Five Towns Jewish Home 6.1.23

Dear Readers,

While speaking with my friend recently, we realized that we are “list people.” We both like making lists and crossing things off our lists. The difference between our list-making is that I love to do it the old-fashioned way – putting pen to paper. She, on the other hand, is a big believer in using her phone to help her itemize everything she has to do and then checking tasks off as they’re completed.

I’ve appreciated the art of list-making since I was young. I remember coming home from school each Friday and asking my mother for a list of chores that I needed to do before Shabbos. This way, I figured, I’d know what I had to do in advance. She would sit down and write down all my tasks – dusting, Windexing, vacuuming – whatever had to be done that Friday. But she’d also slip in a few fun items – jump up and down five times or do a little dance. I’d look at my list and find the fun things to do. But I wouldn’t wait until the end to have some fun. I made sure to do them right away – because then I could cross them quickly off my list.

Fast forward a few years, and I’m still making lists. It helps me to remember what has to get done and frees up my mind – if I know that it’s on my list, I don’t have to keep track of that task in my head.

But I’m not always good at crossing things off my list. I’ve noticed that there are some tasks that stay on my to-do lists perpetually. I know that they have to get done but there’s no urgency to complete them, and so they are almost forever stuck on the back burner, waiting for when I have the time and drive to complete

them. Perhaps the summer would be a good time to cross those things off my list?

There’s an age-old question when it comes to getting things done. Do you tackle the small, easier tasks first, or do you complete the harder, bigger projects right away?

Well, for me, it depends on the day. Sometimes, I want to cross off as many tasks as possible in the shortest amount of time. That’s when I quickly do those little things first. But on other days, when I know there are more complex items that need to be done, I’ll tackle those first. And research shows that those who take on the bigger, harder projects first will be more productive in the long run.

I sometimes encourage my kids, when they complain about doing something, to “eat the frog.” Supposedly, the expression comes from Mark Twain, who once said that if you eat a live frog first thing in the morning, you can go through your day knowing that it will probably be the worst thing you’ll have to do all day. But I’m not telling my kids to eat toads instead of toast for breakfast. The expression has come to mean that we should tackle the hard projects that we have to do at the first opportunity to do them. And research has shown that by doing the harder, more complex projects first, we’ll be able to get more things done overall.

So perhaps one day I should take those older, larger tasks that are sitting on the back burner of my to-do list and do them first thing in the morning. That way, one day, I’ll really be able to cross everything off my list. Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

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Dear Editor,

Last week, I decided that it was time to email a few doctors some of my top medical treatment annoyances. I’ve decided to share the list with you, because I’m sure that some of you have the same or similar ones.

Your automated phone menu says that the options have recently changed. No, they haven’t. They’re the same confusing options in the same order the same way for the past 15 years.

You say to stay on hold because my call is very important to you. Having me wait 30 minutes for someone to quickly say, “Doctor’s office, please hold” is one sure way to indicate that I’m of no importance to you, at all.

The recording says that if it’s an emergency, hang up and call 911. Are your patients really that stupid? I can pretty much guarantee that the lady who’s fallen and can’t get up didn’t first call her physical therapist.

When you send me an on-line form and I check “male” for gender, why do you ask me if I’m pregnant or plan to be pregnant? Seriously, it’s an on-line form. Aren’t computers supposed to figure things out for you?

When you say, “The doctor will see you now,” I don’t want to sit for 20 minutes in a cold room while the doctor takes a break.

I never want to hear the doctor say, “I’ve never seen this before.” It makes me think that the doctor slept during that critical lecture, or he’s begging me to join his next clinical study.

I think you get the idea. I’m sure that there are others to add to the list. If you’re a doctor reading this, I’ll email you my bill for my services.

Daniel Feldman

Dear Editor, A satire:

The archaic writing style of the Constitution can render it difficult to read and

understand, so it’s no surprise that a large contingent of Americans aren’t remotely familiar with the document. And this isn’t just true of Americans in general, but it’s also true of President Biden – although for an even more bizarre reason.

It turns out Biden has been reading the Constitution upside-down this entire time. It was only recently that members of his cabinet noticed this and showed the president the correct way of reading it. Now, whenever Biden’s handlers give him a copy of the Constitution, they glue a copy to his hands so he’ll know exactly how to hold it.

Rafi Metz

Dear Editor,

A golden escalator once changed a political system. A political system that was tried and failed. Many stairways leading to a stage have been the root of failures. All it took was for one man and one movement to descend a golden escalator to change the course of history. The age of a political creature ascending a pair of stairs to reach a stage where they would announce four more years of defending a failed system has ended. The age of a golden escalator has begun.

Donald John Trump was and is a hero. 74,223,975 Americans are heroes for voting to end a system that claimed to be on their side for decades. Ronald Dion DeSantis is a trailblazer of the new movement. The 2024 Republican Primary is about to begin. The fireworks are about to explode. The golden escalator that once changed the political system of the United States of America escalated its fight seven years ago. The man that descended that escalator made a lot of promises and, though uncharacteristically for a politician, kept many of them.

Donald Trump

Continued on page 10

Continued from page 8 argued that a system that failed a diverse amount of individuals means that loyalty wasn’t owed. The pattern of voting for failure didn’t have to continue. On November 8, 2016, America discontinued an entire system of despair and elected a government of hope and promise. The actual change in government occurred on January 20, 2017 at noon. The next four years were unusual, but in this context, unusual was good. Despite the unusualness of a politician fighting for his voters, every moment was met with resistance by the lies of the former power class; from politicians, journalists, and bureaucrats to “non-partisan” individuals. They coordinated an investigation on President Donald Trump based on a lie, but the president plowed on for the change that he promised.

On November 7, 2020, the same power-hungry creatures “elected” a new president. Whether it was due to fraud, election rigging, or lies, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. currently occupies the Oval Office. The age of the political creature ascending a stage to announce four more years of failure is back. Four years after the very same country discontinued a pattern of voting for failure, the country “elects” the person who represented the past but is now the present. The problems of the past are back in their own 2023 form, but stronger than ever. The age of inflation, wars, drugs, crime, open borders, race wars, and the age of false being labeled true has arrived. The problems came back so quickly, it makes one wonder, was the election of Donald Trump an actual response to the systematic problems? If it was, shouldn’t there be some resistance in the system that we all were led to believe changed?

What if this political game is bigger than President, Vice President, Speaker, or Majority Leader? Is it perhaps the po-

litical creatures that affect us the most, the ones that we focus on the least? The local school boards, town boards, state legislatures, and governors have more say in our lives than an 80- year-old confused man. Recent data has revealed that only approximately 15-27% of voters vote in the local elections that affect them the most. The lowest a presidential election on the other hand has received was 49%. The golden escalator, the stairs to the stage, and the 80-year-old man are entertaining, but what actually matters? How many candidates are debating in the upcoming Republican primary or if children will be educated and not indoctrinated in schools? The shiny objects of the presidency, Congress, and the like are the cream on top of the cake. The cake though first must be baked.

Sincerely,

Donny Simcha Guttman

Dear Editor,

As a mother of a few teens, I have to applaud you for your wonderful “Teen Talk” column. In many of your articles, you tackle very spot-on questions that bother teens and leave them wondering.

I have a very good relationship with my children. They come to me with so many of their thoughts and questions. But I know that there are probably questions that they have that they are too embarrassed to even address with me. A column like Teen Talk is so important so they can hear that other teens have questions too, and they can hear from your wonderful panelists who can give their insights and advice.

I’ve noticed that a lot of teens have questions or trouble with self-esteem. I believe that this is an important topic to address in your upcoming column.

Thank you,

A Mother of Teens

Erdogan Wins Runoff

candidate, the results will not change,” he said.

Erdogan spoke to supporters on a campaign bus outside his home in Istanbul. “I thank each member of our nation for entrusting me with the responsibility to govern this country once again for the upcoming five years,” he said. “We hope to be worthy of your trust, as we have been for 21 years.”

He ridiculed his challenger for his loss, saying “bye bye bye, Kemal,” as supporters booed.

“The only winner today is Turkey,” Erdogan added. He promised to work hard for Turkey’s second century. The country marks its centennial this year.

“No one can look down on our nation,” he asserted.

daroglu, was a secular social democrat politician who had emphasized messages of freedom and democracy on the campaign trail. The opposition alliance he represented had promised to roll back constitutional changes introduced after a 2017 referendum that significantly expanded the powers of the presidency, and to bring back the parliamentary system.

On the international stage, Erdogan’s government vetoed Sweden’s bid to join NATO and purchased Russian missile-defense systems, which prompted the United States to oust Turkey from a U.S.-led fighter-jet project. But it also helped broker a crucial deal that allowed Ukrainian grain shipments and averted a global food crisis.

South American Summit

Brazil’s Luiz Inacio

hosted his South American counterparts on Tuesday as he seeks to bolster regional relations.

On Sunday, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won re-election in a historic runoff that will extend his rule until 2028.

