Centers Spirit: Boro Park Center Rosh Hashanah Magazine

B O R O

P A R K

C E N T E R

M A G A Z I N E VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3

‎ ‎‫וילך‬-‫פרשת נצבים‬ ‫כ״ב אלול תש"ף‬ SEPT 11, 2020

4915 10th Avenue // Brooklyn, NY 11219 718.851.3700 // www.BoroParkCenter.net

OUR MISSION:

PUTTING YOU FRONT AND CENTER

Dear Residents, Friends, and BPC Family: Some days are a lesson. Others, a test.

As we look forward into year 5781, and soon into 2021, we can all agree that the past year has been nothing short of a tournament test.

The global pandemic tested our collective strength.

At Boro Park Center we practice a completely home-based approach to out-of-home rehabilitation and nursing care. Home means family, and our Center was founded on the ideal that residents and their families should never be far apart.

Come on in, Live HappyTM, and enjoy an environment made possible by compassionate caregivers, therapy specialists, and most importantly, friends and family.

It strained everyone’s physical and emotional resources. It tucked at the edges of our very being, testing our resolve, our familial ties, our sense of self, and our care for one another. Through all that testing, I learned the most valuable lesson of all: The human spirit, and the love that binds us, are undefeatable.

The mere fact that we are gearing up for another year is a testament to how well we stood shoulder to shoulder, how effectively we fought side by side, and how remarkably we persevered, together as a team.

As one big, tight-knit, BPC family.

I will also let you in on a little secret. This year’s calendar is up to you. Every day, week, month, Shabbos, and Yom Tov is yours for the writing. And at Boro Park Center, your co-authors are our expert doctors, caregivers, social workers, and rehabilitation and recreational therapists, who are committed to make this year the brightest chapter yet.

Your comments and feedback are important to us so that we can continue to serve you as best as possible.

Let’s put our best ideas to the test. Let’s pack

Please email your comments to rpavlov@boroparkcenter.net

intergenerational activities, and the best clinical

RAIZY PAVLOV Director of Recreation

this year with exciting events, care programs, outcomes. Let’s make this year a lesson in resilience.

Thank you for the opportunity to be your care family. May each day of 5781 be filled with good health, happiness, and genuine sweetness for all of Klal Yisroel.

4915 10th Avenue // Brooklyn, NY 11219 718-851-3700 // www.BoroParkCenter.net Printed by: FormatPress.com

2 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

Bracha v’hatzlacha,

David Greenberg, LNHA, MPA Administrator

Editor'sDesk Dear Reader,

year filled with ‫ שמחה‬and ‫ברכה‬.

We’re back!

Although we did B”H experience

We may have been below the radar for the last few months, but our action-packed days at Boro Park Center never ceased.

Although we have been and still are socially distant, we bake, dance, paint, laugh and connect in ways that keep our residents stimulated and satisfied.

work overtime to ensure that residents’

creative

a Coronavirus pandemic that sadly affected all of us in one way or another. So many lives have been lost, so many families are left broken and forever shattered. This year, on ‫ראש השנה‬, when we daven and say the words “‫ ”מי במגיפה‬we will surely express much concentration, as we have

Our dedicated recreation staff our

so much goodness, we also faced

needs

are being met, all the while giving them the opportunity to

just witnessed and experienced the damaging effects of a ‫מגיפה‬

“‫”מי במגיפה‬

we will surely express much concentration, as we have just witnessed and experienced the damaging effects of a Mageifeh

of which the world has not seen

is free of illness, free of strife,

since the Spanish Flu over a

but filled with an abundance

century ago.

of peace, health, wealth, and simcha. The King is in His court,

FaceTime with their loved ones Just as ‫ ראש השנה‬is the new year,

on a daily basis.

This year, on Rosh Hashana, when we daven and say the words

let us take full advantage!

it is synonymous with new Last year this time, as I penned

beginnings and fresh chances.

my first Editors Letter, it was with

Let us all unite as one this year

much excitement and hope for a

and daven for a new year that

Women's Shabbos Shiurim

September 5th Mrs. Yehudis Blumenberg September 12th Mrs. Ruchy Weber September 19th - Rosh Hashana Mrs. Meirav Veig September 26th Mrs. Shloimtzy Weiss

Raizy Pavlov Director of Recreation

Women's Groups

September 7th Toby Berkowitz September 14th Chava Schneider

September 21th Shoshana Gross

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Boro Park Center

Yom Tov Schedule: Friday, Sept 18 – Erev Rosh Hashana Candle Lighting

6:43 PM

Mincha followed by Maariv

7:00 PM

Shabbos, Sept 19 – 1st Day Rosh Hashana Shachris followed by Mussaf

8:30 AM

Mincha

6:45 PM

Maariv

7:15 PM

Candle Lighting after (not before)

8:10 PM

Sunday, Sept 20 – 2nd Day Rosh Hashana Shachris Tekias Shofar

8:30 AM 11:00 AM

Mincha

7:00 PM

Maariv

7:55 PM

Yom Tov ends Havdala

8:08 PM

Kesiva V’Chasima Tova!

Sunday, Sept 27 – Erev Yom Kippur Mincha

2:00 PM

Candle lighting

6:28 PM

Kol Nidrei followed by Maariv

6:45 PM

Monday, Sept 28 – Yom Kippur Shacharis (followed by Mussaf)

8:30 AM

Mincha

6:00 PM

Neilah

6:55 PM

Fast Ends

7:54 PM

Have a meaningful fast!

4 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

Looking forward to...

Zumba with Malky Wednesday, Sept 9th

Music with Michael Abramovitz 10:30 AM

5rd floor

3:00 PM

2nd floor

Challah Baking Thursday, Sept 10th

1:30-3:40

All Floors

1:15-4:00

All Floors

1:15-4:00

All Floors

10:30 AM

5th floor

Monday, Sept 14th

1:15-4:00

All Floors

Wednesday, Sept 16th

1:15-4:00

All Floors

Friday, Sept 18th

1:15-4:00

All Floors

Wednesday, Sept 23rd

1:15-4:00

All Floors

1:15-4:00

All Floors

Flower Arranging

Zumba with DuDance Tuesday, Sept 29th

All Floors

Music with Baruch and Mendel

Potato Kugel Fun Thursday, Sept 24th

1:15-4:00

Judy on the Piano

Music with Linda Monday, Sept 21st

Friday, Sept 11th

Music with Don Stern

1:15-4:00

Music with Joe Pace Thursday, Sept 17th

3rd floor

Cookie Design with Esty 5th/3rd floor

Zumba with DuDance Tuesday, Sept 15th

3:15 PM

Judy on the Piano

Music with Alex and Nelly Sunday, Sept 13th

Thursday, Sept 10

1:15-4:00

Thursday, Sept 24th

Birthday Party with Pauline All Floors

Wednesday, Sept 30th

1:15-4:00

All Floors

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.

5

Quote OF THE WEEK

Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from today and make a brand new ending.

Torah Center

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8 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

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10 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

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Weekly Shemiras Halashon brought to you by Yeshiva Ateres Shimon of Far Rockaway, NY In conjunction with YAD YOSEF Torah center of Ave. J (Brooklyn, NY)

Shmiras Haloshon

WITH PERMISSION It is forbidden to speak derogatorily about someone even when the subject has made it known that he does not mind if such things are said of him.

As mentioned above, to speak negatively of one's fellow is shameful in itself, regardless of the subject's feelings. Speaking ‫ לשון הרע‬is contrary to man's exalted status as the only creature who was fashioned ‫בצלם אלוקים‬, in the Divine image - and this is not altered by the fact that one has been granted permission to speak derogatorily.

KEY TO SPIRITUAL SUCCESS

"Which man desires life, who loves days of seeing good? Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it" (Tehillim 34:13-15). The commentators explain that the term "life" refers to that of the World to Come, while "days" refers to man's years on this world which are only "days" by comparison to the eternal life of the next world.

We are commanded to fulfill 613 mitzvos; regarding all of them Hashem says to us, "See that I have placed before you today life and that which is good ... that you should love Hashem, your God, to go in His ways and to observe His commandments" 12 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

(Devarim 30:15-16). Why, then, does David, in the above verse, say that the quality of one's life in both worlds is primarily dependent on guarding one's tongue? In the opening passages of this work we have offered one answer to this question. Below, we offer more on the subject: In the preface to Sefer Chofetz Chaim, we explained how the bitter sin of ‫ לשון הרע‬can involve transgression of numerous positive and negative commandments, to a degree that is not found with any other sin. Thus, s‫ שמירת הלשון‬is a key to fulfillment of one's obligations both toward Hashem and toward his fellow Jew. When a person is careful not to speak disparagingly of his fellow, or to embarrass him; when he demonstrates caution in avoiding comments that can aggravate dispute; and when he is careful to avoid transgression of other commandments related to evil talk, both positive and negative, then he will surely avoid more blatant sins. If one accepts upon himself to scrupulously avoid causing harm or shame through the spoken word, surely he will not do so through action!

