Community Happenings

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 3, 2022 Around the Community

If I Could Talk to the Animals

When Parshas Noach comes around, so do the animals come to visit the Early Childhood Division of TAG. The kid goats love being fed by our eager kids, though some of the goats fed themselves on shrubbery and flowers. Everything was just “ducky” as the girls took turns holding them. It was quite a sight watching the cow MOOVE around the yard giving rides to our talmidos. The talmidos and many of the moros thoroughly enjoyed having the parsha come alive.

This past Friday was week 7 of FM Home Loans 5 Towns Flag Football. We had another great week of intense, fun, and competitive games. Next week, we begin playoffs.

In the Pre-1A division under the direction of Rabbi Jeremy Fine, the boys practiced their offensive skills and truly are on the road to becoming rockstars.

In the 1st grade division, the Giants defeated the Broncos with Max Schwartz’s amazing fast running and catching. And the Jets defeated the Patriots.

In the 2nd grade division, the Vikings defeated the Eagles. The Jets defeated the Broncos with Andy Spira’s all-star touchdown. And the Giants tied with the Patriots.

In the 3rd and 4th grade division, the Seahawks defeated the Vikings with Aron Fox’s insane TDP. The Falcons defeated the Packers. The Raiders defeated the Panthers. The Jets defeated the Texans. The Dolphins defeated the Steelers with Isac Bernstein’s amazing 2 touchdowns. The Broncos defeated the Commanders. The Giants tied with the Eagles. The Saints defeated the Patriots.

In the 5th and 6th grade division, the Seahawks defeated the Panthers. The Eagles defeated the Broncos with Michal Boriskin’s excellent interceptions. The Packers defeated the Vikings. The Steelers defeated the Dolphins. The Giants defeated the Patriots with Yaakov Schattner’s amazing, consistent flag pulls. The Saints defeated the Falcons. And the Raiders tied with the Jets.

In the 7th and 8th grade division, the Texans defeated the Broncos with Hunter Margulies’s insane far catches. The Eagles defeated the Jets. The Commanders defeated the Vikings with Yonah Herman’s game winning touchdown. And the Giants defeated the Patriots.

Stay tuned to see who will win the FM Home Loans Super Bowl! In advance of the second anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, zt”l, more than 150 Jewish communities and day schools from six continents are expected to join together in a global day of learning and Torah conversation, on November 13 and 14. The intercontinental commemoration, being called “Communities in Conversation,” will be inspired by the renowned leader’s teachings and his passion for learning through dialogue.

“As we prepare to mark the second anniversary of the passing of our dear Rabbi Sacks, zt”l, his words, and his mission to inspire deeper conversations on what Judaism means to the individual remain just as relevant on his second yahrtzeit as they were when he first spoke them,” said Rabbi Sacks Legacy Chief Executive Joanna Benarroch. “In his memory, we will bring communities and schools together to learn and to discuss, sharing his wisdom and his teachings with each other and with the world.”

Thus far, communities and Jewish day schools across Israel, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Austria, Australia, Bahrain, Indonesia, Kuwait, The Netherlands, Mexico, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have registered to host communal learning sessions around this year’s yahrtzeit.

The event, this year themed “From Optimism to Hope,” offers participants the opportunity to discuss the writings and philosophy of Rabbi Sacks on the subject. Through curated videos and source sheets, designed to prompt conversation, individuals and groups will learn more about Rabbi Sacks’ philosophy of the differences between optimism and hope and understand its application to their own, Torah-filled, lives. Much like the presentations given by Rabbi Sacks, the multifaceted lesson plan is geared toward spurring discussion among learners of all ages and all religious backgrounds.

“My father learned from books, from text, from laws, history, and from world events. But mainly, he learned from people,” said Gila Sacks, explaining the inspiration for the event. “He would seek out people to learn from, from every possible path of life, and he would do this through conversation – through talking and listening. For him, conversation was a defining and spiritual act, a way of opening ourselves up to something beyond the individual, a training perhaps, for opening ourselves up to G-d.”

Celebrating Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan at SKA

The Student Council of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls prepared an exciting program to welcome the month of Cheshvan on Wednesday, October 26. Presenting an entertaining and hilarious video, the Student Council introduced this year’s theme – Around the World – showcasing various sites, with the Amazon Rainforest as their initial destination.

The SKA entire student body enjoyed a delicious breakfast in the gym with teachers and administrators. The spirited dancing to the sounds of joyful Jewish music was a great way to start the new month!

More Than 150 Communities Across the Globe Expected to Unite in Remembering Rabbi Sacks, zt”l

By Kaitlin Pollack

Extracurriculars in HAFTR High School are inclusive of everyone’s interests, and students are often encouraged to take charge by creating new clubs and teams that do not yet exist. HAFTR’s student body recently participated in its annual club fair, which was held on Thursday, September 22. This activity allowed students to research and choose from a large selection of student-run extracurriculars within the school. With over 40 choices to select from, students are able to cultivate their hobbies and passions with like-minded peers in a “non-academic” setting.

Student leaders and faculty advisors advertised their clubs with cleverly decorated posters and handouts that were displayed around the gym and represented the clubs’ and teams’ features.

Based on their varying interests, future participants were given the opportunity to join clubs that appealed to them. Options include globalization, chessed, book club, college bowl, public speaking, medicine and public health, math team, feminism in film, sports management, YACHAD, and plenty more. HAFTR High School’s extracurriculars offer students unique outlets to express their ideas and foster their hobbies in a productive manner. Students and faculty are eager to begin these programs and commence with new initiatives and activities.

HAFTR High School will hold its annual Open House for prospective freshmen and their parents on Sunday, November 13, at 10 am. All information regarding the Open House and application can be found on our website at haftr.org.

STEAM Education at HANC

This past Thursday evening, Mesivta Shaarei Chaim held its annual Siyum Hagadol Zichron Yerachmiel, which was held in memory of Richie Jedwab, a”h. It was the yeshiva’s privilege to hear divrei chizuk v’zikaron from Rabbi Ari Pruzansky, Rosh Yeshiva Chemdas Hatorah, a close friend of Richie, a”h. His son, Brian Jedwad, said Kaddish, and one of the yeshiva’s bais medrash bochurim, Aryeh Leib Green, said the hadran on Mesechtas Kesubos. The siyum was followed by a beautiful seudah at which each of the many mesaymim received a set of seforim.

