Five Towns Jewish Home 5.24.23

Dear Readers,

It’s fun celebrating yomim tovim with children because there’s so much excitement in the air. My three-year-old has been talking about Shavuos for the past few weeks, and we’ve been singing her songs to enhance the excitement. One of the more famous Shavuos songs starts off with a question: “Hashem gave us a present – do you know what it was?” When we start to sing that song, she knows to shout out: “The Torah!”

It sounds pretty juvenile to call Hashem giving us the Torah “a present.” Is Torah something that comes to us wrapped up in special wrapping paper with a bow? But truthfully, the older I get, the more I appreciate the Torah way of life as a gift.

We are known as the People of the Book. The Torah, for us, is not an ancient manuscript studied by scholars who are the only ones who know how to interpret its ancient words. For us, Torah is a way of life. We don’t just learn Torah; we live it.

On Shavuos, we go back millennia to the time when Hashem gave us the Torah. For thousands of years, generation after generation, we’ve been handing down the words of G-d to our children. We teach them about Shabbos, kashrus, and kibbud av v’eim. We remind them about the importance of guarding their speech, about the proper way to dress, about keeping promises. We chant the words of Shema with them at night and sing Modeh Ani with them as we wash their hands for them in the morning. Each day – each mo-

ment – we spend teaching them and modeling for them a Torah lifestyle is another link in a long chain dating back to Har Sinai.

We want every aspect of our children’s lives to be seeped in Torah ideals. We want them not just to bring Torah into their homes and leave it on their bookshelves – we want the air in their homes to be saturated with a Torah way of life, for them to be Torahdik Jews as naturally as they breathe in the air that surrounds them.

The best gift-givers are those who know the recipient of the gift and know what gift would make the recipient most happy. Even though we received the Torah as a nation, we each, individually, received that gift. It’s a tailor-made bequest that we each connect with on our level and in our own way.

Think about the young mother who soothes her children to sleep with the words of Shema. Think about the sixteen-year-old boy who struggles with his pages of Gemara. Think about the businessman who conducts his business with yashrus, davens with a minyan three times a day, and manages to attend a Daf Yomi shiur at night. Think about the little girl in Bais Yaakov who listens, enthralled, as her morah tells her what happened in the parsha that week.

Each person, on their level. Each person, connecting. Each person, reaching higher.

That is the beauty of the eternal gift that we received thousands of years ago. Wishing you a beautiful yom tov, Shoshana

Yitzy

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Shavous Zemanim

Thursday, May 25

Candle Lighting: 7:56 pm

Friday, May 26

Candle Lighting: 7:56 pm

Shabbos Ends: 9:05 pm

Rabbeinu Tam: 9:28 pm

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Dear Editor,

Who doesn’t want to take a stroll with the G-d of Malchut, Kingship, and Shiflut, lowliness, in Gan Eden? Dovid HaMelech, symbolic of Malchut in this world, who was able to reach Shiflut, was framed as someone who was fit to take this stroll (Sanhedrin 102a). He reached a level of absolute humility, the quality necessary to gain an intimate closeness with the Shechinah, the Creator. At Sinai G-d lowered Himself to us, to the world of Assiah, action. This could only have occurred because of the unique circumstances that were present at Sinai: a lowly mountain, a people at the lower part of the mountain, a barren desert where people can realize their vulnerabilities and to a people who united, a reality only possible through nullification of self and the disclaiming of personal kavod, honor. Lowliness and nullification of self is what’s required to dance with the Shechinah. It doesn’t have to be exclusive of the Davidic dynasty but is open to all who completely eradicate their ego.

Steven Genack

Dear Editor,

About a month ago, I wrote a letter about the importance of being kind and helpful to others as part of daily life. Today, something amazing happened to me. I was headed to Lunch and Learn at Traditions Restaurant. In the parking lot, I approached the meter station, entered my spot #, which was 36, and in-

serted my charge card. It did not register, and I was trying to determine what I did wrong. All of a sudden, a young man came up behind me and said to me, “This is your lucky day. Happy belated Mother’s Day.” I was stunned. He paid for his parking and asked me the number of my spot. We had a little conversation about my choice to park at #36, which is my habit whenever it is available.

He told me that his mom, who was niftar a couple of years ago, brought him up right and this was a way to honor her. I asked him if he was married, to which he answered, yes. I told him that his wife was a very lucky lady. I discussed with him the letter I had written about behaving with good middot in our daily lives.

After our brief conversation, the young man completed the payment for my parking, and he handed me the receipt. As he walked away, I glanced at the receipt. My parking time would be until 1:36. This coincidence, alongside a brief interaction with a special, kind and caring young man named Simon (if my memory serves me correctly) caused a major difference in my day. I had an incredible feeling of wellbeing for the remainder of the day. I believe that this “feel good” state will last me for a good while.

Yes, Simon’s mother certainly brought him up well. May her neshama have an Aliyah, and may we all follow the

Continued on page 14

Continued from page 12 example of this young man by showing kindness to others and behaving with consideration.

Leba Sonneberg

Dear Editor,

I know that you guys are Conservatives but that does not mean that you should accuse George Soros of being a Nazi collaborator. Elon Musk was way out of line and your quotes page almost seemed gleeful to quote Musk. Anti-Semitism is bad even when it is against those that you politically oppose.

Mark C.

Dear Mark,

This was forwarded to me since I put together the quotes. Firstly, I believe that every Jew has a special soul, maybe even admitted heretics. But, perhaps because my grandparents went through the Holocaust, I kind of draw the line by those that collaborated with the Nazis, such as George Soros. Now, I know that you probably don’t believe that Soros collaborated with the Nazis because in today’s hyper-partisan environment, people see no evil in others who are on their own side; you probably think that this is some Alex Jones conspiracy. Well, it’s not. Here is an exact transcript of George Soros talking about it in a “60 Minutes” interview by Steve Kroft in 1998.

Kroft prefaces the conversation by saying that Soros’ father was a wealthy lawyer and in anticipation of the dangers had fake papers made and had Soros live as the adopted godson of a Christian friend. Meaning, Soros was disguised as a Christian and not in danger himself. Here are Soros’s words:

Kroft: You are a Hungarian Jew who escaped the Holocaust by posing as a Christian.

Soros: Right.

And you watched a lot of people get shipped off to the death camps.

Soros: Right. I was 14 years old. And I would say that that’s when my character was made.

In what way?

Soros: That one should think ahead; one should understand and anticipate events and when one is threatened – it was a tremendous threat of evil. I mean, it was a very personal experience of evil.

My understanding is that you went out with this protector of yours who swore that you were his adopted godson.

Soros: Yes, yes.

You went, in fact, and helped in the

confiscation of property from the Jews.

Soros: That’s right.

I mean that sounds like an experience that would send lots of people to the psychiatric couch for many years. Was it difficult?

Soros: No. Not at all. Not at all. Maybe as a child you don’t see the connection. But it created no problem at all. No feeling of guilt?

Soros: No.

For example, “I’m Jewish and here I am watching these people go. I could just as easily be there. I should be there.” None of that?

Soros: Well, of course, I could be on the other side; I could be the one from whom the things are being taken away. Well, actually, in a funny way, just like in markets—if I was there because I wasn’t doing it, somebody else would have taken it away anyhow. In other words, whether I was there or not, I was only a spectator. The property was being taken away. I had no role in taking away that property.

Are you religious?

Soros: No.

Do you believe in G-d?

Soros: No.

You may say, “He was only 14 years old.” That is no excuse. Firstly, according to the Torah, he is considered a “bar daas” and is responsible for his actions. Secondly, he didn’t say that he was forced to do it. Rather, he gave a very nuanced explanation about why there was nothing wrong with doing it. Thirdly, remember— when the Nazis took property from our grandparents it wasn’t like, “Sir, can you kindly hand me your wallet?” It was with brutal force.

I know that terms such as Holocaust and Nazi has become a buzzword for Conservatives who disagree with wokeness, but we are talking about the actual event of the Holocaust here—Jewish men, women and children were savagely killed as the Nazis rounded them and their property up. No psychological trauma from that? Only if you saw yourself as a Nazi.

Fourthly, if you watch the clip (it is on YouTube), you will see that he does not have one morsal of regret and it almost seems like he was proud of it and would do it again. So, he is a Nazi collaborator, and I am very comfortable saying that maybe he was born Jewish, but to me, he is not a Jew at all. He should meet the same fate as all other Nazi collaborators, whether it’s on this world or the next.

Sincerely,

Nate Davis

A Fight Over Bakhmut

his men would pull out entirely because dwindling ammunition supplies and mounting losses meant there was “nothing left to grind the meat with.”

Prigozhin is a former catering boss who has grown in prominence throughout the war, and his forces have been heavily involved in the fighting.

Zelensky made a surprise appearance at the G-7, traveling halfway across the globe to address the world’s major industrial democracies in person.

The Ukrainian leader used the final day of the summit in Japan to appeal to G-7 leaders for more powerful weapons and tougher sanctions against Moscow.

He left having won a clear boost after the Biden administration dropped its objections to sending advanced fighter jets to Ukraine.

Over the weekend, the chief of the Russian private military group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claimed to have captured the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine after months of brutal fighting, saying he would hand it over to Russia later in May.

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his congratulations for “the completion of the operation to liberate Artemovsk,” Russian state news agency TASS reported the Kremlin as saying, using the Soviet-Russian name for Bakhmut.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denies that Russia has captured the city. Traveling to Japan for a meeting with the Group of Seven, G-7, Zelensky said that the destruction in Bakhmut reminded him of the devastation suffered in Hiroshima after it was hit by an atomic bomb.

“Just the same, nothing alive left, all of the buildings have been ruined,” Zelensky told a news conference.

He added, “We are keeping on, we are fighting.

“I clearly understand what is happening in Bakhmut. I can’t share the tactics of the military, but a country even bigger than ours cannot defeat us. A little time will pass, and we will be winning. Today our soldiers are in Bakhmut.”

Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU) said they were continuing to counter Russia in the city, and that they were advancing in the suburbs, making it “very difficult for the enemy to remain in Bakhmut.”

If Bakhmut is, indeed, in Russian hands, it would give a huge boost to Prigozhin, who recently announced

“I cannot now tell you how many aircraft we’ll be able to get. I cannot tell you definitely when it takes place, but we will speed it up because it’s important for us every day. We’re losing people’s lives,” Zelensky said.

At the G-7, Ukraine’s allies reiterated their support, with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying, “Ukraine must not only win the war but win a just and lasting peace.”

Flights Grounded Due to Volcanic Ash

After Mount Etna erupted on Sunday, plumes of ash blanketed the area around the volcano, including Catania airport in Sicily, Italy.

As such, flights were grounded until Monday afternoon.

The ash was produced by a paroxysmal eruption that sent lava fountains more than 6 miles into the air.

Volcanic ash clouds are a serious hazard to aviation, reducing visibility, damaging flight controls, and ultimately causing jet engines to fail.

In 2010, a volcanic eruption in Iceland sent a huge plume of ash moving across the Atlantic, causing massive disruption to air traffic across Western

Europe. In the aftermath of the crisis, international aviation regulators introduced new risk management guidance on flight safety and volcanic ash.

Mount Etna is Europe’s most active volcano, and also the highest, at about 3,350 meters (almost 11,000 feet) tall. It is located on the east coast of Sicily, just north of the city of Catania.

Etna’s eruptions are relatively frequent, resulting in a landscape that constantly changes as lava hardens, craters collapse and, in some cases, are created. It is one of Sicily’s most popular tourist attractions, with visitors able to hike up the volcano or take a cable car that connects with a 4x4 bus that takes visitors to the 2,800-meter mark.

In March 2017, a group of tourists and a BBC camera crew made a dramatic escape during an eruption.

Surrounded by steam and with boiling hot rocks pelting down on them, the group sprinted to a nearby rescue vehicle that took them to safety. Ten people were injured, but none seriously.

China Bristles at Jokes

Ng wrote on Twitter last Tuesday alongside a clip of his show.

Uncle Roger is a reference to a video that he made three years ago that shot him to fame and has been viewed 34 million times.

By Saturday, Ng’s account on China’s highly censored Weibo platform had been barred from creating new posts. A message on the page said Ng was blocked “due to the violation of relevant laws and regulations,” but gave no further details.

The sketch Ng posted on Twitter last week was filmed at his recent stand-up tour, which broached more political subjects.

In one clip, after learning that an audience member is from China’s southern Guangzhou province, “Uncle Roger” says China is a “good country.”

“We have to say that now, correct?

All their phones listening,” Ng says, drawing laughter from the crowd.

When is a joke not funny? When it is making fun of the Chinese government.

The Xi government does not seem to have a sense of humor. Nigel Ng, a Malaysian comedian, has been banned from China’s Twitter-like social media platform, days after he published clips from a live show predicting his skits about Beijing’s heavily censored politics and Chinese leader Xi Jinping would land him in trouble.

Nigel Ng, who performs under the persona “Uncle Roger,” posted a trailer of his new show on Twitter, in which he jokes about China’s surveillance state and begs the Chinese Communist Party not to “make him disappear.”

“Uncle Roger about to get canceled,”

Ng’s full stand-up show is slated for video release on June 4, the anniversary of the bloody 1989 crackdown on democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square.

He is not the first person to have ruffled Beijing’s feathers.

Last week, a joke by Chinese comedian Li Haoshi that made a loose reference to the army sparked a huge backlash from authorities, who fined the entertainment company he worked for more than $2 million and banned it from staging performances in major cities.

Police also launched an investigation into Li, who now faces the prospect of jail time. Li, who has canceled all his work, also had his posting rights taken away by Weibo.

He then says “long live President Xi,” before joking about his “social credit score going up,” a reference to China’s social-engineering style project that uses big data and a combination of rewards and punishments to incentivize good behavior.

To gasps from the audience, he also tackles the subject of Taiwan, saying it is “not a real country” and would “one day rejoin the motherland” – echoing the position of China’s Communist Party, which regards the island democracy as its own territory.

He then asks the audience member from Guangzhou to put in a good word for him with the authorities.

“Uncle Roger good comrades,” he quipped. “Don’t make him disappear, please.”

Ng was born in Kuala Lumpur and now lives in Britain.

leaders of only four out of 22 major countries studied had approval ratings above 50%: Narendra Modi of India, Alain Berset of Switzerland, Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico, and Anthony Albanese of Australia.

Leaders Meet at G-7

They come from far corners of the globe, speak different languages, span the ideological spectrum and range in age from 43 to 80. But one thing President Joe Biden and the other leaders of the Group of 7 meeting in Japan last weekend have in common? They’re not

all that popular at home.

For Biden and his counterparts from the world’s leading industrial powers, it is an age of democratic discontent when electorates seem perpetually dissatisfied with the presidents and prime ministers they have chosen. Each leader is in hot water for different reasons, but their shared struggles highlight the fragility of free societies in a time of deep political and cultural divisions.

That has made this year’s summit

meeting in Hiroshima something of a “lonely hearts club,” in the phrase of one specialist, where unloved leaders can commiserate over their domestic troubles and trade ideas for how to get back into the good graces of their voters. A few days away from home to engage peers on the world stage can be a welcome relief for battered leaders, a chance to play the role of statesman shaping the forces of history.

Survey data compiled by Morning Consult in recent days indicated that the

No G-7 leader, by contrast, could muster the support of a majority. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, elected last fall, fared best with a 49% approval rating, according to Morning Consult, followed by Biden with 42%, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada with 39%, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany with 34%, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain with 33% and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan with 31%. President Emmanuel Macron of France trailed the pack with a dismal 25%. (© The New York Times)

Meta Mega Fine

Meta has been fined a recordbreaking €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) by European Union regulators for violating EU privacy laws by transferring the personal data of Facebook users to servers in the United States.

The European Data Protection Board announced the fine in a statement on Monday, saying it followed an inquiry into Facebook by the Irish Data Protection Commission, the chief regulator overseeing Meta’s operations in Europe.

The EU regulator said the processing and storage of personal data in the United States went against Europe’s signature data privacy law, known as the General Data Protection Regulation.

The fine is the largest ever levied under GDPR. The previous record of €746 million ($805.7 million) was levied against Amazon in 2021.

Meta has also been ordered to cease the processing of personal data of

European users in the United States within six months.

Meta’s infringement is “very serious since it concerns transfers that are systematic, repetitive and continuous,” said Andrea Jelinek, chair of the European Data Protection Board.

“Facebook has millions of users in Europe, so the volume of personal data transferred is massive. The unprecedented fine is a strong signal to organizations that serious infringements have

far-reaching consequences,” she added.

Meta, which also owns WhatsApp and Instagram, said it would appeal the ruling, including the fine. There would be no immediate disruption to Facebook in Europe, it added.

The company said the root of the issue stemmed from a “conflict of law” between U.S. rules on access to data and the privacy rights of Europeans. EU and U.S. policymakers were on a “clear path” to resolving this conflict

under a new transatlantic Data Privacy Framework.

trol. The blaze started in the basement of Manila’s historic post office building on Sunday night, with flames destroying the 100-year-old building overnight.

Seven people were injured in the fire.

Fire Destroys Manila’s Historic Building

It took firefighters seven hours to get a fire in Manila, Philippines, under con-

The Manila Central Post Office was one of the capital’s busiest office buildings but was closed when the fire started. The building was the country’s main mail-sorting and distribution hub and was the central office for the Philippine Postal Corporation.

The building, recognized as a national landmark, was built in 1926 with high columns in the traditional neoclassical style. It was severely damaged during World War II and was rebuilt in 1946.

Deadly Crush at Soccer Stadium

At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured on Saturday in a crush at a soccer stadium in the capital of El Salvador.

Police are saying that too many tickets were sold, along with fraudulent ones that led to too many people at the stadium.

“The first information points to a stampede of fans who tried to enter to watch the match between Alianza and FAS” at the Cuscatlán Stadium, police said.

Around 90 people, including minors, are being treated for injuries. Most are in “stable” condition.

The incident took place in an area of the stadium “where a human stampede broke out due to the overselling of tickets, which has left 500 people affected,” the director of the National Civil Protection System of El Salvador, Luis Alonso Amaya, said at a press conference on Sunday.

President Nayib Bukele said an “exhaustive investigation” into the incident would be carried out by the national police and the attorney general’s office.

“Everyone will be investigated: teams, managers, stadium, ticket office, league, federation, etc. Whoever the culprits are, they will not go unpunished,” Bukele tweeted.

“Fans have shown that they were sold faked tickets and allowed entry. Others talk about overselling on the black market. As it happened, President Nayib Bukele has ordered an exhaustive investigation so that nothing goes unpunished,” the Minister of the Interior and Territorial Development, Juan Carlos Bidegain, said on Twitter on Sunday.

Alianza and FAS are two of the most popular soccer teams in the Central American country.

China Stops Sales of Some U.S. Memory Chips

Beijing on Sunday told Chinese companies that deal with critical information

to stop purchasing products from Micron Technology, the U.S.-based manufacturer of memory chips used in phones, computers and other electronics. Many analysts viewed the move as retaliation for Washington’s efforts to cut off China’s access to high-end chips.

from selling its chips to key companies could have a ripple effect through China’s supply chains, as Micron’s Chinese customers seek to replace the U.S. memory chips with homegrown or Korean versions. South Korean chipmakers such as Samsung and SK Hynix are Micron’s competitors and do significant business with China.

Center, said that among the risks was the potential for further sanctions by Washington that could cut off important Chinese companies from Micron’s memory chips.

In a statement on its official social media site, the Cyberspace Administration of China said that in a cybersecurity review, it had found that the chipmaker’s products posed “relatively serious cybersecurity problems.” The problems could “seriously endanger the supply chain of China’s critical information infrastructure” and threaten national security, it said.

China’s action is the latest volley in an economic tit-for-tat between Beijing and Washington that is rearranging the fabric of a sprawling global microchip industry. The decision to bar Micron

Beijing initiated a cybersecurity review of Micron in late March as part of what it called a “normal regulatory measure.” The announcement came after Washington rolled out restrictions in October against China’s semiconductor industry. Micron said at the time that it was “cooperating fully” with the investigation and that its China business was operating as normal.

In a statement, the company said it was “evaluating the conclusion and assessing our next steps,” adding that it was “continuing to engage in discussions with Chinese authorities.”

Chinese authorities offered few clues about what they had discovered that posed serious risks. They have also provided little information about what is required of companies during a cybersecurity review. But Graham Webster, editor-in-chief of the DigiChina Project at the Stanford University Cyber Policy

Micron, which is based in Boise, Idaho, built its first factory in China in 2007. In recent years, as relations between the United States and China cooled, it has begun to downsize its operations, reducing the number of Chinese staff and shutting down some operations. As of April, it had about 3,000 employees in Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen. (© The New York Times)

Yeshiva Funding in Budget

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich promised to boost funding for charedi yeshiva students and their families by up to NIS 250 million on Monday, in

exchange for the United Torah Judaism party’s support for the state budget the government presented to the Knesset earlier in the day.

But new funds aren’t going to be used for the yeshiva system. Instead, the money will be transferred from within the current two-year budget framework, which allocates NIS 484 billion ($133 billion) for 2023 and NIS 514 billion ($141 billion) for 2024.

of the Agudath Yisrael and Degel HaTorah factions.

Netanyahu and Smotrich need 61 votes to pass the budget by May 29 or face snap elections. Now that UTJ is comfortable with moving forward, the two will need to garner the approval from the Otzma Yehudit party, which holds six of the coalition’s 64 votes and is also demanding more funding for its priorities in exchange for support.

In addition, MK Avi Maoz threatened as recently as Friday to vote against the budget if his Jewish national identity office is not awarded hundreds of millions of shekels, as promised in coalition deals with Likud. In control of only one seat, Maoz is not necessary to pass the budget, should Otzma Yehudit firm up its support.

additions to the budget, saying that the charedi world does not enter the military and accusing charedi schools of not teaching certain subjects. Last week, a prominent television personality called charedim “bloodsuckers” who “milk” taxpaying Israel. Swarms of largely secular budget protesters massed in a charedi neighborhood this week in protest.

UTJ MK Moshe Gafni, who chairs the Finance Committee, addressed these incidents of “incitement” while presenting the trillion-shekel state budget to the Knesset on Monday morning.

“I’m not a sucker, I’m also not a thief. I am a citizen of Israel,” said Gafni, “and I do what I want.”

“Looking at what the left does to us; it’s clear why we’re so committed to going with the right wing,” he added.

dirt bikes, and blew up Israeli flags and a wall meant to represent the Israel-Lebanese border, AP reported

Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine said in a speech that the exercise was meant to “confirm our complete readiness” to confront Israeli aggression. He also referred to the terrorist group’s possession of precision-guided missiles, which he said Israel would see “later.”

The NIS 250 million boost is expected to come from an already allocated NIS 3.7 billion to increase stipends to yeshiva students, who will also receive retroactive compensation to cover the full calendar year 2023. Likud specified that if further amounts are required, they could be pulled from any surplus in NIS 1.2 billion in discretionary funds already allocated for charedi schools.

United Torah Judaism is an alliance

In addition to the NIS 4.9 billion of discretionary funds that Orthodox schools and religious scholars were allocated mid-May, another NIS 1 billion was provided for a food stamp program demanded by the Shas party, as well as additional funds for charedi education, building religious buildings, and supporting charedi Jewish culture and identity.

Some of those in the secular corners of Israeli society are critical of these

Hezbollah Shows Off War Games

The Hezbollah terrorist group extended a rare invitation to the media to observe military exercises at a training site in southern Lebanon on Sunday.

Hezbollah fighters jumped through flaming hoops, shot from the backs of

The exercise may have been connected to “Liberation Day,” an annual celebration of the withdrawal of Israeli forces from south Lebanon on May 25, 2000.

Israeli forces have occasionally invited journalists to watch military exercises simulating a confrontation with Hezbollah.

The IDF declined to comment on the Hezbollah exercise.

Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow and Hezbollah researcher at the

Carnegie Middle East Center, said the exercise on Sunday was a lower-risk way to show force than firing rockets at Israel.

While Hezbollah is “sending a message to the Israelis, it also demonstrates that this time around, they don’t want to escalate,” he said.

Israel, which carries out strikes on Hezbollah and Iranian targets in neighboring Syria with regularity, conducted a rarer strike on southern Lebanon last month after terrorists fired nearly three

dozen rockets from there, wounding two and causing property damage.

Elias Farhat, a retired Lebanese army general, told AP that Hezbollah’s “symbolic show of strength” on Sunday may have also been in response to the recent escalation in the Gaza Strip. Israel targeted several high-level members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another Iranian proxy, in the Strip in early May. (JNS)

Direct Flights to Saudi Arabia?

make the journey to Mecca are required to do so once in their lifetime. This year’s Hajj pilgrimage is set to take place from June 26 to July 1.

Israel and Saudi Arabia are in talks to enable direct flights from Israel to Jeddah, near Mecca, to help Israeli Muslims travel on the Hajj pilgrimage. The agreement could come to fruition as soon as next month.

Muslims who are physically able to

As of now, Saudi Arabia accepts Muslim pilgrims arriving from Israel to Mecca but requires them to travel through a third country, increasing the cost of the already pricey journey. According to Maariv, 2,700 Israelis embarked on the pilgrimage in 2022, and this year, the figure is expected to almost double to 4,500.

In a historic move last year, Saudi Arabia announced that it opened its airspace to all civilian overflights, hours before U.S. President Joe Biden became the first U.S. leader to directly fly from Israel to the Gulf nation. Expectations at the time that Riyadh would also approve the Hajj flights were not realized.

“There’s a good chance we can advance a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia,” Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told Channel 12 over the weekend. “I assume there is definitely a chance in half a year, or in the coming year,” he said.

Despite the possible agreement, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed his commitment to Palestinian statehood at the Arab League summit on Friday, calling it a “central issue for Arab countries, and it is at the top of the kingdom’s priorities.” This has long been Riyadh’s stance, with the kingdom advocating for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conundrum.

Saudi Arabia’s decision in March to renew ties with Iran after over half a decade was also seen by some as a setback for normalization between the kingdom and Israel.

A Return to Homesh

This week, Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fuchs, head of the IDF Central Command, signed an order allowing Israelis to return to Homesh, one of the four Jewish communities in the Shomron evacuated in the 2005 Disengagement

The order, which was shared on social

media on Saturday night, also placed the area within the jurisdiction of the Samaria Regional Council.

oversees civilian policies in Judea and Samaria as a minister in the Defense Ministry, praised the move in a Twitter post on Saturday night.

“We promised to regulate the continuation of Torah study in the yeshivah in Homesh and we are keeping it … thanks to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for the cooperation in arranging the yeshiva,” Smotrich wrote.

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, also praised the move.

$38 Million for Codex Sassoon

mission, realizing the historic significance of Codex Sassoon, to see that it resides in a place with global access to all people.”

The 1,100-year-old manuscript is the world’s oldest nearly complete copy of the Hebrew Bible. It was handwritten on 792 pages of sheepskin and includes all 24 books of Tanach and is missing only about eight pages.

The seller, Swiss financier and collector Jacqui Safra, had owned the volume since 1989.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last week instructed Fuchs to sign the order that ends the ban on Jews living in Homesh.

The Knesset in March repealed articles of the law banning Israelis from entering and residing in the four communities. The Gaza Disengagement led to the evacuation and destruction of Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim and Kadim in the Shomron and 21 communities in the Gaza Strip.

The new plan would see the Homesh Yeshivah moved to nearby state-owned land, legalizing the place of Jewish learning.

Religious Zionism Party leader and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who

“This is a day of celebration, an important day in the history of the State of Israel, a day when historical justice was done for one of the greatest injustices done in this country to the Land of Israel and to Israeli citizens,” Dagan said.

“I congratulate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and this government for this brave and important move that will go down in the history books of the State of Israel, a move by leaders who dared to change the reality and make it right. We turned to the future: to settlement, to construction and to the flowering of the wilderness that was imposed on us.”

(JNS)

Last week, what is said to be the world’s oldest biblical manuscript sold for a whopping $38 million, becoming among the most expensive books ever bought.

The Codex Sassoon, a leather-bound, handwritten parchment volume containing a nearly complete Hebrew Bible, was purchased by former U.S. Ambassador to Romania Alfred H. Moses on behalf of the American Friends of ANU and donated to ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, where it will join the collection, the Sotheby’s auction house said in statement.

“The Hebrew Bible is the most influential book in history and constitutes the bedrock of Western civilization. I rejoice in knowing it belongs to the Jewish people,” Moses said in a statement. “It was my

Not many people had the funds to purchase the manuscript and the bidding took less than six minutes at Sotheby’s. The auction house had estimated that the item would sell for anywhere from $30 million to $50 million. The “gavel price” was $33.5 million, but with fees and premiums, the final price tag reached $38.1 million.

Sotheby’s Judaica specialist Sharon Liberman Mintz said the $38 million price tag “reflects the profound power, influence, and significance of the Hebrew Bible, which is an indispensable pillar of humanity.”

The Codex Sassoon is believed to have been made sometime between 880 and 960. It got its name in 1929 when it was purchased by David Solomon Sassoon, a son of an Iraqi Jewish business magnate who filled his London home with his collection of Jewish manuscripts.

Sassoon’s estate was broken up after he died, and the biblical codex was sold by Sotheby’s in Zurich in 1978 to the British Rail Pension Fund for around $320,000, or $1.4 million in today’s dollars. The pension fund sold the Codex Sassoon 11 years later to Safra, a banker and art collector, for $3.19 million ($7.7 million in today’s dollars).

3, 2, 1 Liftoff

into orbit.

The journey, put together by the Houston-based company Axiom Space, marks the second all-private mission to an orbiting outpost. Called AX-2, the mission is making history as stem cell researcher Rayyanah Barnawi becomes the first woman from Saudi Arabia to travel to space.

The crew was expected to spend the next 16 hours aboard Crew Dragon as it free-flies through Earth’s orbit. They will be spending a week at the International Space Station.

The AX-2 crew is being led by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, 63, now an Axiom employee. With this mission, Whitson also became the first woman to command a private spaceflight.

about eight days working alongside the existing crew members. During that time, they’ll work through a lineup of more than 20 investigations and science projects — including stem cell and other biomedical research.

Barnawi and AlQarni are only the second and third Saudis to travel to space. The first was Prince Sultan bin Salman, who spent about a week on a NASA space shuttle mission in 1985.

Tim Scott Throws Hat Into the Ring

is why I am announcing today that I am running for president of the United States of America.”

Scott is the most prominent Black figure in the Republican Party.

Scott’s bid has been months in the works as he teased his announcement in recent weeks, first announcing an exploratory committee in April and then officially filing the paperwork on Friday to run. He joins a rapidly expanding field of contenders looking to knock off former President Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner who holds a commanding lead in GOP primary polls.

It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon in Florida when SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket roared to life, carrying the Crew Dragon capsule and its four passengers

One of the three paying customers joining her is John Shoffner, an American who made his fortune in the international telecom business and founded the hardware company Dura-Line Corp. Saudi Arabia also paid to fly two citizens: Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, a fighter pilot in the Royal Saudi Air Force, to join the journey. The AX-2 crew joins seven astronauts already aboard the space station.

The AX-2 passengers will spend

On Monday, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott formally entered the Republican presidential primary.

“Joe Biden and the radical left are attacking every rung of the ladder that helped me climb,” Scott said. “And that

Scott was first appointed to the Senate from South Carolina in 2012, by then-Gov. Nikki Haley — now a presidential rival — to replace retiring Sen. Jim DeMint. Scott later won the election to fill the rest of his term in 2014 and went on to win full terms in 2016 and again last year. Scott’s political career began in the Charleston County Council in the mid-1990s before serving in the state House and the U.S. House.

With Scott and Haley, there are now two high-profile South Carolina politicians in the GOP race. After her governorship, Haley served in the Trump administration as the U.S. ambassador

to the United Nations. South Carolina’s early primary has long been considered one of the most important on the presidential nominating calendar.

Scott, 57, is no stranger to pathbreaking campaigns. In 2010, he became the first Black Republican elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina in more than a century. Years later, after being appointed to his Senate seat (he won a special election to retain the seat), Scott made history as the first Black U.S. Senator from his native South Carolina.

The South Carolina senator received a boost on Sunday, less than 24 hours before his kick-off event, when news broke that his colleague Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, planned to endorse him.

“I think he’d be a great candidate. I’m excited about it. I’ve been encouraging him,” Thune said. “I think he’s getting a lot of encouragement from his colleagues. He’s really well thought of and respected.”