Thus, one who zealously refrains from speaking ‫הרע‬ ‫ לשון‬will, through such self-discipline, come to fulfill all his obligations toward his fellow.

EmunahCenter By: R’ David Sutton

Our Daily Portion of Manna Weekly Dose of Emunah brought to you by Yeshiva Ateres Shimon of Far Rockaway, NY In conjunction with YAD YOSEF Torah center of Ave. J (Brooklyn, NY)

During the powerful, awesome days of Elul, it is incumbent upon every Yid to invest and prepare properly for the ‫ימים נוראים‬. The events of this year have clearly taught us how important our tefillos are and the power of judgement of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. A person may feel overwhelmed during these days, as they are unsure of where to begin in their tikkun.

The Megaleh Amukos and the Zohar (Parshas Yisro) teach that the months of the year were divided up between Esav and Yaakov. Yaakov Avinu took Nissan, Iyar, and Sivan for himself, which included the uplifting days of Pesach, Shavuos, and Sefiras HaOmer. Esav took the months of Tammuz, Av, and Elul, months of churban and tragedy with Shiva Asar B'Tammuz and Tisha B'av. Afterwards, Yaakov stole the month of Elul from Esav, as the passuk teaches: ‫ידו אוחזת בעקב עשיו‬, his hand grabbed the "heel" of Esav, or the last month of Elul. Elul embodies the constant struggle between Esav and Yaakov, where Bnei Yisrael fight against the ‫יצר הרע‬ (Esav) and try to "grab onto" the spiritual power of the month.

In order to gain clarity on how to emerge victorious in this present day battle, we must learn from the original battle between Yaakov and the Sar Shel Esav. In Parshas Vayishlach, the Nesivos Shalom, Toldos Yaakov Yosef, and Sforno explain a deeper understand of the passuk ‫ויותר יעקב לבדו ויאבק איש עמו‬.

On the most basic level, Yaakov was physically alone when he returned for the small jugs, and at that moment the Sar Shel Esav battled with him.

However, the mefarshim explain that on a deeper level Yaakov was spiritually alone during those few moments. He didn't feel the devaikus to Hashem and then ‫ויאבק איש עמו‬, the Sar Shel Esav had the power to fight against him. Eventually, Yaakov was able to reconnect to Hashem and then he defeated the Sar Shel Esav.

When Hashem is by a person's side, Esav has no power to fight against them. Only when a person feels "alone" and can no longer tap into their connection to Hashem, does he come to attack.

During the month of Elul, days of milchama between Klal Yisrael and the yetzer hara, the avoda is to develop Emunah and consciousness of a person's oneness with Hashem. When a person knows that Hashem is constantly by their side, nothing can defeat them.

The Gematria of Elul is 67, the exact Gematria of ‫טוב‬ ‫כל‬, everything is good. When a person recognizes that they are never alone, they will defeat the yetzer hara and know that everything in the world is ‫טוב‬ ‫כל‬. May we be zoche to a ‫ כתיבה חתימה טובה‬and a Gut Gebentched Yur, a year of simcha and bracha, where we see ‫כל טוב‬, everything good in our lives and for all of Klal Yisrael.

HAVE A WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL DAY. 13

Halachos O F SHABBOS ‫בורר‬/Sorting (cont'd) I) Removing stems The stems of fruits or vegetables (e.g. apples, pears, plums, peaches, tomatoes, cherries, etc.) may be removed for immediate use if they are clearly discernible from the body of the fruit.

However, stems that are recessed and embedded in the fruit (e.g. strawberries) might be considered a Borer combination, and should therefore be cut off together with a small part of the fruit (see Chapter III, B). Another method is to hold the stem in one hand and pull the fruit away from the stem (not the reverse). Doing it in this manner is permitted because it constitutes the removal of ‫אוכל מתוך פסולת‬ (see also Chapter B/c-2).

Grapes; Detaching them from the stems Grapes still attached to their stems are considered a Borer combination and may be detached only just prior to eating. Only the desired grapes may be removed from the bunch. Those that are spoiled (or inferior) may not be removed (see Chapter I, B/e, and Chapter II, B/a).

1: Soaking dusty grapes A cluster of grapes that has undesirable matter (dirt, leaf, and stem debris, etc.) on them, should not be soaked in a bowl of water for cleansing – even if they are to be eaten right away. This is because the soaking action constitutes the removal of the “bad” from the “good” (refer to Chapter II, B/a).

2: Rinsing grapes According to some Poskim, one may rinse a whole bunch under running water, and cleanse

14 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

it of unwanted matter in that manner (rinsing is merely considered an act of washing, not sorting, according to this view). However, it is preferable, where not very difficult, to rinse each individual grape separately for immediate use.

Fresh and spoiled fruits in a box or bin Fresh and spoiled fruits mixed in a bin may not be separated unless the Three Conditions of Borer are present: • 1) They must be removed by hand- B’yad (as is usually the case) • 2) The unspoiled fruits must be removed from the bin – (good from bad) • 3) They must be intended for immediate use (e.g. to be eaten right away – M’yad).

If the fresh fruit is not needed immediately, and is liable to become spoiled if left together with spoiled fruit, one may empty the entire bin or box, causing the contents to scatter and thereby become “unmixed” (see Chapter III, A). The spoiled fruits may then be removed (and the fresh ones replaced into the bin).

Removing insects from fruits and vegetables 1) Scale insects on oranges Oranges are generally insect free, and Halachically, need not be inspected for infestation. Some oranges, however, are found to have brown or black dots (approximately 1/8 inch diameter) on their outer peels. These dots are actually an unusual insect known as the Citrus Scale (“scale insect”).

Care must be taken to avoid ingesting these

Halachos OF SHABBOS scales, and they should be removed, if possible.

One is permitted to scrape them from the peel on Shabbos or Yom Tov just before eating the orange.

The scales are not considered “mixed� with the peel, and are similar to large insects on lettuce leaves which are permitted to remove on Shabbos (see o-2 below).

1: About the Citrus Scale insect The Citrus Scale is a tiny insect that anchors itself on the peel of an orange, grapefruit, or lemons, and makes its home there. After settling, its legs fall away, and it secretes a wax-like substance which hardens into a small round scale by which it is then covered and protected. The insect remains both invisible and immobile, and feeds itself by digging its mouthpiece into the peel and drawing the juice of the peel. The fruit itself, however, is unaffected and undamaged by the presence of the scale insect.

2: Identifying what one sees When observing these dots as they appear on the peel of the orange, one would find it difficult to believe that he was looking at an insect. To the untrained eye, these scales seem nothing more than an imperfection on the outer surface of the peel, similar to any minor discoloration.. However, upon close examination under a magnifying glass, one will notice a tiny raised bump at the center of the scale. Beneath this tiny protrusion lies the insect itself.

3: The Halachic problem Although the insect is almost always dead by the

time the orange is marketed (as a result of spraying with insecticides) it still poses a serious Halachic problem should the scale be ingested while eating the fruit. Even fragments of the scale may include segments of the insect which are forbidden to eat. Moreover, the male insect has wings, which classify it as Sheretz Ha’of (winged insects), the most serious of all forbidden insects.

4: The degree of prevalence of the Citrus Scale in U.S. produce Most oranges are cleansed at the production stage in order to remove the somewhat unsightly scales, and give the oranges a better appearance. Yet, this author has found oranges infested with the scales on many occasions, and during different seasons of the year.

In 1985, this author contacted entomologists from Cornell University to Ascertain the Suspended presence of the scale insect on oranges being markets in the U.S., but was met with skepticism.

The experts insisted that Citrus Scales are all removed before they reach the consumer because the fruits are thoroughly cleansed during processing.

Their tome changes dramatically after some samples of oranges with the brown and black dots were brought to their labs and they had the opportunity to examine them personally. To their genuine surprise, the removable dots did indeed turn out to be scale insects.

In Eretz Yisroel and some other countries, scales are very prevalent on oranges, and special care must be taken when eating these fruits.

We would like to thank Rabbi Ribiat and his son for giving us permission to take halachos from his sefer "The 39 Melochos" on a weekly basis.

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Understanding Prayer brought to you by Yeshiva Ateres Shimon of Far Rockaway, NY In conjunction with YAD YOSEF Torah center of Ave. J (Brooklyn, NY)

Uva' Letziyon ‫ובא לציון‬ Now we relate the prophecy of Yechezkel as he

angels and celestial beings can't reflect all of His

witnessed the ‫ מלאכים‬praise Hashem:

glory. We are lucky to perceive even some of it.

