Community Happenings

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 10, 2022 Around the Community

Our Community Came Out in High Numbers to Exercise Their Right to Vote This Election Season

The DRS varsity basketball team traveled to Auburn Alabama to participate in the first NCSY and Athletes for Israel Auburn Experience. In addition to a five team tournament, we were treated to a meeting with coach Bruce Pearl of Auburn University and attended opening night for the Auburn Tigers. Shabbos was great with NCSY ruach and meeting some jewish members of the community.

DRS defeated HAFTR and Kushner to advance to the championship game against Katz Yeshiva from Boca Raton. In the finals, the Wildcats played great basketball from the opening tip jumping to a big lead and never letting Katz back into the game. Final score: DRS 71, Katz 26.

Issac Solomon led all scorers with 20 points and was named tournament MVP. Ari Saffra added 16 points and was selected to the tournament all-star team. Gesher students have been enjoying their brand-new gymnastics special, given by expert Aviva Skolnik. They warm up with different exercises, work on balance, do tumble-sauces and enhance their gross motor skills.

BYAM High School Hosts Open House

BYAM High School held its annual Open House to an overflow crowd at Beth Shalom, in Lawrence, on Wednesday evening, November 2. The high school, currently located at 1 Piermont Ave in Hewlett, is currently in its first year with a ninth grade class.

Students and parents listened attentively, as they were addressed by Mr. Isaac Zafir, president of the high school, as he eloquently re-iterated the vision and goals of Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam High School, now entering its second year.

Mrs. Ruchie Sokoloff, principal, spoke of the high school’s dedicated staff, the high academic standards, and the plethora of extra-curricular activities. Mrs. Sokoloff shared the daily excitement for learning that permeates halls and classrooms, coupled with the warm achdus that has developed between the students almost immediately. She cited a timely metaphor in Parshas Behaloscha which defines BYAM High School’s chinuch philosophy, Mrs. Sokoloff stated that the word usage of “behaloscha,” in describing how the Menorah should be lit, refers to raising up the flame, not merely to light it. “So, too,” concluded Mrs. Sokoloff, “is our methodology of chinuch. We are dedicated to ‘raising the flame’ with each student – nurturing and fostering consistent and lasting growth in all areas.”

Chana Pantiiat, current ninth grader at BYAM HS, addressed the crowd next. She beautifully shared her experiences as a new high school student and commented on the closeness of staff and students, the feelings of inclusion that she felt almost immediately, and the caliber of academic excellence that she is encountering. She aptly described the warm Bais Yaakov atmosphere of the school and invited the eighth grade students who were in attendance to be a part of BYAM HS.

Rabbi Nosson Neuman, Menahel, greeted the assembled warmly and defined his vision of BYASM HS with the following from Gemarah Brachos: R. Elazar ben Azaria added another 300 benches to the Bais Medrash – not specifically talmidim. Rabbi Neuman noted that sharing the benches exhibits a sense of caring for one another – which is paramount to the educational growth of our talmidos.

The evening culminated in a most meaningful video which depicted the daily interactions of BYAM HS students, included thoughtful interviews with staff and hanhala, and included a current parent’s warm words about his child’s experiences in the school.

At the close of the evening, the current eighth graders were invited to a team-building activity in an adjacent room. One aspect of the activity was requesting that each girl share her “takeaway” about the evening on cards, to be collected. Some of the student insightful takeaway included, “BYAM seems like a very warm school, with a solid Bais Yaakov hashkafa” and “I was wowed that the principal meets with every girl just to hear her thoughts.” And yet another commented, “I really like how there is a special connection between students and staff. “

It was very clear to see that the essence of what BYAM HS is so well communicated to both the parents who attended and the students themselves. As one eighth grader commented so astutely, “I was very impressed with the visions and goals that BYAM HS has. We share a lot in common.”

Around the Community Literature Initiative at Ateres Eitz Chaim

Led by Rabbi Boruch Oppen, the talmidim of Ateres Eitz Chaim were presented with a new initiative that will benefit their ELA. The Book Club encourages students to read books of their choosing during their free time. Talmidim write a summary of their book and present it, as well as posting the title and name of the author on the “Book Club Wall” introducing other students to new books. This also gives students a sense of pride for taking on the challenge.

After completion, talmidim are presented with a voucher sponsored by Pizza’le.

(L-R) Rabbi Tenenboim, Chabad of Hewlett, who escorted Rav Lau; Great Neck activist Dr. Paul Brody; Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Geisinsky, Chabad of Great Neck in his private study; with Rabbi Lau

Israel’s Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi Dovid Lau (seated) addressed and responded to topical questions from representatives of the Great Neck community at the invitation of Chabad of Great Neck’s Rabbi Yossi and Chani Geisinsky last Thursday evening. During the day, the Chief Rabbi visited Chabad’s Silverstein Hebrew Academy (SHA). The Young Israel of Hewlett was privileged to host Chief Rabbi Dovid Lau at Mincha of Shabbos Parshas Lech Lecha. Chief Rabbi Lau spoke to a packed audience at Shalosh Seudos and uplifted the community with his words. Rabbi Lau is pictured here with mara d’asra Rabbi Simcha Hopkovitz.

Mercaz Academy students were honored with a visit from the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Lau, on Friday, November 4. Excited students gathered in the cafeteria, eagerly awaiting his arrival as Principal Rabbi Kalman Fogel explained the significance of a visit from someone great in both Torah and in the administration of medinat Yisrael, the State of Israel.

“Rabbi Tuvia Teldon of Chabad of Long Island called me last week to tell me that the Chief Rabbi of Israel was interested in visiting our school. I was surprised because we’re so new, and not very big,” said Rabbi Fogel. “But Rabbi Teldon said that Rabbi Lau wanted to see us because he knows how vital we truly are to Jewish life here.”

When the Chief Rabbi arrived on Friday morning, he was greeted by excited kindergarten students and their teachers, who lined the entrance hall to welcome him with a “bruchim habaim.” Rabbi Lau then met with the younger students, chatting with the children, exchanging greetings and blessings with them, and joining each class for a photograph.

Rabbi Lau met with the fourth, fifth, and sixth graders for a conversation, speaking to them with great warmth and humor. He began by sharing a Torah thought about Rachel, our foremother, whose yahrzeit was that night.

The Chief Rabbi then took questions, and students asked their questions in Hebrew. They inquired about the most difficult parts of his job (the responsibility of connecting young people to previous generations through Judaism), the best part of his job (talking to students like those at Mercaz), as well as about Chumash and halacha. Rabbi Lau answered them all with patience, good humor, and a clear admiration for their desire to learn. He told them that speaking Hebrew is the best way to connect Jews in America to Jews in Israel and to Torah itself.

Before the Chief Rabbi left, Mercaz Academy students recited Tehillim on behalf of his wife, who is ill. Rabbi Lau expressed his gratitude and explained that praying for others is also a way to connect to them. Prayer, he told students, bridges generations and the miles between the US and Israel.

“The excitement was palpable, and you could feel it when they walked in the door,” said President of the Board Jeffrey Lichtman. “The Chief Rabbi inspires them to envision themselves in roles of greater achievement and giving back to their community, not by his celebrity, but by his leadership in Torah and his involvement in the world.”

Israel Education Week at SHS Tackling Important Issues at Central

In commemoration of the 105th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration on November 2, Shulamith High School celebrated its annual Israel Week last week, targeting the dual goals of educating students about modern Zionist history and heightening their passion to serve as its advocates. To achieve these missions, the programming throughout the week was split between educational content and lively festivities.

Early in the week, students participated in workshops where they reviewed the facts and timelines of Zionism throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, covering the major events, dates, wars, declarations, and resolutions. On Tuesday, SHS got a literal taste of Israel, beginning with hummus tasting during the morning break and sharing in a sellout Babka Bash, alongside their mothers and hundreds more from the extended Shulamith family that evening.

On the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, the SHS history department displayed their stellar acting skills at the Balfour Tea Party, as they reenacted the scene they imagine preceded the declaration, while students watched with rapt attention, while snacking on crumpets and sipping tea.

The week concluded with an Israeli Film Festival, at which students selected from many options of educational films to learn a topic of their choice in greater depth, and an Israeli dance party to end the week with the ruach and excitement that is synonymous with SHS. The mission to educate and inspire remains the driving force behind all Shulamith programming; we look forward to our students’ growth as informed ambassadors of Israel in their personal and professional lives! On Monday, October 24, Central welcomed Rahel Bayar, lawyer and CEO of the Bayar Group, to discuss a crucial topic with all four classes: boundaries and consent. Bayar brought her experience as a former child abuse prosecutor to an honest and direct conversation about safe spaces and how Central students can protect themselves, and one another, in the larger world. The conversation addressed several issues: physical assault, cyberbullying and consent, the concept of bystander intervention on social media, and what recourse young people have to protect themselves against the threat of certain dangerous behaviors online.

At the heart of these issues was the concept of power – often a difficult discussion to broach. Bayar addressed these issues directly, with honesty, humor, and warmth.

“She used tactics that were relatable to high school students to address the stigma around teens setting up boundaries in their everyday life,” said junior Samantha Burger.