Turkey’s Supreme Election Council (YSK) Chairman Ahmet Yener said that Erdogan was elected as the new president with 52.14% of the votes. “Even if all of the results that have not been entered into the system yet go to a presidential

Erdogan was applauded during his first decade as a leader for transforming Turkey into an economic and political success story, but over the last 10 years he’s faced mounting criticism — both domestically and internationally — for quashing dissent and adopting rules and laws typical of autocratic regimes. Turkey is also battling record-high inflation, and Erdogan faced criticism in the wake of a February earthquake that killed 50,000 people in Turkey.

Erdogan’s chief rival, Kemal Kilic-

Erdogan, 69, is now set to remain in power until 2028. A devout Muslim, he heads the conservative and religious Justice and Development Party, or AKP. Erdogan transformed the presidency from a largely ceremonial role to a powerful office through a narrowly won 2017 referendum that scrapped Turkey’s parliamentary system of governance. He was the first directly elected president in 2014, and won the 2018 election that ushered in the executive presidency.

Leaders from 11 countries and the president of Peru’s council of ministers are convening in Brasilia to seek common ground on areas including health care, infrastructure and the environment, according to the Brazilian government. They will talk during hours-long, closed-door sessions meant to foster intimacy and frank communication.

This is the first summit of South American leaders since 2014. Many of those leaders are dealing with domestic woes and unable to focus on regional partnerships.

Lula da Silva

Economies are shaky, with particular alarm in Bolivia and Argentina. New leaders who were initially welcomed with fanfare in countries like Chile and Colombia are now grappling with falling popularity. Others, like Peru and Ecuador, have faced full-blown political crises.

The failures of the region’s new wave of leftist leaders have attracted the most attention, as Chile’s Gabriel Boric and his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro struggle to advance progressive agendas focused on strengthening public services. But Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso’s move to dissolve congress and head off a looming impeachment attempt earlier this month showed that the continent’s few market-friendly leaders are also on the ropes.

Peru’s President Dina Boluarte, the only South American leader who wasn’t in attendance, is facing the risk of criminal prosecution over accusations that she failed to halt the killing of protesters during demonstrations that began last December. In Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro has presided over a dramatic economic collapse that has prompted more than 7 million people to flee since 2015.

Despite the challenges, Brazil insists that dialogue is needed.

“Dialogue is between states,” Gisela

Maria Figueiredo Padovan, the Brazilian government’s secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, told reporters on Friday. “We want to have a vision of the integration of states, and different countries go through different domestic circumstances that we have to understand.”

On Monday, Lula received Maduro in the Venezuelan leader’s first state visit to Brazil since 2015. Ties between the two nations fell apart during the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro, but Lula declared the relationship fully restored.

Both heads of state said they discussed Venezuela’s potential addition to the group of so-called BRICS countries, which includes the world’s most prominent emerging markets, as well as desires to use local currencies instead of the U.S. dollar to do business. Lula also criticized economic sanctions imposed on Venezuela.

“South America needs to be convinced that we have to work as a bloc,” Lula said. “It is impossible to imagine that the countries alone are going to fix their serious problems.”

Russia Attacks Kyiv

video widely shared by Ukrainian officials on social media showed.

The Monday barrage drew an immediate condemnation from the Ukrainian government. Russian forces “struck a peaceful city during the day, when most of the residents were at work and on the streets,” Popko said in a statement. (© The New York Times)

Even in a city where people have adapted the routines of ordinary life to wartime, a drone attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Tuesday, after a barrage of missiles the day before, was a reminder that while the fighting has been concentrated hundreds of miles east, the city still has a Russian bull’s-eye on it.

Kyiv’s military administrator, Serhii Popko, described the assault on Tuesday as a “massive” attack launched in several waves. He said on the Telegram messaging app that Russia had conducted the assault using Iranian-made Shahed drones. Ukraine’s air-defense forces destroyed more than 20 of the drones, the military administration said.

The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, warned residents in a post on Telegram not to leave shelters. About 20 residents of a high-rise building in Kyiv were evacuated early Tuesday after falling debris from a destroyed Russia-launched air target ignited a fire, Klitschko added. One person died, and at least three other people were injured from the falling debris, according to the mayor.

On Monday, 11 ballistic missiles targeted Ukraine, and 11 were intercepted, Ukrainian officials said. But debris from the in-air collisions caused fires and other damage, as terrified Ukrainians looked to the clear-blue skies of their densely populated city to witness a battle unfolding with explosive force.

The missiles came roaring into Kyiv shortly after 11 a.m. Monday — a rare daytime barrage that sent city residents racing for cover. Then, drone attacks began early Tuesday, making it clear that even as Kyiv, aided by Western allies, built up its air defense system, Russian forces were intent on testing for soft spots.

They have changed the timing of bombardments, the combination of weapons used and the trajectories of missiles and drones, lately flying them low along riverbeds and through valleys to avoid detection, Ukrainian officials say.

Schoolchildren shouldering backpacks ran in terror Monday after the booms resounded on one city street, a

Suspect in Rwanda Genocide Arrested

The most wanted fugitive in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 was arrested last week in Paarl, South Africa, after decades on the run.

Fulgence Kayishema is accused of orchestrating the killing of more than 2,000 Tutsi refugees – women, men, children and the elderly – at Nyange Catholic Church during the genocide. He has been on the run since 2001.

He was captured on Wednesday in a joint operation between the South African authorities and UN investigators.

When he was arrested, Kayishema initially denied his identity, according to a statement from the UN team. But by the end of the evening, he told them: “I have been waiting a long time to be arrested.”

The murderer had used multiple identities and forged documents to stay under the radar.

“Fulgence Kayishema was a fugitive for more than 20 years. His arrest ensures that he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes,” said Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz of the United Nations’ International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT).

“Genocide is the most serious crime known to humankind. The international community has committed to ensure that its perpetrators will be prosecuted and punished. This arrest is a tangible demonstration that this commitment does not fade and that justice will be done, no matter how long it takes,” Brammertz said.

At the end of the genocide in July 1994, Kayishema fled to the

Democratic Republic of Congo with his wife, children, and brother-in-law. After relocating to other African countries, he moved to South Africa in 1999 and claimed asylum in Cape Town, using a false name.

According to prosecutors, since his arrival in South Africa he was able to rely on a tight support network, including former Rwandan military members, which went to extreme lengths to conceal his activities and whereabouts.

The events in Nyanga, Rwanda, were one of the most brutal of the genocide, in which an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed over the period of 90 days.

The tribunal alleges that Kayishema directly participated in the “planning and execution of this massacre.” The indictment says he bought and distributed petrol to burn down the church while refugees were inside. Kayishema and others are also accused of using a bulldozer to collapse the church following the fire, while refugees were still inside.

The Rwandan genocide saw Hutu militias and civilians alike murder massive numbers of members of the Tutsi ethnic minority: men, women and children, many of whom had been

their neighbors before the conflict began.

The killings finally came to an end 100 days later, when Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) troops, led by Paul Kagame, defeated the Hutu rebels and took control of the country.

Green Grand Canal

released it was unlikely to be an accident.

The verdant blob was first noticed by residents near the Rialto Bridge on Sunday morning and grew slowly through the day.

For now, no one has taken responsibility for the green outbreak.

The curious coloring came as the city celebrated the Vogalonga boat event, created to combat wave motion and to restore Venetian traditions and help spread attention for the environment and nature as well as the architecture Biennale, which opened last weekend.

This is not the first time Venice’s Grand Canal has changed color.

The statement did not specify the exact launch date, but North Korea has notified Japan of a planned launch between May 31 and June 11, prompting Tokyo to put its ballistic missile defenses on alert. Japan has said it would shoot down any projectile that threatens its territory.

“Even if North Korea might call it a ‘satellite,’ this is a violation of relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions that prohibit North Korea from all launches using the ballistic missile technology,” Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said.

A bright green patch of water showed up in Venice’s famed Grand Canal on Sunday, baffling and alarming residents. Now, authorities say they know what caused the fluorescent green color.

Fluorescein is a non-toxic chemical commonly used in underwater construction to help identify leaks, environmental authorities say. It remains unclear how the substance ended up in the canal, but the Regional Agency for the Environment in Venice (ARPAV) said given the volume

In 1968, Argentine artist Nicolás García Uriburu dyed the waters of the canal green with a fluorescent dye during the annual Venice Biennale. The move was designed to bring attention to ecological issues and the relationship between nature and civilization.

North Korea to Launch Spy Satellite

South Korea’s foreign ministry also slammed the North’s use of ballistic missile technology as a clear violation of the U.N. sanctions, saying Ri was making a “farfetched excuse” to bolster its weapons programs.

“It is a nonsense to use our legitimate joint training and combined defense posture with the U.S., which were to respond to North Korea’s advanced nuclear and missile threats, as an excuse for launching a reconnaissance satellite,” ministry spokesman Lim Soo-suk said.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson noted that any North Korean launch using ballistic missile technology, including for a satellite, would violate U.N. resolutions.