‫ותשאני רוח ואשמע אחרי קול רעש גדול‬

This is the very idea of ‫קדושה‬. To recognize how Hakadosh Baruch Hu transcends anything we

And a wind lifted me, and I heard from behind

can imagine. This is the sentiment of the angels.

me a great loud rushing sound

Certainly, we, mere humans have no way of even grasping how little we perceive of His actual

‫ברוך כבוד ה' ממקומו‬

glory.

Blessed is the glory of Hashem from His place

The Shaloh Hakadosh writes that "one should

And in the Targum we add

recite ‫ ובא לציון‬with concentration and joy that they are sustaining the world, drawing holiness

‫בריך יקרא דה' מאתר בית שכינתיה‬

to it and also completing Hashem's honor above and below." He even adds that one who does so

Blessed is the glory of Hashem from the place of

"is saved from Geihenom, the spirit of holiness

the abode of His Presence

rests upon them and it will lead them to greater spiritual understanding".

The Maharal says that all the glory of Hashem that exists in the universe is just some of the glory

In Kedusha we strive for a level beyond our

that comes from "His place". We aren't able to

mundane world, and can merit to come closer to

receive His entire glory, just a fraction of it. All

that level.

the galaxies as well as all the heavenly realms of

16 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

Featured Articles & Stories

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Shul Chronicles Highlighting Shuls Around the World By: Michoel Bretter

Holiness in DC Kesher Israel Dominates JewishLife for Over a Century Perhaps nowhere in America, or the world, is there a single Shul whose members have as much outsized influence in global affairs as the modest looking Shul located on N Street corner 28th in Washington, DC., known as the “Georgetown Synagogue,” has been – and remains – home to many of the biggest movers and shakers in the political, diplomatic and cultural spheres. It has also remained strictly Orthodox since Day One.

History

The precursor to the Kesher Israel Congregation, the “Georgetown Hebrew Benevolent Society,” was founded in 1910 by six local Jewish businessmen, all Eastern European immigrants, in the prestigious neighborhood in the capital. The Society counted some two dozen members and was

18 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

based in the home of a fellow named Harris Levy, which was located on 28th and M Streets.

It officially registered as a nonprofit with the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, becoming the seventh congregation in the nation’s capital at the time.

Within a year, the Society doubled to count some fifty member families. It was time to form a more official Minyan. For the Yamim Nora’im, the Society rented a larger, more official space above a nearby storefront to host the Tefillos. They borrowed a Sefer Torah, hired a Chazzan and sold tickets for $3 each.

The Minyan quickly grew in popularity. In 1915, the Society purchased a modest home at the Shul’s current location, which was converted into a Shul. At this major milestone, the Society officially renamed itself as “Kesher Israel Congregation.”

Initially, the Shul did not have an official Rabbi, but it did have a de facto spiritual leader named Rabbi Gedaliah (George) Silverstone zt”l, who was born in Poland and educated in England. In 1923, Rabbi Silverstone took the

bold step of leaving his position of comfort and prestige in order to make aliya to Eretz Yisroel, then an impoverished land ruled by the British.

Two years later, in 1925, the kehillah hired its first official Rabbi, Rabbi Jacob Dubrow zt”l. Born in what his today Belarus, Rabbi Dubrow was a close talmid and chassid of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Rashab, zt”l. Rabbi Dubrow was a dynamic, charismatic talmid chacham who was selected by the Skverer Rebbe zt”l in Ukraine to be his son’s private melamed.

In Georgetown, Rabbi Dubrow worked aggressively to transplant authentic Torah to unfamiliar shores. He instituted an afternoon Talmud Torah for local Jewish boys; helped establish the area’s first Jewish Day School; and established daily Daf Yomi shiurim at the Shul and in the Hebrew Home for the Aged. This was just a few years after Rav Meir Shapiro zt”l introduced the Daf Yomi concept in Vienna. These were possibly the first Daf Yomi shiurim established outside Europe.

Prominence Achieved

Kesher Israel continually blossomed, becoming a recognized center of Yiddishkeit in the area. By 1931, the kehillah had some 150 families and a proper Shul was clearly overdue. The Ladies Auxiliary – who else?

– undertook a fundraising campaign that eventually raised $10,000, a hefty sum at the time, for the construction of a new Shul at its existing location.

Noted German born architect Julius Wenig drew plans for the new Shul, in line with Spanish Colonial Revival style. Construction began in February and the Shul was ready to open its doors just over a half year later, for the Yamim Nora’im.

The Kesher Israel Shul looks quite modest and traditional from the outside but its interior is marked by prominent windows, wooden seats, a raised Aron Kodesh and design cues very much in line with historical DC landmarks.

In 1944, Rabbi Dubrow was niftar. In 1950, following two short-lived stints by other Rabbanim, Kesher Israel hired its most famous Rabbi, Rabbi Yeruchem Fishel Aryeh (Philip) Rabinowitz zt”l. Rabbi Rabinowitz was born in Lomza, Poland and came to America just before World War Two, where he learned in Skokie Yeshiva as well as l’havdil Columbia University.

Rabbi Rabinowitz was a beloved Rav, whose brilliance and kind nature endeared him to everyone he met. He was instrumental in founding the DC area Bais Din and Vaad Hakashrus. But after he assumed the Rabbanus, Kesher Israel’s core members gradually passed on and the kehillah shrunk.

Still, Rabbi Rabinowitz remained as devoted as ever, making sure to be there for every minyan and every shiur, despite the dwindling audience.

During the early 1980s, Kesher Israel began

19

seeing seeds of renaissance, as new, younger members began joining. The bright tidings came to an abrupt halt when Rabbi Rabinowitz was brutally murdered in his home in March 1984. Unfortunately, the killer was never identified. A community Eruv, among other projects, were established in his memory.

Contemporary Renaissance

Following challenges and tragedy, Kesher Israel achieved prestige once again during the late 20th century, which continues through today.

Georgetown solidified its place as a beautiful, historic and affluent community coveted by successful politicians, diplomats and businesspersons. A long list of prominent officials were steady mispallelim there, including Senator and almost-Vice President Joseph Lieberman, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and Ambassador Norm Eisen. A long list of Israeli officials and diplomats frequent the Shul as well, as Generals Moshe Dayan and Ezer Weizman famously did during the Camp David negotiations. The Shul also attracts many Jewish students from nearby Georgetown University.

20 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

During important votes on Shabbos, Senator Lieberman would walk from Kesher Israel to the Capitol building – it takes over an hour each way – a fact that made a huge kiddush Hashem in the mainstream media.

No doubt, politics will always weigh heavily in a Washington, DC congregation of machers.

Still, one Kesher Israel member, Aaron Keyak, who serves as Joe Biden’s Jewish liaison, told the Washington Post that both Democrats and Republicans are welcome. “It might be that the gabbai was during the week working against you on a campaign but now is calling you up for an Aliyah,” he observed. “It’s an oasis of friendship and understanding in an increasingly partisan town.”

Another member, Ambassador Eisen, a staunch liberal who was instrumental in President Trump’s impeachment, made a similar observation to Politico: “Money is muktzah, something forbidden on the Sabbath. Before Shabbat, you take your money, your cellphone, you put it aside.

Politics is muktzah.”

The only question is whether this spirit applies during the Kiddush as well…

ReadersWrite ark , here in Boro P ve li d an el ra I come from Is ence at the ars. My experi ye 1 3 r fo n ly Brook g that I’ve unlike anythin is r te en C k ar Boro P ds that all my nee g in az am 's It . sewhere experienced el im to the ding the zeman vi ro p om Fr ! are being met as a frum Yid e is set! e Shabbos tabl th at th ay w l beautifu enter. at Boro Park C ay st d n co se This is my rim Choir. had the Mezam e w e er h as w I Last year when I can have p here so that ee sl to om ro a My husband got doesn’t bos so that he ab Sh er ov e m ith family here w ith me . alk far to be w w to e av h en ev ul , daven in the sh to t en w e h en Wh e front row at he sit in th th d ke as ld fe Rabbi Waijs ial . feel really spec and made him own home! tension of my ex an ly u tr is ter Boro Park Cen Thank you!

r Mrs. Sima Adle

dler! irthday Mrs. A B y p ap H : d d 120!

Editors A appy ones till h d an y h lt ea Many more h

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W E E K LY S E R I A L

reprinted with permission from the author Aharon Margalit

WEEK 128 CHAPTER THIRTY ONE: WAITING FOR ANSWERS

On Wednesday, 7 Nissan (April 9), a week before Pesach, when all of Am Yisrael would be busy joyfully preparing for the festival of our freedom, I was to enter the operating theater. Though I would not be undergoing any excisions, there were still fifteen to eighteen hours of surgery involved, removing skin and muscle tissue and blood vessels from other parts of my body and grafting them onto my face. The sheer length of the operation was itself of great concern for a system weakened by the effects of polio.