Junior Gitty Kahn agreed. “Rahel Bayar perfectly balanced discussing the very serious topic of establishing safe boundaries in person and over the internet, with humor and in-person examples of uncomfortable situations,” she said. “Her background as a prosecutor allowed her to bring a New York law perspective into why we, as teenage girls, need to keep safe boundaries and what to do if the boundaries we set are violated.”

Bayar emphasized the importance of communication, particularly in the frum community, and how a sense of trust and open dialogue can keep young people safe.

Junior Lois Rifkin seconded the crucial nature of such programming. “I learned that, if I am ever in trouble, I should ask an adult for help right away. This presentation inspired me to be extra careful when it comes to posting on social media.”

In a powerful concluding activity, students were organized into breakout groups and encouraged by a guiding faculty member to talk to one another about these issues. The exchanges that resulted were made easier by Bayar’s presentation.

Chazaq’s life-changing work is known throughout the Jewish community. Thousands of people from all backgrounds are inspired by their events and lectures each year since their inception in 2006, though, as we all know, Chazaq’s main goal and mission is to educate and inspire Jewish public school students in the Queens community and beyond.

In the last 12 months alone, Chazaq touched the lives of 1,192 public school students with 670 being children from their Shaping Lives Program and 522 from their JWave teens’ division. Baruch Hashem, 207 of them were transferred to yeshivas. Since 2017, Chazaq has registered 1,324 students to yeshiva, all truly remarkable accomplishments.

Just days after the holiday season came to a close, Chazaq kicked things off with a staff appreciation meeting at Pier 26 to go over their exciting plans for the coming year. Every division was represented at the meeting from the Public School to Yeshiva division, JWave Teens (Boys and Girls), Shaping Lives Sunday School Program, Beis Medrash/Kollel, the Food Pantry, and the office and Chazaq event staff.

Rabbi Yaniv Meirov, CEO of Chazaq, started off the event by expressing his gratitude and appreciation for the staff. He and other higher level members of the Chazaq team spoke about some internal changes to allow processes to run more efficiently, and ultimately, will allow Chazaq to increase its bandwidth to help more kids and teens get a Jewish education

“Lives are being changed,” says Rabbi Meirov. “What’s being done is truly impacting so many lives, but a lot more needs to be done. We can’t stop.”

At the end of November, Chazaq is having a Charidy Campaign, which will be a 36-hour worldwide campaign to get the community at large to assist in their life-changing mission. “Our goal is to strengthen our Shaping Lives programs for children, and the Jwave Division for teens, and expand to more and more communities,” said Meirov.

Stay tuned for a lot of exciting growth for Chazaq this coming year!

To keep up to date with Chazaq’s amazing work and become a part of the revolution, please visit www.Chazaq.org, email events@chazaq.com, or call 718285-9132.

5 Towns Flag Football Superbowl

This past Friday was the last week of FM Home Loans flag football. We had an amazing season and can’t wait to see everyone’s talents next spring!

In the 2nd grade division, the Vikings defeated the Broncos with Benny Pollack’s all-star touchdowns and Moshe Schwalb’s all-star touchdown.

In the 3rd and 4th grade division, the Raiders defeated the Panthers with Avigdor Perl’s consistent short catches and flag pulls.

In the 5th and 6th grade division, the Panthers defeated the Steelers with Jonah Cohen’s all-star touchdown pass!

In the 7th and 8th grade division, the Eagles defeated the Texans with MVP Isac Weisfeld and Charlie Mayer touchdowns, interceptions, and flag pulls.

Can’t wait for next season. Registration is already opened and filling up fast. www.5townsflagfootball.com

Trash 4 Treasure

You know the old saying, “One man’s trash is not enough!” OK, we may have changed the ending a little, but in the case of Trash 4 Treasure, it is simply the truth.

Trash 4 Treasure is an organization that collects bottles and cans and redeems them for the cash deposit. For those of you unfamiliar with the cash deposit system, check your receipt next time you buy a soft drink or case of water bottles. You will see a charge for 5 cents per bottle. When you return the bottles to a store or redemption center, you get your deposit back. Many people are unaware of this; while for others, it is just not worth the effort to redeem their bottles. But Trash 4 Treasure was built on the premise that small change adds up – and how it has!

Thousands of bottles have been collected and sorted, counted and exchanged, with the funds earned being saved up to accomplish a most lofty goal – to purchase a Sefer Torah! Word of the campaign spread fast, and people around the New York metropolitan area have been drinking for a cause ever since. With the help of friends, family, neighbors, and complete strangers, we have B”H reached our goal.

Consider this our personal invitation to join us at the Hachnosas Sefer Torah this week, and a HUGE thank you to all of those who took part in the campaign. We were only able to accomplish our goal because of the many people who took our idea to heart and were able to share our vision. So while one man’s trash would never have been enough, many people’s trash has added up to the most valuable treasure of all. I’ll drink to that!

The Hachnosas Sefer Torah will be held Sunday, November 13. Kesivas osiyos at 1:15pm at Ohr Torah, 410 Hungry Harbor Road, Valley Stream, NY. The Outdoor Torah Parade will be at 2:30, starting at Ohr Torah and heading to Young Israel of North Woodmere, 634 Hungry Harbor Road.

Rabbi Nachum Tenenboim, rabbi of the Chabad of Hewlett, Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi David Lau, and Rabbi Pesach Lerner, chairman of Eretz Hakodesh, after Shacharis last week at Chabad of Hewlett In honor of Parshat Noach and the special symbol of the rainbow, the three- and four-year-old children at HAFTR joined together to create their own rainbow

Rambam Shabbaton at Camp Seneca Lake

The Annual Rambam Mesivta Shabbaton was held last week at Camp Seneca Lake, and it was a weekend filled with fun, ruach, sports, games, and meaningful messages. On Thursday, the freshmen and sophomores went up along with the seniors who functioned as “Big Brothers” to their underclassmen. The juniors went on their own trip, “Junior Journey,” with their rebbeim in a day of bonding that included laser-tag, videogaming, some time at Eisenhower Park, and a film. They then joined the rest of the school at Seneca on Friday.

While the juniors were journeying, the rest of the school was at Seneca Lake swimming, playing basketball, hockey, softball, frisbee, soccer, and more! Principal of Rambam, Rabbi Yotav Eliach, also met with each grade to discuss the message of standing up to peer pressure. After a midnight BBQ, the 9th and 10th graders assembled in the Seneca gym to take on the seniors, and honorary senior, Associate Principal Mr. Hillel Goldman, in an epic game of dodgeball. Despite their years of experience and high dodgeball IQ, the fresh-legs of the underclassmen took the win in a stunning upset that reverberates to this day!

Before the juniors arrived the next day, Mr. Goldman met with the freshmen, sophomores, and senior advisors for a session on “perspective” and reinforced Rabbi Eliach’s earlier message of maintaining one’s value system in the face of the “mob.”

With the arrival of the juniors on Friday, multiple tournaments were able to get underway! The JV Quest for the Cup, featuring JV Basketball vs. JV Hockey in a neutral sport – this year, football – commenced with the players receiving special “JV Cup” t-shirts. With MVP Abie Steiner leading the way, JV Basketball was back on top. Up next was the Varsity Quest for the Cup with Varsity Hockey taking on Varsity Basketball in Volleyball. After donning their Varsity Cup t-shirts that read “Rambam Raven Nation,” with a robust crowd in attendance, the Hockey team won the day avenging last year’s loss.

Next up was a schoolwide Flag Football Tzedakah Tournament with all proceeds going to benefit the Camp Scholarship Fund. Over 80 students participated in the tournament that started on Friday and would culminate Motzei Shabbos. While the tournament was going on, the other students played ping-pong, Foosball, videogames, and more in the Seneca Game Room. The Boardgame Room was also open, and students had over 30 games to sample!

Shabbos at Seneca was a meaningful experience that began with a stirring Kabbalat Shabbat led by senior Boaz Duftler. Rosh Mesivta Rabbi Zev Meir Freidman then shared divrei Torah with the school, and the meal that followed was filled with Zemirot. An after-the-meal Tisch was led by Rabbi Yossi Ziskind, and students could be heard singing for miles. The rest of the Shabbos was filled with learning, divrei Torah, and an open Boardgame Room and concluded with Havdalah led by Rabbi Eliach.

Motzei Shabbos featured the conclusion of the Flag Football Tournament; more swimming and sports; and even more food: pizza and ice-cream, and waffles! At around midnight, the Annual Homerun Derby began with dozens of students taking their chances trying to go the distance. Sophomore Etai Kreitner was the conclusive winner, and everyone celebrated with some late-night hot dogs before the seniors went to their senior bonfire and BBQ.

The Shabbaton was a wonderful weekend experience that allowed students to have some fun while instilling in them significant messages and bonds that will last a lifetime.