Chemical Still Missing in Train Derailment

arrived in Saltdale, California.

“The initial assessment is that a leak through the bottom gate on the rail car may have developed in transit,” the statement said.

A report made on May 10 to the National Response Center, a federal emergency call center for railroad incidents, said the rail car left Wyoming on April 12 and arrived in California empty.

Dyno Nobel said the rail car was transported back to Wyoming for further investigation and that it had “limited control” of the train’s activity while the cargo was being transported.

The chemical by itself is relatively harmless, but it can explode if it is added to a fuel source and subjected to heat and pressure.

“Ammonium nitrate is certainly a well-known disaster risk,” said Fred Millar, an independent chemical disaster expert.

In August 2020, more than 2,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse in the port of Beirut exploded, killing more than 200 people, injuring another 6,000 and causing widespread damage to the city. (© The New York Times)

About 60,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used as a fertilizer and in explosives, went missing on a rail shipment from Wyoming to California in April and has still not been found, officials said.

Dyno Nobel, an explosive manufacturing company, notified the federal government of the loss and said in a statement that it was investigating what happened during the nearly two-week journey.

The company said the rail car with the material was sealed when it left a manufacturing site in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and the seals “were still intact” when it

Kristen South, a spokesperson for the rail carrier, Union Pacific, said in a statement that the company’s investigation was in its “early stages.”

“The fertilizer is designed for ground application and quick soil absorption,” South said. “If the loss resulted from a rail car leak over the course of transportation from origin to destination, the release should pose no risk to public health or the environment.”

Ammonium nitrate is used mainly as a fertilizer. It is also used to manufacture first aid products, such as cold packs, and as an explosive in mining and construction, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Biden Tackles Homelessness

In an effort to stem the homeless epidemic in six major cities around

the country, the Biden administration launched a new initiative last week, accelerating local efforts as part of a larger goal to reduce the country’s homelessness by 25% by 2025.

The initiative – called “ALL INside” – will see the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and its 19 federal member agencies partner with state and municipal governments in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, the Phoenix, Arizona, metro area, Seattle and the state of California to fast-track efforts toward housing unsheltered people.

According to the federally mandated Point in Time Count conducted every year by HUD to count the nation’s homeless population, there were 582,462 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2022.

In a fiery exchange during a hearing on crime in the District of Columbia last week, South Carolina Republican Rep. William Timmons and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser traded barbs over the city’s homelessness population, with Bowser telling the GOP lawmaker there are only 221 people experiencing homelessness in the city – a figure Timmons disputed.

“There’s 221 people living under

395, we can go right now, it’s 300 yards away, what are you talking about?” Timmons told Bowser.

“I’m talking about facts, and there are not 300 people under 295 or 395,” Bowser responded.

Thursday’s announcement targeting homeless also comes as the Biden administration warns that budget proposals from House Republicans would slash funding for public aid programs.

The Department of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Social Security Agency, Department of Labor, Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies will also take steps under Thursday’s announcement to coordinate housing for unhoused Americans.

According to the Biden administration, funding for the program will build on the $2.5 billion in funding to prevent homelessness under the administration’s American Rescue Plan and $486 million in HUD funding earlier this year.

Altogether, the federal government made a historic $70 billion investment to help people find and keep their housing during the Covid-19 pandemic. The funds, approved by Congress, included money for rental assistance,

emergency housing vouchers that families at risk of homelessness could use to pay rent, as well as money that went directly to cities and counties to build or acquire more affordable housing.

Disney Won’t Build Offices in FL

is working with guests to rebook reservations for later in the year.

The head of the state’s Democratic party slammed the governor’s “unhinged personal vendetta against Disney” for costing Florida 2,000 jobs and millions in additional revenue.

“DeSantis has single-handedly and decidedly made Florida an anti-business state,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried in a statement. “Unfortunately, today’s news isn’t a shock for those of us who have been living through his reign of terror, and Floridians are already paying a high price.”

It’s the feud that keeps on feuding.

On Thursday, Disney announced that it is scrapping plans to build a $1 billion office complex in Florida, citing “changing business conditions,” according to a memo provided by a Disney spokesperson.

The Lake Nona development was envisioned as a regional hub for parks and resorts. Most of the 2,000 jobs, which included roles in finance, technology, and marketing, were set to be moved from California.

Already around 200 people had moved to Florida, the spokesperson said, and an unspecified number of people had quit.

“We will no longer be asking our employees to relocate,” the memo stated. “For those who have already moved, we will talk to you individually about your situation, including the possibility of moving you back.”

The company has had an ongoing feud with Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.

A spokesperson for DeSantis said it was “unsurprising” that Disney would cancel the project “given the company’s financial straits, falling market cap and declining stock price.”

Disney, along with the broader media industry, is grappling with a difficult advertising environment and a massive writers strike. Earlier this year, it announced it would be cutting 7,000 jobs as part of a cost-cutting effort.

Separately, the company confirmed on Thursday that it would shut down its Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser resort at Disney World just over a year after it opened. The popular attraction “will take its final voyage” at the end of September, Disney said, adding that it

Disney had been feuding with the governor over DeSantis’s legislation regarding education in schools. The governor then moved to take over the company’s special tax district setting rules for Disney World and surrounding areas. DeSantis has tried to install a hand-picked board to oversee the district. Before the Florida government selected the board in February, Disney had reached agreements with the outgoing board that limited the power of DeSantis’ appointees.

Montana Bans TikTok

Last week, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill banning TikTok in the state.

Gianforte tweeted that he has banned TikTok in Montana “to protect Montanans’ personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party,” officially making it the first state to ban the social media application.

Montana’s new law – set to take effect in January – is the farthest a state has gone to restrict TikTok over security concerns and comes as some federal lawmakers have called for a national ban of TikTok. It outlines a possible $10,000 per day fine for violators.

The law is expected to be challenged in court.

Last month, lawmakers in Montana’s House of Representatives voted 54-43 to pass the bill, known as SB419, sending it to Gianforte’s desk.

TikTok said it would push to defend the rights of users in Montana.

“Governor Gianforte has signed a bill that infringes on the First Amendment rights of the people of Montana by unlawfully banning TikTok, a platform that empowers hundreds of thousands of people across the state. We want to reassure Montanans that they can continue using TikTok to express themselves, earn a living, and find community as we continue working to defend the rights of our users inside and outside of Montana,” the company said in a statement.

TikTok is owned by China-based ByteDance. Many U.S. officials have expressed fears that the Chinese government could potentially access U.S. data via TikTok for spying purposes.

NetChoice, a technology trade group that includes TikTok as a member, called the Montana bill unconstitutional.

“The government may not block our ability to access constitutionally protected speech – whether it is in a newspaper, on a website or via an app. In implementing this law, Montana ignores the U.S. Constitution, due process and free speech by denying access to a website and apps their

citizens want to use,” said Carl Szabo, NetChoice’s general counsel.

The ACLU also pushed back on the bill, releasing a statement saying that “with this ban, Governor Gianforte and the Montana legislature have trampled on the free speech of hundreds of thousands of Montanans who use the app to express themselves, gather information, and run their small business in the name of anti-Chinese sentiment.”

Immigrants are 18.1% of Labor Force

It’s the highest level on record since 1996.

The number of foreign- and native-born people aged 16 and up in the workforce totaled more than 164 million in 2022, according to the Department of Labor’s annual report on foreign-born workers released last week, which surveyed about 60,000 households monthly. Of them, 29.8 million were immigrants, either working or actively seeking jobs — a 6.3% increase from the 1.8 million foreign-born workers in the U.S. workforce in 2021.

The documents showed that foreign-born workers accounted for the majority of growth — 6% — of America’s labor force last year, while native-born workers only accounted for 1%.

The report also concluded that immigrants over age 16 are more likely to participate in the labor force than their U.S.-born counterparts. In 2022, 65.9% of foreign-born workers were more likely to be employed or looking for jobs in the American labor market, compared to 61.5% of native workers.

native men’s active involvement.

When it came to earnings, foreign-born workers took home less on average in 2022. Full-time wage and salary workers born in the U.S. brought home a median of $1,087 weekly, while immigrant weekly earnings averaged $945.

The types of jobs also differed. Immigrants held more jobs in natural resource, construction and maintenance occupations and production, transportation and material moving occupations.

Native-born workers, however, held more jobs in management, professional and related occupations, as well as sales and office occupations.

DUI

More foreign-born workers are making up the U.S. labor force, according to a recent Department of Labor report. In 2022, immigrant workers were 18.1% of the workforce – up from 17.4% in 2021.

When broken down by gender, women had approximately the same level of participation in the workforce regardless of origin. When it comes to men, though, immigrant men showed 77.4% participation, a dramatic difference from 66% of

Since recreational marijuana was legalized statewide in March 2021, weed now seems ubiquitous on New York City

roadways. At smoke shops, customers drive off after blazing up. In motion or at red lights, smoke wafts from car windows.

“It’s coming from all walks of life. It’s all over the city,” said Jayson Vasquez, 39, who has worked as a bike messenger in New York City for 13 years. He sees and smells more and more drivers smoking, even as they negotiate heavy weekday traffic, puffing away behind the wheel and straying from their lanes.

State law still forbids smoking pot before or while driving. On paper, the consequences for driving high are similar to drunken-driving charges: First offenders face fines of up to $1,000, a six-month license revocation and possibly as much as a year in jail.

But arrests are scant in New York, a city of 8.5 million residents with more than 2 million cars and 36,000 police officers. Police officials said they arrested 204 people last year for driving under the influence of drugs, and at least 83 so far this year. It is unclear how many arrests were for marijuana, because police officials do not break down arrests by type of substance. By comparison, there were 3,291 arrests last year for drinking and driving.

In explaining the low arrest num-

bers, New York City police officials noted numerous hurdles in cracking down on driving high: the lack of a Breathalyzer-type device for evaluating blood marijuana levels, the difficulty in proving impairment, and legal limitations when apprehending stoned drivers. By contrast, alcohol arrests are more straightforward, typically based on breath tests and clear rules on impairment linked to blood alcohol levels.

Cannabis increases the risk of collisions by delaying reactions, altering time and distance perception, and affecting motor coordination and focus, said Sgt. Donald Schneider, a Queens-based member of the New York City Police Department’s highway patrol who oversees the department’s testing of drug-impaired drivers.

“You lose the ability to multitask and that’s why it’s so dangerous for driving,” said Schneider, one of the department’s 19 certified drug recognition experts, specialized officers who can evaluate whether an arrested driver is truly impaired. (© The New York Times)

Cutting Water Usage in the Southwest

Three Southwest states announced this week that they struck a historic deal to cut millions of gallons of Colorado River water usage over the next four years, in an effort to stave off a crisis at the nation’s largest reservoirs.

The deal between California, Arizona and Nevada agrees to cut at least 3 million acre-feet of water through 2026 – around 10% of the states’ Colorado River allocation – water that would otherwise be used to irrigate farms, generate hydropower, or feed municipal drinking water systems.

About 1.5 million acre-feet of that water is set to be cut by the end of 2024. Most of the cuts would be compensated with at least $1 billion in federal funds from the Inflation Reduction Act.

The four states that make up the river’s upper basin – Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico – said they supported reviewing the new plan.

The Colorado River system provides water to more than 40 million people in the West. But that system has shown alarming water loss in recent years after a multiyear drought collided with decades of overuse.

Western and federal officials have scrambled to reach an agreement to boost water levels at the nation’s largest reservoirs, Lakes Mead and Powell, and prevent them from plummeting to so-called dead pools, at which point water would no longer flow through their dams.

The deal would also allow for the federal government to step in and make additional cuts should Mead and Powell levels drop further. Those cuts would be triggered if Mead fell to 1,000 feet and Powell fell to 3,500 feet – just over each reservoir’s dead-pool level.

Is Feinstein Fit for Office?

Senator Dianne Feinstein had been conspicuously missing from the Sen -

ate for three months. Last week, the 89-year-old Democrat – who said she had been recovering from shingles at home in California – returned to the U.S. Senate.

Democrats were overjoyed upon Feinstein’s return. Her presence means that the Senate Democratic Caucus will be at full attendance – since both Feinstein and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman had been absent for much of the spring – and that the one-seat margin Democrats held on the powerful Judiciary Committee would be reconstituted to help advance President Joe Biden’s judicial nominations.

Feinstein had to be wheeled into the Capitol on a wheelchair.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer personally greeted Feinstein and said Feinstein was “exactly where she wants to be, ready to do the things she loves the most – serving the people of California.”

First elected to the Senate in 1992, she is the longest-serving woman senator in U.S. history.

Despite returning to great applause, some are wondering if Feinstein is fit for the job. Last week, her office said that she is still “experiencing some side effects” from shingles and her doctors have advised her to “work a lighter schedule” as she returned to the Senate. During her arrival at the Capitol for votes, she appeared confused and was heard asking staff, “Where am I going?”

When asked by reporters about her absence, Feinstein insisted, “I haven’t been gone. I’ve been here, I’ve been voting. Please, either know or don’t know.” It is not clear if Feinstein was referring to just the past week since her return or referring to the past several months while she was recovering at home.

Questions about a senator’s health, and whispers about their fitness to serve, are not new. In the past decades, the median age of the Senate has ticked increasingly upward, with the 118th Congress median age at 65.3 years, according to the Pew Research Center.

The current Senate has multiple members in their eighties, including Feinstein, Senate Minority Leader

Mitch McConnell, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley. Another 41 Senators are at least sixty-seven years old, the official retirement age in the United States.

In recent years, there have been prolonged absences by members of the Senate, notably Arizona Sen. John McCain, who battled brain cancer and was absent from the Senate almost eight months but never faced calls from his colleagues to resign his seat.

The late Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran was also out for several weeks with lingering health issues in the fall of 2017, and faced questions about his metal fitness, appearing frail and pale when he returned. The then-chairman of the influential Senate Appropriations Committee told reporters that he was fit to serve, and said at the time that he planned to run again in 2020, saying, “It’s up to the people to decide. I think I am.”

But the 79-year-old Republican needed to be guided by staffers to a “Senators Only” elevator to find his way to the Senate floor. Cochran resigned from the Senate the following March.

Feinstein has announced that she will not run for re-election in 2024.

World’s Most Expensive Ice Cream

Those wishing to taste this costly non-kosher confection can order it off the website.

What makes this frozen dessert so expensive?

The ice cream has white truffles from Italy that are sourced from the city of Alba and that cost as much as $14,500 per kilogram. It’s also topped off by an edible gold leaf, two types of cheese, and “Sakekasu,” a paste-like ingredient derived from the process of sake-making.

“It took us over 1.5 years to develop, with a lot of trials and errors to get the taste right,” a representative from the company told Guinness World Records.

If you’re able to afford this overthe-top dessert, there is a specific way to eat it. Cellato tells patrons to pour in the white truffle at the right texture just as the ice cream softens up before mixing it with a handcrafted metal spoon given to them.

They are advised to let the ice cream defrost at room temperature or microwave it at 500 watts for 10 to 20 seconds, if the texture is too hard.

Oh, and they recommend pairing the tasting with sake or a French white wine.

Cellato, which also has a black truffle-based offering on its menu, said it plans to diversify its eye-wateringly expensive product line to include Champagne and caviar in the future.

It’s an ice cream that makes your wallet want to scream.

Gold Burger

It’s doubtful you have enough money in your budget for one scoop of this ice cream; forget about a double scoop in a cone.

This frozen dessert, called byakuya – “white night” in Japanese – is currently fetching 880,000 yen ($6,380) for a serving in Japan, officially making it the most expensive ice cream in the world, according to Guinness World Records.

Japanese ice cream brand Cellato calls white night a gelato on its website, and the name is a hint to its Italian origins.

Speaking of expensive foods, if you enjoyed your costly ice cream and need something more substantial for lunch, head over to Philly. Patrons at the Drury Beer Garden in the City of Brotherly Love can purchase an over-the-top burger which is literally covered in gold.

The Gold Standard costs a whopping $700. For that price, you’ll get a Wagyu meat burger with caviar, fresh black truffle, lobster flambeed with cognac, topped with aged Irish cheddar and drizzled with honey.

Fries are included. As is a 1-ounce pour of Louis XIII Cognac, which

fetches around $5,000 a bottle.

George Tsiouris, a co-owner of the beer garden, told local news station NBC10 that the Gold Standard is about the joy of cooking.

“We are excited to provide our guests some amazing, creative and tasty options with our new menu concept,” he said.

We’re guessing that ketchup is off the table.

Around the World in 10 Years

The San Diego resident had to delay his visit by four years since the country (we didn’t even know it existed!) was closed to visitors due to the pandemic.

“Turkmenistan is one of the most mysterious countries on the planet, and it’s one of the most restricted when it comes to visitors,” Williams explained. “So, the only way you can visit Turkmenistan is through an approved tour company.”

At home, Williams is a radio DJ, known as R Dub. Turkmenistan was the 193rd country he visited on his journey.

Syria had also caused him delays. He had only been able to visit that country last month and was only the second tourist to be admitted since the pandemic.

Williams has now visited all 193 countries observed by the United Nations, as well as the two “observer states,” Vatican City and what is called Palestine. He also made stops in disputed territories including Kosovo, Western Sahara, and Taiwan.

But Ramblin’ Randy is not done.

Strong Man

GWR required the Ferris wheel to have at least 24 cars, each weighing at least 1,543 pounds. The total structure had to have a total weight of at least 99,208 pounds.

The amusement park ride was set into “freewheeling” mode, meaning the hydraulics and brakes were completely disengaged.

Troy Conley-Magnusson is a strong man. The 39-year-old from Australia recently added a fourth Guinness World Records title to his name by using his bare hands to spin a Ferris wheel around in 16 minutes and 55 seconds.

Conley-Magnusson achieved the feat at Sydney’s Luna Park to raise funds for the charity Little Wings, which benefits seriously ill children and their families.

“This is by far one of the hardest physical and mental challenges I have ever undertaken, and I’d done some pretty extreme feats of strength over the years,” Conley-Magnusson said.

Conley-Magnusson completed the feat in 16 minutes and 55 seconds, beating the goal of 30 minutes set by GWR.

The body builder’s previous records include heaviest vehicle pushed over 100 feet, fastest 20-meter light aircraft pull with the teeth, and most cars pulled with the teeth.

It’s been ten years, but Randy Williams has finally reached his goal.

Recently, Ramlin’ Randy visited Turkmenistan and completed his dream of visiting every country in the world.

“Well, when you run out of countries, you’ve gotta make your own. I bring you the People’s Republic of Slowjamistan,” he said. “My own country. I bought 11 acres near the salon sea, and I called it Slowjamistan. It’s my country; I am the Salton.”

Sounds like Greek to me.

The muscle man dedicated his attempt to the memory of an 11-year-old named Zac, who died last year.

“He was the strongest 11-year-old I’d ever met and my absolute hero,” Conley-Magnusson told Guinness World Records. “This record is dedicated to his memory and strength which far outweighs mine.”

“This was different; something that had never been done before and something that required 100% commitment of mind and body,” he said.

He definitely ate his Wheaties that morning.

Around the Community

Scenes from the White Shul Dinner

Photos by Naftoli Goldgrab

Rav Zevi Trenk, menahel of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, giving the children of Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Harriet Keilson Early Childhood Center a pre-Shavuos experience: each boy got a chance to wear a tallis, look inside a sefer Navi, and see the letters of his first name inside the sacred scroll.

Rabbi Yosef Eisen, rabbinic administrator of the Vaad Hakashrus of the Five Towns & Far Rockaway, spoke at Mesivta Chaim Shlomo about vigilance in kashrus while traveling over summer vacation

Former United States Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman visited his grandson’s fourth grade class at Yeshiva Darchei Torah last week, sharing his experiences and perspectives from the four years of his posting in Yerushalayim.

Yeshiva Darchei Torah third grader Dovid Zafir receiving a prize in recognition of the exemplary middos he displayed on the Lag B’Omer trip. Dovid is shown with his rebbi, Rav Yossi Sauber (left), and menahel, Rav Avrohom Bender (right).

Children at HALB Lev Chana using a quill and ink to write the Aleph-Bais letters

Mr. Richard Altabe, lower school principal of HALB and former dean of general studies at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, addressing the Darchei middle school about Mr. Molenies Sheeko, a veteran teacher who passed away suddenly in March after over 33 years at the Yeshiva.

Super Bowl at FTFL

This past weekend was the championship week of FM Home Loans Five Towns Flag Football league. We had an amazing season and can’t wait to see everyone back for next fall!

In the 2nd grade division, the Jets defeated the Commanders with Jacob Cohen’s touchdown and incredible defense.

In the 3rd and 4th grade division, the

Flatbush’s Kiruv Center, BJX

By Tzvi Cohen

Iwas surprised that BJX now has close to fifty public high school students from Murrow, Madison, Midwood and Brooklyn Tech attending weekly Torah classes. Eight young men in public high school are putting on tefillin each morning. Clearly, unbeknownst to many, there is a renaissance taking place. This past Shabbos, BJX celebrated the aufruf of a public high school graduate from Edward R. Murrow, who is on fire with his Yiddishkeit. I wondered, can another community or kiruv organization duplicate these numerous unexpected spiritual gains?

The Beis Medrash was filled with graduates from the Edward R Murrow public high school located just blocks away, on Avenue L and East 17th street. A few years back, these men were your typical public-school students. These same young men now stood in BJX, adorned in Shabbos attire, celebrating the aufruf of their classmate who not only keeps Shabbos today, but even made a Siyum on an entire Masechta!

The Rav, Rabbi Yitzchok Fingerer, delivered a heartfelt and beautiful Shabbos drasha scintillating with Torah depth

and sophistication. The Rav extolled the chosson’s sacrifice to go against the tide and become observant. Famous chazan Reb Shelly Lang magnificently called up the chosson for Maftir. The chosson’s voice resounded with Ahavas haTorah. I learned that every Shabbos a new recruit receives his first Aliyah, or first Hagbah. I began to wonder how does this kind of grand and exquisite renewal of becoming a baal teshuvah happen?

“To the onlooker, it appears unexpected and chutz mederech hatevah –because our students come from secular parents and are attending public school and secular colleges – but once you invest your full heart and spiritual kochos into them, you experience the dividends and watch them climb in their level of observance,” said Rabbi Moshe Fingerer, Director of BJX.

“BJX energizes me and pushes me to reach and expand beyond my current beliefs and opinions,” Michael, a Brooklyn College student, told me. “I learned that I make my life more meaningful, moment by moment,” he shared.

I was impressed by these individuals fired up for Yiddishkeit. How did they learn to daven and become Shomer Shabbos? Does BJX have a formula that

Packers finished a well-played final defeating the Raiders with Moshe Austein’s touchdowns, defense, and well-rounded play throughout the game.

In the 5th and 6th grade division, the Dolphins defeated the Raiders with Asher Fine’s amazing catches and defense.

In the 7th and 8th grade division, the Vikings secured the win against the Ea-

gles with Yosef Yudin’s TDP and consistent defense.

What a season it was with such great competition and middos! Registration is almost closed out for next season – can’t wait till the fall season of 5 Towns Flag Football, www.5townssports.com.

generates a spiritual awakening among secular public high school students and college students? How did a formerly unaffiliated young professional who was also davening that Shabbos in BJX, begin his spiritual ascent?

Sam explained, “When Rabbi Fingerer talks, you just declutter mentally and feel special in his presence. You feel that he is speaking to your heart.” Brian had his first aliyah. “It’s a lifestyle choice that imbues you with fulfillment,” he said.

Just as a magnet draws iron, BJX draws neshamos closer to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. With great mesiras nefesh and ahavas Yisroel, they are bringing more

and more Jews of all backgrounds closer to Yiddishkeit.

“As a result of our outreach efforts to the public schools and colleges, we Baruch Hashem have local public high school students beginning Torah classes, college students eager to join us for Shabbos, and young professionals seriously exploring their heritage,” said Rabbi Moshe Fingerer.

BJX is a great storehouse of treasures and is a blessing for the Flatbush community – and beyond. Torah quenches the thirst that underlies all thirst. It was an honor and inspiration to spend Shabbos with BJX in Flatbush.

Mr. Ralph Herzka addressing leadership students (the BJX rabbeim are in the background)

Full STEAM Ahead at YCQ Grades 4 and 5 Continue to Develop Coding Skills

Under the guidance of Morah Mazal Yusupov, students in Grades 4 and 5 at Yeshiva of Central Queens are continuing to develop their coding skills. Students are using “micro:bits,” pocket-sized computers that help introduce students to software and hardware work together. Students were given “pseudo-code” and then applied the instructions to write “code” using the micro:bit software. Students are working on making their micro:bits play different songs and coding the buttons to play, pause, and skip to the next track.

The Grade 8 SET³ After-School STEM Enrichment program had their final session this week. The finale featured an egg drop competition. The design process helped them learn about Newton’s laws of motion, kinetic and potential energy.

After their designs were complete, students dropped their eggs from the roof of the JHS building. Thank you to Mrs. Jaffe for leading SET³!

Earlier this month, 6 YCQ students were chosen to participate in a leadership Shabbaton hosted by Yachad. Hadar Basalel, Daniella Chacham, Aylea Moussaieff, Eitan Ashvil, Akiva Steinman, and Michael Zavulun ventured to Camp Kaylie where they joined 70 other students from various local yeshivot.

“We were blown away by the students who attended. They were so respectful and eager to learn and grow while having an amazing time,” remarked Mr. Eytan Aryeh, Yachad New York’s Program Director of School Engagement. “I was very impressed by how they all pushed themselves to step out of their comfort

zone and participate in all aspects of our Shabbaton,” he added.

The annual Chagigat Bnot Mitzvah for Grade 6 girls took place on May 15. Each student spoke about the meaning of their Hebrew name and a specific mitzvah they will be focusing on with this

milestone. Mothers and grandmothers came to celebrate, and each girl received a picture with her namesake and a siddur. Thank you, Morah Leemor Abraham, for organizing a beautiful event and all the Morot who participated!

FD NOW to Host 21st Annual David Z. Herman Memorial Dinner

Eighteen and half years ago, our lives changed forever three weeks after our twin girls were born, when we were told that our baby daughter had Familial Dysautonomia (FD). FD is a progressive disorder caused by a genetic mutation that is primarily found in Ashkenazi Jews. A life-threatening neurological disorder, FD affects every body system and its sufferers live in very unstable bodies. We were devastated to learn the prognosis and felt helpless in the face of what was to come for our baby girl.

Thank G-d, very soon after, our uncle

found Dr. Berish Rubin, the Head of the Laboratory for Familial Dysautonomia Research in Fordham University. Together with Dr. Sylvia Anderson, the Director of the Lab, Dr. Rubin had discovered the gene mutation that causes FD and began research on treatments for FD that followed from that discovery. We immediately began giving our baby girl the recommended treatments. It was the best decision we ever made. Within a few weeks, our daughter stopped sweating profusely and we saw more moisture in her eyes. With guidance from a feeding therapist, we learned to thicken bottles

and she began to eat without coughing on each sip. From deep despair we quickly had hope, as our beautiful girl continued to progress and develop. Over the years, our daughter has endured her share of “FD ups and downs.” There were febrile seizures and breath-holdings, swallowing difficulties and food- or infection-related crises, speech, occupational, physical and feeding therapy, scoliosis, eye abrasions, as well as several hospitalizations. However, with the introduction of a strict diet and each new treatment discovered by the Laboratory for Familial Dysautonomia Research, our daughter became crisis-free and her body became more stable and much stronger.

Thank G-d, our daughter’s health improved so much that she was able to spend this year in Israel in seminary, right along with her twin sister and friends. She is living an independent and happy life, due to the treatment advances that have turned a life-threatening condition into a chronic one with careful management. It is remarkable!

FD NOW is a volunteer organization made up of families and friends of those with FD. Funds raised by FD NOW provide the sole support for the Lab for FD Research. As our story indicates, that research has been successful and lifesaving! Since 2003, Dr. Rubin and Dr. Anderson have made 10 treatment

breakthroughs, each of which has made a drastic improvement in the overall health and quality of life of those with FD. FD NOW is committed to keeping the lab running and without sufficient funds, research will come to a halt. We need a cure for our children before time runs out!

On June 1, 2023, FD NOW is excited to host its 21st Annual David Z. Herman Memorial Dinner at the Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst, NY. Sharon and Gary Glogower are dear and devoted friends who have been supporters of FD NOW for many years. We are so pleased to have them as our guests of honor at this year’s dinner to pay tribute to their years of commitment to our children. We also honor Barry Finkel, brother to an individual with FD, with the Annual Philip Bach Memorial “Special Person” Award for his devotion to his sister and support of all those with FD. Featuring a raffle as well as good company and good food, the evening promises to be uplifting and fun. Please join us to see firsthand how scientific research has saved the lives of Jewish children afflicted with FD.

To register for the dinner or for more information, please visit our website at fdnow.org or email fdnowny@gmail. com.

Kindness And Community: Mental Health Week at SKA

In observance of National Mental Health Awareness month, the students of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls were presented with an extraordinary week-long program devoted to mental health consciousness and acts of kindness. Organized by SKA’s Guidance Department, each day of the week beginning on Monday, May 15, was dedicated to various mental health themes while highlighting kindness and respect.

Mental Health week at SKA kicked off with a powerful video on “Being a Girl” and a hands-on art project exploring the important messages that were presented. The Tuesday SKA MACS (Modesty Awareness Commiittee by Students) pro -

gram introduced members of the Reflective, a fashion website that “reflects the real you,” who spoke about their journey to modesty. Workshops after the program explored issues raised by the morning presentation, based on questions prepared by MACS committee members. In the afternoon, SKA students had the opportunity to engage in calming, cognitive activities with the opening of a Sensory Room.

Wednesday was designated “Movie Day” at SKA with the showing of Trolls and discussion of various mental health themes portrayed in the film, including treating everyone with respect. The SKA students also had the opportunity on Thursday to hear from MagenU ther-

Rising Above the Glitter

Mrs. Molly Resnick Addresses Shevach

Thursday, May 18, was a very exciting morning at Shevach High School! An erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan Kumsitz ‘n Kugel event was greatly enhanced by a presentation from a very special woman, Mrs. Molly Resnick.

Shevach Menaheles, Mrs. Shulamith Insel, introduced Mrs. Resnick with a beautiful thought that was particularly apropos. Mrs. Insel spoke about one of the miracles in the Bais Hamikdash, explaining that the geshem, the rain, did not extinguish the fire of the mizbeach. This, she shared, is a message for us all. The geshem, which is the root word of gashmiyus, materialism, should never extinguish our passion and fire for ruch-

niyus. We should not allow the outside pulls and glitter of the streets to overpower the flame that lies within us. She described Mrs. Resnick as someone who personifies this ideal.

Mrs. Resnick then shared her background with the students. Mrs. Resnick was a producer at NBC studios for many years. She had seen the world and followed the latest trends in society. She had interacted with big names like Rosalind Carter and John Travolta. Yet, she consistently noticed the lack of character and depth of the big stars and was searching for more.

On an assignment in Rio de Janeiro, she met a frum young lady and got a

apists about personal safety, space and boundaries; these issues were explored in depth throughout the interactive sessions.

A special Yom Yerushalyim presentation, therapy dogs and a chessed project on Friday wrapped up a memorable Mental Health Week at SKA. Many students commented throughout the week on how they felt validated for their concerns and their issues acknowledged. Our sincere thanks go to SKA’s Guidance Department, Dr. Chana Renov, Yael Fischman, Ruthie Feldman, Lisa Fogel, Gabby Schultz and the SKA administration and faculty members who helped facilitate the week together with the many SKA student committee members for their

work in organizing this enlightening and special week.

glimpse of the beauty of Judaism. It was at that time that Mrs. Resnick began to feel a pride in Yiddishkeit. She realized that the charge of the Jewish people is to bring morality and light to the world. She also realized she would have to sacrifice to be a part of that formula. With perseverance, education and even humor, she connected to that ideal. One year, she was offered to cover the Winter Olympics. It was not easy, but in a display of commitment to keeping Shabbos, she turned it down. It was a watershed event in her life, as that year President Carter ended up having the American athletes boycott the Olympics. Therefore, NBC did not even cover the

event. Mrs. Resnick saw that as providential and has never looked back since.

These days, Mrs. Resnik has a family that she is proud of, and is on a mission to spread her enthusiasm to young ladies today. She impresses on them that they are princesses – born into royalty. And the appreciation of that status should impel their actions day to day.