As with the previous operation, Dr. Amir agreed to allow me to sleep at home the night before. Unlike then, however, since the doctors would be operating

22 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

on various parts of my body, I understood that there was no question about the need for general anesthesia. *** When he heard about my upcoming operation, my father was overwrought. He left Yerushalayim at dawn with my brother Yossi in order to see me before the surgery, so that he could bless me and give me a special kamei’a, an amulet. When he saw that he was slightly delayed, he phoned and asked that the doctors wait until he arrived with the kamei’a. Dr. Amir consented to this, too.

I lay on the gurney, connected to various machines, waiting for Abba. Suddenly, I saw a familiar figure step through the door: my brother Menachem!

I was surprised. Just the day before, he’d phoned me from his house in London. “I came straight from the airport,” he said. “I came in for one day, Aharon, just to bless you face-to-face, and to wish you that the operation go well.”

I was moved to the core. I only wished that I could shed one special tear to express my emotion at this surprise gesture. Ribbono shel Olam! How can I leave the world when I have such wonderful brothers?

How can I leave the world when I have such wonderful brothers?

As we were talking, Abba raced in, his tall frame casting a shadow over the gurney, his long, white beard damp with tears. “Here’s the kamei’a,” he whispered hoarsely, looking at me entreatingly, as if begging me to be strong and to make it through the tough surgery.

Dr. Amir took the kamei’a and placed it under my head, as the orderlies wheeled me away.

Good-bye, Abba. Good-bye, Ima. Good-bye, Rivkah.

Good- bye, my children. Good-bye, my brothers. I’m going off to battle. You will wait outside and I must go alone. “For his honor will not go after him, nor will he take anything with him…” Please daven for me. I don’t want to leave you so soon. It’s so pleasant in your presence. The angel of death can wait.

As soon as I was wheeled into the operating theater, Abba hurried off to daven at the kever of the tzaddik of Stefanesti, zy”a, in Givatayim, and from there to the kever of the Belzer Rebbe, zy”a, on Har HaMenuchos in Yerushalayim. Then he returned home to Ima, who was davening the whole time from the depths of her heart. Together they waited tensely to hear that the operation had gone well.

The operation, including the secondary surgeries, ended up taking longer than expected. It took three hours just to thoroughly clean all around my optic nerve, an extremely delicate, painstaking job.

Muscle and skin tissue were cut from my back, and blood vessels were cut from my left leg. The plan to remove bone from my right leg had been canceled, though, since I’d made it clear that I wouldn’t let them remove my cheekbone.

The plastic surgeons, headed by Dr. Amir, did an excellent job, both medically and from a humanitarian standpoint. I had asked them to be very careful not to harm my beard, since no hair would grow back on grafted skin. They maneuvered as best they could, so that my beard was left almost untouched.

The surgery took about nineteen hours, from early morning till late into the night. My whole body was incised and sutured from all directions — I had more stitches than I could count — and I was bandaged all over.

When Ima and Abba heard that the operation was over, their sighs of relief were audible. Baruch Hashem, the operation was behind us. Baruch Hashem, Ahre’le had awakened from the prolonged general anesthesia that endangered his life because of his compromised, post-polio respiratory system. Baruch Hashem, their son Aharon yet lived, and had not gone to join their son Yaakov. They set out at once for the hospital in Tel Aviv, waiting outside the doors of the recovery room till I would be wheeled out from there in the morning. to be continued...

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StoryCenter

MIGHTY OAKS FROM TINY ACORNS GROW Taken with permission from "Life Unwrapped"

by Rochel Braverman (As told to the author by Sarah Taub)

Still up?” my husband asked as he caught me at the dining room table well after 1:00 a.m.

I looked up wearily. “Hope to be done soon…”

Aryeh glanced at me dubiously and at the piles of song sheets scattered all around. He knew that as an extracurricular director in one of the local schools, my hours of preparation sometimes ran into the wee hours of the night (or, shall I say, morning).

“But before you know it,” I smiled dreamily, “summer vacation will be here and then life will get back on track.”

By June I had a typed daily schedule of what I would accomplish throughout July and August. Organize the pantry. Tackle the mending pile.

Return store purchases.

I couldn’t wait to finally tend to all my neglected projects, and the knowledge that a breather was just around the corner really propelled me through the frenzied final weeks of school.

24 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

It was a wonderful feeling.

Two days after the end of school, the phone rang.

“It’s a boy!” Miri Schloss, my nextdoor neighbor, announced.

“Mazel tov!” I exclaimed. “How are you feeling?”

After expressing my warmest wishes, I hung up and began to plan a welcoming supper for Miri’s first night home.

When I walked into her house later that week bearing steaming trays of nourishing food, I noticed immediately that Miri appeared extremely wan and weak.

“Why don’t you send your Shani to play tomorrow,” I offered spontaneously. At two, Shani was an adorable toddler who loved to go fishing in the garbage can and fridge, as well as her mother’s makeup bag.

Miri smiled gratefully. “That would be incredible.”

I knew Miri’s family did not live in town and were unable to travel at this time, so I figured it was the least

I could do.

newborn around, trying to lull him to sleep.

Shani came to play with my two daughters the next day—and the day after. Abandoning my carefully outlined plans, I conducted an informal camp to keep the little ones busy.

We painted, sang, and baked sugar cookies.

“I think I have fever,” Miri whispered. One glance at her flushed cheeks and chattering teeth confirmed that she did. “I’m going to the doctor tomorrow.”

Naturally, Shani missed her mother and was a bit bewildered by her new reality, but overall, she was manageable.

When I dropped her off in the evening— together with a fresh supper—I found Miri on the couch, looking quite the worse for wear. Her husband was wheeling their

The next day, Miri called me from her cell phone to say that she had to be readmitted to the hospital. Some post-birth complications had set in, causing a serious infection.

I assured her that it would be my pleasure to care for Shani for as long as necessary.

I knew it would be impossible to find a

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babysitter in the summer.

“Faigy, you’re a doll,” Miri murmured. “I can’t even begin to tha—” “Spare me the eulogies,” I told her. “The main thing is that you should feel better b’karov.”

My heart went out to her. Here she should have been recovering calmly in her own home, and now she had to return to the dismal atmosphere of the hospital—her baby but a few days old.

So Shani joined my crew and our camp routine continued. Having another child in my home created a dynamic in which I was cast into the role of constant entertainer. While my two daughters would’ve been content to color or stack blocks as I made real progress around the house, with Shani around I felt it would be better to have a structured program. Shani was a real sweetie, but it was obvious that she desperately wanted her mommy by the way she’d cry at the slightest provocation. There was also a bit of a personality clash between my younger daughter and Shani, both equally stubborn. But with some creative intervention, I managed to keep the fighting at bay—most of the time. After Shani would leave, I’d remind my children gently that Shani’s mommy had a booboo and we were doing a mitzvah by helping out. I had my children observe how I wrote “mitzvah notes” about their playing nicely with the neighbor and mailed them to Bubby and Zaidy. That made them feel quite proud.

Even after Miri returned home, she required much rest, since she still felt faint. Luckily, her baby was an angel, but the same could not be said for Shani, who resented this interloper who made her mommy sick and tired.

In addition to caring for Shani, I tried to help Miri in any way possible. Whenever I couldn’t make her a complete supper, I’d send at least a hearty vegetable soup or filling side dish.

My days rotated around Miri and Shani in a way I could never have foreseen. Most nights,

26 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

I’d collapse into bed, well aware that I hadn’t tackled anything on my agenda. I wondered when—and if—I’d ever catch my tail. Of course, the ever-present glitter glue and play-dough only exacerbated the general chaos. So much for my life going back on track and feeling in control...

But while my summer list could not boast more than one checked-off square, Aryeh and I understood instinctively that our neighbors’ well-being was of highest priority.

“The concept of chessed is like a cycle,” Aryeh explained to me. “Right now we’re in a position to give. At some point in time, the Schlosses will also be presented with an opportunity to give—and it won’t necessarily be for us. We might have to take from someone else down the road…who knows?”

Indeed, the mending pile could wait a bit longer (it had been very patient until now), but Miri— who could barely stumble out of bed—needed the help now.

In all fairness, I’ll admit that it was far from easy and it didn’t always appear as the most natural thing to do, but— It was a wonderful feeling.

Eventually, a chessed organization stepped in and began sending Miri meals, as well as volunteers to help with the children. The summer of 2012 slowly slipped away with the approach of the Yamim Nora’im.

