Five Towns Jewish Home 11.17.22

trip to Eretz Yisroel shouldn’t be a vacation to a country with a lot of ko sher restaurants. Of course, there are the ubiquitous shwarma and laffa joints along with copious iced coffees that are required on every trip. But you don’t go to Israel for the opportunity to add a few more inches to your waistline; you go so you can grow and reach spiritual heights in the Land that was prom ised to you millennia ago.

One of the holiest places in Eretz Yisroel is Chevron. It’s the first acquisition that we, as a nation, made in our Holy Land. The estate in that purchase has been handed down, gen eration to generation, a property in which our forefathers and mothers lay until today.

But that doesn’t mean that we haven’t had to fight for what is ours. As I read through Miriam Sara Leff’s article this week, I was awed at the many people who sacrificed their lives to ensure that Me’aras Hamachpela re mains in our hands. I thought about the tens of Jews who were slaughtered in Chevron by bloodthirsty Arabs – who they thought were their friends – wielding knives and daggers years before the Jewish state was established. I thought about Professor Bentzion Tavger

and his son, who chained themselves to the bars of Me’aras Hamachpela to highlight in adequate Jewish access to pray in that holy place. I thought of Tavger slowly, methodical ly, painstakingly removing rocks and debris to ensure that the Jewish presence in Chev ron will not lay in ruins. I thought of Rebbetz in Miriam Levinger and her group of stalwart women who lived without their husbands for over a year, resolutely caring for their chil dren under extremely harsh conditions and cementing a Jewish presence in Chevron.

And I thought of the Jews who live there today who walk the streets armed with guns, aware of their Arab neighbors whose hands itch at a Jewish presence in the holy city.

When we daven at Me’aras Hamachpe la, we connect with our Avos and Imahos, those who love their children so dearly. We connect with our holy Land, a Land that we cherish and yearn for each day. And we con nect with our brothers and sisters who were determined that Chevron will always remain a place where we can reach out to our Creator.

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

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Dear Editor,

I recently heard from someone quite a remarkable story that speaks to the resil ience of man and the power of not giving up.

This professional had a conference somewhere on Long Island. He had to stop on the way to charge his electric vehicle. After continuing to drive, he didn’t see his phone and thought maybe he had left it at the charging station. By that time, he was already merging onto the highway, when he heard a clunk on his roof, which he realized was his phone and then the noise went away. As far as he was concerned, the phone was crushed by an ongoing vehicle. After a few seconds, however, he said, you never know and there was so much information on the phone, he said he was going to in vestigate this further.

He called the Sheriff, who blocked traffic in the spot where he entered the highway and this person looked up and down the highway but couldn’t find it. The person left the highway and thought he had one more idea. His Amazon Fire at home has the app that tracks his phone. His son opened the app and it indicated the phone was still intact and his son sent him the coordinates.

By now, it was dark outside. The fa ther merged onto the highway again and walked along the inner part of the high way’s median. All of a sudden, he saw an object that looked like his phone. He walked closer and looked, and behold, there it was.

I heard someone note that in last week’s parsha, we find that Avraham asked Eliezer to search for guests and

Eliezer came back telling Avraham that there were none. Avraham didn’t accept that “there are xnone,” and indeed Avra ham left his tent and “produced” them. This person said, never say it’s not possi ble when it comes to a mitzvah. This is in tune with what the rabbis say: “Nothing stands in the face of will.”

Moshe Ornow

Dear Editor, Election Day has come and gone. This reminds me of a 1960’s television show. With the end of round the clock com mercials by politicians, political parties, political action groups and pay for play special interest groups, we now return control of your television back to you until the next election cycle. No more candidates’ campaign mailings clogging mailboxes and weighing down our hard working postal employees. Finally, some peace and quiet!

Candidates who claimed they cared about the environment can now do their part. Winners and losers should have their paid campaign staff and volunteers pick up all the thousands of campaign signs that litter our roads and highways to help clean up this waste. They could also use leftover campaign funds to hire homeless or unemployed people to col lect this litter. Let some people with com munity service be assigned this task. If candidates refuse to clean up after them selves, the local Department of Highways or Public Works should do the job and send candidates the bill.

Sincerely, Larry Penner

An Open Letter To County Executive Bruce Blakeman

Dear Honorable Sir:

In 1936, Charles Lindbergh was asked by the American military attaché in Ber lin to report on the state of Germany’s military program.

He visited Germany twice during the next two years. With each visit, he be came more impressed with the German military, and was soon convinced that no other power in Europe could stand up to Germany in the event of war.

In October 1938, Lindbergh was pre sented by Hermann Goering with the Service Cross of the German Eagle for his contributions to aviation. News of Nazi persecution of Jews had been fil tering out of Germany for some time by then, and many people in our country were repulsed by the sight of an Amer ican hero wearing a Nazi decoration. Three weeks after the presentation of the medal, the Nazis orchestrated a brutal assault on Jews that came to be known as Kristallnacht. Lindbergh was asked more than once to return the medal and renounce the Nazi regime. He steadfastly refused to do so.

As Germany invaded France and be gan its bombardment of England, Amer icans began to alter their isolationist views. One group had no such change of heart. The America First Committee was the most powerful isolationist group in the country, and Lindbergh was a mem ber.

Lindbergh delivered a speech on be half of the AFC in 1941 in which he an nounced it was time to “name names,” identifying what he saw as the pressure groups pushing the U.S. into war against Germany.

In the speech, he repeated age-old anti-Semitic tropes, saying, “Instead of agitating for war, Jews in this coun try should be opposing it in every way, for they will be the first to feel its con sequences. Their greatest danger to this country lies in their large ownership and influence in our motion pictures, our press, our radio, and our government.”

His comments were met with outrage from numerous quarters. Lindbergh was denounced as an anti-Semite. His name was even removed from the water tower in his hometown in Minnesota.

It is time to remove his name from a thoroughfare in Uniondale.

While Lindbergh was a legendary avi ator celebrated for his achievements, he also trafficked in the most reprehensible of prejudices. This part of Lindbergh’s legacy deserves to be equally remem bered and condemned.

It is an affront to the Jewish citizens of Nassau County for any roadway in Uniondale to continue to bear the name of a known Nazi sympathizer and an ti-Semite.

Lindbergh had absolutely no connec tion to our region. To honor a pioneering American aviator who actually did have a nexus to New York, we could replace the name on the road sign with that of Amelia Earhart, who actually resided in New York when she attended Columbia University.

When Earhart started her career as an aviator, American women could not yet vote – virtually no women flew planes. She soon became our country’s premier female pilot. She was lost during a flight over the South Pacific in July 1937 and presumed dead.

The life story of Charles Lindbergh includes his disgraceful embrace of fas cism and anti-Semitism, and his refusal to return the medal conferred on him in 1938 by the Nazis shows him to have been un-American. He befriended those who wanted to destroy American democracy. To honor such a man is morally wrong.

We are burdened to live in a time when anti-Semitism has again reared its ugly head on both the extreme left and the extreme right of the political spec trum. The threat posed by anti-Semitism is real, and we cannot ignore it. People of good will should act to strip Lindbergh of the honor that an earlier generation of Nassau’s leaders erred in bestowing.

Respectfully yours, Paul Weidenbaum

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8 Billion People in the World

There are now 8 billion people living in the world. According to the United Nations, this is a “milestone in human development” before birth rates start to slow.

One billion people had been added to the global population in just 12 years.

“This unprecedented growth is due to the gradual increase in human lifes pan owing to improvements in public health, nutrition, personal hygiene, and medicine. It is also the result of high and persistent levels of fertility in some coun tries,” the UN statement noted.

Middle-income countries, most ly in Asia, accounted for most of the growth over the past decade, gaining some 700 million people since 2011. India added about 180 million people and is set to surpass China as the world’s most populous nation next year.

Even as the world continues to grow, the growth rate has fallen steadily to less than 1% per year. This should keep the world from reaching 9 billion people un til 2037. The UN projects the global pop ulation will peak at around 10.4 billion people in the 2080s and remain at that level until 2100.

Most of the 2.4 billion people to be added before the global population peaks will be born in sub-Saharan Africa, ac cording to the UN, marking a shift away from China and India.

Reaching an 8 billion global popula tion “is an occasion to celebrate diversi ty and advancements while considering humanity’s shared responsibility for the planet,” UN Secretary General António Guterres said in the UN statement.

After months of deepening conten tion between the United States and Chi na, President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping met in person for the first time as national leaders Monday with a tone of mutual engagement that acknowledged that both their countries faced challeng es from global conflict and economic headwinds.

When their meeting began, the lead ers greeted each other like old compan ions. They agreed that neither wanted competition between their two super powers to erupt in conflict. And after nearly three hours spent together, they promised more efforts to repair a rela tionship that has been at its most rancor ous point in decades.

None of that hid the deeply divergent views behind their disagreements, in cluding over the future of Taiwan, mili tary rivalry, technology restrictions and China’s mass detentions of its citizens. But with the stakes so high, both Biden’s and Xi’s language represented a choice not to gamble on unrestricted conflict but to bet that personal diplomacy and more than a decade of contacts could stave off worsening disputes.

“We’re going to compete vigorously, but I’m not looking for conflict,” Biden said at a news conference after the meet ing. “I’m looking to manage this compe tition responsibly.”

Both came to Bali for a meeting of the Group of 20 leaders after a moment of political success: Biden with bet ter-than-expected results for Demo crats in the midterm elections; Xi after securing a groundbreaking third term as Communist Party leader. But instead of swaggering into their meeting ready to contend over what Biden has called a struggle between democracy and au tocracy, each appeared to agree that his national interests had been made vulner able by the pandemic, climate change, a war in Europe and economic crisis.

“I absolutely believe there need not be a new Cold War,” Biden said.

Both men appeared eager to down play the idea that Washington and Beijing

17, 2022

14 were careening toward confrontation, particularly over Taiwan, a self-ruled is land claimed by China. Taiwan is the fo cus of a military and diplomatic pressure campaign by Beijing that has raised fears of a potential invasion. But Biden told re porters that he did not believe a Chinese invasion of Taiwan was “imminent.”

And although both sides left without finding common ground on their most contentious disagreements — “I’m not suggesting this is Kumbaya,” Biden said — they found some accord. That included agreeing to reopen climate negotiations that had been frozen in recent months.

Iran Sentences Protester to Death

that have engulfed the country since mid-September. Among other charges, the person was charged with starting a fire at a government building.

The announcement angered many worldwide.

“The international community must strongly warn the Islamic Republic of the consequences of executing protest ers,” the director of the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, said in a statement on Monday. “Summoning their ambas sadors and implementing stronger ef fective human rights action against state officials are amongst the consequences European countries must consider.”

According to Iran Human Rights, at least 20 other protesters are currently facing charges punishable by death in the country. Five other protesters were also sentenced to between five and ten years in prison for participating in the demon strations, which the Iranian regime re fers to as “riots.”

Freedom, the demonstrations initially focused on women’s rights, but they have morphed into a movement against the conservative Shiite Muslim clerics that have ruled the country since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Iran’s leaders have accused foreign governments of instigating the protests and called for harsh sentences to be handed down to “key perpetrators” as a deterrent. According to figures released by Iran’s judiciary, more than 2,000 peo ple have already been charged with par ticipating in the unrest.

On Monday, the European Union an nounced fresh sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities that it said were “responsible for the suppression of the Iranian protesters.”

Those entities included the morality police squad that arrested Amini and the country’s interior minister. The United Kingdom, no longer an EU member, also announced further sanctions against Iranian officials.

had withdrawn hours earlier across the Dnieper River. But by Friday afternoon, soldiers were appearing openly on a cen tral square, greeted as liberators by jubi lant residents.

Videos shared on social media by Ukrainian government officials showed scenes of civilians who had endured more than eight months of occupation cheering the arrival of Ukrainian troops.

“Today is a historic day,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a message posted on the Telegram messag ing app. “We are returning to Kherson.”

Hours earlier, the Kremlin had issued a statement saying that the withdrawal of its forces across the Dnieper River was complete.

On Monday, Iran sentenced a person to death for taking part in the protests

The mass protests against the Ira nian regime broke out after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s “morality police.” She had been detained for allegedly violat ing the country’s strict dress code for women. With the slogan #WomanLife

“Together with our partners, we have sent a clear message to the Iranian re gime: The violent crackdown on protests must stop and freedom of expression must be respected,” U.K. Foreign Secre tary James Cleverly said on Monday.

Russia Retreats from Kherson

Russian soldiers who remained in the city after the defense minister, Ser gei Shoigu, announced a pullback on Wednesday withdrew by ferries across the Dnieper and over the Antonivsky Bridge, the major river crossing, over night Thursday into Friday. They then apparently blew up the bridge to cover their retreat, according to residents and satellite images.

Although the arrival of Ukrainian troops portended relief for the belea guered civilians who had remained, of ficials cautioned that the city was not out of danger. After previous setbacks, Russia has launched bombardments of cruise missiles and drones at Ukrainian cities.

Kherson is the only provincial capi tal Russia had captured, and it is a ma jor link in Russia’s effort to control the southern coastline along the Black Sea.

Ukrainian soldiers swept into the southern city of Kherson on Friday, seiz ing a major symbolic and strategic prize from the retreating Russian army and dealing a bitter blow to President Vlad imir Putin.

Just weeks after Putin declared the Kherson region a part of Russia forev er, his troops were forced to abandon its capital city, their third major retreat in the war. The setback further dented the once-formidable reputation of an army that has mismanaged logistics and sent unprepared and unmotivated soldiers into battle.

Wary of mines and navigating around blown-up bridges, Ukrainian soldiers at first filtered secretly into the city and nearby villages, after Russian forces

Even as its soldiers fled, the Kremlin said that it still considered Kherson to be a part of Russia. “This is a Russian region,” Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesperson, told reporters Friday. “It has been legally fixed and defined. There can be no changes here.” (© The New York Times)

Boko Haram Kills “Witches”

Boko Haram militants have slaughtered a group of women in Nige

ria they deemed “witches.”

Last week, around 40 women were held in a village near Gwoza town in Bor no State on the orders of jihadist com mander Ali Guyile whose children sud denly died overnight.

The commander had accused the women of causing the children’s deaths through witchcraft.

Guyile, 35, ordered his men to arrest the women from homes known to prac tice witchcraft, said Talkwe Linbe, one of the accused women.

Linbe had managed to escape and fled to the regional capital Maiduguri af ter the killing of 14 women on Thursday.

“He said would investigate our in volvement in the deaths of his children and give appropriate punishment if found guilty. On Thursday, he ordered 14 of us shot. I was lucky not to be part of it, and my friend, among the men guarding us, helped me escape that same night,” the 67-year-old woman said.

Accusations of witchcraft are not un common in Nigeria, which is a religiously conservative country almost equally di vided between the mostly Muslim north and Christian south.

Many people abhor witchcraft despite it being entrenched in society, and a sec tion of the Nigerian criminal code still

forbids its practice; it is punishable by a jail term. It is not uncommon for people to be branded witches and then brutal ized or lynched.

On Saturday, the day Linbe arrived in Maiduguri, 12 other women were slaugh tered after being accused of being witch es.

“I received a call from Gwoza inform ing me that my mother, two aunts and nine other women were massacred on the orders of Ali Guyile, who accused them of being witches who killed his three children,” Abdullahi Gyya, who lives in Maiduguri, told AFP.

Boko Haram’s decade-long campaign of violence has killed 27,000 people and displaced about two million in Nigeria.

Europe Braces for Recession

ed last Friday. It was a decline that is expected to continue and spread to the continent by the end of the year.

the economic fallout from the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine are having an uneven impact on the region’s countries.

In Germany, Europe’s largest econo my, the annual inflation rate, according to one measure, reached 10.4% in Oc tober. In Britain, inflation hit 10.1% in September, the highest level in 40 years, and is expected to rise even more before peaking.

Many countries are likely to enter a recession in the last three months of 2022, Paolo Gentiloni, the EU’s commis sioner for the economy, said. “The EU economy is at a turning point,” he said. “Recent survey data points to a contrac tion for the winter.”

But while central bankers in Britain have warned of a “prolonged” recession lasting up to two years, the EU predict ed that the 27-member bloc would face a “short-lived and not excessively deep”

Indeed, Gentiloni said he expected the EU would end 2022 with better-than-ex pected 3.3% growth, although that total is likely to significantly weaken next year,

The divergent outlooks illustrate how

The national statistics office’s prelim inary estimates showed that the slow down in Britain was broad — including the production and services sectors — and meant that the country’s gross do mestic product, or total output, remained below its pre-pandemic level.

Very few countries in the EU are ex pected to fall into the negative growth range next year, but the outlook for Ger many, which has been hit hard by the loss of Russian pipeline gas, is grim. The EU estimates that its economy will shrink 0.6% in 2023.

Across Europe, inflation is expected to persist at higher levels than previously forecast. A strong labor market remains what Gentiloni called “a bright spot.”

The picture is darker in Britain, where long-term illnesses are keeping roughly 2.5 million people out of the workforce,

ADINA GELFAND-EREZ R-PAC

Taliban Imposes Sharia Law

thieves, kidnappers, and seditionists.”

“Those cases that have met all the Shariah conditions of limitation and ret ribution, you are obliged to issue the lim itation and retribution, because this is the order of the Sharia… and it is obliga tory to act,” Mujahid tweeted on Sunday.

Kaheld Abou El Fadl, a professor of Islamic Law at UCLA and one of the world’s leading authorities on Sharia law, noted that there’s a debate on the laws of Sharia and various interpretations of their meaning.

“Every point of law you’ll find 10 different opinions… Sharia is very open-ended,” he added.

ishments were rarely implemented because the majority of Islamic jurists throughout history didn’t interpret the law the way the Taliban currently does. “The Taliban have a particular approach to Sharia that one cannot ignore,” El Fadl said. “Anyone who doesn’t fit their definition can be pos sibly put to death.”

After seizing power last August, the Taliban attempted to project a more moderate image to gain international support, but in the months since, the group has clamped down on rights and freedoms.

Nearly half of the country faces acute hunger, according to the United Nations. An estimated 43% of Afghanistan’s pop ulation is living on less than one meal a day, with 90% of Afghans surveyed reporting food as their primary need, according to a May report by the Inter national Rescue Committee.

Griner Sent to Russian Penal Colony

This was to be expected, but experts are concerned that the implementation of Sharia law will lead to a further deteri oration of human rights in Afghanistan. This week, the Taliban ordered judg es in Afghanistan to fully impose their interpretation of Sharia law, including public executions, amputations and flogging.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mu jahid said Afghanistan’s Supreme Leader Alaiqadar Amirul Momineen made the “obligatory” command after meeting with judges to “investigate the cases of

Sharia law within Islamic jurispru dence means the “search for the divine will,” El Fadl said. “Although, both in Western and native discourses, it is common to use Sharia interchange ably with Islamic law, Sharia is a much broader and all-encompassing con cept.”

The Taliban’s hardline implemen tation of the doctrine when the group was last in power from 1996 to 2001 included violent punishments, such as public executions, stoning, floggings, and amputations.

El Fadl said that within the 1400year tradition of Sharia, those pun

Women in Afghanistan can no lon ger work in most sectors and require a male guardian for long-distance travel, while girls have been barred from re turning to secondary school.

Last week, women were stopped from entering amusement parks in the capital Kabul after the Taliban’s mo rality ministry said women’s access to public parks would be restricted.

During the group’s first stint in power, the Taliban banned most forms of music as un-Islamic; this summer, Afghan folk singer Fawad Andarabi was dragged from his home and killed.

Aside from human rights issues, the country is plummeting into poverty.

Wherever Brittney Griner was last Wednesday, one thing was clear: The American basketball star imprisoned by Russia was not heading back home, de spite a concerted U.S. campaign to win her freedom.

Griner was instead being transferred

from a jail outside Moscow and thrust into Russia’s vast and opaque penal col ony system, lawyers said.

Beyond that, little was known.

Griner’s legal team said in a state ment that her intended destination was unknown and that it expected to be of ficially notified, along with the U.S. Em bassy, once she had arrived. The process can take up to two weeks.

It has been more than eight months since the WNBA star was seized after she

flew into an airport near Moscow with a small amount of hash oil in her luggage. She has apologized repeatedly for what she says was an unintentional act, and pleaded guilty to the charges.

Last month, a Russian court upheld the nine-year prison sentence imposed on Griner, 32, setting the stage for her transfer to a penal colony.

The sentence imposed on Griner, an All-Star center with the Phoenix Mer cury and a two-time Olympic gold med

alist, was harsher than those ordinarily imposed for the drug infraction, experts say, and critics say Moscow is using her as a political pawn.

U.S. officials have repeatedly de nounced the treatment of Griner, and they did so again Wednesday.

President Joe Biden directed his ad ministration to “prevail on her Russian captors to improve her treatment and the conditions she may be forced to endure in a penal colony,” White House press

secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

Russian and American officials have signaled that Griner’s fate may be decid ed during high-level negotiations over a potential exchange for Russian inmates held in the United States. But those talks could not begin in earnest until the legal process was completed, Russian officials said.

Biden said last week that he hoped the negotiations could enter a new phase. “My guess is, my hope is, that now that the election is over, that Mr. Putin will be able to discuss with us and be willing to talk more seriously about a prison er exchange,” he said. (© The New York Times)

UK and France Tackle Migrant Issue

Britain and France signed a new agreement Monday to stem the growing number of small boats carrying migrants over the busy waterway between them, a sign of thawing relations on an issue that has become a sore point for the embat tled British government.

Under the agreement, Britain will pay France about 72.2 million euros ($74.5 million) over 2022 and 2023 — a previ ous deal involved a contribution of 62.7 million euros — and in turn, France will increase security patrols on its northern beaches by 40%, the countries said in a joint statement.

The arrival of small boats on British shores has become a focus of discontent among supporters of Britain’s governing Conservatives, even as the party has en dured a tumultuous year that has seen three prime ministers in a matter of months. The issue has also been at the center of contentious diplomacy between Britain and France, close allies and his toric rivals whose relationship is being reshaped by Britain’s departure from the European Union.

The crossings stoked tensions be tween then-British Prime Minister Bo ris Johnson and French President Em manuel Macron. Liz Truss, who briefly

succeeded Johnson in September, also appeared willing to take a provocative stance, answering that “the jury’s out” when asked during her leadership cam paign whether Macron was a friend or a foe.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who succeeded Truss last month, seems to be taking a softer approach. Speaking with reporters on his way to the Group of 20 summit, the BBC said, Sunak praised Monday’s agreement and said he had “spent more time working on that than anything else” since taking office.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense said 853 people had arrived in Britain by small boat Sunday, bringing the total number of such arrivals this year to more than 40,000.

Although Britain’s asylum system has been slow to assess claims, the vast ma jority of small-boat arrivals whose cases have been examined have been found to be refugees from war or persecution. Rights groups have criticized the use of heated rhetoric around the crossings, which make up a fraction of the number of people arriving in the country.

In a statement, the two governments said the agreement had been signed “with a view to making the small boat route unviable,” as well as to “save lives, dismantle organized crime groups and prevent and deter illegal migration in transit countries and further upstream.”

(© The New York Times)

Horrific Bombing in Istanbul

behind the blast, without accusing any specific group.

Early Monday, Interior Minister Su leyman Soylu said the person who left the bomb at the site had been arrested, according to the state-run news agency Anadolu. He did not identify the person, but he suggested that the bombing had been ordered by Kurdish militants in northern Syria.

The explosion shook the heart of one of Istanbul’s most popular districts, a short walk from Taksim Square, leav ing bloodied passersby strewn about the pavement and sending waves of visitors rushing from the area. By Sunday eve ning, Turkish officials had put the num ber of people injured at 81, with two in critical condition.

The blast occurred in front of a cloth ing store on Istiklal Avenue, a broad pe destrian street lined with historic build ings, shops, and restaurants.

Like many parts of Turkey where the economy relies on tourism, the area around Istiklal had suffered in recent years as travel bans and fears of corona virus infection kept many tourists away. But the area rebounded this summer as the pandemic waned and the weak Turk ish lira made Turkey an attractive tourist destination.

About 4:20 p.m. Sunday, a large boom shook the street and an orange fire ball rose to the sky, according to videos shared on social media.

Ambulances with sirens blaring rushed to the area as security forces cor doned off the blast site. A police helicop ter circled overhead.

“I first thought it was a natural gas ex plosion,” said Serhat Sen, a 30-year-old real estate commissioner, who was on his motorbike a little more than half a mile from the site. (© The New York Times)

two kids. Ladygin had moved to Israel five years ago.

“Everyone who knew him, loved him,” Dagan said.

In Tuesday’s attack, Muhammed Souf, 18, from the town of Hares, stabbed a security guard – who was seriously wounded – near the entrance to the Ari el Industrial Park. The murderer then stabbed three people at and adjacent to a nearby gas station, before he fled in a stolen vehicle.

Motti Ashkenazi, 59, a resident of the central city of Yavne, was also killed in a stabbing. He worked as a supplier for the Amisragas gas distributor in the West Bank area. He was married and had three children and two grandchildren.

“Motti was a loving person, full of joy, an exemplary husband, and a family man with a huge soul who always loved to help everyone,” his family said in remarks provided by the Yavne municipality.

Tamir Avihai, 50, a resident of the settlement of Kiryat Netafim and a fa ther of six, was killed when the terrorist rammed his car into him, following the stabbing spree.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan described Avihai, whom he knew personally, as “a man of kindness” who was always seeking to help other people.

Shortly afterward, the terrorist crashed the vehicle into other cars on the Route 5 highway, before getting out and stabbing another person, according to medics. He then stole another vehicle and drove it against traffic, crashing into more cars, before he got out and was shot dead by soldiers and armed civilians.

Local officials said the terrorist had worked in the industrial zone and had a valid permit. Souf did not have any prior security offences.

Iran Wanted to Kill Israeli in Georgia

On Tuesday, Georgian security of ficials said that they had foiled a recent attempt of a Pakistani citizen to murder an Israeli in Georgia on orders from an

A bomb attack struck a bustling pe destrian thoroughfare in central Is tanbul on Sunday, killing at least eight people in what officials said could be a terrorist attack and shattering a sense of calm as Turkey’s tourist industry works to recover from the pandemic.

The attack was the deadliest in Turkey in more than five years, and authorities offered few details in the hours afterward other than to say they were investigating the possibility that the bomb had been detonated by a woman. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to punish those

3 Men Killed in Ariel Attack

Tuesday was a bloody day in the set tlement of Ariel in the West Bank. Three men were killed in stabbing and car ram ming attacks.

Michael Ladygin, 36, a resident of the central coastal city of Bat Yam, died after being stabbed. He left behind a wife and

Leaders grow at Darchei

“I have gained tremendously from my 17 years at Darchei. Darchei taught me Chashivus HaTorah and Chashivus HaAdam. Darchei gave me the shleimus to understand how Torah guides one’s life.

“I keep my Darchei rebbeim in my pocket, calling them consistently to ask them the most significant questions in my life.

“Darchei empowered me to see each individual’s greatness through the lens of Torah. I’ve taken to heart Rav Bender’s lesson to appreciate all that I have and to develop sensitivity toward others who are less fortunate.”

Rabbi Yoel Steinmetz

Rav of Kehilas Meor Yisroel, Chicago, Alumnus 2009

24 Iranian operative.

17, 2022

According to a statement from the State Security Service of Georgia, the man planning the attack was arrested, and security officials identified the per son who allegedly ordered the killing as an Iranian citizen operating outside of Georgia.

Georgians who held dual citizenship with Iran or Pakistan.

Iranian terror operatives have regu larly been accused of attempting to tar get Israeli citizens and targets abroad, including recently in Greece and Turkey, two popular tourist destinations. Geor gia is also a popular travel locale for Is raelis, especially the resort town of Ba tumi, which can be reached via a direct flight from Tel Aviv — as can the capital Tbilisi.

The 25th Knesset

The security agency said the alleged attacker was sent to Georgia in order to murder an Israeli and began to secretly surveil the intended target on instruction of the Iranian who ordered the killing.

The man received weapons from oth er Iranian citizens in Georgia through the use of drop-offs and hideouts in order to cover their tracks, the agency stated, adding that several firearms were seized in the arrest and investigation.

Several people were arrested in the course of the investigation, including

On Tuesday, Israel’s 25th Knesset was sworn in under a somber cloud after that morning’s terror attack in Ariel in which three men were killed.

The inauguration took place at 4 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon.

A large banner welcoming guests to the ceremony adorned the main entrance to the building. Grandstands were set up in the plaza that leads to the entrance.

The incoming members of Knesset arrived throughout the morning and had official pictures taken alone and with their families. Hadash-Ta’al MKs Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif refused to have their pictures taken on the backdrop of the Israeli flag and national symbol.

President Herzog entered the build ing at approximately 3:30 p.m. and signed the Knesset’s “President’s Book,” in which presidents traditionally wish the new Knesset well on the day of its in auguration.

“Fate had us to gather here, in the Is raeli Knesset, at a key moment in the his tory of the State of Israel. Now, at the end of the fifth round of elections in less than four years, we stand before the cross roads of solidarity. We must choose our togetherness, and commit to the unity of Israel and the Jewish and democratic State of Israel,” Herzog wrote.

“Such a choice does not mean unan imous agreement and unanimity. Not at all. But we must remember that the Knesset institution is precious and re spected even more than the totality of its members, and therefore it is incumbent upon the elected officials to be extra re spectful of the public and the Knesset and the manner of its discourse, main tain substantive and attentive disagree ments, even if sharp and piercing, and uproot every sign of enmity,” Herzog wrote.

At 4:00 p.m., three trumpet blasts announced the beginning of the plenum, led by Herzog, who then gave a speech, which began addressing that day’s terror attack.

“To Israel’s enemies and those who wish us ill, to those who would have us divided and weak, I wish to send this unambiguous message: you shall not succeed in rattling our might and our cohesion, not by means of threats, not through violence, not through terror, nor by means of foolish endeavors on the in ternational stage. Those who rise up to destroy us will always find us ready and determined, one hand clutching a weap on and the other extended in peace,” he said.

Herzog also addressed the members of the Knesset.

“The citizens of Israel expect you simply to work for them. They expect you, all of you, to work for them in the committees, in the Plenum, and in your assorted public and parliamentary roles. They expect us, all of us, to wake up every

morning and look out for them,” Herzog stressed.

“Let me underscore: not only is change possible; there are places where change is proper and desirable. It is al lowed, and sometimes even required, to reopen for debate the division of pow ers and authorities between the various branches of government, which balance each other.

“But we must do so through listen ing, through open dialogue, through re spectful discourse – and fairly. This is of course a mission that confronts all three branches of government – legislature, executive, and judiciary – which must be attentive to each other while at the same time remaining committed to our collec tive vision as a people and as a state,” he said.

Following the ceremony, the leaders of each of the parties that entered the Knesset joined for a traditional pho tograph with President Herzog, Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Knesset speaker Mickey Levy, and High Court chief jus tice, Esther Hayut.

Estonia Won’t Condemn Israel at UN

Estonia’s foreign minister said the Baltic country has changed its policy toward Israel and will no longer vote for UN resolutions condemning Israeli actions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Instead, the European country is looking to align its UN voting position in such matters, from now on, with Wash ington, its closest security policy ally and a key partner of Jerusalem.

According to a report by the Estonian public broadcaster ERR, Foreign Min ister Urmas Reinsalu said Estonia — a European Union and NATO member — recently voted together with the United States against the condemnation of Israel at the UN.

That stance was apparent last week when Estonia was one of 17 countries to vote against a resolution requesting the

26 International Court of Justice “urgently” weigh in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli “annexation.”

17, 2022

Previously, Estonia had usually voted for resolutions condemning Israel at the UN together with several other coun tries.

“Estonia is a member of the EU, and if the EU has a common political position including some UN resolutions as well… then naturally, we will act in accordance with a jointly agreed EU position,” Rein salu said.

However, should the 27 EU countries have differences of opinion, Reinsalu said Estonia would now as a rule align its voting position with Washington.

Estonia, a nation of 1.3 million, held a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2020-2021.

Among the countries that voted for last week’s resolution was Ukraine, prompting a rebuke from Israel. A top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later said it was “a grave mis take” for Kyiv to back the measure.

Estonia borders Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia. It was occupied by the Germans and the Soviets from 1940 until 1991. It joined the EU in 2004.

Bezos: I’ll Give Away Most to Charity

preparations “to be able to give away this money.”

He said he wanted to give in a way that maximized the effect of the dona tions. “It’s really hard,” he said. “And there are a bunch of ways, I think, that you could do ineffective things.”

It was the first time Bezos announced that he would give away the bulk of his wealth. More than 230 of the richest people in the world have promised to do nate their money to charitable causes as part of the Giving Pledge, a philanthropy movement started in 2010.

for Courage and Civility. Before Parton, $100 million awards were given to chef José Andrés and CNN commentator and activist Van Jones, announced by Bezos at a news conference after his trip in July 2021 aboard a rocket sent to outer space by Blue Origin.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, said he would give away most of his mon ey to charity, making him the latest bil lionaire to pledge to donate his vast for tune during his lifetime.

Bezos is the world’s fourth-richest person, worth $124 billion, according to Bloomberg. In an interview with CNN released Monday, Bezos, appearing with his girlfriend, former television anchor Lauren Sanchez, said they were making

The New York Times reported Mon day that Amazon plans to lay off approx imately 10,000 people in corporate and technology jobs starting as soon as this week, in what would be the largest job cuts in the company’s history. Bezos’ wealth, which as recently as last year was more than $200 billion, according to Bloomberg, has fallen by tens of billions, on paper, because it is closely tied to Am azon’s share price, which has suffered along with other technology stocks this year.

