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CHICAGO JEWISH
June 2012 • Vol. 4 No. 6
ADVERTISER
OUR GUESTS COME FOR THE SPECTACULAR ROCKIES AND RETURN FOR OUR SPECTACULAR PROGRAM
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Chai Lifeline invites you to
The Third Annual MY Kids Community Symposium
SPONSIBILITY TTAKING AK A ING RE RESPONSIBILITY FO RO URSELVE V S, O UR FOR OURSELVES, OUR BR ETHREN, OUR OUR WO RLD BRETHREN, WORLD A discussion with:
Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblum Director,r, Founder andd Director Jewish Media Resources
Tuuesday, July 10, 2012 7:30 PM Congregation Sha’arei kan Yair Yair a Tzedek Mishkan 2832 W W.. TTouhy, oouhy, Chicago Free and open to the public. public. Free program is a service service of MY Kids, This program program of Chai Lifeline Midwest. a program Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblum is the founder and director of Jewish Media Resources, a media organization dedicated to furthering an understanding of Toorah Judaism, and is the Israeli director of Am Echad. He is a widely published and read columnist and a respected commentator on Israeli politics, society, culture and the Israeli legal system. A graduate of the University of Chicago and Yale a Law School, Rosenblum currently lives in Jerusalem with his wife and eight children.
When a child is born or diagnosed with a serious illness, the entire family feels the pain. Chai Lifeline provides the emotional, social, and financial support that enables each member to cope with the crises and challenges of life-threatening or lifelong pediatric illness. MY Kids, in memory of Miriam Yocheved Isenberg, ¹¬, provides emotional and social support o through activities, Big Brothers and Sisters, counseling, and family programs to families with young children who are impacted by the illness of a parent. Mrs. Isenberg, ¹¬, had advocated for such a program and her family established MY Kids in tribute to her memory to perpetuate her legacy of chesed. For infor information mation on MY Kids or other prog programs rams of Chai Lifeline Midwest, call 847-763-1818 or email Midwest@c Midwest@chailifeline.org. hailifeline.org.
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Experience • Knowledge • Service Discounted airfares to Israel & Europe Yeshiva and Seminary students’ airfares Year round departures!
Support your Chicago based Travel Agent Call:
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-ADVERTORIAL-
Mortgage 2012, Q&A with
Shimmy Braun!
“What? You’re moving”? 2012 has been a crazy year for both the real estate and mortgage market. I wanted to share some commonly asked questions, the appropriate answers and as well, clarify something a bit more personal. Q. Is it still possible to get a mortgage these days? A. Absolutely. Guaranteed Rate has closed thousands of mortgages all around the country thus far in 2012 and is having a record year. Rates are as low as they have ever been historically. The main difference in this market versus a number of years ago is the standard of qualification. There are 4 areas covered, 1) Credit, 2) Income, 3) Savings & 4) Collateral (or the appraised value). In the past, if one of these items were strong, a mortgage product was available to you. Now they look at all 4 in their credit decision. In other words, they are actually looking for someone to qualify in order to borrow money. The method in the past was such that lead to the financial and mortgage meltdown of recent years. Q. My current mortgage is higher than the value of my home; is there any way to refinance? A. Yes. While in the past, homes that were “under water” were not eligible for a refinance, currently in many circumstances they are. If your current loan closed before May, 2009 and it has a balance of $417,000 or less, you may very well be eligible for stimulus financing or what is commonly known as HARP. Please do not be scared off by your home’s value. It is worth a call to a lender to see if there is a refinance possibility. An example would be a refinance just completed for a customer’s rental property. The home was worth 25% less than the loan amount. No appraisal was needed and they dropped their payment by $300 a month. This program allows for flexibility in credit and income as well.