In HANC’s Elementary School in West Hempstead, STEAM exploration can be found throughout the classrooms and on every class level. In the sixth grade classes, Mrs. Aimee Goldenberg, HANC Elementary’s Ed Tech Coordinator and Computer Science teacher, has introduced a program in engineering that enlightens children about the complex process by which an Amazon order is fulfilled and shipped. The Amazon Robotics Fulfillment Center Tour introduces the students to the incredible step-by-step process through a series of interactive videos that were filmed in actual Fulfillment Centers across the country. The Amazon tour guides explain the process and enable the students to not only observe the systems in action but provides them with a practical education on how hardware, software, robots and people interact to create a delivery system that operates as efficiently as possible. As they view the series of videos, the children discover how once an item is ordered, there are various algorithms that are utilized to determine where the item is stored, which Fulfillment Center is closest to the purchaser’s home, and then the robots take over to move the storage pods to the “pickers” to prepare all of the items for shipping. Along this journey, the students are presented with challenging questions to see if they can determine how this all works. This program is an excellent tool for exposing young children to practical software and engineering solutions to solving modern day challenges.

“Introducing students to the world of technology at a young age is something that is so important,” explained Mrs. Goldenberg. “I hope to inspire them to explore new opportunities in the STEAM field in the future.”

In the third grade, Mrs. Mindy Lehmann’s classes read a wonderful historical fiction book about the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge called “Pop’s Bridge” by Eve Bunting. After reading this imaginative story, the children read about different kinds of bridges such as suspension bridges, arch bridges, and beam bridges. They also watched video clips from actual engineers about how to construct a bridge using a truss that combines triangles and squares together to make a sturdy bridge.

Utilizing the knowledge that they had gained, the students were given a planning sheet to sketch out the bridge that their crew would make out of toothpicks and marshmallows. Each crew selected one plan that they liked the best and began constructing their bridge together. Through teamwork and ingenuity, some groups created multiple level bridges and others even drew cars, roadways, and water. The bridges were all very creative and the results were truly amazing. As evidenced by the smiles on their faces in the culminating photos, the children thoroughly enjoyed this learning experience.

In kindergarten, the students are exploring the five senses in science class with HANC’s creative science teacher, Mr. Jonathan Eisenkraft. After a preliminary exploration of the sense of touch, the children combined dishwashing soap and cornstarch, and they were surprised to discover that the combination of materials produced a reaction which created a soft dough, similar to playdough. They then utilized their own creativity to create objects from the dough they had made. It was a fun, sticky way to explore reactions, textures, and senses all in one project.

Chanukah Art and Writing Contest

The International Synagogue at JFK Airport is sponsoring its Annual Nationwide Art and Writing Contest for kindergarten through high school students. The art entries should be an original drawing or painting on unlined paper of any size. The more colorful, the better. The writing of 200500 words should be on the topics of “My Greatest Hero/Heroine” or “Why I Love Chanukah” or “My Greatest Present Ever.” Attach a sheet with: your name, address, parent’s phone number and email address, school name and grade. Categories are K-2, 3-8 and high school. Three grand prizes of $200, 3 $100 ArtScroll certificates, 3 prizes of $50, 3 family admission tickets (up to 8 for NY, NJ and PA residents) to The Crayola Factory in Easton, PA. All winning entries will be displayed at JFK Airport, Terminal 4, 4th floor at The International Synagogue and its website. All entries must be received no later than December 8, 2022 at The International Synagogue, JFK Airport, Terminal 4 – room 461.037, Jamaica, NY 11430. Writings can also be emailed to office@internationalsynagogue.org.

Community involvement and good citizenship has always served as a cornerstone to Rambam‘s educational program.

“Our goal has always been to raise committed bnei Torah who exhibit exemplary middos and concern for others,” said Rosh Mesivta, Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman. Political involvement is an important component of this endeavor. Advocating for positive change in the community necessitates political involvement.

Thanks to the efforts of alumni parent Dan Plaut, Anthony D’Esposito and Rambam connected. Arrangements were made to have him address the students and share his thoughts on his current campaign to serve as a congressional representative of the Fourth District. Current Congresswoman Kathleen Rice decided a few months ago not to continue her tenure in Congress. D’Esposito, a Republican, is running against Laura Gillen, his Democratic opponent.

Rabbi Friedman repeatedly mentioned that all candidates would be welcome to share their viewpoints and that those who vote should research and examine the positions of each candidate before casting their ballots. As HaGaon, Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, wrote years ago, “The most fundamental responsibility incumbent upon each individual is to register and to vote.”

Some of the questions that were posed by both faculty and students and were answered adroitly by candidate D’Esposito who has a decorated background in law-enforcement appear below as a synopsis:

Question: On what specific issues do you differ from your opponent?

Answer: My opponent and other Democrats tend to focus on the issue of abortion…I believe Republicans are the party of common sense and are addressing issues of crime and inflation which is at the forefront of everybody’s mind.

Question: Where do you stand in support of Israel?

Answer: There is no doubt that Israel is one of the best allies of the United States. We have to do everything we can to support the Jewish state. I pledge to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure that Israel has everything it needs militarily to protect its people.

Question: What are your thoughts on the southern border and illegal immigration?

Answer: I visited the southern border and was appalled by the situation there. Illegal immigrants and drugs are coming into our country. Many of these are cases of illegal immigrants who end up in New York, and I’m told that there are close to 40 hotels in New York City which are filled with illegal immigrants.

Question: Weren’t those who sent the illegal immigrants to New York and other sanctuary cities sent by Republicans?

Answer: That is true. However, we have to look at the core of the problem. The reason they even got in is because of the lax immigration policy that is currently in place under the Biden administration. My opponent has not spoken out against this policy and even supports it!

Thinking about buying property in Israel?

You might be considering Aliyah in the near future or further down along the line. You might want to purchase property as an investment and/or a vacation home. Either way, you probably have a lot of questions.

Get all the answers and more at the Great Israeli Real Estate Event, taking place this year in two great locations: in Brooklyn, NY, at the Williamsburg Hotel, on 96 Wyeth Ave., on Sun. Nov. 13 from 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; and in Teaneck, New Jersey, at Congregation Keter Torah on Tues. Nov. 15 from 4:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. This is your chance to take advantage of the biggest, most comprehensive Israel real estate event of the year, where you will gain knowledge and information from seasoned experts on all the issues that are important to you. Professionals will tell you everything you need to know about: buying for housing or investment, taking out a mortgage, legal issues, Aliyah, communities, moving your assets, retirement communities, and more.

Get the inside story about the Anglo communities across Israel, including many projects Jerusalem and a large variety in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Modiin, Givat Shmuel, Raanana, Neve Daniel, Efrat, Motza, Haifa, Ma’ale Adumim, Ashkelon, Netanya and more—not only where it’s most worthwhile to buy, but also, the character and nuances of each city, town and community. There’s nothing more valuable than information, and it’s all here for the taking!