On Rosh Hashanah, as Miri’s husband was about to leave for shul, a high branch from the massive oak tree in front of their apartment broke off and crashed to the ground with an earsplitting thud, cracking the pavement.

He and Miri stared in disbelief at the huge branch obstructing their walkway.

“Whew, that was close,” Miri breathed.

As soon as Yom Tov was over, Miri’s husband called the management that maintained our entire complex and asked them to assess the rest of the branches, to determine whether they were in danger of breaking off as well.

A company came down right away to examine the tree. The assessor said the tree wasn’t in terrible shape, but since it had some rotting branches, it was best to uproot it as a precautionary measure.

Then the assessor glanced at the adjacent tree and asked the management if he could examine that tree once he was there. It, too, had branches that were showing signs of decay. The verdict came to fell both trees.

The next day, a truck appeared with several workmen and exciting (at least for the boys in the complex) machinery. For hours these burly workers toiled to cut the trees, one layer at a time. They sliced each part into several slabs and transported them to the truck. Because the trees were so tall and wide, the process seemed to go on forever.

When the workers reached the base of the tree adjacent to the Schlosses’ house, they were shocked to discover that the base of this mammoth two-hundred-year-old oak was completely hollow. Apparently, it had been silently rotting away even as we sat under its vibrant foliage.

The leader of the crew scratched his head.

“Don’ know how this here tree lasted all this while. Nuthin’ holdin’ her up but air, I tell you. All she needed was one little storm to knock ’er down senseless…”

Well, mere weeks later, on October 29, 2012, a storm did hit Lakewood—as well as the entire Northeastern coast. Little storm?

The understatement of the century. No one who lived through it will ever forget one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical

cyclones in recent history, otherwise known as Superstorm Sandy. No one will either forget the horrific flooding, the mangled homes, the downed power lines…and the countless trees strewn about, as if a giant’s hand had swiped them down in a fury.

Perhaps I should insert here that the hollowed tree was the one overlooking my apartment, whose branches were practically flush with my windows?

As we huddled in our freezing apartment that Shabbos, Parshas Vayeira, I could not help gazing out the window at the Sodomlike devastation all around…and at the short stump of what was left of the towering oak.

My mind’s eye saw our house and everything in it crushed to sawdust under the mass of that enormous tree. We couldn’t have stood a chance. I shivered.

Aryeh looked at me.

“It’s no coincidence that the Schlosses were the ones to first alert the management,” he said.

I certainly don’t profess to have any degree of nevuah or knowledge of Heavenly reckonings, but it was so clear to both of us at that moment that we had been spared through an extraordinary chain of events.

“Rodef tzedakah v’chessed yimtza chaim— ‘One who pursues tzedakah and kindness will find life’ (Mishlei 21:21),” Aryeh quoted softly.

“Can you imagine? On Rosh Hashanah itself, Hashem planted the seeds of our yeshuah.”

We stood there, in hushed wonder.

I walked over to the window again. The gaping void in the scenery was now overflowing with His chessed.

True, we had given up several weeks of summer vacation, but we’d been rewarded with the tradeoff of a lifetime. to be continued...

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HISTORY

THIS MONTH IN HISTORY THE TWIN TOWERS. WHISPERS OF 9/11.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Ari Schonbrun, who was headed to his office at Cantor Fitzgerald in the World Trade Center where he is in charge of global accounts receivable, considered a last-minute assignment from his wife to be an annoyance.

It turned out to be a miracle.

At the door of his home in suburban Long Island, Schonbrun heard his wife, Joyce, yell from upstairs, "Did you do Baruch's school order?"

Baruch is the couple's then-8-year-old son. His order form for school books and games was due that morning. Schonbrun had meant to help Baruch with 28 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

it the previous night – but, working late that Monday night to make up for time he would miss during the upcoming High Holidays, he'd arrived home by the time Baruch had fallen asleep.

"You're not leaving the house until you do it," Schonbrun's wife declared.

He sat down with Baruch.

He missed his commuter train.

He got to work later than usual.

His office was located on the 101st floor of the north tower, better known as Tower One. When American Airlines flight 11, a Boeing 767 crashed into Tower

One, he was on the 78th floor, changing elevators in the "sky lobby."

When American Airlines flight 11 crashed into Tower One, he was on the 78th floor, changing elevators.

Schonbrun says his late arrival at the Twin Towers was the first of several serendipitous twists of fate, coincidences that he has come to see as miracles which saved his life. All 685 Cantor Fitzgerald employees on the 101st floor that day lost their lives.

When American Airlines flight 11 crashed into Tower One, he was on the 78th floor, changing elevators.

Had he arrived on time, as usual, had he been in his office, as usual, he would have been the 686th casualty of Cantor Fitzgerald, the major global financial services firm that lost more employees on 9-11 than any other single business.

Schonbrun, now 56, thinks often about that day – more now, with the anniversary of 9-11 approaching.

"I was plucked out of a burning building and given a second chance," he says, sitting in a café on Manhattan's Upper East Side, near Cantor Fitzgerald's new corporate offices.

He has a new title, director of debt capital markets & asset management at Cantor Fitzgerald, where he has worked for two decades.

DOWN THE STAIRWELL 8:46 a.m. Ari Schonbrun was on the 78th floor when he heard the boom and smelled the smoke. He thought it was a bomb.

In the hall, dark and filled with smoke, he saw a coworker, Virginia DiChiara, an internal auditor, who was badly burned. "Please help me!” she screamed. “I am in so much pain. Please help me and whatever you do, please don't leave me."

"Virginia," Schonbrun said, "I promise I will help you, and I promise I won't leave you. We will get out of here.”

A fire warden directed them to the "stairwell on the left." Schonbrun slowly led DiChiara, who could not be touched because her burns were so painful, down the only staircase that led directly down to the ground floor exit. The other staircases ended earlier, on floors crowded with hundreds of people also looking to escape the flames and smoke.

"You're going to make it," he reassured his

On the outside, he looks like he did before 9-11: tall, clean-shaven, casually but neatly dressed, pausing to choose the words before telling the story he has told countless times in the dozen years since the Twin Towers fell. Just one visible difference: his sideburns have turned white. "That happened immediately," he says. Overnight – from the shock of what happened that Tuesday morning.

Inside, Schonbrun is a different man. "I don't see my life the same way, and can no longer live it the same way I once did."

Schonbrun speaks often about what happened on 9-11 and how it changed his life. As an outgrowth of his speeches, he wrote a 9-11 autobiography, Miracles & Fate on 78, which he self-published two years ago.

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colleague. "If you feel faint, Virginia, fall forward, fall on me."

DiChiara kept on walking.

At the 75th floor, Schonbrun heard his cell phone ring. It was his wife. She started crying when her husband answered. Joyce knew that a plane had hit her husband's building. "She did not know if I was still alive," he says.

"I never got reception in my office, even on a regular day," he says. On the morning of 9-11, the call went through from the stairwell. "That was one of the biggest miracles of that day. I turned to shamayim [heaven], and said 'Thank you.'"

A moment later a man in the stairwell asked to borrow the cell phone. "Of course," Schonbrun said.

"Nothing. The signal was now dead."

"At least my wife knew that I was alive," Schonbrun says, "and as strange as it may seem, given what was going on, that gave me great comfort.�

At the 50th floor, DiChiara began to tire. "Virginia, you can do this," he told her. He poured some bottled water into her mouth and over her arms, to give her some relief from the pain.

To boost her spirits, he began counting down the floors they passed. He lied to her: "You look great."

30 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

It kept her going.

Finally, they reached the first floor.

A fire warden there told them they would have to walk down a few more flights and exit through the building's garage. Down two flights, out of the darkness, a voice shouted, "You can't get out through the garage." Schonbrun and DiChiara and the others with them trudged back to the first floor and walked out. Anyone in the garage when the building collapsed several minutes later would have died.

Across the street, in front of the Millennium Hotel, Schonbrun helped his colleague into an ambulance. headed for St. Vincent's Hospital. Schonbrun, knowing that DiChiara was in good hands, started to walk away.

"Ari, you're coming with us!" DiChiara insisted.

Thinking that it would probably be a good thing for her psychologically, Schonbrun acquiesced.

"This," he says, "was how I was driven away from my own, otherwise certain, death."

The Towers collapsed minutes later; few at the site survived.

Virginia, who has since recovered, "thanks me every day for saving her life," Schonbrun says. "But I always tell her, 'Virginia, you got it all wrong. Who

saved whose life? If you hadn't insisted that I get in that ambulance, I'd be dead.'"

"Against all odds," he says, "I somehow managed to escape without a single scratch. Somebody, obviously, was watching out for me that day."