The children in HALB Lev Chana enjoyed planting kale and picking carrots in the Grow Torah garden

Board Breaking & Books

SKA Kicks Off Israel Awareness

Hindi’s Libraries has partnered with Warren Levi Martial Arts in Cedarhurst to host a free family-friendly community event to welcome the Thanksgiving season and celebrate the power of reading. Our event, Board Breaking & Books, will take place on Sunday, November 13 from 10:45am12:15pm at Warren Levi’s studio and will include inflatables, author readings (by local children’s authors including Warren Levi and Leslie Gang, co-founder of Hindi’s Libraries), Thanksgiving book packaging for local families in need, great raffle prizes, vendor and nonprofit showcases, and more!

As a religious Zionist school, the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls has always made the State of Israel a primary focus. SKA’s student initiative, the Israel Awareness Committee, has been very active in the school over the years, organizing workshops to teach students how to stand up for Israel on college campuses, showcasing speakers from the IDF and those who are victims of terror, and conducting fundraisers for Israelis’ needs. Annual AIPAC visits, lobbying trips to Washington and letter writing campaigns to advocate for Israel have been some of the missions of SKA’s IAC.

This year’s SKA’s IAC schoolwide kickoff took place on Tuesday, November 2. The goal of the event was to expose the world’s anti-Israel bias. The students visited different rooms and watched presentations given by members of the Israel Awareness Committee. The presentations, created by the Committee members and IAC advisor Ms. Sarah Meira Weissman, discussed issues such as BDS, anti-Semitism on college campuses, anti-Zionist celebrities, the New York Times’ anti-Israel bias, and the UN’s targeted attacks toward Israel. The members of the Committee created engaging and interesting presentations that enabled the students to learn about these important topics in a unique and interactive way! The student presenters were eloquent, dynamic, and extremely knowledgeable about their topics.

The blue and white cookies distributed at the close of the event was a sweet symbol of the theme of the day. We look forward to more SKA IAC events this year!

Learn About Yeshivat Shalshelet’s Specialized Dual Curriculum

By Julie Schechter

Students at HAFTR High School recently participated in NCSY’s Jewish Unity Mentoring Program, also known as JUMP. The program was held on Sunday, October 23, and Monday, October 24, in Somerset, NJ. As a freshman, I was unsure of what to expect, but we were greeted by familiar teachers, rabbis, and NCSY staff who made us all feel welcome. From that moment on, it was clear that this was going to be an enjoyable and productive day; we were going to be focusing on how to solve problems using innovative thinking, teamwork, and informed decision-making.

The first mission was to work as a team and write down seven advantages and disadvantages of being Jewish, and then choose one idea on which to focus. My group was led by Mrs. Sela Wagner, Madricha at HAFTR High School, and included Kayla Jakubowitz, Mia Robinson, and me. After much discussion, we decided as a group to focus on an important issue that we have observed: that it often takes moments of sadness and hardship to unite Jews together, rather than experiencing that achdus in times of joy. This has been at the forefront of our minds, especially after the HAFTR family experienced such a heart-wrenching tragedy this past year with the loss of one of our own students. Whether students were in middle or high school, everyone joined to mourn together. It is our hope that this achdus could be experienced on a normal basis and not as a result of a challenge. After many hours of discussing amongst ourselves, talking to professionals, and rethinking our ideas, we began to develop a solution to this issue.

Our solution revolved around utilizing social media platforms, such as Instagram and WhatsApp, and other technology to build a sense of community and togetherness among the Jewish people. Recognizing that all sorts of individuals, young and old, gather and share news and events through apps and social media, we knew this was a powerful way to reach our targeted audience. Our initiative began with the focus of notifying Jewish teens in New York and New Jersey about various opportunities to contribute toward and participate in chessed together.

After organizing and redefining our ideas, it was time to present them to the audience and judges on a podcast called “1840.” While it was nerve-wracking, we were prepared and eager to share our ideas. We presented our plan, as well as the story behind our mission, and answered questions for close to 10 minutes. I looked around the room and there was not a dry eye to be seen. It was obvious that we connected with the crowd in a deeply emotional way. Each group presented thoughtful and intuitive ideas, but our efforts paid off as we were announced as first-place winners. As the winning group, our efforts will be featured on the “1840” podcast, as well as in Jewish Action, a magazine published by the Orthodox Union. It was an exhilarating and emotional moment for us, and we look forward to using the skills we learned through the JUMP program.

Yeshivat Shalshelet is a yeshiva day school for children with language-based learning differences. Through Shalshelet’s carefully designed special education dual curriculum, small group learning structures, and direct instruction, students become academically skilled, confident lifelong learners, who can navigate the academic landscape. We view thinking differently as a strength to be nurtured and celebrate each of our student’s individual talents and intelligence. Our program produces students who are poised for academic, spiritual, and social-emotional success in a mainstream educational environment.

“Small group reading, writing, math and kriya (Hebrew reading) lessons allow for teachers to provide individualized instruction and attention, meet each child at their academic level, and build upon foundational skills,” says Shulamit Roth, head of school.

Language-based learning difficulties affect the understanding, processing or use of spoken and written language. This can impact a child’s reading, writing, comprehension, and expression of spoken language. One of the most common language-based learning disabilities is dyslexia, although not all of our students have that diagnosis. Others may have intact decoding skills but struggle with language processing and/or verbal expression.

Since language drives much of a school’s curriculum, students who struggle with language often struggle in many academic areas. As a yeshiva day school with a specialized dual curriculum, we address these challenges in a way that maximizes both academic and spiritual potential.

With a rich experiential learning program led by strong Torah role models and co-curricular programming, our students grow to believe in themselves and their ability to succeed—both as individual students and as active members of a Jewish community.

Mrs. Roth, a speech and language pathologist with a specialty in language and literacy, has dedicated her career to serving students who struggle with language and learning disabilities. She began her career as a clinician at the Soifer Center for Learning and Child Development in White Plains, New York. After working in private practice, she served as a language and literacy specialist in public and private schools in Boston, New Jersey, and New York, including Brookline Public Schools, The Carroll School, Maimonides School, Yeshivat Noam, and The Shefa School.

This school is personally meaningful to Roth, who focused her career on language and literacy when her brother was diagnosed with dyslexia in third grade. “It was difficult for my parents to choose between the best educational environment or yeshiva day school education for him.” Since then, she has been passionate about helping students reach their academic and personal potential.

“For years, people have been discussing the tremendous need for a yeshiva day school like this in Bergen County,” said Dov Adler, president of Yeshivat Shalshelet. “Every child deserves to be educated in the way that maximizes their potential. Our current yeshiva day schools do an outstanding job at educating our children. Shalshelet complements the array of services already provided and affords every child the opportunity to learn locally, al pi darko [in their own way], in a yeshiva environment.”

“Shalashet has provided an environment for my daughter to learn at her own pace and feel confident about her abilities, even when they are different from her peers,” says one Shalshelet parent. “She finally loves to go to school! The expertise, instruction, care, and warmth displayed by the entire Shalshelet staff is second to none. We are truly grateful for the second chance at learning that Shalshelet is offering its students.”

The adorable talmidos of the Ganger Early Childhood division of TAG were excited to get out and vote for their favorite vegetable last week. There will be no election denying here, when all the votes are counted and the girls enjoy a special treat.

Sensei Levy at JCC

The Gural JCC Early Childhood Center had the privilege of a visit from author, Sensei Warren Levy. Sensei Warren read us the book he wrote called “The Punching Panda.” The Punching Panda learns to control his urge to punch things by practicing karate every day. The children had so much fun practicing the karate moves and punching bubbles! Thank you, Sensei Warren, for visiting us at the JCC!

Yeshiva Kol Torah took a trip to Bistro Burger and Port Washington Skating Center for all boys who participated in their Sukkos Bein Hazmanim learning program

HANC High School Open House

On Sunday, November 6, HANC High School welcomed eighth grade prospective students and parents to its annual Open House. Some 200 families participated in the event! Guests signed in using iPads with the assistance of HANC geniuses and were greeted by the school band. The program showcased the HANC High School experience emphasizing the theme of this year’s Open House, HANC Makes IT Happen.

After a delightful breakfast, the program began with opening remarks from HANC Menahel, Rabbi Eli Slomnicki ’97, who, along with current HANC students, described the three main components that define this outstanding yeshiva: Aspirational Academics, Community Focus, and Torah. Sophomore Rachel Wieder began with a meaningful d’var Torah describing the leadership of Moshe Rabbeinu, followed by juniors Maya Wertman and Shayna Livian and senior Yishai Kaufman who each described their individual experiences relating to one of these core values. The opening session concluded with an exciting new video entitled “HANC Makes IT Happen,” which can be viewed on HANCLife. Parents and students then proceeded to classrooms for mini-lessons and course sequences given by our esteemed faculty in both Limudei Kodesh and General Studies. Following the lessons, students and parents participated in numerous informational showcases. Parents met with administrations and directors of Guidance and participated in an Academic Fair meeting department chairs who were on-hand to answer questions.