The launch would be the North’s latest in a series of missile launches and weapons tests, including one of a new, solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile last month.

North Korea will launch its first military reconnaissance satellite in June for monitoring U.S. activities, state media KCNA reported on Tuesday.

Ri Pyong Chol, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, denounced ongoing joint military exercises by the U.S. and South Korea as openly showing “reckless ambition for aggression.”

U.S. and South Korean forces have carried out various training exercises in recent months, including the biggest-ever live-fire exercises last week, after many drills were scaled back amid Covid-19 restrictions and diplomatic efforts with North Korea.

Ri said the drills required Pyongyang to have the “means capable of gathering information about the military acts of the enemy in real time.”

Nuclear-armed North Korea has said it has completed development of its first military spy satellite. Leader Kim Jong Un has approved final preparations for the launch.

Analysts say the satellite will improve North Korea’s surveillance capability, enabling it to strike targets more accurately in the event of war.

Kenya Signs Trade Agreement with Russia

Kenya’s government said on Monday it would sign a trade agreement to spur business cooperation with Russia, an announcement that came as Moscow sought to deepen its influence in Africa to counter the West’s efforts to isolate it over the war in Ukraine.

The Kenyan presidency made the

announcement following a meeting between President William Ruto and the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, who was visiting the capital, Nairobi.

The office of Kenya’s president said in a statement that trade between the two countries was “still low despite the huge potential” and that the pact would give businesses “the necessary impetus.” There was no timeline for when the agreement will be signed.

Lavrov arrived Monday in the East

African nation for a surprise visit, during which he was expected to discuss collaboration on several issues, including trade, education and cultural affairs, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry. Ruto also said that Kenya and the African continent were counting on Russia to support their bid to have a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

Lavrov’s trip was the latest tour that Russia’s top diplomat has made to Africa, part of his work to drum up support for

Moscow as it squared off with Western powers 15 months after the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

Over the past year, Lavrov has made official visits to various African countries to shore up Russian influence on the continent, including Egypt, Uganda, Eritrea and the Republic of Congo.

The Kenyan presidency said Lavrov was on his way to a meeting of the foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India and China — formally known as the

BRICS — who were meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. In Moscow, Lavrov has also recently received leaders from African countries, including Uganda and Somalia.

His trip also came just a week after Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, visited several African countries, including Morocco, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Mozambique, and implored African countries not to remain neutral over the war in Ukraine. Much of the continent has refrained from joining economic sanctions against Russia or condemning the invasion of Ukraine last year. (© The New York Times)

Son of Japan’s PM to Resign

This week, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that his son is resigning as his executive policy secretary to take responsibility for using the prime minister’s residence for a private party at which the merrymaking was exposed in magazine photos that triggered public outrage.

Shotaro Kishida, his father’s executive secretary for political affairs and eldest son, invited a group of people including relatives to a year-end party on December 30 at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence. But the revelry became public after photos were published in the weekly Shukan Bunshun magazine showing Kishida’s son and his relatives posing on red-carpeted stairs in an imitation of the group photos taken of newly appointed Cabinets, with his son at the center — the position reserved for the prime minister. Other photos showed guests standing at a podium as if holding a news conference.

“As secretary for (the prime minister’s) political affairs, a public position, his actions were inappropriate and I decided to replace him to have him take responsibility,” Kishida told reporters Monday night. He said his son will be replaced with another secretary, Takayoshi Yamamoto, on Thursday.

Although Kishida had reprimanded his son for the party, criticism from

opposition lawmakers and public outrage forced him to ask his son to step down.

Kishida appointed his son as policy secretary, one of eight secretary posts for the prime minister, in October. The appointment, seen as a step in grooming him as his heir, was criticized as nepotism, which is common in Japanese politics, long dominated by hereditary lawmakers. His son was previously his father’s private secretary.

This was not the first time Kishida’s son has come under fire for making use of his official position for private activities. He was reprimanded for using embassy cars for private sightseeing in Britain and Paris and for buying souvenirs for Cabinet members at a luxury department store in London when he accompanied his father on trips.

4 Kids Still Missing in Plane Crash

hopes that 13-year-old Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 9, Tien Ranoque Mucutuy, 4, and infant Cristin Ranoque Mucutuy survived. However, a massive search by hundreds of soldiers and indigenous scouts has so far been fruitless, more than four weeks since the crash.

Indigenous advocates have said the tragedy is a result of governmental negligence. Following news of the crash, the Organization of Indigenous People in the Colombian Amazon issued a statement accusing Bogota of failing to enforce safety checks and protocols for planes in the region. The organization’s president Julio Cesar Lopez said that he hoped for a congressional investigation that would prevent future tragedies.

The skies over the Amazon have seen many accidents. Of 641 accidents registered by Colombia’s civil aviation authority since 1996, 56, or 8.74% of the total, took place in the Amazon region, even though less than 2% of the Colombian population lives there.

Pilots working in the area must contend with aging planes and a wild terrain, experts say.

dangerous. Most settlements in the region are only accessible by plane.

Official Drains Reservoir to Save Phone

tually face disciplinary action.

Vishwas told The Indian Express that news reports of his phone-retrieval operation had been greatly exaggerated. He also said the Paralkot reservoir was not used for irrigation.

But Shukla, a district magistrate in the area, said local farmers did rely on it. “He will face consequences for draining the water, and this won’t be tolerated,” she added. (© The New York Times)

Record Migration Numbers in UK

Say you drop your brand-new smartphone into a reservoir while posing for a selfie during a picnic. Would you consider it lost and buy a replacement, or drain the reservoir to retrieve it?

An Indian official who chose the latter option has been suspended from his job. He is also facing the glare of the national news media in a drought-prone country where water is a precious commodity.

Three adults onboard a plane died in a crash in the Amazon on May 1. Since then, authorities have been searching for four Colombian children who were also on the plane. Only traces of the children have been found in the surrounding forests: a baby bottle, a makeshift shelter, a dirty diaper, and even what appeared to be small footprints.

These discoveries have fueled

The same plane that carried the four children had previously crashed two years prior, in 2021, due to an engine malfunction. It performed a controlled crash landing, causing considerable damage to the propeller, engine and one wing.

After being repaired, the plane crashed again on May 1 under similar circumstances, on a route with no good options for emergency landing.

Unfortunately, despite the considerable risks of flying in the Amazon, air travel is often the only way to get around, as few roads cross through the jungle and waterways are even more

The official, Rajesh Vishwas, 32, was picnicking with friends in central India on May 21 when he dropped his Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra into the Paralkot reservoir in Chhattisgarh state, where he lives. The $1,200 device is a new model, and Vishwas, a government food inspector, apparently decided that he had to have it back and claimed that it had official departmental data, according to Indian television station NDTV.

Initially, some villagers he knew spent two days diving in the reservoir in an attempt to retrieve the phone, Vishwas told The Indian Express newspaper. No luck. So he rented a diesel pump and drained about 3 feet of water — by some estimates, enough to irrigate 1,500 acres of farmland.

Vishwas later said he had received “oral permission” from R.C. Dhivar, an official at the local Water Resources Department, to drain 3 or 4 feet of water.

Priyanka Shukla, a top local official, said in an interview on Saturday that Vishwas had no authority to drain the water.

By the time Vishwas retrieved his phone this past week, it was unusable, according to reports in the Indian news media. And after word of his operation made headlines across the country, he was temporarily removed from his post for having “misused his position.”

Officials said they had asked Dhivar to explain his position on the episode, in writing, within two days. He could even-

Too many people are coming into Britain. Official figures on Thursday showed that net migration reached record levels last year, with 606,000 people – net – coming into the country. To break that down, around 1.2 million people arrived in 2022 and about half of that number of people left.

These numbers come despite pledges from successive Conservative governments to drastically reduce the numbers of people moving to the UK, particularly in the wake of Brexit – a rupture that was touted by its proponents as a necessary step for Britain to “take control” of its borders. The lifting of Covid restrictions and the war in Ukraine contributed heavily to the record numbers.

The vast majority of people arriving – 925,000 – were non-EU nationals, and around one in 12 of those were asylum seekers, included for the first time in the ONS’s annual release.

These numbers will force the hands of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his embattled Home Secretary Suella Braverman, both of whom have joined their predecessors in promising to reduce arrivals despite the strain on Britain’s public services, where key sectors like health care are marred by chronic staffing shortages.

The pair have sought to focus attention on refugees and asylum-seekers crossing the English Channel on small boats, rather than on overall migration, despite that route representing a tiny proportion of arrivals to the UK.

Ministers have been criticized by rights organizations and politicians across the political divide for their use of hardline rhetoric against those people, with Braverman controversially rallying against an “invasion” of migrants across the Channel.

Last week, Sunak told the BBC at the G7 summit that legal migration to the UK was “too high,” though he did not offer a specific plan to reduce it.