On Saturday, Bezos and Sanchez an nounced a $100 million grant for singer and philanthropist Dolly Parton to direct to her chosen charitable causes, as part of an annual gift called the Bezos Award

In 2020, Bezos pledged to give $10 billion to combat climate change as part of the Bezos Earth Fund. As part of that commitment, Bezos pledged $2 billion to restore natural habitats and transform food systems at the climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, last year. Previously, Bezos’ largest donation was a $2 billion gift to help homeless families and start preschools. (© The New York Times)

Attack at UVA

On Sunday, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., a 22-year-old former football

28 player, killed three students and wound ed others after the group returned from a school field trip at University of Virginia.

17, 2022

The murderer was a student at the university. He had been facing school disciplinary action after UVA officials learned he failed to disclose his convic tion last year on a misdemeanor con cealed weapons charge.

Now, authorities are investigating past incidents involving Jones. In Sep tember, while UVA officials were “re viewing a potential hazing issue,” they “heard from a student” that Jones “made a comment to him about possessing a gun,” UVA spokesperson Brian Coy said in a statement.

During the investigation, UVA learned Jones was convicted in 2021 of a misdemeanor concealed weapons viola tion and received a 12-month suspended sentence and a small fine. Jones had not reported that to university officials, as required.

UVA officials sought more informa tion about both the claim that Jones had a gun and his misdemeanor conviction, the statement said, but Jones “repeated ly refused to cooperate.” On October 27, the UVA threat assessment team “esca lated his case for disciplinary action,” the statement said.

On Monday afternoon, many hours after the shooting, Jones was finally taken into custody. He had been on the run, prompting an overnight lockdown on UVA’s campus, with about 500 people sheltering in classrooms and libraries.

Those killed in the attack were Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry.

Airlines Fined for Not Refunding

Frontier Airlines, a budget carrier based in Denver, was fined $2.2 million, more than any other company. It was the only U.S. airline penalized as part of Monday’s announcement and has issued $222 million in refunds, according to the department.

The refunds were meant to compen sate passengers for flights that were can celed, significantly delayed, or otherwise altered substantially, the department said.

Air India was assessed the sec ond-largest fine, of $1.4 million, and TAP Air Portugal was fined $1.1 million. The remaining three carriers – Aeromexico, El Al and Avianca – will each pay less than $1 million. Including the penalties announced Monday, the department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection has issued a record $8.1 million in fines in 2022.

The announcement comes after months of growing complaints from trav elers about flight delays, cancellations, and other problems. Airlines have en joyed a booming business since this sum mer, as more people have shifted their spending from goods to travel and other services after two years of the pandemic. Many people have been so eager to travel that they have been willing to pay much higher ticket prices.

The fines announced Monday are part of a continuing effort by the Transporta tion Department to hold the industry to account. This summer, for example, it unveiled a consumer dashboard to en courage airlines to commit to providing free hotel stays and meals when travel is severely disrupted. The department has also proposed stricter rules for how air lines and travel-search websites disclose fees for services such as checking bags and seat selection.

In August, the department also pro posed a rule that would more clearly de fine when airlines would issue refunds. Consumer groups embraced that pro posal but also complained that the de partment had acted too slowly, allowing airlines to not refund customers money they were owed, particularly early in the pandemic.

Katie Hobbs Wins in Arizona

spotlight and held fast to her decision not to debate Lake, saying she did not want to give a platform to an election denier and her lies. But even some of Hobbs’ own voters and allies expressed concerns that she was evasive and awkward in the limelight.

In the end, it was Lake who struggled to defeat Hobbs. (© The New York Times)

Fire Ants Invade Hawaii

Katie Hobbs, who as Arizona’s secre tary of state stood up to efforts by allies of former President Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 election, clinched a victory in the state’s race for governor, according to The Associated Press.

Hobbs, a Democrat, narrowly de feated Kari Lake, a right-wing former newscaster who was talked about as a future leader in a Trump-dominated Republican Party, in a bitter and closely watched race that became a final test of whether candidates molded in Trump’s image could win in battlegrounds. Lake, one of the most prominent purveyors of Trump’s assertions about his 2020 elec tion, followed several other election-de nying candidates in defeat.

The contest was a study in contrasts of both style and substance, but the stakes for American elections and democracy were evident from the first.

Lake was a magnetic performer who began her campaign echoing Trump’s claims that the 2020 election had been “crooked” and “corrupt.” She borrowed and sharpened Trump’s tactic of using the news media as a foil, routinely vid eotaping her interviewers or denigrating their news organizations. She taunted Hobbs as a “coward” and ridiculed her as “chicken” through the contest’s final days for refusing to debate her onstage.

Some residents of Hawaii are going to sleep scared as venomous fire ants swarm the island and may even invade their beds.

The infestation is believed to have be gun at a private home and is the biggest seen on the island since they were first seen in 1999.

Fire ants are known to be aggressive and possess a venomous sting which can cause painful welts which develop into blisters.

In some people, the ants’ venom can cause a life-threatening reaction.

Heather Forester, extension special ist at Hawaii Ant Lab, noted, “They’re changing the way of life for our residents here in Hawaii. You used to be able to go out hiking and go to the beach.

“They can rain down on people and sting them. The stings are different for different people. In heavily infested ar eas, the ants can actually move into peo ple’s homes. We have a lot of reports of them stinging people while they sleep in their beds.”

The Transportation Department said Monday that it had fined a half-dozen air lines a total of more than $7 million for failing to provide timely refunds to cus tomers. The department’s intervention contributed to the airlines issuing more than $600 million in refunds, it said.

The airline industry has opposed the department’s proposed new rule, arguing that most companies offer refunds when they are due and that the rule could have unintended consequences. (© The New York Times)

She disparaged the late Sen. John Mc Cain, who championed a maverick brand of Republicanism, as a “loser” – again echoing Trump – and claimed that she and her followers had driven “a stake in the heart of the McCain machine.”

Hobbs, a mild-mannered elected of ficial, rose to national prominence when she stood steadfast against efforts by Trump loyalists to overturn the vote in 2020. On the stump, she often pointed to her refusal to give in to the “insurrec tionists” – protesters who at one point surrounded her home – as a sign that she was “battle tested.”

Hobbs often sought to stay out of the

The ants are native to Central and South America and are thought to have arrived more than two decades ago aboard a ship and thrive in shade, trees, and water.

For now, the infestation is currently limited to Wailua River State Park al though experts are concerned it could spread down the river to other parts of the state.

Haylin Chock, of the Kauai Invasive Species Committee, added, “That’s really

30 the concerning part - it would infest the entire state park. If they are at that point, they can start climbing trees. It’s like a paradise for them.

17, 2022

“If that happens, how are we supposed to know where they are?”

The ants can also sting animals such as cats and dogs, as they rest in gardens or run around the yard. Some also attack the animals’ eyes, causing a clouding of their corneas.

Deadly Collision at Dallas Air Show

Two World War II-era airplanes col lided in midair at an air show in Dallas on Saturday, authorities said, turning the commemorative Veterans Day weekend

event into a scene of horror.

Six people were aboard when the planes — a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and a Bell P-63 Kingcobra — crashed about 1:20 p.m. local time, the Feder al Aviation Administration said. Terry Barker, Craig Hutain, Kevin Michels, Dan Ragan, Leonard Root, and Curt Rowe were killed in the horrific collision.

The crash occurred at the Wings Over Dallas air show at Dallas Executive Air

port, which is about 10 miles south of downtown Dallas.

Videos posted online appeared to show a fast and agile airplane slamming into a larger aircraft as horrified onlook ers watched.

Paul Martin, a member of the Army Air Forces Historical Association, said that the Flying Fortress was a bomber airplane that was lumbering and like a “tractor-trailer truck,” big enough to carry a crew of 10 or 11 people, while the Kingcobra was a single-pilot fighter plane.

To have either aircraft in flying condi tion is a rare occurrence, he said. There are fewer than a handful of either in that condition, he said.

“It’s heartbreaking for me to hear this, both on a human level and a histori cal level,” he said.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said on social media Saturday that there were no reports of injuries to spectators or those on the ground. He said that much about the crash remained unknown or uncon firmed.

“The videos are heartbreaking,” he said. “Please, say a prayer for the souls who took to the sky to entertain and edu cate our families today.”

Christopher Kratovil, a lawyer in Dallas, took his 12-year-old daughter, Kelsey, a history buff like himself, to the air show Saturday.

He said there were several aircraft flying at the same time, perhaps about eight, a mix of bombers like the Flying Fortress and fighters like the Kingcobra.

Kratovil said the Flying Fortress ap peared to be doing a flyby near the crowd, a common move meant for attendees to get a good look.

Then he saw the explosion.

His first thought was it could be py rotechnics, but he quickly realized there was no way to do midair pyrotechnics. He then saw a wing come off the B-17 and then the fuselage of the plane fall to the ground, followed by fireballs and a loud crash. (© The New York Times)

Trump Announces Candidacy

been paying close attention to the next moves of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who won his reelection contest with a 19-point margin of victory and consider able support from minority and indepen dent voters.

first place, followed by independent Ted dy Drummond and, in third, Perrette, according to unofficial returns published by the secretary of state’s office. Voter turnout was 47%.

named.

Jobs and Steve Wozniak co-founded Apple in 1976 at Jobs’ parents’ house in Los Altos, California. In 2013, the prop erty was named a historic landmark by the Los Altos Historical Commission. Those are big shoes to fill.

Seeing Double

On Tuesday evening, former Presi dent Donald Trump announced his in tentions to run for the Republican pres idential nomination in 2024, hoping to become the second president in history to be elected to two nonconsecutive terms.

“In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the Unit ed States,” Trump told a crowd gathered at Mar-a-Lago, his waterfront estate in Florida, where his campaign will be headquartered.

Surrounded by allies, advisers, and conservative influencers, Trump deliv ered a relatively subdued speech. The former commander-in-chief aimed to evoke nostalgia for his time in office, fre quently contrasting his first-term accom plishments with the Biden administra tion’s policies and the current economic climate.

“This will not be my campaign –this will be our campaign all together,” Trump declared.

It was not a secret that Trump had his eye on 2024. But many were surprised that he announced his decision so close to the midterm elections, when quite a few of several Trump-endorsed candi dates lost their elections and when the Republicans’ expected red wave failed to meet expectations.

Trump attempted to counter that criticism on Tuesday, noting that Re publicans appear poised to retake the House majority and touting at least one Trump-endorsed candidate, Kevin Kiley of California.

Trump is hoping that his first-out-ofthe gate strategy will fend off potential primary rivals and give him an early advantage with deep-pocketed donors, aides say. He is widely expected to be challenged by both conservative and moderate Republicans, though the calcu lus of some presidential hopefuls could change now that he is running. Others – like his former Vice President Mike Pence – may proceed anyway.

In particular, top Republicans have

Longest Beard Chain

There are around 11,000 residents in town.

Perrette, who was first elected in 2014, conceded – although not so gra ciously.

It took lots of men with lots of long beards to create the new world record for the longest beard chain.

The feat was accomplished in a bar (where else?!) in Casper, Wyoming, last Friday, as the men stood side by side and clipped their facial hair together to create a hairy chain measuring 150 feet long –almost as long as the Statue of Liberty is tall.

The ginormous hair chain nabbed the Guinness World Record that was previ ously 62 feet, 6 inches, set in Germany in 2007.

Dozens of participants, who stood to gether for 31 seconds, were required to sport a beard at least 8 inches long.

The hair-raising feat took place just one day before the National Beard and Moustache Championships on Saturday at the city’s Ford Wyoming Center.

Here’s some food for thought: “I mustache you a very serious question.” “Would you please shave it for later?”

Political Newbie

Tyrin Truong just started voting a few years ago – and now he’s going to be the mayor of Bogalusa, Louisiana.

“I’m honestly at a loss for words,” Truong said after his historic win. “This campaign was never about me; it was about building a better Bogalusa and a better city, and I’m glad everybody got out to vote, because it was a team effort, truly a team effort.”

With all participating precincts re porting last Wednesday, Truong was in

“I wish the mayor-elect well, but young Tyrin has demonstrated repeat edly during this campaign that he lacks the skills necessary to lead and unite our city,” Perrette said. “I pray I am wrong. During the transition period, I will help any way that I can.”

We hope she is “tru-ong.”

Sandal Sale

Visitors to Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY, were seeing double.

The zoo recently announced the birth of a pair of rare elephant twins.

Elephant twins make up less than 1% of elephant births worldwide, according to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. It is also rare for mother and both calves to sur vive the birth.

Staff at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo hadn’t anticipated the birth of twins due to the “sheer improbability” and the “complexity” that comes with testing while elephants are pregnant.

The first calf was born at 2 a.m. on October 24 with no complications and weighed a whopping 220 pounds, while the second calf was born at 11:50 a.m. and weighed 237 pounds, but he was “no ticeably weaker than the first,” the zoo reported.

The elephant care team and veteri nary staff reportedly nursed the second calf to health with a specialized milk re placer.

Steve Jobs’ sandals may be worn out but that doesn’t mean that they are worthless.

The “well used” brown suede Birken stocks dating to the mid-1970s set a re cord – nearly $220,000 – for the highest price ever paid for a pair of sandals last week.

“The cork and jute footbed retains the imprint of Steve Jobs’ feet, which had been shaped after years of use,” the auc tion house said in the listing on its web site.

Jobs died in 2011 after a bout with pancreatic cancer.

The sandals were expected to bring $60,000, but the final sale price with an accompanying NFT was $218,750, Ju lien’s auction site said. The buyer was not

“This is truly a historic moment for the zoo and our community,” said Ryan J. McMahon, county executive at the Ro samond Gifford Zoo.

Asian elephants are classified as en dangered by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There are an estimated 48,000-50,000 Asian elephants worldwide.

Still, elephants take up a lot of space. Asian elephants can reportedly grow up to 11.5 feet in height, measure about 21 feet in length, and weigh up to 11,000 pounds.

That’s a lot of jumbo diapers that need to be changed.

Mrs. Bracha Rosenblum SEMINARY MENAHELES //

Mrs. Estee Friedman-Stefansky DEAN //

Around the Community

Rav Moshe Weinberger, Shlita, Led an Inspired Group of Almost 100 Men to Italy and Eretz Yisroel Last Week

Yeshiva Ateres Eitz Chaim Receives Brachos from Gedolim

The talmidim of Yeshiva Ateres Eitz Chaim had the opportunity to meet with The Pittsburgher Rebbe who gave words of chizuk, say

ing that we have to work consistently to reach great levels. Everyone, no matter how great, has their challenges that they are faced with, but with siyata dishmaya

Shabbat Project at HAFTR

HAFTR Lower School joined schools and communities around the world in celebrating the Shabbat Project last week. Through out the week, teachers incorporated les sons of Shabbat in a variety of curricular areas that helped build the excitement and enjoyment of Shabbat.

In kindergarten, students strength ened their writing and number sense by writing Shabbat books using numbers 1 through 7. In second grade, students learned about kiddush and its impor tance to the creation of the world. They located the source of kiddush in the Chu mash, practiced the kiddush from a card they decorated, and proudly took a class picture in front of the Moully sculpture, Overflowing Blessing Cup, situated in front of our school building. The entire

Honoring Our Veterans

On Veteran’s Day, HALB had the honor of hosting Hon. Judge Simcha Dunn, who served in the U.S. Airforce in Iraq in 1991. HALB stu dents had the opportunity to hear about his experience and give hakarat hatov to our Veterans.

school reviewed the laws of al netilat yadaim, understanding that while one must always wash before eating bread; on Shabbat, it is a specific mitzvah to do so.

To enhance the excitement, students were treated by the PTA to a Shab bat-style lunch. They walked into their lunchroom where the tables were set for Shabbat, complete with grape juice, chal lot, kugel, and deli. Rabbi Weiss and the fifth grade boys prepared a cholent that would win any cholent taste testing con test. The ruach soared as the students sang and danced.

As a school community, over 800 hun dred people gathered at HAFTR Lower School on Thursday evening for our an nual Challah Bake. Donning aprons and gloves, participants got straight to work, kneading the dough from scratch. By the

and persistence, one can overcome those obstacles.

The talmidim were also privileged to receive brachos from HaRav Tzvi Odess

er, shlita, a prominent Rosh Yeshiva in Eretz Yisrael.

end of the evening, 800 lbs. of flour, 520 packets of yeast, 200 lbs. of sugar, 525 eggs, and more were mixed, and the aro ma of the rising dough filled the air. Mrs. Sheila Wiener, Mrs. Gail Lipton, and Mrs. Smadar Preston, PTA representatives who helped bring the first Challah Bake to HAFTR, performed the hafrashat challah. Everyone recited a tefillah and Tehillim, having in mind few individuals who are in need of a refuah sheleimah.

While the dough was rising, families were invited to design a Lucite Al Neti lat Yadaim cup and towel, which is sure to be used especially on Shabbat by our HAFTR families. The room was electri fying as students came together to sing some of their favorite songs. They im pressed their audience with a Sephardic Shabbat melody, composed by the late

Joe Amar, who lived in Woodmere and whose grandchildren graduated HAFTR, and with a heartfelt rendition of Benny Friedman’s, Tatty My King.

It was moving to see a room full of children and their parents, grandpar ents and even great-grandparents as they worked together to usher in the Shabbat so beautifully. Thank you to the PTA committee and sponsors for a memora ble evening.

Did you know?

Oenophobia is the condition given to people who dislike, or even hate, wine.

by Joseph

JSL Week 7 Recap

JSL Juniors

JSL By FM Home Loans enjoyed another great week. The boys in our Juniors division continue to show in credible improvements in their skills. K/P Hockey: Yaakov Mermelstein made 2 incredible saves for ARG to seal the deal and give them the 1-0 victory. Daniel Hammer scored the game-winning goal for Molly’s Jeweler’s! 1st Hockey: GAME MVP Aryeh Tem pleman played great all around in Built By Nate’s 3-1 win over Judaica Plus K/P Soccer: Moshe Avigdor of Simcha Day Camp made some amazing clutch saves and GAME MVP Yehuda Cohen scored a spectacular unassisted goal. Moshe Silberberg of Hewlett Auto Body scored an amazing goal from nearly 15 feet out! 1st/2nd Football: Jack Garbacz made an incredible catch to give KolSave the lead and eventually the win. Momo Caller ran a beautiful route and made a great catch in WestWood Real Estates 7-3 win over The Rebbe’s Choice.

JSL Basketball League

3rd Grade: David Lifshitz of Tri ple Net Group had a monster defensive block. However, ARG’s offense, led by Liam Mashiach, was too much for Tri ple Net Group, defeating them 10-6. David Schattner led the way for Maiden baum in their big win over Island Roof ing to keep the #1 spot in the division. 4th/5th Grade: Ezra Fricker of Alpert Financial hit an incredible buzzer beat

er at the end of the first half and led the offensive onslaught, in their 27-9 vic tory over Craving Block. GAME MVP David Gamerman of 925 Sterling came to play Sunday, leading his team to a 17-15 victory over Town Appliance. 6th-8th Grade: Paradigm remains unde feated with another win Sunday, high lighted by a great behind the back pass from Eli Davidowitz to Reuven Lapidus for the score. Zachariah Obadiah of 5 Towns Pediatric Dentistry hit a halfcourt shot to lead his team to a 30-22 victory over Weider Orthodontics.

JSL Hockey League

2nd/3rd Grade: Sharona Beck Real ty won 9-2 over JNT. Aaron Silverman scored 4 goals in Paradigm’s 6-0 win over ARG. 5 Towns Pediatric Dentistry came back to tie the game, after being down by 3 goals. Then, in the 3rd pe riod, Moshe Berg was the hero, scor ing the go-ahead and game-winning goal to give 5 Towns Pediatric Dentist ry the 7-6 victory over 925 Sterling.

4th/5th: Meat + Board came out strong versus AutoClick, scoring 3 goals in the 1st period. However, AutoClick came roaring back and had the game tied with just over 1 minute to go in the game, when Yehuda Schwadel scored from 9 feet out to give AutoClick the lead and the victory.

6th-8th: Zev Silverman scored the game-winning goal with just over 1 min ute left to give Posh Home + Bath the 7-6 victory over Wieder Orthodontics, keep

ing them undefeated on the season. Bay rock Insurance played tough vs 5Town sCentral, beating them 5-4.

JSL Men’s Basketball

Extreme Vent Cleaning was down by 7 points with under 1 minute to go versus MAS Travel, but Extreme did not give up.

Chaim Homnick hit 2 back-to-back high ly-contested 3 pointers to bring the score to within 1 with 5 seconds to go. Joe Ru dansky scored a foul shot to tie the game and Chaim Homnick scored two goahead technical free throws to give Ex treme Vent Cleaning the incredible come from behind 57-55 victory. Ari Mitnick had another dominant performance, as Built By Nate remained undefeated on the season, beating Island Roofing 7564.

Game of the Week

In 4th/5th grade hockey, Alpert Fi nancial & Town Appliance played a clas sic. Town Appliance led by 3-2 with just over 2 minutes remaining, but Alpert Fi

nancial scored to tie it up and send the game to a shootout. The shootout entered the 3rd round when GAME MVP Dov Kriesman of Alpert Financial scored. Zac Grauman then made an incredible save on Town Appliance’s shootout shot to give Alpert Financial the victory and first place in the division.

Swag Alert: Custom magnet cards were given out the last 2 weeks.

Basketball Fun Fact: The JSL boys enjoyed a Tuesday night Jr. Knicks clinic hosted by Knicks legend John Starks.

GAME MVPs:

Yitz Balter, Joseph Feldman, Aryeh Wechter, Baruch Rekant, Aryeh Tem pelman, Jack Garbacz, Shlomo Caller, Dovid Schattner, Liamshmuel Mashi ach, David Gamerman, Ezra Fricker Zachary Obadiah, Tzvi Katz, Zev Schonkopf, Yaakov Noam Levine, Zevi Silverman,

Yosef Aharon Kalish Shaya Kohn, and Shimshi Goldman

Hempstead Congressman-elect and Town Councilman Anthony D’Esposito and Councilwoman Melissa Miller congratulated former Chief John E. McHugh as he achieved 50 years of service with the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department. Also attending were Chief Meyer Adler, Chief Mike Beilinson and County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

Talmidim in Rabbi Meltzer’s shiur in Yeshiva of South Shore enjoyed a Melave Malka and kumzitz at the Girnun residence this past Motzei Shabbos

YCQ 2023 Debate Team

By Assaf and Yair Davidov

This week was the beginning of the YCQ 2022 - 2023 debate season.

The Yeshiva Debate League is run by Commissioner Waterman, who sends the resolutions to all the participating ye shiva day schools (HANC, Moriah, BPY, Haftr, Noam, JKHA, Yavneh, and Yeshi va of Central Queens). The YCQ Debate Team is coached by Mr. Miles Ehrenk ranz, who led the team to victory in last year’s championship and debates.

“Debate competition exercises our brains and therefore improves multiple skill sets. The increased ability to think critically, as well as more swiftly, are skills that exhibit themselves in debate competition. But what sets YCQ apart, and places us in position to win numer ous individual and team awards, is our constant focus on improving.

“Our success last year sets the bar we need to beat, not meet,” said Mr. Eh renkranz. “Our recipe for success always starts with respect. Respect for each other, respect for our opponents, and respect for the league’s honorable judg es. We then skill-build with a focus on public speaking by enhancing debater voice projection annunciation, research, speech writing, cross-examination, and extemporaneous argument presentation skills. I am proud of every student on our YCQ Debate Team, and strongly believe we will live up to, and conquer, the chal

lenges that a year-long, four-tournament season demands.”

Last year’s team had only three de bates because of Covid-19, but this year’s team has four prescheduled debates. The students on the debate team work ex tremely hard to perfect and hone their debating skills, whether it’s speech writ ing or cross examination. The Grade 8 Co-Captains include Assaf Davidov, Yair Davidov, Adam Kaykov, Micheal Zavu lun, Eliana Aminov, Emily Abkashev, Jonathan Khimov Ben Toobian and, Max Basalely. The team members include Joni Musheyev, Binyamin Flamenbaum, Ethan Mordukhay, David Nikolsky, and Mikey Fried, David Kovan, Eylon Wort zel, Moria Cohen, and Elisheva Schutz man.

Adam Kaykov, Co-Captain, reports, “Our success is really based on our abil ity to work together as a team. Since we are many talented debaters with many different styles of debating, we take all of our abilities and put it together to make one championship debate team.”

While the team prepares for the first upcoming debate, Rabbi Landsman, principal of YCQ, acknowledged the hard work and effort of the team. “I am extremely proud of our debate team for their hard work to win last year’s debate championship and of Mr. Ehrenkranz for his advice and leadership. He is an excel lent coach, and we couldn’t have won the championship without him.”

Shulamith Torah Bowl Team Sweeps First Meet

Mazal tov to the Shulamith To rah Bowl team, winners of the first round of this year’s Torah Bowl! With the preparation and coaching of Mrs. Shoshana Fischman, and team captains, Chana Meisels and Yardena Lifshitz, the team was led to victory in all four matches of the first meet. Shulamith scholarship and commitment to higher levels of learning Tanach were reflected in this meet.

Mazal tov to our Torah Bowl Win ners: Miri Bindiger, Talia Dashiff, Estee Fischman, Shira Fischman, Kira Gurev ich, Gabi Hecht, Noa Hecht, Yardena Lif shitz, Penina Luban, Chana Meisels, Rina Miller, Meira Moskowitz, Ayelet Pol lak, Yael Rabinovitz, Adina Romer, Kayla Sider and Atara Weider.

We are so proud of our girls and look forward to the next meet.

Board Breaking & Books Community Event

On Sunday, November 13, a day celebrated across the country as World Kindness Day, book worms of all ages gathered at Warren Levi Martial Arts & Fitness for a special literacy and gratitude event cohosted by Hindi’s Libraries: Board Breaking & Books.

The program included read aloud sessions by children’s authors Warren Levi (owner of the Fitness Studio), Les lie Gang (co-founder of Hindi’s Libraries) and 8-year-old Joe “The Gamer” Petra ro. Following the book readings, attend ees created Thanksgiving care packages (with books provided by Hindi’s Librar ies) which were donated to Birthday Wishes Long Island, a local nonprofit supporting children in homeless shelters, to be distributed in November.

Libraries

To learn more about how you can sup port local

This past week, Benny Kashriel, longtime mayor of Ma’ale Adumim, along with his foreign desk director, Rachely Vassal, visited its sister city, the Village of Lawrence, and its mayor, Alex Edelman. A number of new initiatives were discussed and will be implemented between the two locales in the coming weeks and months. The relationship was created and stewarded by Scott M. Feltman, Executive Vice President of One Israel Fund.

Assemblyman and Cedarhurst Depu ty Mayor Ari Brown joined the festivities, and the Village of Cedarhurst debuted a Little Free Library, donated by Hindi’s

in memory of Dr. Hindi Krin sky, which will be installed in Cedarhurst Park later this year.

literacy initiatives, visit hindislibraries.org.

Assemblyman Ari Brown, Warren Levi, Leslie Gang, and Dovid Kanarfogel

Kindergarten and nursery students at HALB Lev Chana practiced teamwork while going on a pumpkin scavenger hunt

Congregation Anshei Chesed lovingly dedicated a plaque in honor of Rabbi and Rebbetzin Simcha and Shani Lefkowitz to commemorate their 40 years of dedicated service to the shul and the community

Rabbi Yechiel Weberman

It was standing room only at the Me sivta Ateres Yaakov Open House this past Sunday, as the Yeshiva hosted close to 150 prospective students, along with their parents, all eager to learn about what Ateres Yaakov has to offer. The day’s program was an opportunity to educate parents and students about the Yeshiva’s unique mission, objectives, and resources.

It was an exciting and educational ex perience that included an elaborate Stu dent Fair, informative panels, video pre sentations, engaging dialogue, shiurim from rabbeim, sports challenges, raffles, a catered lunch, prizes, competitions and more.

Upon arrival, attendees were warmly greeted by the MAY Hanhalah, its tal ented and dedicated faculty and scores of student and parent volunteers. Guests were ushered into the Student Fair, held in the Yeshiva’s expansive gymnasium where a multitude of booths, manned by current Ateres Yaakov talmidim, de scribed the school’s myriad extracurric ular programs and activities.

Following the Student Fair, the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, ad dressed the enormous crowd in the Me sivta’s Bais Medrash. He explained that “the goal in our Mesivta extends far be yond the high school years” and that “the ultimate purpose is to build better hus bands, fathers and ovdei Hashem. There fore, literally everything that occurs within the yeshiva is aimed at facilitating that goal.” Rabbi Yaffe concluded his re marks by clearly explaining each phrase of the Mesivta’s slogan “Rabbeim for Life. Education for Life. Torah for Life.” Rabbi Yaffe’s address was followed by an emotionally charged, informative video presentation that immersed the guests virtually into the Mesivta experience.

Following the video presentation, the students then enjoyed a science pre sentation with 9th grade science teacher, Mr. Pinchas Fiber, a stimulating shiur delivered by 9th grade Rebbe Rabbi Tsvi Greenfield and a Q&A About MAY mod erated by the Menahel, Rabbi Yossi Ben nett. The afternoon concluded with a de licious Chinese buffet and a grand raffle!

Parents attended panel discussions focusing on Limudei Kodesh, General Studies, MAY parents, and MAY alumni. Prospective parents asked current par ents and panelists a variety of questions and received enthusiastic responses.

Alumni Panel: Alumni related their many experiences while in the Mesivta, including receiving weekly calls in Isra el from multiple members of the faculty, about daily conversations and weekly chaburos or Shabbos meals with rab beim, about rabbeim helping them with challenges after marriage, about rabbeim making their shidduchim, and more.

General Studies Panel: Rabbi Sam Rudansky, General Studies Princi pal, who moderated the General Studies Panel noted that “MAY has adapted its curricula to challenge our students. In ELA, for example, we assign frequent essays and other writing assignments to build advanced writing and communi cation skills and to provide constructive criticism to facilitate revision.”

Limudei Kodesh Panel: Rabbeim and Hanhala described the unique ap proach the Mesivta has to engaging its talmidim in Limud HaTorah and pre paring them for the next level. They explained that a vital component is building real relationships with their talmidim and thereby bringing them into their own s’vivah of Torah.

“There are many excellent local op tions,” Rabbi Yaffe explained in his Wel come Address. “Each school has its own emphasis and areas in which it excels. MAY is uniquely outstanding in that it excels in Limudei Kodesh, Limudei Chol, and in extracurricular activities. With our expansive, state-of the-art campus, there is always something exciting go ing on, but never impeding the personal attention and long-lasting relationships that help students of all capabilities suc ceed.”

One parent noted, “The warmth in MAY was palpable. It’s clear that the rabbeim are very sincere and have a very strong emo tional connection with their talmidim and truly care about their success.”

The MAY talmidim really made the event a success. Visitors challenged Ateres Yaakov talmidim in Ping-Pong, football and basketball while being cheered on by friends. Attendees picked up the Mesivta’s Chesed Directory, listing the ample chesed opportunities available to its talmidim. Athletics and Competi tions were represented by various mem bers of the Mesivta’s football, basketball, softball, and Torah bowl teams who were happy to display the school’s jerseys and many championship trophies! The ample Torah L’shma opportunities were repre sented by regulars of the Pre-Shacharis Cocoa Club, Post-Shacharis Mishnay os Shiur, 12th grade Advanced Bikiyus and voluntary Night Sedarim, and Bein Hazmanim Learning Programs. The Mesivta’s Student Government, Arista, Extracurricular Activities, Clubs, Ruach and Recharging booths were represent ed by the MAY student’s showcasing the myriad opportunities and activities the Mesivta provides for its talmidim.

Applications for the 2023-20224 z’man are now being accepted. For more in formation contact the Mesivta at (516) 374-6465 or visit their website at www. ateresyaakov.com.

What is Medicare?

Many people believe that once they turn 65, they never have to worry about health insur ance again. All they have to do is get on Medicare and every aspect of health care is covered in full. Unfortunately, this is not true. Once you get Medicare, you are faced with a whole new set of problems. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. First, we have to discuss what is Medicare, who is eligible for it, and how do you avoid incurring late penalties.

So what is Medicare? Medicare is a federal health insurance program mainly for people over the age of 65, but also for certain people under the age of 65 with disabilities. Part A of Medicare (Hospital Insurance) cov ers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, as well as some home health care. Part B of Medicare (Medical Insurance) covers certain doctors’ services, out patient care, medical supplies, and preventive services. Additionally, Part D of Medicare helps cover the costs of

prescription drugs that are picked up at a pharmacy.

But what does all of this cost you?

Part A is premium-free if you have at least 40 calendar work quarters (or 10 years) where you paid Social Security tax. Most people will pay the standard rate for Part B for the year. However, if you make above a certain amount of money per year, you may pay an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). They will use the modified adjusted gross income reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago to de termine the percent increase on your Part B premium.

What is the Part B Penalty?

If you neglected to get Part B when you were first eligible, your monthly premium can increase by 10% for every 12-month period when you could have had Part B but didn’t. This penalty is tacked on to every future Part B pre mium that you pay. The simplest way to avoid the penalty is to sign up for Part B when you originally sign up for Medi

care. However, for some people, this isn’t practical, as they are still covered under some form of a group or individ ual insurance plan. Having Part B, as well as paying that monthly Part B pre mium, would be unnecessary. As long as a person has creditable insurance coverage, a person does not have to sign up for B. When a person retires, they will typically qualify for an SEP (Spe cial Enrollment Period), where they can sign up for Part B penalty-free.

What is Part D?

Part D is Medicare drug coverage. It helps cover the costs of your prescrip tion drugs. Its penalty rules are similar to Part B in the sense that if you defer getting Part D when you’re first eligi ble, and you don’t have other prescrip tion drug coverage (like from an em ployer), you will have to pay a penalty for as long as you have Medicare Part D. Therefore, even if you aren’t taking any prescription drugs when you first enroll in Medicare, it still pays to enroll in a Medicare drug plan to avoid the penalty.

