.

While cookie base cools, prepare filling.

Filling: Combine filling ingredients in large bowl; mix well. Spread atop cookie base. Grate reserved dough on top of filling and bake for additional 35 minutes.

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake Easy to make, yet pretty enough for simcha; a delicious and interesting combination.

Cake: 1½ sticks butter 1½ c. sugar 4 eggs Juice of one lemon 1 T. grated lemon rind

1 tsp. vanilla extract ½ c. sour cream 2 c. flour 2 T. poppy seeds ½ tsp. baking powder ¼ tsp. baking soda ¼ tsp. salt Glaze: ½ c. Confectioners’ sugar Juice of one lemon YIELD: 10-12 servings Beat butter, sugar, and eggs for 10 minutes until creamy. Add next 4 ingredients and mix for another few minutes.

Add remaining cake ingredients; beat until well blended. Pour batter into a large, greased loaf pan and bake at 325° for 1 hour and 25 minutes. Meanwhile, combine glaze ingredients and mix until smooth and clear. While cake is still hot, pour the glaze over it. Decorate with cranberries, leaves, flowers, or anything that strikes your fancy.

New Twists on Popular Favorites!

Yes, the creators of Dining In have done it again with their latest cookbook, Dining In Again!

With over 550 tantalizing new dishes, this marvelous book is simply bursting with fresh ideas.

Available at Bookstores or Direct from: Yeshiva Masoras Avos 23 Congress Street, Lakewood, NJ 08701 732-942-7522 • yma@lehucomputers.com

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

Published by Judaica Press, by the Ladies Auxiliary of Yeshiva Masoras Avos

43

KidSpirit

by Fraydee Mozes

Fill In the Blanks Before the holiday of Shavuos, there is a counting period known as __1__. We count up until the __2__ day, Shavuos, which is celebrated on the __3__ day of Sivan. This holiday commemorates the day Bnei Yisroel received the __4__ from __5__ Rabeinu at __6__ ____. In history, Shavuos was the first day people could bring first fruits known as __7__ to the Beis Hamikdash. There is a custom to eat __8__ foods on Shavuos. The megillah that is read on Shavuos is called Megilas __9__ . And be sure to get enough sleep before the holiday because it is customary to learn torah all __10__.

Answers: 1. Sefirah, 2. 50th, 3. 6th, 4. Torah, 5. Moshe, 6. Har Sinai, 7.Bikkurim, 8. Dairy, 9. Rus/Ruth, 10. Night

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Look at the image of the straight row of flowers. Of the four flowers labeled A through D, which two flowers have the greatest distance between them?

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CITY spirit JUNE 2011

Chicken

Congratula tions to shmuilie wolowik Age 9 Contest Win ner April 2011

All the images above come from pages in this magazine. Name _ ____________________________________________ Find the pages and enter the page numbers in the white Roast Beef Duck Short Ribs boxes. Cut out and fill in the form and mail to: CitySpirit Address_ ___________________________________________ NY Office: 1588 E. 27th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11229.

Phone_ ______________________ Age__________________ First entry with all the correct answers wins.

44

Brisket

Boneless T. Breast

Beef Ribs

Help Moshe Rabeinu get to the Aseres Hadibros Z

END

START Z

Sudoku for Kids

Unscramble the words

Level: Hard

associated with Shavuos ZNLISEBT _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ RTAHO _ _ _ _ _ OERM _ _ _ _ SHTRAVE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ UFITR _ _ _ _ _ AKSMDAU _ _ _ _ _ _ _ SFOERWL _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ECCSHEAKEE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ RSU _ _ _ SAIIN _ _ _ _ _

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Answers: 1.BLINTZES, 2.TORAH, 3.OMER, 4. HARVEST, 5. FRUIT, 6. AKDAMUS, 7. FLOWERS, 8. CHEESECAKE, 9.RUS, 10. SINAI

How to play: Each row (across) must contain the numbers 1 through 9. Each column (up and down) must contain the numbers 1 through 6. Each square box must contain the numbers 1 through 6.

45

Solution:

west coast directory Emergency Fire-Police-Ambulance.................... 911 Hatzalah............................ 800-613-1911

Government & Utilities Passport Information.... 310-575-5700

Hospitals Cedars Sinai Medical Center................

310-423-5000.

8700 Beverly Blvd.

Children’s Hospital........ 323-660-2450 4650 Sunset Blvd.