Real estate expert Gidon Katz, who has been marketing Israeli real estate to Jews abroad for 25 years, notes that the dollar is now higher than it’s been in many years. “Take advantage of the opportunity to make your purchase when the dollar is strong!”

Don’t miss this real estate event of the year. Light refreshments will be served, and participation is free. Make sure to save the date and register for the day and location that works best for you at: https://realestateisrael.org

Meng Commemorates $233K She Secured For Ohel in Kew Gardens Hills

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens), New York’s senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced this week that she recently visited Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services’ residence for the developmentally disabled in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, to commemorate the $233,000 she secured for upgrading the site.

The building, which opened in 1978 and is located on Kissena Boulevard, is a residence for ten adult men with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The money will be used to overhaul its kitchen and bathroom facilities, and make them more accessible, particularly for older individuals and those with mobility issues including residents who use wheelchairs.

Ohel was founded in 1969 to provide foster care placement for Jewish families, and since then, it has grown into a full-service agency that meets the social and emotional needs of more than 23,000 individuals from all communities.

“The updates to our kitchen and bathroom facilities will go a long way toward improving the lives of our residents,” said Ohel Chief Executive Officer David Mandel. “We are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Meng for obtaining these needed funds, and look forward to continuing to work with her.”

“As New York’s senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’m proud to have secured this important funding that will go toward upgrading key parts of Ohel’s Kew Gardens Hills location,” said Congresswoman Meng. “It is critical for these rooms to meet the current needs of its residents, providing them with the necessities they require, and that includes modernizing and improving the mobility of the kitchen and bathroom facilities. These much-needed renovations will make it easier for those residing here – now and in the future – to use these areas, which in-turn will enhance their quality of life. I look forward to the project beginning soon.”

During her visit, Meng met with Ohel officials, the residents of the site, and several of their family members. The residents also presented Meng with an oversized thank you card they made to express their gratitude for the funding.

The Congresswoman secured the money in a recent federal spending bill.

The HALB Lev Chana children loved meeting animals last week in honor of Parshas Noach

Ateres Eitz Chaim enjoyed an inspirational davening led by Shlomo Ashvil in honor of Rosh Chodesh MarCheshvan. Following Shacharis, the Yeshiva hosted a mesiba with music and a lavish breakfast for talmidim and baal habaatim. In the afternoon, talmidim enjoyed a trip to Dave & Busters.

Thank An Officer Program

Assemblyman Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst) spearheaded a program with local elementary school students to show the community’s appreciation for the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) wherein the students wrote thank you cards to police officers. Dubbed the “Thank an Officer” program, Brown matched four elementary schools from the 20th Assembly District with NCPD Precinct 4.

“This program was designed to help unite the community, and I am so impressed with the outstanding craftsmanship and thoughtfulness the students put into these cards,” said Brown. “Our police work very hard to keep our community safe. It’s often an unappreciated job. I am pleased we could remind them how much our community values their dedication and protection while at the same time also familiarizing kids with law enforcement and bringing the community together. Thank you so much to the teachers who facilitated this project and of course all the students for their wonderful work.”

Participating elementary schools included #8 in Oceanside, #3 in Oceanside, West Elementary in Long Beach, and HALB Elementary 523 in Woodmere.

Around the Community Touro University Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary with Gala and Convocation

Touro University will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary with a gala and convocation on December 4, 2022, to be held at the Marriott Marquis in New York City.

Touro was founded in 1970 by visionary educator, sociologist and rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander to perpetuate the Jewish heritage, as well as to serve the general community in keeping with the historic Jewish commitment to intellectual inquiry, the transmission of knowledge and service to society. Today it is America’s largest private institution of higher and professional education under Jewish auspices, serving 19,000 students at 35 schools across four countries.

“Over the years, we have grown exponentially in terms of our academic offerings and research capacity, but we remain as committed as ever to our mission to support, serve and strengthen the Jewish community,” said President Alan Kadish, M.D.

In addition to its 50th anniversary, Touro is celebrating its new university status, a singular accomplishment. University status is awarded to academic institutions in recognition of the breadth and depth of degree programs offered. Touro students are pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in such fields as medicine, law, dentistry, psychology, business, education, Jewish studies, and other health science areas and disciplines.

At the gala, Touro will honor several individuals who led the university’s expansion, impact, and innovation over the past 50 years.

Dr. Alan Kadish is President of the Touro University System. He is a prominent cardiologist, dedicated teacher, researcher, and scientist and experienced administrator. Alan Kadish, M.D., has developed Touro into one of the largest healthcare educational systems in the U.S. and under his leadership, Touro continues to prepare a new generation of scholars, entrepreneurs, and professional leaders.

Dovid Lichtensteinis an entrepreneur, real estate investor, and a Touro University board member. He is the founder and CEO of The Lightstone Group, one of the largest and most diversified privately held real estate companies in the United States. He has authored several volumes entitled Headlines, which highlight contemporary issues in Jewish law, based on his weekly podcast, Halacha Headlines.

Dr. Robert Goldschmidt joined Touro in 1974 and has served in many capacities, including his current roles as Touro Vice President for Planning and Assessment and Executive Dean at Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences in Brooklyn. He also serves as the Touro College Accreditation Liaison to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Hon. Shelley Berkley is Senior Vice President of External Affairs of the Touro University System. She previously served as CEO and Senior Provost of Touro’s Western Division, where she was administrative and academic head of the Nevada and Northern California campuses of Touro University. Prior to that role, Shelley served the State of Nevada in the United States House of Representatives from 1998 to 2013.

At the gala, the university will present an honorary doctorate to Dr. Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO of Pfizer. During his more than 25 years at Pfizer, Dr. Bourla accelerated the company’s transformation to become a more science-driven, in-

Top (l to r): Dr. Alan Kadish, Dr. Albert Bourla. Bottom (l to r): Dovid Lichtenstein, Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, Hon. Shelley Berkley novative company. Under his leadership, Pfizer delivered a safe and effective vaccine for COVID 19 in just eight months—a process that typically takes eight to ten years— without compromising quality or integrity. A year later, Pfizer delivered the first FDA-authorized oral antiviral treatment for COVID 19. For more information or to reserve tickets, please visit 50.touro.edu/gala.

Did you know? In the U.S., people utilize 4.5 billion zippers every year.