“What I would say is we’re considering a range of options to help tackle numbers of legal migration and to bring those numbers down – and we’ll talk more about that in the future,” Sunak said.

He has a long-touted promise to “Stop the Boats.” Arrivals of asylum-seekers on small, illegal vessels run by criminal trafficking gangs have soared in recent years and attracted widespread media coverage.

Snap Elections in Spain

pact. Legally, the parties have only until June 9 to apply to run on a joint ticket.

Although the Socialists’ overall vote share remained largely steady in the local and regional vote, the dire performance of United We Can across the country leaves the coalition with a questionable mandate to continue.

Sunday marked a new low of United We Can’s electoral performance since it won its first votes in a European election in 2014.

The party was founded by Spain’s precursor to the Occupy protest movement and was originally led by university professor Pablo Iglesias. Tackling the austerity politics imposed by the fallout from the 2008 financial crisis, United We Can promised policies drawn from grassroots activism and grew to become a national force. After joining the coalition government in 2019 with the Socialists, United We Can has focused on issues such as gender identity.

There are several complications with the new election date. A late July election is unprecedented in a Southern European country like Spain, when many will be on vacation away from their registered voting address and when political parties will be in the middle of negotiating alliances spurred by the local elections.

Belgium-Iran Prisoner Swap

In a surprise announcement, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for snap elections this week, breaking apart the coalition he built with the far-left United We Can party.

On Monday, Sánchez brought forward a national election expected in December to July 23 after the conservative Popular Party, or PP, and far-right Vox movement dramatically increased their vote share in local and regional elections on Sunday.

Sánchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, or PSOE, has led a minority government with United We Can since 2019, but arguments with his coalition partners have increasingly dominated headlines. United We Can’s leadership is also engaged in a separate feud with Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz, who has started her own political movement, Sumar.

Calling for earlier elections was a needed wakeup call for the feuding parties. United We Can’s leader, Ione Belarra, summarily announced a reboot of negotiations with Sumar on an electoral

Iran freed a Belgian aid worker imprisoned in Tehran for 455 days on charges of spying, in exchange for Belgium releasing a former Iranian diplomat who was convicted in 2021 of a thwarted bomb plot, officials from both countries said last Friday.

The aid worker, Olivier Vandecasteele, was flown late Thursday from Tehran to Muscat, the capital of Oman, where the exchange took place, Belgium’s prime minister, Alexander De Croo, said.

“At this moment, our compatriot Olivier Vandecasteele is on his way to Belgium,” De Croo said in a video address from Brussels, confirming that the government had secured Vandecasteele’s release. He added that Vandecasteele

had undergone medical examinations to assess his health after more than a year “under very difficult conditions.”

Vandecasteele had worked in Iran for five years until he lost his job in March 2021 and left the country. When he returned to retrieve some belongings in February of last year, he was arrested by Iranian authorities, who sentenced him to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes on charges of espionage, money laundering and currency smuggling. The Belgian government had called Vandecasteele’s imprisonment arbitrary.

In exchange for Vandecasteele being freed, Oman negotiated the release of Assadollah Assadi, an Iranian diplomat who was arrested in Germany in 2020 on accusations of plotting a bomb attack at a meeting of Iranian opposition leaders in France in 2018. The attack was thwarted, but he was later convicted in Brussels in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

In a statement posted to Twitter earlier Friday, Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, thanked the Omani government for brokering the exchange and sending Assadi, “the innocent diplomat of our country, who was illegally detained in Germany and Belgium for more than two years against international law,” back to Iran.

Belgium’s parliament approved a much-criticized treaty with Iran in July of last year that allowed for prisoner exchanges between the two countries. Critics of the treaty said that the country was surrendering to a form of blackmail from Iran, which puts foreigners more at risk of being taken hostage.

On Friday, Belgian authorities said they had not used the treaty in negotiating Vandecasteele’s release, according to the Belga news agency. Still, analysts say, Iran has made a practice of using Westerners as pawns. (© The New York Times)

Cholera in Kenya

refugees have been affected so far “and there is an imminent risk of outbreaks of other gastro-intestinal diseases.”

The Dadaab camps host more than 300,000 people, and with a worsening drought in neighboring Somalia, the numbers are on the rise, consequently straining water and sanitation services.

Plans are in the works to open another refugee camp to accommodate the overflow.

“All efforts to ease the overcrowding must include significant investment in the water, sanitation and hygiene sector to ensure a minimum standard of living for refugees in all the camps,” said Hassan Maiyaki, MSF country director in Kenya.

In 2016, the Kenyan government had announced plans to close down the Dadaab camps, citing insecurity because of reports that extremists from Somalia’s al-Shabab group were hiding there and the camps were a conduit for smuggling weapons.

The United Nations urged Kenya to reconsider that plan and continue to offer refuge to victims of violence and trauma.

The discussion on the closure has since then been on and off, with several ultimatums given to the UN refugee agency, the latest being in 2021.

Rav Gershon Edelstein, zt”l

for those who needed support and was the destination for those who needed guidance – whether in halacha, hadracha or even in Israeli politics. He told people to encourage and persuade their children as opposed to forcing their children to do what’s right.

Outside the charedi world, Rav Gershon was respected for promoting a peaceful coexistence and easing tensions between charedi and secular Jews in Israel.

HaRav Baruch Dov Povarsky spoke at the levaya, “Like Moshe Rabbeinu, Rabbi Edelstein did not want leadership, but accepted it when it was thrust upon him. His humility, devotion and wisdom are a guiding light for generations to come.”

Rav Gershon’s son, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Edelstein, recalled how his father didn’t share a chumra he had made for himself over Pesach “Our father did not want to pressure us, or anyone else, into devoutness. Make no mistake: He wanted us to be devout, but from within, not from without.”

Meir Tamari, Hy”d

past year, with the military carrying out near-nightly raids in the West Bank, in the wake of a series of deadly Palestinian terror attacks.

Herzog Heads to Azerbaijan

On Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of people joined in the levaya of HaRav Gershon Edelstein, zt”l, who passed away at the age of 100.

The levaya began in the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, which he led for the past 23 years. Rav Gershon was buried in the cemetery in Bnei Brak.

One of the gedolei hador, Rav Gershon was revered for his approach in chinuch and his humility. He was a beacon

Meir Tamari, 32, was shot and killed in an attack near Hermesh on Tuesday.

Tamari was driving when he was shot by someone in another passing vehicle. He managed to drive to Hermesh, which is west of Jenin, and then was treated by medics. Unfortunately, the father of two did not survive the multiple gunshot wounds.

The Israel Defense Forces said troops launched a manhunt for the gunmen, closing off several roads in the area.

The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror group, loosely linked to the Palestinian Authority’s ruling Fatah party, claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.

“We affirm that this operation and others will not be the final response to our martyrs,” the terrorist group’s statement read.

Tamari had moved to Hermesh four years ago after getting married to his wife, Tal. He is survived by Tal and their two young children, aged one and three.

Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have been elevated for the

While meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart in Baku on Tuesday, President Isaac Herzog stressed the threat that Iran poses to regional stability.

In his public remarks after the meeting, Herzog said he and Ilham Aliyev spoke in depth about “the entire global and regional security structure that is endangered and threatened by Iran.”

The Israeli leader added, “Visiting Azerbaijan is a dream come true for me and for my nation.”

For his part, Aliyev said that the March opening of Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tel Aviv created “more opportunities to have a closer interaction.”

Aliyev lauded the defense cooperation between the countries, saying that Baku “has access to modern Israeli equipment in this area for many years, which helps us to modernize our defense capability, and to be able to protect our statehood, our values, our national interest, and our territorial integrity.”

Israel is one of Azerbaijan’s leading arms suppliers. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Israel provided 69 percent of Baku’s major arms imports in 2016-2020, accounting for 17% of Jerusalem’s arms exports over that period.

Israel stepped up its weapons shipments to Azerbaijan during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan emerged victorious in that six-week war with Armenia, which claimed the lives of more than 6,000 soldiers and resulted in Baku regaining control over disputed territories.

Herzog’s visit is the latest step in an ongoing and very public expansion of bilateral ties with Azerbaijan, a Shiite-majority country closely allied with Turkey that has seen its partnership with Israel flourish in the wake of Israeli support during its 2020 conflict.

Thousands of refugees in Kenya have been affected by a cholera outbreak in the Dadaab refugees camps.

Doctors Without Borders, known by the French acronym MSF, said that 2,786

Azerbaijan is located on Iran’s northern border. Israel buys more than 30 percent of its oil from Baku. Aliyev said that he hopes for a more diverse trade between the two countries.

Herzog and his wife, Michal, were received by an honor guard at the Zugulba presidential palace, with the playing of Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikva.”

Israeli Dies When Boat Capsizes in Italy

Ten other Israelis survived the disaster and were taken home by a military plane.

Italian media reported that most of those on board were former or current intelligence personnel from at least two countries. Eighteen of the 20 survivors of the disaster were former or current agents and were hastily evacuated from hospitals and hotels “so as not to leave a trace,” according to the Italian reports.