UCLA Medical Center.......310-825-9111 10833 Le Conte Avenue

Jewish Life Bikur Cholim Bikur Cholim.........................323-852-1900 LA Ladies Bikur Cholim...... 323-934-2890 ...........................................323-936-1685 Chai LifeLine......................... 310-274-6331 Teen Development Friendship Circle LA... 310-277-FCLA(3252)

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

Mikvahs

46

Beverly Hills/Pico Robertson Mikvah mei manachem ....... 310-214-4999 2108 Vail Avenue Mikvah Society of LA .........310-550-4511 9548 West Pico Long Beach Mikvah Chaya V’Sarah Leah 562-427-1360 3847 Atlantic Avenue Los Angeles – Fairfax Mikvah Sarah U’Baila......... 323-939-4297 360 N. La Brea Avenue (across from alley) Mikvah Taharat Chaya....... 323-634-0703 303 S. Highland Ave. (by appt. only) North Hollywood Adat Yeshurun Mikvah........ 818-766-4610 12405 Sylvan Street The Teichman Mikvah..........818-760-4567 12800 Chandler Blvd.

Palm Springs Mikvah Chaya Mushka.........760-325-3212 425 Avenida Ortega (Palm Springs Chabad) San Diego Mikvah Israel........................619-287-6411 5170 Ladorna

Santa Monica Mikvas Chana (by appt. only). 310-829-1324 Tarzana Abraham Dayan Mikvah.......818-758-3836 18181 Burbank Blvd.(access east side of bldg.)

Shatnez Testing Service Kehillah (Mr. Stolz)............... 323-936-8760 Kehilla Shatnez Lab on Holt (Rabbi & Mrs. Sohayeg )........ 310-657-5789

Synagogues Los Angeles Fairfax/Hancock Park Agudath Israel of LA-Bais Avigdor....................

323-930-0792 / 323-935-8383.

461 N. La Brea Avenue Ahavas Yisroel Synagogue 731 N. La Brea Ave...................323-937-1247 Aish Tamid of Los Angeles....... 323-634-0505 5909 West 3rd St Congregation Bais Naftoli......... 323-936-4827 221 S. La Brea Avenue Congregation Bais Yehuda.........323-936-7568 360 N. La Brea Avenue Congregation Eitz Chaim/Bais Moshe Yitzchok..

323-634-0535 • 303 S. Highland Ave. Congregation Levi Yitzchok/.

Chabad of Hancock Park...... 323-954-8381 356 N. La Brea Avenue Congregation Shaarei Tefilla...... 323-938-7147 7269 Beverly Blvd.

Kehillas Yaakov........................ 323-935-8572 7211 Beverly Blvd.

Kehillath Yitzchok..................... 323-932-8694 7709 Beverly Blvd.

Kollel Los Angeles.....................323-933-7193 7216 Beverly Blvd.

Kollel Yechiel Yehuda................323-939-2041 354 N. La Brea Avenue The Jewish Learning Exchange........................

323-857-0923 • 512 N. La Brea Avenue Torah Ohr................................. 323-933-3111 7200 Beverly Blvd.

Young Israel of Hancock Park....323-931-4030 225 S. La Brea Avenue Young Israel of Los Angeles...... 323-655-0300 660 North Spaulding Avenue

Pico-Robertson/Beverly Hills Adas Torah 1135 S. Beverly Dr..310-552-0460 Aish HaTorah Center.................310-278-8672 9102 W. Pico Blvd.Anshe Emes Synagogue....................310-275-5640 / ......................................... 877-ANSHE-EM 1490 S. Robertson Blvd.

Beth Jacob Congregation...........310-278-1911 9030 West Olympic Blvd., Beverly Hills Chabad of Bel-Air..................... 310-475-5311 10421 Summer Holly Crl Chabad of Beverly Hills.............. 310-271-9063 409 N. Foothill Rd., Beverly Hills Chabad of Brentwood.............. 310-826-4453 644 S. Bundy Dr. Chabad of Cheviot Hills.............310-558-8770 3185 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles Chabad Israel Center................ 310-271-6193 1520 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles Congregation Magen David...... 310-556-5609 9717 W. Pico Blvd., Beverly Hills Lubavitch of Beverly Hills...........310-282-0444 9017 W. Pico Blvd., Beverly Hills West Coast Torah Center........... 310-271-1180 322 N. Foothill Rd., Beverly Hills Young Israel of Beverly Hills........310-742-3717 8701 W. Pico Blvd.

Young Israel of Century City.......310-273-6954 9315 W. Pico Blvd.

Calabasas The Calabasas Shul ..................818-725-3118 (at Bay Laurel Elem. School).