Prospective parents then explored Campus Life via panel discussions consisting of current parents, students, and HANC alum or by attending HANC EdTalks by three exceptional students, Sivan Pyle ‘22, our award winning artist, Joey Diamond ’22, our patent-pending engineer, and Sigal Holtzman ‘23, our inhouse poet. Simultaneously, prospective students participated in three electives of their choosing within the Student Expo. This showcase featured Engineering, Coding, Art, Music, Pre-Season athletic Press Conference, and Student Panel. The program concluded with a Club Fair, where students learned about athletics and the incredible selection of co-curricular and extra-curricular clubs and teams available to HANC students.

Apply at www.hanc.org and for questions please email Director of Admissions Mrs. Miriam Steiner at msteiner@ hanc.org. Every week, the students at YOSS look forward to weekly labs led by our beloved science teacher, Mrs. Christina Fitzpatrick. Students are fully emersed in a robust and engaging science curriculum, which opens their eyes and tests their scientific minds through creative lessons and labs.

First and fifth grades are learning about space, stars, constellations, and moon phases. As part of the first grades unit on space, all first graders made a star projector. They even went home to show their parents. Meanwhile, in fifth grade, boys learned why the stars change during the seasons. Building models in a box helped each boy visualize the Earth’s yearly orbit around the sun and allowed them to see and understand why some constellations are only visible during part of the year.

Our second and third graders are learning about water and other extremes in the weather. Second grade just learned about flash floods and where they are most prevalent in the United States. Using map skills helped them see which region has an increased or a decreased chance for rainfall causing flash floods. One boy commented, “Learning about floods reminds me of Noach.” Third graders are busy learning about extreme weather and the cause and effect of violent storms.

Fourth grade students have been enthusiastically learning about volcanoes. They learned how to map where volcanoes can be found in the world and then through a hands-on activity they discovered which type of volcanoes erupt – the cone shaped or the ones that are shield shaped. The big question is where and when will the next volcano erupt in the world?

Throughout each unit, students are using different modalities to thoroughly understand the concepts. Students look forward to understanding the way the world works. We are creating curious, scientific minds at YOSS!

Remembering Rabbi Shmuel Borenstein

On Sunday, October 30, 2022, at the Young Israel of Hewlett where Rabbi Simcha Hopkovitz serves as rabbi, the Rabbinical Alliance of America/ Igud HaRabbonim gathered for its Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan conference. The conference was dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Shmuel Borenstein, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Ben HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Noach, zt”l, who served with honor and distinction for nearly a half a century as a Rosh Mesivta at MTA YUHSB. The keynote address was given by Rabbi Elly Merenstein, Rosh Mesivta, Shaarei Pruzdor, Valley Stream, New York. Rabbi Borenstein’s sons and son-in-law – Rabbi Mendy Borenstein and Rabbi Yitzchok Borenstein and Rabbi Moish Schmerler, executive director/Menahel of the Rabbinical of America – spoke on behalf of the family.

The Jewish Home | NOVEMBER 10, 2022 A Musical Hallel Names Not Numbers at HANC

Chazal tells us that the month of Cheshvan is to be called MarCheshvan (the bitter Cheshvan). This is because it is a month without holidays coming on the heels of Tishrei, which is a month saturated in holidays and added kedusha. Here at HANC Middle School, we wanted to bring a small bit of Tishrei to our MarCheshvan. We enlisted the help of musical sensation Craig Resmovits of Six13 to bring joy and simcha to our davening on Rosh Chodesh.

Craig utilized his encyclopedic knowledge of Jewish music to bring out the energy of our talmidim and talimdot with some of the most popular Jewish songs on the charts right now. We had ”Thank You Hashem”, “Noach was a big Tzaddik” and even the Tiktok viral (vintage) song from The Miami Boys choir ”Yerushalayim.” It was a special tefilla that we will remember for a long time and will hopefully give us the spiritual strength to get to the light of Chanukah! On Wednesday, November 2, HANC Middle School held its Names, Not Numbers program. Names, Not Numbers is a copyrighted oral history film project and curriculum, which Mrs. Tova Fish-Rosenberg created, that takes the teaching of the Holocaust and its lessons well beyond many previous efforts. Through the Names, Not Numbers program, HANC’s eighthgrade students had the opportunity to document the teachings of the Holocaust and address questions about an individual’s responsibility to humanity.

The night began with a dessert reception. After dessert, it was time for the feature presentation. The students interviewed Mr. Erwin Forley, Mrs. Helen Rosenstark, Mrs. Ava Schonberg, Mr. Lewis Sosnowik, Mr. Arthur Spielman,Mrs. Paula Weissman, Mrs. Ruth Zimbler, and Mrs. Reha Sokolow.Afterward, parents and students were effusive in their praise of this most powerful evening. May the parents and students always pass down the testimony from generation to generation.

Names, Not Numbers is generously supported by a prominent national foundation. The following people sponsored as well: the Daitch family, the Diamond family, the Koenigsberg family, the Grossman family, the Goldress family, the Moskowitz family, the Levine family, and the Oppenheim family. A special thank you to Tova and Dov Rosenberg for their indefatigable efforts with this program. The Names, Not Numbers© at HANC 2021-22 documentary will be included in the archives of The National Library of Israel in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, and Yeshiva University’s Gottesman Library.

Parshas Hashavua Proficiency at YKLI

One of the most precious experiences of a family’s Shabbos table is children reviewing the parshas hashavua and sharing divrei Torah they learned in yeshiva. More often than not, mechanchim nationwide find that children have to be re-taught the parshas hashavuah on an annual basis. The challenge is to build a scaffolding framework for children to retain the knowledge and the scope of the weekly parsha and to build upon it year after year.

Rabbi Tzvi Krigsman, shlit”a, Menahel of Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island, wished to build such a spiral curriculum, ensuring the talmidim are proficient in Chamisha Chumshei Torah by the time they graduate from 8th grade. Beginning in 2nd grade, the boys are given a list of questions on a weekly basis. In 3rd grade, those questions are reviewed, and the boys are tested weekly on that week’s parsha. In both 4th grade and 5th grade, ten more questions are added about each parsha, as each year is built upon the prior year’s material, through 8th grade. By that time, the boys are expected to have mastered at least thirty parsha yedios weekly.

This beautiful program, called the Toras Moshe Parsha Program, is named for Mr. Robi Flegmann, z”l, founder of Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island. Mr. Flegmann was a strong advocate of children maintaining a broad knowledge-base of Parshas Hashavua, in addition to the skills-based curriculum leading to independent study of Chumash.

Upon completion of each Chumash, boys who score above a 90% are treated to a siyum on the sefer. Coordinated by YKLI S’gan Menahel Rabbi Shlomo Dovid Pfeiffer, shlit”a, the boys enthusiastically participate in the studying, while enjoying both the lishmah and the shelo lishmah aspects of this fantastic program.

On Sunday, November 6, the DRS Yeshiva High School for Boys was filled to capacity at the school’s annual Open House. DRS hosted over 210 prospective students and their parents at the annual event. The Open House, which takes place in DRS’s beautiful state-of-the-art building, provided its attendees with an informative, exciting, and enjoyable program allowing those interested in the school to get a real sense of what DRS is all about. Upon entering the building, every attendee was warmly greeted by DRS Menahel, Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, Principal Dr. Hillel Broder, faculty members, and current DRS students.

The program moved to DRS’s spacious beit medrash during which Rabbi Kaminetsky and Dr. Broder addressed the enormous crowd, enlightening them about DRS’s strong and challenging curriculum in both limudei kodesh and limudei chol. Rabbi Kaminetsky stressed that the hallmark of the school is the “personal care, warmth, and attention provided for each individual student.” More importantly, DRS prides itself on the achdut between classmates, who come to DRS from over 20 different elementary schools, and several different neighborhoods, including Queens, Brooklyn, West Hempstead, the Five Towns, and Great Neck.

Following Rabbi Kaminetsky’s remarks, students headed off to the extracurricular student fair in DRS’s incredible gymnasium, where they received a taste of all the programs that DRS has to offer, including a presentation from the cooking and karate club, College Bowl competition, sports teams, Shabbatonim and trips, and much more. At the same time, parents got a chance to hear from DRS faculty members in the science, math, English, and social studies departments regarding the incredible range of courses offered at DRS. DRS boasts a large curriculum including 15 AP courses and the opportunity to be involved in several research opportunities in both science and social studies. Parents also got a chance to ask questions to a panel of five DRS students in order to get their view of the DRS experience. Other sessions included an exploration into the Limudei Kodesh curriculum, a glimpse into the school’s extracurricular offerings, and smaller breakout sessions where parents were able to “meet the administration” in an intimate setting and field their questions to be Rabbi Kaminetsky and Dr. Broder.

DRS thanks all those who came to visit the Open House and look forward to meeting them again in the future!

Students at Shulamith ECC learned about hachnosas orchim while strengthening their math skills

Netzach HaTorah Grand Siyum

This past Thursday evening, November 3, the hanhala, rebbeim and talmidim of Netzach HaTorah celebrated a Grand Siyum on Meseches Kiddushin. The Masechta and Siyum was completed by 13 boys from the Mesivta who had spent many hours learning during the zman, after the zman, and in their own free time. The Siyum was made by Rabbi Yitzy Stern, beloved 10th grade Rebbe, who shared divrei hisorerus to the talmidim about the love of learning. Following the Grand Siyum and seudah, the rebbeim and talmidim sang and danced in celebration of this momentous accomplishment of the boys. The Mesivta is proud of their amazing accomplishment and commitment to learning. On Sunday, November 7, almost 100 prospective families attended Yeshiva of Central Queens’ “Bayit V’Gan Day,” an introduction to YCQ’s kindergarten program for parents and students, which featured Uncle Moishy in concert and a “YCQ Israeli Passport” program.