Two of the other victims were Italians — a 62-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman — who both worked in the intelligence services, Italy’s security services said.

“The two employees, belonging to the intelligence department, were taking part in a convivial meeting organized to celebrate the birthday of one of the group,” it said in a statement.

The fourth victim was a 50-year-old Russian woman, the partner of the boat’s captain.

Yom Kippur War Website

intelligence material that preceded the war, which was submitted by Zeira to the official Agranat Commission appointed by the Israeli government to investigate the war and the failings that occurred in the lead-up to it.

It also includes information on the fall of the Israeli Hermon outpost to Syrian forces.

The date is October 12, 1973, and after being surprised by a ferocious Syrian and Egyptian multi-front attack six days beforehand, Israeli military chiefs met to plan a series of counter-strikes.

This is the dramatic story of the Yom Kippur War, as told by one of thousands of documents now available on a new, Hebrew-language website launched on Sunday by the Israeli Defense Ministry and Israel Defense Forces archives to mark 50 years since the war.

In total, the website contains 15,301 photographs, 6,085 documents, 215 videos, 40 audio recordings and 169 maps, reflecting battle zones, tactical and strategic considerations by decision makers and dramatic moments during the fighting.

The website “was set up in order to tell the story of the war’s generation, to commemorate the bravery of the soldiers, and to form an official state platform for providing a legacy of the war for future generations,” said the Defense Ministry. (JNS)

A tourist boat on Italy’s Lake Maggiore capsized over the weekend after it overturned in strong winds. Four people were killed in the incident, including a 50-year-old Israeli man who was a retired member of the Israeli security forc-

The deceased Israeli man became friends with the Italian officers after they became acquainted through their work, according to Hebrew-language media reports.

In terms of the scope of official documents available, the new site is the largest to date focusing on the Yom Kippur War, and also contains images, videos, audio recordings and testimonies.

A document marked “top secret” and dated October 12, 1973, includes protocols from a key discussion between IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. David (Dado) Elazar, Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Benny Peled, Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Eli Zeira and other senior military officials.

They discussed the forward positioning of IAF aircraft to enable them to attack Egyptian forces, and the need to begin striking deeper inside Egypt, beyond the Sinai battle zone.

The officers also discussed the need to interrogate a captive Egyptian battalion commander to get further intelligence before the strikes go ahead.

On October 14, dozens of IAF F-4 jets attempted to attack Egyptian air bases between Cairo and Alexandra and entered into an intense engagement with the Egyptian Air Force, in what became known as the air battle of Mansoura. The EAF Commander was Hosni Mubarak, who went on to become Egypt’s president. The EAF, despite sustaining losses, was able to force some of the Israeli jets to abort strikes on ground targets.

That same day, Egyptian helicopters landed 100 commandos in Sinai to attack in the Israeli rear, but an IDF reconnaissance unit engaged them rapidly, killing 60 and taking many others captive.

The new Defense Ministry website unveils for the first time most of the

Debt Ceiling Agreement

On Saturday, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy agreed on principle on a deal to raise the debt ceiling for the next two years and to cap spending, moving the nation one step back from the brink of a historic default. The two have until June 5 to sell the agreement to their sides. That date is when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the U.S. will no longer be able to pay its bills.

“After weeks of negotiations, we have come to an agreement in principle. We still have a lot of work to do but I believe this is an agreement in principle that is worthy of the American people,” McCarthy said during brief remarks to reporters.

“The agreement protects my and congressional Democrats’ key priorities and legislative accomplishments,”

RAV GERSHON’S LAST LETTER: FOR THE CAUSE OF SHAS YIDEN

In the last week of the Gadol Hador’s life, as the great light was preparing to ascent to Shomayim, Rav Gershon Edelstein, zt”l, who left this world at 100 years of age—following a century of Torah on this earth—he sat down to sign a letter on behalf of Shas Yiden which was so close to his heart.

It would be the last signature in his lifetime.

Rav Gershon alluded to the great Torah pillars of the past, Rav Meir Shapiro and the Ponovezher Rov, who established Torah for generations. He noted that the Pozna Ruv, Rav Avrohom Eisen, founder of Shas Yiden, has come to ‘seal’ their work by producing yungeleit who are ‘yodei haShas ve’haTorah.”

He continued with a Bracha for the continued success of the organization in all of its endeavors, as it continued to grow around the world.

With the passing of Rav Gershon, Shas Yiden has lost its leader and proponent who constantly encouraged its growth.

Kollel Shas Yiden network mourns along with the entire Klal Yisroel for this great

Biden said. “The agreement represents a compromise, which means not everyone gets what they want. That’s the responsibility of governing.”

If the deal ends up passing through Congress and being signed into law by Biden before that so-called “X date,” the White House and House Republicans will have avoided an unprecedented economic crisis. A default by the U.S. government, which has never happened, could spark a global recession and the loss of millions of jobs – a scenario that loomed over a last-minute rush of holiday weekend negotiations.

The two-year deal would also push the next fight over raising the debt ceiling until after the 2024 elections.

The agreement in principle will lift the debt limit for two years and roughly cap non-defense spending to current fiscal year levels for 2024 and increase it by 1% in fiscal year 2025. As part of the deal, the White House has also appeared to have made concessions to House Republican negotiators on work requirements for people receiving food stamps.

Building Collapse in Iowa

of service dogs in an attempt to locate victims within the structure, according to a press release from city officials.

Sarah Ott, the city’s chief strategy officer, said in a statement on Tuesday that city officials are “continually evaluating the timing of the demolition.”

“Demolition is a multi-phase process that includes permitting and staging of equipment that will begin today,” Ott said. “The building remains structurally insecure and in imminent danger of collapse.”

Members of the community organized a demonstration at the scene to protest the planned demolition, concerned that people may still be inside the rubble.

Sanctions for Counterfeit Pills

On Sunday afternoon, a building in Davenport, Iowa, partially collapsed. The building had housed 84 apartments – both residential and commercial. Now, the city is set to demolish the six-story building, even though some people are saying that their relatives are still missing.

The cause of the collapse is unknown.

More than a dozen people were evacuated from the building at the time and eight people were rescued in the 24 hours that followed. On Monday, officials said no deaths had been confirmed and there was no credible information that anyone was missing. But on Monday night, another victim was extracted from the debris.

Over 150 personnel have taken part in the “extensive rescue operations,” using thermal imaging, drones and a team

This week, the Biden administration sanctioned more than a dozen people and entities in China and Mexico that are linked to the production and distribution of counterfeit and fentanyl-laced pills.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 17 people and entities that are directly or indirectly involved in the sale of pill press machines, die molds, and other equipment used to impress counterfeit trade markings onto illicitly produced pills that are often laced with fentanyl.

The action was taken in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The designations target seven entities and six people based in China, and one entity and three people based in Mexico.

“Manufacturing illicit drugs in pill form requires a pill press machine, a controlled substance, and die molds — metallic pill press components bearing impressions that are punched onto pills,” the Treasury Department explained. “A die is fixed to a pill press machine in order to punch repeated impressions during pill mass production.”

“Treasury’s sanctions target every stage of the deadly supply chain fueling

the surge in fentanyl poisonings and deaths across the country,” Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement. “Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl constitute a leading cause of these deaths, devastating thousands of American families each year.”

Nelson said the Biden administration remains “committed to using all authorities against enablers of illicit drug production to disrupt this deadly global pro -

duction and counter the threat posed by these drugs.”

18 Years for Oath Keepers Leader

Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the farright Oath Keepers group, was sentenced on Thursday to 18 years in prison for his conviction on seditious conspiracy

charges for the role he played in helping to mobilize the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

The sentence, handed down in U.S. District Court in Washington, was the most severe penalty so far in any of the more than 1,000 criminal cases stemming from the Capitol events — and the first to be increased for fitting the legal definition of terrorism.

It was also the first to have been given to any of the 10 members of the Oath

Keepers and another far-right group, the Proud Boys, who were convicted of sedition in connection with the events of January 6.

At a dramatic, nearly four-hour hearing, Judge Amit Mehta chided Rhodes for seeking for years through his leadership of the Oath Keepers to have American democracy “devolve into violence.”

“You, sir,” Mehta went on, addressing the defendant, “present an ongoing threat and a peril to this country, to the Republic.”

Kathryn Rakoczy, one of the lead prosecutors in the case, said Rhodes exploited his talents and influence to goad his followers into rejecting the results of the 2020 election and ultimately mobilized them into storming the Capitol in two separate military-style “stacks” in a violent effort to keep then-President Donald Trump in office.

Rhodes, 58, gave a defiant address to the court, blaming the news media for demonizing the Oath Keepers for leading the Capitol events. He also compared himself to Soviet-era dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn and to the beleaguered main character in Franz Kafka’s novel “The Trial.”

“I am a political prisoner,” Rhodes said.

The hearing opened a week of sentencing proceedings for eight other members of the Oath Keepers who were convicted at two separate trials — in November and January — of charges that included not only seditious conspiracy but also the obstruction of a congressional proceeding to certify the 2020 election.