Calabasas Pkwy. at Paseo Primero Conejo Valley Chabad of Conejo/Agoura Hills 818-991-0991 5998 Conife Street Corona del Mar Chabad of Newport Beach.........949-721-9800 4720 Cortland Dr. Lomita Chabad of Palos Verdes........... 310-544-5544 28041 S. Hawthorne Blvd.

Chabad of South Bay................310-326-8234 24412 Narbonne Ave. manhattan beach Chabad of Manhattan Beach.....310-265-3868 2108 Vail Avenue North Hollywood Adat Yeshurun .............. 818-766-4682 12405 12405 Sylvan Street Em Habanim Cong.................... 818-762-7779 Continued on page 48.

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west coast directory Continued from page 46 5850 Laurel Canyon Blvd.

Shaarey Zedek Cong.................818-763-0560 12800 Chandler Blvd.

Ohr Simcha.............................. 818-760-2189 12430 Oxnard NORTHRIDGE Young Israel of Northridge.........818-368-2221 17511 Devonshire Street Santa Monica Chabad of Marina Del Rey......... 310-301-9770 2929 Washington Blvd.

Venice Pacific Jewish Center................ 310-392-8749 505 Ocean Front Walk Young Israel of Venice...............310-450-7541 1014 Vernon Ave. Westwood Westwood Kehilla..................... 310-441-5288 10537 Santa Monica Blvd.

Huntington Beach Chabad of West Orange County.714-846-2285 5052 Warner Ave Irvine Beth Jacob of Irvine..................949-786-5230 3900 Michelson Dr. Chabad of Irvine...................... 949-786-5000 5010 Barranca Pkwy Young Israel of Orange County..... 949-300-8899 5319 University Drive (#122)

Young Israel of Long Beach....... 562-427-3163 4134 Atlantic Ave. Mission Viejo Chabad of Mission Viejo............ 949-770-1270 24041 Marguerite Pkwy.

Palm Springs Chabad of Palm Springs............760-325-0774 425 Avenida Ortega

La Jolla Congregation Adat Yeshurun.... 858-535-0343 8625 La Jolla Scenic Dr. N.

San Diego Beth Jacob of San Diego........... 619-287-9890 4855 College Ave. Chabad of Downtown................ 619-702-8518 472 Third Avenue

Laguna Beach Chabad of Laguna Beach......... 949-499-0770 30804 S. Coast Hwy.

Yorba Linda North County Chabad Center.....714-693-0770 19045 Yorba Linda Blvd.

Laguna Niguel Chabad of Laguna Niguel..........949-831-8475 27655 Niguel Village Dr. Long Beach Cong. Lubavitch of Long Beach........................

562-426-5480 • 3981 Atlantic Ave.

community & g'mach directory Babies & Children

Baby Equipment Port-a-cribs, pack and plays, car seats, infant bouncers, strollers, bassinettes, booster seats, exer-saucers for short term loan.

Miriam Hendeles......................(323) 243-7116

Clothing

Bris Outfits and Bris Pillow Devora Wieder........................ (323) 939-9276 Ruchie Klein........................... (323) 353-2494

Global Kindness Yaelle Cohen....................... (310) 286-0800

Diapers Chumie Unger.........................(323) 932-1094 Penina Frumit Apter.................(310) 557-9726 Dina Kramer............................(818) 985-2493

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

Ezer Layoledes Strollers, play pens, high chairs, cribs, car seats for short or long term loan.

Bella Greenfield..................... (323) 934-0178

48

Rochelle Frankel.....................(323) 896-3335 Children’s Costume G’mach Bubby Goldie’s (L’ilui Nishmas Chana Golda Krausz) Abi Katz ................................ (323) 395-7465 Miriam Montag...................... (323) 646-5988

Kehila Shatnez Testing Joe Stoltz.............................. (323) 936-8760

Counseling and Health

Aleinu / Orthodox Counseling Program 24 hour hotline..................(310) 247-0534

Nursing Pumps Andi Shochet......................... (818) 753-9562 Dassi Weiner......................... (818) 509-7791

Chai Lifeline West Coast Regional Office Non profit Jewish organization dedicated to providing support services to seriously ill children and their families........(310) 274-6331

New born baby care packages Sandy Gordon......................... (310) 838-8591

Etta Israel Serving the special needs children of the Jewish Community............................. (818) 985-3882

Uniforms Exchange &/or purchase of pre-owned uniforms Toras Emes and Bais Yaakov -

Hospital Gowns Tznuis hospital clothing for women Sara Pinter ........................... (323) 931- 1598

