Community Links 237 - August 9 by The Jewish Link

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Vol. 10 Issue 237

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FEATURES

August 9, 2013

Next Issue Next Advertising Deadline August 19, 2013 Circulation August 23, 2013 Media Kit & Pricing 323.965.1544 Email info@communitylinks.info News & Press Releases press@communitylinks.info Virtual Subscription subscribe@communitylinks.info

Teach a Man to Fish

Many people have lost their jobs, their homes, and have even gotten divorced over dealing with the financial burden. Mia Adler Ozair MA, LPCC, NCC

12 Semicha/ College Program Launches in Los Angeles “There is a critical need for Yeshivos to adequately equip bochurim for marriage — which includes semicha and jobskills — to be future husbands and breadwinners,”

THE COMMUNITY LINKS is published biweekly and is distributed free to the Jewish Community of Southern California. THE COMMUNITY LINKS accepts no responsibility for typographical errors or reliability of Kashrus of any advertisers. All submissions become the property of THE COMMUNITY LINKS and may be shortened and/or edited for length and clarity. Articles published in THE COMMUNITY LINKS express the views of the individual writers and may not necessarily represent the views of THE COMMUNITY LINKS. No artwork or any part of the magazine may be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without the written permission of the publisher.

Friendship Circle Celebrates Groundbreaking

“G-d loves each and every one of us and takes care of our needs...that is the true message and embodiment to the Friendship Circle. This message is lived daily at the Friendship Circle.”

26 Awakening The essence of the Shofar’s task is to awaken, to stir the soul into action; to move the individual to the evaluation, the assessing and the restructuring of one’s life.

Rabbi Reuven Wolf

www.fcla.org 6

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Teach

a Man to

Fish . . .

MIA ADLER OZAIR, MA, LPCC, NCC

debated on whether or not to write this article as I thought maybe it would be crossing two different streams of involvement. However after giving it much thought, I realized that one stream may actually help the other and decided to write it. As you know by now, my profession is as a therapist in private practice. In each session I listen to people of all ages and situations discuss the things that challenge them and very often the source of much upheaval in the home is financial stress and pressure. The past few years have been excruciatingly painful on the job and financial front. Many people have lost their jobs, their homes, and have even gotten divorced over dealing with the financial burden. I realized that a lot of the internal problems at home between husband and wife that I see during sessions would be lessened, if not solved, by financial security. I’ve written several articles about the price tag of being an observant Jew and raising Jewish children, and the recent economy has only further challenged this in countless homes. So, based upon this, I decided to share with readers about what I have found that has 8

begun to make a diﬀerence for my family, and I believe can potentially make a diﬀerence for any family that participates. It is shared with the intention of strengthening the community and hopefully potentially alleviating the burden that so many families are experiencing.

Many people have lost their jobs, their homes, and have even gotten divorced over dealing with the ﬁnancial burden. Four months ago one of my closest friends came to me wanting to discuss some new business she was doing. She said something about electricity and really I had no interest. I’m a therapist, not in the energy business. She continued to bug me telling me I simply had to give her 30 minutes to hear what she is doing and after six weeks of her chasing me I ﬁnally told her that because I love her

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I would listen. (Really I’m a bit embarrassed that I wasn’t a better friend and given her that time sooner, but I’ll blame that on the fact that I have so many kids and let’s move right along . . .) By the end of our 30 minutes together, I was impressed. She had connected with Ambit Energy, Inc., a highly reputable energy company that was entering into the American marketplace due to the federally-mandated deregulation of the energy industry. I’m sure most readers would recall the deregulation (breaking up of monopolies) of other industries, the telecom industry being one of the largest and most recent. Seven years ago Ambit Energy jumped on the scene opening service for gas and electric in two states and has exceeded all expectations since that time. In just seven years the company has entered into 9 states, reached over one billion dollars in revenue, is debt free, and is providing service to over one million customers. All of this with an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a long list of accolades including the coveted #1 spot on the 500, Inc. magazine’s list of top privately owned companies. But . . . its business

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structure is network marketing (gasp) and could I really embrace this business model? I knew due diligence was in order and so my research of the company and its business structure began.

This opportunity has the potential to help many Jewish families during otherwise diﬃcult ﬁnancial times...