In the end, Mehta said he had imposed a harsh sentence because seditious conspiracy was “among the most serious crimes an individual in America can commit.” (© The New York Times)

12 Symptoms of Long Covid

In a study published on Thursday in the medical journal JAMA, researchers detailed a list of 12 symptoms that

can classify someone as having long Covid.

Census data suggests that 15% of U.S. adults experienced new or lasting symptoms months after their initial infections, a phenomenon scientists have dubbed postacute sequelae of SARSCoV-2 infection, or PASC. More than 200 symptoms have been reported by people with PASC or long Covid.

The twelve symptoms that researchers said defined long Covid include: Postexertional malaise, or the worsening of health after mental or physical activity; fatigue; brain fog; dizziness; gastrointestinal symptoms; heart palpitations; loss of or change in smell or taste; thirst; chronic cough; chest pain; and abnormal movements.

In addition to those symptoms, researchers also noticed other phenomena. For example, people were more likely to have long Covid if they were infected before the arrival of the Omicron variant: About 35% of people infected pre-Omicron met the definition of long Covid, versus about 10% of study participants who were infected with Omicron’s subvariants.

U.S. Population Getting Older

The World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define long Covid as any signs, symptoms or conditions that continue or develop after a Covid-19 infection.

Although that definition allows for people with a wide range of symptoms to be considered for treatment, it’s not very useful for research.

Among participants who were first infected during Omicron, long Covid was more likely to happen after a subsequent reinfection, a finding that validated earlier studies based on health records.

People were more likely to have long Covid if they were hospitalized with their infection and less likely to develop it if they were vaccinated.

The average age in the United States is now 39. That may sound young, but it used to be even younger as the U.S. population gets older with more aging adults and fewer children under the age of 5.

From 2000 to 2020, baby boomers and millennials – the largest age groups in the United States in 2020 –continued to age, and at the same time, from 2010 to 2020, smaller cohorts of children were born, according to data from the 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics released on Thursday.

Overall, the new data reveals that the median age of the U.S. population rose from 35.2 in 2000 and 37.2 in 2010 to 38.8 in 2020. By state, Maine

had the oldest median age, 45.1, in 2020, and Utah had the youngest, 31.3. Additionally, the population of adults 65 and older grew nearly five times faster than the total U.S. population in the past century, from 1920 to 2020, according to the Census data. That age group represented 16.8% of the total U.S. population in 2020. Despite the rising numbers, globally, while the share of the U.S. population that is 65 and older increased, the United States remains “relatively young” compared with many of peer high-income nations, according to the Census Bureau. Peer nations with the largest share of adults 65 and older are Japan, where that age group represented 28.5% of the population in 2020, followed by Italy at 22.6% and Greece at 22.4%.

DeSantis 2024

Ron DeSantis’ long-awaited official entry into the 2024 presidential campaign went haywire at its start last Wednesday during a glitch-filled livestream over Twitter.

Despite the problems, DeSantis, the 44-year-old Republican governor

of Florida, provides Donald Trump the most formidable Republican rival he has faced since his ascent in 2016. His candidacy comes at a pivotal moment for the Republican Party, which must choose between aligning once more behind Trump — who lost in 2020 and continues to rage about a stolen election — or uniting around a new challenger to take on President Joe Biden.

to lead our great American comeback.”

The extended social media hiccup — as more than 500,000 people were waiting — was gleefully cheered on the very platform DeSantis was supposed to be commandeering for his campaign. Donald Trump Jr. wrote a single word: “#DeSaster.” Biden posted a donation button to his reelection campaign with the words, “This link works.” The audience when DeSantis did deliver his remarks was smaller than it had been during the initial minutes when no one was speaking.

coming months.

“We must look forward, not backwards,” he said. “We need the courage to lead, and we must have the strength to win.” (© The New York Times)

Never Too Old

But on Wednesday, DeSantis’ official run for the White House got off to an embarrassing start as the planned livestream with Twitter’s billionaire owner, Elon Musk, was marred by technical problems and dead air. The audio cut in and out amid talk of “melting the servers,” hot mic whispering, and on-thespot troubleshooting.

When, after more than 25 minutes, DeSantis finally spoke, he declared, “I am running for president of the United States

Despite the inauspicious start Wednesday and having slipped well behind Trump in polls in recent months, DeSantis retains a host of strengths: a mountain of cash, a robust campaign operation, and a series of conservative policy victories in Florida after a landslide reelection triumph last fall. The governor, who rose to national prominence with his restriction-averse handling of the coronavirus pandemic, argues that his “Florida Blueprint” can be a model for reshaping the United States in a starkly conservative mold, especially on social issues.

DeSantis did not mention Trump by name. But he did sketch out some of the contrasts he is expected to sharpen in the

Sam Kaplan’s 99-year-old mother is really proud. Last month, Sam, 72, finally earned his undergraduate degree – more than five decades after he graduated high school.

While in cap and gown, Sam Kaplan became the first of his seven siblings to

earn a bachelor’s degree after receiving his diploma in Cinema and Media Arts from Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

His mother cheered on her son from the crowd as he crossed the stage for his graduation ceremony.

“She’s very excited,” the new graduate remarked about his mom. “She’s excited, happy and proud.”

After graduating high school, Kaplan ran a cleaning service and a telemarketing company. He also worked as a taxi driver and in customer service for electronic wholesale distribution. But college was not on his mind until he heard an ad for the college while driving.

“I was riding down 316 and heard on the radio that Georgia Gwinnett College was offering a degree that involved script writing,” he explained. “My car seemed to have developed automatic steering, and I pulled off on Collins Hill Road. Five minutes later, I was registering for the fall semester.”

He was 68 years old.

It wasn’t easy going back to school. The father of five took one day at a time, giving himself a daily quota of what he had to study.

Now, he can really say he earned his degree.

14-Legged Creature on the Menu

The restaurant steams the isopod for 10 minutes before adding it to the top of a bowl of ramen with thick chicken and fish broth. Each bowl costs 1,480 Taiwan dollars ($48).

Giant isopods – a distant cousin of crabs and prawns – are the largest among the thousands of species in the crustacean group. They are usually found about 186-2,340 yards deep in the ocean.

This particular creature is called the “Bathynomus jamesi” and was discovered near the Dongsha islands on the South China Sea.

Arts degrees in History, Social Sciences, Social Behavior and Self-Development Arts and Human Expression, and Science and Mathematics.

Adding to Hung’s achievements, he was elected as a Senator for Associated Students for the next upcoming year, when he plans to take new STEM classes at the college until he is ready to apply for universities.

of my quizzes and exams. However, after a while, I have shown a serious attitude toward my study; they all believe in my ability and determination to get good grades,” added Hung.

Hung was able to attend the school under the “special admit” program.

One professor said that “Clovis has been a great mixture of ‘kid’ and college student. He is mature enough that the other students take him seriously, but enough of a kid that they look after him like a younger brother and cheer him on.”

What’s crunchy and has legroom to spare? The newest offering on the menu at a ramen restaurant in Taipei.

Since The Ramen Boy launched the limited-edition noodle bowl on May 22, declaring in a social media post that it had “finally got this dream ingredient,” more than a 100 people have joined a waiting list to dine at the restaurant.

The special ingredient? A 14-legged giant isopod.

“It is so attractive because of its appearance – it looks very cute,” said the 37-year-old owner of the restaurant.

“As for the cooking method, we use the simplest way, steam, so there is no difficulty to process it.”

Despite the ickiness factor of this food, one customer was excited to have a taste.

“I am very honored to have this opportunity to taste it,” she said. Good luck getting it all down.

12 Years Old and Graduating College

Clovis Hung is the youngest person to graduate college in the United States. The 12-year-old received his degree from Fullerton College on May 20.

Hung graduated with five Associate of

Accomplishing this milestone took some time. Hung enrolled in college when he was nine years old, inspired by a 13-year-old who had attended college and had obtained four degrees.

“I feel proud of myself. Hard work has finally paid off,” Hung told his College’s newsletter.

“The first question the professors and classmates usually ask is how old I am. They are surprised at what I am doing here and always curious about the points

For now, Hung has his sights set on getting his pilot license in the next few years.

“I feel really proud of what I’ve accomplished so far,” he said. “I also just joined the Civic Air Patrol and hope to get my pilot license at age 16.”

As for longer-term goals, Hung told the college newsletter that he is looking into careers in commercial piloting, pediatric medicine, and aerospace careers. Maybe he’ll just do them all.

Did you know?

Butterflies

use their feet to taste.

Around the Community

YKLI Talmidim Visit New Square

This past week, the 7th grade talmidim at Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island had the unique opportunity to spend the day a little further upstate, near Monsey, in the distinctive community of New Square.