Mrs. Resnick’s words were very well received by the girls. Her words underscored Mrs. Insel’s message of keeping our flame aglow. The morning’s program made a huge impact on the Shevach students, as they approach Shavuos with a deeper appreciation of who they are and what they have.

Heroes Welcome Back One Of Their Own

ARockaway-Lawrence Hatzalah member was welcomed back home from the hospital by his fellow Hatzalah members. Baruch rofei

MTA Celebrates their Seniors

As graduation season approaches, the seniors at MTA are finishing their classes. Many are preparing for their exam with Rav Hershel Schachter, shlita, and they are completing their AP exams and going on a Senior Trip. Leading up to their completion of their time in high school, the MTA talmidim enjoyed a special evening together. On Wednesday, May 17, MTA celebrated the class of 2023 with a two-part event.

The first half of the program consisted of dinner, awards given by their grade dean, inspirational speeches by a few classmates, and a video summing up this grade’s experience at MTA. The mood was light, and rebbeim, teachers, and students felt the warmth in the room.

The parents of the seniors were in-

vited for a dessert reception, including a video showcasing each individual student, as well as a Dvar Torah by Noam Kornwasser, a member of the senior class. Dancing and Maariv rounded out the night and a good time was had by all.

The class of 2023 will be remembered as being a fun-loving, intellectually curious, and warm grade. They are a group known for their achdus, and the Senior Dinner gave everyone the opportunity to reflect on the positive impact this grade had on MTA. The spiritual growth in this grade has been exceptional, as they reached new and impressive heights in their Torah learning.

This is the last grade to graduate MTA who began high school before Covid hit. The boys showed perseverance when

faced with the challenging times they experienced as freshmen and grew into a spirited and hard-working group ready to make their mark on the world. The

class of 2023 definitely left their mark on MTA, and we look forward to following their successes as they move on to the next chapter in their lives.

Fun in the Sun:

JOWMA Brings Parents

a New Health Series to 5 Towns Parents

Summer is just around the corner, and it’s time to gear up for some outdoor fun in the sun! As we eagerly embrace the warm weather, it’s crucial to prioritize our health and safety, especially when it comes to our little ones. To equip parents and caregivers with essential knowledge, JOWMA (Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association) has partnered with the Goodnight Moon in Cedarhurst to present an upcoming health series entitled “Fun in the Sun.” This engaging series will cover important topics such as swim safety, sun protection, car seat safety, and choking prevention. In addition, attendees will have the chance to win exciting raffles and enjoy refreshing treats during the lectures.

Swim Safety:

Dive into Peace of Mind. Thursday, June 8, 9am-10am. The first lecture,

led by a board-certified pediatrician Dr. Alisa Minkin will focus on swim safety. Water activities are a staple of summer, but it’s crucial to ensure that our children are safe around pools, beaches, and other aquatic environments. This informative session will cover vital topics such as drowning prevention, the importance of supervision, and common drowning misconceptions.

Sun Protection:

Shielding Tender Skin. Thursday, June 15, 9am-10am. The second lecture, presented by a board-certified dermatologist Dr. Renee Fruchter will address the significance of sun protection. With the sun’s rays growing stronger, it’s essential to safeguard our skin from harmful UV radiation. Attendees will learn about the importance of sunscreen, appropriate clothing choices, and shade-seeking strategies to keep their families protect-

ed throughout the summer season.

Car Seat Safety:

Securing Little Passengers. Thursday, June 22, 9am-10am. Pediatrician Dr. Jackie Goldman will conduct the third talk, which will focus on car seat safety. Traveling with young children requires careful attention to ensure their safety on the road. This session will educate parents and caregivers about proper car seat installation, appropriate harnessing techniques, and the latest guidelines for different age groups. This lecture will feature a hands-on demonstration with Petite Pram car seats.

Choking 101:

Knowledge for Every Caregiver:

Thursday, June 29: 9am-10am. The final presentation will be delivered by Mozelle Goldstein, RN, BSN, who will provide a comprehensive understanding of choking prevention. As curious explorers,

children can unknowingly put themselves at risk by placing small objects in their mouths. This session will cover the common causes of choking, basic first aid techniques, and practical tips to create a safer environment for children.

The “Fun in the Sun” health series, presented by JOWMA in partnership with the Goodnight Moon children’s clothing store in Cedarhurst, offers a unique opportunity to learn from local medical professionals about swim safety, sun protection, car seat safety, and choking prevention. Attendees at each event will be entered into a raffle for a $250 Goodnight Moon children’s summer clothing package in the size of the parent’s choice (each event will feature a new raffle!). Don’t miss out on this exciting series; mark your calendars and join us for an enlightening and enjoyable event!

cholim!

Shulamith Annual Dinner

An excited crowd filled the Sands Atlantic Beach on Monday evening, May 22, for Shulamith’s Annual Dinner, an event that marked a celebration of the school’s tremendous growth.

Shulamith School for Girls moved to Woodmere in 2000 and has grown from just 54 students to a bursting school of over 700 students in Nursery through 12th grade.

The program began with Dinner Chairman, David Kupfer as MC, who welcomed the guests and introduced Shulamith’s President of the Board, Ari Cohen. Opening remarks were followed by a special tribute to Morah Esther Kirschbaum, Shulamith’s Early Childhood director, upon her retirement.

A heartwarming video presentation

showed the powerful impact Morah Esther has made on our Early Childhood and what a role model she is to the talmidot and faculty. “Her reputation for Early Childhood is legendary,” one person stated. Shulamith is privileged to be able to publicly thank Morah Esther Kirschbaum for her dedication, devotion and tireless effort that will continue to impact the school and the Shulamith community.

The feature presentation exhibited just how much Shulamith has grown since moving to the Five Towns 23 years ago, and what a bright future the school has to look forward to with the purchase of the Number 5 School building. On February 16, 2023, the Lawrence-Cedarhurst community voted in record numbers to help Shulamith secure the right

to purchase the building they have been renting for the past eight years.

At the dinner, a Capital Campaign was unveiled to raise the funds necessary to purchase the building and make it a permanent home for Shulamith. Chaim Chovev, one of the Capital Campaign chairmen, introduced the theme – Planting Our Roots. He compared Shulamith to a tree that has grown many branches with beautiful fruit for over 20 years and now, with the help of the Five Towns community, will finally be able to plant its roots firmly in one place.

The program concluded with a beautiful musical performance featuring Shulem Lemmer, who began with a special song with lyrics written for Shulamith by Chayala Neuhaus to the tune of “Face the Unknown.”

Shulamith’s Annual Dinner was a moving and memorable event. Thank you to our dedicated Board of Directors, Dinner Chairmen, David Kupfer, Benjamin Samuels and Elie Singer, and Building Chairmen, Adam Austein and Chaim Chovev. We would also like to thank Sara Austein, Mina Black, Daniella Hercman, Jen Kollander, Sarah Rosenberg, Bobbi Samuels, and Shoshana Twersky who worked tirelessly on a myriad of details to ensure the evening’s success. Special thanks to Shlomo Katz from Elite Caterers, who goes above and beyond for Shulamith, and to Shulamith’s Executive Director, Mrs. Malka Fishman, who orchestrated a magnificent and successful event. And of course, thank you to over 400 guests for coming and supporting Shulamith.

Chag Shavuos Sameach!

DAVID KAYE President STACEY FELDMAN Executive Director

Morah Esther Kirschbaum with preschool Morot

Shulem Lemmer

(L-R) Shulamith Board members: Shlomo Wilamowsky, Yankee Hirsch and David Kupfer, Dinner Chairman

Morah Esther Kirschbaum receiving an award, next to her is Malka Fishman, Executive Director, Ari Cohen, President of the Board, and David Kupfer, Dinner Chairman

Long Beach Thanks Their Police Department

The BACH Jewish Center recently hosted over 100 members of the Long Beach community at its second annual community-wide barbecue in honor of the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) in appreciation for all that they do to keep the local Jewish community safe.

Members of the police department, their families, along with Jewish community members hailing from nearby synagogues joined the BACH for the festivities, which took place in conjunction with of National Police Week.

“With the rise of antisemitism across the state and around the globe, the Jewish community is more appreciative than ever to the Long Beach Police Department for being our ally during these challenging times. Whether it is their regular patrolling around our synagogues, their

help in training us for keeping an eye out for anything suspicious, they have always been one call away and available to assist,” said Rabbi Benny Berlin of BACH. “Our community has a close relationship with the LBPD and throughout the year, we look for ways to show our appreciation – this annual barbecue is something that we all look forward to.”

It was a sunny day, and families could be seen choosing from the selection of hotdogs, hamburgers and chicken wings, among multiple fruit platters and relishes, while engaging in lively conversation with one another and members of the LBPD.

During the program, members of the BACH youth department congregated around small tables where they made cards with crayons and stickers. One

five-year-old-boy named Ezra wrote his name in colorful letters and placed it alongside stickers featuring various police insignias as well as one that read, “Honor Strength Bravery Courage.”

“We’re extremely thankful to the BACH Jewish Center for hosting this barbecue for the second year in a row,” said Long Beach Police Commissioner Ronald Walsh Jr. “The BACH, along with our other faith-based communal partners, plays an integral role in our community. We have a lovely relationship with the community and when our officers patrol the synagogues on Saturday morning, they can be heard wishing community members a ‘Shabbat Shalom’ and engaging with the community. We are one community – the Long Beach community – and this barbecue in our honor is so kind.”

Founded in 1946, Bachurei Chemed – BACH Jewish Center is one of Long Island’s most prestigious and oldest synagogues. Members hail from Long Beach, Lido, Atlantic Beach and Island Park. For more information, please visit https://www.bachlongbeach.com/

The boys in the 5TLL by FM Home Loans enjoyed another amazing Sunday of baseball. We’re late into the season, but the merch never stops! All 5TLL participants received sports towels sponsored by Dr. Newman Dental.

K/P Baseball & Soccer Highlights

K/P Baseball: The boys in this division have really been improving their skills since the beginning of the season with the help of our amazing coaches and they showed off some great power this past Sunday. Nathan Berko of Elegant Lawns hit a GRAND SLAM. Yair Kupfer of Town Appliance hit a 3-run homerun, and Aryeh Reider hit a monster triple for Wieder Orthodontics.

K/P Soccer: Coach Blumenthal came out of retirement to coach Town Appliance this past Sunday, and his son led the way with 7 goals en route to a Town Appliance victory.

Minors (1st-3rd) Baseball Highlights

1st Grade: Aryeh Lifshitz tripled in SBS Energy Improvement 13-6 win over Wieder Orthodontics, and Rudy Rosensweig made some incredible plays in the field to help Wolf Repair beat Town Appliance 12 to 4.

2nd Grade: Aryeh Kopelowitz played incredible in the field, robbing a 3-run homer. Benny Markowitz came in the

CLUTCH for Island Roofing, knocking a 3-run homer to take the lead in the 5th inning as the Island Roofing went on to win 17-13. Ezra Dinowitz and Josh Feldman of Wieder Orthodontics both hit MONSTER home runs in Wieder Orthodontics victory. Daniel Halpern hit a 3-run home run in Built By Nate’s 13-12 close win over Town Appliance.

3rd Grade: Binyomin Beiss homered twice as Town Appliance defeated ARG 14-8. Rami Feder was the hero for Elegant Lawns, notching a WALK-OFF single to give his team the win. JNT was down 19-12 but they put on their rally caps. Akiva Gross hit a beautiful opposite field 3-run homerun as JNT brought the game to 19-18 but Elegant Lawns defense stayed strong as they went on to close it out for the win.

Majors (4th & up) Baseball Highlights

4th Grade: David Putter of Westwood Realty came to play Sunday, hitting a Grand Slam, Home-Run, & a triple as Westwood defeated Built By Nate 14-6. Yirmy Hofstatter was the hero for Maidenbaum, hitting a WALK-OFF single to give Maidenbaum the 11-10 win over Elegant Lawns. Elchonon Schwadel was an RBI MACHINE as CG Flooring narrowly defeated Marciano Pediatric Dentistry 13-12. Tzvi Greenspan hit a GRAND

SLAM for Wieder Orthodontics in their win.

5th Grade: Akiva Hagler had a game-saving diving play to help Town Appliance defeat Island Roofing. Carving Block’s offense exploded for 17 runs in their win over Wieder Orthodontics.

6th Grade: Yehuda Katz hit a SCORCHING 2-run bomb as Stone Group beat Marciano Pediatric Dentistry 7 to 6 in a close game. Eliyahu Wicentowsky hit a 3-run HOMER as BayRock Insurance defeated JNT 10-6.

7th/8th Grade: Elegant Lawns remaining undefeated as they defeated JNT 5-0 Sunday. Gavi Shore continues to excel, as he made an incredible catch to end the game.

5TLL Game of the Week: Avromie Rostker nearly hit for the cycle for Posh Home + Bath’s wild comeback against Wieder Orthodontics. Posh was down 6-2 when Avrami hit a 2-run homer, followed by a 2- run triple an inning later to tie the game. Posh would add on two more to win 8-6.

Ezra Academy Retreat

Ezra Academy took their students to Camp Moshava for an exciting and unforgettable weekend. The students participated in many activities keeping busy from the moment they arrived until the moment they reloaded the buses. Scavenger hunt, “Klass Kombat,” Capture the Flag, an Apache relay, learning sessions, boating, football, basketball, a Sephardi dance party and much more. Shabbat was a beautiful occasion as the Ezra students were joined by the Traveling Chassidim who brought extra ruach to an already electrifying experience. Motzei Shabbat always culminates with a meaningful kumsitz where seniors

express their personal ideas and share the challenges and ultimate success of their journeys.

Although retreat takes place in May, it generally symbolizes the end of the school year and the new opportunities that seniors are working toward. The retreat also solidifies a year-long learning program and helps students prepare for a summer where there is no daily interaction with their rebbeim and morot. The beauty of retreat leaves a lasting impression on students, faculty, staff and administration. The countdown until Retreat 2024 has already begun.

JCCRP is truly grateful to the amazing volunteers who came out on a Sunday morning to pack boxes and bags of cheese, dairy, melons, flour, cookies, cake mixes and so much more to distribute to 500+ families for the upcoming Shavuos holiday

Smiling faces at Yeshiva Darchei Torah’s Bike-a-thon, which raised an impressive amount of funds for student scholarships

Learning for Shavuos at SHS

With Shavuos approaching, mothers and daughters at SHS prepared by sharing a beautiful Sunday morning learning experience. After enjoying a delicious buffet, participants heard a phenomenal shiur from Mrs. Slovie Jungreis-Wolff about the power of Jewish women. Mrs. Wolff focused on the unique passion and vision that women possess and the crucial role of those qualities in building and leading a Torah home. She elaborated on each individual koach seen in Sara, Rivka, Rachel, and Leah, offering specific examples of how their struggles brought out their greatest accomplishments.

Mothers and daughters (and grand-

mothers) left feeling inspired to accept the Torah in a few short days by wielding their strengths as Jewish women.

HALB Sports Club at the Mets game

Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin assisted Ben Golovaty of North Woodmere during the Town of Hempstead E-Cycle and Shredding Program on May 7, 2023 at North Woodmere Park

Photos by YK Images

HALB Heroes

Last week, third graders Kaylie Baraff and Ora Mandelbaum were with a teacher when she suddenly tripped and fell. Kaylie quickly went to get help from a teacher in a nearby classroom while Ora sat with the teacher until help arrived. Mr. Altabe, Lower School Principal, called all the third grade girls down and awarded Kaylie with a medal and gave Ora a gift for being so helpful, responsible, and well behaved. The entire grade said Tehillim for the teacher, and B”H she is completely fine!

HALB Student Wins Award at Student Poetry Contest

The 37th annual Student Poetry Contest held their awards ceremony on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at the Walt Whitman birthplace, state historic site, in Huntington Station. The theme of this year’s competition was “I contain multitudes.”

Approximately 2150 entries were

CAHAL Enjoys Reading Books

Leah Ross’ CAHAL 2-3 class at Yeshiva Darchei Torah split into three reading groups. One group read “Freckle Juice,” by Judy Bloom. To celebrate, the boys first made the recipe they read about in the book, and then created their own recipe and are waiting to see if they will sprout some freckles!

received, and Jacob Torczyner, eighth grader at HALB, was one of the honorable mention winners for his poem titled “Unaware.” Jacob was awarded a certificate and gift bag and was photographed with 92-year-old Walt Whitman impersonator during the ceremony. Congratulations, Jacob!

Another reading group celebrated finishing “Chocolate Fever.” After reading the whole book twice and completing their worksheet packets, the boys showed the rest of the class what they had accomplished.

The third reading group can be seen reading from their textbook. They enjoyed learning about Amelia Earhart and her adventures in the sky. To celebrate, they made their very own paper airplanes and enjoyed flying them around the room.

Rabbi Asher Ribowsky giving chaburah in the night kollel of Agudah Yisrael of Long Island

Lev Chana held its annual Bike-a-Thon, and the kids had a blast

Reading in BYAM’s First Grade

Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam girls show off their foundational skills with their friend Echo the owl. The first graders at BYAM are learning to read utilizing the Fundations program, which is based on an approach

called structured literacy. This approach provides the girls with a systematic and explicit way to learn phonics and achieve the confidence and skills necessary to become successful readers.

In connection with learning about Shavuos, children at Gan Chamesh enjoyed an interactive, experiential and hands-on Bikkurim Festival together with a Rosh Chodesh Sivan sing-a-long

Holocaust survivor Mr. Gavriel Blau recently shared his experiences with the Satmar Rav and his own personal miraculous story of surviving the Holocaust at Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island

Junior Trip at Central

It’s a big month for the junior class at Central – AP exams have wrapped up, course offerings for senior year have been posted, and College Night was a roaring success. Now, these rising seniors are looking to the excitement and challenge of their last year at Central. In other words, it’s a perfect time for the Class of 2024 to have a break and enjoy an opportunity to bond.

Last week, Central juniors took a retreat to the Poconos, staying at the Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania! The two-day trip offered plenty of high-adrenaline action, including a kayaking adventure on Lander’s River and rock climbing at HAPIK of Yonkers.

“Rock climbing was really fun,” said junior Bracha Frankel. “I had such a great time!”

The trip also featured time to relax and decompress, a much-needed element

as the academic year nears its conclusion. The group enjoyed a movie night and were welcomed at the home of Central faculty member, Mrs. Yael Axelrod. Juniors also shopped at The Outlets at The Crossings before heading back to Queens.

The most important work of the retreat, however, was giving the students the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company and form new, meaningful memories – one of many to be made over the next year.

Other Central classes will also get their opportunity to take grade adventures at the end of the year: in June, freshmen and sophomores will visit Six Flags for a day of fun, while the Class of 2023 will have its annual farewell retreat at Camp Kaylie before its graduation on June 7 at Yeshiva University’s Lamport Auditorium.

Thousands at the kever of Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Halberstam of Bobov this past Lag Ba’Omer

Using Sefirah for Growth in YOSS MagenU Teaches Five Towns Students

In honor of April’s National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and May’s Mental Health Awareness month, MagenU visited Shulamith and SKA high schools to talk with students about many important topics. Hundreds of 5 Towns high schoolers had the opportunity to learn about the importance of boundaries and explored concepts such as external and internal boundaries, the purposes of boundaries, and the difficulties of setting and maintaining those boundaries.

shared their thoughts and feelings about their respective ideas such as the nuance in what feels uncomfortable for some girls may be okay for others. Furthermore, the girls explored the important concept of having trusted adults to confide in for all situations and learning to trust their gut intuitions.

Rabbi Jacobi’s second grade class at Yeshiva of South Shore has been working on a unique and practical application of Sefiras Ha’Omer. Based originally on an idea from his daughter, he created a chart that counts all the days of the Omer up to Shavous along with a “week” dial. It is called the Sefiras Haomer Middos Chart – and it is a masterpiece! Every day, there is a different middah that the boys focus on and speak about it in class. One main theme

is ahavas Yisroel and feeling the pain of another person. His talmidim also look forward to a story illustrating that day’s middah. Rabbi Jacobi has seen the fruits of his labor during recess, as the boys make sure to include one another, make everyone feel valued, and display fantastic sportsmanship.

We are so proud of the talmidim and their hard work in this area. May their rebbi continue to get nachas from his talmidim’s growth!

MagenU prompted students to think about how we can best tune into and activate their internal boundaries when someone tries to breach them, as well as understand the differences between safe and unsafe touches, and some of the ways that other people may make us feel uncomfortable with exposure other than touch.

Significant to this conversation was prepping students on how they can seek help from the trusted adults in their lives.

Students were very engaged and

MagenU encourages all parents to have an open and ongoing conversation about sexual abuse with your teens as a key to keeping them safe. Talking to your teens about abuse can be difficult, but it’s a necessary step in protecting their safety and well-being. We congratulate and applaud the Shulamith and SKA High Schools for taking these important steps in ensuring their community is prepared and educated.

On May 30, Dr. Shani Verschleiser, AuD. LCSW of MagenU, is offering a live workshop offering Tools & Tips to protect your child away from home for parents sending their children to camp. Registration is available at Magenu.org.

A Celebration of Learning

By David Mastour

This past Tuesday, the Rambam Fall and Spring Semester Masmidim, as well as multiple rebbeim, attended a lunch at Traditions in honor of the Masmidim’s learning. Associate Principal Mr. Hillel Goldman congratulated everyone on their accomplishments and discussed the importance of this optional additional learning club that hosts close to 30 talmidim. He also especially thanked Rabbi Avi Haar, Assistant Principal, without whom none of this would be possible. Rambam also had a guest speaker, alumus Rabbi Ruben Gober,

Maggid Shiur at Yeshiva Bnei Torah, who spoke about the importance of Torah to the mind and what it means to truly be happy. The students were then surprised with special Masmidim Sefarim bags be -

fore heading out for surprise trip.

Many of the Masmidim also participate in the school’s Early Morning Learning Program as well as the Meet the Rabbi Club, Halacha Yomi, and Sug-

Cultural Differences in Design and Architecture in Israel

By Jeffrey Mark

As an international design firm in America and Israel, the team at J. Mark Interiors has the knowledge and the resources to create and construct your dream home in Israel. We specialize in full-scale architecture and design and are passionate about building each home to match our clients’ specifications – with attention paid to the smallest of details. Based in the heart of Jerusalem, our J. Mark team has worked on both large- and small-scale projects throughout the country. Our vast experience has taught us to anticipate the cultural differences in home building and how to adapt the Israeli home to fit the American expectations.

Working together with the best builders in the field, J. Mark Interiors has been challenging the norms and raising the accepted standards to include more logical design and more appealing aesthetics. Our team has gone to some of the highest-end luxury apartments and seen various details that don’t make practical sense. When we question these decisions, we are told “kacha” – it is what it is. At J. Mark, we don’t do “kacha!”

For example, very often when we visit a project that’s already in construction, we may see that there are no heating or air conditioning vents running to the bathrooms. The builders simply don’t see the value – and it’s accepted. In most circumstances, it isn’t a cost-saving issue, as it’s a minimal cost to run the pipes

to the bathroom. When designing a new home for our clients coming to Israel from abroad, we know that they wouldn’t want to skip over this basic level of comfort. We have worked with several builders, “kablanim,” to the point where we have actually retrained them to see and appreciate the details as the homeowner would.

One client purchased their home from a very well-known builder. The bathroom’s floors and walls were already tiled and there was an outlet placed over the door inside the bathroom – very odd if you don’t know the purpose. The outlet is meant for a heating lamp, a horizontal lamp with coils and a cord to pull to heat it up. This is the solution to the heating issue – and it works – but it’s unsightly and unnecessary to be seen in a multi-million-dollar luxury apartment, when it could be integrated from the start.

Other bathroom discrepancies include the shower floor. We often see the shower doors sweeping both directions, and level with the floor; there is no lip, and this is the norm in Israel. This leaves space for water to leak out onto the bathroom floor, leaving a mess and a potentially hazardous situation. We build our showers to include a 3-4-inch lip.

Another well-known feature to anyone that has visited Israel is the concept of a “dud ” – the switch to activate the hot water. This means waiting up to an hour for the water to heat up to take a shower or bath. Thankfully, we now have more sophisticated options to offer our clients

such as a “smart home” set up.

Very often, we will find electrical outlets in random places throughout the home. The lower ones are usually installed a foot off of the ground, and we’ll even see outlets randomly placed in the middle of the wall. Unless this is specifically designated for a TV or other appliance, there would be no need to have that set up. We make sure every outlet is placed purposefully and conveniently. That’s the beauty of the way we work at J. Mark Interiors; we can create your home from beginning to end, working with multiple layers of plans – from the plumbing and electrical systems down to the last details and décor.

When you purchase or even rent an apartment in Israel, they typically come stripped – no closets, no appliances. Almost nothing is built-in, except for the kitchen sink and the bathrooms’ fixtures. The kitchen comes with no cooktop, oven, dishwasher or refrigerator. Instead of light fixtures, you’ll often find lightbulbs dangling from the ceiling. People coming to Israel from abroad are really surprised to see this; in America, a full working kitchen is expected, and closets are absolutely a standard built-in feature, in both apartments and in houses.

Another difference we find when one is purchasing through a developer, even on high-end projects – there’s often no permanent overhead showerhead. We’ll find a handheld shower on a sliding bar or hook serving as the entire shower system. Clients aren’t used to this since any

ya Yomi programs. The Masmidim had such a tremendous experience this past year learning extra each week, at night and during lunch, and can’t wait to start again this fall!

basic shower in America would include a standard overhead, with a handheld in addition.

A reality of living in Israel is that by law every home has to have a “maamad,” a safe room within it for security purposes. Most people will also utilize this as a living space, but there are practical things to consider. For example, the room includes a metal door and frame, which is noisy and unattractive. At J. Mark, we look for a solution to address this, such as installing a secondary outer door that will match the rest of the home.

Additionally, on the aesthetic front, there aren’t any moldings or any decorative architectural features incorporated in the new constructions in Israel. While some of the older homes may have arches or other details, the new ones are completely unadorned in that regard. Our team can build in the design elements to make your home feel warmer, more inviting, and more beautiful.

These are just a few of the things that are taken into account by the J. Mark team; we strive to ensure that every bit of space is designed as thoughtfully and as elegantly as possible. While many of these differences are relatively minor details, they are much more glaring to a newcomer to Israel who is looking to feel at home. At J. Mark, we have the knowledge to recognize and review all of it, every inch of the space and every step along the way – down to the very last light switch.

At a meeting of local rabbonim and roshei yeshiva, hosted by Rav Moshe Bender, on behalf of BMG’s Adirei HaTorah movement

Photos by Yoel Hecht

Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler with Rav Zvi Ralbag and Rav Moshe Bender

Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rosh HaYeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha

Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler and Rav Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginsberg

Rabbi Yosef Heinemann, CEO of Beth Medrash Govoha

Rav Yaakov Bender with Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler

Rav Avrohom Wachsman, Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler and Rav Moshe Perr

Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler in conversation with Rav Mordechai Stern and Rav Leibel Rand

Rav Shmuel Witkin greeting Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler

Rav Pinchus Daniel Weinberger and Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler

Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rav Moshe Brown, Rav Shlomo Avigdor Altusky and Rav Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginsberg

Rav Yosef Eisen spoke in the Yeshiva Darchei Torah middle school on behalf of Shuvu and thanked the talmidim for sponsoring 44 pairs of tefillin for bar mitzvah boys in Eretz Yisrael.

Rav Dovid Frischman with a contingent of seventh grade talmidim of Yeshiva Darchei Torah with Rav Eliezer Ginsburg, shlita, in Brooklyn this week

MRS. ETTY SLANSKY JUNIORS DIRECTOR

Hundreds Join in R’ Eli Stefansky’s Live MDY Daf Yomi Shiur in the White Shul on Motzei Shabbos

YOSS Annual Rebbi-Talmid Game

The Yeshiva of South Shore eighth graders faced their rabbeim in the annual matchup, and this year’s epic game was a crowd-pleaser until the final buzzer! The eighth graders came out of the gate with a strong start, and solid teamwork! Rabbi Schwalb and Dr. Sonsney coached the team and did a great job playing to each eighth grader’s strength. Team-Rebbi, coached by Rabbi Ross, showed up to the game with determination and some good old-fashioned grit, which kept the game competitive

until the very end!

When it was all over, Team-Rebbi edged out the eighth grade team by a couple of free-throws, and the game went down as one of the most dramatic games in YOSS history! Special thanks to all the eighth graders who ran concessions which added a delicious flavor to the afternoon.

The rabbeim keep their undefeated title and are eagerly gearing up for next year’s matchup!

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams Meets with the Queens Vaad

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Congress members Greg Meeks and Grace Meng, State Assembly members Dan Rosenthal and David Weprin, State Senator Leroy Comrie, and Council members Sandra Ung, Linda Lee and Jim Gennaro met this past

Sunday with Rabbanim from the Queens Vaad for a discussion about the issues impacting our Jewish communities. The success of any neighborhood depends on the critical partnerships that community leaders and rabbanim can nurture with their elected officials.

The Awesome Power of Your Brachos

by Rabbi Mechel Handler, adapted by Malky Heimowitz ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications

Said a berachah on food? That’s good.

Said a berachah with deep kavanah? That’s better. Said a berachah and let every word bring you closer to Hashem and transform your life?

That’s ... AWESOME!

In Make Your Brachos Meaningful, thousands of readers learned to do just that – to say Brachos that are meaningful, heartfelt, and utterly sincere.

Now, teens can tap into the power of Brachos, too. A new groundbreaking ArtScroll book, adapted from Make Your Brachos Meaningful, was written with youthful readers in mind – though adults can enjoy and learn from it too! –showing them how to take their Brachos to the next level and change their lives ... for the better!

The Awesome Power of Your Brachos shows us the many benefits of saying a

berachah. You’ll read all about kavanah and discover how to power up our focus and concentration. You’ll learn to beware of “microwave Brachos” and the connection between Brachos, treasure hunts, and coffee beans. You’ll discover the hidden meanings in every single word of Brachos and how “Brachos bring Brachos” – the incomparable benefits and blessings Hashem grants us when we say a berachah properly.

Written in a fun and interesting way, with lots of stories and summaries at the end of each chapter, The Awesome Power of Your Brachos is readable, relatable –and may be one of the most important books our young people will ever read.

The following is a fascinating excerpt from the new book.

The Power of Shehakol

Of all the Brachos we say, Shehakol might be the one we recite most often. It’s the berachah we say each time we drink water to quench our thirst, and it’s the berachah we say over so many of the foods we eat: milk and cheese, meat and chicken, candy

and ice cream.

The rule is that when eating foods whose Brachos are different, we say the more specific berachah first. For example, the berachah of Borei Pri Ha’eitz is said before Borei Pri Ha’adamah. That’s because Borei Pri Ha’adamah technically can include both fruits and vegetables, while Borei Pri Ha’eitz includes only fruits. Since Shehakol is the most general berachah, its priority is lowest. Therefore, when we are about to eat a Shehakol food as well as another type of food, we say the berachah of Shehakol last.

Yet the humble Shehakol is no simple berachah. It’s actually a powerful statement of our faith in Hashem. The words Shehakol Nihyeh Bidvaro literally mean “that everything came to be through His word.” So when we say Shehakol, we are declaring our belief that Hashem made everything.

Have you ever heard the phrase ein od milvado? The meaning of these words is that there is no power other than Hashem. There is a famous segulah, taught by Rav Chaim of Volozhin, that a person cannot be harmed if he believes with a full heart that ein od milvado. Since he recognizes that nothing else in the world has any power, Hashem will protect him from what might seem to be harmful forces.

The berachah of Shehakol expresses the same basic idea as the phrase ein od milvado: Everything comes from Hashem.

Therefore, each time we say Shehakol, we can access the powerful segulah of ein od milvado, if we focus completely on the idea that Hashem is in charge of everything.

During World War I, Rav Moshe Avraham Berezovsky, head of the Jewish community in Baranovitch, heard banging on his window. German soldiers forced the door open, and, with their guns drawn, demanded that everyone face the wall with their hands up. Then they ordered

Rav Moshe to give them all his money

and valuables. But robbers and looters had already taken all his valuables, so Rav Moshe had nothing to give them. When he told them this, they said, “If we don’t get your money within five minutes, you are dead.”