What I found further impressed me. The founders of the company are both power-houses of men, each highly accomplished business men in their own right. The reputation of the company is exceptional. Yes, there are some complaints on the internet—mostly out of Texas that has a very different setup than the rest of the states—but do a search on any company from Target to Microsoft and you will always find negative comments about something. Certainly the ones posted about Ambit were minor and the A+ Better Business Bureau rating reassured me. (Now I feel most confident given their recent award from J.D. Powers and Associates for #1 customer service by an energy company in the State of New York.) I also loved the fact that they offer a Certified Green Energy program for those who prefer a more eco-friendly source of power. Then of course I had to look at the business model—what exactly would I be doing? How often do I need to do it? How much will I get

paid for it? Upon reviewing the Ambit Energy compensation plan I was simply amazed. The potential for growing long-term financial stability through their residual income plan is both genius and recession-proof with consultants earning residual income on every single gas and electric bill that he or she brings into Ambit Energy. Even when times are tough, most households will pay gas and electric before any other bill—and they are already currently doing so which means I do not have to sell anything. I simply need to ask people who are already paying for the service if they are interested in saving money through Ambit Energy and help them to make the switch. That’s it. Simple, easy, and done on my own time table and through my own personal network of contacts. Once I was comfortable that both the company is credible and the work itself is something I can fit in to an already packed schedule I made the decision to jump in and have not looked back since. After just under three months I am already making money each week, have been promoted once, and am slowly starting to bring in extra income to my home. I envision this is something that I will continue to do part-time for the long-term building our nest egg and watching the residuals build over time. With my oldest entering college in just two short years, the timing is perfect. And speaking of timing . . . One of the things that makes the opportunity with Ambit Energy here in Southern California so unique is that we are not yet an open market— meaning Ambit Energy does not yet service our immediate area. The significance of this is that while I am networking with my contacts in currently open regions of the United States, I know that when service does open here there will be an immediate explosion of activity and an influx of both consultants and bills that will jump

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my income up considerably. Although I believe the timing is always good to enter into Ambit Energy, the timing right now for us in Southern California is supreme. No one from the company has confirmed when Ambit Energy will begin service in our area; however rumors are circulating that it will be sometime this fall starting with gas service. Personally, although it is just a touch more difficult to work in an unopened area, I prefer to have this time to continue to build my business step-by-step and network to position myself as high up in the company as I can prior to the market opening. Obviously there are many more details—a presentation for Ambit Energy goes through an overview of the entire involvement to be a consultant or customer of Ambit Energy. In addition, I am fully aware that this entire article can be conceived as an attempt at shameless self-promotion for the new business I am involved with. However after discussion with the Community Links magazine owner he agreed that this opportunity has the potential to help many Jewish families during otherwise difficult financial times, and it is through this lens that we agreed the value of sharing the information outweighs the potential misperception. At a minimum, I encourage each reader to view www.energysupplyfree.com, which is a 25-minute presentation given by one of the top earners in Ambit Energy. By the way, the speaker on this video segment happens to be an orthodox Jew in New York

and dozens of the top consultants are observant Jews. In addition, the owners of the company determined that if and when there are company events that fall on Shabbat or a Jewish holiday they will always offer a special recap session for those who had to miss. I feel this goes above and beyond what is standard practice in corporate America and demonstrates a certain sensitivity and respect for those working with Ambit Energy. For those of you who are intrigued, the next step after viewing the entire video would be to contact us to get questions answered and get started! My partners and I are building one of the top teams in Los Angeles and plan to be leading the charge when the market opens in Southern California. We’d love to have you by our side benefiting on the opportunity as well. As the Gemara states,“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.” The Ambit Energy opportunity has the potential to feed not only one man for a lifetime, but his family as well for generations to come. On a final note, there is also a way for businesses and non-profit organizations to benefit from the Ambit Energy program. You can contact us at ambitcml@gmail. com or call 323-761-9127. Here is wishing everyone abundance and flowing parnasa! Mia Adler Ozair, MA, LPCC, NCC is a licensed clinical psychotherapist and educator with a private practice in Beverly Hills, California. Mia is licensed in both California and Illinois and she can be reached through her website at www.bhcounselingcenter.com or followed on Twitter @MiaAdlerOzair.