What is Part C?

Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage Plans, are offered by private insurance companies. If you choose to join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you will still have Medicare, but most of your Part A and Part B coverage will actually come from your Medicare Advantage plan.

Part C is essentially a bundle of Part A, Part B, and, most of the time, Part D as well. Medicare advantage plans may also provide coverage for things

that Part A & B don’t cover, including gym memberships, routine vision and hearing check-ups, and dental clean ings. With a Medicare Advantage plan, you don’t need to buy a Medigap policy. Additionally, under Part C, Medicare is not your primary insurance (Like it would be under original Medicare, Part A & Part B), rather the private insur ance company you have the Medicare Advantage Plan with is considered your primary insurance, with Medicare as the secondary.

What is a Medigap Policy?

Also known as a Medicare Supple ment Policy, Medigap policies are plans that pay for the “Gaps” in Original Medicare coverage and are sold by pri vate insurance companies. Essentially, Original Medicare covers 80% of med ical costs, but you are still responsible for the other 20%. Medigap helps you pay for the remaining costs. You must have Part A & Part B to get a Medigap plan. You will pay a separate monthly premium to the insurance company you have the plan from, as well as the Part B premium. Generally speaking, Medicare supplement plans don’t cover long-term care, private nursing, or vi sion and dental services.

If any of this sounds confusing to you, you’re not alone! Join the hun dreds and hundreds of people who have already called Medicare Michael Fried man to help you navigate the maze that is Medicare. Don’t hesitate! Call (347)738-6846 or find us online at Mindful medicaresolutions.com.

the Community SKA/NCSY Mission to New Orleans

By Rosie Ash

Agroup of students from the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls boarded a plane to New Orleans on Wednesday, November 2, for a lifechang ing experience organized by NCSY to pro vide relief for the people of New Orleans who were devastated by hurricanes.

To start off the mission, the SKA girls helped demolish a house that was ruined by Hurricane Ida. Getting a structure back to normal starts with destroying the house, which can cost a homeowner thousands of dollars; by volunteering to knock it down, the girls were able to save the homeowner a lot of money and emo tional stress. After learning how to use pry bars, hammers and drills, the girls got to work ripping out walls, taking down ceilings and removing doors. Although the work may not have been so easy, it was extremely rewarding and everyone exclaimed how amazing it felt to help out those less fortunate than them.

Afterwards, the SKA students went on a tour of Jewish landmarks in New Orle ans, beginning with the former Beth Israel Shul which had been somewhat destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and then visited the local Jewish cemetery. This exposed them to a very different Jewish community, es pecially one much smaller than their own.

On Friday, the girls learned about how irises are so important to Louisiana’s en vironment that is damaged by many natu ral disasters. To help save the iris popula tion, the girls began pulling weeds, adding dirt, watering, and planting them.

The girls davened at the Beth David Synagogue on Friday night and had an uplifting kabbalas Shabbat and ate a de licious dinner there. On Shabbat day, they went to Chabad for lunch where they got to spend time and connect with some com munity members and were able to hear about their lives in New Orleans. They then spent the afternoon at the Chabad house playing games and hanging out. At Shalosh Seudot, the rabbi’s daughter

spoke about the importance of shlichus and how even though it may be difficult to live in a Jewish community as small as hers, the impact that Chabad creates is immeasurable. On Sunday morning, the girls went to the Chabad Hebrew school where they helped Jewish children en rolled in public schools learn to read and write in Hebrew. This experience provid ed the girls with a greater appreciation for being able to attend a Jewish school, espe cially one as incredible as SKA.

you to NCSY and SKA for organiz ing such an inspiring and memorable trip!

Seniors Have a Blast On Senior Shabbaton

By Lauren Monderer

HAFTR High School recently held its first-ever in-house Senior Shabbaton. The weekend kicked off on Friday, October 28, with an excit ing trip to Long Island Adventure Park. Students were welcomed by friendly staff, and after we watched a short demo video, staff members helped everyone get in a harness and find their way to the course. Students spent several hours climbing on ropes courses and pushing their limits throughout the aerial treetop trails. The courses ranged in difficulty from easy to extremely challenging, allowing the stu dents to choose the course they felt was right for them. Students climbed, ziplined, and saw the world from the heights above. After a thrilling and tiring day, the group enjoyed delicious snacks and

pizza before making their way back to school and their hosts’ homes to prepare for Shabbos.

As the sun went down, students and faculty joined together at the high school and enjoyed a beautiful davening, fol lowed by a catered Friday night meal. Tables were set up in the auditorium, and students sat with principals, rebbeim, morot and their families. It was a special and unique opportunity to get to know each other in a deeper way and spend quality time together. The dinner was filled with spirited ruach and interest ing divrei Torah. After dinner, students were split into groups and took part in shiurim with various teachers, where they discussed the Shabbaton’s theme: building your own Teivah, meaning ways to create your own future. When the shi ur ended, everyone participated in stu

dent-planned activities and games, such as pairing up to play “who is most likely to,” followed by a meaningful kumzitz. At around ten in the evening, the students were dismissed and walked together to their hosts’ homes.

The next morning began with daven ing and an elaborate kiddush of cookies, cake, fruit, coffee, and more. The after noon progressed with additional shi urim, where students continued learn ing about the theme of the Shabbaton. Seniors and their teachers discussed how they can build their own Teivah and create the life they want once they graduate from high school. After enjoy ing the shiurim, students had a delicious lunch followed by more student-planned activities. Each shiur and activity gave students the chance to get to know more about their teachers, friends, and them

YI of Far Rockaway Auction

Come one, come all! Just in time for Chanukah!

A fabulous goods and ser vices auction will be held this Sunday, November 20, at 7:30 PM to benefit our shul, the Young Israel of Far Rockaway.

Many wonderful Judaica items, paint ings, and giftware will be available, along with many, many gift certificates and prizes from numerous local vendors.

We plan to have an exciting fun-filled evening with food, friends and gifts ga

lore! Hope to see you all there at 7:30, this Sunday at Young Israel of Far Rocka way , 716 Beach 9 Street in Far Rockaway. We can’t wait to see you there.

selves. Amid the hecticness of preparing for yeshiva and college applications, this was a refreshing and memorable oppor tunity to grow and deepen relationships.

The first-ever Senior Shabbaton was a huge hit. Everyone had an incredible time, bonding with friends, rebbeim, and morot, finding new ways to plan for the future and connecting to Hashem. Hope fully, the Senior Class of 2023 started what will become a new HAFTR senior tradition.

Thank

Did you know? The pressure inside a bottle of champagne is more than the pressure inside a car tire.

Nafshenu Alenu

The Community Behind Yitzchak

By Rabbi Septimus, PhD, LCSW

Yitzchak’s marriage to Rivka in this week’s parsha takes place against the backdrop of loss. The loss of Yitzchak’s mother. And the almost-loss of Yitzchak himself. We get a sense that the two losses are related. Rashi alludes to mid rashim that describe Sarah as a victim of the aftershock of the Akeidah.

Sarah’s death in the beginning of this week’s parsha is all the more poignant in light of Yitzchak’s absence at the end of the Akeidah narrative, and his absence throughout the burial and mourning of Sarah. Bereshit Rabbah (56:11) tells us that immediately after the Akeidahh, Yitzchak went to study with Shem. So immediate was Yitzchak’s departure that he did not even de scend the mountain with his father. But we are left wondering: would he not have bene fited from a few days of closeness with Avra ham before going off to study?

Aviva Zornberg beautifully portrays the “tragic residue” of the Akeidah. The Akeidah was indeed the test of all tests. But inner strength, the Gevurah that is Yitzchak’s defining trait, is necessary not only to pass massive tests but also to heal from them. Zornberg calls our attention to the empha sis Eliezer places on the word chessed in his prayers to G-d for success in his role. More over, “G-d says not a word to Avraham af ter the command to sacrifice his son,” with the command not to sacrifice coming only through an angel, so that “Avraham never knows the reason for his experience.” In asking for chessed on behalf of Avraham and Yitzchak, Eliezer is imploring G-d: “Do not withdraw that vital vision” of chessed

“from my master.” We need your chessed now more than ever. Avraham needs that chessed reinstated, just as Yitzchak needs his gevurah to emerge stronger from the nisay on he just experienced. G-d answers Eliezer, and he succeeds, with Rivka embodying the very chessed that Eliezer seeks. It is signifi cant that not until Rivka enters Yitzchak’s life do we even learn of how profoundly Yitzchak had felt the loss of his mother. It’s almost as if the loss of his mother on the heels of that fateful test of the Akeidah was too much to bear.

What is significant in this profound heal ing is that a community of people from out side the immediate family is called upon to help make it happen – Shem, then Eliezer, then Betuel and Lavan, and finally, Rivka. We don’t know why but for whatever rea son, Avraham recognized that what he and Yitzchak experienced in the Akeidah was not something they could heal from togeth er. They each needed their own process. Avraham, in his depth of wisdom, called upon someone else of wisdom, Shem, to help Yitzchak through that crucial moment in his life. And then he called upon Eliezer. Who called upon G-d, and then on Bethuel and Lavan and Rivka to meet the challenge of the moment. Yitzchak’s Gevurah was his own. He was the one who experienced the uncertainty and terror of the Akeidahh, and who, according to midrashic tradition, was blinded by that terror, and it was he who showed the Gevurah that it took to end up stronger as result. But the Torah here por trays a communal background for covenant al healing and growth. It will be to that same covenantal community that Rivka will turn in next week’s parsha when, gripped by un

certainty about the turmoil in her womb, she again turns to the community of Shem and Ever for guidance.

Baruch Hashem, the turmoil of COVID is behind us. But our community is still feeling its effects. There is much healing that needs to take place. As a psychothera pist, I am a believer in the healing container that is the psychotherapy room. But, as a Rav, I am also a believer in the healing container that is our community. Avraham knew it. Rivka knew it. And we know it. But in order for our community to serve as that healing container, we must educate ourselves about mental health. And we must make space for growth in our own mental health.

In Nafshenu Alenu (nafshenualenu.org), Stuart Katz and I, in conjunction with the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC, have created a 14 week program geared toward deepening our own mental health understanding…and our own mental health.

On Tuesday evenings at 7:45 pm starting November 29 through March 2023 at var ious shuls, schools and community centers throughout the Five Towns, you will have the opportunity to engage intimately with acclaimed Torah leaders, professionals, and advocates with expertise in mental health. Topics will include healthy approaches to ward: (1) self; (2) relationships; (3) security; (4) stress; (5) food; (6) substances; (7) intima cy; (8) identity; and (9) death. The program will also feature five keynotes by celebrity survivors with lived experience facing their struggles: Zak Williams, the son of beloved comedian and actor Robin Williams; Brian Cuban, brother of Mark Cuban; NFL line backer Reggie Walker; former NBA player and YU Basketball Assistant Coach Mike Sweetney; and Kevin Hines, who jumped off the Golden State Bridge and survived. The goals of the initiative will be initial educa tion regarding healthy living in these broad realms; practical guidance on supporting one another toward greater mental well being; learning to recognize urgent mental health demands in others and ourselves as they arise; and reducing stigma in address ing those demands.

What makes this new program unique is the way it embeds mental wellbeing into communal and spiritual wellbeing. The goal of this educational encounter is to approach mental wellbeing from a positive and com pletely non-othering stance. No longer is mental health a euphemism for mental ill ness. Mental health actually means mental health.

After being swallowed by a fish whole, Yonah is quite literally alone, b’hisatef alai nafshi, when his soul faints from within him (Yonah 2:8). So many of us can feel equally isolated when facing life challenges. But the reality is that nafshenu … alenu; our souls are our collective responsibility, to care for them and to tend to them. The Torah does not in tend for us to undertake this work alone.

Please join us for the kick-off event for Nafshenu Alenu (nafshenualenu.org) Tues day night, November 29, at the Young Is rael of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, as we will hear from Zak Williams, a global mental health advocate and speaker and son of be loved actor and comedian Robin Williams. And please join us for the entirety of this thought-provoking, practical, and exhila rating step in building a stronger, healthier, more vibrant tomorrow for ourselves, our families, and our community.

Rabbi Septimus, PhD, LCSW, is the senior rabbi of the Young Israel of North Wood mere with over two decades of experience running innovative communal program ming, first as Assistant Rabbi of the River dale Jewish Center and then at the Young Israel of North Woodmere. During that time, he developed the expertise of sitting with individuals and families in crisis, helping them to emerge stronger than they were before the crisis hit. Rabbi Septimus has lectured at numerous synagogues and adult learning programs. He has also held positions as teaching fellow and instructor at Yale University, Gruss Scholar in Res idence at the New York University School of Law, and Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University. More recently, Rabbi Septimus completed a Master of Arts degree at NYU Silver School of Social Work. After complet ing post-graduate training at the Trauma Studies Center of the Institute for Contem porary Psychotherapy in Columbus Circle, Rabbi Septimus became a board member and then an instructor at the Institute. He also has intensive training in EMDR, Sen sorimotor, Neurofeedback, and Emotionally Focused psychotherapies, and he has stud ied with world experts in the integration of these and other modalities to treat trauma and other complex life challenges. He uses these modalities and his considerable skills as a psychotherapist to help people, fami lies, and communities achieve healing and transformation.

A Winning Outcome

While some may not have been pleased with the outcome of Election Day, the Women’s League of TAG certainly had a winning outcome at their Annual Membership Tea. Many thanks to hosts, Chanoch and Aliza Gold, who graciously opened their beautiful home. Their spacious accom modations enabled us to host over 125 women who gathered to hear noted spe cial guest speaker, Rabbi Doniel Kalish, Menahel, Mesivta of Waterbury.

The rooms held a beautiful array of delicious desserts, cakes and pastries. TAG’s own chocolate maven Goldie Sebrow produced a chocolate platter boasting, “At TAG, you’re it!” Of course, fruit and salads were featured as well, and everyone enjoyed the variety of de licious dishes. The entire committee, which consisted of Edna Ershowsky, Suri

Feuchtwanger, Brachie Kaplan, Avigail Labrie, Nataly Magendzo, Miriam Mar ciano, Esti, Mase, Tziporah Sax, Aman da Waltuch and Chani Yifat, deserve a hearty yashar koach on a job well done.

The evening opened with Mrs. Rivky Keilson, Assistant Director of the Gang er Early Childhood, who spoke about the important role of the Women’s League. Mrs. Keilson introduced Rabbi Meyer Weitman, Dean of TAG, who echoed her thanks to the Women’s League and the amazing Executive Board, headed by Mrs. Racheli Blumenkrantz, Mrs. Min dy Glaser, Mrs. Chayale Gorlin and Mrs. Naomi Newman. He then gave a short dvar Torah from this week’s parsha.

Rabbi Doniel Kalish began his talk by thanking his mother, Rebbetzin Beatty Kalish, who is a member of Machon Sar ah High School General Studies faculty,

HANC ECC Open House

On Sunday morning, HANC’s Early Childhood Center opened its doors to prospec tive students and their parents, show casing the warmth of the HANC family and giving the children an opportu nity to explore the multitude of edu cational opportunities that make the ECC a special place to learn and grow. As the children entered, they were in vited into a photo shoot and then guid ed to the extensive indoor play area. Once everyone arrived, the children and parents were invited to the seat ing area, where each child was pre sented with a HANC knapsack filled with school information and a HANC water bottle. The crowd was formal ly welcomed by Rabbi Ouriel Hazan, Director of HANC’s West Hempstead campuses, and Mrs. Trudy Rubinstein,

Director of HANC’s Early Childhood Center.

Throughout the morning, the chil dren were engaged in a number of cre ative activities, which exposed them to different mediums and methods of learning. The children decorated tze dakah boxes, created Hebrew letters using colorful Cuisenaire rods, and decorated picture frames that depicted the change in seasons using fall leaves. In addition, they engaged in a STEAM activity utilizing “loose parts” to con struct their own scene while engaging their own imagination and creativity.

Following these artistic projects, and after enjoying a healthy snack, the children were treated to an interac tive program led by The Drum Tales. This entertaining group provided each participant with a drum to use, and to

for not only coming to the event, but for her important role in raising him. His message of how important it is to keep our goals in mind as we raise our chil dren resonated with the large audience. Modeling and acceptance are key factors in helping parents realize their goals for their children

The huge crowd of women, certainly left not only with a gift from the Wom en’s League but with tools to help them in

gether the children learned about mu sic, rhythm, and beat while tapping on their own drum. The children had a great time and learned so much about music throughout the experience.

Before leaving at the end of the program, each child was presented with all of their projects to take home, including the picture that was taken when they arrived and was placed in the frame that they had decorated. The children and their parents were able to see first hand the level of edu cation, chinuch , and love that they will receive when they join the HANC fam ily next year.

HANC wishes to express appreci ation for the dedicated staff members for volunteering to come and help out to make this event such a success.

their avodas hakadosh, that of raising the next generation.

On Thursday evening, November 3, 9 Cheshvan 5783, 23 boys of Yeshiva of Far Rockway celebrated a siyum on Mesechta Baba Kama

Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam’s annu al Walkathon, hosted by its very dedicated PTA, was a smashing success! Jewish music played on the Far Rockaway Boardwalk as over 250 elemen tary school girls walked laps to raise funds for their incredible makom Torah. Mothers

and teachers joined to cheer them on along with Mimi Miller of Dance It Out with Mimi. The money raised from this event in the past has gone towards state-of-the-art whiteboards, new lockers, monthly teacher appreciation lunches, and much more!

The girls worked so hard in the past

weeks making carnivals, bake sales, lem onade stands, and calling relatives to spon sor their run. Their excitement was palpa ble as they felt a sense of accomplishment for what they did for their very own Bais Yaakov.

YSZ HS For Girls is Educating From Head to Heart

:QWhat does it mean to educate from head to heart?

There was a time when schools fo cused on memorization and facts. Stu dents sat in classrooms, listened to lec tures, copiously wrote notes, and studied for tests. How much did they internalize what they learned?

At YSZ HS for Girls, we center our edu cational model on ensuring that our teach ings are internalized from head to heart.

So, how do we do it?

At YSZ, we have a student-centered innovative model of education where our teachers strive to make our learning re latable to our girls. Teachers inspire cu riosity by asking essential questions and creating enduring understandings.

Rabbi Benhaim explains, “When learning is relegated to the mind, it is sim ply mental gymnastics, and like any in formation, there is a disconnect between it and the receiver. Learning needs to be ‘mityashev’ or settle upon our hearts, that is how we connect on a deeper level. We say in Shema, ‘V’yadata ha’yom v’ha shevosa el levavecha,’ we need to bring the knowledge and inculcate it deeper to water the heart with chochma.”

It is through this process of self dis

covery and exploration that the students of YSZ Girls HS become mature, creative, and develop the sophistication of mind set needed to live as bnot Yisrael in the twenty first century.

Menahelet Mrs. Zerykier adds, “We inspire our students to connect the les sons of the classroom to their daily lives. When we challenge our students to read, annotate and ask questions, they think critically about the world and become curious lifelong learners. We want our students to discover real life applications to their learning.”

At YSZ HS, students are challenged to connect to their learning. “You can’t live without a brain or without a heart. The real power is when we use them togeth er and combine our strengths, then, we can accomplish ANYTHING,” freshman Michal Muradov stated emphatically. “If you allow yourself to take what you learn and feel it in your heart as well; then, you are really learning,” says sophomore Leana Leah Kataev.

Sophomore Naomi Mordukhaev shares, “Classes are designed so that we always take something away from them.”

With the annual theme of B’chol ha’lev, with a whole heart, the school focuses on building rich co-curricular programs to promote character develop

ment and student strengths. Mrs. Zery kier notes, “The goal is that each student strives to grow to her full potential and become the best version of herself. There are so many stages to teenage develop ment. Here at YSZ High School, we focus on all of those stages. We support our girls in developing a host of skills. We build resilience, character, integrity, and confidence alongside our curriculum.

“Our student programs are designed to inspire true kedushah, growth and a connection to Hashem. Our girls think about how they can discover themselves, develop real connections with others and with Hashem. It is our goal that they leave high school understanding that they truly matter and that they each have

a unique mission and purpose in this world,” related Mrs. Zerykier in a final thought.

At the Hachnosas Sefer Torah in Woodmere on Sunday, Commissioned from the Trash 4 Treasure Initiative

Feeding the Future of Klal Yisroel

There is nothing more painful than watching a baby suffer; howev er, mothers across Israel have no choice but to confront this situation every single day. The shortage of baby formula is an issue that has been plaguing Israel day in and day out, resulting in a signif icant number of women who can’t afford the formula they need to feed their chil dren. This pressing issue has even led to cases of such desperation in which moth ers have watered down their remaining baby formula just to make it last longer. Unfortunately, this watered-down for mula lacks the proper nutrients essential for a baby’s healthy, physical and neuro logical growth. This kind of early malnu trition may chas v’shalom cause lasting damage that can impact children for the rest of their lives.

That is why American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri have been tackling this issue head on through their Keren Eliyahu V’Esther Feed-A-Baby Pro gram. With their new, streamlined approach of distributing vouchers to mothers throughout Israel, American

Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri have been able to help save children on a monumental level. Their unique and innovative approach ensures that ev ery tzedakah dollar is able to make the most possible impact by avoiding costs like delivery and storage while still ensuring that enough baby for mula is being properly distributed to the mothers who cannot afford it.

For just $40 a month, you can make a significant difference in a baby’s life and help them avoid chas v’shalom serious medical issues lat er on, all in a truly impactful way.

B’ezri’s Keren Eliyahu V’Esther FeedA-Baby Program currently reaches mothers in cities all across Israel and with your help, they can continue to provide this life-saving service. Find out more about how you can save a baby’s life at Bezri.org.

American Friends of Yad Eliezer/B’ezri is an organization dedicated to fighting poverty in Israel through a large selec tion of charitable programs and services.

Central’s Annual Open House

It’s a staple of the fall season: Cen tral’s annual Open House.

On Motzei Shabbat, November 12, we opened our doors to prospective parents and students to learn about the incredible Central experience. They were able to explore our rigorous and engaging academics, while also enjoying presenta tions about student life and extracurric ulars. Academics were showcased with faculty giving a series of model lessons, in order to give visiting eighth-graders and their parents a taste of academic life at Central. In a separate group, pro spective students gathered to hear from current student ambassadors about what makes Central unique while participat ing in a fun activity, such as cupcake dec orating and a Central-themed game of Family Feud.

Central’s Dean of Students, Mrs. Aliza Gewirtz, said, “We are so excited to wel come another group of potential Central students. The Open House is a celebra tion of what we have and what makes us

special, so I hope it’s an exciting night for our eighth-grade visitors. I also hope it was uplifting for our Central family and motivates us to keep doing good work.”

But recruitment season extends be yond Open House. Over the next couple of months, there will be a series of parlor meetings and activities intended to in troduce prospective Central students to the school’s distinctive blend of learning, fun, and community spirit. Parlor meet ings are typically split into two sections: in one group, parents meet with Central’s Head of School, Ms. Bracha Rutner, and other faculty members to learn about student life and academics. The year’s first parlor meeting will be hosted by the Strauss family in West Hempstead on November 21. Central campus visits, during which eighth graders join Central students for a morning of classes and have student interviews, begin in two weeks.

Senior Adina Tanner shared her memories of the Open House she at

tended as an eighth-grader: “I loved it,” she said. “The students were so warm and welcoming. The video presentation made me excited for high school at a time when I only felt stressed about it. Even after we went home, the open house was all I could think about. I felt at home at Central, and was relieved to have finally found the best place for me.”

On November 28, a second parlor meeting will be hosted by the Leitner family in Woodmere, with a third par lor meeting to be hosted by the Samuels family in Great Neck on December 13, providing many opportunities for par ents and students to learn about the Cen tral experience. To learn more and apply to Central, please visit yuhsg.org/apply.

This is Yachad.

For 40 years, Yachad has been creating a world where every single Jew – regardless of ability –has a place in the community. And can get the support they need to succeed in school.

International Shabbat Project Triples in Size

Following bitterly divisive elections in Israel and the United States, the Jew ish world was able to come together and unify this past Shabbat. Now in its 10th year, the Shabbat Project shattered pre-pan demic records last weekend, hosting 3,711 “unity events” in 1,500 cities worldwide, as over 1 million Jews of all backgrounds unit ed in celebration of Shabbat.

The Shabbat Project is an interna tional grassroots movement that brings together Jews of all backgrounds to cele brate and keep one full Shabbat, in a spir it of global Jewish unity.

“We’ve witnessed an outpouring of emotion across the Jewish world, as Jews from all walks of life have embraced the Shabbat Project—a sublime moment of Jewish unity centered on Shabbat,” said South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein, who founded the project in 2013. “In the face of rising anti-Sem itism and general global uncertainty, the response to the Shabbat Project is a powerful declaration of a positive Jewish identity; a proud refusal to be defined by hatred of others, but by the Divine values

that give us inspiration and purpose, and that have held our people together.”

The in-person Shabbat experience was a significant drawcard, with people returning in their numbers to mass Shab bat dinners, Shabbatons, challah bakes, havdalah concerts, and other open events.

One of this year’s most moving sto ries comes from Strasbourg, France, where twenty young Jewish refugees from Ukraine attended a Shabbat dinner along with hundreds of local youth.

The dinner was the highlight of a full Shabbaton program for the refu gees. Currently living in Germany and Switzerland, they traveled as far as 900 kilometers to celebrate their heritage. Most have very little Jewish background and special Russian-language Shabbat guides were printed to help them make the most of the experience.

In South America, Buenos Aires host ed a mass outdoor challah bake in a park for around 3,000 women. And in Santia go, Chile, around 450 people hosted their own “Shabbat table” at a local synagogue, inviting family and friends to join them.

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

Finally, in South Africa, where the Shabbat Project began, a vibrant and colorful challah bake in Johannesburg drew more than 5,000 women. This year also saw the launch of the “Journey to 25 hours” program, empowering South African Jewish families to keep Shabbat throughout the year.

“Shabbat is described by the sages of the Talmud as the ‘soulmate’ of the Jewish people,” said Rabbi Goldstein. “And indeed, the continued growth of the Shabbat Project is testament to the deep unbreakable bond between Jews of all

backgrounds and Shabbat.

“The Shabbat Project is a call to Jews all around the globe to think boldly about our future, to connect across the walls we’ve put up. It is the story of Jews re turning to our roots, reconnecting with our heritage, returning to our bonds of natural closeness and friendship, all through the Divine gift of Shabbat.”

G.O. Breakout at Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam

The big day finally came, and our long awaited G.O. program for 5783 broke out!

We were so excited to introduce our very exciting program with our G.O. heads, Aliza Mandel, Batzion Weinberg er, Cheli Strickman and Shifra Posen.

Our goal this year in BYAM is to dis cover what true simcha really is! How do we do that? Every month we will focus on

another aspect of simcha!

At the G.O. breakout, each student received a G.O. pencil case with an ador able pin attached to it and other exciting goodies inside! Our students will get an other simcha themed pin every month to add to their collection on the pencil case. Additionally, each pencil case came with a key ring attached. That will be a con stant reminder to “KEY”p your smile on

your face.

What does it mean to “KEY”p on smiling in BYAM?

When a student does a nice act to her friend and her friend tells Morah that she did something that made her smile, then Morah gives them both a key. The key is kept on their key rings that are attached to their pencil cases. These keys will be used to unlock treasures. The treasure box in BYAM will be open twice this year. Every girl will be able to unlock prizes with the keys that she earned!

The Imrei Pinchas says that simcha is a segulah for parnassah and for children! In Parshas Vayeira it says, “Va’titzchak Sara” and Sara laughed when she heard that she’ll have a son. It was that simcha, that happiness, which brought her the yeshua, that she was davening for!

Remember that a smile doesn’t cost anything, but the effect it has on others is priceless!

We are looking forward to a super-ex citing and simchadig year of G.O. in Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam!

By Rachel Czeisler

HAFTR High School had the zechut to welcome Rabbi David Lau, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, on Friday, November 4, and hear his in spiring words of Torah. Students greet ed Rabbi Lau with song and dance as they escorted him to the entrance of the high school. Surrounded by enthusiastic students who were eager to spend a few moments with him, Rabbi Lau made his way to the auditorium where the rest of the student body and faculty awaited his arrival.

After opening remarks from Rabbi Ira Wallach, Limudei Kodesh Coordina tor at HAFTR High School, Rabbi Lau approached the podium to address the room. Each staff member and student sat in anticipation of what they would hear. Rabbi Lau shared an inspiring personal story to encourage and motivate HAF TR students to take advantage of their uniqueness through religious tradition. Rabbi Lau told students of his childhood

Rebbe, who instilled within him an ap preciation of himself and the rabbinic dynasty he represents. Rabbi Lau em phasized the importance and value each person holds and reminded students that they are all part of a great dynasty,

as well as the children of Avraham and Sarah. Rabbi Lau also spoke about the week’s parsha, Lech Lecha, and taught an inspiring lesson that left everyone up lifted and reflective.

Following the Rav’s words, students

approached the podium to wish him a Shabbat Shalom. HAFTR High School was fortunate enough to have benefited from Rabbi Lau’s wise words; this was a truly memorable experience that will re main with all of us for years to come.

This is Yachad.

For

40 years, Yachad has been creating a world where every single Jew – regardless of ability – has a place in the community. And can enjoy a sports game like their friends.

Around the Community

Gan Chamesh Hakhel Shabbos Party

In conjunction with the year of Hakhel and the worldwide Shabbos Project, Gan Chamesh students gathered to gether for a grand Hakhel Shabbos party that emphasized the beauty of Shabbos and the mitzvah of hachnasas orchim. Each child assembled his/her own Shab bos box to bring home and infuse their Shabbos with a deeper special meaning.

New Hires At JCCRP Are Here to Help You

Since 1972, the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsu la (JCCRP) has been committed to providing essential services and assis tance to individuals and families in need. The JCCRP is dedicated to advocate, rec ommend referrals, and provide resourc es for anyone who needs assistance in the Rockaway-Peninsula area and beyond.

Three new staff members have be come incredible assets to the mission of the JCCRP in the short time that they have joined the organization. Tzip py Nussbaum, Malka Sweet, and Irene Younger have only been part of the JC CRP team for less than three months, but in that short time have already been making a tremendous impact. Meet each of the new employees, and find out how she can help you and your family!

Originally from the Five Towns, Tzip py Nussbaum joined the JCCRP as a case manager and as MCCAP (Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program) coordi nator. Tzippy hails from a family legacy at the JCCRP, as her grandmother, Mrs. Shelley Twersky, was a longtime case manager on staff as well. Tzippy’s back ground in psychology and her education al goal to be a doctor of psychology make her a great fit for the organization. Her role in helping people with healthcare

access, insurance needs, and Medicaid troubleshooting is extremely helpful for many individuals and families. Insur ance can be complicated, and those who are most vulnerable need the most assis tance managing their health care costs and needs. Currently, as Medicare runs its open enrollment program, Tzippy is ready to help anyone who qualifies to apply and receive the Medicare coverage that is perfect for them.

Also new to the JCCRP staff is Mal ka Sweet, a certified social worker with years of experience in assisting with the needs of the community. Malka is a new case manager that has eagerly taken on her role in the organization. Assisting and advocating for programs, addressing social needs, improving health outcomes, and leading financial security workshops are only some of the ways in which Malka is available to help members of the com munity. Malka helps clients with hous ing concerns, like rental assistance and evictions. She is also committed to com munity engagement, providing people with the information about and knowl edge of the services that are available for them. Malka is the go-to person in case of emergency; as case manager, she oversees the situation in times of crisis. Malka lives in Inwood, with her husband

and four children.

The food pantry at the JCCRP is one of the organization’s biggest and most successful operations. Ordering pallets of food, organizing and storing the items in the food pantry, packing the food into boxes for pickup, and applying for grants are only some of the many responsibili ties of Irene Younger. The JCCRP food pantry provides kosher products to those who need, like challah and fish for Shab bos. The pantry ensures that families, single moms, and Holocaust survivors have healthy and delicious food in their homes. Using a digital ordering system, families choose what they want from the pantry online, thereby protecting their dignity and minimizing waste. Irene co ordinates the digital orders so that when families arrive their items are already packed up and ready.

Open to anyone in the community, the food pantry relies on generous vol unteers to run smoothly. Irene, a Far Rockaway resident dedicated to helping others, is the coordinator of the many volunteers who come to help. Whether it is school groups or individuals, Irene oversees the many volunteers that assist in the pantry. This is a huge responsi bility, especially during holiday seasons when the pantry runs large distribution

Challah Bake Benefits Mercaz Academy

On the evening of Wednesday, November 9, many communi ties came together to support Mercaz Academy at a wonderful eve ning of kneading and baking, laughter, and Torah. The Loaves of Love: Rise Up For Mercaz Academy Challah Bake was sponsored by the Young Israel of Plainview, the Sephardic Synagogue of Plainview, and the Mikvah Asso ciation of Long Island. The Challah Bake attracted a full house of Mercaz

students, parents, and grandparents, current and former teachers, alumni of HANC Plainview, and community well-wishers.

The event was hosted by Nechama Ka melhar, Director of Family Engagement at NCSY, who offered Torah thoughts and instruction on the mitzvah of hafrashat challah and baking tips, leavening her presentation with jokes and fun. Attend ees mixed and kneaded the dough, which was created using the recipe of Mercaz

Academy parent Tiffany Yankovich. Re freshments were provided, there was a 50/50 raffle, and the evening finished with Mrs. Kamelhar teaching Mercaz supporters the technique for a six-strand challah braid. While success on the lat ter was mixed, everyone enjoyed the attempt, and those who couldn’t quite follow directions for the six-strand braid made do with the classic three.

programs of food for so many. Anyone who would like to be a part of this special project should reach out to Irene Younger at the JCCRP.