Bais Yaakov Five Towns’ second annual open house was held this past Sunday at their beautiful new campus in Lawrence. Over 100 people were in attendance, eager to learn about the current success of the school and their growth vision for next year and beyond. The hanhala emphasized their student-centered approach, focusing on developing a strong sense of self and a deep pride in being a bas Yisrael. After an exciting video presentation featuring the current nursery, kindergarten, and Pre-1A classes, the parents were invited to tour the state-of-the-art classrooms that will include first and second grade for the 2023-2024 school year. For applications and to find out about our upcoming local Five Towns open houses, please reach out to our office: 516-500-BY5T or visit BY5T.ORG.

Talmidim of Siach Yitzchok enjoyed a seudah in honor of Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan

Around the Community Letter to the Far Rockaway Community

From Richard Altabe

We are all understandably upset with the state of affairs in both Washington and Albany. We are angry and ready to “throw the bums out!” However, we have to be careful this election cycle to make sure we keep those elected officials with a robust record of supporting our causes and our issues.

I can personally attest to the fact that Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato has been a vocal supporter of our yeshivos, especially during the fight over substantial equivalency. In my own efforts the past seven years to advocate at the State Education Department about this issue, Stacey has stood beside me, opening doors and giving me access to members of the Board of Regents and the commissioner of NYSED. She has written many Op Ed’s supporting yeshivas and she speaks with pride about the level of education at “her” yeshivas here in Far Rockaway.

I also know personally of the many individuals who have been helped over the years. Her office is always open to all of us, and she has helped us all navigate tough government issues. We cannot afford to lose this incredible community leader and resource!

We need to understand that as a member of the Democratic conference in the Assembly (where Democrats outnumber Republicans 10743), her voice matters greatly. She has the capacity to influence proposed legislation and to keep the radicals in her conference in check.

No matter how you vote in this election, please be sure to support our Assemblywoman in the way she has supported us over the past seven years. Donning sailor hats, the Pre-1A boys at Yeshiva of South Shore boarded the Miss Princess V boat in Freeport last week. Two zebras, two giraffes and two tigers joined us on our trip.

The boys learned that this boat is big and has two levels, but Noach’s Teiva was much bigger, had three levels, and did not have an engine.

Throughout the week, all the children built their own teivas, explored with water in their raincoats, learned all about animals, and created a rainbow of fun!

Around the Community HANC’s ECC Gets Moving A One-of-a-Kind Israeli Art Exhibition in NYC

In honor of Parshat Lech Lecha, the talmidim in HANC’s Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead engaged in a week full of transportation exploration. Traveling by foot, the children went for a long walk, examining all of the beautiful changes in nature that the season of fall brings to the neighborhood. What else did we do with our feet this week? One little 3-year-old boy from Morah Shani’s class responded, “We painted our feet with blue paint to go from Charan to Eretz Canaan. Then we took toy cars from our center and saw the difference in the prints that a car makes from those that our feet make. I loved it!” The focus then turned to locomotion and exploring the HANC Transportation Showcase and all of the many ways people can move from one location to the other. The children were excited to try out all of the different modes of transportation, including “riding” in a bus, riding on the “HANC train,” soaring on an airplane, and propelling themselves into the sky in a rocket ship. Along the way, the children learned songs about the different forms of transportation and had so much fun as they traveled along the way.

To further enhance their learning, the talmidim had the opportunity to create all sorts of art projects in class relating to the parsha and transportation.

The most spectacular experience this week was the visit from the West Hempstead Fire Department. We were so happy our own nursery bet student Lucy Fruchter’s dad came as a firefighter with their big shiny red fire truck to the ECC for all to see. The children learned about fire safety and even had a chance to go inside the truck and have their picture taken. At the conclusion of the program, each child was presented with a firefighter helmet as a reminder to always stay safe. HANC wishes to thank the West Hempstead Fire Department for their visit and for their tireless efforts to keep everyone in our neighborhood safe. Aspecial pop-up exhibition will feature 60 of Israel’s leading celebrities and government leaders photographed alongside soldiers to generate awareness of PTSD and to secure employment opportunities for Israel’s wounded war veterans. The first-of-itskind art exhibit will debut in New York City on November 17.

The Gallery in Soho will display various portraits of combat veterans in the all-new exhibition. The exhibit, which attracted some of the most famous people in Israel, will be presented in New York City from Nov. 17-20. The PTSD art exhibition features Israeli leaders, including former Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett, as well as Netflix’s “Fauda” stars Rona-Lee Shimon and Tsahi Halevi, pictured with combat veterans. Along with the exhibition, SOS ISRAEL will host a separate event to raise awareness for combat veterans with PTSD. The event aims to institutionalize new rules and procedures, as well as to pass laws to support combat veterans with PTSD, both in their personal and professional journeys.

The exhibition will open in New York on November 17 at 6:30pm. 470 Broome Street, New York, NY.

MTA Freshmen and Seniors Learn Together

This week, MTA ninth graders got their first taste of a special program that pairs twelfth-grade talmidim together with a ninth-grade counterpart. The pairs meet several times throughout the year to learn together, and the relationships become one of mentorship and guidance as the twelfth graders share their experiences and insights with their chavrusas.

An Interview with Morah Shirley Pourad-Kaikov, Director of Student Activities K-5

What activities did the children have the opportunity to experience?

The children were able to experience all different types of animals in the Teivah. There were snakes, llamas, bunnies, goats, and fish. The students especially loved meeting Poochi the Monkey. Following the monkey show, where they watched her perform several tricks, some students were allowed to give Poochi a coin and watch her put the coin in the tzedakah box. The children pet and fed the animals. The students especially appreciated the connection between the story they learned in class about Noach and his Teivah and what they saw for themselves.

How did the weather affect the event?

Though it didn’t rain for forty days and forty nights, we knew there would be no canceling this activity despite the rainy day. The children really got to feel what it was like when Noach and the animals boarded the Teivah.

What types of animals did Noach bring?

In addition to Poochi the Monkey, there were snakes, llama, bunnies, goats and fish.

How do you think this event impacts the students’ understanding of the parsha?

Our younger students learned about the rain and that Noach had to choose and take at least two of each animal onto the Teivah. During this program, the students got to see what the Teivah might have looked like by climbing aboard a smaller, model Teivah, in addition to meeting and petting many different species of animals.

Around the Community Pina Chama (Warm Corner) in Migron Dedicated in Memory of Howard Rhine, a”h

On a cold wintry night in Israel, four soldiers are on patrol protecting the Israeli citizens as they sleep in their warm beds. The hour is nearing 2:00 a.m., and they have been on patrol for six hours already. They are tired and cold.

And then, in the distance, they see a warm glow coming from a small building. They move closer and realize it’s a small oasis, a “Warm Corner” (Pina Chama) built just for them.