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Historic Agreement Launches BTM-Semicha/College Program in LA From Left to Right: Rabbi Gavriel Hershoﬀ, Director, Aish-Tamid of Los-Angeles; Mr. Fred Keivanfar, Director of Admissions and ﬁnance, ORT-College of Los-Angeles; Mr. Joseph Neman, Director, ORT-College of Los-Angeles; Rabbi Modechai Katz, Dean, Bais Toras Menachem; Rabbi Levi Bennish, Director, Bais Toras Menachem; Rabbi Levi Chazan, Maggid-Shiur Semicha, Bais Toras Menachem.

B”H

, after several years of negotiations, a dream came into fruition with the signing of an agreement between Yeshivas Bais Toras Menachem of Los-Angeles and ORT-College of Los-Angeles. Students will study towards an associate’s degree in business management in the afternoon, while learning semicha together with chassidus and nigleh in the morning. Classes will be for men only, and the calendar will follow that of Yeshiva – such as ample time for Pesach break and classes will take a standard summer recess. Students will be able to complete their semicha and associate’s degree in this novel two year program. “There is a critical need for Yeshivos to adequately equip bochurim for marriage — which includes semicha and jobskills — to be future husbands and breadwinners,” says Mrs. Rivky Katz, Bais Toras Menachem co-founder. As in previous years, the phenomenal semicha shiur will continue to be taught by the vibrant Rabbi Levi Chazan, and the testing will be by the esteemed Rabbi Elchonen Tauber, Rov and Dayan of K’hal Bais Yehuda of Los-Angeles. This is in keeping with the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Hora’ah of every bochur learning semicha, so that he will be well versed in practical Halacha with which to guide his family. This is in combination with a dynamic Chassidus shiur taught by Rabbi Shaya Berkowitz, which provides the ﬂame of the program. The novelty in this coming year’s program will be the synthesis of the above with the terriﬁc opportunity provided

by ORT-College of Los-Angeles. As put eloquently by Mr. Fred Keivanfar, Director of Admissions and Finance, ORTCollege of Los-Angeles,“To enable our Orthodox young-men to earn a respectable parnassah to support their family is a tremendous mitzvah – without which a Jewish home cannot function.” The college program will consist of a dual track program designed to accommodate students based on their academic skills. Students in track one will study for a 65 credit-hour associate’s degree in business management. Students in track two will study for a 32 credit hour diploma in accounting, alongside studying for their GED and furthering their English and Math skills. “The evening class structure also provides an excellent opportunity for yungerleit to achieve a degree while working without having to enroll in a secular college,” says Rabbi Mordechai Katz, Dean of Bais Toras Menachem. “This agreement is truly remarkable in so many respects,” says Rabbi Levi Bennish, current director of Bais Toras Menachem.“We greatly appreciate the dedication of ORT-College, headed by Mr. Joseph Neman, who in addition to making this program possible, has also ensured aﬀordable tuition for our students.” For more information, or to apply for the upcoming academic year, please email BTM@Smicha.net or call 323-936-5226.

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Friendship Circle of Los Angeles Celebrates the Groundbreaking of an All-Inclusive Playground F

riendship Circle of Los Angeles kicked off the beginning of construction for a new all-inclusive playground on Sunday July 21, 2013 at 1952 South Robertson Boulevard. The event marked the beginning of construction for “My Backyard”, a playground designed specifically for children who have physical disabilities and other special needs. Play structures and equipment were chosen by a team of skilled professionals and specialists based on years of experience with the special needs community. The new playground will feature California’s first and only integration carousel, which whill allow children who are wheelchair-bound to roll directly on! Some other features included in the playground are a water and sand play structure, imperative for children who have sensory needs, an interactive raised garden that will enable children to enjoy gardening and watching the ‘fruits’ of their labor, a tricycle path with evenly spaced multi variation pavement for kids who require the stimulation of the vibrations and much more. Long term plans include cur-

“G-d loves each and every one of us and takes care of our needs...that is the true message and embodiment to the Friendship Circle. This message is lived daily at the Friendship Circle.” — Bezhad Kianmahd riculum where typical children will have the opportunity to play with children who have various disabilities by utilizing each component of the yard to its full potential. Furthermore, Jewish values, rituals and lifestyles will play a part in the plans to make the yard interactive and a place for physical, spiritual and communal growth. For example, the children will learn about the Jewish harvest holidays and then go outside and work in the Friendship Garden. These plans include opening up the yard to local schools and youth groups where they can be a part of this place of inclusion and life-long learning. 98% of Jewish children who have moderate to severe dis-

abilities in Los Angeles do not attend a Jewish school. The Friendship Circle, and now this playground, will be a Jewish ‘home away from home’ for these children.