“We at the JCCRP have so much to of fer to the Far Rockaway community. Our mission since 1972 has been to be a de pendable resource for those in need. We are so proud of our new hires, who are here to help us continue our mission of care and assistance throughout the com munity,” commented Allison Deal, Exec utive Director of the JCCRP.

For more information about services, or to speak to any of the JCCRP case man agers or dedicated staff members, email info@jccrp.org, or call (718) 327-7755.

The bakers departed with braided dough loaves to bake later at home and have universally reported that the chal lah was absolutely delicious.

Irene Younger, Tzippy Nussbaum, and Malka Sweet

Around the Community

K’Hal Nesiv HaTorah Chanukas HaBayis

The weekend of Shabbos Parshas VaYeira was magical for the Far Rockaway/Five Towns commu nity. There was great anticipation to view the culmination of an almost de cade-long project.

Eighteen years ago, HaGaon Rav Bin yomin Forst, shlit”a acquiesced to the pressure of a number of askanim and agreed to lead and found K’Hal Nesiv HaTorah. Since then, the kehilla never stopped growing. Rabbi Forst’s kollel that aimed to produce Talmidei Chachomim and the next generation of poskim was founded soon after. Finally, the world-re nowned Halacha Hotline that is under the auspices of Rabbi Forst was created. Where were these wonderful institutions located? K’Hal Nesiv HaTorah resided nomadically in whatever building Torah Academy for Girls graciously allowed the shul to use. The Agudah of Long Island magnanimously housed the Kollel. The Halacha Hotline had yet a different loca tion. What edifice would be appropriate to contain all the Torah and kedusha of these divisions?

The answer was revealed this past Friday Night at the inaugural Shabbos of K’hal Nesiv HaTorah’s new location: the Menachem Avrohom Ostreicher Build ing. The building was dedicated by Sandy Ostreicher in memory of her husband, Milton Ostreicher, z”l.

The building itself is spacious and stunning. Its aesthetic qualities are quite

appropriate for the holy tzibbur that it will contain. An overly optimistic mem ber of the shul rented 380 chairs for the festive occasion. Yet, by the time Kab balas Shabbos was underway, virtually every chair in the Beis Knesses was filled. The grandeur of the Aron Kodesh and its environs create an aura of Yiras Shamay im and Kavod HaTorah. However, special attention was also directed to the acous tics. When the entire tzibbur hummed along to the tune of Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh, one could feel as well as hear the niggun resonating throughout the shul.

Between, Kabbalas Shabbos and Maariv, Rabbi Forst delivered his hall mark, a classic halachic shiur. The topic was reciting the bracha of HaTov V’ha Meitev on a new shul. Rabbi Forst raised a question on the ruling Mishna Berura but proceeded to offer a novel and bril liant solution. Everyone present was on the edge of their seats due to the sus pense at what the eventual resolution would be. Would Rabbi Forst actually recite the blessing? The shiur ended with Rabbi Forst declaring with happiness and deep concentration “Boruch Atah HaShem Elokienu Melech HaOlam Ha Tov V’Hametev!” A thunderous “Amein” followed.

On Motzei Shabbos, there was a spe cial edition of the Vishantam program for boys. As usual, pictures of a gadol were distributed. This week, the picture was of the Morah D’Asra, Rabbi Binyomin

Photo credit: Menashe Elkin and Ivan H. Norman

Around the Community

Forst, shlit”a. R’ Ari Ostreicher regaled the boys with sto ries about the Rav’s excellence in bein adam lachaveiro which is not as well known as his gadlus in Torah.

On Sunday, there was a musical procession where Rabbi Forst carried a Sefer Torah from its previous home in TAG to its new home in the new shul. Many esteemed rabbanim came to dance and escort Rabbi Forst to the new shul. Meanwhile, the mispallelim danced in front of the rav, while throngs of friends and families lined the street. When the indoor program started, it soon be came clear that the very long dais was simply too short. So many Talmidei Chachamim and Rabbanim came to honor the Rav that new chairs were continuously being

added. Rabbi Meyer Weitman of TAG was honored to re cite Tehillim. However, first, he stated that it was TAG’s privilege to host such an illustrious kehilla and welcomed everyone to return to TAG! Rabbi Yaakov Feitman was the keynote speaker and he declared that all the local rabbonim are in fact talmidim of Rabbi Forst.

After the program and dancing, those present were treated to refreshments in the area’s newest simcha hall, which is magnificent in its own right.

Rabbi Forst and the community should use the shul in good health until it is transported to Eretz Yisrael with coming of Moshiach, may it be speedily in our days.

Intergeneration Day at HALB Lev Chana

An amazing, unique, and much beloved program takes place annually at HALB Lev Chana Early Childhood Center: Intergenera tion Day. Every fall, the call goes out to grandparents and great-grandparents to assemble in the SKA gym, where they sit and shep nachas as they watch and lis ten raptly as the Lev Chana kindergart eners perform a medley of songs. They then join their grandchildren at various centers in creating beautiful memories to take home. Words cannot describe the intense loving connection between these two generations of family. Our children smile widely and wave happily as they spot their beloved grandparent, while the grandparents wave back and zip out their smartphones in anticipation of their performance. Family portraits magnets are taken in front of a beautiful

colorful backdrop and grandparents and grandchildren create beautiful art proj ects based on a Shabbat theme. The children and their grandparents

Shabbat Project at HANC

Preparation for Shabbat began early last week in HANC’s Sam uel and Elizabeth Bass Golding Elementary School in West Hempstead. Joining thousands of families across the world by participating in The Shabbat Project, the children spent all week en gaging in Shabbat related activities in or der to enhance their own family’s Shab bat at the end of the week. This project began in 2013 in South Africa in an effort to spread the light of Shabbat joy to affili ated and unaffiliated families. The effort then spread throughout the world and has been growing ever since.

In the kindergarten classes, the chil dren decorated Lucite challah trays with gold stars and Shabbat symbols. The first and second graders created their own

havdalah candles by placing two wicks inside a rectangular piece of honeycomb beeswax and rolled it up into a candle. They were then given a Styrofoam ball into which they pressed fragrant cloves to use for the besamim in their havdalah ceremony at the conclusion of Shabbat.

For the third and fourth graders, the focus was placed on zemirot. Each class was assigned a zemer to learn and perform as a class in a creative way. On Thursday, each class performed their song, and the winning class would then perform again for the entire school during the Shabbat assembly on Friday. While all of the performances were very spirited, the fourth grade girls’ choreo graphed rendition of Dror Yikra was de clared the winner.

enjoy this special time together at the HALB Early Childhood Center. It is a day they remember for years to come!

What would Shabbat preparation be without some cooking? The fifth and sixth grade students engaged in a cholent making contest. Each class was given the same ingredients, and it was up to the students to create the most delicious cho lent. Seven crockpots cooked through the night, and by Friday morning, the scent of cholent cooking was detected ev erywhere in the building.

As is the custom at HANC, the high light of the week is the Shabbat assem bly on Friday morning. This week, the entire school came together for one big pre-Shabbat celebration. Beginning with spirited singing accompanied by HANC’s talented music teacher, Mrs. Kari Levine, this week’s assembly included a repeat performance of the fourth grade girls

zemer and the much anticipated cholent tasting contest. The panel of judges in cluded Rabbi Ouriel Hazan, Director of HANC’s West Hempstead campuses; Barbara Deutsch, Associate Principal; Mrs. Michal Wasser, Assistant Principal; and Santiago, the much beloved HANC custodian. After much deliberation, a sixth grade class (6S) was triumphant. None of these preparations would have happened without the assistance of the dedicated staff. As a show of ap preciation, a committee of PTA parents distributed delicious babka cakes to the entire staff, to enhance their Shabbat celebrations at home. The students were also gifted with a “Let’s Grow Together” HANC water bottle, reflecting the theme for the 2022-23 school year.

Shulamith ECC Learned about the Mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim, Welcoming Guests

Honoring Our Past at SHS YOSS Appreciates Our Veterans

In commemoration of the second yahrtzeit of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, zt”l, Shulamith High School par ticipated in the Rabbi Sacks Global Day of Learning. The workshop, “From Op timism to Hope,” was delivered by SHS faculty members who enthusiastically volunteered to honor his memory by leading the sessions. It addressed the Torah-based differences between opti mism and hope and each one’s role in the framework of a Jewish mindset, as in dividuals and as a whole. The workshop included textual sources, thought-pro voking questions, and practical lessons, delving into the Torah sources that ad dress these esoteric ideas and bringing them to life in attainable ways. Students

raised questions and shared insights, both from their understanding of the source material and from their personal experiences.

The following day, we were privileged to host Mrs. Esia Friedman, a survivor of the Holocaust, who honored us by telling her story. Born in a bustling Jewish com munity in Vilna, her childhood was an idyllic model of a happy frum life, until the moment the Nazis, ym”sh, obliterat ed her family’s beautiful existence. She shared her message of optimism and hope through the depths of tragedy and despair, offering a first-hand perspective of living Rabbi Sacks’ lesson in the most unimaginable circumstances.

This week, in honor of Veteran’s Day, Mrs. Salzburg’s first grade class at YOSS had the honor of meeting a member of the American Air Force, Lt. Colonel Dr. Sam Tilonsky. Dr. Tilonsky served as an optometrist in the Air Force for 40 years. He spoke to the boys via Zoom from his home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Dr. Sam, as he likes to be called, was stationed in Illinois and was the unofficial chaplain for his base. He explained to the boys what his job consisted of and what he did each day. He spoke about being a Jew in the Air Force and how he and his fellow Jews kept the mitzvos. Dr. Sam showed us a picture of the 10-foot menorah they built

CoJDS and Larry Thompson Present at HALB

Achild growing up in 2022 has a host of different challenges than a child of 50 years ago. Besides a world transformed by technology, dra matic changes in attitudes, culture, and mindset transformed the world chil dren find themselves in today. Descrip tions such as entitled, disrespectful, and self-absorbed are characteristics many have attributed to “generation Alpha.” How does a parent trying to raise a child in such an environment educate and nur ture a child in a climate different from that of 10-20 years ago?

The Consortium of Jewish Day Schools (CoJDS) invited parents to an evening of growth for parents in this challenging generation. Larry Thompson has presented on the topic of discipline for CoJDS in 28 cities throughout the

U.S. to educators in over 50 Jewish day schools. For the first time, CoJDS invited Mr. Thompson to address parents with his Responsibility Centered Discipline (RCD) system. With his Kansas twang, Mr. Thompson enthralled the parents with a mixture of wisdom, humor, and emotion. “Children need a balance be tween the authoritative and the coddling approach. We need to support them to develop their own muscles in making the right decisions.”

After attending an RCD presentation to schools in Philadelphia in 2019, Rav Shalom Kaminetsky, the Rosh Yeshiva of the Philadelphia yeshiva, noted how much of the basis of the RCD approach is rooted in Torah concepts. While the RCD method has gained popularity through CoJDS in schools across the U.S., the or

ganization sees the next opportunity to bring this wisdom to parents as well. The event was graciously hosted by the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB) in their spacious auditorium. Over 200 parents joined from HALB, Yeshiva of South Shore, Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island, Bais Yaakov Ateres Mir

and lit every night of Chanukah and how they planted a tree for Tu b’Shvat. The community around the base provided them with a sukkah for their first Sukkos on base. He reported that it was the first sukkah to be built on an air force base.

The boys are using their writing skills to compose letters to veterans and thank them for the service they provide to keep us safe and protect our freedom. Those who serve in the armed forces are very brave. In our class, we have been read ing stories about being brave and doing things that are challenging. Together, we are learning that if at first you don’t suc ceed, try, try again!

iam, HAFTR, Magen Israel Center, Shu lamith School for Girls, Bais Yaakov of Queens, and Gesher Early Child Center.

For more information about bringing parenting classes to your school com munity, please get in touch with CoJDS at info@cojds.org.

TJH Centerfold

Dill-lightful Facts to Relish

November 14th is National Pickle Day.

Kool-aid pickles are made by soaking dill pick les in strong Kool-Aid and are very popular in parts of Mississippi.

The phrase “in a pickle” was first introduced by Shakespeare in his play, “The Tempest.” The quotes read, “How cam’st thou in this pickle?” and “I have been in such a pickle.”

Forty percent of all pickles produced in America were set aside for the Armed Forces and soldiers’ ration kits.

On September 3, 2000, temperatures on the field of Texas Stadium reached 109 degrees when the Philadelphia Eagles played the Dallas Cowboys. Philadelphia players chugged ice-cold pickle juice and credited the briny solution for their win.

Berrien Springs, Michigan, prides itself of being the pickle capital of the world. The town holds an annual pickle parade led by the “Grand Dillmeister.”

If it weren’t for pickles, Christopher Co lumbus might never have “discovered” America. In his famous 1492 voy age, Columbus rationed pickles to his sailors to keep them from getting scurvy. He even grew cucumbers during a pitstop in Haiti to restock for the rest of the voyage.

The majority of pickle factories in America fer ment their pickles in outdoor vats without lids. According to food scientists, the sun’s direct rays prevent yeast and molds from growing in the brine.

National Pickle Day is November 14. Accord ing to enthusiasts, it celebrates the centuries of work put into perfecting the original pickle while also working to create a whole new world of pickled items.

In Connecticut, in order for a pickle to officially be considered a pickle, it must bounce.

In a Pickle Trivia

1. The United Stated Department of Agriculture lists each of the following as a style of pickles except one. Can you spot the one that is not on the USDA’s list of pickle styles?

a. Dill b. Sour c. Sweet d. Sour mustard e. Sweet mustard f. Hamburger relish g. Spicy

2. To be considered a curved pickle, what degree must the curve be?

a. An angle of 70-90 degrees b. An angle of 35-60 degrees c. An angle of anywhere between 20-70 degrees d. If it has any curves at all, even less than 10 degrees

3. How much is the global pickle market worth?

a. $2.4 billion b. $5.2 billion c. $11.1 billion d. $2 trillion

4. Which state produces almost 35% of all pickles in the U.S.? a. Michigan b. Hawaii c. Florida d. Mississippi

5. Which company is the largest pickle seller in the U.S., with almost 70% of the market share?

a. Grillo’s b. Mt. Olive Pickle Company c. B&H Pickles d. Ba-Tampte

6. According to the USDA, how many pickles does the average American consume each year?

a. 520 pickles b. 2 pounds c. 4.5 pounds d. 8.5 pounds

Answers

1- G 2- B 3- C 4- A 5- B 6- D

Wisdom key

5-6 correct: You are certainly a brine-iac!

3-4 correct: You are so dill… I mean dull. 0-2 correct: I hope your lack of knowledge doesn’t make you sour!

You Gotta Be Kidding Me!

Did you hear about all the pickles losing their jobs?

They all got canned! ******

I watched a documentary last night about how pickles are made. It was jarring.

You hear about that crazy pickle who thought he was a flower? What a daff-o-dill! ******

Why do we refer to problems as pickles? Because they’re dill-emmas!

Parshas Chayei Sara

By Rabbi Berel Wein

Our matriarchs of Israel were very strong personalities and were formidable women. The life ex periences of our mother Sarah are an excellent example of this assessment of character and behavior. From the Torah narrative, we are informed early on that she is infertile, unable to conceive and give birth naturally. Nevertheless, we do not hear despair from her. She is willing to bring another woman into her house and to share her husband, so to speak,

with that woman in the hope that this would somehow facilitate her own be coming pregnant.

Having Hagar in her home and watch ing her arrogant behavior forces her to chastise Avraham’s attitude towards this complex relationship. She takes action to bring Hagar in line and thus preserve the primacy of her relationship to Avraham. Having escaped from the clutches of the Pharaoh and being aware of the dangers facing a beautiful woman in a cruel and

violent society, she nonetheless continues her life’s mission of advancing monothe ism and morality in a surrounding society that condones evil and violent paganism.

She is wondrously shocked, almost to disbelief, when informed by a stranger who appears as a Bedouin Arab that she will conceive and bear a son to Avraham. At that moment, she realizes that she will not only become an “ordinary” mother but rather the matriarchal figure that will preside over an eternal people that will influence all future societies.

To protect and safeguard that eternity,

strength in having to do family triage, so to speak, and knowingly to accept the consequences of such a painful and ago nizing decision. The ability and strength that she exhibits, in switching her hus band’s blessings from the older son to the younger one, is indicative of the certainty of commitment and clarity of vision that so characterized all of the matriarchs of the people of Israel.

Sarah lived on in Rivka and her life’s decisions. The same thing is true regard ing Rachel and Leah who are more aware of the nefarious and dangerous ways of

she is forced to expel Yishmael from her home. She does not flinch at performing this distasteful task. In this respect, she is stronger than Avraham…and Heaven, so to speak, backs up her position. She is the woman of iron that acts to guarantee the future survival of the Jewish people.

Sarah serves as the paradigm for the matriarchs that follow her in the Torah narrative of the book of Bereshis. Riv ka is certainly the strong force in the house of Yitzchak who recognizes the darkness of Eisav in comparison to the heavenly potential of Yaakov. She shows

their father Lavan than is their husband Yaakov. It is they who finally force Yaakov to heed the Heavenly voice that directs him to leave Aram and return home to the Land of Israel.

Again, it is the strength of character and will that decides the ultimate issue, and it is that decision that tips the scales of eternity in favor of Jewish survival. If Chava is recorded as being the mother of all living things, it is Sarah who is the mother of the loving, vibrant, and eternal people of Israel.

Shabbat shalom.

She is the woman of iron that acts to guarantee the future survival of the Jewish people.

The World That Was series has been hailed worldwide for offer ing readers a fascinating, Torah-oriented perspective on history. In The World That Was - Eretz Yisrael Volume 2, we travel to Eretz Yisrael and meet the idealistic Jews establishing yeshivos and Beis Yaakovs, kollelim, Chassidic courts and Torah communities, inspired by their resilience, de termination, and incomparable sense of achrayus for their people.

This addition to the much-hailed “Great Jewish….” series brings us 100 powerful quotes, with a brief explanatory commen tary, accompanied by spectacular photographs and images that bring these concepts to vivid life.

Also part of the Great Jewish series

by Yaffa Ganz

Thousands of children learned all about Shabbos and the Jewish holidays from Yaffa Ganz’s classic ArtScroll Children’s Holiday Series. Now, a new genera tion can discover the delights of Shabbos and the Yamim Tovim, as they enjoy the kid-friendly text and engaging illustrations of The Big Book of Jewish Holidays. Take your children (grandchildren too!) on a wonderful journey through the Jewish calendar. They’ll never forget it!

Shabbos and Yom Tov are so much fun for kids … when they learn all about them with Bina, Benny, and Chaggai HaYonah!

by Rabbi Moshe Bamberger

by Rabbi A. Leib Scheinbaum

From the Fire

Parshas Chayei Sara Blood, Sweat, and Tears

By Rav Moshe Weinberger Adapted for publication by Binyomin Wolf

It is very difficult to understand why Avraham insisted on paying so much to buy Me’aras Hamachpela, the cave of Machpela, in which to bury Sara. Efron had offered to give it to him as a gift (Bereishis 23:11). The people even called him a “prince of G-d” (ibid. 6). Why not accept their gift? Hashem had already told him (ibid. 15:7) that he would inherit Eretz Yisroel. Avraham knew that Me’aras Hamachpela would ultimately be his in any case. While it is true that “One who hates gifts will live” (Mishlei 15:27), since Me’aras Hamach pela had already been promised to Avra ham, it was not truly Efron’s to give. This is especially difficult to understand according to the Gemara (Bava Metzia 87a) which explains that the 400 sheka lim paid by Avraham Avinu were not or dinary shekalim. They were large sheka lim worth about 100 times the value of regular shekalim. According to this, Avraham paid the equivalent of 40,000 shekalim. Why was this necessary?

Perhaps we can understand Avra ham’s motivation based on a teaching by Rav Aharon Soloveitchik, zt”l. Rav Aharon quotes the Mishna (Bava Met zia 38a): “If one deposits his produce with his friend [to guard], even if they will be lost, he may not touch them.” In other words, the Mishna teaches that if someone is guarding another person’s produce, and that produce begins to rot, he may not sell the produce in order to give the proceeds to the owner, nor may he exchange the produce for a fresher replacement in order to return non-rot ten produce to the owner. Why is this?

Rav Kahana, in the Gemara, ex plains: “A person wants one portion of his own [property] more than nine por tions of his friend’s [property].” Rashi

explains that one wants his own portion more than another’s because “it is more precious to him because he toiled for it. He wants the one portion that remains from it [that did not become rotten] more than nine portions of others that would have been purchased with the proceeds of his produce which would have been sold [before they became rotten].”

What does Rashi’s comment add to Rav Kahana’s explanation of the Mish na? Rav Aharon Soloveitchik explains that Rashi was bothered by the follow ing question: Even if the guardian had exchanged the produce for money or for fresher produce, it would still be his , not another person’s! Whatever produce or money one receives in exchange for his own produce still belongs to him. It would not be considered part of the “nine portions of his friend’s.” Rav Aharon therefore explains that Rashi

answers this question by showing that there are two types of ownership: (i) le gal title and (ii) emotional ownership.

In the first type of ownership, legal title, it makes no difference whether one has the produce he grew himself, money obtained in exchange for that produce, or fresher produce. It all belongs to the person and is considered “his own por tion.” If one assumes that Rav Kahana is discussing this type of ownership, it would be very difficult to understand why a person would distinguish between the produce one grew himself or money/ produce one obtained in exchange for such produce.

But Rashi’s explanation of Rav Kah ana makes it clear that Rav Kahana was discussing the second type:emotional/ spiritual/psychological ownership. This is created when one toils to earn something. After a person has invested months preparing the ground, plowing

his soil, planting, watering, and harvest ing his crop, the produce he obtains is precious to him became he poured his blood, sweat, and tears into it. A small portion someone worked for with his own effort is worth more to him that nine portions grown by someone else even if he has legal title to it.

That is why Avraham Avinu insist ed on purchasing Me’aras Hamachpela himself even though he already had legal title to it. He longed to have a portion in Eretz Yisroel to which he had emotional title, not just legal title. He wanted to ensure that the land of Israel would al ways be so precious to him, his children, and his grandchildren that they would never be willing to relinquish it.

This is reflected in the double mean ings of the two words for money: damim and kesef. Damim means money, but it also means blood. A person pours his blood, his very life-force, into earning a living. So when he spends that mon ey on something, it is very precious to him. He has emotional title to it. And in addition to meaning “money,” kesef means “longing.” A person feels a stron ger longing and connection to the money he worked to earn, and those things he has purchased with that money, than things which are much more valuable that he never purchased himself. Avra ham wanted to spend his hard-earned money to acquire Me’aras Hamachpela so that the Jewish people would have an everlasting bond with Eretz Yisroel that is emotional and spiritual, not simply economic.

The Kedushas Levi, zy”a, teaches this same concept in remarkable way, commenting on the pasuk (Bereishis 21:10), “G-d, Elokim, has made joy for me.” He asks why Sara used the name of

G-d which implies strict justice, Elokim, when she said that Hashem gave her joy with the birth of Yitzchak after so many years. She should have said that Hashem (using the four letter name of G-d which implies His attribute of kindness) gave her joy!

The Kedushas Levi answers that nor mally, when young people have children immediately after marriage, they feel a moderate level of joy. But when a person prays and cries for children year after year and then Hashem finally gives him or her children, the joy is immeasurable. Sara was saying that G-d’s attribute of strict justice, which caused her to wait many years to have children, ultimate ly caused her to have tremendous joy which she never would have felt if Hash em had originally exhibited His attri bute of kindness and given her children at a young age. A person values and re joices in that which he acquired through great toil, effort, and tears, much more than anything he obtained easily.

When someone has davened for something for years, his stake in it is so much greater. That is why Chana’s prayers for her son Shmuel Hanavi were so powerful. The Gemara (Brachos 31b) teaches that Shmuel became ill because he had shown some level of disrespect to Eli, the Kohein Gadol, by teaching hala cha in Eli’s presence. While Shmuel was at death’s door, Chana pled with Eli Ha kohein to intervene in the upper worlds to save her son. He told her there was nothing he could do but pray that G-d grant her another child after Shmuel’s death. But she refused to hear of this. She told him (Shmuel I 1:27), “I prayed for this child.” Chana had invested years of prayer and tears into Shmuel Hana vi’s birth. No other child could have possibly acted as a substitute. Chana’s love, prayer, and insistence allowed Eli Hakohein to draw down salvation from above and Shmuel lived. We know Shmuel grew up to anoint Dovid Hamel ech as king. So in the end, Moshiach, great-grandson of Dovid Hamelech, will ultimately come into the world in the merit of the prayers and tears of Shmuel’s mother Chana.

A Mother Needs to Cry

A young Gerer chassidic man named Leibish from New York went to study in the Gerer yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel before the Pnei Menachem, zt”l, the previous Gerer Rebbe, had become Rebbe. At that time, he was still the rosh yeshiva in Yerushalayim. Leibish was recognized by everyone as the top boy in the yeshi

va. He had exemplary character traits, and he was the brightest and most dili gent student, a pride to his parents and the yeshiva.

At one point in the year, his parents went to visit the yeshiva, and Leibish’s father went to speak to the rosh yeshiva, the Pnei Menachem, looking forward to the praises he would surely hear about his son. When he met the Pnei Men achem, he introduced himself, but the

The next day, her mother, the Im rei Emes’s mother-in-law, came to the Rebbe determined not to take “no” for an answer. When she approached the Rebbe, he told her, “Do not worry. Your grandson will not be drafted.” Confused by the difference between what the Reb be had told her daughter and what she had just heard, she asked, “But why did the Rebbe not tell my daughter the good news yesterday?” The Rebbe answered

telling this story to Leibish’s father, he concluded: Why do you think your son is so successful in everything he does in yeshiva? It is because of your and your wife’s tears and davening for his success. If I told you how well he was doing, you would stop worrying and stop davening. A mother needs to cry. Leibish needs your davening in order to contin ue succeeding.

Our people are still crying, suffering, davening, and dying, in order to acquire Me’aras Hamachpela and Chevron. May all of the tears and davening of all of the generations finally constitute full pay ment for Eretz Yisroel and Yerushalay im. May Hashem clear away all of the filth so that every street, every alleyway, of Yerushalayim and all of Eretz Yisroel will be ours and ours alone in which we will be able to fully reveal the honor of Heaven with the coming of Moshiach, may he come very soon in our days.

rosh yeshiva simply acknowledged his greeting and said that it was good to meet him. Thinking perhaps that the rosh yeshiva had not realized who his son was, he added that his son was Leibish. The Pnei Menachem respond ed, “Yes, I know. Very good to meet you.” Brokenhearted, this father was at a loss. He knew how great his son was. Why was the rosh yeshiva not singing Leibish’s praises to him?!

He therefore asked the rosh yeshiva, “Rebbe, please tell me if there is some problem with Leibish. I do not want you to protect me from any negative news. If there are any issues, please tell me what they are and I am happy to speak with Leibish about it.”

But the Pnei Menachem answered: No, do not worry. There are no prob lems. He is doing very well. But let me tell you a story:

I have a step-brother (the Pnei Me nachem’s father, the Imrei Emes, zy”a, was widowed several times, so the Pnei Menachem had a number of step-broth ers). At one point, he received notice that he would be drafted into the Pol ish army. This was horrible news, so his mother, my father the Imrei Emes’s Reb betzin, approached her husband to ask him to intercede on behalf of her son, my step-brother. But the Rebbe simply said, “Nu, what can we do. Hopefully G-d will help.” Dumbfounded, the Reb betzin left, wondering why the Rebbe would not help her son from the horri ble fate that surely awaited him in the Polish army.

that “a mother needs to cry.” He did not want to give her too much hope the day before because it was her tears after she spoke with the Imrei Emes that brought down her son’s salvation from Heaven. When the Pnei Menachem finished

Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita, is the found ing Morah d’Asrah of Congregation Aish Ko desh in Woodmere, NY, and serves as leader of the new mechina Emek HaMelech.

He wanted to ensure that the land of Israel would always be so precious to him, his children, and his grandchildren that they would never be willing to relinquish it.

The Wandering Jew Return to Warsaw and a Visit to Bratislava

Part II

By Hershel Lieber

Wednesday was Tzom Gedalya. I came to the Nozyk Shul at 6:30 in the morning and saw an unusual amount of police activity there. Interestingly, as opposed to in other European cities, there are no full-time guards stationed at the shul. Only during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur does the shul have additional security. I asked a policeman what was going on, and he told me that some hooligans scribbled graffiti near the synagogue’s main entrance denouncing Jews in the Russian language. Obviously, the police had no idea who the perpetrators were nor what their mo tive was. By the time we finished Selichos and Shacharis, volunteer students from a nearby high school were busy with brushes, rags, water, and cleaning agents removing the words of hate. I was moved to see the outpouring of support and sympathy shown by those young Poles.

During the afternoon, Pesi and I visited the famed Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jewry. We were there three times before by ourselves and with oth ers. This time, there was an exhibit about Jewish food and its origins in the countries that Jews settled in all over the world. Tzom Gedalya is not the greatest time to view mouthwatering gastronomies, even in the form of photography. Even so, we enjoyed the museum’s pre

sentation which included the historic and religious back grounds of the various cuisines displayed.

After Mincha and Maariv, we went to eat at Kosher Delite, the restaurant owned and managed by Pinchas Etzioni which is under the hashgacha of Rav Landau of Bnei Brak. There was not much variety to choose from, but the food was very appealing, fresh, and tasty. We were not alone there. There must have been between sixty and seventy men and boys who were returning via Warsaw from Uman where they went for Rosh Hashana to the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov. Their clothing and hairstyles ranged from ultra chassidish to extreme avantgarde. We exchanged greetings and took some pho tos with them.

The next day, Thursday, we flew to Vienna. During many of the years that we traveled to Poland, we took off a few days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and traveled to different destinations. It was an opportuni ty to meet other Jews, connect with their communities, discover their traditions, and learn about their lifestyles. This time, our destination was to Bratislava (formerly Pressburg), the capital of Slovakia.

We arrived in Vienna, which is less than an hour away. Although we have been in Vienna a number of

times before, we have always had a special purpose to spend time there whenever possible. The reasons are Debby, Zwicky, and their five lovely children. Debby’s father, Harry, is my only first cousin from my father’s side, the son of my father’s brother Joel. We went to their wedding in 2011 and visited them a number of times since. They are raising a wonderful family, and we are proud of their accomplishments on behalf of the Jewish community as well.

The interior of the nearly 100-year-old Heydovka Shul

A Danube tour boat with the city’s original name, Pressburg

Debby and Zwicky and their lovely children

This year, we visited them in the morning, had breakfast in their apart ment, walked through the historic center of the city, and later joined the whole fam ily for dinner at a restaurant. We really had much nachas from them all.

At Mincha, I also had the opportunity to meet Rav Moshe Leizer Weiss, the rav of the Machzikei Hadas Shul, who is my second cousin. After davening, we took a driver for the short drive to Bratislava.

We have been to Bratislava a few times, but each time only spent a few hours there. This time, we planned to stay over Shabbos. We stayed in a nice hotel but made arrangements with the Chabad shluchim, Rabbi Boruch Myers, the Chief Rabbi of Slovakia, and his Rebbetzin Chanie, to stay at the Chabad House and to eat at their home for Shabbos. I knew the rav from previous trips to Bratislava and had met his rebbetzin previously at Ronald Lauder Foundation conferences in Warsaw and Sofia. This time, we had the opportunity to see them in action, leading and guiding the small Jewish ke hilla that still exists there.

On Friday night, we went to the only remaining shul in the city, and I was asked to daven. I used the nusach that is known as the “Carlebach Kabbalas Shabbos,” and

the mispallelim joyously participated and appreciated the change. The seudah at the Myers home was beautiful. They have many married children, so we only met two of their younger daughters and one single son. The conversations centered on Jewish life in this city and the personal backgrounds of Baruch and Chanie My ers. At the meal, we had a chance to get acquainted with Moshe Moshkowich, the chazan who came from Israel to lead the Yomim Noraim services in Bratislava. Moshe, who is originally from Amster dam, is an extremely pleasant and friend ly person. We had so much in common and shared many of our experiences.

On Shabbos morning, Moshe davened Shacharis, while I took over for Mussaf. We ate the day seudah at Chabad again and had a chance to advance our relation ships with the Myers and with Moshe. After Havdalah, we took some photos and returned to our hotel.

Both on Friday and Sunday we walked the historic streets of the Old Town. Most houses date back to the 17 th and 18th cen turies, but there are structures that were constructed during the 15th century as well. The streets are quaint and lined with restaurants and shops catering to tourists. We stopped into a store that sells

At the kevorim of the K’sav Sofer and the Shevet Sofer Inside the vault at the kever of the Chasam Sofer

Bratislava Castle overlooking the city

only products made by bees – honey and beeswax in a multitude of variety. We also passed the memorial to the Jews of Slova kia who were deported and killed during World War II. There was also an exhib it about the Neolog (Reform) Synagogue that stood in that location since 1893 and was torn down by the communist govern ment in 1969. Secular and progressive Jews were overshadowed by the larger Orthodox establishment in the former city of Pressburg, but nevertheless, they made up a fair share of the Jewish pop ulation.

One of the main attractions that pro pelled us to come to Bratislava was to vis it the Kever of the Chasam Sofer. He was one of leading rabbonim in Europe in the early 1800s and established the famed

Yeshiva of Pressburg which, at times, had over five hundred talmidim. Some of the greatest rabbonim and poskim in Hungary were his students. He was also a defender of Orthodoxy during a wave of inroads made by Reform leaders. We had been at his gravesite at least three times before, but Harav Moshe Schreiber’s leg acy and reputation is so great that we looked forward to the privilege of daven ing again by his kever. There is a very long history associated with the preservation of a small underground vault that accom modates the kevarim of the Chasam Sofer and a limited number of other rabbinic dignitaries. During World War II, the lo cal Nazi puppet government with support of a huge bribe allowed this small section of the bais olam to be preserved below a

new road. Presently, one can descend to the vault and visit the kevarim.