MISSION TO SURVIVE Eventually, he left the hospital, walking north.

On a borrowed phone, he called DiChiara's parents, telling them that their daughter was badly burned but still alive.

Then he reached his wife, who was crying. "Tower One collapsed and I thought you were dead," she said.

The last time they had spoken, Schonbrun was on the 75th floor of his burning building. "When it collapsed and she hadn't heard from me again, she was convinced that I was now dead. She had been trying to figure out how she was going to tell our children that Daddy was killed."

Because of the goodness of strangers and friends, Schonbrun made his way home, by subway and taxi, by early evening. He was greeted at home by 20 people, friends concerned about his fate; on his answering machine, at least 100 messages.

"That day I learned something very important," he says. "You have no idea how many friends you really have until they all think you are dead."

He washed up, went to afternoon Mincha services at his synagogue, and recited the HaGomel prayer of thanks that is usually reserved for Torah-reading days.

Early that next morning, a radio reporter called from Israel for an interview.

everyone told him, “You have a mission. What is it?"

He realized his mission: to tell about how he survived, “to describe what God did for me," and how it changed him.

PERMANENT CHANGE A native of New York City who moved in his teens with his family to Israel. Schonbrun has always been an observant Jew. For Schonbrun, everything did change after 9-11.

"But despite my daily rituals built around my devotion to God, there were times when I lost sight of what was really important," he writes in his book.

"Was I truly aware of what I was doing through of all these practices, or was I just going through the motions most of the time? Did I just do the minimum that was required and find convenient excuses not to attend one more study session or concentrate more on the words of my prayers?"

Everything changed, Schonbrun says, after 9-11.

Just as he can list the miracles that happened to him on 9-11, he can list the changes he has made in his life: No more cursing. Co-workers who use foul language "don't use foul language around Ari's desk."

"You have no idea how many friends you really have until they all think you are dead."

Within a week, Schonbrun found himself speaking to individuals and audiences about his 9-11 experience. "I didn't think my story was anything special," he says.

But everyone else did. You survived for a reason,

No more talking in shul during davening time. Previously, "I talked in shul like everyone else."

No excuses when his kids ask him to come to their school events. Earlier, he'd answer, "Daddy's got to work."

Today, he'll take time off for a school play, a school trip – anything involving his children. "Now family is the most important thing in my life."

Less temper. "I don't get upset over small things."

More time for Jewish learning.

And he doesn't miss daily prayers, three times a day, with a minyan.

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Formerly, when he prayed, it was to make a living.

Now, he prays for his children, "that my children should be good children."

Is he a happier now? "100 percent," he says.

The changes he made more than a decade ago are still part of his life, he says, because they "happened gradually, over time." He didn't try to incorporate any sudden changes overnight.

In his book and speeches, Schonbrun offers some advice. Recognize the "hand of God" in your lives.

Give to charity. Do volunteer work. Seek out role models. Be kinder. Don't speak poorly of others.

"Take one thing that you are not doing today, that you could do to make yourself better, no matter how basic, and make the conscious decision to do better."

SMALL WHISPERS Schonbrun likes to tell the story of a "young and successful executive" who, speeding down an

32 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

urban street in his new Jaguar, feels a brick smash into the side of his prized automobile. Angered, he backs up, gets out of the car, and grabs the kid who threw the brick.

"What the heck are you doing?" the driver screams.

The kid, crying, answers, "I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do. I threw the brick because no one else would stop." His brother's wheelchair had rolled off the curb and his brother had fallen out.

"I can't lift him up!" the stone-thrower cries.

"Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair?"

The driver helps lift the fallen boy and keeps the dent in the Jaguar's side as a reminder of the incident's message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention."

Everyone has a choice, Schonbrun says. You can listen to the whispers of life, its subtle messages.

"Or you can wait for the brick."

Now, he passes out a business card that identifies him as a "Motivational Speaker." On a background of a cloud-filled sky are the words: "Listen to the Whispers."

What about the victims, the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on 9-11? How does he explain his survival while others perished? In other words, wasn't God looking out for them, too?

His answer: “God has a plan, and I can't explain.”

Imagine a small piece of black canvas, Schonbrun says. Beautiful?

No.

When bad things – or things that seem bad – happen to Schonbrun, he says he understands that they're part of a grand design.

Hurricane Sandy damaged his home last year. If it had happened before 9-11, he says, "I would have asked, 'Why me?'" As he surveyed the damage, he said to himself, "God has a reason. I don't know why. We'll figure it out.”

"9-11 is with me every single day."

Then, he says, imagine it's part of a bigger canvas, a Picasso painting. The small black patch makes sense.

"We only see part of the picture," he says.

"I don't need reminders. 9-11 is with me every single day."

The 12th anniversary of 9-11 is coming up.

On the anniversary, many survivors and their relatives attend commemoration and memorial services.

Schonbrun goes golfing. Alone.

On that day, he doesn't want to talk about his experiences. He doesn't want to think about it nor read the newspaper on that day.

"I don't need reminders," Schonbrun says. "9-11 is with me every single day."

The only physical memento he carries with him, on his keychain, is the key to his office in Tower One.

Source: Aish.com 33

9 Things Coronavirus Has Taught Us (So Far)

By Yehuda L. Ceitlin- Chabad.Org

The COVID-19 virus that began as a localized outbreak in central China has quickly become a global pandemic, bringing the world to a standstill and redefining “normal” life.

Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chassidism, taught that every occurrence in the universe - even a negative one - can and should provide us with productive lessons.

As we continue to follow health guidelines and pray for the recovery of those infected, here are some encouraging things we’ve learned from this global crisis:

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Our Shared Humanity The virus is blind to cultural and ideological differences, infecting people of all races, religions, and ages. In many ways, the world has become more united, sharing the same vulnerability. Our Chachamim say that this actually happens once a year on Rosh Hashanah, when “all the people of the world” pass before Hashem in judgment. It reminds us that despite our differences, we are one humanity under Hashem.

The Power of Caring Scientists are still examining the nature of this new disease, but it is clear that it spreads through close contact. We must not forget that love also spreads person-to-person (even at a six foot distance). Shlomo Hamelech spoke of the impact we can have on one another: “As in water, face answers to face, so is the heart of a man to a man.

34 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

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Finding Comfort in Tefilah Efforts to halt the spread of the disease have cast us into uncharted waters. Newly imposed restrictions, economic devastation, and the fear of being infected have left us anxious and uncertain. But, as Swiss philosopher Henri Frederic Amiel put it, “Uncertainty is the refuge of hope.” In prayer, we have the ability to connect to the Supreme Being in Whom we find comfort and solace, strengthening our hope and resolve. Prayer affirms that the Creator is present, all-seeing and cares for each of us.

Valuing Freedom Being restricted and isolated presents a unique set of challenges, but it also reminds us of the gift of freedom. In fact, on the festival of Passover we are instructed that, “In each and every generation, a person is obligated to see himself as if he left Mitzrayim. Freedom as a state of mind is to be pursued regularly, wherever we find ourselves.

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Not Being Wasteful As fear has taken its toll, many people have flocked to stores and emptied shelves into their shopping carts. That fear is also a wonderful reminder to appreciate the food we have and constrain waste so that we — and those who live in the world around us — have resources for another day. Jewish law teaches the biblical instruction, “You shall not destroy.” This proscription applies to food as well; if there›s something left over, we try to repurpose it.

Prioritizing Essentials Amazon announced that it will prioritize delivering “essential” household items because of high demand. Regardless of how you define essential, the outbreak has led us to reevaluate our priorities.

Way before bestselling author Stephen Covey made the idea famous, Moshe Rabeinu told livestock owners, “Make the main thing the main thing and what is secondary, secondary.

The Sanctity of Life Throughout history, our shul doors have been kept open against forces of antisemitism and through many challenges.

Now, those doors are closed to save lives. The Torah instructs, “You shall keep My statutes and My ordinances, which a person shall do and live by them. ”Rabbi Shimon ben Menasya interprets this mandate to mean, “In all circumstances, one must take care not to die as a result of fulfilling the mitzvos.” The sanctity of life is paramount.

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Focusing Inward With many of us stuck at home (alone or with loved ones), we have temporarily lost the identities we assume in the outside world. We don’t have the commute or the office to define the pattern of our day. The pandemic has given us space and time to connect with who we are. On the Jewish day of rest, Shabbos we unplug and focus on ourselves and those we care about.

During this pandemic, we do more of that during the week as well.

The Preciousness of Every Moment The heartbreaking (growing) death toll of the virus reminds us of our mortality. As Dovid Hamelech said, “Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” Just as the shadow quickly fades, so do our lives. We are reminded to cherish our moments and to infuse them with meaning and purpose.