The event included a breakfast for donors and a ceremony featuring speeches by founders Rabbi Michy Rav-Noy and his wife Miriam, Vice-President of Partnership & Innovation at the Jewish Federation Scott Minkow, parent and donor Bezhad Kianmahd, and Steve Bram, a representative of the R.P.O (Real Estate Principals Organization), which gave an $80,000 grant and ongoing consultation for the project. Children attending participated in art projects and were treated to a Mad Science show. Towards the end of the ceremony, the crowd broke into a dance at which point Di-

rector, Michy Rav-noy played a shovel like a guitar! Most inspiring, however, was the heartfelt and profound comment made by Mr. Kianmahd: “I believe the G-d created each one of us with love....and no one is perfect...in that sense, we all have ‘special needs’. Nevertheless, G-d loves each and every one of us and takes care of our needs...that is the true message and embodiment to the Friendship Circle. This message is lived daily at the Friendship Circle. “ The Friendship Circle of Los Angeles was initiated by Rabbi Michy Rav-Noy and his wife Miriam in 2003 to address the social needs of Jewish children with special challenges. Its mission is to provide these children with opportunities to engage with others through social, recreational, educational and Judaic experiences. At the heart of all Friendship Circle programs are its 420 teen volunteers from 58 schools around Los Angeles, who are paired with participating children to provide mentorship and friendship. It’s a win-win for everyone as the teens give of themselves and children are the recipients of all that love. To learn about Friendship Circle of Los Angeles’ events and programs, become a volunteer or to register your child for one of Friendship Circle’s programs, please call 310.280.0955 or visit their website at www.fcla.org.

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Awakening RABBI REUVEN WOLF

e are now in the month of Elul, and in Shul every morning of the month until the day before Rosh Hashanah, the Shofar is blown. We know that the Mitzvah of blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah has a monumental impact on the soul of every Jew and every human being who hears it. But what, one may ask, is the meaning of the blowing of the Shofar at the end of services every morning of the month of Elul? What impact is that call of the Shofar, the Shofar blown during the month of Elul, supposed to have on us? Clearly, the Shofar’s sound is supposed to awaken us to the fact that it’s Elul and that the Ten Days of Repentance are approaching—but what special significance does this blowing during the month before Rosh Hashanah have for us? If we look at the source of the custom as it is related in the Tur, the monumental work by Rabbi Jacob ben Asher (1269–1343), son of the famous commentator on the Talmud, the Rabbeinu Asher (or the “Rosh”)—and the Tur was the basis of the Shulchan Aruch, the code of Jewish Law composed by Rabbi Joseph Karo in the 1560s—we find him discussing this practice: We find (he says) in the Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer, a Medrash, that when Hashem called Moshe Rabeinu up to the top of Mt. Sinai so that he could receive the Second Tablets of the Ten Commandments, The Shofar was sounded every day to remind the people that Moshe was up there, so that they would not stray as they did the first time and again worship an idol. He then cites a verse from Tehillim (47:6): “Hashem rises with the sound of the Teruah (the Shofar)…” So the Rabbis established a custom that a Shofar should be sounded during the month of Elul. The commentary on the Tur, the Bach (the Bayit Chadash, by Rabbi Joel Sirkis of Krakow, 1561–1640), wonders why the Tur cites this Posuk—it clearly refers to the blowing of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah, the primary Mitzvah of Shofar, and not the Shofar blowing during Elul. He answers that the Tur really meant the second half of the Posuk: “… and Hashem [rises] with the sound of the Shofar”—that indicates that the Posuk refers to a second Shofar blowing, which could be the Shofar blowing of Elul. However, the

Tur doesn’t mention the second half of the Posuk, only the ﬁrst half; clearly in his view, there is some connection between the blowing of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah and the blowing of the Shofar during the month of Elul. Some light on this subject is shed by Maimonides in his Hilchot Teshuvah—The Laws of Repentance—in which the Rambam says (3:4): “Although the Mitzvah of blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah is a Biblical decree, we can still understand it from our own reason. The sound of the Shofar says to us: ‘Arise you who are asleep from your slumber; awaken you who slumber [deeply]. Inspect your deeds, repent and acknowledge your Creator…” We may well wonder, why does the Rambam place acknowledging Hashem as our creator and Creator of the Universe after the ﬁrst three acts inspired by the sound of the Shofar that he mentions: awakening; inspecting one’s actions; and repenting? Shouldn’t such a recognition and acknowledgement come early in the process? But evidently, the Rambam held that the purpose of the Shofar was simply to awaken us from our sleep, be it a light sleep or a deep, totally dark sleep. The more sophisticated activity of the repentance process, the