They enter the building and are embraced by the warmth. They warm up with a bowl of hot soup and a nice cup of coffee, a fresh cookie to quiet their hunger. Afterward, they continue their patrol refreshed and with renewed energy.

Yashar LaChayal has 31 such Warm Corners for soldiers and is in the process of building two more. These Warm Corners have a major impact on the soldiers. It raises morale to know that there is a place for them to come and rest and have a cup of coffee and a piece of cake during their patrols. It rejuvenates the soldiers and helps them continue to carry out their duties in the best way possible.

Six years ago, the Young Israel of Holliswood donated a beautiful new Warm Corner in Migron. Migron is a small community located next to a major junction in the Binyamin region, just a few miles north of Jerusalem. Because of many terror threats in the area, a large number of soldiers guard the junction, and the Warm Corner was no longer big enough to accommodate them. Yashar LaChayal decided to create a larger Warm Corner so that it could continue to serve the soldiers in the area in the best possible way.

This past Sukkot, Yashar LaChayal opened the new Warm Corner in Migron, thanks to Carol and Judah Rhine and all the generous supporters, family and friends who dedicated the Warm Corner in memory of Judah’s brother, Howard Rhine, z”l.

Howard’s legendary devotion to the State of Israel, especially the IDF, was exemplary. One of his most treasured projects was producing a card printed with the Prayer for IDF Soldiers. These cards are used throughout the Jewish world. Howard was a true friend to Yashar LaChayal, “Straight to the Soldier,” and was extremely passionate about its mission.

The Warm Corner is also named after Dror Weinberg and Dagan Wertman, two officers in the IDF who were killed in the line of duty. Both soldiers have family living in Migron who attended the opening ceremony. The ceremony was festive and inspiring. The entire community, the head of the Binyamin Regional Council, the mayor of Migron, and many soldiers serving in the area attended this joyous occasion.

Soldiers were so excited to walk into the new Warm Corner and see the beautiful room. They were so appreciative of all the supporters from the United States who provided them with such a nice place to relax during patrols, which is so crucial for them.

The soldiers will continue to commemorate Howard’s legacy when visiting the Warm Corner during their daily work protecting the State of Israel.

Rebbetzin Yael Marcus Addresses Shevach

On Monday, October 24, Shevach High School launched its popular Chesed program, under the direction of Shevach Assistant Principal, Rebbetzin Chani Grunblatt. The theme this year is “Chesed Yesovivenu - We’re On a Roll With Chesed.” The multi-purpose room was decorated beautifully with associated artwork and expressions such as “Chesed Around the Clock” and “You’re Always a Winner With the Wheel of Chesed.” The Chesed “roll” models who headed this exciting event were Shevach seniors Gitty Howitt, Nataly Natanov, Batya Orbach and Nechama Schwartz.

Shevach Menaheles, Mrs. Shulamith Insel, opened the event with words of inspiration on chesed derived from Parshas Noach. She relayed that the reason Noach and his family remained in the Teivah for one full year was because a new world, as it were, was created at that time. It was a world of giving and kindness, displayed by the care that Noach gave to the people and the animals in the teivah. And, indeed, our world is built on chesed. All of us are part of this building process when we personify this middah in our commitment to chesed throughout life. It is an essential part of the “new” world order. Guest speaker Rebbetzin Yael Marcus then spoke passionately about the importance of chesed in the life of both the giver and the receiver. She described chesed as a boomerang. When you throw it away from you, it really comes back to you. Similarly, chesed goes on and on, until it eventually comes full circle. And the giver is also a receiver as the action enhances one’s middos, and one becomes a different person as a result of that commitment to what is good.

Rebbetzin Marcus delivered both inspiration and practical applications of doing chesed consistently, throughout life. In practical terms, Rebbetzin Marcus mentioned the value of giving a compliment (yes, giving), lending a listening ear, visiting the elderly even for just a few minutes, and similar small acts of compassion. With personal anecdotes, she drove home the point that no one ever loses out by sharing of their talents and time with others. Givers become receivers as they interact and learn from each other

The morning ended with an original Chesed theme song, followed by an amusing song-video produced by the senior Chesed heads. All would agree that their goal of engaging the Shevach students in this invaluable aspect of their lives was definitely accomplished.

Photos by Gabriel Solomon for Jerry Meyers Studio

Last Friday, HAFTR had the privilege of receiving a visit from the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo Amar. The Chief Rabbi was also joined by local leaders Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive; rabbi Shalom Axelrod, Rabbi of the Young Israel of Woodmere; and Rabbi Shay Schacter, Rosh Bais Medrash of the Young Israel of Woodmere.

Rabbi Amar was danced into the HAFTR Hawk’s Nest gym by eighth grade students led by Rabbi Yisroel Moshe Siff, HAFTR Middle School Coordinator of Student Development, where he was greeted by a crowd of 900 Kindergarten through 8th grade HAFTR students and faculty, all of whom were singing “yamim al ye’mei melech,” led by HAFTR’s Mashgiach Ruchani, Rabbi Asher Klein.

Joshua Gold, HAFTR’s principal, opened the event by welcoming the Chief Rabbi and remarking that “at HAFTR we believe in instilling in our students the importance of living a life that is guided and informed by Jewish values and halacha. One way in which these values are inculcated is through Talmud Torah but providing students with strong role models and leaders who demonstrate and personify these values is an invaluable part of the equation. To this end, having the opportunity to welcome a Gadol HaDor such as Rabbi Amar is a major zechut for our yeshiva, particularly on the yahrzeit of Rav Ovadia Yosef.”

Rabbi Amar was then presented with a citation from County Executive Blakeman, who formally declared October 28th to be Rabbi Amar Day in Nassau County. Following this, Rabbi Amar addressed the highly engaged crowd and shared how inspired he was to see so many students together with their rebbeim and morot, learning Torah in Yeshiva, and doing so with simcha. Rabbi Amar shared a bracha with the Yeshiva to continue to be successful in raising students with a love of our Torah and mesorah. Rabbi Amar closed by leading the packed house in a responsive recitation of the Shema, providing a fitting culmination to what was a truly impactful and inspiring event for all involved.

Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel and current Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Rav Shlomo Amar meeting with the rabbanim of Great Neck last week as a guest of Harav Eliyahu Ben Haim

Veterans Day Ceremony

Our veterans served America with honor and devotion, protecting the ideals of freedom, equality and opportunity, which uniquely make our country the greatest nation on Earth. It is with deep respect that we come together as a community to express our immense gratitude and sincere appreciation for our great veterans.

On Friday, November 11, 2022 at 11:00 AM, the Village of Cedarhurst in conjunction with the Lawrence-Cedarhurst American Legion Post 339, will commemorate Veterans Day at Andrew J. Parise Park.