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6 DIY Duct Tape Crafts to Style Your School Supplies If you’re up with the times, you know that crafting with Duct Tape is all the rage. Take ordinary school supplies and turn them into something to show off your unique personality. Here are a few tips to use duct tape to add style this school year.

Create your own design for the cover of your notebooks.

Design your own corner bookmark.

36 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

Decals for your book bag is a great way to repurpose and be unique.

Create an organizer for your desk.

Create your own pattern for your textbooks or binders.

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A LUSCIOUS ROSH HASHANAH TABLESCAPE This luscious table-scape is organically elegant, overflowing with black Muscat grapes, crisp apples and an assortment of new fruits. As with all Jewish Holiday’s the foods we eat are a highly symbolic part of the celebration and Rosh Hashanah is no different. Instead of just eating them this year, I thought why not make them the focal point of my table, and that’s just what I did.

Here are my top 5 tips for setting the perfect Rosh Hashanah table:

BASE LAYER OF TABLE 1. I covered my table with a sheer embroidered overlay with pearl details to balance the organic and elegant look. I didn’t want something too overdone to take away from the centerpiece.

COLORFUL NAPKINS 2. Chargers add so much elegance to your table and this would definitely be the right time to pull them out. I love how these copper chargers play off the gold flatware. Don’t be scared to mix metals. Metallics are high on trend and mixing them adds a fresh edge to your table.

38 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

ROSH HASHANAH BOUNTIFUL FRUIT CENTERPIECE 3. Choose your favorite cake stands or étagères and place them down the center of your table. Odd numbers work best. So choose 1, 3 or 5 stands.

Prepare all your produce neatly on a table next to you. Start with the larger items at the base and distribute them evenly amongst the stands. I used fresh beets and carrots still on their stems intertwined with Shofars of all sizes at my base to add depth and weave in the symbolism. After the larger items, I added the more delicate grapes, fresh figs and dried fruits. For the final touch I added carved fruits delicately arranged on the stands. Not only is this beautiful but I love that you can literally eat the centerpiece.

Allow a few extra minutes when you’re at the market to choose the nicest produce.

Produce: Apples: Red Delicious and Golden. Pomegranate. Figs: fresh and dried. Dates: fresh and dried. Grapes: Black Muscat. Pears. Plums: purple and golden. Organic carrots and beets with leaves attached.

New fruits: Guava, rambutan and mangosteen

HONEYDISH 4. When it comes to dipping my preference is to have individual honey dishes. I used small glass tea-light holders filled with honey at each seat topped with mini spoons. The spoons are made out of horn. How perfect for Rosh Hashanah is that!

THE SETTING 5. This centerpiece lends itself to be accented with colorful details. Use the produce you find as your inspiration for your color accents. I added purple and green glasses and deep teal plates. These tones accentuated the deep reds and golden tones of my fruit while still allowing the produce to shine.

Wishing you all a wonderfully sweet and abundantly blessed year.

Source: www.jamiegeller.com 39

NEWS TIDBITS News source: boropark24 news

September, 2020

CDC May Have a Vaccine Ready By November 1 The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that they might have a possible coronavirus vaccine by November, the New York Post reported. The CDC told state governors and health officials to be ready.

According to The Hill, McKesson Corporation, a Texas-based healthcare company, requested permits for building distribution sites,

CDC Director Robert Redfield said.

Last week, every state and U.S. territory received outlines for the allocation of two potential vaccines.

The New York Times reported that the documents include a description of the two unnamed vaccines and that each would require two doses spaced two weeks apart.

Essential workers, national security employees, seniors, and high-risk people will be prioritized in receiving the treatment.

Decision for Resumption of Indoor Dining will be Made by End of September Says De Blasio On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the decision for resuming indoor dining would be made by the end of September, after hinting earlier this week that it may not return until there is a vaccine.

De Blasio said indoor dining is

40 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

an issue because it led to an increase in coronavirus cases in other states across the country.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo said his prime focus is on keeping the coronavirus infection rate

under control and refused to discuss bringing back indoor dining.

Every region in New York, outside of the city, has already resumed indoor dining, including Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Revel Scooters Return to NYC Streets with Strict Guidlines After being shut down for one month, Revel mopeds have returned to the Big Apple on Thursday.

The Company was shut down in NYC after three fatal accidents occurred in just ten days.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the transportation company would only be allowed back in the city once officials deem the service safe.

To step up riders' safety, Revel has added an inapp "how-to" video that

is mandatory to watch before riding. They have also started requiring all drivers to snap a picture of themselves in helmets, and lastly, all riders will need to take a 20 minute, 21-question safety test.

The company has also said it will suspend riders who violate any of its rules, at first with a 7-day suspension but if the offense is repeated then the user will be permanently suspended from the service.

Shootings and Crimes Continue to Spike Citywide According to the NYPD, New York City continues to see a spike in overall violence when comparing last month's statistics to the same time in 2019.

In August, the number of shootings increased by 166% compared to the same period in 2019. The number of incidents went from 91 last year to 242 this year. It rose across all boroughs except for Staten Island.

The number of murders increased by 47% this August compared to last

August, from 36 in 2019 to 53 in 2020.

Robberies increased 4% to 1,276 from 1,226, and burglaries 22% from 1,076 to 1,310. Overall crime yearto-date, increased by 0.7% from 9,033 to 9,093.

The NYPD is allegedly working on addressing the surging violence and uptick in shootings; they are working on short and longterm investigations and will have officers engage with the community to focus and solve local problems.

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42 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

Food Corner

43

NutritionCenter

SIMANIM

44 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

APPLES are extremely rich in important antioxidants, flavonoids and dietary fiber.

The phytonutrients and antioxidants in apples may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Apples also boost your energy levels, improve skin conditions, control body weight and prevent premature aging.

RAW HONEY is a great antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory which helps you sustain good health. Other health benefits include lowering triglycerides, improving cholesterol and heart health. Not only does it soothe a sore throat, it also helps digestive issues, heal wounds and is a great source of antioxidants which help to protect your body from cell damage due to free radicals.

Suggested quantity: 1-2 tablespoons as part of your treat allowance.

POMEGRANATES are great since they are a good source of antioxidants and vitamin C. In one cup of pomegranate seeds there are 7 grams of fiber!

If you are interested in reducing inflammation in your body, pomegranate is an excellent addition to your diet. These delicious seeds help fight arthritis and joint pain, lower blood pressure and help fight harmful microorganisms. Pomegranate is also rich in dietary nitrates which have been shown to improve exercise performance.

Suggested quantity: 1 cup as one fruit

DATES have an excellent nutrition profile. Despite their calories, dates contain some important vitamins and minerals in addition to a significant amount of fiber, just have them in moderation. Furthermore, the fiber in dates may be beneficial for blood sugar control. Fiber slows digestion and may help prevent blood sugar levels from spiking too high after eating. Eating dates may help improve brain function. They make a great healthy substitute for white sugar in recipes due to the nutrients, fiber and antioxidants that they provide.

Suggested quantity: 1 ounce as one fruit

LYCHEES are mainly composed of water (82%) and carbohydrates (16.5%). Lychees contain several healthy minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, such as potassium, copper, vitamin C, epicatechin and rutin. These may help protect against heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Lychee is a great source of dietary fiber and protein.

Suggested quantity: ½ cup

HEAD OF THE FISH the fat in a fish head is actually delicious. The meat from a fish head is more tender with a delectable fatty texture. Fish heads are also full of omega-3, a nutrient that will keep your brain and heart healthy. Plus, you’ll get a healthy dose of the powerful antioxidant vitamin A. It will protect your immune system and eye health.

They contain healthy protein and rich in vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for your immunity and since it’s a natural antioxidant, it can fight free radicals and oxidative stress. This means that your body will have an easy time fighting disease and sickness.

STAR FRUIT is a delicious fruit. The star fruit is a decent source of several nutrients, especially fiber and vitamin C. It is an excellent source of healthy plant compounds, including quercetin, gallic acid and epicatechin. These compounds all have powerful antioxidant properties and various health benefits. The plant compounds in star fruit have been shown to help prevent fat cell formation, reduce fatty liver and lower cholesterol.

Suggested quantity: 1 starfruit is one fruit.

45

RecipeCenter

Apple and Honey Rosh Hashanah Muffins TAKEN WITH PERMISSION FROM GOURMETKOSHERCOOKING.COM RECIPE FROM OUR TABLE: TIME-TESTED RECIPES, MEMORABLE MEALS

BY RENEE MULLER

46 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

Apple and Honey Rosh Hashanah Muffins DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.