We went to the bais olam on Sunday, the 7 th of Tishrei. I later found out that this was the Chasam Sofer’s birthday. We said Tehillim and left kvitlech with the names of all our family member and requests for the specific brachos that they all need. We then ascended to another section of the cemetery that remained mostly intact during the war. There, we davened at the kevarim of the K’sav Sofer and the Shevet Sofer, the son and grandson respectively of the Chasam Sofer. We felt very accom plished as we left the cemetery and felt confident that our tefillos would be ac cepted by the Ribbono Shel Olam.

From there, we walked over to a new kosher milchig restaurant called River Café. The hashgacha is from Keddasia in England, and the food was exception ally good. After eating, we walked back towards the town center along the Dan ube River. On the way, we stopped at the Haydukova Shul, where we davened on Shabbos which is open on some days to the public as a Jewish museum. There were interesting religious and communal artifacts from years bygone. A special ex hibit was dedicated to the Chasam Sofer. This day was very meaningful to us – but it was not yet over.

A community dinner with enter tainment was on the agenda for Sunday evening. Rabbi Myers invited us to par ticipate, and we were eager to meet with members of the Jewish kehilla. When we walked in, we were warmly greeted by many of the participants and were made to feel at home. We helped ourselves to a variety of the delicious dishes served.

Rav Meyers spoke briefly about the sig nificance of the High Holy Days. Then he played on the keyboard as he and Chazan Moshe Moshkowich sang favorite Hebrew and Yiddish songs. At one point during the concert, they asked me to join them, and I also introduced a Carlebach niggun which no one there heard before. This evening topped off a very momentous day and gave greater significance to our stay in Bratislava.

The next day, we made our way back to Warsaw where we hoped that we would successfully confront the impending Yom HaDin.

Hershel Lieber has been involved in kiruv activities for over 30 years. As a founding member of the Vaad L’Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel he has traveled with his wife, Pesi, to the Soviet Union during the harsh years of the Communist regimes to advance Yiddishkeit. He has spearheaded a yeshi va in the city of Kishinev that had 12 successful years with many students making Torah their way of life. In Poland, he lectured in the summers at the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation camp for nearly 30 years. He still travels to Warsaw every year – since 1979 – to be the chazzan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur for the Jews there. Together with Pesi, he organized and led trips to Europe on behalf of Gateways and Aish Hatorah for college students finding their paths to Jewish identity. His passion for travel has taken them to many interesting places and afforded them unique experiences. Their open home gave them opportunities to meet and develop relationships with a variety of people. Hershel’s column will appear in The Jewish Home on a bi-weekly basis.

Singing with Rabbi Baruch Meyers and Chazan Moshe Moshkovich

At the Bratislava community gathering

With Rabbi Baruch Myers

The Holocaust Memorial in Bratislava

Delving into the Daf Is a Bar Mitzvah Boy an Adult?

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

The boy spent weeks in preparation for his bar mitzvah. When the moment arrived, he relished the opportunity to read the Torah. He had fi nally achieved adulthood. He was now a full card-carrying member of the tzibbur. Or was he?

Our sages have taught that there are physical attributes that signify when a boy has become an adult. However, there is an alternative to a physical inspection. We can rely on a chazakah. We can as sume that when a boy turns 13, he pos sesses the physical attributes that ren der him an adult. Practically, everyone nowadays just relies on this chazakah However, the Mishnah Berurah writes that this chazakah should be used only for mitzvos d’Rabbanan. We will allow a 13-year-old boy to daven at the amud and lein the Torah, but he should not blow the shofar for a congregation. Tekias shofar is a biblical mitzvah for which we don’t rely on this chazakah.

The mitzvah of Kiddush on Friday night may be a mitzvah d’Oraisa so pref erably an older adult should not hear Kid dush from a boy who is merely 13. (Some suggest that after davening, the mitzvah of Kiddush on Friday night may be only rabbinic.) Likewise, a bar mitzvah boy should not write the parashiyos of tefil lin if his adulthood is established on the basis of the chazakah.

The Mishnah Berurah writes that when one’s beard has become full, we can assume that he is an adult even for scriptural mitzvos. The Chayei Adam sug gests that once a boy turns 18, it can be assumed that he is an adult for mitzvos d’Oraisa.

What is another example of a scrip tural action that has to be performed by an adult? Hataras nedarim. If someone uttered a vow and wishes to be released from it, he may ask three people to per mit it for him. The laws and specifics of this process are numerous. But one point relevant here is the requirement that the three people all be adults. Rebbe Akiva

Eiger writes that a boy who is assumed to be an adult only on the basis of hav ing turned 13 cannot be matir neder. In general, Rebbe Akiva Eiger is very strin gent about this point and would say that even ex post facto, the actions performed by a 13-year-old are not valid for biblical purposes.

There is a requirement for hataras nedarim that one has to disclose the vow he wishes to be released from. However, it suffices that only one of the people per mitting the vow know what it actually is. There was an individual who had made a vow that he found somewhat embarrass ing. He did not wish to disclose the details of the vow to anyone except a 15-year-old friend. A 15-year-old can’t perform ha taras nedarim since he is only assumed to be an adult on the basis of his age. However, there was no alternative, since the individual didn’t want to reveal his neder to any older adults. The quandary was presented to Rebbe Akiva Eiger. He advised them to gather three older adults for hataras nedarim and this 15-year-old would join them. He reasoned that for the biblical hataras nedarim, there are three adults present. The requirement that one

has to disclose the vow is only rabbinical – and for that rabbinical requirement, the 15-year-old suffices.

This is relevant on erev Rosh Hasha nah when men perform hataras nedarim after davening. It is preferable for one to make sure that the three people permit ting his vows are known to be adults. In some shuls, the custom is that the con gregation breaks up into groups of four after davening. Each of the four recites the prescribed formula while the remain ing three form the beis din to permit the vows. This creates a vexing situation. The bar mitzvah boy himself needs a fullfledged hataras nedarim, since his vows certainly qualify as biblical vows. (Even a 12-year-old’s vows are binding.) Yet he cannot serve on the beis din for others. In shuls where multiple people perform hataras nedarim at the same time, with more than three acting as judges, this problem is alleviated. The bar mitzvah boy can certainly listen to one recite the second portion of the hataras nedarim, the “moser modaah.”

It is interesting to note that the custom to have a wholesale annulment of vows

on erev Rosh Hashanah is not mentioned anywhere in the Shulchan Aruch or Mish nah Berurah, and it seems to go against the Gemara. There are two parts to the hataras nedarim on erev Rosh Hasha nah . The first is to release the person from vows that have already been ut tered. The second is to declare that any vows uttered in the coming year shall be null and void.

Rav Huna wished to publicly discuss the second idea in a lecture. Rava con vinced him not to. He reasoned that the only way we know that the declaration may be effective is from a cryptic Mish nah. If the Tanna went out of his way to conceal the idea by intentionally deleting words from the text, he definitely did not want it discussed publicly. The reason is that people may start taking the subject of vows lightly. They’ll say, “Oh, I can make any vow; I already declared them void on erev Rosh Hashanah.” But that declara tion has some serious limitations, which people are generally unaware of. In fact, according to the Ran, the wording of Kol Nidrei, which also serves to annul vows, was meant to be somewhat confusing so that the populace would not understand it completely.

The actual hataras nedarim on erev Rosh Hashanah is lacking for other rea sons, including what we discussed above: people do not disclose what vow they are seeking relief from. However, the custom of hataras nedarim on erev Rosh Hasha nah is not new, as it was already cited by the Shelah. It does have its purpose and place. Still, people need to be aware that there are limitations to its effectiveness and to seek guidance regarding any actual vows.

Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow is a rebbe at Yeshiva Ateres Shimon in Far Rockaway. In addition, Rabbi Sebrow leads a daf yomi chaburah at Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park in West Hemp stead, NY. He can be contacted at ASebrow@ gmail.com.

The Committed Jewish Presence in Chevron

Living in the Embrace of Avraham and Sarah

By MiriaM Sara Leff

You sleep wherever you can find room – in a trailer, inside a tent at a park, or on a patch of grass under the stars, wrapped up in a sleeping bag. It’s become a tradition, and it’s happening again this Shabbat. Every year, tens of thousands of Jews descend on Hevron for Parshat Chayei Sara, which recounts the purchase of the Cave of the Patriarchs by our forefather Avraham from Ephron Ha’Chiti.

“It’s a miracle. Our tiny home seems to expand and expand, so thirty, forty people can sleep here,” Elimelech Karzen, a resident of Hevron, tells me, a warm smile in his voice. His home is only 860 square feet, and on a reg ular day it already looks stuffed with two adults and five children.

At a checkpoint leading to the city, a soldier asks Ch agi, a friend of mine in his sixties, why he’s driving to Hevron. Chagi is practiced in his reply: “To visit my Abba and Ima.” The soldier looks puzzled. Your Abba and Ima are in Hevron?” Sure, Chagi smiles. Avraham, Sara, and also Yitzchak and Rivka, Adam and Chavah… The soldier

smiles, he gets it.

Chagi delights in this recurring conversation with sol diers. He uses it to impress on them that our patriarchs and matriarchs are not relics, not dusty ethereal figures.

They are our parents.

The ones who look after us.

The ones whom we come to visit, to honor, to speak with – just as any child does with his parents.

Ancient Love Meets BoundLess HAtred

Days before elections in Israel, a terrorist shot two Jews in Hevron near the house of one of the leading right-wing candidates, Itamar Ben Gvir. One of those shot was mur dered, the other lightly injured. Itamar Ben Gvir symbol izes the tough Right, proudly representing Jewish strength and sovereignty. The media widely debated whether the ter rorist was simply attempting to scare Ben Gvir or to murder him. And while Ben Gvir symbolizes the arch-villain to the Arabs, both to those who purport to be peace-loving and

to those who vocally (and violently) are not, the recent ter ror activities that have swept Israel nationwide have only strengthened and entrenched his political position. Time after time, terror attacks in Judea turn out to have been committed by an Arab from Hevron. None of this is new; it goes back many years.

In the months leading up to the elections, there had been hundreds of terror attacks, ranging from attempting kidnappings to stone-throwings to shootings to stabbings. Very few of these incidents had been broadcast on inter national media; in fact, very few had been broadcast here in Israel. Was it due to the elections? After all, it wouldn’t serve the Left to have the dream of peaceful co-existence (or an equally peaceful Two State Solution) dented as badly as my neighbor’s car when a grinning young Arab smashed a boulder into it. The boulder missed the window – and her toddler’s head – by inches.

A sadder but less-cynical view would be that these at tacks are not being publicized precisely because they are happening so often. It is these attacks that are pushing

college students, hip, secular, and young, to vote for Ben Gvir – instead of for the Left-Wing bloc.

However, the violence is more than just politics: they are about Abba and Ima, and a promise recounted from father to son that goes back thousands of years.

Thousands of years ago, in a single, radical, courageous act, Avraham listened to G-d’s instructions and traveled to a land he’d never seen before. He pitched his tent in Hevron. Hevron was where he circumcised himself, for ever dedicating himself and his descendants – the Jewish people – to the Al-mighty. According to Sefer HaYovlim, Hevron was where G-d revealed Himself to Avraham in Brit ben Ha’betarim, a prophecy in which Avraham was promised that he would become the father of a great nation whom G-d would always remember even through the terri ble enslavement of Egypt. Hevron was where G-d promised the Land to the Jewish nation.

Today, the Jewish community occupies less than 3% of the city where G-d made Avraham that promise. Those 3% comprise about one-hundred Jewish families as well as a yeshiva. The low numbers are not due to Arab terror ism; they are due to Israeli government policy. In the late ‘90s, Israel made a series of concessions to the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) which included drastically limiting Jewish presence in Hevron. These were the Oslo Accords (1997) between Peres, Rabin, and Arafat and the Wye Agreement between Benjamin Netanyahu and Ara fat (1998). These agreements not only heavily limit Jewish expansion in the city but also prohibit Jews from visiting certain important Jewish sites in Hevron, such as Yeshivat Knesset Yisrael.

eneMies WitHout, eneMies WitHin Elimelech Karzen grew up in Hevron, and he recounts that unfortunately very little has changed in the Jewish Quarter since his childhood. The Jews of Hevron have two enemies – one stated, and one unstated; the first with out, the latter within; Arabs, and the Israeli policymak ers. These foes color the history of the Jewish community of Hevron and arguably divide the entire Jewish Israeli public.

Ettie Meidad, a longtime resident of Hevron and mother of nine, doesn’t agree. She says that the Arabs aren’t the real enemy. In her words: “They’re just here to remind us that we have something valuable to fight for.”

Abba and Ima.

Our important national historical memories are em bedded deep within Hevron’s soil. It is where the very first Jewish “militia” was founded: Avraham’s men, who set out from the city to free Avraham’s cousin Lot. It is where the very first piece of Jewish land was legally acquired through a transaction between Efron the Hittite and Avraham.

Throughout the centuries, the city’s significance grew. It is where Calev ben Yefuneh and his fellow spies gath ered an abundance of fruit to demonstrate the plenty of the Land to the Israelite nation wandering in the desert. It was a city conquered by Yehoshua bin Nun. It is where Yishai and Ruth are buried. It was where King David was secretly anointed with oil to be king of Israel, and Hevron became his first capital. King Herod of Judea built up the Cave of the Patriarchs into the impressive structure it is today.

Hevron is considered one of the four holy cities for Jews. From Biblical times until the destruction of the Sec ond Temple, Hevron was a respected Judean city. Even after the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, a small com munity of about twenty families survived and remained in the city. They were joined in the 1600s by a commu nity of Jewish exiles from Spain. The Spanish Jews built the famous Avraham Avinu Synagogue. Regardless of the hardships, Jews have always lived in Hevron – up until the summer of 1929.

Later called “the pogrom of 1929,” this bloody massacre signaled the end of the centuries-old Jewish community in Hevron. Sixty-seven Jews were tortured to death in a wave of obscene violence orchestrated by the Arabs of the city, including one Sheikh Jabbar, who would end up being a key figure in Hevron in later decades. Hours before the massa cre began, the respected head of the Jewish community of Hevron, Eliezer Slonim, was assured by his Arab friends that Jews would not be harmed. A short time later, Slonim’s skull caved in from the force of the metal rods when the Ar abs beat him to death. The local Jewish baker was burned alive, stuffed into his own oven. Two rabbis were castrated and then slaughtered. The victims included yeshiva stu dents, women, and little children. The surviving Jews fled the city. The murders were so brutal, so ungraspably in humane, that local legend among the Arabs claimed that the Jews’ houses were haunted and that the curse would be lifted only once Jews returned to live in Hevron. Very few of the Arabs moved into the eerily empty Jewish homes. A handful of Jews attempted to return about a year later,

only to flee again when the War of Independence broke out in 1947. The once-beautiful Jewish Quarter decayed over the decades.

It wasn’t a natural decaying process. It was “helped” by the Jordanian regime which conquered Hevron. Orders were given to destroy the Jewish Quarter. Empty homes were torn down, and a huge, smelly, open-air market (souk, in Arabic) was erected in their stead. The ancient and once-ornate Avraham Avinu Synagogue was turned into a public restroom and animal pen. The graves of Ruth and Yishai became the entire city’s garbage dump. The Jewish graveyard was desecrated: gravestones were smashed, and some of the land was used to plant grapes. Jews were for bidden entry to the Cave of the Patriarchs.

Survivors of the 1929 massacre painted Hevron as an idyllic co-existence with sprawling grapevines; if that Hevron ever really did exist, its Arab residents erased all evidence of it.

Nineteen years later, Hevron was liberated by the IDF during the Six Day War (1967). Even though it was the first time in over two thousand years that Jewish rule was reestablished in the heartlands of Judea, Jews were still banned from freely praying in the Cave of the Patriarchs and were forbidden from residing in the city which was their historical home. Moshe Dayan, Minister of Defense at that time, promptly returned control over the Cave of the Patriarchs to Sheikh Jabbar, one of the city’s rulers, as “a gesture of goodwill.” That was the same Sheikh Jabbar who helped orchestrate the slaughter of 1929.

The phenomenon of military commanders, such as Dayan, deciding his own approach with regards to Arabs was the dire consequence of the Israeli government’s in ability to formulate a clear policy over the newly-liberated territories. Instead of annexing Judea and Samaria, the Israeli government placed the areas under military rule, to the detriment of all residents, both Arabs and Jews.

Even so, the miserable situation in the Cave of the Patriarchs was an improvement over what had been the status quo for centuries. Access to the Cave of the Patri archs had been completely barred to Jews under Islamic rule: Jews were allowed only to walk up to the seventh step leading up to the plaza outside the Cave’s entrance. After the Six Day War, Jews were allowed in the Cave together with tourists, for six hours and fifteen minutes a day, ex cept Fridays, when Jews were forbidden entrance. Arabs, however, were allowed entrance at all hours of the day and

Me'aras Hamachpela in 1906

78 night, every day of the week. The unstated expectation on the part of the Israeli government was that Jews would behave like tourists: quietly admire the Arab calligraphy, quietly pray, quietly leave. The IDF commander responsible for Hevron strove to “keep the peace” by maintaining this arrangement.

He failed, thanks to a short, middle-aged physics pro fessor.

tHe MAn WHo refused to Be A tourist

The year was 1975. The professor’s name was Bentzion Tavger, and he’d made aliyah from the USSR three years before – after the KGB decided it was better having that stubborn refusenik out of the country than in. To him, the strict arrangement for Jews praying in the Cave of the Patriarchs was both deeply shameful and downright infu riating. In his deceptively mild way, the professor decided to do something about it.

The time was 3 PM. Tavger, his 15-year-old son Eliya hu, two rabbis and six other people were davening Mincha in the Cave. Once they finished praying, the men began reciting Tehillim. They knew they had a 4 PM deadline to leave, but they chose to ignore it. Around them, Mus lim Arabs prayed, chanted, and milled about. One of the rabbis stood up and began giving a d’var Torah. It was 4 o’clock. Tourist hours were over. IDF soldiers stationed at the entrance inched closer to the group of Jews. The hint became less subtle when one impatient soldier strode up to the rabbi and pointedly tapped his watch. The rabbi smiled and ignored him, continuing to explain an intricacy in one of the Torah portions. The soldier muttered something like, “OK, five minutes, but I warn you, only five minutes more!” but the rabbi continued talking. The professor and his son quietly moved their chairs back so the plastic backs touched the bars surrounding Sara Imeinu’s tomb (tzi’un). Carefully, while the soldiers’ annoyed attention was rivet ed on the talking rabbi, father and son locked the chains they had already attached to their bodies around the bars. A soft click sounded.

“We’re not leaving,” the professor told the other rabbi quietly. The rabbi nodded; he had suspected as much.

Bentzion Tavger was not afraid of threats, violence, and fury. He remained calmly unfazed while the Israeli soldiers barked at him to leave the Cave, then when backup arrived and tried to bodily remove him before realizing

that the professor and his son had chained themselves to the metal bars. The saga lasted over an hour, and through it all the Tavgers quietly studied the parsha. Finally, the soldiers found the keys, unlocked the chains, and hauled the Tavgers off to the police station – together with the two rabbis who had also refused to leave quietly.

This demonstration marked the turning point in the struggle for Jews both to pray freely in Me’aras Hamach pela and to live in the city of Hevron.

In the days following his quiet demonstration at the Cave of the Patriarchs, more and more Jews from the near by city of Kiryat Arba flocked to the Cave and remained praying inside for hours, defying the 4 PM deadline. Their fierce persistence won a partial victory, culminating in to day’s arrangement: the Cave itself is divided roughly in

family, and was vandalized again. To protect the grave, the residents of Kiryat Arba arranged for a guard at the grave. The first applicant? Bentzion Tavger. Unemployed, searching for a job which would allow him quiet time to peruse Torah and mull over theoretical physics, Tavger thought this job was the perfect opportunity.

As it turned out, the professor did little studying of ei ther physics or Torah. When he arrived at the cemetery for his first day of work, he was shocked by its condition. The entire cemetery was in ruins. Gravestones were smashed. Their pieces had been stolen by local farmers who used them to build terraces nearby. These farmers also stole some of the cemetery’s land to plant grapes. Vines were growing wildly all over. The Jews of Kiryat Arba might have become resigned to the sight of the desecrated place; Tavger was not.

half, with the Jews receiving the smaller section. It is open for Jews from 4 AM until around 9 PM. Ten days a year, the entire Cave is open to Jews; and during another ten days, it is entirely forbidden to Jews, open instead only to Arabs.

tHe return to tHe JeWisH QuArter

Although there are now only about one thousand Jews in Hevron, the very first resident – grimly enough – since 1929 was a dead baby. The four-month-old had died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in 1974, and his family, who lived in Kiryat Arba, insisted on burying him in the ancient Jewish cemetery of Hevron, an action op posed by the Israeli government. Subsequently, the baby’s gravestone was vandalized by local Arabs, restored by the

The professor set his jaw and began to work. Over the course of months, the professor patiently took apart the nearby terraces, rock by rock, and retrieved pieces of gravestones. Using historical descriptions and the shapes of gravestones as guidelines, Tavger was able to accurately reconstruct many of the ancient graves, including that of the 16th century kabbalist Rabbi Eliyahu Di Vidash. The professor slowly broadened his scope of work. He began rambling around the destroyed Jewish Quarter, meticu lously identifying important Jewish sites. He fought for the restoration of Avraham Avinu Synagogue; it galled him that the bleating of goats sounded in the place where the rapturous melody of Lecha Dodi had once been sung on Friday nights. The price Tavger paid for his dogged activities was repeated arrests by the IDF. He was placed in jail and released. He was threatened, warned, bullied, and cajoled. Jailed once more. Released. Tavger kept going. And through it all, he continued his fierce campaign for the Jews’ right to pray freely at the Cave of the Patriarchs.

The first “live” Jewish presence in the city was estab lished in a dilapidated old Jewish building in the Jewish Quarter of Hevron. Built in 1893, it had once been a hos pital which offered free care to both the Jews and to the Arabs of Hevron. It became known as Beit Hadassah when Henrietta Szold (1860-1945) led a successful campaign to raise money for its expansion. During the summer of 1929, its Jewish doctors and patients were brutally murdered, and since then, the place had remained empty of Jews. In April of 1979, a group of women and children led by Reb betzin Miriam Levinger, the wife of the rabbi of Kiryat Arba

Portraits of some of those who were slaughtered in the 1929 massacre adorn the walls of the Hebron Heritage Museum

Avraham Avinu Synagogue after the 1929 pogrom

She says that the Arabs aren’t the real enemy. In her words: “They’re just here to remind us that we have something valuable to fight for.”

Moshe Levinger, smuggled themselves into the ruins of Beit Hadassah. By the time IDF troops were alerted to the in cident, it was too late. The women and children refused to leave. The situation was so tense that the Prime Minister himself intervened, famously stating that he would allow no area of the state of Israel to become judenrein (free of Jews). Even so, the Prime Minister, Menachem Begin, forbade anyone else from entering the building, includ ing the women’s husbands, except once a week on Friday evenings for a few hours. IDF troops constantly patrolled the perimeter of the building, both to protect its occupants from hostile Arabs and to keep other Jews from trying to infiltrate. Water, food, and necessary supplies were brought daily from Kiryat Arba to the women and their children. If the government hoped that these harsh restrictions would cause the women to abandon their efforts to reestablish a Jewish community in Hevron, they were disappointed. Almost a year went by, and the women and their children remained steadfast in Beit Hadassah.

Government officials held frequent negotiations with the rabbis and heads of community of Kiryat Arba, at tempting to bring the situation to a close. But then some thing happened which changed the situation entirely. It was May 2, 1980, a Friday night. Smiling husbands and yeshiva students were walking together towards Beit Ha dassah for the evening Shabbat prayers and a meal with their families. Across the street, on the rooftop of the house of the Hirbawwi family, four men stood, black shapes out lined against the night sky. They belonged to the Fatah, a faction within the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Shots rang out in quick succession. Six Jews were murdered. Twenty more were injured.

Retaliation was immediate. The IDF razed two large buildings across from Beit Hadassah and took control of four others. Three of the city’s leaders were expelled. The four terrorists were arrested, tried, sentenced to life in prison, and then, as invariably happens in Israel, released a short few years later. However, in a surprise move, the Israeli government declared that Jews were now allowed to live in Hevron, and Beit Hadassah became their first apart ment building. IDF soldiers continued to patrol the area.

I spoke to one of the IDF soldiers who was stationed in Hevron. He told me that years after the 1980 murders, he watched as an Arab tour guide showed wealthy Saudi tourists the city sights. The tour guide led his group to the Hirbawwi home. On the rooftop, he pointed to Beit Hadas

sah. “This is where I stood. I killed six Jews.”

When the IDF soldier, today an archeology professor at Bar-Ilan University, recounted the story to me, helpless rage glittered in his eyes. Another of those terrorists was elected mayor of Hevron in 2017. His hate for Israel runs so deep that he refuses to coordinate with the IDF even on matters pertaining to his own municipal needs, such as city waste removal. His deputies do so in his stead.

WHen JeWs figHt BAck

The murders of 1980 birthed yet another great change: Jewish vigilantes in a Jewish State. Little-known, hard ly discussed, the Jewish Underground was the first and largest of these groups. Numbering around thirty mem bers, many were fathers of families who resided in Kiry at Arba. These men agreed that the only way to stop the brutal murders was to make the Arab leaders afraid for their lives. Their first attack was aimed at the mayors of Shechem (Nablus), Ramallah, and Al-Birah. Two car bombs the Underground placed went off, instantly searing off the legs of two of the mayors (Shechem and Ramallah). The third mayor shrewdly called in sappers.

The Underground’s second attack was in retaliation for the murder of yeshiva student Aharon Gross in Hevron. Members of the Underground attacked the Hebron Islam ic College, killing three students and injuring thirty-three others. When the members of the Jewish Underground were arrested in 1984 and put on trial, public opinion sup ported them so strongly that one Israeli survey at the time showed a whopping 73% voted to release them all immedi ately. Among those 73% was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yitzchak Shamir, who made his support public. Nonethe less, the Jewish Underground was not freed; each member served a prison sentence ranging from months to years. Other vigilante groups were quietly arrested or disbanded.

Fourteen years later, the world was outraged by the vi olence of another alleged Jewish vigilante. Baruch Gold stein was a medical doctor serving in the IDF and living in Kiryat Arba. Around 5:00 AM on February 25, 1994, Goldstein entered the Cave of the Patriarchs and murdered 29 Muslim worshippers, wounding 125 more, and was then surrounded by the furious worshippers and beaten to death. This could have been just another horrible story of the volatile relationship between the Jews and Arabs of Hevron – if it were true.

However, contradictory evidence and claims have emerged to paint a murkier picture: there are eyewitness es who testify that the Arabs in the Cave were armed and that public calls for a massacre against the Jews had been sounded for days before; an Arab reporter who interviewed twenty-five survivors claimed that there were at least two shooters at the scene; reports circulate that Goldstein was brought to the Cave in an Army jeep; three IDF soldiers outside the Cave of the Patriarchs testify that seconds after Goldstein entered the Cave another Jew carrying a Galil assault rifle followed him in; and the IDF claim that Gold stein shot one hundred and eleven rounds of ammunition in a minute and a half, when ballistics experts of the Pales tinian police denied this was humanly possible. These are only a few of the glaring inconstancies in the well-known, oft-repeated horrific tale. But hardly anyone asks these questions, definitely not in Israel. There were whispers that the doctor was set up as a fall guy in order to instigate a wave of riots against the Jews of Hevron, so the Israeli government could then uproot the Jewish community “for their own good.” Conspiracy theory? I don’t know.

Today, Goldstein’s name is sullied as a murderer; even the Israeli Right shudders and prefers to change the sub ject. In fact, the entire subject of Jewish vigilantes is avoid ed by the Right (except, of course, the extremists who laud them), and mentioned by the Left only as a counterargu ment to “Arab terrorism.” Both the political Right and the political Left in Israel purposely miss the very simple point which the violence in Hevron, Jewish and Arab, emphasiz es: Jews live in Hevron. Arabs don’t want Jews in Hevron. The conflict is real. What do we do about it?

Bentzion Tavger’s response? Dig in your heels. Revel in the land – our land. When Tavger began taking apart terraces and uprooting vines from the ancient Jewish cem etery, one old Arab farmer was furious. Tavger ignored him. When the farmer tried salvaging some grapes, twigs, or grape leaves, Tavger grabbed them from the Arab’s hands and destroyed everything. Tavger didn’t know Arabic and the old farmer did not understand much Hebrew, but Tav ger made it very clear that this was Jewish property and the Arab could not profit from any of it.

Interestingly, when Tavger requested the farmer’s help, the farmer provided it. Later, when the owner of the goats complained to Tavger that he was destroying his liveli hood by cleaning and restoring the old synagogue, Tavger’s friends in Kiryat Arba beat the Arab up. When the Arab’s

Tavger excavating the cemetery with a volunteer

Bentzion Tavger

Rabbi Shlomo Goren holding a homemade Israeli flag over Me'aras Hamachpela, June 8, 1967

80 friends rounded on Tavger, the professor asked them if they ever degraded a mosque in such a way: they only muttered and retreated.

17, 2022

Living cLose to ABBA And iMA

Today, the street leading up to the synagogue and the small block surrounding it – predominantly Jewish ar eas – are named after Tavger. The synagogue stands re furbished, proud and tall. The Jewish Quarter is still not fully inhabited due to government restrictions. Inside the community are kindergartens and daycare centers. Older children are bussed to school in Kiryat Arba.

Etie Meidad, a longtime resident of Hevron, told me that there is a very long waiting list of families who wish to move in, but there are simply no homes available. Jews purchase homes from Arabs in Hevron through an organi zation called Harchivi Mekom Aholech, meaning “expand your tent.” But these transactions are complicated for Jews and dangerous for Arabs. Complicated, because the Israeli government tries to limit the Jewish presence in the city; dangerous, because any Arab who sells his home signs his death warrant. He is immediately prey to PLO or Hamas.

“As soon as Harchivi purchases an Arab home, they try to help them get out, preferably to Europe, where they can begin a new life,” Meidad explained. “Harchivi also purchases the house through a string of straw organiza tions so the transaction cannot be traced to Jews. For us, the cost is exorbitant, but we feel responsible for them.”

She added that sometimes the owners drag their feet about leaving or decline to go, saying that they are too wellknown in their community to be harmed. Those, too, find their deaths at the hands of their elected leaders.

Daily, rocks are hurled at pedestrian Jews and vehicles. Hevron is a bedrock of Hamas as well as other, less wellknown Arab terror organizations, ranging from deeply re ligious to communist-secularist. There are constant terror attacks, and only very few of them reach the news. Only two weeks ago, Ronen Hananyah and his son were shot at in Hevron. Ronen was killed, his son wounded, together with the Jewish medic who rushed forward to save them. But the Jewish settlers of Hevron will not give up, and they refuse to succumb to fear.

According to Karzen, Jews in Hevron generally feel very secure: there are army troops stationed every few me ters, and security is so tight that children play on the street

and alleyways without fear. Not that the Jews are careless: for example, some Jewish neighborhoods are separated by predominantly Arab neighborhoods, and so many Jews will prefer to take a shuttle there and back rather than walk. Occasionally, Karzen recalls, one can hear shooting from the direction of the center of the city, probably caused by in-fighting among the Arabs.

“In exile, when we were attacked, we escaped. But this is our home. We’re not running,” Meidad emphasizes. She and her husband raised their nine children in Hevron. While she admits that, at times, she is afraid, Meidad de scribes that she feels deeply that Hevron is where she and her family belong.

When Jews first moved back to Hevron, the municipal ity refused to take responsibility for its Jewish residents. Basic needs ranging from electricity to waste removal were

From all over Israel, thousands flock to Hevron. Many even make an international pilgrimage. “It’s the holiday cele brating our Patriarchs and Matriarchs,” Karzen explains.

According to Karzen, over 40,000 Jews attended Shab bat Chayei Sara in Hevron of 2019. During the lockdowns following COVID, the government restricted Jewish vis itors. But now that government restrictions are over, Karzen anticipates that this year there will be at least as many as there had been three years ago.

Meals are held inside enormous tents erected in the parking lot of Me’aras Hamachpela. Karzen describes chandeliers that hang from the ceilings and tables laden with quality catered food, supervised by Chabad. Massive prayers are held in the Cave, with so many attending that it is impossible to fit them all in. Many spill out onto the plaza outside and steps below. Throughout the Shabbat, different families, rabbis, and Chabad of the city host shi urim. Residents show visitors around. Many families keep their doors unlocked so visitors can wander in, eat, sleep, and chat.

“On Friday, the road leading to Hevron is clogged with heavy traffic. Sometimes people are stranded en-route when Shabbat comes in,” Meidad adds.

ignored; the Jewish residents had to set up their own sys tem. Only in 2017 was the Jewish community of Hevron recognized by the government as its own municipality.

Jews and Arabs hardly interact. Some small neigh borhoods (such as the one near the Avraham Avinu Syna gogue) are only Jewish. In other neighborhoods, Jews and Arabs live on the same street but rarely even nod at each other in passing. The stated policy of the Jewish commu nity is to hire Jewish labor only.

Both Meidad and Karzen mention that the starkness of the political situation in Hevron eradicates most of the fear. The Jews know Arabs will try to kill them. They take measures to protect themselves. With the situation so stark, there is no fear. There is fear only in ambiguity.

Karzen works in a Jewish organization responsible for the upkeep of the Cave of the Patriarchs. One of his main duties is arranging and organizing Shabbat Chayei Sara, when the entire Cave of the Patriarchs is open to Jews.