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Q. I have had a hard time paying some bills recently and therefore my credit scores have dropped. With rates this low I would still like to take advantage of buying a home. Are there any loan programs available to me? A. Yes. The Federal Housing Administration or FHA allows for financing at great rates for people with credit scores above 620. They are also more flexible on income and down payment requirements. Q. Shimmy, I have heard that your family is moving to Baltimore, MD. Is this true and will you still be doing mortgages here in Chicago? A. This is true. This summer my family will be moving to Baltimore. As much as we have loved living in Chicago the past 13 years and we appreciate the friendships and relationships both personal and business we have created, we decided this is what is best for us based on our family’s and most importantly our children’s needs. We will continue to value these relationships and support all the wonderful institutions that have meant so much to us throughout the last number of years. Please know that NOTHING is changing about my business. I will continue to do mortgage financing in the same capacity as the #1 Loan Officer in Illinois. I will be working and accessible both out of Chicago and Maryland. My amazing team including Tom Fishwick who many of you have gotten to know, will be staying in Chicago full time. I look forward to continuing to provide you with the best service and rates in the mortgage industry. Shimmy Braun • (773) 290-0344 LO NMLS: 112849 LO LIC: IL – 031.0000741 – MB.0005932 NMLS (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System) ID 2611 IL – Residential Mortgage Licensee – IDFPR, 122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1900, Chicago, Illinois, 60603, 312-793-3000, 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 #MB.0005932
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Congratulations to
Shimmy Braun on being named the #1 Loan Officer in Illinois by Scotmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guide magazine We commend his continued community commitment from
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One of the cardinal principles of Judaism is gratitude – the necessity and ability to say thank you. Someone who is kafuy tova – unappreciative of what he or she has and ungrateful to the extreme - is deemed to be a sinner, if not in deed certainly in attitude. The Talmud in its inimitable fashion states that a living person should always refrain from complaint – it is sufficient that one is still alive for gratitude to be present and expressed. Jews begin their day with two words – modeh ani - I acknowledge and thank You God for having given me the gift of life once more as I awake to the new day. A general attitude of gratitude and thanks makes living life easier and simpler, even in the face of obstacles, problems and severe difficulties. The person who is able to appreciate and thank others is more optimistic. That person will always see the glass as being half full. There will be greater appreciation for what one has and less jealousy and angst over what one does not have. In our competitive, materialistic, market driven society there seems to be little room for expressions of gratitude. But the Torah and all of Jewish tradition and its value system demand that we be grateful and thankful, not only in attitude but in our words and deeds as well. The importance of this concept is something that should be inculcated within our children and grandchildren from the time of their earliest ages. One of the earliest phrases or words that a child should learn is “thank you.” There is another value in Jewish life that sometimes contributes to the opposite result than what I have described above. That value is that one should always attempt to be independent and never be beholden to others for their help and charity. As such, if one is forced to somehow accept help and favors from others, a feeling of internal resentment wells up within that person. That resentment is often mistakenly focused outwards towards the very benefactor that was of aid and 14 JUNE 2012
assistance. Whatever feeling or expression of gratitude that results - which is a necessary Torah requirement - is muted if not completely discarded. I have witnessed this ironic phenomenon many times in my lifetime. I am aware of fundraisers for Torah institutions who feel no gratitude towards donors who somehow contribute less than the amount that the fundraiser asked for or expected. I always attempted to emulate my great mentor in fund raising, Rabbi Yosef Kahaneman, the Ponovezher Rav. He would say thank you to every donor with the same fervor and sincerity, no matter what amount of money was actually donated. He would quote the Talmudic dictum regarding judicial conduct and courtroom procedure: “The litigation case for even a penny has the same judicial requirements attached to it as does the litigation regarding ten thousand coins of the realm.” He would say that this rule is not limited to judicial behavior and court litigation but that it applies equally to donors and fundraisers. The attitude of gratitude must always be present and must always find expression in actual words and deeds. There are many lessons in life that one must learn and many character traits that require training and development. Just as one must learn to give graciously, with a smile and a good word and wish, so too must one learn that in life one will unavoidably have to take as well. This too should be done with a smile and a good word and best wishes. As children, we oftentimes display resentment at gifts that were given to us that did not meet our wants or expectations. But mature adult Torah behavior should not allow for this attitude or behavior. This type of non-gracious acceptance disrupts marriages and family life. It makes professional life and positive interaction with others difficult and problematic. There are people who are misers in giving. There are others who are misers in their gratitude for blessings and gifts. Those who find it difficult to say thank you to other human beings for their help will also find it difficult to say thank You to God for the gift of life and all that accompanies that gift. We become accustomed to gifts and kindnesses extended to us and take them for granted. Only when they are no longer there do we begin to appreciate their value and importance. The wise person will learn to say thank you while those gifts, persons and situations are still present among us. TO ADVERTISE 773.336.8225
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Written by Rabbi Dovid Cohen
Soup to Nuts
Your kashrus Questions. . . Answered
A service of the Chicago Rabbinical Council 2701 West Howard | 773-465-3900
BRIQUETTES & OTHER BARBECUE SUPPLIES ingredients that are not kosher-sensitive) and do not Q. Do briquettes require hashgachah? How require hashgachah. The only exceptions are if the about cooking planks, wood chips, grilling paper and other wood items used in a barbecue? Does it make a difference if they have a specific flavor like apple, cherry, or hickory?
A. Charcoal briquettes contain a wood byproduct (among other ingredients), and the other items listed in the question are essentially 100% wood. The flavor of the food cooked with these items is impacted by the type of wood used, and the manufacturers highlight this by identifying the source of the wood. Thus, the names “mesquite briquettes”, “apple chips”, and “alder pellets” refer to items made from the wood of mesquite, apple or alder trees. In general, these items are made from pure wood (or in the case of briquettes, wood mixed with
wood is pretreated, coated, soaked in wine, produced from barrels which previously held wine, or are labeled as containing some other kosher-sensitive ingredients.
KASHERING A HOME Q. I’ve just begun keeping kosher and need some help figuring out how to switch over my kitchen to all-kosher use. Can you help?