The program will pay tribute to the Veterans of Post 339 and to all the men and women now serving in the American armed forces around the globe. Chai Lifeline will celebrate its 2022 National Gala on Monday, December 5, at Pier Sixty in New York City. The program, titled “An Evening of Heroes,” will highlight the critical work of Chai Lifeline, the Jewish community’s leading children’s health support network, and benefit families living with serious illness, crisis, and loss.

The inspiring event will feature world-class entertainment, including renowned mentalist Oz Pearlman and a special musical performance by singer-songwriter Yonatan Razel.

Bari and Daniel Erber will serve as Guests of Honor for their longtime commitment and friendship to Chai Lifeline. The Erbers recently dedicated The Happiness Center at Camp Simcha, Chai Lifeline’s overnight summer program for children with life-threatening and lifelong illnesses. The Gala will also recognize The Steven A. Greenberg Charitable Trust for its philanthropic support and pay tribute to Pam and Joe Lubeck and family, who will establish The National Volunteer Leadership Initiative at Chai Lifeline.

“The Gala is an exciting opportunity for the community to celebrate the important work of Chai Lifeline and the heroes who make it all possible,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “We hope you can join us for what promises to be a wonderful evening.”

Chai Lifeline provides critical support to more than 6,000 families around the world through more than two-dozen critical programs and services, including case management, counseling, crisis and trauma interventions, home and hospital respite care, meals delivered to hospitals and homes, transportation to medical appointments, Big Brother & Sister volunteers, i-Shine afterschool programming for children living with illness or loss, insurance advocacy, emergency financial assistance, and its medically-supervised Camp Simcha summer programs.

Chai Lifeline December 5 National Gala Celebrates “An Evening of Heroes”

To reserve a seat or a table at the Gala, donate, or place a journal ad, please visit www.chaidinner.org or call 212-6996658.

Petting Zoo Comes to IVDU

Parshas Noach was taught extensively in the classrooms at IVDU 5 Towns, with our rebbe and teachers teaching the students across all classes about the animals that Noach brought onto the Teiva. In order to bring that experience to life, IVDU 5 Towns had a petting zoo come to school, where the students were able to feed and touch the animals. The children got to experience firsthand what Noach had to do, keeping busy and taking care of the animals’ needs.

At IVDU 5 Towns, the children gain a tremendous amount learning in the classroom, but it is equally important for them to gain the knowledge while experiencing things hands-on outside of the classroom as well.

Chesed opportunities took up much of Thursday, October 27, when all the grades of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls experienced different ways of giving back to the Jewish community.

The eleventh grade did the ultimate chesed shel emes when they volunteered at the Staten Island-based Hebrew Free Burial Society which buries Jews who have no funds. After learning the halachot the day before of the importance for caring for Jewish burial grounds, the girls raked hundreds of leaves to clean up the cemetery. They also said Tehillim for the neshamot of those who were buried there.

SKA seniors brought their enthusiasm and packing skills to Knock Knock Give a Sock, an organization that raises awareness about the homeless and donates much needed socks. Socks are one of the most requested and least donated items at shelters; the organization has given out over one million pairs of socks.

The tenth graders divided into groups to share their energy and abilities with three different dynamic organizations in Brooklyn. One group showed off their culinary skills at Masbia, a non-profit soup kitchen providing hot nutritious meals for hundreds of New Yorkers in need of food. At Bobbie’s Place, where brand-new children’s clothing is available for free to families in need, the SKA girls assisted in setting up the merchandise and preparing the store for customers. The clients of Otsar, a social service organization for adults and children with developmental disabilities, enjoyed the visit from the SKA Sophomores, who crafted art projects and happily danced with them.

SKA freshmen had a wonderful time doing their chesed as they prepared delicious baked goods for the next day’s Bake Sale to be held on Friday, October 28, with the funds going to the Friendship Circle. Thank yous go to SKA faculty members Mrs. Shira Englander, Mrs. Jorge Mallin and Mrs. Yafa Storch for the generous use of their kitchens.

The SKA students understood what a difference their chesed made to others. They realized, too, how the more they give, the happier they felt. Chesed at SKA is an integral part of the school! Mr. Richter’s fifth graders from the Yeshiva of South Shore enjoy learning about current topics around the world. Every Friday, the boys work together in learning centers, reading and analyzing articles in “Time for Kids.”

Each learning center is designed to teach the boys to work collaboratively, which includes both listening and discussion skills. Each group reads and debates the articles assigned and then presents their findings and opinions backed by facts, of course! This past Friday, conversations about recent Nobel Peace Prize winners, the significance of insects, and the possibility of lakes on Mars could be heard throughout the classroom.

The presenters used their team notes and newly gained knowledge to share their insights with the class. Boys then had an opportunity to ask questions related to each article. These new skills are preparing the boys for what lies ahead in middle school. It looks like we may have some candidates who will be ready to join the Middle School Debate Team!

DRS Wildcats Win MDY Pre-Season Tournament

DRS defeated North Shore 34-22 in the Championship game of the Elliot Torkieh Memorial Magen David Yeshiva pre-season tournament. The week-long tournament featured 12 teams from the MYHSAL competing for the title. To win the championship, DRS had to win five games in a row. They defeated Flatbush, Magen Abraham, Hillel, host MDY, and North Shore. Team co-captain Stephen Olshen was DRS’s high scorer, averaging 15.4 a game, and Alex Millstone added 11.4 per game. Other big contributors to DRS’s victories were ball handler and floor leader Ari Saffra and co- captain Isaac Solomon who, along with Shuey Bernstein, dominated on the boards.

Around the Community At the Aish Kodesh Annual Hilula for the Aish Kodesh of Piasezcna, zy”a, on Motzei Shabbos with music by R’ Yosef Karduner and R’ Eitan Katz

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 3, 2022 Chai Lifeline Crisis and Trauma Response Expands its Global Network

Addressing the growing need for mental health first-responders in Jewish communities around the globe, Rabbi Dr. David Fox, Director of Chai Lifeline Crisis Services, recently traveled to London to train local educators and communal leaders in trauma response. In recent years, Chai Lifeline has been instrumental in working with communities around the world in the wake of all types of disasters, attacks, tragedies, and traumatic events.

A highly respected forensic and clinical psychologist, rabbi and dayan, Rabbi Dr. Fox’s methods are based on the latest research in emotional psychology and specifically oriented for the cultural and behavioral needs of Orthodox Jews.