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deeper soul-searching that we must perform in order to really that stirs us from or sleep and resonates with the need we do Teshuvah—this is the activity that follows the awakening, feel to awaken. Awaken! In his writings recounting what life was like in the town of the primary role of the Shofar, which comes on Rosh Hashanah. But during the month of Elul, what we need to do, what Lubavitch, the “Previous” (“Friediker”) Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabthe Shofar’s call is supposed to stir within us, is an awaken- bi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, tells of how the coming of Elul ing—a sense that we are not on the right path, that we have visibly stirred the people of the town from the night after Shabbos Nachmu, the Shabbos after Tisha B’av. People would stay a strayed, that we are lost and need to find our way back. Like someone who is awakened in his sleep by the calls bit longer in Shul after Ma’ariv and learn a bit—they would start of people in the house that there is an emergency, perhaps a Seder, a daily regimen of learning a work of Musar or Misha fire or an attack, we must arouse ourselves and shake off nayos, or the Rambam’s Hilchos Teshuvah. They would wait with the cobwebs—recognize that we need to sharpen our senses great anticipation for the coming of Rosh Chodesh Elul when and look deeply into our souls and into our lives and evalu- they would hear the sound of the Shofar at the end of Shachaate how we are living and what we are doing. This sense of ris and recite Psalm 27—LeDovid Hashem Ori—“The Lord is arousal and awakening is all and just my light” —as they would for the entire what the Shofar of Elul is designed to month of Elul and on to the end of SimThe essence of the do–and yet, it contains within it the eschas Torah. sence of the Teshuvah process. At both People in their homes just awakShofar’s task is to the beginning and at the culmination ening at 5 or 6 o’clock in the mornawaken, to stir the soul of the Teshuvah process, there is funing would hear the Shofar at the end into action; to move of the Shacharis service of the early damentally nothing more complicated the individual to the risers—the Hashkama Minyan—and than awakening the slumbering soul from its sleep and alerting it to the fact evaluation, the assessing they would rise with a start, realizing that Elul is indeed here. They’d lie that “something is amiss” with one’s life, and the restructuring of there with a sense of uneasiness. Why and some changes need to be made. one’ s life. am I sleeping away the morning? We even see this circle in the three They would ask themselves. Time to kinds of calls we make with the Shoarise and… and do Teshuvah. (M’darf far: first there is a Teki’ah—a single zain a mentsch,” the Rebbe has all blast that is aimed at simply waking those people awakened in the mornus to the fact that there is a need to reing by the distant call of the Shofar pent and to mend our ways. This is the thinking: “Time to become a solid main blast of the Shofar. Then there is a Shevarim—three short blasts that sound like the sighs of person!”) People would flock to the Shuls earlier than the our regret: we are bemoaning all the time we wasted; all the rest of the year, and perhaps learn a text or say Tehillim. Let us pray that this year, we will hear the sound of opportunities lost; and all the missteps we have taken. And then we have the Terua’ah—the nine short sobbing blasts in the Shofar and bestir ourselves, awaken ourselves and our which we cry from the depths of our soul and resolve to fix souls to the beauty of the Creation and our need to become what’s wrong and repair ourselves. Yet, after this complex devoted and pure servants of Hashem. and soul-wrenching process comes the Teki’ah, the single Rabbi Reuven Wolf is a world renown educator and lecturer who has devoted blast, again—once again waking us and arousing us to the his life to reaching out to Jews of all ages and circumstances and rekindling need to stir ourselves and attend to the needs of our souls. their spirit of Judaism. Raised in the Ropschitzer Chassidic dynasty, he Perhaps that’s why the Tur, when discussing the Shofar was educated in the Belz and Bluzhev Yeshivos, and later in the celebrated blowing during the month of Elul, cites the Posuk regard- Yeshivos of Slabodka and Mir. He is profoundly influenced by Kabbalah ing the call of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah itself: The and the Jewish Mystical teachings of Chabad Chassidic philosophy. Since essence of the Shofar’s task is to awaken, to stir the soul 1995, Rabbi Wolf has taught Jews of all ages, all across North America. In 2006, Rabbi Wolf and Haki Abhesera founded Maayon Yisroel as a center into action; to move the individual to the evaluation, the dedicated to spreading the profound mystical teachings of Chassidic Judaism assessing and the restructuring of one’s life. But at the end and to fostering the love of Jewish tradition among all Jews, particularly the of the process, there is still the awakening call of the Shofar young Jewish population of Southern California.