The Jews of Hevron are doing everything they can to affirm and solidify Jewish presence in Hevron. Proud and dedicated, they treat it as their legacy from their parents (and they use the word “parents,” not “forefathers,” to re fer to Avraham and Sara). The city’s history is complex, rife with more tensions and a wealthier history than one article could possibly describe.

Meidad reminds me that Hevron is the bedrock of the commitment between the Jewish nation, G-d, and the Land; and this commitment was sealed with blood. Not just that of Brit ben Ha’Betarim, but the blood of Jews brutally murdered there over the centuries. None of the fearsome violence or strict government policies erase G-d’s promise to Avraham in Bereshit 12:7: “L’zaracha e’tein es ha’aretz ha’zos, To your descendants I give this land.”

Special thanks to Ettie Meidad and Elimelech Karzen for sharing their experiences.

To learn more about the Jewish community of Hevron, visit: en.hebron.org.il

To learn more about Harchivi Mekom Aholech, visit: harchivi.co.il

Beit Hadassah, 2015

Rabbi Moshe and Miriam Levinger

Today, the Jewish community occupies less than 3% of the city where G-d made Avraham that promise.

On Election night, finding out that he won the election

A Conversation with Congressman-Elect Anthony D’Esposito

By Susan Schwamm

Anthony, it’s two days after Election Day, and it feels like this can’t be real.

But it’s real. It’s real.

What happened when you saw what was going down election night? It was almost down to the wire.

I was confident in the campaign. But when you start seeing numbers come in from communities that we weren’t do so well in, you start to get a little nervous. But the communities that we knew we were going to be strong came in strong, and I think we made inroads into a lot of communities that people thought we weren’t going to be successful in. All in all, it was a successful evening.

Well, it definitely turned out to be a successful evening. What are some communities that you didn’t think would come out for you and actu ally came out in wide numbers for you?

Take a place like the City of Long Beach, which is historically a Democratic stronghold – we won the City of Long Beach. We won the barrier island, and obvious ly the Five Towns was great. Hewlett, which we usually do very well in… Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Woodmere.... Atlantic Beach/Inwood can get a little concerning, but in all those communities, we did great. And then you go to the east end of town, Seaford, Wantagh, Bellmore, Merrick – which has been a Democratic area – we won Merrick. We even picked up votes in Roosevelt, an area where a Republican is normally beat by thousands. A lot of the volunteer fire service and members of law enforce ment live in those communities and crossed the line and voted with us.

by close to 11, 12 thousand votes. This is a district that Joe Biden won by close to 15 points.

Do you think that 2024 is going to come out with those same results for Republicans?

I don’t know. In 2024, we’ll see where the political climate is then. We’ll see who’s on the top of the ticket, and we’ll go from there. Right now, my focus is getting down to Washington and rolling up my sleeves and get ting to work.

Let’s back up to Election Day. The polls opened at 6AM and closed at 9PM. What was your sched ule like on Election Day?

Why do you think it ended up being such a tight race?

This is a district where Democrats far outnumber Republicans. We haven’t held this seat in 25 or 26 years, and we won it. Once all the ballots are counted and we have a final number, I think we’re going to win this seat

I slept in a little – until about 6:45. It was my first day not doing a train station in who knows how many months. Then I met with my Point Lookout Republican Committee at a diner in Island Park for breakfast. Then

I went over to my campaign headquarters to see what our plans were for the day. At 10AM, I voted. I then snuck away for an hour and a half and went to my gym class.

After a quick shower, I went up to Franklin Square and campaigned a little bit up there with Lee Zeldin, and then came back down for some interviews. Then I went home for a little while, changed my clothes, and was at my campaign headquarters for the remainder of the day. During the day, I knocked on some doors in Garden City South, and later in the day, I headed to the Coral House.

the best of it, and you work across the lines and make sure to deliver for Long Island.

And listen, I think what’s very important is that this election was historic. It was historic in that there was a call across America that there was going to be a real red wave, and that red wave wasn’t as strong as people thought it was. But these four seats on Long Island, legit imately, are the ones that will put United States Congress in the hands of Republicans. So it’s really historic.

It’s sounds like it was a busy but successful day for you. Now, that you’re an elected member of Congress, and you’re going to be starting in January, what’s the next step for you?

On Sunday morning, I’ll be getting on a flight with a couple of my staff members, and we’ll be heading to Capitol Hill for orientation. It’s a two-week process. It starts on Sunday, and we work for a week, and then I’ll come home for the Thanksgiving holiday. After that, I’ll immediately fly back that Sunday night for another week of orientation.

Are you going to be meeting all the freshman congressmen during orientation?

Yes, it’ll be all the freshmen on both sides of the aisle, along with the leadership. This is also the week where we’ll vote for – as long as all the races are decided –Speaker of the House and Majority Whip and all the leadership positions.

Have you ever met Kevin McCarthy before?

I have. I have met him multiple times. He was very supportive during this campaign. When he gave his vic tory speech on Tuesday night, he actually highlighted our race in his remarks. All the way from California he mentioned Anthony D’Esposito from Long Island. He was actually here in the district on Thursday, when he held a fundraiser for me in Elmont. We had about 25 of our very supportive donors there for lunch. Actually, the night before, last Wednesday, Steve Scalise, right now the Minority Whip and probably in January the Majority Leader, held a fundraiser for me and then came to the Nassau County Rally.

I once heard an interview with Gabby Giffords, when she was talking about her freshman years in Congress. She said that coming into Congress is like coming into high school. You know one or two people, but you don’t really know ev erybody. It’s that sort of dynamic. What do you say to that?

I’m looking forward to it. Listen, I was a proud mem ber of the New York City Police Department. And obvi ously, you go to work and you go into a police academy where you don’t know anybody, and you’re there with a couple of thousand people from all different economic backgrounds, different color skin, different religions, different political ideologies, and you learn to know one another. You learn to work with one another, so I’m look ing forward to it.

I’ve been in situations before where you’re going into a new world, not knowing a lot of people, and you make

Are you excited to move to DC at least part time?

I’m excited, a bit nervous, but I’m looking forward to it.

How does that work? Do they help you find an apartment?

No, you’re on your own. They don’t help you find an apartment. In the state legislature, if you’re a state sena tor or state assemblymember, they give you a stipend for living whether you stay in a hotel, whether you have an apartment. In Congress, they don’t offer that stipend. So wherever you’re living comes out of your pocket.

Once you’re in DC, what’s the first thing on your agenda you want to address?

First step on the agenda is working on Leader McCa rthy’s plan for our Commitment to America. The goal is to get there, to roll up my sleeves, to really take a good, hard look at this Commitment to America and see what we can pull out of it to deliver, most importantly for the people of Long Island.

In terms of your seat as councilperson, who is going to be taking over for you?

I’m confident it’s going to be someone that’s deeply connected with the community and is looking to work as hard, if not harder, than I did to represent the people of the 4th District.

That’s very tough.

Yes, it’s tough. Running a household in Nassau Coun ty and then having a secondary household in Washing ton, DC, is not easy.

Have you been in touch with Rep. Kathleen Rice’s office? Is she going to be giving you some sort of heads up on your position and district?

I have yet to speak to her yet. My opponent called me yesterday to concede. I’m actually in the City now. I did Fox & Friends this morning. I’m going on with Cavuto in a few minutes and then Martha McCallum at three. But I am definitely going to try to reach out to both Congress woman Rice and Congressman Suozzi, and hopefully they can provide some tips on the transition.

I don’t think they could work harder than you, Anthony, because you’re at every single event in the Five Towns, and I’m sure that was true throughout the district.

And that’s going to continue in my new position.

As our newest congressman, what’s your mes sage for the community?

I’ve always been someone who is on the streets, who listens to the needs of the community, and that will con tinue after I’m in DC for a few days a week. The commu nity needs to know that they’re going to have a represen tative in Congress that hears their needs, that sees their needs, and will be the voice for Long Island. I understand Nassau County. I understand the demographics and how Democrats outnumber Republicans. And I’m going to go to DC to work with people on both sides of the aisle to deliver for this district and for Long Island.

“

i’m going to go to DC to work with people on both sides of the aisle to deliver for this district and for Long island.”

Congressman-Elect D'Esposito in front of the Capitol this week

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Dear Navidaters,

Hi there.

I am 30 and have been dating for a number of years and I have yet to find what I’m looking for. It’s not that I’m looking for something so rare, it just takes a lot to impress me.

I recently met a guy at an event, and I immediately felt a connection. I was really excited to find out that he wanted to go out with me afterwards. When I got his profile, my heart sank when I saw he was divorced with two kids. It’s not that I wouldn’t give it a chance, but more of that I am so fearful about my family’s judgment that I can’t bring myself to go out with him. Any time a divorced guy has come up in the past, my parents’ reaction was very strong, and they are adamantly against it. It’s like in their eyes, they are acknowledging that something is wrong with me if they allow it. Maybe they are scared of what their friends will think. Maybe they are scared of what my grandparents (who are very judgmental) will think. I have gotten over certain judgments they have had on other things, but I cannot get past their judgment on this one.

I guess my bottom line question is how can I get to a place where I can dismiss their attitude on the matter and give this a shot without fear of their inevitable horrified reaction and possibly being cut off by them all together?

Thank you, Chaya*

Disclaimer: This column is not intended to diagnose or otherwise conclude resolutions to any questions. Our intention is not to offer any definitive conclusions to any particular question, rather offer areas of exploration for the author and reader. Due to the nature of the column receiving only a short snapshot of an issue, without the benefit of an actual discussion, the panel’s role is to offer a range of possibilities. We hope to open up meaningful dialogue and individual exploration.

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

As you certainly understand, Cha ya, this is a process. Introspection with help, professional help, will move you along the journey to independence, confidence, and self-understanding. It is always a good idea to talk through one’s needs, wants, and strengths with another skilled party during the dating years, es pecially if one recognizes that one’s own family is judgmental and prone to cut people off for one reason or another.

Your family’s position on your dating someone who is divorced is one thing. However, I am troubled by your saying that you are looking for something rare and that it takes a lot to impress you. The language you use reminds me of a list and of the fact that you are not finding the rare quality/qualities you need. Singles

often forget to think about the qualities they are offering and who can benefit from them, rather than who has the req uisite qualities on their lists. Connection and an understanding heart are a better place to start from rath er than impressive qualities. So follow up on that sense of connection and travel the journey of opening your head and heart to what you can offer a young man, with or without two children from a previous marriage. Learn yourself and open up to owning your feelings. It will be a journey, but you can do it with help.

The Shadchan

being a child is how hard it is to escape the judgments of our parents. Human na ture is for our parents’ opinions to rise like oil to the surface regardless of if we know it is wrong. What you are dealing with is so, so hard. But there is one thing that will get you through this: YOU. Your control over your own mind.

You can accept your parents’ judg ments by turning off the switch from their anger to your emotions. Imagine an electric grid inside yourself with thou sands of switches. You are able to turn off the emotions towards a little kid who makes a nonsensical comment or a psych patient spewing mindless thoughts. You can turn off the switch to your anger when someone zooms past, cutting you off on the highway. You can also cut off the emotions towards your parents’ judg ments, believe it or not.

Just because your parents disap prove, doesn’t mean it’s not the best decision for you. We don’t understand the way G-d works and trust that He in troduces us to our bashert in whatever package that may be. Often people forget that the goal isn’t just to “get married” but to “stay married.”

Chaya, you seem to be a very selfaware young woman who has done a lot of inner work. What’s funny about

As their anger rises, do not fuel it with fighting back. Smile, nod, and do it any way. Tell yourself you feel bad for them. Just like an illness cannot be controlled, nor can the illness of severe judgmental mentality and controlling behaviors. Re peat lines like this to yourself, asserting your confidence in your own decisions: “I feel so bad for them that they feel so self-conscious; it must be hard to live with themselves every day. Imagine what they dealt with as kids themselves.”

The more you tell yourself it will be OK, the more OK it will become. This will be hard work, but I am sure you can do it.

I hope this one works out for you!

The Single

Tzipora Grodko

My heart goes out to you. Being sin gle is already difficult enough with out the added judgement and criticism from the people that are most important to you. I wish parents/siblings/family un derstood the pain they cause from their lack of support and flippant judgement.

Girl, You. Are. An. Adult. Every de cision you make moving forward must be for your best interests and not for the best interests of others. Making decisions to please others leads to a very unhealthy and unhappy life.

Stay loyal to your feelings and follow the path that feels best for YOU, not the best for others. It’s not complicated but rather takes self-awareness, self-respect, and strength.

I recommend finding a rabbi or men tor who can provide the support you need, when the people closest to you can’t.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

I have several thoughts to share. First, it’s unfortunate that we live in a time and place where everyone is so judgmental when it comes to our sin gles. If a perfectly fine young woman is 30 and single, we conclude that she is “too picky.” When a young man has gone through the trauma of a divorce, we conclude that there must be something wrong with him.

Note how this judgmental atmosphere has even affected your own self-image. When you describe yourself, you write that it “takes a lot to impress me,” rath er than simply concluding that you have not yet had the good fortune of meeting someone suitable.

Second, I really like that the two of you met at an event, rather than through a shadchan. Isn’t it much more natural and effective for two folks to actually meet each other, and then decide if they would like to date, rather than to depend upon the instincts and good will of some

The more you tell yourself it will be OK, the more OK it will become.

Michelle Mond

well-meaning third-party?

You know yourself, much better than some shadchan who has summarized all of your experiences, needs, and desires in a 3x5 index card, or a computer-gener ated resumé, or a superficial, 30-minute interview.

(Please do not misunderstand me! I have nothing against our wonderful, ded icated shadchanim. In today’s environ ment, they are the essential, overworked and underappreciated cogs in the con temporary machinery

of matrimony. Note to labor lawyers who might be reading this column: How about organizing our shadchanim into a union and demanding stipends from the Cater ers Union?)

Third, here’s some practical advice: Unless you are living at home, why not date this divorced young man for a few weeks, and see if you really like each other, before bringing up the subject with your parents or grandparents?

And, despite my criticism of those who

wrongly assume that there must be some thing wrong with a divorced young man, it behooves you to do some research about him before getting emotionally involved. Beware hidden baggage.

Fourth, unfortunately, today, divorce is a common happenstance. If and when the time comes to discuss the issue with your parents and grandparents, your obvious line of reasoning to them would be, “Would you rather see me remain single at age 32, 35, 37, instead of being happily married to a perfectly fine, compatible, divorced gentleman?”

Finally, it really pains me to see how difficult it is for many of our young sin

gles today. May I suggest that all of us should try to help them by sponsoring weekends or singles’ events in our shuls or inviting singles to our homes for Shab bos meals.

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Dear Chaya, You are in an impossible position; stuck between what your parents want for you with their seemingly controlling attitude and behaviors in tow, and what you potentially may want for yourself.

Let’s break things down a bit. There is the issue of marrying a divorced man with children, and then there is the is sue of your parents’ scarily gigantic, disproportionate reaction. Let’s ad dress your fear of your parents first so that we can tune into you and you can tune into yourself.

Chaya, it seems like your parents are indeed judgmental. You’ve likely been dealing with this your whole life. Have you seen your parents cut off other chil dren due to decisions they didn’t agree with? Have your parents threatened you with this? When parents put enor mous pressure on a child of any age, the child typically rebels or becomes fear ful of making any decision that will up

set the parent. The parent gains control through use of intimi dation. I’m not going to beat around the bush when I say this is deeply, deeply unhealthy and controlling. If you don’t do things my way, I won’t love you anymore. This has everything to do with the parent and nothing to do with the child.

Here you are, asking a beautiful question. Your question in and of itself tells me you have done a lot of work on yourself, and you understand that you cannot live your life for your parents. You can be respectful. You can be po lite. You can try. But you cannot give up your life for your parents.

I have a very simple and most likely unsatisfactory answer to your question. You’re going to take your fear with you. You’re going to take your caring about their judgment with you. And you’re

going to do it anyway. You’re going to celebrate how brave you are throughout the entire process. If you aren’t already speaking to someone, you’re going to get yourself into thera py and talk about this. You’re going to process your relationship with your parents and the control they have tried to place upon you all these years. You’re going to learn to release yourself from the need to please them and how to live your own life, even if they are furious with you for making personal choices. You’re going to heal from the control and set yourself free. You’re going to make decisions and eventually shift your focus from Oh no! They are mad at me and what will my punishment be? to How can I have my parents in my life in a way that feels safe for me?

Non-controlling people want us to feel safe and happy. They don’t want to make us uncomfortable or tell us how to live our lives. They respect us for our opinions. Now, parents have opin ions, and they’re going to share. That’s kind of run of the mill and how it goes. When a parent cuts off or withholds love

or uses intimidation to mold a child’s choices, we have now entered the land of control. And you simply don’t have to stay. Realizing this and making changes is a process that is often beau tifully complemented with therapy and CODA meetings. Check it out: licoda. org. Meetings are held in person and virtually.

If your parents make the awful de cision to cut you off because you found love with a divorced man, that is their terrible mistake. Just like they ulti mately cannot control you, you cannot control that decision on their part by be having like the good girl they demand you to be. That is why you’re going on the date! Because you know you are not responsible for their actions! Doing this work is a process. It’s not a moment of cognitive behavioral therapy or a great inspirational one-liner. It’s toiling with it. Sitting in the discomfort. And choosing your mental health over and over and over and over again. Every day.

Sincerely, Jennifer

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in pri vate practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. She also teaches a psychology course at Touro College. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www. thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

Often people forget that the goal isn’t just to “get married” but to “stay married.”

School of Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:

Dear Etti, My middle school daughter gets nervous about tests. I used to get anxious as a kid, too. It’s horrible to watch. I feel so helpless! Can I do something or is stepping in being too “helicopter Mom”?

-Trying to Strike the Right Balance

A:Dear Trying to Strike the Right Balance, Kudos to you for realizing that your child needs help, and also that you don’t want to overstep. Rushing to help can backfire, as it sends a message to our children that we do not think they are capable of dealing with life’s bumps and we have to take care of everything for them.

But your child is struggling with feelings of anxiety, and you do want to support her.

Her are some tips I hope will help.

1. Minimize your feelings about her tests. When she feels that marks matter so much to you, it adds pressure on her, which adds to her anxiety, not lessens it. Let her know that effort is what matters to you (and be sure to mean it!).

2. When you hear she has a test, help her map out a study schedule. For example, for a Chumash test, one night can be reviewing all of the pesukim, one night can be reviewing all words and phrases, one night can be go ing over all homework and classwork questions, and the night before the test can be for scanning all of the ma terial one last time. Don’t have that many days’ notice? That’s okay. Adjust the schedule above to make it work.

3. Be clear about when you are available to help, but also don’t be available all night. This is her test, not yours. Let her tell you how much help she wants and needs.

4. If she is the type to overstudy, encourage her to take breaks. If she is the type to procrastinate, ask her to decide what she wants to do by her break, and give her a timer to allow her a concrete way of track ing her study time.

5. Try to make sure she has a quiet place/time to work. Sending her to study in her room can be the best idea for a studious child and the worst idea for a procras tinator. Most children need to be around a parent or at least in the vicinity of a helpful adult “just in case” and for accountability.

6. Are you teaching her the material? That’s a red flag. That means that either she is not paying attention in class because she knows you will reteach it to her, or she is not understanding the material being taught in class and you need to figure out why. (Is there a processing issue or learning disability that is only surfacing now that the work is getting harder? Often lower elementary is more foundation-building and offers more hand-hold ing, and middle school demands more self-starting and independent work. It is easier to compensate in younger grades.)

If you are reading this and shaking your head, thinking, “I don’t even know when my child has a test,” ask yourself, “How does my child do?” If he/ she is doing well, you don’t need to know when the tests are scheduled. Reach out to show interest to bond but leave your child alone. He/she is proving quite capable of managing their own affairs.

If he/she is not doing well, it is time for a candid conversation. Perhaps a homework helper, a tutor, or just a little more parental involvement is what your child needs. Once they hit middle school, they should be part of figuring out the problem and solution with you.

Encourage your middle schooler (and older children) to approach the teacher directly with concerns, and only reach out once your child has made the attempt and was not able to get the help needed. Parents should not be calling teachers to micromanage homework and testing matters. This is the child’s domain, and they should be taught skills to navigate the terrain, not be pushed aside as the parent swoops in to save the day. Our goal is to help our children reach milestones towards indepen dence, and being able to communicate with a teacher is a step in that direction.

Thanks for writing in, Etti

Mrs. Etti Siegel holds an MS in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership and brings sound teaching advice to her audiences culled from her over 35 years of teaching and administrative experience. She is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, is a sought-after mentor and workshop presenter around the country, and a popular presenter for Sayan (a teacher-mentoring program), Hidden Sparks, and the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She is a frequent contributor to Hamechanech Magazine and The Journal for Jewish Day School leaders. She will be answering your education-based questions and writing articles weekly for The Jewish Home. Mrs. Siegel can be reached at ettisiegel@gmail.com.

This is the child’s domain, and they should be taught skills to navigate the terrain, not be pushed aside as the parent swoops in to save the day.

Parenting Pearls

Honest to Goodness

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

“Now remember, when we get to the booth, you are still four years old,” the father reminds his five-year-old as the line gets closer to the clerk.

The line inches closer to the ticket booth until it’s finally their turn. “Two adults, two kids and the little one is free,” the father informs the clerk just as his daughter asks loudly, “Abba, why again am I only four years old?” The employee pretends not to notice the child’s comment as she hands over their tickets.

Unfortunately, the story above is true and happened many years ago. Even more unfortunate, similar stories have probably happened again and again in many differ ent locations for decades.

There are so many times we and our children will be confronted with the chal lenge of telling the truth. We want our chil dren to become honest, righteous individu als that are a true representative of Hashem and His Torah. The character of honesty is something our nation values greatly. Our children are taught that the first, middle, and last letters of the alef bais spell out “emes.” We further stress that while the letters of “emes” are all sturdy with a strong base, the letters of “sheker” look like they’ll topple over. Yet, despite the importance of honesty, too often dishonesty creeps in without us realizing it.

As with most areas of chinuch, our ac tions are more important than our lectures. We can talk all day and our kids will tune us out, but they will be hyper-focused on what they see us do – especially hypocrit ical ones. We are our children’s main ed ucators and the example we set is the one we can hope they’ll follow – for good and for bad.

Living By Example

There is a serious temptation when it comes to finances, and I don’t think any of us are exempt. In fact, one of the ways you

can tell who someone is by b’kiso, through his pocket or money. Every day we are faced with situations that will challenge our ap proach to finances. We tend to associate stealing with major theft and dishonesty with public lies but there are smaller and more subtle ways these bad middos can creep into our homes.

It’s far too easy to try to save in ways that seem harmless but may not be fully honest. This comes out in many ways such as the opening story. Saving a few dollars on a ticket, not declaring a payment on our tax returns, or taking a discount we’re not entitled to may feel like a victimless crime, yet our children will notice our dishon esty no matter how minor it may seem to us. I’m not here to judge, just to create an awareness so we can live the way we want our children to exemplify. Our children see more than we realize and soak in our subtle lessons.

Honesty goes beyond money. There are far too many stories of cheating on tests, testifying falsely, or giving misleading statements, among other acts of dishon esty. Years ago, parents of special needs children had difficulty getting necessary services for their children because anoth er group of parents tried taking advantage of the system. Besides the obvious issue of chillul Hashem, special needs children may have lost out on therapies they desperately needed.

An additional hashkafic point gets over looked. We often say that our finances are from Hashem and are decreed on Rosh Hashana; these are beautiful statements of faith. Yet, if we say “it’s all from Hash em” while wrongly using a store discount, our words are not matching our actions. We speak of Hashem providing, yet we act as if Hashem won’t, chas v’shalom. Our children should feel that when we speak of emunah and bitachon, it isn’t mere words but some thing we live and breathe.

While I could waste precious article

space listing examples, I don’t feel it’s nec essary. We all know the challenges we face in our personal lives and have access to rabbonim to clarify the emes when we’re unsure.

Are We Encouraging Lying?

“Who took the cookies?” “Did you make that mess?” What do these questions have in common? They all prompt kids to lie. The Marvelous Middos Machine has an entire song devoted to this question.

It’s ironic that adults inadvertently en courage kids to not speak the truth, but it’s far too common an occurrence. Children don’t want to incriminate themselves or get in trouble. They’re not mature enough to say, “I did it,” but they’re more than ready to say, “He/she did.” We know it’s far easier to say, “I didn’t do it” than to confess and say, “It was me.”

We need to think carefully before speaking in these situations. How we phrase our inquiry can make the differ ence between an honest response and a lie to get out of trouble. It can be just a slightly different wording that will promote a more appropriate answer.

We also may prefer to phrase it in the form of a statement: “Come help me clean this mess.” In other instances, it may be better to not ask or comment at all, rather than ask a question we know won’t get a truthful response.

Promoting Truth

Kids, like the rest of us, don’t want to get into trouble. Getting a child to respond honestly can feel rather hopeless; I won’t lie – it is difficult. But, we can foster an en

vironment of truthfulness and encourage our children to speak honestly, even when a quick lie could get them out of trouble. This may be more applicable to the older kids than preschoolers, but it’s still important to keep in mind with all ages.

“Not me” and “I didn’t do it” are a sim ple solution and an easy way out. When our children know that we value an honest re sponse, we’re more likely to get one. When they tell the truth we need to praise not only their honesty but also the courage it takes to speak up. Our children can sense our values, and emes needs to be one of them. It may seem unrealistic, but I have seen children – particularly teens – rise to the challenge again and again.

Even more than that, our children need to know it’s really to their advantage to be fully truthful. When any negative conse quence is decreased because they told the truth, they will have more of an incentive to be honest. We may choose to lessen the punishment or push it aside altogether, but they need to feel a concrete benefit from having been honest. And, we should make sure they know this, “I was going to give you a consequence of XYZ, but since you were honest, it will only be X.”

Emes should be rewarded, while sheker has no place in our homes. It’s our daily ac tions and the chinuch we provide that will demonstrate to our children where our val ues truly lie.

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in gen eral and special education. She has been home schooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at RayvychHomeschool@ gmail.com.

tness

Building Healthy Bones

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

With the cold weather setting in, the desire to stay wrapped in a warm blanket with a hot chocolate or a delicious pasta dish is all too appealing. While going for a walk or a run in the fresh air and preparing a nu tritious dinner may feel like a burden, it is during the winter months, when the UV index is low, that prioritizing such tasks is even more essential in order to protect our bones.

Bone Anatomy

Bones are made up of both dense cor tical and less dense trabecular tissue, and the bone matrix forms the mass of the bone. The bone matrix is composed of both organic and inorganic substances. The organic component of the bone ma trix is largely collagen, while the inorgan ic component mostly consists of the min erals phosphate and calcium, as well as bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, citrate, magnesium, zinc and bramium. In order to perform their key functions, which in clude supporting locomotion, protection of the bodies’ tissues, as well as calcium and phosphate storage, our bones are continuously being broken down and re modeled. These processes are tightly con trolled by the interactions of numerous bodily hormones and the cellular bones. When these processes fall out of sink and bone resorption exceeds the formation of new bones, osteoporosis may occur.

Osteoporosis is a bone disorder, characterized by low bone mineral densi ty and compromised strength, which pre disposes individuals to an increased risk of fall and or fracture. According to the World Health Organization standards, a bone mineral density score measured by a DEXA (Duel-energy x-ray absorption) scan, 2.5 standard deviations (SD) below the mean is indicative of osteoporosis and that the skeleton is unable to sustain ordi nary strains. A score between 1-2.5 SD of the mean osteopenia, or low bone mass.

It is estimated that 10 million people age 50 years and older in the U.S. have

osteoporosis, with the majority being women and around 2 million being men. While many factors contributing to os teoporosis are non-modifiable – such as family history, age, sex, race and ethnicity – diet and exercise, as well as many oth er lifestyle factors also may contribute or prevent the onset of osteoporosis.

Risk Factors

1. Body Weight

• There is a strong correlation be tween bone mineral density and body weight.

• Lower body weight is associated with low bone mineral density and a greater fracture risk

2. Age

• Bone loss coincides with meno pause, when the ovaries stop producing estrogen.

• The decline of estrogen is associated with greater bone breakdown.

3. Cigarette Smoking

• Smoking has both direct and indi rect cellular effects on bone, as well as possible hormonal changes and lower dietary calcium absorption.

• Associated with poor diet and de creased physical activity

4. Disease

• Diabetes, chronic renal disease, hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,

intestinal malabsorption, chronic diar rhea

5. Medications

• Corticosteroids, Heparin, Lasix and Thiazide diuretics, thyroid hormone, Phe nothiazine derivatives, Tetracycline, Phe nobarbital

6. Sedentary lifestyle 7. Poor diet 8. Lack of sunlight

Nutrition

Energy/Calories

While overall caloric consumption does not have an effect on bone health, inadequate calories, leading to lower body weight, is an increased risk factor for the development of osteoporosis. Maintain ing adequate caloric intake to meet your nutritional needs is important for main taining overall health.

Protein

Protein is an important component of peak bone mass. Protein is a major com ponent of all our cells, including bone cells. Bone undergoes continuous remod eling, and adequate protein is needed for the formation and support of bones. A higher protein diet, combined with high calcium intake, has been found to in crease intestinal absorption of calcium. Additionally, consuming protein sup presses the activity of hormones, such as

parathyroid hormone, which stimulates the breakdown of bones to maintain blood calcium levels.

For individuals with osteoporosis, research has suggested that a minimum of 1.0-1.3g protein per kilogram of body weight can prevent and reverse muscle loss, increase strength and reduce the risk for falls and fracture. High sources of protein include meat, fish, eggs, and low-fat dairy products, such as Greek yogurt. Plant-sources of protein are soy, nuts, beans and seeds.

Fiber

Certain forms of fiber, such as prebiot ics, which stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut, have beneficial ef fects on calcium absorption. Ensuring you maintain adequate fiber in your diet by consuming, through the consump tion of whole-grains, oats, fruits, nuts, legumes as well as the vegetable peel, is important for your bone health as well as your digestive system.

Calcium

Calcium is required for the formation and maintenance of healthy bones. It is estimated that around 99% of the body’s calcium is in the bones. Calcium works alongside the protein collagen to make bones flexible and strong. It is a miner al critical to obtaining peak bone mass. While the majority of calcium is in your bones, your cells also require calcium for numerous processes such as wound healing, muscle function and sending nerve impulses. Maintaining blood cal cium levels is a priority over bone calci um, and therefore when blood calcium levels are low, your bones will be broken down so the calcium in your bones may be obtained. Maintaining adequate lev els of calcium in your diet is essential to mitigate this process and maintain your bone health.

While dairy products contain the most calcium, calcium may also be found in leafy green vegetables, figs, almonds,

fish, tofu, nuts, seeds, beans and lentils. Certain products are also fortified with calcium, such as breakfast cereals, bread and some crackers. Calcium supplements may be recommended for individuals who are unable to meet their calcium recom mendations such as for individuals with low bone mass, individuals with a lactose intolerance, post-menopausal women, or those on medications such as corticoste roids, which negatively impact calcium in the body.

Phosphorus

Phosphate is another mineral crucial for bone growth and mineralization, and in its absence, bone disorder may result. The maintenance of an optimal phos phate balance is managed by complex in teractions between the gut, kidney, and bones. Calcium and phosphorus have an inverse relationship, and as phosphorus levels rise in the blood, the level of cal cium falls because phosphorus binds to calcium. It is important to monitor calci um, vitamin D and phosphorus in order to maintain healthy bones.

Examples of dietary sources of phos phorus are chicken, turkey, fish, dairy, nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, as well as soy and wholegrains. There is lit tle demand on dietary phosphorus intake for optimal bone health as excretion of phosphorus may be reduced to low levels and phosphorus may be released from the bones and efficiently reused for mineral ization in new forming bones.

Magnesium

About 60% of magnesium is stored in the bones, and it plays a key structural role in the formation of new bones. Di etary restriction of magnesium promotes osteoporosis and low intake may retard cartilage and bone formation. Sources of magnesium include dark chocolate, salmon and fatty fish, bananas, avoca dos, tofu, leafy greens, wholegrains, nuts and seeds. A minimum of 300mg a day is recommended for individuals with os teoporosis.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is important for the ab sorption of calcium and maintains blood calcium and phosphorus levels within a constant range. Vitamin D is required to enable calcium to build healthy bones, and without enough vitamin D, calcium will not be able to achieve its full poten tial. Sunlight is the major source of vi tamin D. Your kidney synthesizes active vitamin D (cholecalciferol) from exposure to UV rays. During the winter, a vitamin

D supplement is often recommended when the UV index is low. For the treat ment of osteoporosis, 800IU of vitamin D is recommended.

Vitamin D may also be obtained through dietary sources, such as the egg yolk (41 IU), cod liver oil (1369 IU), salmon (566 IU), maitake mushrooms (943 IU), tuna (100 IU), vitamin D for

Meal Examples for Healthy Bones

Breakfast:

• Low-fat Greek yogurt with figs, ber ries, chia seeds and a spinach smoothie

• Whole wheat toast with lox and lowfat cream cheese

• Steel-cut oats with almond butter, flaxseeds, and berries

• Chicken with whole-wheat pasta, spinach, and mushrooms

• Salmon burger with sweet potato and burnt broccoli

Snack:

• Strawberries dipped in dark choc olate

• Avocado chocolate mousse

• Trail mix of nuts and seeds

• Low-fat Greek yogurt and seeds

• Whole-wheat crackers with low-fat cottage cheese or cream cheese

tified orange juice (137IU), vitamin D fortified milk (115 IU), and Swiss cheese (6 IU). The 25-hydroxy vitamin D test is the most accurate way to measure how much vitamin D is in your body. Levels of 50nmol/L and above are adequate, while above 125nmol/L are a concern.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is another essential micro nutrient for bone health. It is important for the production of proteins that impact bone matrix mineralization. Vitamin K may also help to decrease bone resorp tion, increase collagen content in bones, and affect the formation of osteoblasts, which are the cells responsible for bone formation.