A. Your kitchen must go through a process called “kashering”. If you want to try this on your own, you might want to read the article on our website athttp://bit.ly/KFGKxK and/or consult with your local Rabbi. Otherwise, you can contact our office at 773-465-3900 to arrange for a Rabbi to help you with this procedure (for a fee).
KOSHER ALERTS
Please be advised that TRADER JOE'S CHOCOLATE CHIPS are no longer certified Pareve. They are certified dairy (non-cholov Yisroel) when bearing the OK-D on the label. The Chicago Rabbinical Council is pleased to announce that Kotel Kosher, located in the French Market, 131 North Clinton, Chicago, Illinois, is now under the certification of the cRc. All sealed foods and beverages sold are approved by the cRc. Please note that the cRc only certifies breads and other pastries as Pas Yisroel when stating Pas Yisroel on the package or when listed as Pas Yisroel in our website, http://www.crcweb.org/pas_yisroel_list.php 20 JUNE 2012
Coke is introducing a low calorie version of Fanta and Sprite as “Fanta Select” and “Sprite Select”. Both are kosher pareve. The cRc website has been updated. http://www.crcweb.org/beverage_list.php Fanta grape Slurpees will be sold at the 7-Eleven on Touhy and other locations. It is kosher-pareve as listed on the cRc website http://www.crcweb.org/slurpee_list.php 7-Eleven has recently introduced a hot energy coffee called Big Energy. It is a special blend with additives that do require hashgacha.
Get your kashrus questions answered here! Email kashrusquestions@chicagojewishadvertiser.com
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Quality, Integrity, Service
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Recipes from our kitchen to yours! Quinoa Salad with Fruit and Pecans in a Honey Vinaigrette
Ingredients Dressing: 1 T. freshly grated ginger 1/4 c. honey 2 T. white wine vinegar 2 T. freshly squeezed lime juice 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 c. canola or olive oil Salad: 1 1/2 c. water 3/4 c. uncooked quinoa, rinsed 1/2 c. coarsely chopped pecans 1/2 c. dried apricots, sliced into slivers (use kitchen shears for easy cutting) 1 c. seedless grapes, red or green, halved.
1/4 c. thinly sliced red onion 4 c. greens (romaine, butter lettuce, etc.)
Directions Mix ingredients for vinaigrette in small bowl; set aside. Bring water and quinoa to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, covered, until liquid is absorbed. Fluff quinoa with fork. Toss with pecans, apricots, grapes and onion in large bowl. Add lettuce. Drizzle with 1/2 cup vinaigrette. Serve with extra dressing on the side. Serves 4 Submitted by Lauren Silverman
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER
Lauren Silverman WIN A $150 Gift Certificate to
Shallots Submit your favorite recipe for Chicago Jewish Advertiserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recipe page.
To enter your favorite recipe, email chicagojewishadvertiser@gmail.com subject: recipe contest The winner will be announced in the next issue
Chicago Jewish Advertiser reserves the right to exercise discretion in the selection of advertisers and the duration of advertisements as well. Chicago Jewish Advertiser does not assume responsibility for the kashrus of any advertisement or product.
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JULY ISSUE DEADLINE
J UNE 15 WRITING AND PUBLISHING SERVICES •Co-authoring •Ghost Writing •Indexing •Editing •Translating (Hebrew / English) •Mareh Mekomos (finding and checking) •Preparation for press and electronic media (iBooks, Kindle, Nook, Calibre etc.)
By experienced and published author/translator with semicha
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1. A boy’s shirt changed from red to blue. 2. The word information is missing from the sign. 3. There is an extra coke can on the bottom right table. 4. The parking garage is missing an entrance. 5. The moon bounce has one row changed from yellow to blue. 6. Yellow balloons were changed to green. 8. A girl’s white shirt is now lavender. 9. A boy was taken out of the picture. 10. Moon bounce wall has been raised.
Email your pictures to: chicagojewishadvertiser@gmail.com
Double Take YOUR Picture!
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10 CHABAD'S GREAT JEWISH FAMILY FEST 5772 ON LAG B'OMER AT WESTFIELD OLD ORCHARD, SKOKIE
DoubleTake Can you spot the differences in these two pictures?
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SEWING CLASSES
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Registration is now open for SUMMER SEWING CLASSES for all ages and levels; a wonderful opportunity to acquire basic sewing skills over the summer while creating fun projects! (Own sewing machine NOT required). Space is limited! Call Raizy Alexander now @
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Stolen Watch Sammy has stolen the rabbi's gold STOCKBROKER/ TRADERS watch. He didn't feel too good about it, so he decided, after a sleepless night. to go to the rabbi. 'Rabbi, I stole a gold watch.' 'But Sammy ! That's forbidden! You should return it immediately !' 'What shall I do?' 'Give it back to the owner.' 'Do you want it?' 'No, I said return it to its owner.' 'But he doesn't want it.' 'In that case, you can keep it.'
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