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Elul

“Life today is so complicated, noisy and distracting that we rarely take the necessary time and eﬀort to judge ourselves, our behavior, goals and hopes.”

RABBI BEREL WEIN

he arrival of the month of Elul this week marks the turn of the seasons for us as the summer (though not necessarily the heat) wanes. It also more importantly marks for us the advent of the great holiday season of the succeeding month of Tishrei. It is a time of assessment of the departing year and hope and commitment and prayer regarding the future year. In Eastern Europe the folk saying was that “even the fish in the rivers trembled with the advent of Elul.” In our modern sophisticated society, rare are the human beings let alone the fish in the rivers that tremble at any event or at any time. Yet we would be completely unfeeling if the arrival of Elul did not stir within us feelings of anticipation tempered with a touch of anxiety. The past year, like almost all other years, was one of mixed emotions and uneven accomplishments. Yet every year brings with it unexpected blessings and accomplishments and presents us with previously unknown challenges. Elul is the perfect time to assess these events of the past year and see our road ahead. Life today is so complicated, noisy and distracting that we rarely take the necessary time and effort to judge ourselves, our behavior, goals and hopes. Elul provides us, if we take the opportunity to

grasp its potential blessing, to accomplish this necessary assessment of the past and rededication to our future. Without such a necessary time out in our lives we are prone to repeat past errors and to give up on cherished hopes and future accomplishments. Perhaps we no longer tremble at the arrival of Elul but we certainly should at the very least think about trembling and rededication in our lives. The Ashkenazic custom is to sound the shofar at the conclusion of the morning services during the month of Elul. Sephardim already begin the recitation of early morning selichot – penitential prayers – with the arrival of Elul. These customs are meant to remind us of the importance of preparation in spiritual matters and Jewish life. Just as one has to prepare one’s body for strenuous physical stress and activity – one cannot arise one morning and say to one’s self that today I am going to run a marathon race without having previously trained for that ordeal – so too is it in the spiritual world. Eﬀective and meaningful prayer on the High Holy Days requires training and preparation. It is too great and dangerous a leap from the everyday mundane and often tawdry world to the exalted spiritual realm of the High Holy Day season if there is inadequate training and preparation for the event.

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Elul provides us with that month of training and preparation. It, with its special customs and rituals, is meant to help us to get into shape, so to speak, for the challenge of the Days of Judgment and Awe that follow it. Forfeiting Elul’s blessings and opportunities diminishes our abilities to truly exploit the opportunities that the succeeding High Holy Days can aﬀord us. Elul is our personal trainer that helps prepare us adequately for the forthcoming challenges of the season and of life. It should therefore never to be treated lightly. The turn of the seasons also reminds of us of the fragility of life itself. Israel is blessed with almost all evergreen trees in the country. But there are enough falling leaves around to remind us that “man is merely a tree of the ﬁeld.” The Torah serves us as being a “tree of life.” If we are successful in keeping our leaf, so to speak, connected to this tree of eternal life then we are also eternally ever green.

The Jewish view of life is that it is eternal in one form or another and this concept of eternity, of inﬂuencing our future generations that are yet unborn, should govern our lives and daily behavior. Elul comes to remind us of this truth. It raises and rouses us and forces us to see life in its long run and true perspective. The shofar sound and the selichot will long survive us but hearing them and following them in our lives is a guarantee of our soul’s eternity and Godliness. In the American West there is a tree called the “quaking Aspen.” Its leaves constantly tremble even in the stillest of air. I recently saw these trees and was most moved by them. It reminded me of the month of Elul and its meanings and lessons. As long as nature still trembles before its Creator so should we.

Eﬀective and meaningful prayer on the High Holy Days requires training and preparation.