Jewish Healthcare Foundation Avraham Moshe Bikur Cholim If you need or would like to donate blood to someone.................................(323) 852-1900 Financial Aid Services Financial Jewish Free Loan Assistance Small interest free loans City . .................................... (323) 761-8830 Valley.................................... (818) 464-3331 Hachnosas Kallah Financial assist. &/or guidance to needy kallahs in planning their wedding........ (323) 938-8074 The Tzedakah Fund Small Interest-Free Loans........(323) 939-0862

Food

Masbia (L’ilui Nishas Chaim Yosef ben Aron Aryeh) Share your simcha – call for info or to arrange pickup of leftover food from your simcha ................... (323) 851-1000, (323) 997-6500 Tomchei Shabbos Provides Shabbos food packages for families in need. Call to request application. ..............................................(323) 851-1000 Continued on page 50

community directory Continued from page 48 Arbis for Shalom Zachor Aviva Maller............................ (323) 931-9420

Legal Services

Bet Tzedek Legal Services Free legal counsel to the eligible needy and Holocaust reparations assistance. .............................................(323) 939-0506 Criminal/Arrest Guidance LA County Sheriff Department.

Shirley Freidman (for women).. (323) 568-4703 Howard Winkler (for men)........(323) 939-9236

Furniture, Home, Dishes

2nd Chance Rivky Farber............................(323) 851-1000 Folding Beds Esti Tendler (Evenings only) ......(310)557-3461 Keilim Mikvah Directory Anshe Emes Keilim Mikva 1490 S. Robertson................. (310) 275-5640 Shaaray Zedek Keilim Mikva 12800 Chandler..................... (818) 763-0560 Young Israel Keilim Mikva 225 S. LaBrea Ave................. (323) 931-4030

Mezuzah Gemach Irwin Lowi...............................(323) 932-1025 Tables and Chairs Steven Oscherowitz................. (323) 937-1194

Weddings & Special Occasions

Benchers (L’ilui Nishmas Ahron Ben Yissachar) Mrs. Kest ...............................(323) 937-7060

Chupah candle holders, poles, Kallah chair Mrs. Lebovics . ...................... (323) 933-3377 Clothing for Relatives of Chosson & Kallah For women and children Mrs. Dena Wolmark ............... (323) 934-4151 Penina Fisher.......................... (323) 933-7292 Hachnasas Kallah Gift Gemach Volume DonationsLibby Lehman......................... (323) 935-3791 Individual GiftsLeba Hertz..............................(323) 574-7054 Chuppah/Simcha Cards Tehillim cards for use at the chuppah Rochel Haberman.....................323)899-5390

Bridal Gowns Esther Braun ......................... (323) 933-2817 Ahuva Goldstein......................(323) 938-8660 Gitty Feingold..........................(323) 933-1197 Malka Breitman......................(323) 938-8008 Sarah Frankel......................... (323) 934-7983 Mechitzah Gemach Rivka Berkowitz.......................(818) 331-3884 Simcha Gemach (L’ilui Nishmas Rebbetzin Bella Simcha) 48 Mini challah covers, 2 lg challah covers, 18 kiddush cups w/trays, 50 bentchers..... (323) 931-0306 Esther Mayerfeld -Al Hamichya Cards in lucite stands..............(323) 933-1891 Special Occasion Flowers, Centerpieces & Mirrors Mrs. Niehaus.......................... (323) 938-2406 Michal Pouraty-Yad Simcah..... (310) 525-7336 Tablecloth Gemach Tablecloths available to borrow (call for hours) Rochel Haberman...................(323) 899-5390 Estie Silber............................ (323) 652-6658 Wedding Shtick Bubby’s Shtick-Mona Riss........(818) 761-5077 Rivky Farber............................(323) 744-1608 Nechama Denbo....................... (310) 788-398

Warning!

Prolonged exposure to the Shira Orchestra has been known to cause serious cases of

CITY spirit JUNE 2011

Tantz-All-Nitis.

50

Naftali Finkel 323-243-6710 www.ShiraOrchestra.com info@ShiraOrchestra.com

Spend Summer with Us!

Now Accepting Applications for the 2011 Summer Sessions Speech | Biology | Science | History | Mathematics | English | Psychology | Finance | Business | Statistics (additional summer courses may be offered upon request)

Summer Session I: June 15th – July 18th Summer Session II: July 20th – August 23rd

Los Angeles

1317 N. Crescent Heights Blvd., West Hollywood • 323 822 9700 www.touro.edu/losangeles • email: tourola.admission@touro.edu Touro College Los Angeles is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges: 985 Atlantic Ave. #100, CA 94501; Tel. 510-748-9001. Touro College is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

© CitySpirit design studio

Touro College

For more information, please call 323-822-9700 x 85155 or email tourola.admissions@touro.edu