Dietary sources of vitamin K include green leafy and cruciferous vegetables, such as spinach, kale, lettuce, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, broccoli, Brus sel sprouts and Swiss chard, vitamin K may also be found in chicken, eggs, and hard cheese. It is recommended that in dividuals with osteoporosis should aim to consume 90-120mcg vitamin K daily.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the best ways to strengthen your bones and prevent os teoporosis. It enables you to build and maintain the volume and thickness of your bones. It is recommended that in dividuals with osteoporosis perform balance activities daily, weight bearing paired with aerobic exercise five or more days a week, resistance training two or more days a week, and to limit twisting or other activities that may lead to poor spine alignments. Working with a phys ical therapist is recommended to tailor an appropriate exercise regime to meet your needs.

Lunch:

Salmon salad with leafy greens, av ocado, mushrooms, and pumpkin seeds

Tuna salad sandwich on whole-wheat toast with leafy greens

Farmer cheese with high fiber crack ers and broccoli soup

Dinner:

• Steamed tofu with lentils, edamame beans, and rice

Diet and exercise may both help to combat and prevent the onset of osteo porosis. By focusing on food sources that are high in calcium, magnesium, and vitamin K, as well as adhering to a con sistent exercise regimen, you can help to maintain strong and healthy bones.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @ alizabeer.

Exercise is one of the best ways to strengthen your bones and prevent osteoporosis.

Fd for Thought

Top 5 Best Bites of Kosherfest 2022

By Nati Burnside

Last year, Kosherfest returned to the Meadowlands Convention Center in Secau cus, New Jersey, after a layoff of one year due to the pandemic. However, last year’s event was still at a somewhat diminished capacity given that many of the international vendors had issues entering the country and/or returning to theirs.

With restrictions a thing of the past, Kosherfest was busier this year with almost 5,000 people attending the trade show of everything kosher over the course of two days. Hundreds of booths yielded tons of samples for all to enjoy.

And as amazing as that sounds, Kosherfest is only open to members of the trade. That leaves most people following from afar via social media or reading newspaper pieces like this one.

Here is a quick wrap-up of the items that stood out the most from their peers and really made an impression, as well as some information regarding where you might be able to find them out in the real world.

With that said, let’s get to the countdown.

5.Crunchy Pineapple Bites, Pure Joy Snacks (San Antonio, Costa Rica)

Sometimes at Kosherfest, a product really comes out of nowhere. That was the case this year with the fruit snacks from Costa Rica.

Joel Weinberger is the president of a company called PS Kosher Food Works. It’s a kosher consulting firm that works with the Star-K to help foreign food companies gain certification and distribution.

“We help the kosher community gain access to foreign products while helping companies in less privileged countries expand their business into new markets,” Weinberger said at Kosherfest.

Pure Joy Snacks is an existing company with some popular snacks in Costa Rica. They have a line that includes a few types of fruit (pineapple, banana, mango, etc.) that are processed very carefully in a large factory.

The Star-K now supervises the factory where the pieces of fruit are dehydrated, microwaved, and freeze-dried. The only ingredient is the fruit itself, making the process very easy to certify.

The pineapple was the most popular snack at the booth, mostly because the texture lent itself better to the process. Each chunk was kind of like a candy that was crunchy and hollow, yet packed with flavor.

Weinberger hopes to secure distribution for the snacks in the United States soon.

4.Vanilla Creamed Honey, Sunny Honey Miami (Miami, FL)

This year’s winners in the Best in Jams, Preserves, Dips, and Spreads, Sunny Honey Miami was the best of the wide array of honey companies that invaded Kosherfest this year.

Not only was their booth a great place to go to taste their products, but they were also able to explain what makes their honey different from the competition.

Essentially, after extracting the honey, it is put into a machine that spins instead of letting the product sit still. This allows them to control the size of the crystals in the honey and give it a smoother texture and taste.

Most interestingly, Mihaela Gutman, founder of Sunny Honey Miami, grew up in communist Romania with a beekeeper for an uncle. While almost everything was in short supply, honey was not. Her family used it for everything from a substitute for sugar to a natural medicine for cuts and scrapes.

“They used honey in everything because it’s what they had,” noted Jorge Gutman, her husband and co-owner.

The company also strives to be environmentally friendly as they use only glass bottles and are involved in several endeavors to keep bee populations intact.

Flavors of the creamed honey line include Key Lime Pie, Cacao, Coconut, Lavender, Matcha, and Pumpkin Spice, along with Vanilla, my personal favorite.

Their products can be found in kosher supermarkets around the country.

3.

Tachbisha Marinade, Tevony Sauces (Valley Stream, NY)

Walking around Kosherfest will sometimes allow you to not only sample a product, but also meet the person behind that product. A wonderful instance of this is with Tachbisha, a truly unique flavor with an amazing back story.

Hagit Needelman started her company with just one thing in mind: She wanted to bottle the totally uniquely flavored sauce that her father invented 40 years ago so the whole world could taste her family tradition.

“It’s the sauce that gathers and unites families,” Needelman said. “It started in our family, but we now want to share it with the world.”

Not only does her sauce taste amazing, but it’s on the healthier side as well. It has no sugar, low sodium, and no preservatives. And for those concerned about it being spicy with that bright orange color, don’t worry – it’s a strong flavor without being too spicy. In fact, one of the product’s slogans is “Spices without the Spice.”

So what’s in it? The main ingredients are garlic, olive oil, turmeric, salt, paprika, lemon juice, and lime juice. And while none of that sounds particularly groundbreaking, the combination is something you’ll have to try for yourself.

Other than the unique flavor, another noteworthy factor is its ability to be used for virtually anything. Over the course of the show, Needelman used it (mixed into mayo) as a dip, (mixed with artificial milk) as a sauce for gnocchi, and to flavor imitation ground beef to fill a taco shell. Each iteration was somehow better than the previous one.

Tachbisha is available in many kosher supermarkets all over the country.

BBQ Sauce, Nongshim America (Fort

2.Korean

Lee, NJ)

Nongshim is one of the largest food brands in South Korea, with a yearly revenue of around two billion dollars. In the last decade, the company started an American division to look into foreign expansion in the United States and built two factories in California.

While some of their products are popular in America already, few of them are kosher. Yet the leadership of the American branch became interested in the kosher market a few years ago after a discussion with somebody who informed them that foreign products are hard to find with kosher certification.

The first product that they are trying to produce is a kosher version of authentic Korean BBQ sauce. No product is currently available on the kosher market that can duplicate the texture and flavor, leading to restaurants and home cooks having to at tempt to make their own.

The main difference between Korean and American barbecue sauce is that American barbecue sauce is tomato based, thicker, and has a higher sugar content. The Korean version’s main ingredients are soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic.

Nongshim’s plan is to start producing condiments that are certified kosher but are marketed to the country at large.

“I think we can help with making some of these products available to the kosher consumer,” said Brad Chung, Nongshim America’s regional manager for the East Coast. “Hopefully we can expand the palette of the kosher market place.”

At Kosherfest, they served the sauce on galbi, a Korean ground beef dish.

There are still tweaks to be made to the recipe and bottling, but Nongshim is hoping to have the sauce on the shelves in the next year.

1.Peanut Butter Cornflakes Chocolate, 7th Heaven Chocolate (Kiryat Tiv’on, Israel)

One of the true revelations of last week was 7th Heaven Choco lates. Known in Israel as Panda Chocolate (the 7th Heaven branding was to avoid trade mark issues in the United States), this is one of those items that will be a household name in no time.

Not only did these chocolates win the Best in Vegan award at Kosherfest, they also took home the grand prize of Best in Show as well.

Founded by vegans in Israel, the formula (a combination of different imitation milks and oils) was meant to perfectly imitate the taste and texture of milk chocolate without using any actual non-vegan products. After years in a lab, the result was unbelievable.

“We are so honored to win best in show,” said Zvika Bendet, the compa ny’s head of U.S. business development. “It really shows what hard work can accomplish. We are really proud to have a product that duplicates the taste and feel of milk chocolate so well.”

The distribution should be worked out fairly soon, and they have 10 flavors to roll out immediately. My favorite was the Peanut Butter Cornflakes, but to each their own.

A Taste of BesT of Kosher

BBQ skirt steak Caesar salad

By Danielle Renov | Peas, Love & Carrots

The Caesar dressing really is the best non-dairy version and I don’t say it lightly. Ask anyone who has made it! In my original book, one of the salads had it paired with BBQ chicken, rice (crazy, I know, but so good!) and veg. It’s one of my family’s favorite dinners or Shabbos lunches, and lately I’ve been replacing the chicken with skirt steak and all the people are even happier! If serving on Shabbos day, take meat out of the fridge early in the morning and let it come to room temperature. You can also warm on the plata, on top of another dish, 30 minutes before serving.

ing ReDients

4 cups chopped Romaine lettuce

2 cups arugula

1 red Belgian endive, cut into ¼-inch strips

2 shallots, thinly sliced 2 cups prepared white rice

Best Caesar Dressing Ever

2 tsp kosher salt

2 tsp black pepper Juice of 1 lemon 12 garlic cloves

DiRections

4 tsp red wine vinegar

4 tsp fish-free Worcestershire sauce

¼ cup Dijon mustard

¾ cup mayonnaise

1¹⁄ 3 cups oil

Steak

2¼ lb (1 kilo) skirt steak

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 cups favorite BBQ sauce, divided ¼ cup Franks hot sauce

3 tbsp maple syrup

Prepare the dressing. Place all ingredients except oil into a food processor fit ted with the “S” blade. Process until the garlic is well blended into the ingredients. While processor is running, slowly drizzle in oil. Dressing will stay fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Cut steak into 5-inch pieces. Place into a large bowl; fill to cover with cold water. Add vinegar. Stir and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Drain, rinse, and return to the bowl. Add 1½ cups BBQ sauce, hot sauce, and maple syrup, mix to coat. Allow to marinate for 1 hour.

Preheat grill pan over medium high heat. Cook skirt steak for 4 minutes on the first side and 3 minutes on the second side. Remove steak from pan and immedi ately brush with remaining BBQ sauce. Set aside.

Prepare the salad. Place veggies into a large, wide bowl; add warm rice. Toss to combine. Dress salad with Best Caesar Dressing Ever (you may have extra).

Slice skirt steak against the grain into ½-inch slices; fan meat over the salad. Drizzle with any accumulated juices. Serve and enjoy!

Tip! If you don’t want to grill the steak, you can broil it! Place the steak on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the lower middle section of the oven. Broil for 5 minutes on the first side, then flip (brush second side with any of the accumulated juices) and broil for another 4 minutes.

Bakery-style Chocolate Muffins

By Miriam (Pascal) cohen | Yield: 18 muffins

If you’ve been following me for a while, you might know that I bake … a lot. There aren’t many baked goods that I’ll see in a bakery that I’ll want to buy vs. make my self. But for some reason (I don’t really know why!), bakery muffins, with their high domed tops, have always tempted me. Ironically, muffins are among the easiest baked goods to make, so I was determined to make a version at home that is as tempting as the ones you’ll find at a bakery.

ing ReDients

3 eggs

¾ cup oil

1½ cups sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

DiRections

½ tsp sea salt

2/3 cup cocoa powder

2 cups flour

1 cup buttermilk or 1 cup non-dairy buttermilk substitute (see Tip!)

9 oz chocolate chunks or chips

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin pans with paper liners; set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla, baking pow der, baking soda, and salt until combined.

Add cocoa powder, flour, and buttermilk. Stir until combined.

Add most of the chocolate chunks to the batter, stirring to combine.

Fill muffin pans until almost full. Sprinkle reserved chocolate chunks over the top.

Bake for about 20 minutes, until the top feels set.

Tip! In place of chocolate chips or chunks, chop up a bar of your favorite high-quality chocolate to enhance the flavors in this muffin.

Tip! If preparing your own buttermilk, add lemon juice to a measuring cup. Add non-dairy or dairy milk to the 1-cup mark. Let sit for 5 minutes, until it appears curdled.

Recipes reprinted with permission from Best of Kosher, published by ArtScroll/ Mesorah Publications.

In The K tchen

Crunchy Honey Mustard Salmon

By Naomi Nachman

Ingredients

2-pound side salmon fillet ◦ 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon oil

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon honey

3 cubes frozen garlic

1 cup crunchy onions

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place side of salmon on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix first six ingredients together and pour over salmon. Top the salmon with crunchy onions. Bake for 20-25 minutes until salmon is cooked through.

Naomi Nachman, the owner of The Aussie Gourmet, caters weekly and Shabbat/ Yom Tov meals for families and individuals within The Five Towns and neighboring communities, with a specialty in Pe sach catering. Naomi is a contributing editor to this paper and also produces and hosts her own weekly radio show on the Nachum Segal Network stream called “A Table for Two with Naomi Nachman.” Naomi gives cooking presentations for organizations and private groups throughout the New York/ New Jersey Metropolitan area. In addition, Naomi has been a guest host on the QVC TV network and has been featured in cookbooks, magazines as well as other media covering topics related to cuisine preparation and personal chefs. To obtain additional recipes, join The Aussie Gourmet on Face book or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet. com or at (516) 295-9669.

Better Business Around The Avenue

By Chaim Homnick MA MBA

This week, we spoke to several prominent small businessowners on Central Avenue. We asked each of them the same questions about entrepreneurialism. Below are their insights.

For starters, please tell us a little bit about your business.

Cindy Merril, Owner of Dimples: Dimples is a baby and toddler gift and accessory business which we started in 2006 to fill an unmet need at the time in the Five Towns and the surrounding area.

Chaim and Esther Holzberg, Owners of 925 Sterling: We started this business almost 18 years ago when we were just a young couple. We slowly grew and expanded. When silver spiked in 2011, we brought in some aluminum Judaica as well and have kept a small selection since. Around eight years ago, someone gave us a painting by Raanan and asked us to try and sell it. We sold it for them and realized that there was a de mand in the neighborhood, and so we started to bring in art. We moved into our current location four years ago and we carry a beautiful selection of Judaica art from around 15 different artists and our signature col lection of classic and contemporary silver with a col lection of silver artist pieces as well.

Yael Vogel, Owner of Yaeli Vogel Fine Art: My business is painting and selling my artwork and prod ucts based off of my artwork. I specialize in Judaica and am branching out into some new lines now as well.

Louise Kramer, Owner of Lulu’s: I have been in retail her whole life, and Lulu’s has been on Cen tral Avenue for almost 25 years. Lulu’s sells hostess table-top gifts, jewelry, and the ideal self-purchase type products that every woman wants for herself.

What do you like most about being an entre preneur?

Cindy Merrill: The ability to dream up new ideas and not have a boss or someone else telling us we can’t try those ideas.

Chaim and Esther Holzberg: Our favorite thing about being entrepreneurs is meeting and forming re lationships with our customers. We’ve become friends with and care about so many of them over the years, often sharing in their simchos. It’s also been reward ing to build relationships with silversmiths and artists from around the world.

Yael Vogel: My favorite part is the freedom and the ability for me to focus on creativity. No two days are the same when you are a businessowner.

Louise Kramer: I love retail – the interactions and the business. Everything about it!

What scares you the most about owning a business?

Cindy Merrill: Missing a trend in retail and be coming irrelevant.

Chaim and Esther Holzberg: Owning your own business is a lesson in emunah and trusting that you make the best possible choices. Parnassah comes from Hashem.

Yael Vogel: It is probably the same thing that scares everyone who owns a business. Making sure that I am on track capital-wise in terms of cash flow and expenses and being able to bring in new products.

I’m not naturally a numbers person.

Louise Kramer: Potential customers not buying from Lulu’s.

What ad spending gives you the best bang for your buck?

Cindy Merrill : Promoting our posts on social media.

Chaim and Esther Holzberg: We love The Jew ish Home, and we’ve become more and more active on Instagram for a wider reach.

Yael Vogel : Definitely social media. Instagram and Pinterest are big for us. You don’t always see an instant ROI, but you see increased follower accounts and engagement and then they become fans of your work and convert to customers. Local newspapers are really great, but national magazines just seem like a high cost for low returns.

Louise Kramer: Instagram and influencers have always been great for my business.

What do you look for when hiring new em ployees?

Cindy Merrill: Someone with high energy that will relate to our customers and understands that we have a responsibility to give our customers the best possible shipping experience when they interact with us.

Chaim and Esther Holzberg : We are both

self-employed, and we haven’t needed employees. We are a premium, boutique type of business so we can give every customer our own personal attention and expertise.

Yael Vogel: I am looking for someone with pas sion. They want to go above and join the vision and really contribute to the team and the long-term growth of my business.

Louise Kramer: Employees looking for an op portunity to help Lulu’s maintain its status as the gift capital destination of the Five Towns and beyond. I look for people who are passionate about retail and serving customers.

What is your advice for someone looking to start a small business on Central Ave or locally?

Cindy Merrill: Look for an unmet need and then build a unique and inviting customer-friendly experience around it. Remember, if you build it, they will come.

Chaim and Esther Holzberg : You need to be there in person for the business to succeed because forming good, warm relationships with your custom ers is just as important as the product or service that you are selling.

Yael Vogel: Every owner on Central Avenue is busy, and sometimes we are all too independent. I really do think we should all collaborate more and support each other. I hope to host something for the owners on the Avenue! When a store fosters a real sense of community and is very on-brand, it really engenders loyalty and is a warm, inviting place to shop!

Louise Kramer: Love what you do and love how you help your customers in whatever you are selling. In my world, our products are being used b’simcha, wheth er an engagement, a Shabbos or yom tov meal or just making one’s home prettier. Make sure your business is customer-centric and really adding value for the con sumer.

Chaim Homnick is a serial entrepreneur who owns several businesses. He also mentors small business owners. If you have questions you would like to see answered in a future column, or other feedback, email chomnick@gmail.com.

Norm Trainor: Attract, Engage, Compel, and Commit

This column features business insights from a recent “Mind Your Business with Yitzchok Saftlas” radio show. The weekly “Mind Your Business” show –broadcasting since 2015 – features interviews with Fortune 500 executives, business leaders and marketing gurus. Prominent guests include John Sculley, former CEO of Apple and Pepsi; Dick Schulze, founder and Chairman Emeritus of Best Buy; and Beth Comstock, former Vice Chair of GE; among over 400+ senior-level executives and business celebrities. Yitzchok Saftlas, president of Bottom Line Marketing Group, hosts the weekly “Mind Your Business” show, which airs at 10pm every Sunday night on 710 WOR and throughout America on the iHeartRadio Network.

On a recent 710 WOR “Mind Your Business” broadcast, Yitzchok Saftlas (YS) spoke with guest Norm Trainor (NT), founder and CEO of the Covenant Group. *

YS: Norm, how do you make a million dollars in under six months?

NT: The single biggest contributor to success is the ability to attract and retain the right clients – it all comes back to sales.

In the last 5-10 years, we have learned more about how people make decisions than we did in the previous 100 years. There is an art and science to becoming a master salesperson. The way to create a million dollars in revenue in the next six months is to become a ninja salesperson. The problem for most salespeople is that they confuse familiarity and mastery. They are familiar with what they have to do to get to “yes” with a client or pros pect, but they have not mastered the art and science of selling. Crafting conver

sations between a buyer and seller that lead to a positive outcome involves both art and science. A sale is a short com plex task. The timeframe to get to “yes” and make a sale could be minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years. But what we’re going to look at today is how you sell more of the same people, how you sell more to the same people, and how you transact faster. To do that, you have to take what is complex and make it sim ple without removing its complexity.

The key is understanding the art and science of selling. It involves un derstanding two key elements. The first is principles and the second is skills. A principle is a general theorem or law that can be applied scientifically across a broad spectrum. Principles are simple guidelines that help us achieve a positive outcome. In selling, the outcome you want is to make a sale. The first princi ple of influence or selling is focus on the person you’re trying to persuade or sell. Make your prospect or client the center of the experience. You do this by focusing on what is important to them. You ask

questions and listen to understand what motivates them.

The second principle is, when it comes to selling, you have to earn the right to proceed. Buying is a series of micro decisions. Each decision requires a conversation. So, the structure of ev ery conversation is, first, you attract people into the conversation by creating interest, touch on a subject that speaks to their goals, they engage, and now you make them the focus. Ask questions and listen, to identify how important it is to them. They’ll feel compelled to commit to learning more.

Every conversation has the same framework: attract, engage, compel, and commit.

You’ve said, “If you know how to open, you know how to close.” Could you expand on that?

It’s so important how you set the context in the first few minutes when you meet a prospective client. One of the things we know from behavioral

psychology is that people are rational izing rather than rational. We usually make judgments in the first 30 seconds to 3 minutes of meeting another person. These judgements are long-lasting and usually resistant to change. How you manage the initial interaction is critical to getting to “yes.”

There are four key guidelines when you first meet someone. The first is, the more you know about them, the more you’re able to attract them into a conver sation and talk about what is of interest to them.

The second is, the questions you ask are key to differentiating yourself. When you ask questions that focus on their goals, you draw them deeper into a conversation.

The third is the stories you tell. Peo ple are motivated by stories, analogies, metaphors, etc. When you’re able to tell stories that speak to what’s important to that other person, it speaks volumes about your credibility and your ability to help them achieve what’s important to them.

Norm Trainor

The fourth is what you create to gether. People hate to be sold and love to buy. You have to make it about them. You have to attract them into the con versation, such that they are engaged, feel compelled to continue, and commit to working with you over time. It’s all about having a client attraction conver sation. An elevator pitch puts the focus on the salesperson; a client attraction conversation puts the focus on that oth er person.

Perhaps you could expand on how you sell more of the same people, as you mentioned earlier?

The narrower your focus, the bigger your opportunity. When you focus on spe cific target markets and get to know what motivates those people, you can differen tiate yourself by taking the expertise you gain in working in a narrow market and applying it to people who fit in that mar ket. That makes it easier to sell more of the same people because your reputation precedes you in your market.

The single most important determi nant of how successful you will be as a salesperson, or in any role, is the time span within which you think and act. High-performing salespeople manage the before, during, and after of the sales process. They invest a lot of time and energy into getting positioned with the right client, even before they meet with them.

One of the things we know from be havioral psychology is that when people make decisions, they triangulate. They look for three or more sources to vali date their intuition. Increasingly today, one of those sources is the internet. We Google the seller, and one of the first things that comes up is their LinkedIn profile. Now, if you go to my LinkedIn profile, one of the things you’ll see un der “About” is “helping clients thrive is at the core of everything we do.” In oth er words, when people read about you, they don’t want to know how great you are. They want to know how great you can make them.

Another way that we triangulate that is so powerful is to obtain introductions to someone we want as a client from someone they know and respect. The best form of marketing is still word of mouth.

A third element is that we live in a consumer-oriented society. People are consumption-oriented. People have options with regard to how they spend their money. Often, choices will have to

be made. It is important to help your clients and prospective clients identify, clarify, and intensify their priorities. It all starts with what they are motivated to do. You are helping them make appro priate choices, given the goals they’ve identified. Remember, the focus is on what’s important to them. Salespeople often clarify priorities by saying, “How important is it for you to attract new clients? What are you willing to do to achieve your objective? What will be re quired for you to build your brand and attract the right clients? What would prevent you from taking action at this time?”

What is the difference between the “art” and “science” of selling?

As I mentioned, principles are simple guidelines. A principle is a general the ory or law that can be applied scientifi cally. Art is the application of creativity and intelligence. Craft is art grounded in experience. High-performing sales

Let’s talk about how we can transact and close faster.

In my experience, 90% of our busi ness comes from personal introductions from clients or centers of influence, people who establish our credibility before we actually have a meeting with a prospective client. Typically, what will happen is, if someone’s interest ed in working with us, they will reach out and John Donnelly, our community manager, will set up a 30 minute call. The first question I ask them is: “What will make our time valuable for you?” Typically, when they answer, they will tell me their readiness to buy. So, some people will say, “A colleague spoke very highly of you. I’m interested in working with you. Can you tell me more about your process and how you can help us grow our business?” Or they will say, “I just want to learn more.” So, I will say, “I’d be glad to tell you about what we do. But before I do, would you take 5-10

people I talk to make a commitment to get involved in one of our programs. When you know how to open, you don’t have to close.

What final advice would you like to share?

There is a simple formula to convert someone from a prospect to a client. That formula begins C (convert) = M (motivation). The single most import ant determinant of whether someone will buy from you is whether you speak to what motivates them. People are motivated to do what they’re motivated to do. So, C = M + the clarity of your value proposition. You have to be able to explain in a simple and compelling manner how you can help them achieve what’s important to them. But here’s the other consideration, C = M + the clarity of your value proposition – A (anxiety). People usually get blocked in terms of decision making when they experience anxiety. Anxiety is blocked excitement. Now, usually a buying decision makes us anxious when we have “buyer be ware” messages. We have this fear of making a mistake. People typically ar en’t actually upset because they made a mistake. That happens every day. It’s that we beat ourselves up when we make a mistake and think we’ve exercised poor judgment. So, one of the things you have to help people do is stay in touch with their excitement and not have that convert to anxiety.

people master their craft; they invest a great deal of time in the mastery of each aspect of how you get to “yes.” A skill is defined as the application of knowledge to effectively execute a task. Your task is to sell more of the same people, sell more to the same people, and transact faster. To attract the right clients and, over time, retain them.

When you meet with a prospective client, you identify the criteria that they use in making a decision with re gard to working with you. You need to understand the basis upon which your products or services will be judged. Ask them questions. “How would you rank price, service, and performance?” “How important is ongoing service to you?”

“How important is brand recognition?” Some people make decisions on their own; others consult a variety of peo ple. If you know in advance who will be involved, you can develop a strate gy for providing those people with the necessary information and knowledge to effectively contribute to the decision.

minutes and tell me about you, where you’ve been, your background, your present status. I would like to hear your story.” Now, sometimes they’ll take 20 minutes to tell that story. Sometimes they’ll take 5. But what I’m really listen ing for is where they’ve been and where they are.

The next thing I’ll say is, “Strate gy is the alignment of three elements. What are the objectives you’re looking to create? What are the capabilities and resources you have to realize? What are the opportunities and challenges your environment provides? If we’re sitting down one year from today and you’ve had the most successful and productive period of your work and your life, what will have had to happen in the last 12 months?”

Once they tell me, I’ll ask them, “What about 5 years? What are you looking to achieve in 5 years?” Then, I will ask them, “What are the three pri orities that will drive your results?”

Within 17-30 minutes, 9 out of 10

The key is managing the before, during, and after of getting to “yes” that much more quickly.

“The way to create a million dollars in revenue in the next six months is to become a ninja salesperson.”

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

The country did not need a currency that’s good for kidnappers and so on. There are people who think they’ve got to be on every deal that’s hot… If it’s hot, they want to be in on it. I think that it’s totally crazy.

- Berkshire Hathaway vice chairman Charlie Munger on CNBC talking about cryptocurrency

[Think about] Fetterman as a nominee at some point for president.

- MSNBC host Katy Tur talking about John Fetterman who won the Pennsylvania senate race even though he is cognitively impaired

I would say to the former president, who I supported and he did great things during his term, I would say to him, move on. A couple of days before the election, he tells the country he has a major announcement. Donald Trump, it was not about you. It was about the candidates that were running, and you took away from them. There’s no question that he hurt candidates all over the country. Donald Trump, you had your opportunity. You hurt your party that you love, and your country in this election.

Here’s one issue I didn’t talk about because I don’t want to shame anyone. You’re going to have a problem with the Har Habayis. This is a critical issue. You have a partner that the whole world around us is worried about. I told him that too, between us. It’s not for publication. I don’t want to cause trouble.

- Israeli President Isaac Herzog talking to Shas leadership in a conversation that was caught on a hot-mic

I live in Hebron, am a mother of six sweet children, drive on terror-hit roads and am married to the most threatened man in the country, so yeah, I have a pistol.

- Itamar Ben Gvir’s wife explaining why she brought a pistol to a get-together of minister wives hosted by Sara Netanyahu at the Waldorf Astoria

A @washingtonpost reporter was able to create a verified account impersonating me—I’m asking for answers from @elonmusk who is putting profits over people and his debt over stopping disinformation. Twitter must explain how this happened and how to prevent it from happening again.

- Tweet by Sen. Ed Markey (D- MA)

Perhaps it is because your real account sounds like a parody?

- Elon Musk, in response

And why does your [personal picture] have a mask!?

- Ibid.

NewsCorp, which is Fox, the Wall Street Journal, and the no longer great New York Post (bring back Col!), is all in for Governor Ron DeSanctimonious, an average REPUBLICAN Governor with great Public Relations, who didn’t have to close up his State, but did, unlike other Republican Governors, whose overall numbers for a Republican, were just average—middle of the pack—including COVID, and who has the advantage of SUNSHINE, where people from badly run States up North would go no matter who the Governor was, just like I did!

- Former President Donald Trump, on social media

Now that the Election in Florida is over, and everything went quite well, shouldn’t it be said that in 2020, I got 1.1 Million more votes in Florida than Ron D got this year, 5.7 Million to 4.6 Million? Just asking?

- Ibid.

One of the things I’ve learned in this job is when you’re doing, when you’re leading, when you’re getting things done, you take incoming fire — that’s just the nature of it. I roll out of bed in the morning, I’ve got corporate media outlets that have a spasm, just the fact that I’m getting up in the morning, and it’s constantly attacking, and this is just what’s happened. I don’t think any governor got attacked more, particularly by corporate media, than me over my four-year term. We focused on results and leadership. And, you know, at the end of the day, I would just tell people to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night. The fact of the matter is, it was the greatest Republican victory in the history of the state of Florida.

- Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), when asked about Trump’s attacks

The populist movement is about ideas. It is not about any one person. If the voters conclude that you’re putting your own ego or your own grudges ahead of what’s good for the country, they’re going to look elsewhere, period.

– Former Trump ally Laura Ingraham on Fox News

While we’re incredibly saddened by the loss of Representative Tony DeLuca, we are proud to see the voters continue to show their confidence in him and his commitment to Democratic values by reelecting him posthumously.

- The Pennsylvania Democratic Party statement after a dead state representative won reelection

Joe Biden and his administration view Israel and Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu as political enemies, and so they are responding to them the way they respond to all their political enemies: by unleashing the FBI. Our Israeli allies have, since the very beginning, cooperated closely with the United States in investigating this incident, and the State Department and Defense Departments had already drawn their conclusions.

– Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) responding to the news that the FBI is investigating the Israeli army for the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, who was killed in a firefight in Jenin last spring

This outrage underscores how corrupt and blatantly politicized the Justice Department has become, and how entirely beholden to the radical left-wing Squad Democrats really are. This administration has spent its time in office weaponizing the DOJ to target their political enemies as a matter of policy, and now they have allowed that tactic to bleed into their obsession with undermining our Israeli allies. Everyone involved with this debacle should be fired or impeached – all the way up to Attorney General Garland.

- Ibid.

The biggest takeaway from Tuesday night is that Republican attitudes in regard to mail-in voting needs to change. Right now, it’s like we’re running a 100-yard race against the Democrats and giving them a 45-yard head start. Both parties have limited resources, but while they work during the 50 days of early voting collecting and banking early votes ... we’re just collecting promises to show up on Election Day; it’s not sustainable, and Democrats get better at it every cycle.

- Allegheny County Republican Chairman Sam DeMarco talking to journalist Selina Zito

Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson.

- Actor Rainn Wilson’s new name that he chose in order to bring attention to global warming

I’m going try. If you put everything in the computer, we should have lost 57 seats. The reason is Donald Trump. He brought people out to vote against this. He had a suppressive effect. He out-trumped inflation and crime. He out-trumped the normal cycle of the first off-year election with an incumbent president.

- Democratic strategist James Carville

It’s memorial day for Kristallnacht! Treat yourself with more tender cheese on your crispy chicken. Now at KFCheese!

- Message that was sent on the KFC app in Germany on November 9

We are very sorry, we will check our internal processes immediately so that this does not happen again. Please excuse this error.

- Ibid, issuing an apology

McCarthy…McConnell…McDaniel…McFailure.

- Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) blaming Republican leadership for the epic fail on election day

Political Crossfire

The GOP’s Future Lies in Florida –But Not In Mar-a-Lago

By Marc A. Thiessen

Voters did the Republican Party three big favors Tuesday: First, they reelected Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) by historic margins, turning Florida into a red state and showing the GOP the path out of the political wilderness.

Second, they appear to have given Republicans a majority in the House of Representatives – if a narrow one, from what’s clear so far – which means that President Biden’s power to spend trillions of dollars with Democratic-only budget reconciliation bills is revoked.

Third, and most important, they gave the GOP a much-needed wake-up call. According to the Fox News voter analysis survey, 75 percent of respondents said the country is on the wrong track. The same share was dissatisfied or even angry with the way things are going. Yet on Tuesday, millions voted for the status quo.

Think about that: On Biden’s watch, we have experienced the worst inflation in 40 years, the worst collapse in real wages in four decades, the worst murder rate since 1996, the worst border crisis in U.S. history, the highest gas prices ever recorded, the worst increase in the cost of shelter since 1984. Biden is the least pop ular president in the history of presiden tial polling (besides Donald Trump) going all the way back to Harry S. Truman. Six in 10 voters say Biden does not have the mental capacity to be president.

Yet despite this unprecedented litany of disasters, voters looked at the alterna tive presented by Republicans and said: No, thanks. Not only did the historic red wave fail to materialize, Biden might ac tually end up doing better in this midterm election than most of his far more popular predecessors.

How did that happen? It’s not be cause voters approve of Biden’s job per formance; it’s because they disapproved

of the GOP. It’s because in key House and Senate races, Republicans nominated candidates whose main qualification was their fealty to Trump – and voters reject ed them. Americans are desperate for change, but not the kind of change that Republicans offered. And because the GOP didn’t give voters what they con sidered reasonable alternatives to Dem ocrats, Republicans lost winnable races across the country.