INGREDIENTS For the apples: 2 Tablespoons butter OR margarine

Prepare the apples: In a saucepan, melt butter over a medium-low flame. Add apples, sugar, and cinnamon; cook until apples are fragrant and soften a bit, about 15 minutes.

4 Granny Smith apples, diced

Set aside to cool.

4 Tablespoons sugar

Prepare the muffins: In the bowl of a stand

1 teaspoon cinnamon

mixer, on medium speed, combine tea, sugar, oil, honey, and eggs. Mix until smooth.

Reduce speed; gradually add flour, baking

For the muffins: 2 cups prepared tea, lukewarm 2 cups sugar 2 cups oil 2 cups honey 12 eggs

powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed.

Fill each muffin cup halfway with batter.

(I like to use a cupcake pen for this; I find it very helpful.) Top with a teaspoon of prepared apples. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out almost dry with some moist crumbs attached.

6 cups flour 2 Tablespoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 heaping Tablespoons cinnamon

NOTES At our house, Rosh Hashanah cannot happen without honey muffins. At least, that’s the way my kids see it. It’s a family project, and by now, a family tradition, too.

This recipe was given to me by a relative in Israel who bakes them all the time and claims that no matter how many batches she bakes, there are never enough. She’s absolutely right. We once baked a quadruple batch of these (sans the apples) for a bake sale on our block and we were left without a crumb!

47

RecipeCenter

Cinnamon, Challah, and Apple Toast Crumble TAKEN WITH PERMISSION FROM GOURMETKOSHERCOOKING.COM

48 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

Cinnamon, Challah, and Apple Toast Crumble DIRECTIONS Place a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°F. Grease a shallow 2-qt. baking dish.

INGREDIENTS 10 tablespoons unsalted margarine, room temperature, plus more for pan ½ cup sugar 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon Pinch of fresh grated nutmeg AND a pinch of cloves

Mix sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom, and salt in a small bowl. Toss fruit, vanilla, and ¼ cup sugar mixture in a medium bowl; set aside.

Spread 10 tablespoons margarine in a thin layer across each slice of bread, working margarine all the way to the edges (you might have extra margarine, depending on the size of your slices). Generously sprinkle remaining sugar mixture over greased side

½ teaspoon ground cardamom

of bread. Add any leftover sugar to reserved

(optional)

fruit. Fit about half of bread slices along

Pinch of kosher salt 2 lb. apples or pears (can be made with peaches, plums or

bottom and up sides of prepared dish, placing sugared side down and overlapping slightly. Scatter reserved fruit over and top with remaining slices of bread, placing

blueberries)

sugared side up and shingling to cover fruit.

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

cover tightly with foil. Set a cast-iron skillet

1 loaf challah , sliced ½” thick

on top to weigh down; bake until juices are

Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet and

(you’ll need 12–15)

bubbling, 50–60 minutes.

Maple syrup and pareve vanilla

Carefully remove dish from oven; remove

ice cream (for serving)

skillet and foil. Bake, uncovered, until golden brown, 10–15 minutes more. Let cool 20 minutes.

Divide baked cinnamon toast among plates, top with a scoop of pareve ice cream, and drizzle with maple syrup.

Do Ahead: Dessert can be baked 1 day ahead. Let cool, then store tightly wrapped at room temperature. Reheat, uncovered, in a 300° oven. Serve.

49

FUN

APPLE

FACTS!

• Apples are part of the rose family, just like pears and plums.

• The apple tree originated in Central Asia. They have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe, and were brought to North America by European colonists.

• There are more than 8,000 varieties of apples – the largest variety of fruit to exist.

• Apple are one of the most widely grown tree fruit.

• Apple trees take 4 to 5 years to produce their first fruit.

• Apple trees are deciduous and have a period of dormancy followed by a flurry of activity in spring.

• Bees pollinate the flowers in late spring, moving from one tree to the next.

• By the time the fruit is ready to be picked, the buds for next fall’s fruit are already in place.

• The apple tree generally standing 1.8 to 4.6 meters (6 to 15 feet) tall in cultivation and up to 12 meters (39 ft) in the wild.

• Life expectancy for apple tree is about 100 years.

• China is by far the largest apple producer.

• Apples can help you improve your memory.

• New York City is nicknamed “the Big Apple.”

50 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

• Apples contain high levels of boron, which stimulates electrical activity of the brain and increases mental alertness.

• Most of the anti-oxidants in apples, including Quercetin, are found in the skin.

• A medium sized apple contains 80 calories.

• The soluble fiber contained in apples is called pectin, and can help lower cholesterol levels.

• To produce one apple, it takes energy from 50 leaves.

• Pomology is the science of apple-growing.

• Apples float in water because they are 25% air.

• The most expensive apple in the world is Sekai Ichi apple which cost $21.00 each. Sekai ichi means “world’s number one” in Japanese.

• The largest apple ever weighed 1.849 kg (4 lb 1 oz) and was grown and picked by Chisato Iwasaki at his apple farm in Hirosaki City, Japan October 24 2005.

• There is a classic story that Sir Isaac Newton came up with his law of gravity when an apple fell on his head.

• The most famous saying involving apples is, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

• The fear of apples is known as Malusdomesticaphobia.

Fun & Games

51

GameCenter

52 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

Netherlands

Belgium

Portugal

France

Estonia

Andorra

Romania

Slovenia

Czech Republic

Georgia

Turkey

Hungary

England

Iceland

Albania)

Greece

Wales

Luxembourg

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Azerbaijan

Moldova

Spain

Italy

Malta

Northern Ireland

Denmark

Belarus

San Marino

Austria

Serbia

Ireland

Monaco

Bosnia

Lithuania

Germany

Scotland

Russia

Macedonia

Poland

Switzerland

Finland

Cyprus

Bulgaria

Armenia

Slovakia)

Ukraine

Norway

Sweden

Croatia

53

GameCenter

54 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

Solutions

The hidden message is: THE MOST POPULOUS CITY IN EUROPE IS MOSCOW WHICH HAS OVER EIGHT MILLION PEOPLE

55

InspirationCenter 56 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

Have You Earned Your Tomorrow?

By Edgar Allen Poe

Is anybody happier because you passed his way?

Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?

This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through; Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you?

Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along?

Or a churlish sort of "Howdy" and then vanish in the throng?

Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way, Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today?

Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast, That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed?

Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said; Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?

Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent?

Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent?

As you close your eyes in slumber do you think that God would say, You have earned one more tomorrow by the work you did today?

LaughterTherapy

This year, I need to start eating more healthful, but first I need to eat all the junk food in the house so its not there to tempt me anymore.

57

Dear Residents, Friends, and BPC Family: Last week’s Parsha, Ki Savo, included both Tochacha, (reprimands) as well as Brachos (blessings.)

Chazal scheduled the reading of this Parsha to coincide with the conclusion of one year and the approach of the New Year. ‫תכלה שנה וקללותיה תחל שנה וברכותיה‬ The key to finishing the year with all its misfortunes, and starting the New Year with its blessings is in the beginning of the Parsha that speaks of Bikurim. With this Mitzvah, we are thanking Hashem for all the abundance bestowed upon us during the past year.

The bringing of Bikurim and Hakaras Hatov acknowledges that even in the midst of all the pain and suffering there were much chasodim and Bracha.

Focusing and acknowledging the good is the key to bringing more Brochos.

May we all be able to put misfortunes, pain and suffering behind us, and be zoche to a ‫גוט געבענשט יאר‬.

Harav Aron Wajsfeld Ruv, Boro Park Center

Dear Residents, Friends, and BPC Family: I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a whirlwind.

The sudden escalation of unprecedented events left all of us reeling—and sent public officials scrambling to protect those in their care. Through it all, Boro Park Center has not only maintained State and Federal regulations, but also set a new yardstick for innovations on the safety front. These changes have helped us to build a healthier community for all.

Gradually, we’ve settled into our ‘new normal’, but not without sacrifice. I couldn’t be more proud of the amazing team here at Boro Park Center for everything they have done to make these improvements possible. I also want to thank them publicly for their kindness, dedication, and resilience.

With this amazing team on our side, and your continued cooperation, we will not only survive; we’ll thrive. I look forward to the incredible future we will build together.

Stay strong,

Dr. Jason Zimmerman Medical Director, Boro Park Center

58 / The Center Spirit / September 24, 2020

Kaparos Tashlich

&

2020

Thursday, September 24th for Boro Park Center residents only 4915 10th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 | 718-851-3700 | www.BoroParkCenter.net 59

‫ל‬ ָ ‫נ‬ ‫וּ‬ ‫ח‬ ַ ‫ת‬ ‫ש‬ ׁ ַ ַ ‫פּ‬ ‫ע‬ ְ ‫ר‬

4915 10th Avenue Brooklyn, NY | 718.851.3700