Uncle Moishy performed for the parents, students, faculty, and volunteers, while the young students danced, learned, and sang along to his well-known hit songs. After the concert, the themed program “YCQ: Passport to Your Child’s Future” was introduced.

Each child received a special YCQ “passport” which allowed them to travel to different Israeli “cities/classrooms” and learn about Israel and our kindergarten program. YCQ passports were stamped in “Jerusalem,” “Haifa,” “Tel Aviv,” and “Tzfat,” while children created collages, learned Ivrit, experienced smart board learning games, and relaxed during story time in the library.

“We offer a passport to your child’s future via a first-class, educational experience like no other,” said Ms. Allison Witty, Director of Admissions.

“As our students journey through each grade, they learn to develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills viewed through the lenses of Torah, literature, science, history, math, art, music, and extra-curricular activities. Torah guidance and the latest research in pedagogical best practices informs and shapes YCQ’s educational philosophy.

“Our students also graduate with a strong Jewish identity and a love of Israel, secure in the knowledge that YCQ will always be a second home for them to visit as they embark on the next step in their educational travels.”

Please contact Ms. Allison Witty with any questions about the application process (718-793-8500 x316).

Mrs. Sharon Korn, Director of Early Childhood Education, reported, “It was exciting to meet so many new families, and to share all the wonderful happenings at YCQ. The children were enthusiastic and engaged, and we can’t wait to welcome our new students.”

“It was an honor and a privilege to introduce YCQ’s ruach, love of Israel, and our unique, state of the art education practices, to prospective families from so many different communities,” stated Rabbi Mark Landsman, principal of Yeshiva of Central Queens. “Students and faculty enthusiastic about Jewish education and spiritual inspiration form the foundation of Yeshiva of Central Queens, and on Sunday, families had the opportunity to experience YCQ in person. I wish to thank our faculty, staff, and PTO volunteers that worked so hard to create this special event.”

Lev Chana students learned about Election Day and held their own elections in class this week. Students voted on their favorite cereal, favorite snack, and favorite book.

Your Piece of the Action – in Israel

Real Estate Expo this week! Don’t miss it!

Whether you are considering Aliyah, in the near future or further along the line; if you’re thinking about purchasing a holiday home; or are interested in investing in Israel, you probably have a lot of questions.

Well, we have the answers!

The Great Israeli Real Estate Expo is taking place this week at two locations near you: On Sunday, November 13, starting at 10:30 a.m., in Brooklyn, NY, at the Williamsburg Hotel, 96 Wythe Ave.; and on Tuesday, November 15, starting at 4:30 p.m., in Teaneck at Congregation Keter Torah.

Take advantage of the biggest, most comprehensive Israel real estate event of the year, where you’ll gain knowledge and receive the most up-to-date information from seasoned experts on all the issues that are important to you.

Meet professionals who will tell you everything you need to know about every detail involved in the process of purchasing for personal use or for investment, including taking out a mortgage, tax issues, making aliyah, retirement and more.

Experts from Anglo neighborhoods across Israel will be available to speak with prospective buyers so that they can compare and contrast the various locations and decide which is best for their needs.

Meir Dombey, of Yigal Realty in Beit Shemesh, for example, is one of the most veteran realtors in this up-and-coming city where English-speakers feel completely at home. “Unlike in the early years, when American immigrants were expected to accommodate themselves to the Israeli reality, more and more contractors are building projects that meet the needs of American olim who are leaving behind spacious homes and who are accustomed to a higher quality of life,” says Dombey.

Not to be missed: a lecture by mortgage consultant Be’eri Gurtler Har Tuv on the five most common mistakes when taking a mortgage and how to avoid them. “Mortgages in Israel are radically different from those in America, and not only because rates are significantly cheaper,” says Gurtler Har Tuv. “It’s more like a salad bar than a fixed menu; there are a lot more options,” he explains.

Another hot topic is retirement communities, where olim from age 60 can make a fresh start. Participants will have the opportunity to meet Meir Sand from SOIL real estate group who is currently marketing units from the Sea One Oranim Al Hayam luxury retirement resort. Inspired by retirement resorts in the U.S., the soon-to-be completed community, located in Rishon LeZion, will offer all the amenities of an upscale resort, such as concierge and laundry services, spa, swimming pools, a shul, and roundthe-clock activities, with the sea as a backdrop.

“Each unit has a fully equipped bathroom and kitchen and is designed to please even the most fastidious international residents,” says Sand.

Purchasers are invited to join as fulltime residents or to make Sea One their vacation destination.

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

Shulamith Achdut trips are an exciting and amazing time for students to bond with girls in other classes and grades. Our first, second, third and fourth graders enjoyed making soap at Make It Too!

Rabbi Nosson Greenberg Addresses Shevach Rosh Chodesh Event

On Wednesday, October 26, Shevach High School students enjoyed a special event in honor of Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan. Under the direction of Shevach Menaheles, Mrs. Shulamith Insel, the morning was glamorous and inspirational. The program was run by Shevach Educational Administrator, Mrs. Devorah Kovitz, who worked with her dedicated committee of seniors to make it a special morning. The Rosh Chodesh Committee heads, together with the G.O. heads, transformed the multi-purpose room in a manner that embodied their 5783 theme of “FLYING HIGH.”

After being treated to a gala breakfast, Mrs. Insel introduced the program with words of welcome and insights into the significance of Cheshvan, which follows a month of davening, fasting, Sukkos and Simchas Torah. She urged the students to hold onto that connection to Hashem. In that regard, Cheshvan—which Chazal call MarCheshvan—is noteworthy. In English, Mar means Mister, an address of honor and importance. Therefore, Cheshvan is a significant month, in that it connects us to the elevation we experienced in the month of Tishrei which had preceded it.

In an interesting note, the guest speaker, Rabbi Nosson Greenberg, a rav in Far Rockaway, spoke on a similar theme. With his trademark English sense of humor, he described the seasons of the year, and in particular Cheshvan, as the beginning of the winter. Just as we prepare our clothing for winter, we have prepared ourselves for the winter in Tishrei. Indeed, the “clothing” of Hashem, so to speak, is our mitzvos. Just as clothing can sometimes define us, our mitzvos define us. They make us who we are. The 248 positive commandments in the Torah represent our limbs i.e., us. We all aspire to wear royal clothing and strive to a higher level of spirituality. In Cheshvan, that preparation starts to bear fruit as we approach several months of no Yomim Tovim. But our mitzvos of Tishrei will carry us forward.

Altogether, the morning was an exciting start to the winter months and gave the students much to think about and much to internalize. Kudos to Shevach G.O. heads Eliana Deil, Esther Greenfield, Aviva Robinson, Chana Tova Kasirer and Ella Marcus, and to the Rosh Chodesh heads Menucha Fedowitz, Chana Ilyasov, Rivka Jacob, and Meira Levy for a job well done!

Shabbat Project Kicks Off With Over 2,500 Events and 1 Million Jews Worldwide

Over 2,500 Shabbat Project events – more than double than in 2021 – will take place this year on and around November 11-12, 2022 (Parshat Vayeira), in Jewish communities across the globe.

From Australia to Israel, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, the United Kingdom, Morocco and Monaco, to the United States, Canada, Argentina, Guatemala and Chile, more than 1 million people across the globe will be part of the 10th anniversary festivities for the Shabbat Project.

The Shabbat Project, led by South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein, is a global, grassroots movement that unites Jews around the magic of Shabbat. As part of this initiative, Jews from all walks of life – from across the spectrum of religious affiliation, young and old, from all corners of the globe – come together to celebrate and keep one full Shabbat, in a spirit of global Jewish unity.

South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein, founder of The Shabbat Project, said: “The Shabbat Project is bringing Jews together around the world. This year’s Shabbat Project is happening shortly after very divisive elections in Israel and the United States, and this is an opportunity to harness the healing power of Shabbat to unify and inspire Jewish communities. In times of rising antisemitism, we need to define ourselves by our values and not by the hatred of others.”

“Through the Shabbat Project, we can create a new Jewish future based on Jewish pride, unity, and values, transcending the barriers that seem to separate us. This is an opportunity to rejuvenate family life, strengthen Jewish unity throughout the world, and restore Jewish pride and identity.”

In Israel alone, more than 250,000 participants are embracing The Shabbat Project, thanks to an astonishing coordinated effort across civil society – a diverse coalition bringing together local municipalities, innovative NGOs and nonprofits, Israel’s Ministry of Education and Jewish youth movements, in more than 100 cities throughout Israel with more than 135,000 students. Activities are taking place in schools, synagogues, and city centers, bridging the stark political and religious divides in Israeli society.