Rav Moshe calmly asked his son Velvel to bring him a cup of water. He recited the berachah of Shehakol with kavanah and took a sip of water. Suddenly, deafening explosions and sounds of shooting were heard. The Russians had just entered the town! The German soldiers fled, and Rav Moshe and his family were spared. Later, the family asked Rav Moshe why he had asked for a cup of water during those moments. He explained that he had learned from his grandfather, the Rebbe of Lechovitz, that when a Jew recites the berachah of Shehakol, it is a segulah to be spared from harsh judgment. A hint to this can be found in the halachah (Brachos 40a) that if a person said Shehakol over any food, he has fulfilled (yatza) his obligation to recite a blessing, even if Shehakol is not really the correct berachah. The word yatza can also mean “he left.” So if a person finds himself in great danger, he can “leave” the danger and be saved in the merit of the berachah of Shehakol.

A giant wheel of Cheddar cheese was given to Queen Victoria (1837-1901) for a wedding gift. It weighed over 1,000 pounds.

Did You Know? As Per Chazal:

? Noach was a vegetarian for more than 500 years.

? Avrohom was kept in the furnace in Ur Kasdim for 3 days and nights.

? Four people were named by Hashem before their birth: Yitzchok, Yishmael, Shlomo Hamelech and Yoshiahu.

? The guests at Yaakov’s wedding sang, “O-ley O-ley” to hint to him that the bride was really Leah so he couldn’t blame them later.

? Yaakov and Yosef were both born with a bris.

? Serach bas Asher entered Gan Eden alive.

? Yaakov was the first person ever to become very ill before his death.

? A Jewish king is required to have a Sefer Torah written for himself. The kings used to attach a mini Torah to their arms and carry it with them constantly.

You Gotta Be Kidding Me!

? Most Kohanim Gedolim died within the year of Yom Kippur in the time of the Second Bais Hamikdash

? Rochel died during childbirth as she gave birth to triplets. (Binyamin and two girls.)

? Cham’s wife gave birth to the giant Sichon in the Taivah.

? In order to attract guests, Avrohom planted a beautiful orchard in Beer Sheva.

? The sinews of the ram from Akeidas Yitzchok were used for the ten strings in David’s harp.

Yaakov tied a note around Osnas’ (Dina’s daughter) neck that stated, “Whoever marries this girl, marries one of Yaakov’s family.” An angel transferred Osnas to Egypt where she was brought to Potifar’s home and raised. She eventually married Yosef.

Bob was having trouble getting to sleep at night and then getting to the office on time in the morning. He went to see his doctor, who prescribed some extra strong sleeping pills. On Sunday night, Bob took the pills, slept well and was awake before he heard the alarm. He took his time getting to the office, strolled in and said to the boss, “I didn’t have a bit of trouble getting up this morning.”

“That’s fine,” roared the boss, “but where were you Monday and Tuesday?”

Sleep Trivia

1. The sensation of falling when half asleep and jerking yourself awake is called what?

a. Hypnic jerks

b. Fatiguadistophia

c. Delirious fall syndrome

d. Musculo-insomina

2. According to the National Sleep Foundation, what percentage of the population are sleepwalkers?

a. 3%

b. 15%

c. 35%

d. 50%

3. Throughout the average lifetime, how much time is spent actually dreaming during sleep?

a. 76 full days

b. 1 1/3 years

c. 3 years

d. 6 years

4. Who wrote the book entitled “The Interpretation of Dreams”?

Riddle me This

a. Sigmund Freud

b. Rav Aryeh Kaplan

c. Socrates

d. Carl Rogers

5. Dreams that are remembered the next day usually occur during what sleep cycle?

a. REM (rapid eye movement) sleep

b. NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep

6. According to research, how long does it take the average person to fall asleep?

a. Under 5 minutes

b. 5-9 minutes

c. 10-15 minutes

d. 20-30 minutes

7. According to research, people sleep worse when the following

happens:

There is dirty clothing under the bed

b. There is a full moon

c. The pillow is a darker color

d. There is a NY Mets poster on the wall in the bedroom

Wisdom Key

6-7 correct: You see what you can achieve on a good night’s sleep?

4-5 correct: Not bad; no need for a sleep clinic for you.

0-3 correct: Hypnotic jerks keeping you awake?

A man is leaving on a business trip and stops by his office on the way to the airport. The night watchman stops him and says, “Sir, don’t take that flight. I had a dream last night that your plane would crash, and everyone would die!”

The businessman cancels his trip, and sure enough, the plane crashes, killing all the passengers. The man gives his watchman a $10,000 reward for saving his life, then fires him. Why?

Answer: Because he was the night watchman and shouldn’t have been sleeping on the job!

Shavuos

By Rabbi Berel Wein

Fifty days pass quickly, especially if one counts them individually. It seems that it was just yesterday when we were preparing ourselves to sit down at the Pesach seder table and here it is Shavuot at the end of the week. Though the holiday has a number of other names associated with it – the Festival of Bikkurim/First Fruits, the festival of the granting of the Torah – the proper name assigned to it is Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks.

The emphasis that the name gives us is that of the passage and counting of

time. In its description of the festival itself, the Torah repeats, a number of times, this passage of weeks from the holiday of Pesach to the celebration of the holiday of Shavuot. It is apparent that this passage of time is deemed to be an important part of the significance of the holiday itself.

In the Talmud, as well as in the Bible itself, the holiday of Shavuot is referred to as being atzeret – an adjunct and bookend, so to speak – to Pesach. Somehow, it completes the process of redemption of the Jewish people from Egyptian bondage. It illustrates for us the purpose

of that redemption and the true goal that freedom points us to in our personal and national lives.

It is as though the revelation at Sinai and the granting of the Torah is the strategic goal of the entire story of the Jewish people in Egypt, while the actual Exodus from Egypt is the necessary tactic to allow this strategic goal to be attained. Only by connecting Shavuot to Pesach with this seven-week counting does this message become clear and cogent to us.

The connection of Shavuot to the bounty and blessings of agricultural produce is also emphasized in the Torah and is the backdrop to the drama of the book of Ruth, which by custom is read publicly in the synagogue on Shavuot. Humans cannot live by bread alone, but they cannot live without bread either. Therefore, we are reminded on Shavuot of the daily miracle of nature that provides food and sustenance for us all.

In our blessed current circumstances of plenty, we often think that our food is from the supermarket and that we are somehow entitled to enjoy the quantities and varieties of food available to us. We always look for the hand of G-d, so to speak, in unusual and unforeseen circumstances. However, in the regular, everyday mundane activities that we are engaged in, we find it more difficult to sense the Divine Presence. The agricultural nature of the holiday of Shavuot comes to remind us of the constant presence of G-d in our lives every time we sit down to eat the food produced by our earth.

There was a time in the world when not only Jews said blessings of thanksgiving before and after their meals. The modern world has swept that antiquated custom aside today. However, in Jewish life, it remains a vital part of our daily activity and a necessary reminder as to the blessings that G-d has bestowed upon the agricultural toils of man. Freedom without food is a calamity. Shavuot reminds us of this obvious but often neglected truth.

Finally, Shavuot comes to reinforce our belief in the primacy of Torah study and observance in our life, both individually and as a nation. Rav Saadyah Gaon’s famous statement that “our nation is a nation only by virtue of our Torah” has been proven true by the millennia of Jewish history and its events. Those who forsook any connection to Torah, they and/or their descendants eventually fell away from the Jewish people.

It is the Torah and the revelation at Sinai that binds all of Israel together –Ashkenazi and Sephardi, Yemenite and Lithuanian, and in all shades in between, politically liberal and conservative, and old and young. It is the Torah that crosses all lines and groupings within Israel.

This is the idea that the Torah itself expresses, that at Sinai we were all “of one heart and one being.” Shavuot is the holiday of Jewish unity, of the acceptance of our individual differences within the framework of the goal of becoming a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Shabbat shalom and chag sameach.

Shavuos In Our Hands

By Rav Moshe Weinberger

One of the major themes in Tanach is how Hashem gives life, brings death, and rewards and punishes individuals according to their deeds. In the Book of Rus, however, the events in the story revolve around the kindness of human beings and how their good deeds brought about a good ending for the individuals in the story. The closest the book comes to highlighting Hashem’s providence is the fact that Rus came to collect grain in Boaz’s field exactly when Boaz was surveying his fields, as the pasuk (Rus 2:3) says, “And it was her chance to come [to Boaz’s field].” But we have all had serendipitous moments like that. What, then, is our main lesson from the book of Rus?

We must compare and contrast the events in the book of Rus with those of the book of Iyov. Many have pointed out a number of similarities between the events in Naami’s life and the events in Iyov’s life. First, both of them lost all of their wealth and family and were forced to start all over again. Second, they both mourn the bitterness of their lot in the context of their recognition of Divine providence and use very similar language. Iyov said, (Iyov 27:2) “And G-d has embittered my soul,” while Naami (Rus 1:20) said, “G-d has dealt very bitterly with me.”

Third, after the misfortune which befell both of them, their respective friends looked at them both in shock. The pasuk says (Iyov 2:12), regarding Iyov’s friends, “And they lifted up their eyes from a distance and they did not recognize him and they lifted up their voices and cried.” Similarly, with regard to Naami’s old friends in Beis Lechem, it says (Rus 1:19), “The whole city was astonished regarding them and [the women] said, ‘Is this Naami?!’”

Fourth, both Iyov and Naami experience a “happy ending,” where both of them rebuilt new lives, with Iyov seeing four gen-

Adapted

for publication

by Binyomin Wolf

Indeed, even one’s good or bad deeds will not guarantee good or bad fortune in his life on earth. The bottom line is (Tehillim 8:5): “What is man that You should remember him and the son of man that You should be mindful of him?” Based on the book of Iyov, it seems that everything is in Hashem’s hands and man has no determinative role in his own fate.

erations of descendants and Naami also living to see four generations of descendants, including the father of the ultimate redeemer, Dovid Hamelech. And finally, the pasuk (Iyov 42:13) says Iyov had “twice-seven sons” and Naami’s friends say regarding Rus that (Rus 4:15) “that she is better for you than seven sons.”

Whenever we see that two things are very similar, it means that we must look very deeply to discern the deeper distinction between them. We must therefore examine the story to discern the central point which differentiates Naami from Iyov. In truth, the two books could not be more opposite. The entire book of Iyov addresses the theological problem raised by the suffering of the righteous and the prosperity of the wicked. It is a theological dialogue between Iyov and his friends. Outside of the first two and last few chapters, there is virtually no action, and no one does anything in sefer Iyov to rectify Iyov’s situation.

The entire “story” of Iyov consists of a discussion about the problem presented by Iyov’s situation. Even at the end, Iyov

never learns of the debate between Hashem and the Satan, nor does he learn of any interpretation which would help him understand everything that happened to him. Rather, Hashem tells Iyov from the midst of the storm of his theological debates, (Iyov 38:3-4) “Strengthen yourself like a man, I will ask you and you will tell me, Where were you when I founded the earth?!” Iyov only experiences a redemption when he finally admits to man’s inability to understand G-d’s ways, as the pasuk (Iyov 42:3) says: “Therefore I spoke but did not understand, they are hidden from me and I did not know.” Just like he never understood the reason for his suffering, he never understood why he was redeemed in the end. As we say in the Yomim Noraim davening, “Man comes from the dust and will return to the dust.”

Based on Iyov, man cannot demand to understand the way Hashem conducts the world. As the Navi (Yeshayahu 41:4) says, Hashem “calls the generations from the beginning,” and (Id. at 46:10) “He tells the end at the beginning.” Man cannot hope to understand everything that happens.

The book of Rus, however, is exactly the opposite. People take their lives into their own hands, rebuild after destruction, and ultimately, the kind deeds of the kind people in the story lead not only to their own redemption but to the establishment of the kingdom of the father of the final redeemer, Dovid Hamelech. Rus refused to abandon Naami. Naami took care of Rus. Boaz took care of Rus as well. The whole book is filled with stories of people who, with their own actions, achieve things, rectify the past, build the future, and establish the beginning of the ultimate monarchy and the final redemption. As the pasuk (Tehillim 89:3) says, “Olam chessed yibaneh, the world is built through kindness.” In fact, just two pesukim after the verse which stated, “What is man that You should remember him,” Dovid Hamelech continues (Tehillim 8:7) “You give [man] dominion over the work of Your hands, you have placed everything beneath his feet.” Man’s kindness can determine the outcome of the way Hashem conducts the world.

The kindness of Rus, Naami, Boaz, and others in the story screams out (Sifri, Devarim 26:36): “We have done what You have decreed that we do, now fulfill your promise to us!” In response, Hashem gave Rus a son, who would one day become the grandfather of Dovid Hamelech. The message of the book of Rus is that if a person works and lives a righteous life, he can rebuild his own life and bring about the redemption.

When we received the Torah, we said,

(Shmos 24:7) “Naaseh v’nishmah, we will do and we will listen.” The book of Rus corresponds to the idea of “We will do,” while the book of Iyov, in which the individuals simply try to understand the world, corresponds to the idea of “We will listen.” Indeed, we see that Hashem has two different ways of conducting the world. On one hand, according to the Iyov method, He determines the end at the beginning and all man can do is try to make peace with Hashem’s mysterious plans. On the other hand, He conducts the world using the Rus method, in which He gives mankind tremendous power to influence the world. Indeed, as the Midrash (Rus Raba 2) says, “Rabbi Zeira said, ‘This book teaches neither impurity or purity nor does it teach either permission or prohibition. Why was it written? To teach you the great reward for those who do kindness.’”

The first day of Shavuos, on which we read the Torah portion recounting the giving of the Torah on Sinai, corresponds to the fact that (Shabbos 88a) “Hashem held the mountain over their heads.” Hashem had a plan and giving us the Torah was part of it. All we could do was go along for the ride. But the second day of Shavuos, the day we keep outside of Eretz Yisroel because of a rabbinic, human enactment,

corresponds to our role in actively accepting the Torah. That is why we read Rus, the book which teaches us how to take our lives into our hands and rectify the world through our own actions, on the second day of Shavuos. Rus teaches us about the other approach, that we have to act as if everything is up to us and do our part.

At the end of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech’s life, he had no strength and hardly ate anything. Everyone begged him to eat, but he could not bring himself to do it. One day, his son, Reb Lazer, a tzaddik in his own right, begged his father to eat, arguing that he was obligated according to halacha to force himself to eat. The Rebbe responded that he simply could not but that perhaps he could eat Malka’s soup. “Who,” Reb Lazer asked him, “is Malka?” The Rebbe answered that she is Avremel the poor water carrier’s wife.

Immediately, Reb Lazer ran to their house a few blocks away and knocked on the door. Malka answered the door, taken aback that the Rebbe’s son was at their door. He told her that the Rebbe was very sick but that the only thing that he would eat was her soup. Could she please write down the recipe for him? She answered that there was no way she could do that. And she told him the story of how she

made soup for the Rebbe.

Some time earlier, her husband Avremel very much wanted to invite the Rebbe into their home, but he was extremely shy. He heard, however, that the Rebbe would be passing by their house on a particular day, so he stood outside, waiting for the Rebbe to pass, As the Rebbe passed, he was too embarrassed to say anything, but perhaps sensing that Avremel wanted to invite him in, the Rebbe asked if he could visit Avremel in his home. Avremel was so happy and brought the Rebbe back to his house. They sat down at the table, but Avremel was completely ignorant, and was very shy, so he did not say anything for a few minutes. He merely sat with the Rebbe at the table. After a few minutes, he ran into the kitchen and asked Malka to prepare some food for their honored guest! She told him that she would try to put something together, but the truth was that they had nothing. They had not eaten in two days! All they had was some water and salt, so she put the water over the fire, added the salt and began to stir as her tears fell into the water. Desperate to make something delicious for the Rebbe, she davened over the water that although they had nothing to flavor the soup, Hashem has all of the delicious tastes in the world

above, in Gan Eden, so she begged Him to put the taste of Gan Eden into the soup. This was the soup that she had served the Rebbe Reb Elimelech. Reb Lazer realized that this was something no one could reproduce with a recipe. Other soups take away hunger, but Malka’s soup gives life.

On Shavuos and other times throughout the year, those who have lost loved ones say Yizkor. Although we know very well that not everyone saying Yizkor is doing so for parents, when a person says Yizkor, he remembers the tears his parents and other loved ones shed on his behalf and he should know that whatever little bit of paradise he tastes in this world comes from those tears and the other countless acts of kindness performed by those who have left the world.

May Hashem collect all of our tears and the tears of those who have already entered the next world to bring Moshiach to usher in the time when Hashem will dry all of the tears of the world, may he come soon in our days.

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

Kabbolas HaTorah Reflecting Upon Our Uniqueness

By Rav Yaakov Feitman

Everyone knows that the yeshivos in New York State and beyond have been under attack recently. Many explanations have been advanced as to why this has happened. Some of these include political, educational, antisemitic and other secular reasons. I would submit, especially now just before Shavuos, that there is basic misunderstanding – a disconnect – between Klal Yisrael and the rest of the world concerning the meaning of the word education. This misunderstanding will not be solved or healed because we are speaking a different language and living in a different dimension. This is the message of Matan Torah and the yom tov of Shavuos which is emerging ahead, awaiting our embrace. This is not pessimism but realism, and it actually redounds to the glory of Am Yisrael.

Let us begin with a basic premise. Every nation and culture creates he -

roes and leaders. Often the intellectual champions of a country or culture are very smart people. They may be scientists, philosophers, chess masters, poets or novelists. But they are not always the most honorable, ethical or moral members of that society. The story is well known of various philosophers who were criticized as hypocrites for writing books about morality or ethics when their own practices of these ideals were far from their teachings. Their answer in several cases was a version of “I’ve also written about geometry, but I’m not a triangle.”

The point here is that with Klal Yisrael and the Torah, each leader and protagonist is exactly what he is teaching. Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, was the embodiment of good middos, a man of humility, modesty and incredible caring about others. Could we even imagine a Rav Moshe Feinstein who was arrogant,

boorish and unfeeling? Of course not, because as Pirkei Avos often repeats, “hu haya omer,” which literally just means “he used to say.” However, the hidden message in these words is that “he was what he said.” There was never a gap or contradiction between the gavra and the cheftza, the person and his teachings. This is because one of the most important teachings of the Torah is that the Torah cannot be given to people with bad human traits (Rabbeinu Yonah, Pirkei Avos 3:17).

Another example of where there cannot be a split between action and teaching was the era of the Enlightenment. I can remember Rav Mordechai Gifter, zt”l, telling stories of the so-called rabbis he knew who would sit on Shabbos with a cigar in their mouth, studying a page of Gemara. He noted the dichotomy with the comment that whereas in the secular world such behavior is com-

mon, in the Torah world, it is virtually unknown and certainly unacceptable to behave this way. The Torah was not given to the angels, but neither was it given to the wicked.

And so, we must tell a story. Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer was a man of many titles. Rav of Slutzk, Rosh Yeshiva of Etz Chaim, author of the Even Ha’azal, and father-in-law of Rav Aharon Kotler all applied equally. However, as we shall see, his primary trait was the beauty of his character. Thus, we have all spent seven weeks working on our middos so that we will be worthy of Kabbolas HaTorah. Rav Meltzer was arriving in Eretz Yisrael for the first time and proceeded directly to Botei Nathan, where many gedolei Yisrael resided at the time. He strode right up to Rav Zelig Reuven Bengis, author of Liflagos Reuven, rav of Yerushalayim and burst out crying.

“All that I am,” he managed to blurt out

amidst the tears, “is because

of you.”

In the presence of many of the gedolei Yerushalayim, he told his tale.

“My parents were extremely poor,” he related, “so I asked where I should go learn, Mir or Volozhin, knowing that they could not help with the tuition for either. My father answered that ‘both yeshivos are excellent but you should know that we don’t have the money to pay for lodgings so you will have to sleep on a bench in the Bais Hamedrash. I have heard that the benches in the Mir are a bit wider than those in Volozhin, so you should better go there for your health.’”

Rav Isser Zalman continued the story he told to Rav Bengis, “I couldn’t get to Mir so I went to Volozhin, but the Bais Hamedrash was full. Everyone was wearing regular clothing, but mine were torn and thin. I was embarrassed to stay there and planned to leave immediately, but suddenly a bochur inquired as to my name. I told him that it was Isser Zalman.

“At that moment, everything changed. ‘I heard,’ the bochur responded, ‘that the Rosh Yeshiva, the Netziv, was telling everyone that a new bochur had just arrived named Isser Zalman.

He was able to answer a question, to which no one else had an answer. He will one day grow into greatness.’ I took great chizuk from this statement and returned to the Yeshiva. That bochur,”

concluded Rav Isser Zalman, “was named Zelig Reuven Bengis.”

That is the true story of Matan Torah and gedolei Yisrael. One good word,

and enmity to descend down to the world. After Sinai, there was a nation which was clearly different. It doesn’t study subjects. It studies people. Sometimes, that entails texts and teachings, but primarily, we require teachers who are holy, pure and role models in every area of life. This is something the secular world cannot duplicate; they can

many diplomats of various religions were invited to watch the proceedings. One of them was the ambassador from an African country whose guide was explaining the rituals to him. “Do you really mean that they are dancing with their book of laws?” he inquired incredulously. “ we, too, have laws,” he mused out loud, “but we would surely never dance with them. we don’t even like our laws, but we are stuck with them.”

Of xourse, the guide explained that we have G-d-given laws and we love each of them, to the point hat we dance with the scrolls which house them. That is not only a kiddush Hashem but embodies the havdalah bein Yisrael l’amim

noticing someone who needs chizuk, and suddenly you are speaking of two gedolei Yisrael. This is why one cannot compare any subject or discipline with Torah. In Klal Yisrael, the person cannot be separated from the material; we and the Torah are one.

For this reason, Chazal say that Har Sinai was called by that name because yarda sinah l’olam – it caused hared

barely even understand the concept. w hen the Chazon Ish would go to test the boys of local yeshivos, he made sure to ask only what they would be able to answer. His love of each child showed on his face as he elicited the best from each boy, implanting in him love of Torah and Yiddishkeit.

I am reminded of the story of the hakafos sheniyos in Ramat Gan, where

Let us use our upcoming Kabbalas HaTorah to use that uniqueness to become better in every way, for that is ultimately our life’s goal. It is a paradox but not a contradiction that the more unique we become, the more we change the entire world. May we do so together bringing Moshiach Tzidkeinu bimeheira b’yameinu.

Rav Yaakov Feitman is the rav of Kehillas Bias Yehudah Tzvi in Cedarhurst, NY

The more unique we become, the more we change the entire world.

thouGhts on shAvuos

by Sivan Rahav MeiR

Although we gained our freedom upon leaving Egypt, freedom is not enough. We must fill freedom with content. The renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and author of Man’s Search for Meaning, wrote that the United States needs not only a Statue of Liberty, but also a Statue of Responsibility. The values of freedom are important, but once we are no longer enslaved – what next? What is our identity? What are the new values that obligate us? We do not need only rights, but also obligations. In the context of Frankl’s thought, perhaps we can say that if Passover is the festival of freedom, then Shavuot is the festival of responsibility.

Do You WA nt t he Gift?

We hear a lot about the significance of Torah in different contexts in our public dialogue, but have we ever heard it described as a gift? Here is a thought offered by Rabbi Shimshon Dovid Pincus about the festival of Shavuot, when we celebrate the giving of the Torah:

“If someone wears a beautiful watch on his wrist, he is often asked where he bought it. But if we see a poor person holding a diamond worth five million dollars, we will not ask, ‘Where did you buy it?’ but rather, ‘Who gave you that gift?’ because we wouldn’t imagine that he bought it himself. The holy Torah is a most valuable gift. As long as we study it and do good deeds – it will carry on giving. All that is required of us is one thing: desire, to want and appreciate the gift. Our obligation on Shavuot is nothing more than to want the Torah, to see its importance. A person will agree to give his friend a precious diamond only if he knows that his friend will appreciate and look after it. He will not give the diamond to someone who will play with it in the sand.

“Every year, on the eve of Shavuot, the Holy One, blessed be He travels the world and asks each one of us: Are you interested in receiving the Torah? Do you want it? And we answer: Yes. ‘Naaseh v’nishma ’ (We will do [what it instructs] and we will understand [later]).

Despite our limitations, if we really want it, we will be gifted an abundance of Torah on Shavuot.”

i t’s not AcA mol (tY lenol)

In a generation where many young people want to take the quick and easy route, Rabbi Yehuda Amital, the head of Yeshivat Har Tzion, demanded from his students thoroughness, depth, and diligence. In this context, he explained why we need to relate much more seriously to our Torah, especially today:

“I have nothing against Acamol (Tylenol), but whoever thinks we can cure the ailments of a generation with popular songs, playing on the emotions, is mistaken. It is just like taking Acamol. Any enthusiasm is temporary, and you need something new each time. There is nothing tangible there that will stay with you when it is over. Torah study is an asset that always remains with you, even if you should put it aside. It continues to be relevant and is not only for quick relief like Acamol. We must return to the path of studying hard, toiling for knowledge, and completely immersing ourselves in Torah. The brain, our source of intellectual strength, is the human being’s most important organ. Can we suffice in our service of Hashem only with our hands and other limbs? Will we take a shofar in our hands and blow into it with our mouth, put on tefillin, eat matzah – but neglect to use our brains? Whoever does not occupy himself with learning Torah is lacking something fundamental. Will we use our brains only for our career, for attaining an academic degree, and leave service of Hashem to the rest of our organs and limbs?”

A ne W KinD of unit Y

We are used to uniting against enemies, but our unity on the holiday of Shavuot is different. Rabbi Shalom Rosner, who made aliyah from the United States and is a rabbi in Beit Shemesh, writes that when it comes to terrorism and wars, we excel in solidarity. There are many examples of an external enemy strengthening our sense of solidarity. This is important, but our stature when we stood together at Mount Sinai heralded a revolution. It raised us up to a new level of unity.

At Mount Sinai, we were not fleeing a frightening

foe, but came together in joy to receive our new identity. We did not crowd closely together, side by side, because of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, the Nazis and anti-Semites or any other threat, but instead chose to be together to receive the Ten Commandments. We were not defined by a negative experience, but by a positive one – not by what we feared, but by what we wanted to be. We often experience the first type of unity, facing a hostile military force. But on the holiday of Shavuot, it is possible to ascend to the highest level: unity around our common purpose and the gift we received together at Mount Sinai.

Which f inGerprints Are Yours?

Whoever is reading these words has their own fingerprints, different, unique, unmatchable. No two people have the same fingerprints. Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, Israel’s first Chief Rabbi, explained that each person’s connection to the Torah is equally unique and creates its special light. On the holiday of Shavuot, when we receive the Torah anew, we are likely to think that our part in the story is not so critical. Indeed, there are approximately fourteen million Jews in the world, and many of them are wiser and more righteous than we are, so why are we so important?

Rav Kook writes: “The light that is created from one person’s connection to the Torah is different from the light created from another person’s connection to the Torah. And so each person expands the Torah when he studies it.” In other words, each soul that learns Torah creates a unique connection and gives birth to new light in the world that never was and, otherwise, would never be. We cannot just copy someone else’s work, and we cannot be satisfied that others are learning Torah. Each person must create his own special light.

A h istoric i nn

What is the significance of learning Torah? What happens when we learn? Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveit-

chik, of blessed memory, who was an eminent leader of American Jewry, explains the following: “When I sit down to learn, I immediately find myself in the presence of a group of devoted sages, learned in tradition and values. The relationship between us is personal. The Rambam is on my right; Rabbeinu Tam is on my left. Rashi sits at the head of the table and makes clarifications to which Rabbeinu Tam objects. The Rambam makes a ruling and the Raavad challenges it. All of them are in my little room, sitting around my table. They look at me with affection, play with me through sevara (logic) and Gemara (Talmud), encouraging and strengthening me. Learning Torah is not just a didactic exercise. Learning Torah is not just a formal, technical preoccupation that involves exchange of information and inventive thinking. Learning Torah is an unparalleled experience of friendship through many generations, of connection between spirits and unity between souls of different eras. Those who passed on their Torah wisdom and those who receive it are united in the same historic inn.”

Throughout the year, and especially on the festival of Shavuot, we are invited to join company in the very same historic inn.

t he ple A sA nt pAth to fA ith

What gives people their faith? How does someone develop belief in God? I heard the following idea from Mrs. Esther Wein from New York:

There are three figures who discovered faith in G-d and changed their lives:

Avraham Avinu explored the world, examined the entire creation and, in this manner, arrived at his faith.

way. Yitro, a pagan priest, looked at history and recognized G-d’s involvement in world events and miracles. He heard about the Exodus from Egypt, the splitting of the Red Sea – and he joined the people of Israel.

On Shavuot, we read the story of Ruth, whose path was entirely different. Ruth joined our nation after meeting a kind and pleasant person, Naomi. Naomi, true to her name (Naomi is cognate with no’am/na’im, meaning “pleasant”), was the embodiment of pleasantness. She was an honest woman who was full of kindness and compassion above and beyond her strong faith. Her pleasantness, day in and day out, found favor in the eyes of Ruth, who simply wanted to stay by her side. We can see in the famous words that Ruth says to Naomi that she feels a connection to Naomi, and through it, also to the people and to G-d: “Wherever you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your G-d my G-d.”

At that time, Naomi was a widow, impoverished and alone, yet despite all this, she was a wonderful, noble person with strong values. This pleasantness attracted Ruth, caused her to join our people, and from her descendants, King David was born.”

May we all merit to find such pleasantness in our lives.

He was driven by scientific analysis, research, and logic. Yitro, Moses’s father-in-law, joined the Jewish people and came to his belief in their G-d in a different

This article was excerpted from Days Are ComingA Journey Through the Jewish Year by Sivan Rahav Meir, Koren Publishers.

eAch soul th At le Arns tor Ah cre Ates A unique connection A nD Gives birth to neW liGht in the Worl D th At never WA s A nD, otherW ise, Woul D never be.

Torah: Our Greatest Gift

Onthe face of it, Shavuot is a brief festival with few distinctive practices and, at least as far as the Torah is concerned, no specific historical content. But Shavuot is the festival of Jewish identity. Judaism is supremely a religion of the land – the whole of Torah from Avraham to the death of Moshe is a journey toward it – and Shavuot was the supreme festival of the land.

There were agricultural elements on Pesach and Sukkot also, but Shavuot was the time of the grain harvest and of bringing first fruits to the Temple and declaring: “My father was a wandering Aramean…. And the L-rd brought us out of Egypt… He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

However, from the outset, Shavuot was also the festival of the Giving of the Law, seen as the culmination of the seven-week journey that began with Pesach. But every nation had laws, and for much of the biblical era, other issues, political, military and cultural, held centre-stage. The Prophets tirelessly argued that without faithfulness to G-d and justice and compassion to their fellow humans, Israel would eventually suffer a momentous defeat, but all too few were listening, and the reforms of kings like Chezekiah and Yoshiyahu proved too little too late.

Only with the experience of the Babylonian exile did

By RaBBi LoRd Jonathan SackS

people come to see that the law of Israel was unlike that of any other nation – not just because of its content but because of Who gave it, when and where. It was given

enant. The law of Israel was not like the law of every other nation – the decree of kings or the edict of a legislative assembly. It came from G-d Himself, the Infinite Eternal. Therefore, it could never be lost or nullified.

This was when the full significance of Shavuot began to come clear. The real miracle was not the land but the law that preceded the land. Ezra and Nechemiah understood this after the Babylonian exile, as did Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai in the midst of the rebellion against Rome. Without them it is highly doubtful whether Jews or Judaism would have survived.

not at Mount Zion in Jerusalem but at Mount Sinai in the desert. The law came before the land. Therefore, though they had lost the land, they still had the law. Though they had lost the country, they still had the cov-

For the better part of two thousand years, Jews lost their land, and once again – as it was for the exile in Babylon – it was Torah that sustained the people as a people, giving them the assurance that one day they would return. For in truth this always was our greatest gift: the Torah, our constitution of liberty under the sovereignty of G-d, our marriage contract with Heaven itself, written in letters of black fire on white fire, joining the infinity of G-d and the finitude of humankind in an unbreakable bond of law and love, the scroll Jews carried wherever they went, and that carried them. This is the Torah: the voice of heaven as it is heard on earth, the word that lights the world.

A RT BY Y ORAM R AANAN

It was Torah that sustained the people as a people, giving them the assurance that one day they would return.

Choosing to be Extraordinary Lessons Learned from Reading Megillas Rus Over Shavuos

By Rabbi Benny Berlin

While no holiday in the Jewish calendar exists in isolation, Shavuos is the most critical to our existence as a nation. We commemorate our collective experience of divine revelation and committing ourselves to follow Hashem’s Torah.