Still, there was a red wave Tuesday –in Florida. DeSantis won reelection by al most 20 points, the largest vote margin ever in a Florida gubernatorial election (and 17 points more than Trump won the state by in 2020). DeSantis won by just over 32,000 votes four years ago but by more than 1.5 million votes this time. According to DeSantis’s campaign, he won independent voters by 20 points – a 30-point net increase from 2018. He won female voters by at least seven points, a 16-point net increase from 2018. And

he won Hispanic voters by 14 points, a 22-point increase from 2018 and the highest share of the non-White vote for a Republican in Florida history. He also won in Democratic strongholds like Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, St. Lucie, and Osce ola counties, which had rarely voted Re publican.

In other words, DeSantis did what Trump failed to do: He won over hun dreds of thousands of people who did not vote for him the first time around. He was able to do this because he seems to un derstand something that Trump does not: Politics is not a zero-sum game. You can broaden your coalition while energizing your base at the same time.

DeSantis is a political counterpuncher who does not hesitate to take on the woke left. But he is also a policy wonk, with a command of the details of the bold con servative reforms (in taxes, education, pa rental rights, and ending pandemic lock downs) that he has implemented to make

life better for his constituents. And when Hurricane Ian hit, he became the mod el of a chief executive leading in a crisis. Just days after taking a shot at the Biden administration by sending a planeload of illegal migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, he worked with the Democratic president to get power restored and bridges rebuilt –without getting into needless fights with reporters. As a result, DeSantis excited hardcore Republicans without alienating swing voters – and won in a landslide.

If Republicans nominate someone who can do on a national scale what De Santis has done in Florida, they could win the 2024 election in a landslide, too. If they nominate Trump, they may feel the same bitter disappointment again in two years.

I say this in sadness, not anger, be cause I have spilled more ink in these pages than any other human being defending Trump’s accomplishments in office. I don’t regret a word. With the mute button on, his was one of the greatest conservative presidencies in my lifetime. But his conduct in office drove away millions of swing voters who liked his policies but not him – which is why he lost the 2020 election. And his abys mal behavior after the election was dis qualifying to millions of Americans, who made their views clear this week.

By nominating candidates in Trump’s image, Republicans squandered a historic opportunity. They had the most promis ing political environment in decades, and they blew it. But the dark cloud of these midterms has an important lesson if the GOP chooses to take it:

The future of the Republican Party lies in Florida – in Tallahassee, not Mara-Lago.

Political Crossfire

In Bali, Biden and Xi Probe For Guardrails on the Perilous Road Ahead

By David Ignatius

Monday’s summit in Indonesia between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping didn’t reset the fundamentals of the U.S.-China relationship, which has been in some thing of a free fall for several years. But at least it set a “floor,” to use the word favored by the Biden administration, on which the two parties can stand and compete.

This isn’t a reset back to an old norm – that’s gone, for better or worse – but rather a decision to explore rules of en gagement for the intense competition that lies ahead.

China’s official readout of the sum mit expressed hope that the two coun tries will return “to the track of healthy and stable development,” character ized by the “win-win cooperation” that Beijing invokes in nearly every com munique. That rosy scenario doesn’t match reality, but at least the Chinese endorsed “cooperation to address im portant global issues such as climate change and food security.” That was the baseline U.S. agenda for the meeting. This account of the lengthy meeting, which lasted more than three hours, is drawn from American and Chinese pub lic summaries of the conversation, and from officials with firsthand knowledge of what was said. The headline from the meeting is that the two leading super powers share an interest in containing the war in Ukraine and in cooperating, where possible, on issues of common concern. Taiwan remains a dangerous bomb, although probably one with a long fuse.

Xi and Biden both arrived in Bali on the cresting waves of recent politi cal success. Xi’s rule was validated by a Communist Party congress last month that gave him unprecedented power. He was a commanding figure in the meet

ing room, dominating the Politburo members who accompanied him almost as if they were low-level staffers. He de scribed himself to Biden as deeply pop ular, and in a dictatorship, such claims can’t be tested.

Biden arrived at the summit fresh off the unexpected Democratic suc cess in the midterm elections. Biden had been downcast before the mid terms, according to friends. But he was buoyed by Democrats’ ability to fend off Republican attacks – a validation of his core goal of quashing former president Donald Trump’s extremism. To China’s claim that American politics is hope lessly paralyzed by division, Biden could say in Bali: Not so.

Xi conveyed an almost religious sense of the destiny of the Communist Party, officials said. His opening an ecdote was a description of traveling with the six members of the Politburo’s standing committee in late October, af ter the party congress, to the caves in Yan’an, in central China, which was the launching point for its revolution. Xi

and his comrades wore dark work suits there, like their forebears. Xi was ob viously channeling Mao, at Yan’an and with Biden.

Xi’s message to Biden was that the Communist Party had endured hard ships and would prevail if challenged. He recalled how the Soviet Union tried to cut China off from advanced technol ogy in the 1960s but that China went on to detonate a hydrogen bomb in 1967. The moral of the story, for Xi, is that the United States might try a similar tech squeeze now but China will make its way on its own.

Xi denied Biden’s claim that China was trying to replace the United States as the world’s leader, the Chinese read out suggested. But Biden is said to have pushed back that America has hard evi dence of China’s military ambitions.

On Taiwan, Xi’s theme was that if the crisis isn’t managed carefully, it will lead to conflict. He expressed concern about any Taiwanese move for indepen dence and stressed China’s “red lines” concerning the island, which Beijing

views as part of China. Biden reassured Xi that “the United States opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo by either side” and wants “the mainte nance of peace and stability in the Tai wan Strait,” according to the American summary.

Both countries’ positions on Taiwan appeared to repeat existing policy. And U.S. officials came away feeling that Xi didn’t want a full-blown Taiwan crisis now, preferring breathing space that could allow China to deal with a sharp ly slowing economy and the continuing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A useful point of agreement between the two superpowers was that Rus sia’s threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine pose a serious danger to global peace. Xi’s private words were said to be similar to what Premier Li Keqiang said publicly the previous day at the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. According to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, Li stressed that China supports “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries” and opposes “the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.”

The official U.S. summary put it this way: “President Biden and President Xi reiterated their agreement that a nucle ar war should never be fought and can never be won and underscored their opposition to the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.”

U.S. officials say their goal in the increasingly contentious relationship is to create “guardrails” and “rules of the road.” The Bali summit helped that process. But the fact remains that the U.S.-China relationship is like two cars careening down a narrow road, at ever higher speed. At least the drivers are talking.

Forgotten Her es Shaldag and Unit 669

By Avi Heiligman

Mistakes happen often through out military history, and these blunders can often lead to changes that have results far reach ing into the future. Special units are of ten created to deal with a problem, and these units frequently become perma nent parts of the military.

In 1943, American marines invaded Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands but failed to take the coral reef into account. Landing boats got stuck on the reef, and over 1,000 marines died while taking the small island. Many of the casualties drowned or were killed as they waded to shore when their boats landed them too far out to sea. NDCU (Naval Combat Demolition Units) were formed mainly for Atlantic Ocean invasions, and UDT (Underwater Demolition Teams) were for the most part deployed in the Pa cific. They had the task of underwater reconnaissance and were very active later in the war. These units were the beginnings of today’s Navy SEALs. This is just one example of a Special Forces unit that was created to prevent mis takes from happening in the future.

The Israeli Air Force (AIF) Shaldag (Kingfisher) unit was also born from mistakes made during wartime. Israe li intelligence had picked up a buildup of Egyptian and Syrian troops along the border but wrongly concluded that these troops were just there to scare the

Israelis into talks. The Israeli defenses had been caught off-guard, and it took several days with heavy losses to halt the Arab attack. Following the war, in quiries and commissions were set up to determine what had been wrong with the Israeli intelligence. Through inqui ries, it became clear that having a spe cial operations unit that could quickly strike behind enemy lines would have a gone a long way into preventing some of the errors from the war. Shaldag was formed as an independent commando and intelligence unit that could deploy deep into enemy territory in very little time.

The first commander of Shaldag was Sayeret Matkal veteran Muki Betzer. He had been on several raids and op erations, and during the Yom Kippur War had been under the command of Yoni Netanyahu. At first, Shaldag was a reserve company for Sayeret Matkal as many of their operators came from the ranks of the Special Forced unit. Later, Shaldag was transferred to the IAF, and the unit now operates out of Palmachim Air Force Base.

Shaldag operations are quite exten sive as it performs counterterrorism missions, among its many capabilities. One of their most famous operations was more on the humanitarian side of their capabilities. Operation Solomon took place in May 1991 as the capital of

Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, was about to be overrun by rebels. Thousands of Ethio pian Jews needed to be rapidly rescued as negations were ongoing. Shaldag, then under command of future Deputy Prime Minister Benny Gantz, spent 36 hours on the ground in Ethiopia secur ing the emigration of numerous Jews to Israel. Seventy Shaldag commandos secured the airport as 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted successfully to Tel Aviv.

During the First Lebanon War in 1982, Shaldag sent two forces into the action. The first assisted the Israeli Air Force in destroying anti-aircraft bat teries, missiles, and guns. The second group under the command of Tal Russo went to a museum complex in Beirut where enemy commandos were taking shelter. The Shaldag intelligence officer had obtained the layout of the museum, and this proved useful during the at tack. Russo’s group then went on to fight in several other engagements during the war including at the PLO headquarters.

In addition to the vast capabilities of Shaldag, the IAF also operates a sepa rate combat search and rescue section called Unit 669. As with Shaldag, it was started to fill a void that was no ticeably absent during the Yom Kippur War. Several IAF pilots were shot down behind enemy lines without means to escape, and an ad hoc medavac (medical

evacuation) unit was created to rescue wounded service members. However, members of other IDF branches had no means to be rescued in a timely man ner. To avoid these mistakes again, for future wars, the IAF under Commander Benny Peled created a CSAR team and called it Unit 669.

Their first mission was not during wartime. Five Unit 669 operators jumped on board a helicopter and even tually found a lost European hiker on a cliff by a ravine in the Judean Desert. Following the success of the first mis sion, the unit continued to get calls from around the country and soon gained a positive reputation for their successes.

Most of Shaldag’s missions are clas sified, while the majority of Unit 669’s operations are not secret. However, members of both units like to stay out of the spotlight, and it could be years before the public becomes aware of their missions. Both units have been quietly providing vital capabilities to IDF for decades and have saved numerous lives during that period.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contribu tor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for fu ture columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

MU

LTIPLE PO S ITI ON S

LOOKING

Big Brother

To befriend and spend time with a 13-year-old boy

LOOKING FOR A Big Brother

To go on trips and outings with a 7-year-old boy

To go to the gym and spend time with a 26-year-old boy

LOOKING FOR A

Big Brother/ Sister

To play games and read books with a 7-year-old boy

Monday - Thursday 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Friday, Shabbos, Sunday 12:00 PM to 4:30 PM

LOOKING

Monday - Thursday 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Monday - Thursday 5:45 PM to 7:45 PM LOOKING

LOOKING

LOOKING FOR A Big Brother

To help with daily routine for a 12-year-old boy

To play with a 9-year-old boy

Friday, Shabbos, Sunday 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM

To befriend and spend time with a 9-year-old girl Everyday Anytime

Weekdays 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM LOOKING

LOOKING FOR A Mentor

To go on outings with a 21-year-old boy

Monday - Thursday 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

To befriend and spend time with an 18-year-old girl

Weekdays 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Weekdays 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

LOOKING

LOOKING FOR AN Aide

To pick up a 17-year-old boy Sunday 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

To assist a 30-year-old male

SERVICES SERVICES

PEACEFUL PRESENCE STUDIO

Men’s private yoga, Licensed Massage & Holistic Health Guidance

436 Central Ave, Cedarhurst

Info. & free video training www.peacefulpresence.com 516-371-3715

GERBER MOVING

FULL SERVICE MOVING

Packing Moving Supplies

Local Long Distance Licensed Insured 1000’S Of Happy Customers Call Shalom 347-276-7422

HAIR COURSE: Learn how to wash & style hair & wigs. Hair and wig cutting, wedding styling Private lessons or in a group Call Chaya 718-715-9009

HANDYMAN AVAILABLE

For big or small jobs, Sheetrock, carpentry, painting, electrical, plumbing, install & repair appliances Call Ephraim at 347-593-4691

VACUUM SALES AND REPAIR

All areas call Max Flam 718-444-4904

SHALOM HANDYMAN

Plumbing, heating, boiler, installation, sewer, locks, dryer vent cleaning and more… CALL 917-217-3676

Management staff will assist you with:

* Obtaining Medicaid and Pooled Income Trust

* In-home Assessments, Individual and Family Counseling

* Securing reliable home care assistance

* Case and Care Management services Dr. S. Sasson, DSW, LCSW (718) 544- 0870 or (646) 284-6242

WOODMERE - OLD WOODMERE

3 bedrrom 2 full bathroomsSD# 14 Features LG living room with fireplace, den, large dining room, kitchen and dinette area, high ceilings, hardwood floors, primary bedroom plus sitting area plus 2 additional bedrooms, full basement, alarm, sprinkler, close to all. $825K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-845 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Charming Colonial on beautiful tree lined street in the heart of Old Woodmere. Home features 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, kitchen, dining area, living room, full basement. Relatively new heating system + hot water tank. Large & beautiful backyard. Great for entertaining. Close to all. $676K Mark Lipner

Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HEWLETT NEW TO THE MARKET

Luxurious Exquisite 6 bedrooms, 6.5 bath home situated on approximate 1.8 acre property in prestigious Hewlett Bay Park. Formal Living room and dining room, library, chefs Eat-in Kitchen, extraordinary great room leads out to veranda. large Gunite built-in pool + pool house with full bath, large slate patio, impressive sprawling property, school district #14 Hewlett-Woodmere. Close to all. P.O.R. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

Classifieds

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

HOUSES FOR SALE HOUSES FOR SALE HOUSES FOR SALE

WOODMERE

Great Home on a Cul-De-Sac, SD #15, Features 4 Bedrooms, 3 New Full Bathrooms, Gas Heat, Central Air Conditioning, Renovated Gourmet EIK w/2 Sinks, Granite Countertops, New Stainless Steel Appliances Leading out to a New Deck, Elegant Formal Dining Room, New Flooring, Moldings, and New Wood Bannister Leading to the Bedrooms, Spacious Master Bedroom Suite w/Jacuzzi Tub, Sep Stall Shower, and a Large Walk-In Closet. Generously Sized Den Leading Out to a Magnificent Backyard With a New Pergola, Great Home for Entertaining, High Hats Throughout, New Front Walkway Leading to a Nice Front Porch, New Front Windows Close to RR, Shopping, Houses of Worship. P.O.R. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HEWLETT BAY PARK

Six bedroom home in highly desirable Hewlett Bay Park on 3/4 of an acre with an inground gunite pool and tennis court, en-Suite bathrooms and bedrooms on both floors, 1st floor Master Suite with steam shower and Jacuzzi tub, Eat-in Kitchen, with SS appliances, 2 sinks, 2 dishwashers, double oven, formal living room, formal dining room, den with fireplace. Close to railroad, shopping, and houses of worship. SD#14. Great house for entertaining. Park-like Property. P.O.R. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE JUST LISTED

Spacious 5 bedroom 4 bathroom split level in Saddle Ridge Estates Well maintained home , renovated eat –in-kitchen , formal living room and dining room, den, central air conditioning, hardwood floors, high hats, master bedroom with a custom bathroom and Jacuzzi tub, close to all $995k Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE: NEW TO THE MARKET

Well maintained 4 bedroom home on a cul-de-sac in Old Woodmere SD#14. Features central air conditioning, gas heat, eat -in -kitchen with stainless steel appliances, very spacious den, 2 car garage, hardwood floors, high hats, magnificent yard with an in-ground saltwater pool, close to the railroad, shopping and houses of worship. Call for a private showing. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

NORTH WOODMERE

NEW TO THE MARKET

Bright and sunny 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms split level home. Features central air conditioning, gas heat, solar panels, eat in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, formal dining room and living room, den, finished bsmt with playroom and 2 additional rooms, master bedroom –fbth and 2 walk in closets, custom window treatments, new garage door, alarm, IGS, hardwood floors, 200 AMP service, gasline BBQ, new insulation, close to schools, shopping and so much more. 899K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HEWLETT BAY PARK

Prestigious Center-Hall Colonial in Hewlett Bay Park, Set Back on Private Property. This Stately Home Features a Grand Entry Foyer, Formal Living Room, Formal Dining Room, Chef’s Kitchen, Large Den, Master Bedroom suite with Sitting Room + 2 Baths (His & Hers) and Loft and Additional 3 Bedrooms + Bonus Rooms. Exquisitely Manicured Park-like property. Award Winning School District #14. Too Many Features To List. Will Not Last! P.O.R. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Beautiful, brick, colonial boasting 5 bdr 3.5 Bth in pristine condition. Excellent location, near all! Move right in! RCUSA 516-512-9626

Spectacular 5 bedroom, 5 bath renovated home in SD#14 with in-ground pool & pool house, lot size 111 x 107. Formal living room & dining room, magnificent kitchen with SS appliances, tremendous den with fireplace and 4 skylights, vaulted ceiling, LED lighting, master suite, new CAC, new roof. Outside totally redone with Stone and Stucco. Backyard with new pavers, park-like property, sandbox, great home for entertaining. Close to all. $1,499,000

SUNDAY November 20 11:30-1:00PM

Mark Lipner Associate Broker

Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516.298.8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Beautifully maintained Split Level home in the heart of Woodmere. This home boasts 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, Eat-in Kitchen, Formal Dining Room, Living Room, a Finished Basement, and an office. Beautiful and spacious Backyard. Great location, SD#14. Close to all. Price Reduced $899k.

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 - 11:30-1:00PM

918 EILEEN TERRACE

Mark Lipner Associate Broker

Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

CEDARHURST

Magnificent Bright & Sunny furnished 6 Bedroom, 5 Bath Home Prime location in Cedarhurst Features Dream Kitchen With Granite Countertops, Two Sinks, Two Ovens, Two Microwaves, Formal Dining Room With Washing Station, Formal Living Room. Smart Home, Radiant Heat, Speaker System, Timers, Cameras Inside + Outside, Master Bedroom Suite With Jacuzzi Tub + Shower. Two Large Walk-in Closets, Central Air Conditioning, Gas Heat, Two Car Garage, Great Corner Property, Large Side + Backyard, Finished Basement, Close To All. A Must See. Close To Shopping And Houses Of Worship. Mark Lipner

Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HOUSES FOR SALE

NORTH WOODMERE

This is a Spectacular Home Rebuilt From the Ground Up in 2010. Features Inground Heated Saltwater Pool. Unique Beyond, Very Artistic. Designed by a Well-known Interior Designer. The House Was Knocked Down & Rebuilt. It has Steel Columns, Exposed Vents & Duct Work. Custom Door - Super Thick, Entry Foyer is Laser Cut Acrylic Tile, Custom Closets Throughout. Steel Bolder Sep. the LR & DR. DR has a Custom China Closet, Bar has a Swarovski Sink, Custom Scavollini EIK, Very European the way the Drawers Open + Cabinets Open Upwards. Countertops are Caesar Stone & Appl. are a Wolf Oven w/6 Burners, 2 Miele Ovens, and Built-in Coffee Maker. 1 Miele Dishwasher + 2 Fisher Paykel Dishwashers. Thermador Refrigerator w/Ice Maker. Double Sinks Plus a Veg. Sink, Walls are Painted w/Venetian Plaster. Office w/High Ceilings & Terr. Overlooking the Pool. Magnificent yard, MBR Suite w/a Spa Bath & a Huge WIC. MBR has Missoni Tiles. All Pella Windows & Doors. Home has Cameras, Alarms, IGS and So Much More! Mark Lipner

Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

APT./CO-OP FOR RENT

WOODMERE

House rental Move right into this 4 bedroom colonial in the heart of Woodmere, with spacious rooms, hardwood floors, a finished basement, and a spacious yard. Close to railroad, shopping & houses of worship $4,500 monthly Mark Lipner

Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE/HEWLETT NECK

House Rental Magnificent 6 Bedroom Home. Formal Dining Room, New Gourmet Kitchen W/High End Appliances & Cabinets, Large Living Rm & Den, 3 Car Attached Garage, Hardwood Floors, Sd#14. 5 Bedrooms On One Level, Fabulous MBR Suite W/ New Bathroom. gas heat. central air conditioning, long driveway, parklaike property,& So Much More. Call for details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

APT./CO-OP FOR RENT

CEDARHURST

1 bedroom 1.5 bathrooms on the first floor, central air conditioning, washer/ dryer in unit, hardwood floors, recessed lighting, freshly painted, super on premises, underground parking available, close to the railroad, shopping and houses of worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE

Extra Large One Bedroom Renovated Apartment In Prime Lawrence. EIK With Granite Countertops Renovated Bathroom. Sunken LR, Dining Room, Close to All, Transportation, Shopping, Worship.$285k or rent $2,500 monthly Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@ bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

1 bedroom apartment, elevator building, eat-in kitchen, full bath, hardwood floors, plenty of closet space. Ceiling fan in bedroom & kitchen, laundry room in the basement. Close to the railroad, shopping, and houses of worship $169k Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@ bhhslaffey.com

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

WOODMERE

New to the market beautifully maintained bright and sunny 2 bedroom 1.5 bathroom co-op on the top floor in an elevator building with a private storage room. Renovated eat -in-kitchen with granite countertops, lots of cabinets, 2 renovated bathrooms. 2 spacious bedrooms with ceiling fans and air conditioners. hardwood floors, high ceilings , close to the railroad, shopping and houses of worship.

Call for a private showing.$429K

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

SALE

WOODMERE

Totally renovated bright and sunny 1 bedroom corner unit apartment with a washer/dryer. Features quartz countertops, ss appliances, recessed lighting, bathroom with chrome fixtures, close to the railroads, shopping and houses of worship. Call for details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HEWLETT

Totally renovated 1 and 2 Bedroom, Apartments with washer/dryer, kitchen with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances. Recessed lighting, hardwood floors, storage in basement. Close to RR, shopping, and houses of worship. Mark Lipner

Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HEWLETT

Bright and sunny 2 bedroom 2 bathroom co-op, elevator, doorman building, in ground pool storage, card room, indoor and outdoor parking, washer/dryer in the apartment, renovated kitchen with granite countertops, ss appliances, master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, formal living room and dining room, close to all $479k Mark Lipner

Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Beautiful & Spacious 2 Bedroom Apartment Across From The Golf Course. Elevator Building, Updated Kitchen, Gas Cooking, Granite Countertops, Washer/Dryer In Unit, High Ceilings, Great Closet Space, Storage in Basement, Close To RR, Shopping & Houses Of Worship.$349K

Mark Lipner Associate Broker

Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HEWLETT

Hewlett 3 bedroom 2 bath co-op with central air conditioning, terrace, wash-er/dryer, hardwood floors, recessed lighting, magnificent kitchens, ss appliances, l/r, d/r, close to the railroad, shopping, and houses of worship. $300k Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

CEDARHURST

1 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment, elevator building, eat-in kitchen, spacious rooms throughout, laundry room on-premises, garage parking, close to all Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODSBURGH

Magnificent 2K Sq. Ft. Co-Op. 3Br/2Bth, Eik, Lr, Dr, W/D In Unit, Gar, 2 Stor Units, Elev, Near All $775K 516-846-1032 No Brokers

CEDARHURST

1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, totally renovated private entrance , central air conditioning, hardwood floors, washer/dryer, garage parking, dishwasher, recessed lighting, private playground, close to railroad, park, shopping and houses of worship.

Call for more details

Mark Lipner Associate Broker

Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457  mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Move right in!! 2 Bedroom Apartment, Elevator Bldg in SD #14, Pre War Bldg, Pet Friendly, Laundry Room in Basement, Wood Floors, New Windows, Corner Apartment, Beautiful Renovated Kitchen w/SS Appliances, 3 A/C Units, Close to RR, Shopping & Houses of Worship. A must-see! $199k

WOODMERE

WOODMERE

Classifieds

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP

NEWSPAPER LOOKING FOR someone with a Minivan or SUV who can work late Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning on a weekly basis throughout the year, delivering newspapers in Brooklyn. Please email gabe@fivetownsjewishhome.com or call (917) 299-8082

A YESHIVA IN QUEENS

is looking for an experienced part/ full time secretary, 2-year-old morah, kindergarten morah, kindergarten morah assistant and Pre-1A English teacher for the 2022-2023 school year. Nice and timely pay. Please email resume to mshelt613@gmail.com or call/text 718-971-9799.

BOOKKEEPER

Excellent growth potential, Frum environment, Excellent salary & benefits. Email resume to: resumetfs1@gmail.com

SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOL

IVDU 5 Towns in North Woodmere has openings for a social work/ psychology internship. Our warm and professional environment will allow you to gain experience and hands-on training. You’ll have the opportunity to train in social skills, play therapy, provide counseling, and conduct research. The internship meets the requirements for graduate students in mental health programs for fieldwork, practicums, and internships. Email resume to seplowitzs@ou.org.

LOOKING FOR A DRIVER

Business looking for someone that has a large van or sprinter that can work a full day on Wednesdays on a weekly basis throughout the year in Brooklyn. Please do not call if you do not have a large van or a sprinter 347.992.7411

WANTED

THE GURAL JCC EARLY CHILDHOOD Center in Lawrence is looking for full-time & part-time teachers and per diem & permanent substitute teachers to work with infants, toddlers or preschoolers. Interested and qualified candidates, over 18 years old, please call (516) 239-1354 or e-mail JCC.Nursery@GuralJCC.org

OFFICE ASSISTANT: Shomer Shabbos Office in Cedarhurst seeking individual with ability to multi-task. Computer/phone skills a must. No experience needed, will train. Email Resume: FTSadresponse@gmail.com

THE IVDU SCHOOL of the Five Towns, a special education school in North Woodmere, has an opening for a substitute Special Education Teacher for a Maternity Leave coverage, starting in December. Enjoy a competitive salary, and an excellent work environment. Email resume to seplowitzs@ou.org

ASSISTANT TEACHER CAHAL is seeking an afternoon secular studies Assistant Teacher in a girls’ Bais Yaakov in Far Rockaway. Send resume to shira@cahal.org or call 516-295-3666

PARAS & TEACHERS ASSISTANTS

Wanted: IVDU 5 Towns in North Woodmere needs teachers assistants and paras for the 22-23 school year. Besides having a competitive salary + benefits, you’ll have access to excellent workplace culture and professional development. Attn: graduate students obtain hours for BCBA and Special ed fieldwork requirements. Send a copy of your resume to seplowitzs@ou.org

5 TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA

SEEKING ELEM GEN ED TEACHERS Excellent working environment and pay. Only lic/exp need apply. Email resume to yeshivalooking@gmail.com

Classifieds

classifieds@fivetownsjewishhome.com • text 443-929-4003

HELP WANTED MISC.

CHANGE LIVES. STARTING WITH YOURS!

Seeking men and women ABA providers for after school hours: 9 y/o, loc.11691, M-T 5:30-8:30 , Sun 12-4/ 5 y/o, loc. 11096, Sun 1-5/ 21 y/o, loc. 11598, M-T after 3:00 pm/ Darchei- 11-1/ Yeshiva of South Shore- 1-4/ talent@encoresupport.org 718-304-9977 ext 126

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT

A multi-tasker needed for general office work. The ideal candidate is someone who is detail-oriented, responsible, and can take ownership. Looking for someone who is eager to learn, and expand his/her skill set while possessing the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Experience with Excel required. Five Towns location. In-office position only, not remote. Please send resume to 5tpart.timecareer@gmail.com

MDS REGIONAL NURSE:

5 Towns area Nursing Home management office seeking a Regional/Corporate level MDS Nurse to work in our office.

Must be an RN. Regional experience preferred. 2-3 years MDS experience with good computer skills required.

Position is Full Time but Part Time can be considered. Great Shomer Shabbos environment with some remote options as well. Email: officejob2019@gmail.com

MISC.

GEMACH ZICHRON YEHUDA

In memory of R’ Yehuda Aryeh Leib ben R’ Yisroel Dov. We have a library of books on the subjects of loss, aveilus, grief, & kaddish. We have sets of ArtScroll Mishnayos to assist with finishing Shisha Sidrei Mishna for Shloshim or yahrtzeit. Locations in Brooklyn, Far Rockaway, & Lakewood. Email: zichronyehuda@yahoo.com

6,000 FAMILIES.

THE

6,000

Your Money

Please Listen Carefully as Our Menu Options Have Changed

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

When was the last time you called someone’s customer service number and found an actual person at the other end of the line? Did it feel like winning the lottery? We’re not talking about ordinary voicemail here. We’re talking about those endless phone tree menus that have gotten so frustrating that there’s a website — www. gethuman.com — that lets you enter a company name, then gives you the cheat code for reaching an actual human. If you’re calling Target, for example, the site says, “Press 2, then 1, then 1.” That same site even has a callback service that lets you enter your own number and let robots do the work. “We dial, navigate through their phone menu maze, and wait on hold for as long as it takes while you relax or do as you please. When we finally reach an agent, we call you back. You pick up the phone and talk to Target. Simple!” (It’s ad-supported, which means you’re the product, not the customer.)

But nobody, and we mean nobody, is as bad at answering the phone as the IRS. Someday, when Shoddy Customer Service finally becomes an Olympic sport, the In ternational Olympic Committee will rule that the IRS is too professional to com pete. Erin Collins, the National Taxpayer

Advocate, reports that during 2021, the IRS logged 272 million calls – with just 11% of them reaching the holy grail of a living, breathing human being.

The problem, of course, is money. Con gress simply doesn’t give the IRS enough to do its job. Hopefully, that will change with this year’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. That law authorized $80 billion in new IRS spending over the next

Tax pros like us enjoy a couple of workarounds to avoid waiting in the reg ular line with the peasants. The first one is a “Practitioner Priority Service” num ber with specially trained staff to handle more-complicated questions from CPAs and Enrolled Agents calling on behalf of clients. Think of it as the equivalent of TSA’s Pre-Check service for skipping airport lines.

and the IRS has decided it’s time to call the cops on those loud line-jumpers up stairs. Last month, they launched a pilot program requiring callers using the PPS line to repeat specific phrases before be ing transferred to a rep. And get this – it uses speech recognition technology to make sure there’s a real person calling. The Service says the goal is to improve service by reducing unnecessary wait times – perhaps by clearing out all those paid bots? But it’s hard to believe they don’t take at least a little joy in sending the high rollers back in line with every one else. And the $300/month service we mentioned earlier has already suspended operations.

ten years, including $3.2 billion for cus tomer service. The IRS has already hired 4,000 new representatives and plans to hire another 1,000 more for the 2023 tax season. They’re training right now on technical account management issues as well as understanding and respecting taxpayer rights. And they couldn’t come a moment too soon.

More recently, there are third-par ty services modeled along the lines of the GetHuman app that use bots to swamp the service with calls, then sell the prime spots at the head of the line. Those services are most definitely not adsupported – the best-known of the bunch starts at a base fee of 300$/month.

Except, every party has a pooper,

Today’s technology has turned Ameri ca into a nation of do-it-yourselfers. Who needs plumbers in a world of YouTube videos? But slashing through IRS red tape really is best left to the pros. So call us for answers without endless hours on hold!

Allan J Rolnick is a CPA who has been in practice for over 30 years in Queens, NY. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at 718-896-8715 or at allanjrcpa@aol.com.

During 2021, the IRS logged 272 million calls –with just 11% of them reaching the holy grail of a living, breathing human being.

Hey, wouldn’t it be nice if we could always agree? That way, we’d always get along.

The problem is that we don’t.

I don’t mean we don’t always get along. I mean we don’t always agree.

Hmm…well, I guess that causes peo ple not to get along?!

But does it have to?

Is it possible for people to get along well when they don’t see eye to eye?

Ah, “there’s the rub,” as Shakespeare would say. The challenge starts right there.

We often try to entice people, force people, coerce people, lecture, fact-bom bard, or simply explain to people … and still many times they just won’t see it our way.

Frustrating? You bet!

Yet, there often is more to life than agreeing.

Sometimes, it’s simply respecting our differences. When that’s too tough, looking deeper may help. One avenue may be realizing we have different con

Life C ach Choose Happiness

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

cerns that we are addressing.

The most helpful may be recogniz ing that we are just made up differ ently – with different strengths. Then throw into that varied needs, experienc es, ages, stages, vantage points, etc. And there’s a lot of frustration to go around, if we let it.

son to think they will change. If we get there, can we calm the frustration?!

Perhaps!

We certainly can choose to continue to believe what we believe and do what we do, because it makes sense to us. However, then we need to decide if we want to keep expending energy on liv

your personal happiness be a way to go? Why drain yourself with letting their at titude and inability to change double up on draining you?

It’s simpler to write an article about this than to do it. I get it – although ev ery time I follow my own advice, I actu ally do better.

In the end, we can only control our selves.

So let’s embrace wise choices that help us live our best life. Sometimes, it takes arriving at a recognition and not staying steeped in the world’s limita tions.

So can we not go there?!

This does not come easily. But we cannot make progress or get along if we cannot see that sometimes we might just have to get to a place of respecting that we see things a certain way but the other person can’t, won’t, or hasn’t been able to. Therefore, there’s not much rea

ing frustrated. We can ultimately realize nothing has changed the other person to date, so why go on pushing for it? You may have a strength they don’t, or they may just have a different outlook, or they may have a limitation. Either way, if they haven’t changed yet, it just may not happen. So, then, would spoiling

Rivki Rosenwald is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with both couples and individuals and is a certified relation ship counselor. Rivki is a co-founder and creator of an effective Parent Management of Adolescent Years Program. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or at rivkiros enwald@gmail.com.

There often is more to life than agreeing.