In Europe, Jewish refugees from Ukraine will attend a Shabbat dinner in Strasbourg, France, with hundreds of participants expected. In general, the Shabbat Project in France is focused on youth, with Shabbatons for students and young professionals, and events dedicated to teenagers, happening across the country.

In South America, Buenos Aires will host a mass outdoor challah bake in a park for around 3,000 women. Other Shabbat Project events are happening in Córdoba, Argentina, Guatemala, and Chile.

And in South Africa, where the Shabbat Project began in 2013, a new, ambitious initiative – the Journey to 25 hours – is empowering Jewish families to keep Shabbat throughout the year.

New countries joining the project this year include Tahiti and Morocco, with events taking place in Casablanca in the build-up to Shabbat, culminating in a community-wide Shabbat meal.

“Shabbat is a Divine gift – it improves our quality of life, transforms our families and relationships, and has the power to bring Jews together like nothing else can,” said Rabbi Goldstein, whose new book about Shabbat, A Day to Create Yourself, will be released shortly after the project.

“After two years of disrupted celebrations, there is a real thirst for in-person events and real human connection. The Shabbat Project is a direct response to the call of our times, a chance to re-energize and reconnect, and unite in celebration.”

Around the Community Fifth Grades in Yeshiva Darchei Torah Start Gemara with a Multi-Generational Seudah

Photos by Yoel Hecht

R’ Dovid Morgenstern, menahel ruchani of the elementary school R’ Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva The talmidim and fathers and grandfathers learned Gemara together at the start of the seudah

Rabbi Zev Bald Visits Chaim V’Chessed on His Recent Trip to Israel

On a recent trip to Israel, Rabbi Zev Bald, Director of Development of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, detoured from his scheduled itinerary to pay an important visit to Chaim V’Chessed.

Chaim V’Chessed is a one-of-a-kind organization which assists Englishspeakers navigate every area of life in Israel. The organization helps Anglos from all walks of life, whether they be Olim, foreign residents, students, or tourists. Guidance and accurate, updated information is provided on a myriad of challenging areas of life in Israel, including special education, women’s health, disability benefits, medical issues and a slew of bureaucratic matters.

As many members of the Five Towns/ Far Rockaway community have been assisted by this unique organization, Rabbi Bald visited to learn more about it up close. He was hosted by Rabbi Paysach Freedman, CEO of Chaim V’Chessed, who introduced Rabbi Bald to the Chaim V’Chessed staff, which today numbers 21 members. Furthermore, Rabbi Bald was granted a behind-the-scenes look at Chaim V’Chessed’s remarkable technology, by which they manage the hundreds of daily calls that they receive. He studied their sophisticated phone system and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) program.

Rabbi Freedman thanked Rabbi Bald for visiting while Rabbi Bald returned the blessings, expressing his appreciation on behalf of the many Five Towns/ Far Rockaway community members who have been assisted by Chaim V’Chessed.

Understanding the Democratic Process

After researching various current senate races, YOSS Mechina students presented their findings about each race to different classes. The students developed a deeper understanding of the democratic process and how senate elections work. Special thanks to Rabbi Escovitz for spearheading this project.

Around the Community After Nearly 50 years at Touro, Dean Robert Goldschmidt is Just Getting Started

When speaking to Dean Robert Goldschmidt, vice president for planning and assessment for Touro University and dean of students for the Lander College of Arts & Sciences, it can be difficult to separate the man from the institution.

It’s understandable, though in a sense, doing so undersells Dean Goldschmidt. After all, this is an individual who has received rabbinic ordination, or semicha, was named a member of Phi Beta Kappa upon earning his bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College—the Phi Beta Kappa key was the first gift he gave to his wife after they were engaged—and earned a master’s degree in political science at New York University, where he completed his doctoral coursework, was a National Defense Education Scholarship recipient and served as a research fellow at the Center for International Studies.

While one can distinguish Dean Goldschmidt’s accomplishments beyond his work at Touro, it would take a fiction writer of enormous talents to imagine Touro without Dean Goldschmidt.

A Storied Career Begins

The dean, who was recently the first recipient of Touro’s Gold Medal of Achievement for Distinguished Service, hasn’t been at Touro since the beginning, but he came awfully close. In 1974, four years after Dr. Bernard Lander founded the college, and three years after it welcomed its first 35 students, Dean Goldschmidt arrived for an interview at the main campus, in those days located at 30 West 44th Street in Manhattan. The building had six floors and an old-fashioned elevator (“It wasn’t so old fashioned in those days,” he said) directed by an elevator operator.

“I told the person—he was somewhat short—what floor I wanted to go to, and it turned out the elevator operator was my interviewer, Dr. Lander,” he said.

For two years, Dean Goldschmidt taught full time in the Department of Political Science, but when the dean of students left Touro in 1976, Dr. Lander took a chance on the young professor and named him Assistant Dean of Students on a trial basis. After another two years, he became the permanent Dean of Students, a title he maintains today, along with several others he picked up along the way, one of which is Touro’s accreditation liaison officer to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a not-insignificant role that takes up a great portion of his time. In that capacity, Dean Goldschmidt helped facilitate Touro’s expansion and development of new campuses.

“It’s been a varied career with titles that have evolved, and a workload and responsibilities that have steadily increased. I’m very proud of the many things I have done,” he said. “But central to what I take pride in is the focus and impact on students, in terms of providing guidance and pathways to their own growth and professional career success.”

Helping Build a Legacy

Today, Touro hardly resembles the small institution Dean Goldschmidt walked into almost a half-century ago. Dean Goldschmidt said that in the ‘70s and’ 80s, many people thought, if not articulated outright, that Dr. Lander was “somewhat delusional in his ambitions to build this major institution with all these graduate and professional programs.” But by the time of Dr. Lander’s passing, the dean noted, most of his dreams had already been realized, and Touro’s acquisition of New York Medical College was being finalized while the opening of its dental school was only a few years away.

“In that sense, it’s a tectonic transformation, which has continued under President Alan Kadish who has amplified the medical, health science and research capacity,” he said.

And for sure, the New York State Board of Regents decision earlier this year to grant Touro university status is a substantial part of that.

Dean Goldschmidt maintains, however, that despite its exponential growth, several of the core aspects of Touro are the same. “Every student has his or her needs and different aspirations and different goals, and the importance of delivering a personalized student experience was really part of the initial theme of Touro’s mission,” he said. “The focus on personalized education is a constant, which has been retained.”

“Dean Goldschmidt is a Touro icon,” said Dr. Alan Kadish, Touro President. “Generations of students have benefitted from his leadership, insight and guidance. The personal attention and care he gives to each and every student truly exemplifies what a Touro education is all about.”

A Life Of Purpose

With no shortage of responsibilities— and new ones seemingly added at every turn—and first a college, now a university that has gone well beyond its loftiest of expectations, it’s worth asking why Dean Goldschmidt has stayed so long. Certainly no one would blame him for deciding to take a step back and admire his handiwork. After all, it’s been almost 50 years.

“An industrialist builds a particular industry and then can hand it over to somebody else,” he said. “I look at this as a renewed opportunity with each new class, each generation of students. It’s a continual pursuit of passion.”

“I sometimes say to my students, ‘Ask yourself: What kind of life do you want to lead: one that is self-centered, or one that is centered on other people?’ And I’m focused on a life that is centered on other people. That itself gives me satisfaction and a great deal of joy.”

Dean Goldschmidt will be honored for his service at Touro’s 50th anniversary gala on December 4 at the Marriott Marquis in NYC. To make reservations, visit 50.touro.edu/gala

Rav Moshe Waxman, fourth grade rebbi at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, and two talmidim with the “machatzeles shel kanim/mat of reeds” schach that they created to illustrate the case in Mishnayos Sukkah

L-R: Rav Dovid Bender, Rosh Kollel, Tirtza Devorah; Rav Yisroel Reisman; Rav Avi Lauterbach, Rosh Chaburah; Rav Levi Simsovits, Rosh Chaburah; Rav Yaakov Yisroel Hirschman; Rav Levi Goldman; Rav Yonah Green; and Rav Azriel Moskowitz.

Semicha Program Meets with Rav Yisroel Reisman

The fellows of the new Semicha Program of Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Kollel Tirtza Devorah traveled to Brooklyn to be tested by Rav Yisroel Reisman, the Rosh HaYeshiva of Torah Vodaath, on Hilchos Yichud. Launched in Elul, the four-and-a-half year program will tackle a panoply of halachic sugyos in an in-depth fashion, concluding with its members receiving full-fledged rabbinic semicha.

Yeshiva Early Childhood Directors Network

The network of early childhood directors from the Five Towns, Far Rockaway and Queens met last week at the Yeshiva of South Shore. While this network has been meeting for around 18 years, it was great to see each other in person again.

The members of this network have become close friends and have proudly shared advice, professional development, support, and even made some shidduchim together.

HAFTR HS Shows School Spirit

By Rachel Wenger

HAFTR High School is known for its inclusiveness, camaraderie, and school spirit. In this light, the high school hosted its annual Pep Rally on Wednesday, October 26. To say it was a blast is an understatement! The student government and members of the Spirit Club worked tirelessly to put together the Pep Rally and decorate the entire campus. In addition, students could be seen walking the halls sporting their favorite HAFTR apparel and swag.