Courtesy of torah.org

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Honoring Honoring S Shimon himon P Peres eeres Ayotte, Bennet, Kennedy e and Franks Introduce Legislation to Honor Israeli President Shimon Peres with Congressional Gold Medal. Legislation Honors 3HUHVq 5ROH LQ Strengtthening the

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the founding of Israel and the 90th birthday of Israeli President Shimon Peres, Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N - H), Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), Congressman Joe Kennedy (D-MA), and Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to honor President Peres with a Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award in the United States. It is awarded to individuals, organizations, or events that have made a tremendous contribution to the history and culture of our country. “ President Peres’ extraordinary red f i h hl d h h

best of a U.S.-Israel relationship forged by our shared commitment to democracy, human rights, and rule of law,” said Senator Bennet.” In a world that today is more complicated than ever, President Peres’ historic career will serve as a beacon for the next generation of leaders. This bill celebrates and honors his leadership as one of Israel’s most dedicated public servants.” “ For over 70 years President Shimon Peres has dedicated himself to the enduring bond that unites Israel and the United States,” said Congressman Kennedy. “There has been no greater champion for our shared values and defender of our shared interests. In recognition of hi i l ﬀ d f h f i d hi

foundational principles, as well as his steadfast dedication to making the world a safer place from the sort of hateful ideologies that lead to terrorism, more than warrants his receiving a Congressional Gold Medal.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;President Peresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; achievements as a global statesman reinforce the core American value of preserving liberty and freedom for all people.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Rabbi David Baron â&#x20AC;&#x153;I welcome the initiative by Senators Kelly Ayotte and Michael Bennet and Representatives Trent Franks and Joe Kennedy to bestow Israeli President Shimon Peres with a Congressional Gold Medal,â&#x20AC;? said Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren. â&#x20AC;&#x153;President Peres has inspired generations of Americans and Israelis with his optimism and dedication to peace, and this award would be another testimony to the deep and unwavering relationship between our countries.â&#x20AC;? Rabbi David Baron, spiritual leader of Temple of the Arts and Chair of the Clergy Cabinet of the Shimon Peres Congressional Gold Medal Commemoration Committee, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;President Peresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; achievements as a global statesman reinforce the core American value of preserving liberty and freedom for all people.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shimon Peres is a symbol of the bridge that deďŹ nes the US Israel relationship,â&#x20AC;? said Ezra Friedlander, CEO of The Friedlander Group, which was instrumental in creating the Shimon Peres Congressional Gold Medal Commemoration Committee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honoring President Peres with the Congressional Gold Medal is an acknowledgment of the role that Congress played in the development of the U.S.-Israel relationship since its establishment 65 years ago.â&#x20AC;?

:+2 ,6 6+,021 3(5(6" Shimon Peres was born in Poland in 1923 and his family emigrated to Tel Aviv in 1934. Peres went on to serve in several high-level cabinet positions in the Israeli government, including as Minister of Defense, Foreign Minister, and Prime Minister - a career in public service that spans over 70 years. A member of ,VUDHOqV IRXQGLQJ JHQHUDWLRQ KH ZDV HOHFWHG president in 2007. He celebrated his 90th birthday on Friday, August 2.

$%287 7+( &21*5(66,21$/ *2/' MEDAL 6LQFH WKH $PHULFDQ 5HYROXWLRQ &RQJUHVV has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. Each medal honors a particular individual, institution, or event. Although the first recipients included citizens who participated in the American 5HYROXWLRQ WKH :DU RI DQG WKH Mexican War, Congress broadened the scope of the medal to include actors, authors, entertainers, musicians, pioneers in aeronautics and space, explorers, lifesavers, notables in science and medicine, athletes, humanitarians, public servants, and foreign recipients.

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HONEY HONEY C CAKE AKE T Times imes Ready Time : 60 min IIngredients ngredients 3 eggs 1 cup honey 1 cup sugar 2 tsp. baking soda (mix into coff ffe ee) 1 cup warm coff ffe ee ½ cup oil 2 tsp. baking powder 2 ¾ cups flour 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. cinnamon D Directions irections In a large bowl, combine eggs, honeyy, and sugar; mix well. Add baking soda to coff ffeee. Add to mixer with oil. Add remaining ingredients and beat well. Pour into greased tube pan. Bake at 325 degrees fo or one o hourr, or until done. Heavenly! Reprinted R eprinted with with permission permission ffrom rom www www.joyofkosher.com. w.joyoffkkosher.com.

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