Over the course of several days, Rabbi Dr. Fox held training intensive sessions with members of the Crisis Intervention and Trauma Support (CITS), a coalition of London-based agencies and organizations in the religious community formed to collaborate in the field of crisis support. Understanding the respect and position held by rabbanim and dayanim in supporting community initiatives, Rabbi Dr. Fox also met with members of London’s Hatzola and Kesher and spent hours answering halachic and other questions at a Melave Malka session.

“We know that we need to be increasingly prepared for all types of traumas that can affect our families and communities because the impact of a singular event can have long term effects even years later,” Rabbi Dr. Fox explained. “At Chai Lifeline’s Crisis Services, we have been on the ground with all sorts of personal, family and community tragedies in recent years and see it as our personal responsibilities to ensure that those lessons are being applied for the benefit of other communities around the world.”

Following the in-person courses, Rabbi Dr. Fox will remain in touch with all the participants and will serve as a consultant and supervisor for continued training or specific cases.

“The very nature of tragedy is that for the most part it arrives without any notice as we’ve seen in the cases of terror and antisemitic attacks, natural disasters, building collapses as well as personal tragedies that affect individual families and communities,” explains Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “Our goal is to further expand the Jewish community’s largest global network of local mental health first responders who are ready and available when these disaster strikes and able to implement the critical responses in times of trauma.”

To reach Chai Lifeline Crisis Team, contact its 24-hour Crisis Helpline at 855-3-CRISIS (855-327-4747) or email crisis@chailifeline.org.

JSL Week 5

JSL Juniors

The boys continue to develop their skills in our Juniors division and are showing tremendous improvement from the start of the season!

K/P Hockey: Avi Langer made some incredible plays on defense & Yehuda Schwartz scored with 1 minute left to give ARG the win! 1st Hockey: Mordechai Kirschner made incredible saves in goal to give his team a hard-fought 4-2 win!

K/P Soccer: David Mashiach of ARG played an amazing game in net. Simcha Day Camp beat Hewlett Auto Body 7-4. Ariel Avigdor made the play of the game with an amazing sliding save to keep SDC in the lead! 1st/2nd Football: Shua Paull of The Rebbe’s Choice could not be stopped on Sunday, scoring 4 of the 5 touchdowns to give his team the 5-4 victory! Shua was spotted eating The Rebbe’s Choice herring during his pregame warmup.

JSL Basketball League

3rd Grade: Aaron Walkin of Maidenbaum drew the contact and still scored the basket in an impressive play, ultimately leading his team to a 12-8 victory over ARG. Shua Greenberg of Island Roofing came back from his injury a week ago and scored most of his team’s points! 4th/5th Grade: Alpert Financial remains undefeated, with another big win Sunday! Ezra Rosman was clutch down the stretch for them, hitting important free throws. Dovi Cohen of Carving Block made some nifty moves on offense, fueled by amazing pastrami and ribeye steak from Carving Block! They would go on to defeat 925 Sterling 18-12. 6th-8th Grade: 5 Towns Pediatric Dentistry stayed strong to the end in their hard-fought win over 5 Towns Orthodontist. Moishe Jacobs led the charge with 15 points and some clutch free throws at the end of regulation. Paradigm’s offense shined against Wieder Orthodontists, scoring 71 points! Reuven Lapidus made the play of the game when he faked out the defender with a mean crossover and score!

JSL Hockey League

2nd/3rd Grade: Nesanel Teitlebaum, playing goalie for the first time in his young career, shut the door on Elegant Lawns’ offense, allowing zero goals in Paradigm’s 6-0 win!

4th/5th: Game MVP Dovid Balter scored a hat-trick, leading Town Appliance to a 6-4 victory over 5 Towns Pediatric Dentistry. 925 Sterling, infused with new life by the addition of Gavriel Levine & coach Charles Levine, won their first game of the season! Gavriel, the division’s youngest player, scored 3 of the 6 goals. 6th-8th: Hunter Zeitlin was a brick wall for 5 Towns Orthodontics, leading his team to a 7-3 victory over 5 Towns Central. BayRock Insurance held on 5-4 over Wieder Orthodontics.

JSL Men’s Basketball

Three-time champ PIP Printing coasted to another victory Sunday night, winning 67-47 over Westwood Realty. Yitzi Weider continued his JSL dominance, with 21 points! The Rebbe’s Choice led by captain Dovid Winter narrowly defeated Home & Stone 48-40. Ikey Cohen of Island Roofing made seven 3’s but his team fell 61-47 against Team Maidenbaum.

Game of the Week

No winner could be decided in a tough contest between ARG & JNT. Tied at 2-2, the game went into shootouts where both goalies made incredible saves.

Swag Alert

The boys at LWA received their FM Home Loans sweatshirts this week! Men’s players received Nike FM/JSL hats. The custom card magnets by FM and Maidenbaum are being printed this week!

Basketball Fun Fact

10 JSL boys will get to play on the court at Madison Square Garden before the Knicks game on December 4!

Around the Community Cedarhurst Snow Removal Improvements

The Inc. Village of Cedarhurst and the business improvement district (BID) have once again collaborated on another amazing pilot project that is expected to benefit our resident, merchants, and all who patronize our business district. The BID and the Village Board have equally assembled funding to purchase a new piece of equipment: an enclosed snow throwing machine with a rotating broom to clear the sidewalks during snowstorms.

The Village will have its employees clear the sidewalks of snow during a snowstorm, saving the merchants endless time. The merchants will still be responsible for clearing their doorways and salting their sidewalks. This new piece of equipment can also be used to clear sidewalks around the park, Village Hall, and parking lots. It is expected to be a time saver, helping the Village clear snow more efficiently.

A gathering of Village officials and BID representatives took place on Friday, October 28 at 9:30 AM in front of Cedarhurst Village Hall.

Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato Nominates Far Rockaway Yeshivas For Security Funding

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-South Queens) submitted paperwork to nominate numerous yeshivas in Far Rockaway for funding to improve security and ensure the safety of the students. The Assemblywoman has been credited as a renowned advocate and fighter for yeshivas, receiving the praise of many from the community.

Pheffer Amato fiercely advocated for funding that could go towards certain projects – with security and safety for Yeshivas being a key focus.

“The Yeshivas in Far Rockaway are educational powerhouses with students excelling in countless subjects. Yet there is sadly a great deal of bigotry, antisemitism, and false reporting in media outlets about the schools and what they do, and that is unacceptable,” said Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato.

She continued, “Through this capital investment in security, we are ensuring that the schools are fortified to the highest degree of safety. I want every parent and family to know that when their children attends a yeshiva in Far Rockaway, they are not only getting a remarkable education but will also do so in a safe and protected environment.”