The rally was held in the Satran Arena, HAFTR High School’s gym, which was covered with decorations displaying HAFTR colors of red and blue, and of course, a visit from our very own HAFTR Hawks team. The Pep Rally began with senior Andrew Berger hyping up the students with his amazing piano skills and enthusiastic energy. The HAFTR Hawk, our school mascot, made a grand entrance that got the crowd going! In addition to the cheers, singing, and activities, students watched a ‘sports hype’ video, which energized the room. In anticipation of the new sports season, all of the fall and winter sports teams were announced and photographed.

Students then excitedly watched videos created by the Student Government and the faculty. Both were as entertaining as always and left students and faculty smiling, laughing, and cheering. The event continued with various activities, such as relay races between pairs of HAFTR siblings competing against each other, an intense game of musical chairs, and the challenge of making successful free throws from midcourt. Every single attendant of this year’s Pep Rally truly enjoyed and engaged in the activities. The entire school is pumped up and eager to resume sports competitions and show HAFTR spirit throughout the year. GO HAWKS!

JSL Juniors

The boys in our Juniors division continue to show incredible improvements in their skills! K/P Hockey: Ezra Mernick scored a hat trick in Molly’s Jewelers win over SDF Architect. Hewlett Auto Body played stellar defense in their shutout victory. 1st Hockey: Pinny Weinstein, one of JSL’s young superstars, returned to the action after missing a few weeks with an injury. He led Judaica Plus to a close victory over Built By Nate, who scored 2 goals late in the game but could not complete the comeback. K/P Soccer: Caleb Yakubov of Simcha Day Camp made some incredible saves in goal, leading his team to a 6-2 victory. Coby Adler helped Home & Stone hang on to their 1-point lead over Hewlett Auto Body with some incredible saves as well. 1st/2nd Football: Asher Melool tied the game at 5 to 5 for WestWood Realty but Yoni Singer made the incredible, long TD catch on the final drive to win the game for ARG. Jack Gorbacz played an incredible game for KolSave with 2 amazing TD catches.

JSL Basketball League

3rd Grade: Avi Ambramson made some incredible plays in Triple Net Group’s win on Sunday, keeping them atop the division. Island Roofing edged out ARG 10-6. 4th/5th Grade: David Gamerman of 925 Sterling showed off some nifty passing skills with a behind the back pass to Zev Edelstein. Town Appliance, led by Game MVP Yosef Pultman, held on 13-11 over Carving Block. 6th-8th Grade: Paradigm, led by Game MVP Benji Statfeld, held on 43-40 over 5 Towns Pediatric Dentistry.

JSL Hockey League4

2nd/3rd Grade: Posh Home + Bath, led by Game MVP Shlomo Cohen’s 2 goals, continued their win streak with an 8-1 victory over JNT. Abie Shapiro and co. of ARG put on an offensive onslaught in the 3rd period, scoring 4 goals in their 6-0 victory. 4th/5th: Netanel Kirschner of AutoClick put on a scoring clinic with 5 goals in AutoClick’s 6-2 victory over Town Appliance. Alpert Financial remained in 1st place in a tightly competitive 4th/5th grade division with a 5-3 victory over 925 Sterling. 6th-8th: Posh Home + Bath remained undefeated with a 5-2 victory over Bayrock Insurance. 5 Towns Central scored in the double-digits with a 10-2 victory.

JSL Men’s Basketball

Ari Mitnick put on an offensive clinic for Built By Nate scoring 33 of their 82 points in their 82-37 victory. Yitzi Berger led Island Roofing to a 77-46 victory over MAS Travel with 20 points.

Game of the Week

5 Towns Pediatric was down 6-3 vs Meat + Board in the 3rd period but stormed back, scoring 3 goals, capped by Gavriel Abbitan’s amazing goal to tie the game. However, with 22 seconds remaining Yitzchok Polansky scored the game-winning goal for Meat + Board to give them the 7-6 victory.

Basketball Fun Fact

Ryan Turell, an Orthodox Jew, made his NBA G-League debut this week.

Game MVPs: Caleb Yakubov; Coby Adler; Moshe Tropper; Jack Garbacz; JJ Fohrman; Ari Laufer; Joseph Pultman; Binyomin Statfeld; Shlomo Cohen; Netanel Kirschner; and David Gamerman.

Welcome To Our School! SKA Holds Its 30th Open House

Prospective students and parents from many metropolitan elementary schools were welcomed to the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls on Sunday, October 30, at the Open House of the school which is celebrating its 29th year!

After hearing the warm introductory remarks by Mrs. Elisheva Kaminetsky, Principal, Judaic Studies, Mrs. Bluma Drebin, Principal, General Studies, and Rabbi Yosef Zakutinsky, Director of Student Programming, the visitors were intrigued by the video presentation of SKA alumnae explaining the opportunities offered them after graduation and where their education at SKA has taken them in life.

SKA faculty presenters shared their enthusiasm for their subject areas throughout the parent sessions and guided tours and workshops; the warmth and dedication of the staff and the many varied areas for growth that the school offers were apparent the entire morning. After a group of current SKA parents discussed their views of the school, Associate Principal Ms. Elana Flaumenhaft led a panel of SKA students who spoke about their high school experience and their perspectives of the school.

Our many student volunteers, including the SKA Student Ambassadors, discussed the excellent Limudei Kodesh and outstanding General Studies academic program of SKA, together with the exceptional extra-curricular experiences that are offered. Pointing out the modern Graphic Design Studio and the new Stem and Chemistry Labs, the SKAers were eager to showcase their school to the prospective students. They highlighted the sought-after Art Academy and electives such as forensics and sign language, while also emphasizing our popular sports program, student driven religious growth opportunities, Israel Action programming and the successful chessed initiatives which are such an integral part of the school.

Following the program, parents and incoming students had the opportunity to chat with students, administration and faculty members of SKA, view tables laden with details about SKA publications, sports activities, and clubs and teams and enjoy a delicious collation.

We look forward to welcoming the Class of 2027!

HALB Middle School students had the opportunity to hear from Israeli soldiers who were wounded in combat. They shared words of inspiration about Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.

Photo by Lenchevsky Images

New ground was broken for the new HASC campus, located on Avenue M in Brooklyn, NY, on Sunday

Achiezer: There for Me

In times of crisis and trauma, it’s often impossible to think straight, to logically decide the next step or course of action. Flooded with pain or fear, overwhelmed, helpless and in shock, often all anyone can do is pick up a phone and call a number he or she always thought was for other people – Achiezer’s community hotline.

“When our father died, I didn’t know what to do, so I did what I do in every other situation. I just called Achiezer and burst out crying. They said not to worry, they would take care of every detail,” said one caller in a heartfelt thank you letter to the organization.

On the other side of the line, 365 days a year, is a calm, comforting voice, a caring and compassionate Achiezer staff member who can link you to one of 18 departments prepared to assist with any crisis.

“Achiezer is one master organization, which completely removes the burden of crisis management from the shoulders of shocked and distressed victims. We’re here for the entire community at any time, for any difficulty, large or small,” explains Achiezer Founder and President, Boruch Ber Bender.

Indeed, Achiezer is a household name, whose number everyone knows – yet we never think it can happen to us. That’s the meaning behind Achiezer’s latest “Me and I” campaign. The campaign tagline “Many people, My story” reveals that although Achiezer is about many people – answering 80,000 calls a year – I could be one of those calls. I matter to Achiezer, and they will go to any length to assist me. At 14 years old, Achiezer is asking the community to support its work, not only for the sake of other people in need – as beautiful as this is – but because it’s there for me, and I matter.

“We receive calls on a daily – and nightly – basis from people experiencing medical and mental-health related emergencies, death-related emergencies often involving kavod hameis and missing persons,” says Chief of Operations, Shalom Jaroslawicz. “Callers often need immediate access to medical experts, mental health experts or chevra kadisha/ bereavement arrangements. We also collaborate with other community resources and organizations during community emergencies or natural disasters. Thanks to our 18 staff members and hundreds of volunteers. There’s no time when you can’t reach Achiezer. It’s absolutely extraordinary.”

Achiezer also offers financial education through its Westwood Financial Management program, home repair services for those unexpected and expensive emergencies, fully stocked hospital respite rooms at several hospitals, homemade meals to designated hospitals upon families’ requests, medical insurance enrollment and even specialty medical equipment. Their legal network can assist with pro-bono or reduced fee legal advice.

Achiezer is a veritable chesed empire – that asks for donations only once a year. Save the date for November 14 to 15, when they aim to raise $2.3 million. Donations are open at charidy.com/achiezer and doubled throughout the campaign thanks to generous supporters.

The Kumah Project Launch

After a successful YLX program this summer, Rabbi Aryeh Dachs recently launched a new initiative to offer local boys in 4th-8th grades affordable, extracurricular programming in a kosher environment. Rabbi Dachs partnered with the Marion and Aaron Gural JCC to make his vision a reality.