As a core aspect of our annual celebration includes the reading of Megillas Rus, its relationship to the holiday has been a recirculating topic of discussion – with the most obvious answers highlighting the parallels between the two stories. Each story’s respective main characters – Rus and Bnei Yisroel – embark on dangerous journeys to follow in Hashem’s ways. A deeper dive into the Megillah reveals that the narrative is not simply mirroring the story of Shavous but rather serving as a blueprint for how to effectuate the values gifted at Torah Mi’Sinai.

This becomes evident when instead of comparing the similarities the narratives share, we focus our attention on the gaping contrasts that exist between them. After all, the story of Shavuos is a rather spectacular one. When contextualized within the miracles that comprised Yetziat Mitzraim, among them the 10 Plagues and the Splitting of the Sea, all momentously building up to each individual hearing Hashem’s voice speak to them directly, it is truly extraordinary. By comparison, this magnificence is a clear departure from the tragic but more common and worldly experience being showcased in Megillas Rus.

Megillas Rus opens by introducing a Jewish woman named Naomi who has been living with her husband, two sons and their non-Jewish wives in a city named Moab. Tragically, we quickly learn that Naomi’s

husband and two sons recently passed away and that her daughters-in-law, Rus and Orpah, have become widows. With this big life change, Naomi decides that she is to return to her people – the Jewish people – and plans to travel to where they reside while instructing her daughters-in-law to return to their respective family’s homes nearby. While both are devasted by this declaration of abandonment, the story continues with Orpah wishing Naomi a tearful goodbye and with Rus adamantly and successfully insisting that she join Naomi and the Jewish people.

Orpah’s actions are not condemned in the megillah as she did not do anything wrong. After all, it would have been unfairly cumbersome for her to endeavor down a path where she forsakes living with her own family to be thrust into a culture and society she is unfamiliar with.

Despite the decision being completely counterintuitive to her self-interest, we see Rus extraordinarily engaging in this very

course of action. She not only accompanies Naomi on her journey and propels herself forward as an outsider in an unfamiliar society, but she is also determined to care for her mother-in-law and follow in Hashem’s ways.

Similarly to Rus, throughout our lives, all of us will inevitably be confronted with opportunities to sacrifice our comfort and security for the benefit of someone else. Perhaps we will be asked to make room in our homes so that an aging mother or father-in-law has a safe place to live, or maybe we will be required to rearrange our schedules to care for a sick friend. No matter the specifics, the details of Rus’s and Orpah’s obstacles will be relatively interchangeable with our own.

By contrast to the story of Shavuos, it is unlikely that we will ever hear Hashem speak to us directly and that we will witness a miraculous equivalent of water turning into blood. Hashem’s miracles surrounding Shavuos simply do not reflect

the reality of “everyday” Judaism. Without this divine intervention, thinking beyond our comfort and needs to serve others and Hashem can be quite challenging.

But, as challenging as this may be, the conclusion of Megillas Rus should serve as an echoing reinforcement that for the Jewish people to be a “light upon the nations,” selfless behavior will always be the expectation we pledged for ourselves when we accepted the Torah.

We see this in the last line where we are informed that Rus’s action merited her to be the progenitor of Dovid Hamelech who, as we all know, will yield Moshiach within our lifetimes.

By letting us know that from Rus alone will come Moshiach – the most exemplary character of all the Jewish people – we are being sent a clear message that her behavior is not simply inspiring because she chose Judaism just like we did, but rather it is because her actions define the very core of what “being Jewish” means. An example of this is when we are confronted with ordinary day-to-day choices that require prioritization of someone else’s needs over our own, we choose to be selfless and extraordinary.

Shavuos is an extraordinary holiday where we commemorate being selected as the “chosen people.” Megillas Rus, in turn, provides a roadmap for meeting this enormous expectation, even under ordinary circumstances.

Rabbi Benny Berlin is the rabbi of BACH Jewish Center located in Long Beach, New York. For more information, visit: https://www. bachlongbeach.com

Down In The Dumps

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

“Dumpster diving” is the practice of sifting through commercial or residential trash to find items that have been discarded by their owners but which may be useful to the dumpster diver. The practice of dumpster diving is also known as urban foraging, binning, alley surfing, curbing, D-mart, dumpstering, garbaging, garbage picking, garbage gleaning, skip-raiding, skip diving, skipping, skip-weaseling, tatting, skally-wagging, or trashing.

Another use of the term is as a “sport” mostly practiced by youngsters who directly dive into the dumpsters, often filming it to show others the best dives, as one could do at the beach or pool when diving into water. It carries the risk of injury on broken glass or other dangerous or disgusting objects (source: Wikipedia).

This article will focus on the first meaning as it relates to our daf. The question can be asked, “Did a dumpster-diver discover Divine direction to dutifully divorce his darling dearest, or was he derelict in doing due diligence?” To answer that query some background is needed.

The Gemara records a dispute regarding whether or not proper intent (lishmah) is required when writing a get. According to R’ Elazar, there is a requirement when drafting a get that it be done for the sake of the couple that is getting divorced. Let’s say, for example, a scribe is practicing his handwriting on a mock get. He picked random entries from the phonebook and compiled a get using those names. Sure enough, the next day, a man approaches him and requests that he write a get. After inquiry, it became evident that his name and his wife’s name are identical to those used in the practice get. May the couple use this get? R’ Yehuda and R’ Elazar say no. R’ Meir disagrees – there need not be any

specific intent during the writing, as long as the witnesses sign the get at the request of the husband.

The Gemara (Gittin 3b) then records a statement from R’ Nachman quoting R’ Meir: “If a man finds a get in a pile of refuse and he had witnesses sign it and he gave it to his wife, then it is kosher.” This dumpster diver, while looking for something valuable, finds a piece of paper and examines it. It turns out to be a get. On the spot, he decides that there’s no time like the present. He procures witnesses to sign it, gives it to his wife, and feels happy that he saved himself a few bucks that he would’ve had to pay a sofer to write it. R’ Meir says that this frugality is, frankly, fine because the writing of the get does not have to be done with the intended couple in mind. Even if the get was written for a different couple with the same names, it is still valid.

However, Tosfos question the phraseology the Gemara employs. The Gemara implies that R’ Meir only says it is valid post facto, after the dumpster diver gave the get to his wife. If he would ask us initially upon finding the get whether or not he may use it, it seems we would answer in the negative. This is evidenced by the Gemara’s use of the past tense. He found it, procured witnesses, gave it – then it is valid. If the Gemara meant to say that the urban forager can use the get even l’chatchilah, the Gemara should have said, “If one found a get, he could procure witnesses to sign it and he may give it.” However, Rabbeinu Tam concludes that, according to R’ Meir, one may indeed initially use a get written for someone else (provided the names are the same). His explanation for the Gemara’s imprecise phraseology is somewhat unclear.

An interesting p’shat is found in the Yad Paltiel. “The Gemara used the past tense, because if the Gemara would have used the

future tense, ‘he should procure witnesses to sign,’ one would mistakenly think that the dumpster diver would be obligated to use the get. Why? Because of a Heavenly sign directing him to do so. Think about it. This alley-surfer was looking for valuables, and he chances upon a get that has not only his name on it, but his father’s name as well! Moreover, it has his wife’s name and even his father-in-law’s name! For added measure, the location mentioned on the get is where he lives! Can there be a clearer sign from Shamayim that he should divorce his wife? One might think that the beraisa is telling our D-mart shopper to follow that Divine direction. To preclude that line of thinking, the Gemara’s statement was recorded in the past tense as if to say that one isn’t obligated to do anything with the get, but whatever he chooses to do is fine. Perhaps, the lesson is that one cannot always correctly interpret Divine signals.

The Brisker Rav was once attending a wedding in Yerushalayim. When the chassan and kallah were ready for the chuppah, it became apparent that the chassan had left the ring at home. Someone suggested they buy a ring from someone wearing one in the audience, but the Brisker Rav wouldn’t hear of it. He sent someone to the chassan’s house via taxi to retrieve the ring. Meanwhile, the gathered crowd had to wait. When the ring finally showed up, the ceremony began. As the chassan was about to put the ring on the kallah’s finger, it slipped and fell to the floor. People in the crowd began to murmur, “This wedding wasn’t meant to be. First, the ring was left at home. Then right before he was about to place it, it fell to the floor. It’s a Heavenly sign.” The Brisker Rav said, “Indeed, it

wasn’t meant to be – until now. However, now is the perfect moment.”

This story highlights the difficulty in deciphering Divine signals.

Indeed, my rosh yeshiva, zt”l, Rav Henoch Leibowitz, used to say that we should not attempt to interpret events as Divine signals. For example, what if someone was trying to establish a makom Torah and encountered many difficulties. He may say, “Obviously Hashem is telling me this isn’t meant to be.” But perhaps the message is just the opposite. Hashem has so much confidence in him that he’ll succeed despite the trials and tribulations. Hashem wants to give him great reward for overcoming these obstacles. Possibly Hashem is testing him to see whether or not he will persevere in the face of challenges. Perhaps in previous generations, tzaddikim could interpret events but we can no longer do so.

So, what should one rely on for direction? The Vilna Gaon writes that in the absence of the urim v’tumim , one should rely on tefillah. One should daven to Hashem to provide him with clarity to make the right choice. That clarity may come in the form of a talmid chacham who provides him with da’as Torah or a new insight, or perhaps he’ll discover new facts that he was unaware of. In any case, one should always look Above for direction, and not to what he finds below.

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 Hempstead, NY. He can be contacted at ASebrow@ gmail.com.

Dumpster diving: You never know what you’re gonna get

The Wandering Jew Atlanta and The Smokies Part I

By Hershel Lieber

The year was 2011 and the month was May – a perfect time for a vacation to our Southern states. The weather was warm but not too hot; it was the ideal season when trees and flowers are in full bloom. Our itinerary included a Shabbos in Atlanta, two nights in Chattanooga, Tennessee, followed by five relaxing days including a Shabbos in the Great Smokey Mountains. The following week we planned to visit Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis in Tennessee and Louisville in Kentucky. It seemed like we would be doing a great deal of driving, but in reality it only comprised twenty-five hours on the road over a two-week period.

We arrived Thursday afternoon at Atlanta’s Jackson International Airport, rented a car and made our way to the Hyatt Peachtree Hotel in the center of town. Although I never travel without making arrangements for Shabbos, for some odd reason, I did not have any plan on where to

stay or eat for the coming Shabbos, which was less than twenty four hours away. I called the Beth Jacob Shul and asked if anyone could help us find Shabbos hospitality for the next two nights. I was directed to Rabbi Shalom Yosef Horowitz from the Kollel who came through immediately with an offer where to stay and three separate invitations for all Shabbos seudos. What an amazing feat! We then drove to Toco Hills, the Jewish neighborhood, had a delicious fish dinner in a restaurant, and called it a night.

Friday morning was the only time we had to do some sightseeing in Atlanta. The main attractions were the World of Coca Cola and the CNN Center. Of course, we went to see both. The Coca Cola exhibit is in a 20-acre complex which offered a tour of the soft drink’s history utilizing displays, films and artifacts that were surprisingly very interesting for us. Many of the objects, such as bottles, cans and

older vending machines, as well as the attractive advertising and clever slogans brought back memories of our youth and our fascination with “the Real Thing.”

The CNN Center also gave us an eye-opening tour about the gathering and disseminating of news throughout the world. There were multi-channel screens transmitting news shows in every section of the large complex. The tour began by riding up the longest free-standing escalator (196 feet) in the world. The visit included overlooking newsrooms where live news shows were being broadcast. There were presentations showing the use of the recent advances in technology which were applied in presenting current news reports.

We returned to our hotel to eat lunch and pack up. We then drove to Toco Hills, shopped for some nosh and made our way to the home of Avrohom Ehrenzweig. The Ehrenzweigs gave us a small apartment

behind their house to use for the next few days. It offered us privacy and comfort. I still had time to go to the mikvah before getting ready for Shabbos. Then Mrs. Horowitz came and drove Pesi and me to the Beth Jacob Shul for an early Kabbalas Shabbos. Everyone was extremely welcoming, and we met our host for the Friday night seudah, Moshe Ezroll.

We walked home together, and he told us about the Orthodox community of Atlanta. The founder of this community and shul was Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, who established this kehilla in 1952, leading it into a bastion of Torah-true Yiddishkeit for forty years. The kehilla evolved gradually, without coercion, into a source of kiruv, attracting Jews from well-established communities as well as baalei teshuva to settle in Atlanta and strengthen the face of Orthodoxy in this Southern metropolis. On the way to Moshe’s home, we met numerous transplants

With Rabbi Ilan Feldman

Avrohom Ehrenzweig (left), Sholom Yosef Horowitz (right)

On top of Old Smokey

from larger Jewish communities, many baalei teshuva and converts including a few Black Americans who joined our nation. Everyone greeted us with a hearty Shabbat Shalom, and a few stopped to ask us where we were from. The Shabbos seudah at the Ezrolls’ home was beautiful with delicious food, spirited zemiros and divrei Torah. During the meal, we played Jewish geography, one of my favorite pastimes, and it wasn’t until midnight when we finished our fancy desserts and made our way back to the apartment.

On Shabbos morning, we both walked about twenty minutes to the Beth Jacob Shul. Entering the building, we met Rabbi Ilan Feldman, who took over his father’s position in 1991. He greeted me warmly, and I reminded him that we met few years back when I came to Atlanta with Rabbi Moshe Eisemann to raise funds for the Yeshiva of Kishinev. Rabbi Ilan and Rebbetzin Miriam continued the illustrious work of his father by making Atlanta a perfect place for Orthodox Jews to call home. He was instrumental in every aspect of building the community, from the shul, the day schools, the yeshivos, the kollel, kashrus, mikvahs, etc. On this Shabbos, he would be hosting us for the day seudah.

The davening was beautiful, they gave me an Aliyah, and we joined the mispallelim for a kiddush after Mussaf. We walked to the Feldman house, where we were joined by quite a few guests. I remember a baal teshuva couple from Israel and a U.S. Naval commander, amongst others. We were asked by all to share our travel stories to the Soviet Union and other life experiences. We ended the meal way past three o’clock in the afternoon and went back for a short nap. I returned to shul for davening and shalosh seudos and for havdalah to Rabbi Feldman. Pesi heard havdalah from Avrohom Ehrenzweig. On Motzei Shabbos, we had a Melava Malka

by the Ehrenzweigs where we finally had the chance to get to know each other. We had an inspiring evening learning about their journey to Yiddishkeit. It was well after 1 AM when we finally went to sleep.

The next morning, right after Shacharis, we were on the road. We only had a

National Park.

The Great Smokey Mountains National Park was the first federally funded park and was chartered in 1934. It is still the most visited National Park in the United States. It is known for its mountains, rivers, waterfalls and forests, as well as for

the Smokies. On Tuesday, we drove along the eleven-mile loop within the National Park, making numerous stops to see the attractions. The scenery was gorgeous, and we were privy to see a smattering of the wildlife contained in this natural habitat – wild turkeys, horses grazing in the open fields, deer prancing between the woodlands, and a mother bear with three cubs trailing along. We took along a picnic lunch which we ate while sitting on the rocks at the side of a rushing stream. There were meadows with dazzling wildflowers as far as meets the eye. The dense forests with chirping birds took us along hiking trails with small wooden bridges passing over the serene rivers.

two-hour drive to Chattanooga, Tennessee, but could not check into our motel that early. We took the opportunity to take the incline railway up to Lookout Mountain. There, we encountered the Memorial to the historic Battle of Chattanooga Field. Over the years, we had learned a lot about the Civil War during visits to various battle sites and museums in many states. This site added another facet to our acquired knowledge. Later that afternoon, we went to Rock City where we hiked along rock and canyon formations and strolled past beautiful gardens at the height of the Southern Blooms Festival.

Monday morning, before leaving Chattanooga, we went to see the top-rated Tennessee Aquarium. We spent two hours viewing underwater life from a fish’s perspective. Then, we drove three hours to Gatlinburg, the “Gateway to the Smokies.” We had rented a cabin there through the next Shabbos with the goal of relaxing in the confines of this stunning

the diversity of its plant and animal life. It is called The Smokies due to the ever-present morning fog on the mountaintop.

Our cabin, which was perched on top of a steep mountain slope, had great scenic views of the higher elevation mountain ranges. The décor of our cabin was a bit rustic, but it was spacious and comfortable. The kitchens and bathrooms had modern fixtures and appliances, and the living room had comfortable sofas and a wood-burning fireplace. We shopped for some food items locally and settled in for the night.

The next two days we spent exploring

Hershel

On Wednesday, we took a different route and passed the abandoned homes of settlers who lived in Smokies over a century ago. We explored those buildings and saw 19th century farming implements and tools as well as an active water mill. We braved a steep hiking trail, dodging between boulders on a rocky path. What I really enjoyed was slipping off my shoes and socks and wading in the ice-cold waters of a flowing stream. From time to time, we came to a clearing where we marveled at the view of the hazy mountaintops protruding from the vast forests below.

Each day ,we spent well over eight hours exploring the Smokies, yet we came back to our cabin exhilarated with a zest to replicate our adventure over and over again.

We were privy to see a smattering of the wildlife contained in this natural habitat – wild turkeys, horses grazing in the open fields, deer prancing between the woodlands, and a mother bear with three cubs trailing along.

Lookout Mountain incline railway

The flowing streams In Smokey National Park

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 yeshiva 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.

A Remarkable Reunion

By Rafi Sackville

Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, I attended Mount Scopus College, the largest Jewish school in the Southern Hemisphere at the time – 3,000 students from K to 12th grade, which was a large percentage of the almost 50,000 Jews living in the state of Victoria at the time.

My parents were Australian-born. This was an anomaly at the time considering 75% of my school friends had parents who had come out of Europe at the end of the war.

Those days of distant memory are occasionally brought up in discussion among my old school friends living here in Israel. These conversations aside, I’ve had little to do with my alma mater in the almost 50 years since I left school.

A few years ago, I took my wife on a tour of the school. She was in awe at the sheer size of the campus; over 40 acres that included an indoor pool, an entertainment center, tennis courts, playing fields, computer rooms, and well-stocked classrooms. It’s a far cry from the school I’ve been teaching at for over a decade, where every penny granted for things most of us take for granted needs to be begged and scraped for.

For example, our library is short of English books. I had to beg for money before going to a local secondhand bookstore and purchasing more books than I was originally budgeted for. Living in the periphery of Israel is not only a far cry from the wealth of Australia (and the Five Towns I once lived in), but a remind-

er of how far behind I’ve left the “Lucky Country.”

Which is why I was surprised to receive an invitation to a reunion event in Rishon LeTzion for former students going back 74 years. Add to that number 350 current students attending Ulpan or on their gap year, and the number of attendees would eventually run to over 1,300 people. It was the largest Australian event I’d ever attended outside Australia.

I sensed that the impending event held greater curiosity and excitement to those back in Australia than here. My mother, brothers and friends had all seen ads in the local papers. They couldn’t wait to hear about it.

I felt a flutter of sorts upon entering Lago Events in Rishon LeZion; I was suddenly transported back years to a different life, when the responsibilities of life had yet to emerge into marriage and parenthood and grandparenthood. The adventures and waywardness of youth came flooding back in a rush and landed in a lump in my throat.

I had a fleeting feeling of not wanting to be there. Unfortunately, not all of my childhood memories are fondly remembered. Mount Scopus College was notorious for being brutal to those not academically inclined. They set the highest of standards and refused to compromise on reaching them, standards which have altered minimally, even today in 2023. There was no alternative plan B to success; any student who didn’t fit the mold was less than desirable.

I was blessed to belong to a circle of friends who helped me through difficult times. I’m proud to say they live in Israel today, and I remain close to them.

These feelings of hesitancy were fleeting. Within moments, I was catching up with old friends.

What gave me an immense feeling of pride was the sheer number of ex-collegians who have made Aliyah. I say this because, as I have mentioned, Australia is known as the Lucky Country. Yet, the material comfort it bestowed upon so many of us wasn’t enough to make us want to stay. The Jewish youth groups of the day did an exemplary job embedding us with a sense of Israeli belonging, which eventually became our identity. I joined their ranks late in my youth, and to their everlasting credit, I have remained eternally grateful to them for planting the seeds of the love of Israel.

It is estimated that in the 74 years of its existence, over one-thousand students have made Aliyah from Mount Scopus College. That’s more than 10 olim chadashim a year. Those are remarkable numbers.

The evening began with speeches and a short film. The president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, spoke of his late father’s visit to Melbourne. The President invoked the school motto, chazak v’amatz (be strong and of good courage), and how singular and important its message is.

President Herzog’s late father worked tirelessly to ensure the survival of the Jewish State. In faraway Melbourne, in

another time, the founders of Mount Scopus College worked hard to ensure the survival of Jewish education.

There was a concert by the world renown Israeli musician, Idan Reichel. While the old folk mingled in the foyer, the youngsters sang and danced along to all his tunes. I was surprised at just how well he is known by these teenage Australians.

The greatest opportunity to meet and greet was during supper. I lost count of the people I got to catch up with. I found myself constantly playing a mental time warp of sorts from not having seen an old friend for fifty years only to discover he/ she are grandparents many times over. Pictures were taken and contact information was exchanged between bites of steak and potatoes.

Flipping through the photos from the evening as I write this, it’s sobering to see how some of us have aged less than gracefully, but mind-bending seeing those who still look so very young. I was particularly impressed by the guys who still sport full heads of hair.

In the days after the event, a survey was sent out to participants, articles appeared in the Israeli press, and there was a brief uptick in contact among old friends. The organizers had pulled off a remarkable evening that crystallized just how special Melbourne Jewry, and Mount Scopus College in particular, are.

Rafi Sackville, formerly of Cedarhurst, teaches in Ort Maalot in Western Galil.

Idan Reichel in concert President Herzog, right, at the event

With friends, who are sporting more hair than me

Dovid HaMelech’s Powerful Words

Children in R’ Eli Cheshin’s Tehillim Groups

Sing the Beautiful Words of Tehillim Each Week

By Ra BB i aRon White

In his youth, R’ Eli Cheshin absorbed the unique sounds of children davening Tehillim together in Yerushalayim. For the last thirteen years, R’ Eli has brought this unique experience to hundreds of boys and girls in the Far Rockaway/Five Towns, teaching them the unique power of Tehillim from a young age.

Shavuos is the birthday and yahrzeit of Dovid HaMelech, the author of Tehillim, and Rabbi Aron White spoke with R’ Eli Cheshin, to hear about his unique Tehillim project touching hundreds of lives every week.

***

“By now, many of my boys know much of Tehillim by heart.”

“Saying Tehillim every Shabbos takes my boys from a regular, boring Shabbos to a special Shabbos afternoon – it’s the highlight of their day!”

“The Tehillim group strengthens the relationships and bonds between the girls and is all based on a mutual experience of reading Tehilim and connecting to Hashem.”

These are just some of the quotes from parents in the Five Towns and Far Rockaway whose children attend Yachad Yaldei Yisroel, the unique Tehillim groups founded by R’ Eli Cheshin 13 years ago. I was honored to speak with Rabbi Cheshin, to hear about how this special project came to fruition.

“I was born to a 7th generation Yerushalmi family descended from the Maharal of Prague and the Talmidim of the Gra,” R’ Eli says. “My grandfather was Rav Binyamin Zev (Velvel) Cheshin, a major mekubal, who was related to Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach.

“As a child growing up in Shaarei Chesed, all the shuls on Shabbos afternoon would have groups of children saying Tehillim together in a distinctive Yerushalayim nusach. It was an integral part of my childhood that became part of my DNA and who I was. Later in life, I moved to Zurich Switzerland, and I would say the whole Tehillim every Shabbos. When I moved to Far Rockaway, I had this urge to replicate what I had seen in Yerushalayim and to start a chevras Tehillim for children.”

For R’ Eli, Tehillim is not just a powerful form of tefillah but a vital part of chinuch for the participants.

“As parents, we are always looking to find things that will help our children in the long term – the right friends, the right rebbe, the right school, and the right qualifications for them to make a parnassa. There is no better way of preparing our children for their lives than giving them a connection to Tehillim. Whatever comes up in their lives, they will have this to turn to as a source of chizuk, and there is no greater koach in the world.”

R’ Eli adds, “Dovid HaMelech experienced every imaginable challenge in his life – he had enemies who constantly attacked him, he was humiliated by his own siblings, his own children turned against him – he experienced so much. Tzaddikim say that Dovid HaMel-

ech had to go through all these troubles because he was to write Sefer Tehillim that in the future would be the escape of every Jew in time of troubles. With the problems Dovid HaMelech went through, he offered a glimpse of every trouble, hardship, sickness, and other challenges we go through. There is a mizmor that is appropriate and close to the heart of every person. This means that in Sefer Tehillim a Yid can find expression for his deepest felt suffering. If we connect our children to this powerful koach, then no matter what comes up in their life, they will have Tehillim to turn to.”

The idea of a chevras Tehillim for children in the Far Rockaway/Five Towns community had been on R’ Eli’s mind for years before it came to fruition.

“I would see children running around on Shabbos, without much to do, and parents wanting their children to have something meaningful to spend their time with over Shabbos,” R’ Eli relates. “In 2010, there was an unfortunate tragedy when a young daughter of a dear friend of ours drowned in a pool in our area. This gave me the push that we need more tefillos of Tinokos Shel Beis Raban in the world. I approached the Rosh Hayeshiva Rabbi Naftali Jaeger and Rabbi Avrohom Halpern from Yeshivas Sh’or Yoshuv, and they agreed and welcomed the idea for us to host the chevras Tehillim in the Beis HaMedrash in the Yeshiva.”

R’ Eli speaks about the power of the prayers of our children.

“At Purim time, when there was a decree to kill all the Jews,” he says. “Mordechai Hatzaddik gathered all

the children to daven to cancel the gezeirah . From this, we see that all the prayers and the fasting did not help as much as the prayers of the children. It was the power of the children that saved Am Yisroel from the gezeirah , and this power continues in our days and forever.

“‘Dovid Melech Yisroel chai vekayam.’ How is he alive? Because his book of Tehillim is chai vekayam Any person, any time, finds vitality in Tehillim –during davening, between davening, and in davening in times of tzaros.

“Rav Chaim Palagi writes that in the sefer Kol Hakotuv it says Tehillim is often called ‘Tilim,’ because the whole world is ‘talui,’ dependent on the power of Tehillim. There also is a unique zechus of the tefillos of pure children, so the two combined is a uniquely powerful mix.”

The chevras Tehillim even continued throughout the months of Covid. The groups, using appropriate distances and regulations, were able to use the tents of the Cheshins’ friends and neighbors, R’ Aharon and Ellen Wolfson and R’ Moshe and Tova Feldhamer.

Aside from the tremendous zechus of saying Tehillim, there are prizes and incentives for the children.

R’ Eli recalls how his mother-in-law, Mrs. Suri Klein, a survivor of Auschwitz, would say Tehillim every day. She would look forward to helping with preparing all the peklach f or the children given out every week.

One of the secrets to the success of Yachad Yaldei Yisroel is the fact that the children don’t just read Tehillim – they sing the sweet words of Dovid Hamelech.

“There is a unique Yerushalmi nusach with a tune for how to sing the Tehillim,” R’ Eli explains. “This helps the Tehillim really enter your bones, and after a few months, children start to remember perakim by heart. One father told me that since his children were three, they would come back from the Tehillim singing, ‘Ki le’olam chasdo’ at the top of their lungs. We had one mother send her two-year-old to the group even though he couldn’t join in the singing, if only just to hear the enchanting tune!

“Singing Tehillim from such a young age also helps the children’s kriah in a remarkable way.”

More than ten years ago, R’ Eli instituted the chevras Tehillim for boys from three years old until bar mitzvah age. After a few years, a girls’ group was started by Mrs. Neta Shlomi. Combined, since the groups were started, these boys and girls have said way over 2 million perakim of Tehillim! The groups meet every Shabbos and yom tov for one hour before Mincha to say Tehillim during that hour. Each week, the children read thirty perakim of Tehillim, including Perek 119 and all the Shir Hamaalot, and in this way, the children get to finish Sefer Tehillim

“Growing up in Yerushalayim, we would get a cup of petel,” R’ Eli reminisces, “but we need to offer something a little more than that now! Since I am the owner of Berrylicious Frozen Yogurt and a partner in Patis Bakery, they are the corporate sponsors of the project providing special treats, presents, parties and surprises for all the kids.”

Chazal Bemidrash Shocher Tov compares Moshe Rabbeinu to Dovid Hamelech. Moshe gave Klal Yisroel the Chamisha Chumshei Torah and Dovid HaMelech gave the chamisha seforim of Tehillim to Bnei Yisroel.

On Shavuos, there is a special celebration at Yachad Yaldei Yisroel, as the group gathers to read the entire Sefer Tehillim, in honor of the special connection to Dovid HaMelech on this yom tov. Following the Tehillim, there is a special party to celebrate – and with Hashem’s help, the Tehillim group will go mei’chayil el chayil.

The boys’ and girls’ groups enjoy pizza, ice cream, and prizes at Berrylicious

R’ Eli Cheshin with winners of prizes

Combined, since the groups were started, these boys and girls have said way over 2 million perakim of Tehillim!

His Art And His HeArt

Understanding and appreciating art, through the eyes, mind, and heart of painter Alex Greenfield

By PincHos Friedl Ander

Alex has a pet peeve. A successful painter who earns his living entirely through his art career, Alex’s paintings can fetch a pretty penny. But it’s still hard for him when he finds out that a customer chose a specific painting based on how it will match the couches in their living room. The way he sees it, a real piece of art is about soul; it’s almost a living entity. True art becomes a family heirloom. And so, the decor of a finely appointed room should gravitate outward from the painting, which should be its focal point. The rest of the furniture should be chosen to match the painting, and not the reverse.

Alex Greenfield has been doing art for as long as he can remember. The way he puts it is: “I was bad at everything else, so I chose art.” (The way I put it is: as a true artist, he was bad at everything that was not art.)

Alex was fortunate to receive high level instruction from a very young age. In fact, he learned the intricacies of color theory when he was in second grade. And he never stopped. He was always drawing, doing woodwork, sculpting, and learning; eventually reaching professional-level painting, sculpting and other art forms, which is now his full-time occupation – and obsession.

From Montana to Jerusalem

But art was not Alex’s only journey.

Alex grew up on an Indian reservation in ultra-rural Montana. His father was the doctor of the country village they lived in, where they were the only Jewish

family around. Most of Alex’s friends were the real-deal country boys. They walked around in boots all day, fixed their own tractors, and lived on huge farms with hundreds of cattle. Although today Native Americans don’t live out of teepees and hunt for their food the way they used to, their culture is still quite strong. They have frequent get-togethers and festivals that celebrate and recreate the romance and lore of Indian lifestyle. As per the legal status of an Indian reservation, they also have a somewhat autonomous system of local governance. Alex explains that what attracted his father to this remote place was the extraordinary fly-fishing spots locat-

His stint in yeshiva gave his art its Jewish soul.

ed there, literally some of the best in the world. In fact, cutthroat trout, a fish extremely sensitive to pollution, is seldomly found elsewhere. Alex describes the experience of fly-fishing in Montana vividly: You put on these tall boots that come up to your waist, and you carefully wander into a rushing stream, paying careful attention to read the stream properly. Fly-fishing is a skill, and knowing what you’re doing makes all the difference. If you do it correctly, you can catch the most pristine, beautiful fish. Once you choose your spot, you wait, all the while enveloped in the most exquisite untainted natural beauty, watching the water rush around bends and crash against rocks. Sometimes, Alex would see a moose appear in its full glory, standing calmly on the banks of the river. Bears would come by, too. Beavers as large as small bears would wander around. The thrilling

yet dangerous power of the animals only added to the stark majesty of the scene.

No wonder Alex grew up to be an artist.

One thing Montana does not have much of, though, is Judaism. Alex grew up with little exposure to Yiddishkeit. His parents were not religious, though they did have an appreciation for their heritage and kept kosher.

When Alex reached college age, he naturally applied to an art school, Tufts University in Boston. Needing a place to stay in Boston, he took out an apartment for a good price, which he was told was right near the train that would take him to the college. It sounded workable.