Children at Shulamith ECC learned about Parshat Lech Lecha in a hands-on way by attempting to count grains of sand, as Hashem promised He will make the children of Avraham Avinu as many as the dust of the earth. The HALB Middle School Robotics Team had their first meeting last week. Students are working on building a robot to compete in the CIJE Robotics Competition later this school year. Preschool students at Lev Chana used experiments to learn about rain and evaporation

SHS Senior Shabbaton

By Esti Scharf

This past Shabbos, the seniors of Shulamith High School had their Senior Shabbaton.

Our Friday night meal was held all together in Shulamith, and it was filled with warmth, great energy, and achdus. Towards the end of the seudah, each girl got up to give a toast to the whole grade, reflecting on the past four years together. I really enjoyed this because it got us all to reminisce on the great memories we’ve had over the years.

On Shabbos morning, we had the privilege of going to the Young Israel of Woodmere and hearing the beautiful davening, followed by divrei Torah from Rav Shlomo Amar. We then all went to our incredible hostesses’ houses for the Shabbos lunch meal. To end off the amazing Shabbos, the whole grade had seudas shlishis together, hosted by the Cywiaks. We played some games as a grade and heard a beautiful musical havdala.

This Shabbaton was a mix of emotions for me, because it was our last Shabbaton as just a grade, but I’m so glad that I was able to spend the past four years with my amazing grade and am able to say that these were the best four years of my life.

HALB Launches Peer Mediation

Conflict resolution is an important life skill whether you’re an adult or a child and providing the skills to work through conflict at a young age is a gift HALB is able to give their students thanks to a non-profit called Creative Response to Conflict. Last year, HALB received State Funding to be able to bring Creative Response to Conflict into the Elementary School. They observed classes, gave important feedback, and provided training to HALB staff. At the end of the school year, they Introduced Peer Mediation for grades 3-5.

Beginning in June 2022, 11 boys and 11 girls (current 5th graders) sat through several days of training on how to be mediators to their peers. The goal of this program is to give students the skills to help their peers and younger students navigate conflicts during the school day. In total, our Peer Mediators participated in 18 hours of training where they learned important mediation skills including active listening, non-judgmental behaviors, confidentiality, validation and reflecting back. An assembly last week for 3rd through 5th graders kicked off HALB’s Peer Mediation. All mediation will take place with an adult present, with the goal that the adult is simply there to supervise while students handle and resolve the conflicts between their peers.

Getting to Know Mrs. Fraydie Sauber, CAHAL Morah

Talmud Yerushalmi and Talmud Bavli were contemporaries. Both were being created at the same time, the Bavli in Babylonia and the Yerushalmi in northern Eretz Yisrael – but there was a big difference between them. Jews of Bavel were relatively free and rarely persecuted. Their communities flourished, and so did their great Torah academies. When the distinguished sages – the Amoraim of Bavel – determined that the Talmudic period was ending, Ravina and Rav Ashi organized and edited the hundreds of years of scholarship into the Babylonian Talmud, the Talmud that has been studied by Jews everywhere to this day.

Not so the Talmud Yerushalmi. Eretz Yisrael was under the crushing, brutal, despotic rule of the Roman Empire, which is why the sages of the Talmud moved to the relative obscurity of the north. But even there, they were persecuted so mercilessly that the academies were forced to close and the sages dispersed in about 450 C.E. The scholarship of the North could not be properly edited and most of the handwritten manuscripts were destroyed. Remarkably and sadly, Rashi – the premier commentator – never saw the Talmud Yerushalmi!

But Hashem has pledged that the Torah would never be forgotten – and so the Yerushalmi survived and nearly all the manuscripts were discovered. But, thanks to Roman Jew-hatred and cruelty, many of the texts were riddled with errors and the material was often not well organized and difficult to follow. As a result, for nearly sixteen centuries, only accomplished scholars were able to decipher and understand this priceless, seminal companion to the Talmud Bavli. It was like a great repository of gold and jewels locked in a safe without a known combination.

In 1980, at the Knessia Gedolah, the Mo’etzes Gedolei HaTorah adopted the initiative of the Gerrer Rebbe, the Lev Simcha zt”l, and instituted a Daf Yomi cycle of Talmud Yerushalmi. Although many people started studying with this new cycle, due to the difficult language and style of the Yerushalmi, it largely remained a closed book to most people.

Then, 25 years later, the pioneering Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz, zt”l, the visionary Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein, the trailblazing Mesorah Heritage Foundation, the brilliant team of scholars and editors that produced the Schottenstein Editions of Talmud Bavli, and many generous dedicators joined to seize the opportunity to unlock Talmud Yerushalmi and make it available to every Jew desiring its vast riches.

So it was that the historic editions of the Schottenstein Talmud Yerushalmi in Hebrew and English came into being after over sixteen years of intense scholarship. The Jewish people will forever be enriched by this Torah masterpiece.

Rabbi Zlotowitz predicted that the Schottenstein Yerushalmi will go down in history as ArtScroll/Mesorah’s greatest achievement.

Already, many thousands of people all over the world have begun the serious and satisfying study of Yerushalmi, something that would have been unthinkable for them just a few years ago.

Now that this treasure is available for all people, thousands are ready to enthusiastically begin the 11th cycle of Talmud Yerushalmi’s Daf Yomi on November 14.

The Mesorah Heritage Foundation will be distributing Yerushalmi Daf Yomi calendars for free, laying out the days of a 5-1/2-year Yerushalmi Daf Yomi cycle based on the Oz V’hadar page layout as used in the Schottenstein Edition. In addition, due to increased demand, the Mesorah Heritage Foundation will soon be releasing a compact size of the Hebrew and English Schottenstein Yerushalmi, similar to the compact size Schottenstein Talmud Bavli, which is so popular among Talmud learners across the globe.

Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, remarked that because Talmud Yerushalmi has historically been a “limud yasom,” an “orphaned area of Torah study,” those who learn Talmud Yerushalmi earn a great zechus.

For the past seven years, CAHAL has been fortunate to have Mrs. Fraydie Sauber as an outstanding Morah. Having taught grades 2-8, Mrs. Sauber is currently teaching a 2nd and 3rd grade class at BBY and loves her girls! She is passionate about teaching Limudei Kodesh and particularly loves teaching Chumash and crucial foundation skills. Mrs. Sauber enjoys watching her students make progress at their own levels, as she teaches each girl and focuses on what each individual student needs. Mrs. Sauber is an “out-of-the-box” teacher and uses role play, dress-up, and interactive games to reinforce lessons. Creativity and patience are Mrs. Sauber’s specialty, and her students are fortunate to have a morah with these wonderful qualities.

Shulamith Middle School Achdut Trips