“I knew this was a good idea for our community. The response, though, was beyond anything I could have expected!” Rabbi Dachs explains that he had originally expected to launch with 3040 boys. The community had a different idea. Word got out and parents rushed to register their boys. Over 100 boys signed up for the various programs.

The Kumah Project offers spectacular and varied courses, all run by experienced and professional instructors. All classes are overseen by veteran rebbe, Rabbi Dovi Eisenberger.

Rabbi Eisenberger explains his vision, “The goal is to empower. We want the boys to see success outside of school. The boys can expect to have fun at Kumah and they can expect to leave Kumah feeling accomplished.”

On Mondays, Yoni Eichler runs two separate parkour classes. In week 1, the boys learned the classic Parkour shoulder roll. By the end of the night Yoni had the boys leaping off a stage falling into their shoulder rolls. On Tuesdays, R’ Yitzy Wax runs the carpentry classes. In week 1, the boys practiced the basics of sanding and stenciling. They learned about a handheld wood router and used epoxy to seal their project.

On Wednesday night, R’ Yitzy Wax led the 4th and 5th graders in beginner’s piano. Rabbi Eisenbeger taught the 6th 8th graders guitar. On Thursdays, there are three concurrent classes. R’ Yitzy runs another carpentry class, as well as martial arts given by Ben Tucker and safrus led by R’ Yisroel Oppen. In week 1, Ben Tucker had the chevra kicking like title champs while R’ Oppen had the boys dip their training kulmus in ink and as they wrote a few basic letters on real parchment.

Rabbi Dachs contends that the vision for Kumah has no bounds. “For now, we plan to have four, 6-week sessions throughout the year. In the future, we hope to add homework helpers, a separate girls’ program’ and more.”

The fascinating narrative of Avraham Avinu’s ten tests and true stories of how we follow his example today

By Nachman Schachter

Nachman Schachter’s Ten Steps to Eternity is a unique book. It is a sefer that examines the ten nisyonos of Avraham Avinu through the eyes of the Midrash, with fascinating details and thought-provoking insights. It is also a book of true stories – fantastic, inspiring stories – about Avraham’s “children,” contemporary Jews who have incorporated Avraham’s beliefs and accomplishments into their own lives.

We read about Avraham’s courage in leaving his homeland at Hashem’s command: Lech Lecha. And we see that courage, again, in stories of Avraham’s children, as they face deadly danger to escape from Iran’s brutal regime. When a group of unlearned Jews in Tbilisi, Georgia, lay down in front of an army of bulldozers to protect their shul from demolition, they are merely following in the steps of their father Avraham, who would not yield as the Satan tried to stop him on his way to the Akeidah.

Be inspired and illuminated by the details of Avraham Avinu’s ten nisyonos, his ten triumphs. And be amazed by Avraham Avinu’s children, our fellow Jews, who so courageously and faithfully follow his holy path.

The following are excerpts from the book related to the current parshiyos hashavua.

• • • • •

Avraham’s tenth test was Akeidas Yitzchak. Through incredible devotion and deep emunah in Hashem, Avraham passed this test, which was the hardest and most challenging. Below are just some of the reasons why this test was the most difficult one for Avraham. 1. Many years earlier, Sarah told Avraham to send Yishmael and Hagar from his home. At that point, Hashem made a promise to Avraham and said, “Do not be distressed that you are sending them away, because your descendants will come from Yitzchak.” Years later, Hashem appeared to Avraham and said, “Take your son…Yitzchak, go to Har HaMoriah and bring him up as an olah.” This command was seemingly in direct contradiction to Hashem’s earlier promise. 2. The act of taking the life of his own son would be a contradiction to all that Avraham believed in and had been preaching his entire life. Wherever Avraham traveled, he humbly preached his creed: humanity should end its idol worship and its abhorrent, wicked ways – including human sacrifice – and follow Hashem and His merciful ways. The act of slaughtering his son, Yitzchak, would undo a lifetime’s worth of effort that had successfully influenced mankind to recognize and accept the merciful Hashem Echad — one and only G-d. 3. Receiving reward in This World

or the Next meant nothing to Avraham. Avraham’s goal in life was to spread awareness of the existence and Kingship of Hashem in the universe. Having a son who followed in his ways meant that his life’s goal would be fulfilled and perpetuated. By following Hashem’s directive to sacrifice Yitzchak, all that was important and meaningful would end with Yitzchak’s death.

Avraham’s response to these difficulties was to do what Hashem commanded him to do. He prepared for and approached the Akeidah with an enthusiastic, joyous, and spiritually uplifted disposition. He brought Yitzchak to Har HaMoriah and placed him on the altar just as Hashem had commanded him. By following Hashem’s precise words with loyalty and devotion, he passed the test of the Akeidah. Although this tenth test was the most difficult for Avraham Avinu, one fact stands as a bastion of strength and a beacon of light to the Jewish nation forever. Never was there a second or even a millisecond when Avraham wavered regarding whether or not to perform Hashem’s command. His only wish was to wholeheartedly do the will of his Creator.

• • • • •

Insight: A Different Reason —

The Chasam Sofer (Orach Chaim, siman 208) explains a different reason for why the test of the Akeidah was so difficult for Avraham: We do not know or have any understanding of why Hashem instituted the bringing of korbanos (offerings).

However, Avraham and Yitzchak were individuals with great wisdom and vast knowledge, who did understand all of the nuances of why Hashem commanded us to bring korbanos. That being said, Avraham and Yitzchak clearly knew that it was not possible that Hashem would ever ask anyone, under any circumstances, to sacrifice a human being to Him. Therefore, when Avraham heard the command from God to offer his son as an olah, Avraham did not understand what God wanted. • • • • •

Why are the Righteous Given Difficult Tests?

The Navi Michah asks, “How does one draw close to Hashem?” The Midrash answers this question by contrasting the actions of Meisha, King of Moav, with those of Avraham. Meisha attempted to show his love for G-d by actually sacrificing his eldest son to G-d, while Avraham merely placed his son on the altar.

Who performed the greater act of servitude to the Al-mighty?

The Midrash cryptically provides the answer with the following verse: “Will thousands of rams or tens of thousands of streams of oil appease Hashem?”

This means that Hashem does not want us to create our own grand gestures to serve Him, but merely wants us to follow His will.

Meisha brought a human sacrifice on his own, committing a horrendous transgression that was abhorrent to God. On the other hand, Avraham brought his son on the altar only because

Hashem commanded him to do so.

Why are the righteous given difficult tests? The Midrash answers this question with the following analogy: Flax is a stalk that grows from the ground. After it is harvested, the flax is pounded to remove impurities. This process results in a final product – linen.

Inferior flax is only pounded gently so that it will not disintegrate, and the outcome is inferior linen. Superior flax is pounded vigorously, removing many of the impurities, thereby resulting in fine linen.

Reshaim are compared to inferior flax. Hashem knows they do not trust or believe in Him, and if tested, will further reject Him.

Consequently, Hashem does not test the wicked.

Righteous people are like superior flax. Their trust in God is unshakable. A righteous person has a pure heart with an abundance of dormant potential to serve Hashem and to do good. The more the righteous are tested, the more their hearts are purified.

As they continue to transform their potential into actions, these actions strengthen their innate character and make them stronger and better people. (Another benefit of these challenges is that Hashem bestows more reward upon a person for his actions than for his dormant potential.)

• • • • •

There have been times in our history when our people have been tested in ways that defy the imagination. In the following story, we read about how a brave woman saved lives even under the most horrific of circumstances.

Mrs. Raizel Mishkowitz, Rabbi Boruch Brull’s elderly aunt, was especially close with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Ruchel Brull. In fact, they were more like sisters than sisters-in-law. For the last eight years of her life, Mrs. Brull was unable to manage on her own. She therefore lived in the Ateret Avot senior living facility in Brooklyn, New York.

Mrs. Mishkowitz went to visit her sister-in-law often. Before one of her visits, she decided to bring Mrs. Brull her favorite treat, chocolate-covered orange peels. After filling up a bag of the delicious chocolates in the candy store, Mrs. Mishkowitz walked up to the counter to pay the cashier. Two elderly women stood behind the register, and Mrs. Mishkowitz, a gregarious and friendly lady, began chatting a bit.

In the course of her conversation, she mentioned that she was buying this chocolate for her sister-in-law.

One of the women asked, “Who is your sister-in-law?”

Mrs. Mishkowitz replied, “Ruchel Brull.”

The woman became very emotional, and said, “We can’t charge you anything if this candy is for Ruchel Brull!”

Mrs. Mishkowitz asked, “Why not?”

The woman replied, “I was interred in Auschwitz with Ruchel Brull. She worked in the kitchen. She wore a prisoner’s garment with a large hem, and every day, she hid scraps of potato peels in the hem. Ruchel risked her life to bring peels to me and the other starving prisoners. If she had been caught, she would have been killed on the spot. I am alive today because of her. So now, do you think I can charge you for food you will bring to Ruchel Brull?”

Did you know? The first license plate in the U.S. with a picture on it hailed from Iowa in 1928. The plate had a potato on it.