When he arrived in Boston, though, he realized the apartment was actually a terrible location for him. The train ride to his college took over an hour, he had to

nied him to Boston to help him settle in. Now, as Alex continued on his way to his first day of college, his mother walked into the kollel. Knowing from nothing, she informed the rabbis she encountered of their new neighbor and asked them to “take care” of her son. The yungeleit in the kollel were a bit taken aback to see this secularly dressed woman confidently march into their place as if she owned it, but they quickly regained their bearings and assured her they would take Alex under their wing.

And they did. Before long, Alex became very close to the members of the kollel and found himself getting more invitations to Shabbos meals than he could handle. It came to a point where he was “offering” his potential hosts “appointments” for three weeks in advance. And before long, Alex found himself getting drawn closer to Yiddishkeit. Shabbos observance came pretty fast, and soon Alex found himself on a kiruv trip to Israel, arranged by Ohr Sameach. Alex ended up putting his college program on hold, and went to yeshiva instead, for a few years.

“Like a true artist, I dropped out of college,” he quips. One thing led to the next, and it wasn’t long before Alex was fully frum and married to a nice Jewish girl. At first, his parents were taken aback that he was getting married at a point that in their culture was considered so young. But his wedding was a beautiful experience, and his parents were quite impressed by Alex’s wife, and they realized he had made a great choice. As Alex says, his brother commented that he also must marry Jewish, if only so he could have such a beautiful and moving wedding.

Alex’s family has since come much closer to Yiddishkeit. Alex learns Gemara Brachos with his father over the phone (his parents have since moved to North Carolina), and his parents have increased in their observance of Shabbos. Alex’s sister recently got married, and Alex learns Gemara for two hours every Thursday night with his new brother-in-law as well.

there’s Art, and then there’s Jewish Art

switch trains, and then get off at a stop which was over a mile away from Tufts. As hashgacha would have it though, it was a great location in a different way.

As Alex walked to the train on his first day, he noticed a hat rack in a nearby window. The rack was full with black hats. Alex had some frum relatives, and so he recognized the hats immediately. Catching his attention, his gaze traveled from there up the exterior wall of the building, where he noticed the words on it. Turns out, he was living literally next door to the Kollel of Greater Boston. Coming from remote Montana, being in such close proximity to other Jews, observant no less, was a treat for Alex. What he didn’t realize yet was the life-altering impact this “bad choice” of location would have on him.

As a good Jewish mother, his mom had accompa-

Alex’s personal transformation greatly impacted his art, too. His stint in yeshiva gave his art its Jewish soul. He now sees art from a higher, more sublime perspective. Alex explains that there is a certain G-dliness sensed in beauty. Alex connects to that, and his brush is his vehicle to express it. He quotes Claude Monet who once said, “I wish I never saw a flower, so I could paint it.” In other words, we see flowers all the time, and create a certain canned appreciation of them in our minds. And if we were ever to sit down and contemplate a flower, we would no longer see its beauty in a free, unadulterated and authentic way. Similarly, we need to clear our minds of the secular, mundane approach to beauty in order to appreciate its true higher essence.

The creativity process itself has a higher aspect too, Alex explains. After all, G-d Himself is the ultimate Creator. The process of painting itself is a like a lifespan. When an artist begins painting, the painting is “born,” and as he continues, it grows and moves along its “life.” For each step, a spirit particular to that step is embedded, and although Alex himself knows it, he wonders whether his client and viewers ever will. Once

We need to clear our minds of the secular, mundane approach to beauty in order to appreciate its true higher essence.

the painting reaches completion, in a sense it has completed its journey.

Preparation and Purpose

The meaning in the painting doesn’t come by itself. Alex consciously works to create it. He explains that real art can never be made by a machine. It’s like a sefer Torah, l’havdil, which will never be kosher, Alex notes, even if you can get a computer to imitate the brushstrokes of a sofer. Ultimately, no machine can insert a soul.

Alex explains that you have to separate the wheat from the chaff in the art industry. Many artists will throw around cheap platitudes about how they connect to their subjects, but often it is just fluff. The real thing is hard to find, but when you have it, it’s gold. This is Alex’s passion, and it’s what drives his work.

If he’s doing a custom painting, he will ask the client what mood they are looking to see in it. Say he was commissioned to paint the portrait of a client’s rebbe, he will ask him: what does this rebbe represent to you? Do you see him as warm? Sharp? Holy? Wise? Alex will then actually sit and meditate until he feels he can experience that emotion.

When painting a tzaddik, he will learn Torah before he begins, or even listen to a shiur as he’s working, so he can connect on some level to the holiness of the gadol.

labor…of love

Painting takes time. A painting can take a few weeks, or even longer. And Alex works twelve hours a day on his art. He will sometimes do more than one painting at a time, but still, every product is very labor-intensive.

Paintings have many layers, and they often undergo much adjustment and endless tweaks until the final product is ready. To deal with this, Alex mentally divides each project into stages, and sets for himself goals stage by stage. That way, the work doesn’t seem so endless. There are different aspects to painting, too. There is the tedious, detailed part. For example, with a sculpted work, he carefully sculpts every individual leaf on a tree. This can be monotonous, but on the other hand, it needs less mental concentration. Alex saves that kind of work for the times when he doesn’t feel he can muster the proper inspiration. And then there is the inspired work, which is more sweeping and overarching, like choosing the color themes or shape the general direction of the painting. This requires him to connect intimately with the mood of the painting and its message.

Alex uses various mediums. He does painting, sculpting, and woodworking. He uses regular paint, and gold and silver leaf.

In fact, Alex has a series of paintings of a man wearing a tallis with an atarah (the silver “crown” some men have on the top of their tallis). In most of these paintings, the atarah itself is the focal point of the painting. Alex explains there are a few elements about an atarah that speaks to him. One is that he simply finds them beautiful. He also enjoys working with gold or silver leaf, which is the medium he uses to paint atarahs. Made from the real thing, they add a touch of real class and elegance.

But it’s also the chassidic spirit the atarah represents that resonates with Alex. Alex reveals that while learn-

ing in yeshiva in Jerusalem, he felt himself drawn to the Pinsk-Karlin shteeble in Meah Shearim, and he would daven there often. And, interestingly, his ancestors actually hail from the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, which was a chassidic region before World War II. And that’s what he is expressing with the paintings. In fact, atarahs are not the only chassidic subjects of

Alex recalls a work he did for the occasion of a wedding anniversary. The husband asked Alex to recreate his marriage proposal to his wife, which had taken place some years before, on a balcony overlooking the Kosel. The balcony was no longer there at the time of the rendering and had to be recreated. It was a very special painting, with a lot of hidden symbolism, including

Alex’s paintings. He has done quite a few paintings which portray chassidic greats and chassidic culture, which poignantly capture that magic sublimity of chassidus.

Additionally, there is a certain popular association at play here. When people see chassidim, their brain connects them to “Jewish” very tangibly. Alex relates that when contemporary artist Alex Levine painted the Kosel, he portrayed all the visitors there as chassidim, to give it the full Jewish feel.

of camels and the Kosel

To Alex, it’s almost a desecration, but it’s a fact every artist has to live with: if you want to sell your art, you have to make it sellable, marketable. And that means you can’t always follow your inspiration. For example, as it turns out, frum Jews don’t like camels in their paintings. Alex once painted Kever Rochel and put into the foreground a nice prominent camel. There are a lot of different interesting elements a camel adds to the painting, and there is a certain skill set he can display in painting the fur and the many details and colors. But he kept on getting comments, “What’s with the camel?” Soon enough, he realized, he just had to leave out the camel.

But you learn to live with it. And in a way, it actually increases Alex’s creativity, by forcing him to come up with ways to incorporate elements in his paintings which he never would have on his own. Still, there is a struggle, in remaining true to yourself and your art, while simultaneously accommodating the customer and market demand.

Often, there are home decorators involved, too. It’s usually with them that the issue of matching the couches with the artwork comes up the most, which is Alex’s pet peeve.

Alex also takes issue with clients who won’t trust their own judgment and need their decorator’s approval before deciding on a painting.

“If you love it, buy it” is the way he feels (obviously, if you can afford it…). He describes how people develop a relationship with their paintings, almost like a living being. And that’s something you need to choose by yourself.

handprints to represent their children. Alex was told there had to be a lot of blue in it. He was afraid to ask why, but he strongly suspected it was to match their room decor. In the end, Alex was present when the husband presented the painting to his wife. Indeed, it was a moving occasion. And, he discovered then that the blue actually had nothing to do with the decor of the room (the couches were white). Rather, at the time of the pro -

posal, there were blue lights projected on the Kosel, and that blue was part of the feel of the memory.

But Alex wished he had known that earlier. It would have saved him weeks of angst.

Pop Art and other Genres

Alex is also looking to expand his audience and genres. He has also begun to dabble in what’s known as pop-art; “pop” as in pop culture. These are usually more mundane, and representative of popular symbolism. Some of his works are parodies of the works of famous secular pop artists. Years ago, Andy Warhol created these sculptures of cans of soup, made by a popular brand, which are not especially pretty, but their attraction lies

more in the “shtick” of it. Alex mimics this with a Jewish flavor, with sculptures of jars of gefilte fish.

He is also now expanding into targeting the Miami clientele, which leans to a different taste in art than the New York crowd. Whereas the latter tends to be more intense, reserved and classy, the former is louder, calmer, and more expansive.

I asked Alex what he thought of Modern Art. Is it a real thing, or is it just a poor excuse to substitute cheap scribbles for real talent?

Alex explains that there is, in fact, a real skill to Modern Art, which is often misunderstood. And yes, there are painters who don’t get it. They produce what they think is Modern Art, but really is nothing but shoddy work which comes from a lack of ability to do the real thing. But Alex points to the likes of Pablo Picasso, who was a talented realist, but as his career progressed, moved more and more into a Modern style, with a lot of right angles and impossible-looking scenes. Obviously, this was not due to his lack of ability to create a realistic impression. In fact, the most advanced techniques in art are done in the abstract.

Alex explains that Modern Art is like the mysticism of art. True Modern Art is extremely sophisticated and nuanced, and very vividly portrays an emotion, without the scene to go with it. It is like the soul of art, without its body.

Alex recalls the time he stood in front of a work by a Modern master, and he could almost hear screaming. It was eerie and freaky. Alex himself feels he hasn’t reached that level of skill yet but hopes to get there one day.

He did share, though, that a person once stood in front of a realistic painting of his and was literally moved to tears by it.

Maybe Alex is not so far off after all…

the Power of creativity

Alex has given art lessons, too, and can testify to their power of transforming children. There is something about unleashing the creative element in a person that

can work wonders. He recalls a time when he gave lessons in Yeshiva Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway. He once happened to be in Rabbi Yaakov Bender’s office when a mother walked in. Not knowing who the young man there was, she passionately described to Rabbi Bender the effect art lessons were having on her son. They were the only part of school her son enjoyed, she said. Rabbi Bender winked at Alex.

On a different occasion, this time in Cleveland (where he now lives), Alex had a student who had been written off as a “dummy.” Even his sanity was called into question. In Alex’s art class, he thrived. The so-called dummy was transformed. He was alive, and at the head of the class, even helping Alex and assisting the others.

As an amateur artist myself (my kids think I’m professional), I asked Alex whether he could let me in on some basic tips and tricks of creating a realistic image.

He shares this:

Much of painting is based on the skills of drawing. Alex will have beginning painters learn to draw and draw, until they really master it. Once they can draw well, painting simply introduces a more complicated form of drawing, which is using and manipulating a paintbrush.

Much of the skill of drawing entails separating what we really see from what our brain tells us we are seeing. There are techniques you can use to trick the brain into thinking it’s seeing something, even if it really isn’t. A basic example of this is when drawing a simple egg, you don’t draw the complete egg, just the highlights and the shadows. You don’t actually draw a line around the entire circumference of the egg. The viewer’s mind will do that for you. Similarly, when drawing a person’s hair, most of it is just black, with just a few key parts showing the grain, the brain does the rest and tells the viewer “this is hair.”

On the flip side, sometimes, our brain tells us what something is and then we miss its actual technical form, resulting in drawing it wrong. To avoid this, it’s helpful to take a photo and turn it upside down and draw that inverted image. This way, you are forced to draw what you see, not what you “know.”

Another neat trick Alex uses a lot is the use of reference points. To get the correct proportions, especially when drawing portraits, you can use, say, the nose, as a reference of where to start the ear, or the width of the eye to measure the length of the nose. This keeps your lines in check and as accurate as possible.

While we all can appreciate beauty on some level, some of us don’t merely enjoy it but are moved by it and are inspired by it. Alex is such a person. For him, it is a vehicle to connect to a loftier plane, and that is what he is looking to give over with his work.

He quotes a rebbe of his, Rabbi Segal who tells an anecdote of a Buddhist, a Westerner, and a Jew, who came across an exquisitely beautiful flower. The Buddhist sat in front of the flower in deep meditation, while the Westerner grabbed his camera and began snapping photos.

The Jew took out his watering can and watered it.

A Jew doesn’t merely look at a thing of beauty. He springs into action and uses it as a vehicle to truly achieve.

there is a struggle in remaining true to yourself and your art, while simultaneously accommodating the customer and market demand.

By Estee Acobas

Dear Teen Talk,

Hi! My name is Lisa, and I’m a sophomore in high school. For the most part, I’m a typical girl who gets good grades, has a nice group of friends and is well behaved. For the past few months, I’ve been feeling really sad and upset about my life. There’s nothing alarmingly wrong with me, I just wish I could be happier. I know there’s nothing wrong with my life so I’m not sure why I feel this way. After speaking with other people, I really think I could benefit from therapy. My question is how do I know if I need therapy? Is there something that qualifies me to go and would I not be eligible because I don’t have something specific that’s wrong? And the bigger question is how do I tell my parents I want to go to therapy? They are my parents so they know there is nothing “wrong” with me so I’m not sure how to explain that I would like to speak to someone.

Thank you, Lisa*

Thank you for sharing such an important question with me. Before we even start talking about therapy, I think it is important to back up and share a bit about our unpleasant feelings. It is normal to feel unhappy sometimes; it is part of being human. (This is especially so during the teenage years.) It is absolutely unrealistic for someone to think that they should always be happy. More than that, having that expectation can really deepen our unpleasant feelings. Having thoughts such as, “I should be happy,” “Why can’t I just be happy?” or “I’m sad, what’s wrong with me?” end up making our feelings of sadness more complicated by adding on layers of guilt and/or disappointment. If, instead of judging our feelings or trying to reject them, we could accept our feelings and allow ourselves to experience them judgment-free (saying things to ourselves such as, “I am feeling sad,” “it is normal to feel sad sometimes,” or “It makes sense that I feel sad”), we would be able to let the sad feelings move on more easily.

You share that you don’t see a reason for your sadness. That is not surprising or confusing for me. We don’t always have an obvious cause of the way we feel, and our emotional experience

is impacted by so much more than what we see... Someone can have so much going for them –good friends, a solid family, strong academics, etc., and still suffer from overwhelming feelings of sadness. (As a side point, feeling sad doesn’t mean that you don’t appreciate the good that you have in your life. You can be grateful for all you have AND feel sad at the same time.) We do not have to defend our emotional state. Feelings are feelings. They come without asking, and not understanding why we feel the way we do doesn’t make it any less real, or less distressing. Sometimes the hardest things are the least tangible. If you had an intense pain in your leg but didn’t see a bruise, would it hurt any less?

As much as I am trying to prove that feeling unhappy at times is pretty normal, there are definitely times when things can get more distressing and concerning. Sometimes our negative and unpleasant emotions are so significant that they can really get in the way of our functioning and experience, impacting areas such as sleep, eating, school, and relationships, and making it hard to enjoy things and feel hopeful about the future.

No matter how big our unhappiness is, it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do what we can to help ourselves feel better. You asked how you could know if you need therapy, but so often it

is not a clear yes or no question. There is no litmus test; anyone can see a therapist. Rather than asking, “Do I need therapy?”, sometimes the more productive questions are, “Do I want?” and “Might this help?”

It is helpful to know that therapy is not the only way to improve our situation. There are many proven ideas to try, such as improving sleep and diet, reducing stress, writing a gratitude journal, being kind to yourself and others, improving your relationships, and exercising. Sometimes changes such as those can feel like enough.

And sometimes not. Sometimes we just want more help from someone who has more knowledge in the area, similar to the concept of a basketball coach or a personal trainer – someone who can increase our awareness, give us tips and strategies, work with us to change our approaches and mindset, and help us learn new skills. The best way to benefit from therapy is to have clear goals to work towards, and, as in your case, sometimes a good place to start is by trying to increase awareness and understanding. Just like getting basketball lessons, this is not the easy way out; therapy can be a lot of work.

Some people have an assumption that people who go to therapy have something really wrong with them. And, using that logic, if someone

doesn’t go to therapy, it kind of means everything is okay. This idea itself often prevents people from seeking help, because for them, going for therapy is acknowledging that there is something wrong. But this approach is unhelpful and so very far from reality; we ALL have stuff. There’s nothing noble about not getting help, and hiding from difficulties doesn’t make them go away. Therapy is often the very brave decision to face something and try to make it better.

I am glad you brought up your concern regarding telling your parents. It is always helpful to problem solve what can get in the way. I do think that you voiced yourself quite well in your question, and I would start with what you shared with me. Add some of the points I shared above that you think might be useful. If they are hesitant, it may be helpful to sug-

gest they reach out to your pediatrician or someone at school whom they trust to increase their comfort with the idea. It is also important to tell them how they are so helpful in their essential role as parents and that you value all they do for you. Explain to them that even with all of their support, you still want to work with someone skilled and uninvolved who can help you in a different way. A parent cannot act as your therapist, and a therapist cannot act

as your parent. The roles are too different. Again, I am so happy you reached out about this. It is good to trust ourselves when we don’t feel right and when we don’t feel like ourselves. Like I mentioned above, there are things we can do to help, and therapy is definitely a promising option. We don’t need to run to therapy, but we also don’t need to wait for a huge problem either.

I wish you so much hatzlacha!

Estee Acobas is a licensed psychologist. She works as a school psychologist in a yeshiva in Queens and as a private therapist in Great Neck. She can be reached at dresteeacobas@gmail.com

What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I am 31 years old. Baruch Hashem, I have a very active social life and a great job. I do not feel despondent or depressed that I am not married; it is just a fact of life for me.

The problem is that I find that sometimes people redt me to men who are definitely not for me. They are either not in the same box as me Yiddishkeit-wise or their lifestyle/outlook on life is not for me.

Sometimes I find that when I say no to these suggestions, I am being perceived as someone who is “too picky.” “Oh, now I know why you’re not married; you’re too myopic and narrow-minded.” “It’s just one date. Just go out.”

At this point in my life, I’ve done the “just one date” thing. I’m tired of being pushed into meeting someone who I know won’t be for me.

Any advice on how to manage these types of situations?

-Adina

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin

Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

Adina, I feel your hurt and pain when people are so inconsiderate and insensitive not to hear about what you are looking for. Unfortunately, some people are very judgmental and unthinking when it comes to shidduch suggestions.

Often, well-meaning people seem to be pairing pants and skirts, so to speak, without expending any effort at getting to know the single and her/his needs and wants in terms of a marriage partner.

It’s a good idea to smile, thank the person for their suggestion, and say, “I’ll let you know if I think it’s a prospective fit.” There are a few other ways to say the same thing in which you politely acknowledge that there needs to be a fit and you will follow up if it is appropriate (or shayach, a common catchall word people use in shidduchim these days). Sometimes, you have

to be a broken record and/or find a way to make your polite exit from the conversation or encounter.

Take heart. Hashem has someone in mind for you and you will find him. You have developed some dating skills and self-knowledge through your dating experiences. Lead with your mind and follow with your heart. Talk to someone you trust if you like when you doubt yourself. But do not let others insta-matching hurt you. It’s hard, I know.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

The psychology of humans is interesting.

Often, we see something that does not make sense in our mind’s eye, and we automatically shift into “Salvation Mode.” We are inherently G-d-like and our neshama pines to give to others; it is part of our

DNA. I try to believe this is why you will have people make completely outlandish suggestions. They know a good guy and regardless of whether it is a shayach match, they want to try. In our kind and solution-oriented state, we grasp for straws. This is why you will have well-intentioned friends and acquaintances set you up with people completely off the mark.

It is very important we are having this conversation because our readership needs to know that as well-intentioned as it is, it is also very hurtful being on the receiving end of such off suggestions. It makes singles feel weary of suggestions in general. It makes them feel hurt and misunderstood. If your friend has a PHD and is looking for a job, you would never recommend your friend’s bar which has an opening for a bartender. The same goes with shidduchim – it feels demeaning, and even further demeaning, when you press them against a brick wall to “just try it.” We, as a community, shadchanim, and neophyte shadchanim need to do more to present on-target suggestions to our singles.

As for you, Adina, I would suggest that you go to as many in-person dating events as you can so you can meet on your own. When you decline a suggestion and the shadchan keeps pushing it, be as firm and brief as possible. Assertiveness will be your best friend.

Lastly, try not to get emotionally drained by these suggestions by recognizing that it came from well-intentioned but misinformed people. They did not actually believe the two of you were so much in line, rather, they just felt a need to try an idea.

Hatzlacha, and I hope you find the one very soon!

The Single

Tzipora Grodko

Dear Adina,

Firstly, send them a link to my talk on YouTube called, “Things Shadchanim Should Know” (between Rebel and YouTube it has over 6K views at this point). Any person suggesting an idea should never make you feel disrespected or insecure after connecting with them. If you have the right guidance, and feel confident in your decisions, then practice self-advocacy by reinforcing what you believe to be true. Standing up to yourself will leave you feeling empowered vs. judged, proud vs. insecure. Nobody will stand up better for you than you! Practice now with respect and humility. You got this!

Our Navidaters panel highly recommends our readers listen to a recent speech given by our very own “single,” Tziporah Grodko, on this crucial topic.

*Things Shadchanim Should Know* is a revolutionary talk challenging our current shidduch process with exceptional insight and lessons on life enhancement and sensitivity for the single community. Given by Tzipora Grodko partnered with shadchan Leora Elin, *Things Shadchanim Should Know* can be found on YouTube or REBEL. This speech should be mandated viewing for anyone that works with or knows someone in the single community.

It has been endorsed by Lisa Elephant, founder of AdoptAShadchan, and Rabbi Daniel Coren, Rabbi of Beis Medrash Ohr Chaim.

Often, well-meaning people seem to be pairing pants and skirts, so to speak, without expending any effort at getting to know the single.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

We have all experienced situations where someone makes a very clever wisecrack at our expense or makes a remark that is very foolish. You, of course, want to immediately come up with the perfect comeback and put the perpetrator in his place.

Unfortunately, if you’re anything like me, you think of that terribly clever response exactly 24 hours later.

Therefore, we need to prepare for these situations, ahead of time, with

“pertinent answers to impertinent remarks.”

So, in my dental practice, I was prepared with ready-made responses to such comments. For example:

Patient’s remark #1: “I’m missing so many teeth; shouldn’t I pay less for a cleaning?”

Me: “I had a very similar situation just last week. I went to my barber for a haircut and complained that, because I’m so bald, I should pay less. But my barber told me that he should actually charge me more, because first he has to find the hair, and then he has to cut it.”

Patient’s remark #2: “My daughterin-law

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Dear Adina,

Thank you for writing to the panel. I know that so many readers are relating to your quandary, and I love that you gave this issue a voice. People are most often very well intentioned when they encourage/insist that you go out with someone. For someone (or perhaps multiple people) to have told you, “Oh, now I know why you’re not married, etc.” is a reflection on that person being somewhat controlling or thinking he/she is in control or has the answers to life. People like this are best left ignored. I understand that words hurt and hearing something like this is unsettling at its core. I wish people would keep comments like this to themselves as they are unhelpful and untrue and only wind up hurting the recipient of this message. Alas, there is nothing we can practically do to control the words of others, unfortunately. It often

amazes me that there are people out there who just go around saying hurtful things, without a care in the world, or without understanding the deep impact their words have on others. It is a good lesson, for all of us, self included, to be cognizant of the words that we speak and how powerful our words are.

In my opinion, we are all entitled to non-negotiables. A healthy non-negotiable might be something like frumkeit and where we want to live. An unhealthy non-negotiable might be something like “He must have blue eyes” and even “I won’t date anyone with a checkered past.”

If your non-negotiables are healthy and reasonable, I happen to agree with you that dating men completely outside of your comfort zone with regard to val -

told me that for the cost of those implants, I could have bought a fur coat.”

Me: “Yes, but you can only wear a fur coat in the winter. You can chew with your teeth all year long.”

So, Adina, how should you respond when a very insensitive, thoughtless, “helpful” friend, insults you by suggesting that you are still single, because you are “too picky”?

It would be very tempting to give this “friend” what she deserves, with an equally insulting response. You might be tempted to respond by saying something like, “Light travels faster than sound, which is why you seemed bright until you spoke.”

Or, “Remember when I asked for your opinion? Me neither.”

Yet, even though those responses are certainly justified, and might give you some momentary satisfaction, it is definitely not advisable. It would reflect

poorly upon you and give you an unjustified, bad reputation.

Instead, swallow your bile, smile sweetly, and say, “Thank you very much, but I’m not being picky, I’m being selective.”

Or, “If I’m going to spend my life with someone, he’d better be able to handle my pickiness!”

ues, future plans, lifestyle, financial goals, etc. is likely a waste of your time. Of course, we can’t ignore the fact that you never know who may come your way if you go out on the dreaded date every now and again. However, I understand how deeply tiring and mentally draining dating can be. I do believe it should be measured and targeted and filtered.

Your question about how to manage these situations comes down to some good, old-fashioned boundaries. We can’t control the silly and hurtful things people say to us, but we can control how we engage with it. Let’s come up with some one-liners for you to have at your disposal when these comments come your way:

“I appreciate your concern but I’m still going to pass.”

“This is something I have thought about as well, and I remain comfortable in my decision to pass. I really appreciate you trying to set me up.”

“Thank you so much for setting me up! When you have some time, can we review my non-negotiables?”

“I know what my non-negotiables are. I don’t know that it’s fair to waste someone else’s time.”

These statements aren’t necessarily going to stop the comment train from a person who believes she is entitled to speak to you like this, or who believes she is being helpful. (Think of what she must do to her own family!) But it will create a boundary around you.

I want to remind you that you can very respectfully and politely choose not to engage. You don’t owe anyone anything. You don’t have to justify yourself. The only person you owe an answer to about your own life and your own choices is you. I hope this helps!

And I hope you find “The One” very, very soon!

Sincerely, Jennifer

“If I’m going to spend my life with someone, he’d better be able to handle my pickiness!”

School of Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:Dear Etti, My daughter is in sixth grade, and she hates learning Chumash. It hurts me to hear her moan and groan about doing Chumash homework or reviewing the pesukim for a test.

Any ideas?

-Loving Torah

A:Dear Loving Torah, As soon as we made Chumash into a subject in school, we ran the risk of treating it like any other subject that one can moan and groan about.

Can you make sure that her distaste for the subject does not affect her feelings for the Torah itself? There are so many wonderful children’s parsha books out now that you can buy or borrow and have in the house that even a sixth grader will find interesting. There are so many shiurim and podcasts that could be playing in your house or car in the background, and so many “pullquotes” you can share over supper or a seudah. They don’t have to be long, but they do have to be interesting. Even better when your children heard it already and can excitedly fill you in on what they know!

One of my sons-in-law challenges his children (ages fourth grade and below) to look into the Chumash, find the parsha of the week, and find the answer to his question. Of course, he makes it age-appropriate, but I was amazed that his children were so comfortable flipping through the sefarim and locating the answer to his questions. He has special candy reserved just for this time. Another son-in-law using a sefer to present a Torah thought or question, and his first grader loves trying to reason out the answer with him. These children love Torah!

We would like our rebbeim and moros to infuse the class with positive messages about Torah being “geshmak .” I believe children should see that their parents think it is geshmak as well! Do your children hear you tell over the Rav’s speech? An interesting thought on

something you heard or learned? It does not have to be told to them to infuse the home with ahavas haTorah; in fact, the idea that you are discussing a Torah thought because you find it interesting makes a very large impact.

The positive messages about Torah and the atmosphere in your home can negate any negativity she feels about the subject.

Don’t leave educating exclusively to the educators!

Have a good yom tov,

-Etti

Q:Dear Etti,

I got a phone call from the school gently explaining that learning Navi with my daughter is a wonderful bonding experience, but it is making it hard for her to learn the Navi in school. I hear, but this is a special time for us, and I feel comfortable learning the beginning Nevi’im with her as they have great storylines, and I am familiar with them.

Do I really have to switch? Is it so terrible if she learns the Navi with her father and then in school?

-Bonding Over Navi

A:Dear Bonding Over Navi,

Thank you for writing in!

I would have had to make up the letter myself if you hadn’t asked! This is a big complaint I hear from teachers. They work hard to make limudim interesting and captivating, and they cannot compete

with a girl who is learning or already learned the Navi at home with her father. Some children sit quietly and are bored, and some cannot stop raising their hands to share what they know, often undermining the lesson the teacher is trying to convey. If nothing else, it is popping the balloon of enthusiasm and excitement that the teacher has as she struggles to teach her difficult-to-please audience.

Yes, it makes your daughter’s school experience harder if she learns the Nevi’im with you if they are the same Nevi’im she is learning in school.

Expand your horizons! Look at Trei Asar. Trei Asar contains stories from the times of the Melachim and should be easy enough for even a younger child (yes, even a third grader) and interesting enough for an older child to learn with you. You can also learn Jewish history with your daughter. There are many great books in your local Judaica store that are easy to follow and have great springboards for discussion. There are short Hebrew biographies of gedolim/tzaddikim that you could use if you are interested in helping your daughter become comfortable translating Hebrew as a side benefit to your time together.

Don’t underestimate the joy of relearning. After she has completed a Navi, the following year you can learn it with her on a higher level. You can delve into mefarshim with her, knowing you will not be stepping on any toes in school. This can be done with parshiyos she has completed in a younger grade as well. The beauty she will find in relearning something again is a lesson in itself – that the Torah is vast and can be learned by anyone, at any age, according to their level.

Have a good yom tov, -Etti

The beauty she will find in relearning something again is a lesson in itself – that the Torah is vast and can be learned by anyone, at any age, according to their level.

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.

We’re once again about to celebrate the giving of the Torah on Har Sinai. The Torah itself recounts the miraculous events that happened that special day as hundreds of thousands of people stood together to receive this eternal gift. Beside all the open miracles is a humble statement that we have proudly recognized for centuries: we are the only nation and religion that can claim national revelation.

Numerous individuals have claimed to hear the divine word and their followers trusted this leader faithfully. We never had to rely on the reassurances of individuals who claim they heard “the truth.” As our ancestors stood together united, they all heard directly from the One Above.

National revelation is a bold claim and one that – should it be false – could be easily disproved. This was not only transmitted orally but also written down to proudly proclaim the event and seal it among our traditions.

Throughout high school, my teachers

Teaching Fundamentals

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

inculcated us with the knowledge that the Torah was truth and the answer to any question was within it. Even if they couldn’t personally answer the query, someone else would and we should continue asking.

That’s a brave statement to make but also one that engenders trust in our teachings. You have to seriously believe in the strength of your teachings to encourage others to challenge them. Other religions or groups demand unquestionable belief and shy away from being refuted. Rather than prohibit questions, we are encouraging those seeking more information.

It can be frightening to be asked tough questions when you wonder what’s behind their intent. Many see it as a form of rebellion. It can also feel threatening to not know the answers when your child inquires. As parents, we like to be the ones they can rely on and it’s scary when we can’t completely fill that role.

Rather than feel threatened, we should be welcoming their questions.

Kids who ask questions are kids who are thinking and really care. They won’t settle for the superficial and they desire to more deeply understand the truth.

From an early age, our children learn “Hashem is here, Hashem is there, Hashem is truly everywhere.” As their hands point all around the room, they begin to learn about Hashem’s continuous presence and involvement in their life. They try to understand deep concepts they are not yet ready to comprehend and funny questions emerge. “Is Hashem in my ear?”

We dance with them during hakafos, swirling their plush sefer Torah along. We sing “Torah temima” and “Moshe emes” telling them how fortunate they are to have the gift of the Torah. On Shavuos, they look forward to being big enough to stay up late just like the adults and bask in ice cream for two days.

As they get older, we assume their hashkafos mature along with their minds. Being raised in frum families, we assume they imbibe through osmo -

sis the proper beliefs as they age. Naturally, they recognize Hashem created the world, is continuously sustaining it, and gave us His beautiful Torah as a sign of love for us so we can live our best lives serving our Creator. What if this natural growth didn’t happen and their understanding of these deep philosophical concepts never grew alongside their increased cognition?

Many say that frum children don’t need to learn basic hashkafic concepts. Obviously, they believe in Hashem and the divine origins of the Torah. Speaking to families, it becomes clear that this may not be a fair assumption. There are a number of children walking around troubled by questions that are fundamental to Yiddishkeit.

As some children hesitantly voice their questions and uncertainties about our holy beliefs, I am afraid to ask how many are too scared to even ask. While there are children that will go along with the status quo and continue on the path paved before them, others are not comfortable and can’t walk along merri-

ly faced with such uncertainty. These individuals may or may not keep halacha.

Even if a child will keep Shabbos because it’s expected of them, what kind of Shabbos will that be if they can’t appreciate the meaning? Kashrus should not be a simple dietary need nor Jewish clothing merely a method to show camaraderie with the group. A mitzvah won’t have meaning stripped of its divine linkage.

Be the Solution

Assumptions don’t always work in parenting and it’s risky to assume every child accepts even the Rambam’s 13 ikkarim (fundamental principles of faith), such as belief in Hashem and the divine origins of the Torah.

Let’s take the time to include age-appropriate discussions on the fundamentals of our mesorah and our beliefs. If the child already understands these fundamentals, then there’s no loss in reiterating them. If, chas v’shalom, the child is unsure regarding the truth, then showing them you’re willing to have tough conversations is only to their benefit.

Parents, too, benefit from doing this.

Our level of understanding and the strength in our convictions will improve as we have to think deeply regarding our own faith as we educate others. Rather than remain passive in our beliefs, this puts us strongly in the driver’s seat, ac -

their question shows how much you value their curiosity, their thoughts and –ultimately – them as individuals.

Parents can’t be expected to know everything and there’s no need to go it alone. There are a tremendous number

Many kiruv focused websites and staff deal with these questions routinely. They have a surprising amount of knowledge and proofs for beliefs we often assume can’t be verified and require blind faith.

tively choosing and appreciating what we have.

Community Effort

There is no shame in saying, “I don’t know.” Especially with teens, it’s better to acknowledge you can’t answer the question than to try faking it. They will find out very fast that you’re making it up and you risk losing credibility. Additionally, taking the time to research

of resources available. Rabbanim, rebbetzins and mentors can all assist and help by directly answering the inquiry or directing towards an appropriate resource. There are amazing seforim, many in English, that can easily provide the answer. Rabbi Lawrence Kelemen has two amazing books, Permission To Believe and Permission To Receive, that are both excellent resources to the most basic questions of emunah as are Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan’s seforim.

Different kids will require different answers. What speaks to me may be meaningless to you. As incredible and meaningful an answer may be to you, it may have little to no impact on your child. Alternatively, the response may seem irrelevant to you but be exactly what touches your child’s neshama. Ask around and don’t be disappointed if your child needs a different answer. Chanoch l’naar demands that we find what connects to their unique self. I look forward to soon seeing all of you again as we receive the Torah united once more. May the day soon come when we’re brought together in Yerushalayim with the answers to all our questions. Have a beautiful Shavuos!

Sara Rayvych, MSEd, has her master’s in general and special education. She has been homeschooling for over 10 years in Far Rockaway. She can be contacted at Rayvych Homeschool@gmail.com.

You have to seriously believe in the strength of your teachings to encourage others to challenge them.

Are There Health Benefits To Eating Cheese?

By Tehila Soskel, RDN, CDN

Shavous is the time of year that is filled with all types of cheese delicacies from cheese boards to cheesecakes. Indulging in the creamy goodness of cheese is not only a delight for the tastebuds but also offers a range of nutritional benefits. Cheese, with its rich and diverse flavors, is a versatile ingredient that adds depth to a variety of dishes. Beyond its deliciousness, cheese is a source of essential nutrients like calcium, protein, and vitamins. In this article, we will explore the nutritional value of cheese and its role in a balanced diet.

Cheese provides many important nutrients like calcium, protein, zinc, vitamins A and B12, phosphorus and riboflavin. They are all important nutrients as their health benefits include helping bone growth, improved eye vision, and better immunity. With that, it’s important to keep in mind that some cheeses are also higher in sodium, calories, and saturated fat and low in fiber. Individuals with high blood pressure need to monitor their sodium intake, making cheese a food to limit or avoid.

Individuals with high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease should limit their intake of whole milk and cheeses as they are higher in saturated fat. Low-fat means there is 3 grams or less of fat per serving, while reduced-fat means that compared to the regular version it has at least 25 percent less fat. Aged cheeses are more firm, they usually contain more salt, and have stronger flavors due to the aging process. Processed cheeses like American cheese are made with mixing cheeses, artificial coloring, and other ingredients. One 1-ounce slice contains around 9 grams of fat, with 5 grams coming from saturated fats. The American Heart Association recommends 5% to 6% of calories coming from saturated fat. To put that into perspective, on a 2,000 calorie diet, there should be no more than 13 grams of saturated fat, which is around 120 calories. Limiting or replacing high

saturated fat foods can help lower the risk of heart disease.

Fresh cheeses like cottage cheese are soft and have a higher moisture proponent. Cottage cheese is a highly nutritious choice of cheese as it is packed with essential nutrients and protein. There are 14 grams of protein in a half-cup serving of cottage cheese.

More firm, aged cheeses like parmesan are low in lactose and are a better option for those with lactose intolerance as they may be able to tolerate it in smaller amounts. If you have a milk allergy, it is imperative to keep in mind that some soy-based cheeses contain casein, one of the main proteins found in milk.

The most common ingredient in plant-based substitutes may be soy. In addition, nuts and seeds are cheese alternatives and can even be made at home. Many stores carry different types of vegan cheeses in many styles like shredded for pizza, sliced for crackers, cream cheese for toast, soft like ricotta, and vegan cheeses for all occasions. Certain types of vegan cheese are highly

processed so it’s imperative to be mindful how much you are consuming. Diets made up of whole foods over processed foods are healthier overall. Vegan cheeses made mainly of ground nuts and seeds offer more nutrients and can contribute to a healthy diet.

Certain cheeses contain a lot of sodium and are crucial to ensure you are staying well hydrated. While sodium is important in the body as it helps with certain functions, too much sodium may lead to health conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease. When you consume a lot of sodium, your body holds onto water. Since water plays a crucial role in your body by delivering nutrients to your cells, drinking enough water helps ensure you don’t mistake hunger for thirst. A glass of water is your best choice, but certain foods also have a high water content. Watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, berries, bell peppers, cucumbers, and lettuce are just a few foods with high water contents. Smoothies can be a great way to get in your fruits and vegetables as well.

Storebought cheesecakes and prepackaged cheesecakes may be very tasty, but making your own cheesecake may be the way to go this year. Doing so allows you to include your family in the cooking process, if you’d like, as well as choosing the ingredients you put in. Plain Greek yogurt may be a good substitute for other ingredients, and it also contains more protein and less fat.

Shavuos is at a time with beautiful weather, so take advantage. Going for a walk before or after your meals instead of sitting around ensures you are making time for movement, vitamin D, and taking care of your mental health. Making plans to visit a friend or family member can be a great tool to make sure you get outside. As with most holidays, the days can go by quickly, thus as little as ten minutes of movement can be beneficial. A healthy balance will help you stay on track with your health goals. You will probably be around all types of delicious foods, desserts, and particularly cheesecake. Set yourself up for success by planning. Make sure your fridge is stocked with delicious juicy fruit as fruit always makes a great nutritious snack. When it comes to the meals, aim for a balanced plate at each meal which can be composed of half your plate vegetables, a quarter whole grains, and a quarter protein. If the dessert is tempting, cut yourself a piece and sit to enjoy it. You’re better off giving yourself a piece than going back for many bites. The most important thing is to be mindful and enjoy your time.

Have a great Shabbos and yom tov!

Tehila Soskel is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a private practice in the Five Towns. She sees clients for weight loss, diabetes, and other various diseases. Appointments can be made for in-person or virtual sessions: 516-457-8558, tehilasoskelrd@gmail.com, tehilasoskelnutrition.com.

By Paula Shoyer

Holiday Baking

Brioche Challah

Makes two medium loaves

Brioche is a buttery French bread that tastes like a pastry. It is typically eaten for breakfast in France and makes the perfect dairy challah for Shavuot. When I learned how to make brioche in pastry school in Paris, we were instructed how to prepare it by hand. The process of mixing and kneading the dough and then kneading in the butter took 30 minutes. During two separate pastry courses, I had made brioche by hand, so when I had to make it a third time, I asked my teacher if I could make it by machine. I explained that we could compare both methods and see which was superior. He only agreed because at the time I was visibly pregnant with Sam. The chef was sure that the hand-kneaded one would be better, but, alas, he had to admit that the taste and texture of my machine-made brioche was perfect. In the interest of time, I am not even suggesting that you ever make this dough by hand.

IngredI ents

 ¼ cup (60 ml) warm water

 ¼ cup (50g) plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided

 ½ ounce (2 envelopes, 14g) dry yeast

 2 ½ cups (315g) bread flour, plus extra for dusting

 1 teaspoon salt

 4 large eggs, beaten slightly, plus 1 egg for glazing

 ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks, 170g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, at room temperature, plus 1 tablespoon for greasing bowl

 2 teaspoons water for glaze

Pre Parat Ion

Pour ¼ cup warm water into a measuring cup, add the teaspoon sugar and yeast, and stir. Let the mixture sit five minutes, or until thick. In the bowl of a stand mixer, place the flour, salt and ¼ cup sugar and mix. Add the four eggs and proofed yeast mixture and mix with the dough hook on low speed for two minutes, scraping down the bowl and hook two to three times. Turn the speed up to medium and knead for eight minutes, stopping to scrape down the hook and sides of the

bowl 3 to 4 times. Turn the speed to low and add the 1½ sticks soft butter, two tablespoons at a time, making sure each addition is fully mixed in before adding more butter. When all the butter has been added, turn the speed to medium and mix for three minutes, stopping to scrape down the bowl once or twice.

Place the dough into a medium bowl greased with the tablespoon butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for one hour. Remove the dough from the bowl, punch down by folding over a few times, then gather the dough back into a ball and return it to the bowl. Cover the dough with the plastic and let rise for 30 minutes. Once again, remove the dough from the bowl, punch it down,

return to the bowl, and cover it. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Lightly flour your hands and kitchen counter. Divide the dough in half and braid each half into a challah, adding a little more flour to your hands if the dough feels a little sticky. Place the challahs on a parchment-covered baking sheet. Beat remaining egg with two teaspoons water. Brush the challahs all over with the mixture. Let them rise for one hour.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush challahs again with the egg wash. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden. Store wrapped in foil at room temperature for up to five days or freeze for up to three months.

Mini Cheesecakes With Oat and Brown Sugar Crust and Strawberry Purée

Dairy, Gluten-free (if using gluten-free oats)

Itruly love cheesecake, especially New York style, made only with cream cheese. These minis are lower in sugar than most cheesecakes, and they are gluten-free if you use gluten-free oat flour for the crust. Ricotta cheese pumps up the calcium content. I tried to make this recipe with lower fat cream cheese and ricotta, but the results were not satisfactory. The idea behind the mini cheesecakes was portion control, but I found myself grabbing them all day long, so I had to take extreme measures and freeze most of them to get them out of easy

reach. I particularly like the buttery oat crust, which you could also use as a pie crust.

IngredI ents

Cheesecake

 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature

 3 large eggs

 ¹/3 cup sugar

 1 tablespoon gluten-free oat flour or other flour

 2 teaspoons lemon zest (from 1 lemon)

 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

 Fresh strawberries, or other berries for garnish (optional)

Crust

 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

 3 tablespoons light brown sugar

 1 cup gluten-free oats (not quick-cooking kind)

 2 tablespoons gluten-free oat flour or other flour

 ¼ teaspoon salt

Strawberry Purée

 2 cups trimmed fresh strawberries

 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar

Pre Parat Ion

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

To make the crust, place paper liners in a 12-cup muffin pan. Place the butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute, or until the butter melts. Add the brown sugar and mix well. Add the oats, oat flour, and salt and mix well. Place a heaping tablespoon of the mixture into each of the liners in the muffin pan and press it down. Use all of the oat mixture. Bake the crusts for 10 minutes, or until the edges start to color. Meanwhile, to make the filling, place the cream cheese in a large bowl. Beat it with an electric mixer on high speed until it is very smooth, scraping down the bowl a few times. Add the eggs into the cream cheese, one at a time, and beat them in. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the sugar, oat flour, lemon zest, and vanilla to the bowl and mix for 1 minute. Add the ricotta and mix it in gently on low speed. Scoop about ¹/3 cup of the mixture into each muffin cup.

Bake the cheesecakes for 25 minutes, or until they’ve set. Let them cool in the pan and then refrigerate the cheesecakes for at least 4 hours.

To make the strawberry purée, place the strawberries and confectioners’ sugar in the bowl of a food processor and process until puréed. (Add water, a teaspoon at a time, if the strawberries are not very ripe and the mixture seems too dry.)

Serve the mini cheesecakes with a spoonful of Strawberry Purée on top or on the side. Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries, or other berries, if desired.

Honey-Soaked Ricotta Cheesecake

By ShiFR a Klein

With Shavuos on our minds during our entire trip to Rome, we were inspired to create our own version of the ricotta cheesecake we enjoyed at Yotvata, a family-owned restaurant that has been in business for over 20 years. The results were outstanding, and we especially love how light it is compared to a traditional cheesecake.

Ingredients

▫ 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

▫ 2 (16-ounce) containers ricotta cheese

▫ 1 cup honey, divided

▫ 4 large eggs

▫ ¼ cup all-purpose flour

▫ Confectioners’ sugar, for serving, optional

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

Rub butter all over a 9-inch round cake pan until fully greased.

2. Mix ricotta and ½ cup honey. Whisk in one egg at a time, then add flour and mix until incorporated.

3. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake until set, about 45 minutes.

4. Using a skewer or fork, immediately poke holes into the top, then

drizzle remaining ½ cup honey, using a spoon to spread it if necessary.

5. Once cool enough to handle (about 20-30 minutes), invert the cake onto a plate.

6. Refrigerate until completely cooled. Before serving, dust with confectioners’ sugar (if desired).

Recipe reprinted with permission from Fleishigs Magazine. Pick up a copy, subscribe or give the gift that keeps on coming at www.fleishigs.com.

The third annual #Milchigsissue aka the #Romeissue has landed just in time for Shavuos! Read up on everything there is to know about kosher travel to Rome by Shifra Klein. Leah Koenig celebrates La Cucina Ebraica Romana with her newest cookbook, Portico, available for preorder now. Adina Silberman shares recipes featuring artichokes, including the popular Roman-Jewish Fried Artichokes aka Carciofi alla Giudia. Enjoy focaccia using Chef Isaac Bernstein’s famed no-knead sheet pan focaccia recipe. Learn about Pecorino Romano from The Cheese Guy and feast on Chanie Apfelbaum’s recipes for a Shavuos feast inspired by the flavors of Rome. Make sure to check out essentials by Elisheva Taitz that will help level up your Shavuos prep. And finally, take a peek into prior issues with a menu idea from recipes featured on the Fleishigs app. Not yet subscribed? Looking for a gift for your friends or loved ones? Give the gift of #fleishigs. Use code 18OFF (all caps) to get 18% off your subscription and enjoy the app FREE!

Cookies and Cream Ripple Cheesecake

Dairy Yields 1 (9-inch) cheesecake

By Naomi Nachman

You can also use Lotus cookies too and drizzle in some melted lotus butter through the center.

Ingredients

Crust

◦ 1½ cups chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs

◦ 3 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling

◦ 3 (8-ounce) blocks brick cream cheese

◦ 1 cup sour cream

◦ 4 eggs

◦ 1 cup sugar

◦ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

◦ 2 tablespoons flour

◦ 1½ cups chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs

◦ Whipped cream, for garnish, optional

◦ Additional sandwich cookies, halved, for garnish, optional

Preparation

1. Prepare the crust: Combine cookie crumbs and melted butter in a small bowl

until coarse crumbs form. Press mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Press around the edge with the bottom of a measuring cup to smooth it out.

2. Place the pan in the freezer for the crust to firm up while you prepare the cheese mixture.

3. Preheat oven to 350°F.

4. Prepare the filling: In a large bowl with a handheld mixer or in the bowl of an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and flour until smooth. Do not overmix.

5. Assemble the cheesecake: Remove ¾ cup of the batter and mix it with cookie crumbs. It should form a wet mixture.

6. Remove pan from freezer. Pour about half of the plain batter into the pan. Drop spoonfuls of the cookie mixture over the batter, covering as much of the surface as possible.

7. Carefully cover the cookie mixture with remaining plain batter.

8. Bake for 55 minutes. Turn the oven off; let cake cool in the oven for about 1 hour to prevent cracks.

9. Allow the cheesecake to cool completely before serving.

10. Optional garnish: Top with whipped cream and halved cookies.

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 Pesach 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 Facebook or visit Naomi’s blog. Naomi can be reached through her website, www.theaussiegourmet.com or at (516) 295-9669.

This recipe has been one of the most popular from my book, Perfect Flavors. My photographer Miriam (Pascal) Cohen shared it with me from her blog overtimecook.com

Sim Shain on the Importance of Gratitude, Loyalty, and Technology in Business

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 previous 710 WOR “Mind Your Business” broadcast, Yitzchok Saftlas (YS) spoke with guest Sim Shain (SS), founder and CEO of ParaFlight Aviation. * * *

YS: How does technology benefit a business owner?

SS: The one thing we don’t have enough of is time. And technology has really moved forward every single day. So many things, like ChatGPT, are coming out, that are there to help us maximize

and save on our time. When you have a store or a business, there’s something called scalability. You want to be able to scale your business. With technology, you can scale so quickly and so far, because you don’t have to build exactly where you are. You could build something that works around the world. Technology is key.

How important is it for a businessperson to be open to leveraging new technology?

I love technology. But when I grew up, I knew nothing about technology, and even now, I don’t really know much about

technology. But I utilize people who really understand it and are able to relay our message of what we want to do. People always say, “When opportunity knocks, open the door.” But I believe, don’t wait for opportunity – create it. That’s what we can do with technology. We can create our own opportunities. But it’s very important to also try to stay in your lane, at least be in the business of what you do. So, I’m in aviation. We can teeter a little bit to different parts of aviation. But focus on your business. You don’t have to grab everything that’s out there. Focus, stay in your lane, and you’ll be able to grow

and grow. You don’t even have to look at your competitors. Just focus on what you need to do.

Sim, how important is it to have strong communication skills?

Many years ago, I didn’t know how to public speak. I was not comfortable. I would read everything off a paper. I’d be drunk when I read it. Warren Buffett said that “you will increase your net worth by greater than 50%, if you have the ability to communicate both orally and in a written form.” You need to be able to communicate. It used to be you’d have

to go out to meet with somebody. Now, everything is done by Zoom and on the phone. And everybody takes out their little smartphones and they send these little, short messages. You need to be able to communicate. And if you can do that, you can get business done. But never get too comfortable. Never think, “I’m in a good place right now. My business is protected.” There are always competitors out there. There are always people nipping at your heels, trying to figure out how to get your business. Don’t be comfortable in your business. Know that you always need to grow. Sitting back and waiting for money to come in is not going to make anything happen. You need to work on growth every single day.

Could you share one of your incredible business insights?

One of the things that I believe is very important is loyalty. Loyalty to your staff, to your people, and to your clients. And we actually request reciprocity from our clients. We say, “We’re very loyal to you, we ask you to be loyal to us as well, because we understand what you need, and we’ve got your back.” Here’s an example. I had, one time, a very large operator that we work with who gave us credit back on one of our trips. It was a very expensive trip, and they gave us a credit back of $20,000, that really, we could have justified and said belonged to us. But it came on the heels of one of our client’s trips, and I said, “You know what? I’m going to do the right thing.” And I met with the client in his office and said, “Hey, how you doing? I just want to thank you for your business. We really appreciated that trip that you did last week. But we got credit back from the operator, and we want to give it to you.” I took out a check and he opened it up, a check for $20,000. That’s a lot of money for anybody. And he’s a wealthy guy. But the bottom line is that this $20,000 came on the heels of his trip. It’s his money. My employees asked, “Did you feel bad giving it to him?” I said, “I felt great giving it, because it was the right thing. And you can do wrong by doing the right thing.”

If you’re loyal to your clients, they see it. You have to respect their money, too. People spend a lot of money in every business. One of the most important things you can do when you’re picking a partner or an employee is you need to be able to trust them in a room with uncounted money. They have your money in their hands. So, our clients also have to be able to trust us with uncounted money. Because when we give them a price for an

aircraft that we get, they’re trusting that we’re being honest with them. So, that trust has to go from A to Z.

Can you talk a bit about the importance of clock management and using whatever tools or apps that are out there to make sure your schedule is clear?

I don’t like to call it a clock because

nology, it will work. Siri knows me very well by now. I pick up the phone and say, “Hey, Siri, please add to the calendar for today, 11am breakfast.” That’s how I remember it.

You talk a lot about the importance of saying “thank you.” Why is that? That’s the most important thing. Everybody works hard. Even if you pay

And we’ll drop off doughnuts, pastries, and cupcakes to airports, just walking in with a sticker on the back of the box saying, “Thank you.” It goes such a long way.

Sim, you’re a clear example that business is not just business and that family is an integral component of a functioning CEO. Can you please elaborate on that necessary human side?

I’m really not a stickler for time. I mean, I come on time to all my appointments and meetings, but I don’t maximize my day and fill every minute. I don’t have to do that. That’s okay. But I am a stickler for one word: Calendar. I have a very close friend named Bernard Warman. And years ago, when I was starting my business, he realized I was all over the place. He would call me for meetings, and I missed them. I totally forgot. He set me up with a business coach in New York City named Nancy Snell. She’s also called the Calendar Queen. She changed my life. She taught me to put everything in my calendar. Everything I do. Even if my kids say, “Can we go out to dinner tonight,” or “can you pick me up from school,” I say, “Do me a favor, just put it on my calendar.” Because if it’s there, then I see it, and I have no excuse to miss it. That’s really what it is. It’s difficult in the beginning, because you’re not used to it. But once you understand the tech-

them, if they’re your employees, your clients, or your vendors, everybody wants to hear “thank you.” And that’s something they always remember, just the same as they would remember something that’s not nice. Speak carefully. Take a second or two before you make that comment. When we book an aircraft for a flight and we order freshly catered food for our clients, we always make sure there’s food for the pilots and the flight attendants.

I’ve been a paramedic for almost 16 years right now, and I’ve been in the field as a Hatzalah member for 26 years or so. I got introduced to aviation and chessed by a very close friend of mine, my mentor, Shlomo Zakheim, zt”l. And he always said, “It’s about saying yes.” It’s very easy to say no when somebody needs help. You’ve got to figure out how to say yes. He would say, “If it’s difficult, we do it. And if it’s impossible, we try harder.” You’ve got to figure out a way. And that’s what it is. It’s all about family, saving lives, and growing. Everything that we do is about giving back. At the end of our days, the reality is, we can’t take anything with us. Not even a pair of socks. The only thing we get to take with us is our good deeds and the impression that we leave on the world.

He would say, “If it’s difficult, we do it. And if it’s impossible, we try harder.”

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

Our union is here for you to help you futureproof your social media. @AFTunion has partnered w/LifeBrand for a 25% discount off the cost of this powerful tool that scans your social media to catch forgotten posts that may not reflect who you are today.

- American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, who former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the most dangerous person in America, tweeting to teachers that they should use a tool to scrub their social media history

Meekness is not weakness. I believe in…“love your enemies” – [but] if you break in my house, I also believe in the Second Amendment.

- 2024 presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R- NC)

There is no question my life disproves the lies of the radical left. Their culture of victimhood is eating away at the soul of America.

- Ibid.

You heard all the politics about how there was going to be an invasion and now there’s literally almost no one here… The absence of people should be more frightening than seeing the big groups because when you see big groups, that means you know where migrants are.

- NewsNation host Chris Cuomo live from the U.S.-Mexico border last week

The media made a big mistake taking a pass on this because we don’t have the spectacle of massive crowds, okay? The absence should be more frightening because we need to know the answer of where they are, and it really is an indication of how broken this system is.

– Ibid.

Well, when you run out of countries, you’ve gotta make your own. I bring you the People’s Republic of Slowjamistan. My own country. I bought 11 acres near the salon sea, and I called it Slowjamistan. It’s my country; I am the Salton.

- San Diego resident Randy Williams after visiting all of the world’s 193 countries

Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race. It is rapidly loading up with lots of people, and Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable. I got Opportunity Zones done with Tim, a big deal that has been highly successful. Good luck, Tim!

- Trump posting on social media after Sen. Scott entered the 2024 primaries

China is running this White House in a lot of ways. China is the reason fentanyl is comingacross our [southern] border. China is taking our kids’ data on TikTok. We sold our Strategic Petroleum Reserves to China. This is an administration that is more China First than America First.

- RNC Chairwoman Rona McDonald

-Israeli news anchor Galit Gutman on live television

[Elon Musk] is absolutely entitled to criticize Soros without being labeled an antisemite! Soros is not beyond critique by dint of his being Jewish, and Elon didn’t mention anything about Soros’s religion. Using “antisemitism” to insulate Soros is sick!

- Dov Hikind, responding to Elon Musk being accused of antiSemitism for saying something negative about George Soros

Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans… Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.

- From a travel advisory issued by the NAACP due to Gov. Ron DeSantis—who is about to announce a run for president—pushing back on wokeness

You know, I just took my family to spring break in Florida recently, and I think about all of the folks who travel there for sun and joy and peace and restoration. Actually, this is getting to the point where Florida is about to be a terrorist state to many of us here in America.

- Democratic strategist Aisha Mills on MSNBC

Where are they going to suggest they go? Chicago? Baltimore? Really? I don’t think so.

Seriously, Barack Obama can’t sleep at night because he doesn’t control every single media outlet? He’s mad the CIA can’t spoon-feed lies to the three big networks anymore? Obama’s not getting his beauty rest because the American voters actually have access to more information?

You have basically three people at this point that are credible in this whole thing: Biden, Trump, and me. And I think of those three, two have a chance to get elected president — Biden and me, based on all the data in the swing states, which is not great for the former president and probably insurmountable because people aren’t going to change their view of him.

- Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL)

The corporate media wants Trump to be the nominee.

- Ibid.

- Jesse Watters, Fox News, responding to the former president saying in a recent interview that a “divided media” keeps him up at night

- Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee mocking the NAACP’s Florida travel advisory, on Fox News

Just recently, someone who I considered to be a friend came up to me and touched my stomach and said, “We’re getting bigger there, buddy.” And it just speaks to the toxic culture that exists in the United States when it comes to people that are above their average peers’ weight.

- NY City Councilman Shaun Abreu, who sponsored a bill that makes it illegal to discriminate against heavy or short people in New York City Look, I’ve been extremely lucky in my life, you know, and even though the accidents weren’t fun, I was still pretty lucky. I didn’t lose an eye, I’m not horribly disfigured … well, just regular disfigured.

– Comedian Jay Leno in an interview with Fox News talking about surviving third-degree burns to his hands and face that landed him in the hospital and two months later a motorcycle crash where he broke multiple bones

My son was a major in the U.S. Army. We lost him in Iraq.

- Pres. Biden at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni talking about his son Beau, who died of cancer in Delaware several years ago

Turkey Points to a Global Trend: Free and Unfair Elections

By Fareed Zakaria

Many of us had high hopes for Turkey’s recent general election, believing that a flat-out victory for the opposition could mark a break with the worldwide trend toward illiberal democracy. But perhaps we were all misguided, seduced by the lure of free elections and trusting ultimately in the will of the people. In fact, what happened in Turkey last weekend highlights the latest and most disturbing trend in the rise of illiberal democracy.

While incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not win outright reelection, the results were sort of a victory for him all the same. He did better than polls predicted and came out well ahead of his main opponent, leaving him highly likely to win a runoff scheduled for May 28. This is stunning, given that Turkey is a country in economic catastrophe, with sky-high inflation. The vote also took place just months after an earthquake, in which the government performed miserably.

Consider, though, the backdrop to these elections. Erdogan was up against Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the opposition candidate, a colorless bureaucrat without much charisma or eloquence. But the opposition had little alternative. The president had already eliminated from the field perhaps his most powerful potential rival, Ekrem Imamoglu, a charismatic politician from the same party as Kilicdaroglu, who was on a winning streak. In 2019, Imamoglu handily won the election for Istanbul mayor, a pivotal position that was Erdogan’s own path to power.

But on the flimsiest grounds, Erdogan’s party claimed fraud, and the electoral council ordered a fresh round of voting. Imamoglu won the second election by a larger margin. So Imamoglu was then charged with insulting public

officials over the incident and was tried by a judiciary which has been widely described as packed with ruling party loyalists. Sure enough, last December, a court barred Imamoglu from politics and sentenced him to prison for almost three years. The decision is under appeal. In the meantime, though, Imamoglu has been prevented from running for the presidency.

Turkey’s political playing field is massively tilted in favor of Erdogan. The state lavishes funds on his supporters, and the country’s media is slavishly pro-government. Most of Turkey’s major media properties have been bought by business executives who are supporters of Erdogan. (The largest business group that maintained its distance from the president found itself mysteriously facing massive charges of tax fraud and ultimately sold its media holdings to a more compliant owner.)

State television, the country’s main source of broadcast news, relentlessly extols the virtues of Erdogan and his party and trumpets the achievements of

the government. In April, state TV spent 32 hours on coverage of Erdogan versus 32 minutes for his opponent. Of all democracies, Turkey imprisons the most journalists. The Turkish government initiated more than 30,000 cases for the offense of “insulting the president” – in just one year (2020).

Erdogan’s government has systematically taken over ostensibly independent institutions, including courts and the body that controls elections. (If the May 28 runoff election turns out to be close and the opposition candidate comes out ahead, you can be sure that Erdogan will appeal – and that the election authorities will rule for him, just as they did in the case of the Istanbul mayoral vote.) Nongovernmental organizations face severe government investigation and scrutiny, limiting their ability to operate. The government has passed laws giving it tight control over social media and, over the election weekend, asked Twitter to block the accounts of about a dozen opposition figures. After February’s earthquake, when the government confronted intense

criticism on social media for its mishandling of the disaster, it simply blocked Twitter for a while.

This is the next innovation in illiberal democracy. Elected presidents and prime ministers use their majorities to pass laws that give them sustained structural advantages over their opponents. They use government funds to shower their supporters with benefits. They file tax and regulatory cases against independent media groups, investigate journalists and NGOs, and reshape independent agencies and courts into compliant arms of the ruling party. They then hold “free” elections.

Erdogan’s tactics will seem depressingly familiar to citizens in many democracies around the world. Look at India, once home to fiercely independent media. Today, it has fallen to No. 161 in a world press freedom index issued by Reporters Without Borders. Look at Hungary, where the government and pro-government businesses control almost all the country’s media, and the body overseeing the judiciary effectively became an arm of the ruling party, drawing the ire of the European Union. (The office’s first head was a godparent to Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s oldest child.) Look at Mexico, where the president has tried to gut that country’s proudly independent election authority.

When elections are held in these circumstances, and international observers duly note that the ballots were properly cast and counted and then certify such elections to be genuinely competition, they are doing the world a disservice. We need a new vocabulary to describe this phenomenon. Are such elections free? Technically, yes – but they are also profoundly unfair.

Political Crossfire Soros, Antisemitism and the Progressive Assault on Language

By Caroline Glick

One of the key characteristics of our difficult times is the way in which the progressive left has hijacked language. Among other things, progressives have seized the language of bigotry to demonize non-progressives as bigots while engaging in and promoting bigotry themselves.

“Antisemitism” is one of the key terms that has been hijacked. Recently, we saw a number of demonstrations of its exploitation at the hands of progressives to demonize those they deem a threat to their political and cultural power.

The most discussed demonstration of how the popular term for Jew-hatred has been weaponized is the pile-on against multi-billionaire and free speech champion Elon Musk by supporters of multi-billionaire and progressive political warfare bankroller George Soros.

Soros funds the progressive camp through his Open Society Foundations. In many respects, Soros should be seen not only as a funder, but as the ideological leader of the progressive revolution because many of its key nodes and orga-

nizations are his brain children.

In a series of posts on Twitter, the social media platform Musk purchased last year to promote his freedom of speech agenda, Musk harshly criticized Soros. He wrote, “Soros reminds me of Magneto.” Magneto is a Marvel Comics villain.

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Progressive Jewish writer Brian Krassenstein responded, “Magneto’s experiences during the Holocaust as a survivor shaped his perspective as well as his depth and empathy. Soros, also a Holocaust survivor, gets attacked nonstop for his good intentions which some Americans think are bad merely because they disagree with this political affiliations [sic].”

Musk refused to budge. Responding to Krassenstein, Musk wrote, “You assume they are good intentions. They are not. He wants to erode the very fabric of civilization. Soros hates humanity.”

Krassenstein’s insinuation that Musk’s attack on Soros was an expression of antisemitism was quickly followed up by Jonathan Greenblatt, president of the

Anti-Defamation League.

Greenblatt scolded, “Soros often is held up by the far-right, using antisemitic tropes, as the source of the world’s problems. To see Elon Musk, regardless of his intent, feed this segment—comparing him to a Jewish supervillain, claiming Soros ‘hates humanity’—is not just distressing, it’s dangerous: It will embolden extremists who already contrive anti-Jewish conspiracies and have tried to attack Soros and Jewish communities as a result.”

Musk responded by asserting that the ADL “should just drop the A.”

Other Jewish leaders, including American Jewish Committee President Ted Deutsch, similarly attacked Musk, as did Israel’s Foreign Ministry, although the ministry’s attack on Musk was disavowed and harshly criticized by Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.

Musk is far from the only public figure who has been accused of antisemitism for attacking Soros. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was recently the subject of a pile-on accusing him of Jew-hatred for referring to “Soros-funded DAs” while decrying

former President Donald Trump’s indictment at the hands of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Bragg, who campaigned on a pledge to indict Trump, received a $500,000 campaign donation from a Soros-funded group.

Given the way that Soros’s supporters freely accuse his detractors of antisemitism, Soros’s own actions on issues related to Jews and antisemitism are important to consider.

Soros’s Open Society Foundations have given tens of millions of dollars to non-governmental organizations involved in waging political warfare and lawfare against Israel. Soros’s groups reject the Jewish state’s right to exist and its right to defend itself. They have sought to undermine its relations with foreign governments and subvert its legal system in order to prevent it from enforcing its laws against Palestinian terrorists and Arab Israelis who break the laws of their country.

Two Soros-funded organizations, AlHaq and Al-Mezan, have been identified as fronts for the PFLP terrorist organi-

zation. The U.S., the E.U., Canada and Israel all designate the PFLP as a terror group. Israel’s Defense Ministry outed Al-Haq and Al-Mezan as PFLP fronts in Oct. 2021. Rather than abandon their support for the terrorist groups, 20 other Soros-funded organizations signed a declaration attacking the government’s move.

Soros-funded international, U.S., Israeli and Palestinian groups defame Israel and its supporters by, among other things, falsely accusing the Jewish state of “apartheid.” They wage economic and cultural warfare against Israel and its Jewish supporters around the world through boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns. Directed against Israel’s Jewish supporters abroad, particularly on college campuses, BDS campaigns aim to deny Jews their civil right to stand with the Jewish state or express support for its existence. These campaigns employ social ostracism, humiliation and harassment. Soros-funded groups were the primary engine behind the E.U.’s antisemitic labelling law, which requires Israeli exporters to place warning labels on goods produced by Jews beyond the 1949 armistice lines.

Soros has spearheaded and funds organizations whose job is to drive a wedge through the American Jewish community. In 2007, he published an article in The New York Review of Books demonizing AIPAC, which he attacked with language redolent of antisemitism. The next year, Soros founded J Street by providing a three-year grant of 750,000$. The proPalestinian progressive Jewish group supports placing restrictions on U.S. military assistance to Israel. It backs some of the most anti-Israel members of Congress. It advocates on behalf of U.S. appeasement of the Iranian regime, including by facilitating its nuclear weapons program.

J Street U, J Street’s student group, is anti-Israel. IfNotNow is a BDS group and a spin-off of J Street U. J Street and its aligned groups routinely demonize pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC and the Jewish Federations for their support for Israel. They also seek to subvert Jewish institutions, including day schools and summer camps, by compelling their leaders to accept the dissemination of anti-Zionist curricula and propaganda to their students and campers.

Soros-funded Palestinian media routinely broadcast antisemitic propaganda.

In short, Soros funds groups that demonize the Jewish state and Jewish people worldwide who support it. He has

split the American Jewish community and supports organizations that oppose the right of Jewish people in the United States to defend and support the Jewish state and its right to exist.

There are many definitions of antisemitism, but simply stated, antisemitism is bigotry against Jews, including hatred of Jews and adverse treatment of Jews. This is precisely what Soros advocates and uses his fortune to fund.

Demonizing all of Soros’s critics as antisemites is not only an insult to Jews. It is a way of denying Jews the language to defend themselves against real antisemites like Soros.

This brings us to a second incident last week in which the term antisemitism was appropriated and language was hijacked to advance the political goals of progres-

further: with speeches using terms linked to antisemitism and the far right.”

What are the terms whose use opened two of Israel’s most powerful friends in Britain—Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Tory MP Miriam Cates—to allegations of Jew hatred? “Cultural Marxism” and “globalism.”

To be clear, just as some antisemites attack Soros using antisemitic language, so some critics of cultural Marxism and globalism are antisemites. But this is irrelevant. Criticism of both cultural Marxism and globalists is not inherently or normally antisemitic at all. The progressives’ assertion that use of these terms is an antisemitic act has nothing to do with reality.

Rather, it is a means to stifle discourse by denying their political opponents the means to describe political

from their rally at the Washington Mall. Among other things, speakers at the rally called for the destruction of Israel, advocated on behalf of terrorism and proclaimed, “The only good Zionist is a dead Zionist.”

AMP is aligned with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who held her own “Nakba Day” event sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy cancelled her planned Nakba event at the Capitol Visitor Center.

In 2021, AMP organized a webinar with Tlaib co-hosted by IfNotNow. Last month, IfNotNow activists stormed a stage at an event for Gov. DeSantis and accused him of antisemitism for speaking out against “Soros DAs.”

For Soros and his fellow progressive antisemites, the only time you’re permitted to point out that someone is Jewish is when they are progressive. And any attack against them is anti-Semitic. The same ADL President Jonathan Greenblatt who accused Musk of antisemitism for his attack on Soros never spoke out against the progressives who attacked the late conservative and pro-Israel Jewish philanthropist Sheldon Adelson with nakedly antisemitic rhetoric. As a conservative, pro-Israel Jew, Adelson was a legitimate target for progressive antisemites.

sives by demonizing their political foes.

The National Conservatism movement held a conference in Britain. The idea of national conservativism is that the nation-state system is the best guard against tyranny at the hands of transnational groups that seek to impose their progressive worldview through quasi-imperialist dictates.

To prevent tyranny and preserve free societies, the national conservative movement advocates for nations to defend their sovereign territory, preserve and strengthen their institutions and teach and cultivate their unique histories and traditions. The conference at Westminster in London this week brought together Britain’s top conservative political and intellectual leaders.

On Tuesday, The Guardian ran a hitjob by Peter Walker on the conference and its participants, demonizing both as antisemitic. How was Jew-hatred advanced by the participants?

As Walker put it, “A conference run by a right-wing U.S. think tank might be expected to feature robust discourse on culture wars and identity. But the National Conservatism gathering has gone notably

movements and philosophies that undermine their nations. By falsely asserting that criticism of globalists and cultural Marxism are inherently hostile to Jews, progressives not only block debate on real issues, they use antisemitism as a weapon to demonize anyone who engages in discourse that questions progressive goals, means and dogma.

The ironic aspect of the progressive assault on nationalists is that progressives don’t oppose nationalism per se. The progressive world view that the likes of Soros advance asserts that there is tribal warfare going on all over the world. Some tribes—or nations—are oppressors. Others are victims.

The national identities of the groups defined as aggressors are illegitimate. American identity, for example, is illegitimate. British, Israeli, Indian, Hungarian, Australian, Polish, Italian and French identities are also illegitimate.

On the other hand, Palestinian national identity is great. Chinese identity is fine.

On May 15, American Muslims for Palestine organized a “Nakba Day” rally in Washington. MEMRI posted footage

The left’s assault on language is a means to assert control over societies. If you cannot describe your reality, then you cannot influence it. As George Orwell explained it in 1984 , “The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect.”

Judaism, to be sure, is not progressivism, and attacks on progressive dogma and politics are not acts of antisemitism. Accepting, even minimally, that such absurdities are valid denies Jews the capacity to protect themselves from actual antisemitism—that is, hostility towards Jews.

All Jews, including Jewish progressives who are concerned about anti-Jewish bigotry, must reject out of hand efforts by the likes of Soros, The Guardian, Tlaib and their comrades to hijack language to constrain our capacity to recognize this reality. (JNS)

Caroline B. Glick is the senior contributing editor of Jewish News Syndicate and the host of the Caroline Glick Show on JNS. Glick is also the diplomatic commentator for Israel’s Channel 14 as well as a columnist at Newsweek. Glick is the senior fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs at the Center for Security Policy in Washington and a lecturer at Israel’s College of Statesmanship.

Demonizing all of Soros’s critics as antisemites is not only an insult to Jews. It is a way of denying Jews the language to defend themselves against real antisemites like Soros.

American Scouting Units

By Avi Heiligman

It takes much more than frontline soldiers to make up an effective military that could produce results on the battlefield. Quartermasters, medical units, engineers, cooks, etc. are all important pieces of an army. Over the years, special fighting units have been added to the mix and can achieve results that previously would not have been possible. Scouting the enemy and their resources was tasked to some of these special units. Here is the history behind some of these scouting units that were given missions to scout the enemy as well as perform duties not asked of conventional units.

The Jessie Scouts are considered one of the first Special Forces units in the American military. They were active during the Civil War and were asked with insurgency missions while wearing Confederate uniforms. The unit was formed by John C. Fremont, and he named the unit after his wife. They were originally formed in St. Louis and were commanded by Charles Carpenter. Jessie Scouts were tasked with spying missions and conducting raids and capturing and killing Confederate leaders. Additionally, they were particularly adept at providing critical intelligence on enemy activity as well

as capturing enemy flags. Since they were wearing enemy uniforms, they knew they would be killed as spies if captured. At least one scout was executed by the Confederates when he couldn’t keep his story straight when questioned, while records indicate that others did not make it back to Union lines. About sixty men served with the Jessie Scouts during the Civil

Scouting units in particular were needed as the intelligence they gathered was vital for future operations.

The battlefields for World War II ranged from tropical jungles in the Pacific to the desert landscapes of North Africa to the hedgerows of Normandy, France. Some of the most extreme terrain that saw fighting was the frozen tundra of the

platoon and were chosen for their skills in handling the brutal Alaskan weather. Many native Alaskans and Eskimos were recruited as well as hunters and fishermen who were known for their skills in the cold weather. One of the men said about the men in the unit, “The scouts were all very talented outdoorsmen; they could live and operate anywhere.” They lived off the land and fished salmon for rations.

War, and their skill and daring were an inspiration for future special units.

Up until World War II, the need for special units wasn’t fully realized. This changed when American military leaders saw the success of the British Commandos and other Special Forces units. All types of special units were formed, and each with their unique training and skills were able to produce successful results on the battlefield and behind enemy lines.

Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The inhospitable landscape made it very difficult for the Americans to gather intelligence on the invading Japanese Army.

A force called the 1 st Alaskan Combat Intelligence Platoon, also called the Alaska Scouts, was formed by Colonel Lawrence Castner serving under the commanding general of the Alaska Defense Command General Simon Bolivar Buckner. Altogether, sixty-five men joined the

The press called them the Castner Cutthroats. The unit was led by Captain Robert Thompson. They were used for reconnaissance missions and found suitable landing zones for counter-attacks. During the American counterattacks, the Alaska Scouts were employed as guides and messengers. They were also instrumental in scouting and building a temporary landing strip for airplanes on Adak Island in preparation for the landing on Attu and Kiska. This shortened the distance to other airbases and allowed planes to land in bad weather. They were dropped off by submarines on the deserted island and damned the entryway of a lagoon with steel mats to make the landing strip. The unit was deactivated in 1946 after spending the years after the Alaskan Campaign

Since they were wearing enemy uniforms, they knew they would be killed as spies if captured.

Alaska Scouts, also known as Castner's Cutthroats, sleeping on the ground

surveying Western Alaska.

One of the most daring scouting units of World War II was the U.S. 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit, also known as the Alamo Scouts. General Walter Krueger, commanding general of the 6th Army operating in the southwest Pacific, established the Scouts in 1943 with the purpose of providing accurate and timely intelligence on Japanese targets. Alamo Scouts were recruited from within the ranks of the 6th Army and went through a rigorous six-week training course established in Eastern New Guinea. Focus

was placed on learning rubber boat handling, intelligence gathering, scouting and patrolling, navigations and communications. Alamo Scouts were also proficient at weapons handling as they could be involved in gunfights with the Japanese. Not all those who graduated from the school joined the Alamo Scouts, and those soldiers went back to their original units to apply their newly learned skills. In over 100 missions they didn’t lose a man and provided vital reconnaissance in the raid to free the 516 Allied prisoners of the Cabanatuan prison camp in the Phil-

ippines. Additionally, they were credited with rescuing close to two hundred Allied POWs while on missions in New Guinea. Their record also included capturing 84 Japanese soldiers and sailors that were interrogated for intelligence purposes. They were also tasked with personally guarding General Krueger when not on missions.

Some missions require specialized units that are trained in specific types of operations to execute successfully. The American scouting units quickly picked up the skills needed to perform successful-

ly on the battlefield, and they themselves were able to pass on the legacy to future units. While the units in this article are now defunct, their stories live on and the operators are forgotten heroes for the danger they faced while in combat.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.

Members of the Alamo Scouts

At the Alamo Scouts training center

Members of the Alaska Scouts

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Call Shalom 347-276-7422

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

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

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

ZEVIZZ WOODTURNING JUDAICA

Challah knifes, batei mezuzah, besamim holder, kiddish cups, havdalah candle holders, yad for sefer torah, pens, stenders, bowls and more  952-356-2228

HOUSES FOR SALE HOUSES FOR SALE

WOODMERE

Move right in. 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms split level. Features eat-in-kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, formal living room and dining room, main floor family room with fireplace, 2 master bedrooms with full bathrooms, central a/c, gas, heat, hardwood floors, recessed lighting, cedar closet, sauna, generator and much more. $1,115,000.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE

Stunning One of a Kind Mid Century Modern 6 Bedroom, 6.5 Bath, Contemporary Ranch. Resort Style Home on Over an Acre of Property in Back Lawrence. Incredible Views, Regulation Size Tennis Court - Deco Turf. IG-Gunite Pool, Low Taxes, 5318 sq. ft. of Main Floor Living Space. Plus 5000 sq. ft. Basement With Very High Ceilings. Call Mark 516-298-8457 for more details Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457  mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

DON’T GET STUCK WITH A TWO STORY HOUSE YA KNOW, IT’S ONE STORY BEFORE YOU BUY IT BUT A SECOND STORY AFTER YOU OWN IT! Call Dov Herman

For An Accurate Unbiased Home Inspection Infrared - Termite Inspection Full Report All Included NYC 718-INSPECT Long Island 516-INSPECT www.nyinspect.com

NORTH WOODMERE Stunning Split , 5 Bedrooms With 3 Full Baths. Custom Features Throughout. Well Maintained Home. Hardwood Floors, Granite Counters in kitchen, Formal Living Room and Dining Room, Den, Full Finished Basement. Relax in the Private Backyard With Inground Pool. SD#14. A must see! Close To All Houses of Worship Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HOUSES FOR SALE HOUSES FOR SALE HOUSES FOR SALE

CAN’T AFFORD YOUR PROPERTY TAXES? MORTGAGE?

Must sell for any reason? Call for FREE Consultation. Call now 212-470-3856 Cash buyers available!

HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER, Far Rockaway • Open House

May 28, 12:00-3:00 • 229 Beach 3rd St.

Built 2006, semi-attached, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath, playroom; great natural light; 3,000 sf, oversized rooms, double closets throughout; MBR suite with en-suite bathroom, vaulted ceiling, and 3 walk-in closets; gourmet kosher kitchen, space for entertaining, 2-zone HVAC, deck with permanent sukkah/pergola, 2 add’l balconies, 2-car garage plus 2 private parking spaces, fenced side yard, exclusive beach access, great neighbors.  Original owner, well maintained, many extras.  Priced to sell at 929k. Call or WhatsApp 917-882-6438. No brokers, please.

WOODMERE

Beautiful Hi-Ranch In The Heart of Woodmere Featuring 3 Bedrooms Plus Additional Bedroom On Lower Level With Half Bath. This Easy Living Home Has Huge Windows And The Master Suite Has A Full Bathroom. This Oversized, Airy Galley Eat-InKitchen Offers Sliders To The Wood Deck. Full Finished Lower Level, Beautiful Wood Floors - Sliders To The Patio And Garage Entrance. New roof, New Hot Water Heater - Close To All. Don’t Miss This Opportunity To Make This Your Home! Wont Last - Call For A Private Viewing. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

New to the market. 3 bedroom 2 full bathrooms with a full basement. Ranch home in the heart of Woodmere, SD#15, on a lot sized 90x118, gas heat, garage. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

Cedarhurst Just Listed Magnificent renovated 4 bedroom 3 bathroom in SD#15, new roof, windows, plumbing + electric, gas cooking, new marble bathrooms, marble kitchen with stainless steel appliances, LED lighting, security cameras and speakers throughout the home, custom closets, outdoor patio, 1 car garage, near all. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

CEDARHURST

Beautiful, Well-Maintained Colonial In The Heart Of Cedarhurst. 4 Bedroom, 2.5 Baths. Brand New Roof. Eat-In-Kitchen, Formal Living Room & Dining Room. Hardwood Floors Throughout. Low Taxes. Close To All Shopping, Transportation and many Houses of Worship. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-2988457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HOUSES FOR SALE

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. Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@ bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

Renovated 8 Bedroom Colonial, Prime Location in SD#14 - Old Woodmere. Smart Home, Camera System, New CAC System, A Large Eat-in Kitchen with Pantry. Finished Basement. NEAR ALL Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@ bhhslaffey.com

Classifieds

HOUSES FOR SALE FOR RENT IN ISRAEL HOUSES FOR SALE APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

CEDARHURST HOUSE FOR

LAWRENCE

Updated 7 bed 5 bath home on corner lot with unobstructed views of the golf course.  3 bedrooms  have on-suite full baths. Designer kitchen with 3 ovens, 2 microwaves, 2 dishwashers and full fridge freezer. A Must See. Call Sherri from Weissman Realty  516-297-7995 for more info and pics.

NORTH WOODMERE

For sale by owner 4 bedroom 3 bath split level house

Steps to Houses of worship N Woodmere park 516 384-5940

WEST HEMPSTEAD

YERUSHALAIM SUMMER RENTAL: Amazing  location! Across the street from OsherAd supermarket/RavShefa Mall Just two blocks from Malchei Yisroel- Stunning and clean fully furnished apt. Just Two floors up, 3 beds, 2 Bathrooms, Large couch, spacious porch with table and chairs + hammock, Washer & dryer in Apt. fresh linen and towels included. Free high speed WiFi router in (and exclusive to) the apt! All for a great price-Weisssarahm@gmail.com 216-223-8853

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

WOODMERE

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.

Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@ bhhslaffey.com

WOODMERE

New to Market! Newly Renovated Balcony Split Located In The Heart of Woodmere! Spacious Layout

Featuring 6 Bedrooms & 3 Full Baths. This Stunning Home Has Everything You Want. This Gorgeous Open Floor Plan, Offers New Roof, New Electric, New Plumbing, Gas Home. Don’t Miss This Opportunity For A Gracious, Airy, Open Layout. Close to All. A Must See!!! Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

Introducing a stunning new construction home. Nestled in a picturesque neighborhood. Large windows, open-concept layout that merges the various living spaces. The expansive living room is bathed in natural light, thanks to the windows that offer great views of the surrounding area. Gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, sleek cabinetry, expansive center island with a breakfast bar. Ample counter space and a welldesigned layout. Wonderful dining area providing. Large glass doors, spacious patio. Luxurious master suite with a spacious bedroom, a lavish ensuite bathroom and a large walk-in closet. Additional bedrooms. High-end finishes, premium flooring, and custom details throughout. Call for pricing 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

FOR RENT IN ISRAEL

NEW & LUXURIOUS

3 apartments all in one building on separate floors (every apartment 2BR

7BEDS) Jerusalem between Jaffa St. / Ha-nevi’im Street. Can accommodate 14 - 21 guests  - Sukkot Sept 26October 10 we can do all year round to get photos contact WhatsApp Avi @ +972504999910

PLEASE no agents!!!!!

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

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

LAWRENCE

New to the market Jr. 4 apartment in an elevator building with a terrace and underground parking, laundry on premises. Kitchen with granite countertops, 2 sinks, ss appliances, spacious step down living room with high ceilings, guest room/ office, spacious primary bedroom with 3 closets, full bathroom with full vanity, medicine cabinet, toilet and lighting, custom blinds, near the railroad, shopping and houses of worship.$289K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457

mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE APT. FOR RENT

LAWRENCE

Spacious 2BR, 2 Full Bath Apt with an enclosed terrace in the heart of Lawrence. Well maintained & manicured building. New hardwood floors, updated Eat-in Kitchen with gas stove. warming draw, dishwasher & microwave. New windows on the enclosed terrace & one of the bedrooms. 3 New A/C Units & New Refrigerator. Close to shopping, transportation, library, schools, and houses of worship. $339K

284 CENTRAL AVE B-5 Mark Lipner

Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-2988457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

CEDARHURST

Move Right In. Totally updated 2BR, 2 Bath, Apt. on the 1st Floor. Private Entrance, CAC, W/D in Unit, Kitchen with SS Appliances, Hardwood Floors, Recessed Lighting, Freshly Painted, Great Courtyard, Parking $95/Mo. Close to Railroad, Shopping, Restaurants, Cedarhurst Park + Houses of Worship NO

BROKERS FEE Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

APT./COOP/CONDO SALE APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

LAWRENCE

One Bedroom Renovated Apartment In Prime Lawrence. Efficiency Kitchen, Renovated Bathroom. Sunken LR, Dining Room, Close to All, Transportation, Shopping, Worship. $275k Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@ bhhslaffey.com

HEWLETT

3 bedroom 2 bath co-op with central air conditioning, terrace, washer dryer, hardwood floors, recessed lighting, magnificent kitchens, ss appliances, l/r, d/r, close to the railroad, shopping, and houses of worship. $319k

1201 EAST BROADWAY H-23

Mark Lipner Associate Broker

Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

LAWRENCE

Spacious 2BR, 2 Full Bath Apt with an enclosed terrace in the heart of Lawrence. Well maintained & manicured building. New hardwood floors, updated Eat-in Kitchen with gas stove. warming draw, dishwasher & microwave. New windows on the enclosed terrace & one of the bedrooms. 3 New A/C Units & New Refrigerator. Close to shopping, transportation, library, schools, and houses of worship. $339K Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

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

LAWRENCE JUST LISTED

This amazing two-bedroom two full bathroom condo Features a luxurious lifestyle in the beautiful city of Lawrence. What more could you ask for? The building has a 24-hour doorman and elevator access, with a social room, library, washer/dryer inside the unit, and terrace. Plus, the added benefit of having a live-in super to ensure maximum safety and security! And don’t forget about your new kitchen complete with a gas stove, refrigerator, microwave, and even two dishwashers! The living room and dining room are spacious and have recessed lighting installed throughout. Both bedrooms feature lots of closet space for storage. To top it off, there’s even garage parking available to make your life just that much easier! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. Please call for a private showing Mark Lipner Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-2988457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

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

Spacious and Sundrenched 1st Floor 2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath Unit In The Incredibly Maintained Garden Town. Updated kitchen with Granite Countertops and Gleaming Hardwood Floors Throughout With A Private Washer/Dryer. Best Views from Every Window And The Large Terrace Facing The Beautifully Landscaped Courtyard. Indoor Parking Available As Well And An I Adjacent Municipal Lot. Convenient To The LIRR, Shops & Restaurants. Maintenance includes all your taxes, heat and water. No more shoveling or gardening for you reduced to $185k 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 Mark Lipner

Associate Broker Berkshire Hathaway Laffey International 516-298-8457 mlipner@bhhslaffey.com

HELP WANTED

YESHIVA KOL TORAH

Is growing and seeking phenomenal teachers to join our amazing faculty. We are seeking high school science, math, English and elective teachers. Warm, professional, supportive and growth-oriented environment. Excellent pay. Interested candidates should submit resumes to srada@ yeshivakoltorah.org.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

New York based - for Special Needs Organization. Major Gifts, Direct Solicitation, Managerial Experience Required. Flexible Benefits Package. Self -Starter/Team Player. Email renee@ou.org

JOIN OUR TEAM!

ABA company located in the 5 Towns looking to fill multiple full-time administrative positions Knowledge of Central Reach a plus, but will train the right candidate Great work environment Call 516-670-5374 or Email your resume to: Careers@supportivecareaba.com

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED

DELIVERY PERSON NEEDED to deliver Newspaper every Thursday morning to locations in Brooklyn. Must have Minivan or SUV and availability to work consistently every week!

Please e-mail gabe@fivetownsjewishhome.com or call (917) 299-8082

YSZ IS HIRING!

Open Positions: Director of Admissions, Rebbeim, Morot, General Studies Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Dean of StudentsBoys’ Division

General Requirements:

A passion for education, A desire to grow professionally, A love for children, Want to join a strong, supportive team, A strong Yeshiva background, An advanced Degree in Education

Send your resume to: afridman@ yszqueens.org

For more information, visit: yszqueens.org

HELP WANTED

REBBEIM

TEACHERS & ASSISTANTS

CAHAL is hiring Special Ed Rebbeim, Teachers and Assistant Teachers for 2023-24 school year. AM or PM, FT or PT. E-mail resume to shira@cahal.org or call 516-295-3666 for information.

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.

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

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

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

HELP WANTED

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

IMMEDIATE OPENING

ELA teaching position for Gr. 5. Mon.-Thurs., afternoon hours. Far Rockaway/5T area. Competitive salary, warm supportive environment. Teachersearch11@gmail.com

BOOKKEEPER

Excellent growth potential, Frum environment, Excellent salary & benefits. Email resume to: resumetfs1@gmail.com

SEEKING ELA TEACHER

Immediate opening. ELA teaching position for Gr. 5. Mon.-Thurs., afternoon hours. Far Rockaway/5T area. Competitive salary, warm, supportive environment. All teaching materials provided. Teachersearch11@gmail.com.

When you think of a labor strike, you probably picture a line of blue-collar workers carrying picket signs in front of a coal mine or factory. The Writers Guild of America, which represents 11,500 entertainment writers, hardly fits that mold. Yet the WGA strike, which began May 2, is already rippling through Hollywood. It’s going to cost a lot of people a lot of money – including the federal, state, and local tax collectors counting on part of that lost income to finance their productions.

At first glance, you might dismiss screenwriters as spoiled, Porsche-driving elites with a higher-than-average chance of dying in an accident involving downers and a hot tub. The average WGA member makes $260,000/year. But don’t be fooled by that number. It includes hotshots churning out Marvel scripts at one end and journeymen cashing $8 residual checks at the other. Most of the spoils trickle up to the top few, while thousands make literally nothing in any given year. Producers have turned writing into just another freelance gig.

Why strike now? It’s mostly because Hollywood economics have changed dramatically since the last collective bargaining agreement in 2008. Specifically, viewers have cut their cable cords

Your Money Action!

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

and switched to streaming services that don’t pay residuals. The Guild also wants to extend wage and staffing minimums to members who write for new media. And they want to prevent producers from using ChatGPT and other forms of AI from squeezing out actual humans. (Just because Skynet is busy working to become self-aware doesn’t mean there isn’t time to churn out a script or two.)

writers aren’t the only group hurt by the move to streaming, which suggests it’s just a matter of time before the writers’ strike starts inspiring other Hollywood unions.

Some state tax collectors may come out ahead in the short run. For example, Georgia pays out $1.3 billion per year in film production tax credits. That’s lured enough shoots to earn the state a new nickname: “Y’allywood.” State auditors

– 13.3% on income over $1 million – is the highest in the country. It’s fair to say that a big share of those two-comma salaries will suffer from the strike. And Los Angeles has just instituted a new “mansion tax” to help finance affordable housing. Starting in April, sellers pay 4% on home sales above $5 million and 5.5% on sales above $10 million. But how can the city collect the new tax if out-of-work industry types can’t afford to trade up from the neighborhoods where you can almost smell the money to the ones where you really can smell the money?

The WGA strike will affect everyone in Hollywood. When writers shut down productions, they shut down directors and actors, too. They shut down makeup artists, craft services, and the genius costume crew. Sympathy strikes are spreading to places like Bollywood and Portugal (a key shooting site for British filmmaking). And

have found the credit actually costs the state money, so cutting it makes fiscal sense. But that would mean chasing away millions in tourism and hospitality spending. That, in turn, hits income and sales tax revenue.

Back in Hollywood, though, it’s a different story. California’s top state tax rate

Today’s streaming platforms have stockpiled so much content they could go for months with nothing new. Netflix alone has produced over 3,000 TV series, movies, documentaries, and standup specials. But the fact that you’ll never have time to watch them all doesn’t mean the strike is an ivory tower debate. And it’s a great example of how everything you read about in the news affects the taxes we work to help you minimize.

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.

But don’t be fooled by that number. It includes hotshots churning out Marvel scripts at one end and journeymen cashing $8 residual checks at the other.

Why All the Hoopla?!

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

I’ve been thinking: What’s all the hoopla about?

We got the Ten Commandments. But then we embraced the Golden Calf.

And then we lost the Ten Commandments.

And then we got forgiven 40 days later. And then we got the Ten Commandments in hand again on Yom Kippur.

Aren’t we like 120 days early with our celebration?!

Let’s put it this way. Your spouse wants to give you a present. He/she gives it to the kids to give to you before going on a business trip. If you’re not receptive when they try to give it to you, it doesn’t change the fact that that was the day he/ she wanted you to have it.

So, we are celebrating the day G-d originally gave us the Torah, Shavuot, and not the day the transmission actually took place.

So maybe hoopla is in order at this time?!

But why any hoopla at all?

Well, what is the Torah after all?

How do we feel when we purchase a product that we want to utilize, construct, or make the best use of, but then notice the instruction manual is left out? Pretty upsetting huh?!

We usually go searching frantically in the box or looking again and again through the packaging. We are not that happy with the manufacturer who left it out!

After all, picture a complex piece of furniture that we decide to build without instructions. We are so proud of it as it

comes together. We are envisioning a perfect outcome when done. However, as we near completion, or sooner, we notice a piece sitting on the floor next to us that should’ve been inserted for stability or a leg sticking up and out the top when it should be sticking down and out the bottom for balance and support. Now are we happy with it?

G-d manufactured this world, and then gave us the instruction manual for what He created. Why would we want to construct our lives without it? Without the stability balance and support pieces in place?

The sages say G-d looked into the Torah and created the world. In that case, it certainly is the instruction manual for this place. More and more we see, as time goes on, its brilliance and its wisdom.

For instance, today, as people are more and more addicted to their phones, their computers, and their technology, the rare opportunity to get everyone refocused, re-centered, and very present comes often only with the present of Shabbos each week.

Think of this situation with children. They have such a hard time hearing no. And yet, when you tell them something is not kosher, they immediately put it down.

There was a kid I knew in CVS grabbing a candy bar and throwing a fit because the mom said no. Finally, the mother said, “Listen, it isn’t kosher,” and the kid immediately put it down. I surprisingly commented that I didn’t realize that they were Jewish. She answered that she was not. “But I see this working all the time for the Jewish kids, so I’ve started it

in my family and it’s the only thing that works with my children,” she said. So, as we celebrate this wonderful holiday in which G-d, so kindly, shared with us the instruction manual for constructing our lives with wisdom and joy, there’s

plenty reason for all the hoopla. Or would we like to still be frantically stuck searching for some guidance on how to do things better rather than putting together the most useful and productive life that we can?

Rivki Rosenwald is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist working with both couples and individuals and is a certified relationship 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 rivkirosenwald@gmail.com.