After davening Shacharis and eating breakfast in yeshiva, the boys took a private bus directly to the Skverer Bais Medrash, where they were greeted warmly by the various gabbaim and members of the Skverer kehillah. Our YKLI Manhig Ruchni, Rabbi Eliezer Feuer, prepared the boys before they entered a special session with the Skverer Rebbe, shlit”a. The Skverer Rebbe gave the boys guidance, preparing them in the short term for the yom tov of Shavuos and in the long term for life as Bnei Torah.

After the zechus of the audience with the Skverer Rebbe, both of our 7 th

grade Rabbeim, Rabbi Eisikovic and Rabbi Sherman, led their talmidim on foot through the quaint streets of New Square. As the boys were walking, a local Skverer chassid invited the Rabbeim and the boys into his home, so that he could be mekayem the mitzvah of hachnasas orchim with cold drinks and warm, welcoming words. What a beautiful, spontaneous experience!

The boys then continued on for a brief stop at the famous creek where the Skverer Chassidim recite Tashlich every year. After that, the boys went to the Bais Hachaim where they were able to daven at the kever of the previous Skverer Rebbe, the very founder of New Square, the first shtetl in the United States!

A beautiful highlight of the trip was the boys’ visit to the Tzitzis Maacher. The talmidim listened closely as the Tzitzis

Maacher carefully explained the halachos and kavanos necessary to produce tzitzis in the most mehudar fashion. The entire process of tzitzis was brought to life as the boys witnessed the full progression of a bundle of dirty sheep wool getting transformed into the davar she’b’kedusha of clean, fine, white tzitzis!

As a special treat, the boys were given a thoroughly enjoyable tour of Ostreicher’s bakery. The talmidim followed the detailed bakery process and enjoyed the delicious end-product as well through Mr. Ostericher’s famous generosity as he handed out freshly baked cookies, along with his trademark smile and warmth! Of course, no visit to Monsey would be complete without a special lunch at Chai Pizza, a staple of the Monsey community for years!

The boys settled back into their seats

on the bus to head to daven by more kivrei tzadikim, as Rabbi Feuer shared inspiring stories of the Ribnitzer Rebbe, the Skulener Rebbe, the Vizhnitz Rebbe, and Rav Mordechai Schwab, detailing the selfless lives these gedolim lived, as they spent each and every moment helping others at any cost.

As the boys headed back to yeshiva for Mincha, they reflected on both the wondrous simplicity and the intense complexity of Skver. After spending the day in the presence of such kedusha, the boys ended their trip with a wonderful display of good middos, leaving a clean bus, and thanking the bus driver. Shkoiach to the talmidim for finding every opportunity to be mekadesh shem Shamayim!

Davening at the Bais Hachaim

At the Tashlich spot in Skver

Meeting with the Skverer Rebbe

On the streets in Skver

At Ostreichers Bakery

The 7th grade talmidim

At the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Memorial Day Parade

Photos by Sharon Abeles and TJH Staff

YOSS Bachurei Chemed

Yeshiva of South Shore once again completed their year-round cycle of “Bachurei Chemed-Yedidei Hashem.” The program, developed by Rabbi Binyamin Kamenetzky, zt”l, was designed to celebrate talmidim who exemplify middos tovos, derech eretz and all around mentchlichkeit. Rabbeim take note of the boys who place extra effort in these areas and choose them monthly as Bachurei Chemed. They are then treated to a delicious pizza lunch with zeppoles and soda.

YOSS’s emphasis on refining middos and derech eretz allows the talmidim

BYAM Goes Bowling...and Skating

to refine themselves with concrete goals and clear expectations. May all of our Bachurei Chemed continue to progress in becoming gedolim in middos tovos!

The students at BYAM are constantly kept on their toes, sometimes literally! Last week, they enjoyed fun excursions to celebrate their successful walkathon, where the girls walked to

raise money for their school. The first through fifth grade enjoyed bowling at Bowl 360, while the sixth through eighth grade enjoyed a fun morning ice skating in Long Beach.

Mrs.  Weingot Speaks at BYAM in Honor of Shavuos

The junior high at BYAM was given a glimpse of high-level, inspirational learning, when they were treated to a shiur to a shiur by beloved TMM teacher Mrs. Weingot. She helped prepare them for Shavuos by reminding them that Hashem is present in every

aspect of their lives, both the good and the seemingly bad. She taught them that in the Aseres Hadibros it says “Anochi Hashem Elokecha,” in the singular, since He is the Hashem for everyone individually and that He always believes in you!

Hespedim at Yeshiva Darchei Torah on Maran Rav Gershon Edelstein, zt”l

Celebrating the Learning, Reviewing and Retaining of Another Masechta

Thousands of Lomdei Oraysa Around The World Celebrate Siyum on Maseches Pesachim

Thousands of Lomdei Oraysa and their families gathered on Tuesday, May 23, in numerous locations around the world to celebrate a momentous siyum and the kinyan of the complex and challenging masechtah of Pesachim.

The magnitude of the event was captured by Rav Moshe Brown, shlita, Rov of Agudas Yisroel of West Lawrence and Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, who proclaimed, “15,000 people learned the entire masechta b’iyun! We can’t even begin to grasp what that means!”

The largest siyum on Pesachim was held in Lake Terrace Hall in Lakewood, where, in addition to thousands of Lakewooders in attendance, people traveled in from communities far and wide to be a part of this momentous event. Two other central siyumim took place in Bnei Brak and in Harrogate, U.K., with smaller siyumim held in communities around the United States, Europe, and Eretz Yisroel with the participation of leading Gedolei Yisroel and Roshei Yeshiva. Some of the locations to host siyumim included London, Passiac, Toronto, Cleveland, Flushing, Five Towns, Waterbury, Boston and Baltimore.

At all of the siyumim, the excitement was palpable as the scores of dedicated men who are part of the Oraysa Amud V’Chazara program gathered for this shared simchas haTorah. The incredibly spirited dancing at the siyumim vividly displayed the joy, enthusiasm and sipuk hanefesh the thousands of lomdim have found in their learning.

People from all walks of life – balabatim, Kollel men, rabbanim, and marbitzei Torah – all joined hands as they shared in the joint celebration that comes with being part of such a massive Torah movement and of reaching such a remarkable milestone in their own limud haTorah.

Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Lakewood Mesivta, expressed the feelings of many when he described Oraysa as “a yeshiva of Klal Yisroel.”

He quoted the Bais Halevi, who explains that the Torah itself rejoices when a member of Klal Yisroel finishes a masechta. He then proclaimed, “Tonight, we celebrate a great simcha as thousands upon thousands of men from across the

length and breadth of world have been zoche to be mesayem Maseches Pesachim. It’s not just a yom tov for one yeshiva. Since Chaburas Oraysa is a yeshiva of Klal Yisroel, therefore the simcha is for all of Klal Yisroel.”

He added, “The Medrash Tanchuma tells us that when Kal Yisroel is b’simcha, Hashem is mesamayach with us. So, there is no doubt that the Shechinah is here with us tonight and is being mesameyach with all of us at this gevaldige simcha.”

That feeling of simcha permeated the halls where the siyumim were held and was clearly felt by all those in attendance.

One Lomed Oraysa shared the sentiment felt by thousands of others by affirming that “Oraysa has changed my life. It has given me a sense of satisfaction in my learning that I never felt to such an extent before. It has allowed me to literally ‘own’ masechtos and know them well from cover to cover. I never realized that this was possible before joining Oraysa.”

Another related that one aspect of Oraysa that he finds truly amazing is the fact that wherever one travels, one can find chaburos of men toiling over the same amud and gaining a thorough understanding of the sugya

Indeed, since its inception just a few years ago, Oraysa has taken the Torah world by storm and has created a worldwide movement that is changing the landscape of limud haTorah in communities everywhere through its innovative format that calls for lomdim to study one amud a day, 5 days a week, in a thorough manner, simultaneously undertaking a scheduled chazarah program of what they are learning so that they reach a level of clarity in all of the material.

Pesachim is the fourth Masechta completed by Oraysa following Brachos, Shabbos, and Eruvin. With the start of each new masechta, more and more men have joined and more and more chaburos have been founded in communities

worldwide. In Lakewood alone, there are tens of Oraysa chaburos, with new chaburos forming regularly, and similar chaburos now flourish in cities like Baltimore, Cleveland, Waterbury, Chicago, L.A., Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Toronto, Montreal, Atlanta, Boca Raton, Boston, Chicago, and many more, as well as many in Brooklyn, Passaic and Monsey, the Five Towns, and additional branches throughout Eretz Yisroel, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Gibraltar, Panama, and other international locations.

“The program of reviewing the previous day’s amud each day, plus having Friday and Shabbos dedicated to chazarah, allows me to retain all 2-and-a-half blatt learnt each week,” said another Oraysa participant. “I really get a tremendous sense of accomplishment and a feeling that I have learned, understood and mastered the Gemara.”

He added that the many tools provided by Oraysa, including the excellent shiurim available by phone or on the Oraysa website, the comprehensive Yalkut Oraysa booklets of mareh mekomos and explanations, and the handy daily calendar, are all of great help to reach the ultimate goal of being koneh the masechta.

Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita, spoke passionately about mehalech halimud and the importance of both covering ground and understanding a sugya b’iyun. He proclaimed that “Chaburas Oraysa has been zoche to bring back the crown of Torah as it used to be.”

Following the siyum, the huge crowd broke out into joyous spontaneous dancing as everyone soaked in the excitement of the moment.

Rav Yeruchim Olshin, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Bais Medrash Govoha, then started the first amud of Maseches Rosh Hashanah and delivered short divrei bracha.

The Nasi of Oraysa, Rav Noach Isaac Oelbaum, shlita, Rov of Khal Nacha-

las Yitzchok of Queens and mechaber of many well-received sefarim, capped off the program with his moving words. Amongst his words, he proclaimed, “I am standing here this evening and witnessing kavod hatorah Thousands of Yidden all came together to celebrate the kavod and beauty of Torah. When the malachim said, ‘T’nu hodcha l’Shomyaim’, this is what they wanted. This is what the angels were envious of. But the malachim cannot have this kavod. Only those who learn Torah can experience this level of kavod haTorah.”

Rav Oelbaum praised R’ Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz, who holds a crucial leadership role in Oraysa and is helping to spread its presence across the globe in order to make it easily accessible to everyone.

The festive evening concluded with a lively and inspiring kumzitz led by Avrohom Mordche Schwartz, with the community at large and many bochurim joining the lomdim in their simcha Lomdei Oraysa are now set to begin Masechtas Rosh Hashana, which will, in fact, be completed in mid-Elul, just in time for Rosh Hashanah 5784! It is certain that the siyumim on Maseches Rosh Hashanah will be even more vibrant and massive, and the effects of the explosion of limud haTorah brought about through Oraysa will continue to reverberate and be amplified throughout the Torah world as the lomdim meticulously make their way through the rest of Shas.

For anyone thinking of joining and becoming part of this massive Torah movement, the start of Masechtas Rosh Hashana is a great time to get on board and to benefit from all Oraysa has to offer to those with a strong desire to learn, retain and know Shas! For more information or to set up or join a shiur or chaburah in your neighborhood, please contact Oraysa at 914.8.ORAYSA or email info@ oraysa.org.

At the siyum in the Five Towns

Dancing at the siyum in Lakewood

The Art Gallery at HANC

The auditorium in HANC’s Early Childhood Center in West Hempstead dazzled as the four-year-old Nursery Bet children eagerly escorted their families to see their beautiful artwork on display. The Art Gallery Event was the culmination of a thorough study of some of the greatest artists in the world. Each class studied the artist’s life, examined many of their creations in order to gain a sense of their artistic style, and their teachers demonstrated how these magnificent masterpieces were created using a multitude of materials and techniques. This exploration of art led them to the artistic worlds of Henri Matisse, Vasily Kandinsky, Georges Seurat, Yaacov Agam, Marc Chagall, Georgia O’Keefe, Jackson Pollock, and Vincent Van Gogh, just to name a few.

As the students were studying the artists, they created their own masterpieces in the style of their designated artist. Using pastels, crayons, paint, and cut-up pieces of paper, the children replicated famous masterpieces like Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Seurat’s pointillism

5TLL Week 8

The 5TLL regular season by FM Home Loans is winding down as the competition is heating up! The boys displayed some incredible offensive firepower this past Sunday, as well as some incredible walk-off finishes! Yehuda Jacobson, Yoni Gindoff, Malachi Cohen, and the Putter Boys won our Social Media Challenge this past week, winning free Mets tickets sponsored by Maidenbaum and a pair of custom 5TLL shoes by Moshe Silver. The Maidenbaum swag did not stop as all the boys received Maidenbaum pens.

K/P Baseball & Soccer Highlights

K/P Baseball: These boys may be little, but they continue to show incredible improvements in their skills led by our dedicated, amazing volunteer coaches. The boys are really getting a feel for the game as they embark on their 5TLL baseball careers.

K/P Soccer: It was an all-around great team game for Maidenbaum Sunday. Led by Baruch Schreier, they scored 5 goals in their win over Wieder Orthodontics.

1st/2nd Soccer: Avi Halpern scored with no time remaining to tie up the game.

paintings, and Jackson Pollock’s splatter paintings. In Morah Temira’s class, the children created sculptures from recycled materials such as cups, bottle caps, cereal boxes and pizza boxes. Using their fertile imagination, they created amazing sculptures that included great detail.

Adding to the ambiance of the art gallery, the guests were delighted to enjoy all of the art-related special treats. The children filled their art palette plates with fancy fruit cups, each one in a different color of the rainbow. They also enjoyed some rice crispy treats that were shaped like paint brushes and were drizzled with different primary colored icing. Lined up on the sparkling table were champagne flutes, filled with apple juice, to add a sense of elegance to the evening. Throughout the room, delighted parents and grandparents could be seen taking pictures of their budding artists in front of their masterpieces, and from the looks on their faces, it was evident that all of the siblings that attended were very proud of their little brothers and sisters as well.

The most fascinating experience for the children was studying the artist, Cristoforo Scorpiniti, who illuminated his artwork through black light. The children’s faces and expressions were priceless as they realized what art was all about, expressed by Early Childhood

Director, Trudy Rubinstein.

HANC is so proud of these extraordinarily talented children who, with incredible creativity and skill, created artwork that defies their young age. We can’t wait to see what they will be creating next.

Minors (1st-3rd) Baseball Highlights

1st Grade: Gavriel Portnoy hit a MONSTER 2-run blast as Built by Nate defeated Stone Group in a high scoring battle 20-16. Yisroel Zev Abraham hit a GRAND-SLAM as Shana B. Interiors poured it on, scoring 23 runs in their victory over Island Roofing. Momo Rosenthal homered for Wieder Orthodontics as they defeated Town Appliance 13-9.

Built by Nate beats Stone Group 20 to 16. Gavriel Portnoy MVP with a monster 2 run blast.

2nd Grade: Yitzi Langer had a pair of clutch hits as Westwood Realty stormed back to defeat Nojo Promo. Shua Olshon had himself a day – belting 2 homeruns & 3 triples as Island Roofing defeated Marciano Pediatric Dentistry 17-8.

3rd Grade: Yosef Wielgus hit a MAMMOTH home-run to lead Traditions to a close 9-7 victory over Extreme Vent Cleaning. Avraham Olshan hit in the tying run, capping off a 4 run rally to tie the game for ARG in the last inning.

Majors (4th & up) Baseball Highlights

4th Grade: Yehoshua Sonnenblick

was the difference maker, as he hit a 3-run Homerun in Evolve Design Group’s 12-9 win over Built By Nate. Down 3-1 in the final inning, Shmaya Weinberger hit a walk-off 3-run bomb to give Town Appliance the 4-3 victory over Westwood Realty. Shalom Goring notched in a pair of runs as CG Flooring defeated Wieder Orthodontics 5-4.

5th Grade: Moshe Shlomo Gold showed off his gold-glove, helping Posh Home + Bath defeat Carving Block 18-4.

6th Grade: Aryeh Stern drew some inspiration from Elon Musk, sending out 2 Rocket Blasts Sunday as BayRock Insurance beat Marciano Pediatric Dentistry 11-6.

7th/8th Grade: Moshe Blumstein

broke the game open as Wieder Orthodontics defeated the undefeated Elegant Lawns 10-6. Posh Home + Bath won on a walk-off Walk 4-3 over JNT.

5TLL Game of the Week: Posh Home + Bath entered their final at-bat down by 5 runs, but they crawled their way back, scoring 5 runs to tie the game at 11 apiece. In the bottom of the last inning, Elite Cares put runners on base for Netanel Goldman who, down to his last strike, hit a solid line drive into the outfield to drive in the game-winning run. Asked after the game who inspired him to be great, Netanel responded, “Coach Kohn.”

Rambam Wins Yeshiva League Robotics Competition

By Menachem Lotwin

This past Sunday, the Rambam Rambots headed off to Frisch for their final Robotics competition of the year in the Annual Yeshiva League Robotics Competition!

Past competitions throughout the First Tech Challenge (FTC) 2022 - 2023 season saw the Rambots compete in several qualifiers and even make it to the Long Island FTC Regional Championships, where they had placed 6th out of the 24 participating teams. The competition, however, still loomed large: the Rambots not only had to play teams outside of their region, but also a few who

had qualified and performed well in their respective regional championships.

What wasn’t different was the format of play; Powerplay, the game setting for the FTC 2022 - 2023 season, saw a 2v2 format where each team would remotely operate a robot with the goal of placing cones on as many junctions as possible.

This time around, the Rambots played against Frisch, Ramaz, MTA, and Magen David in a round-robin that saw the teams face off in the Powerplay format. The Rambam team emerged victorious in all four matches of play, winning the competition with a record of 4-0! Congrats to the Robotics team, and let’s go Rambots!

Members of Yismach Moshe on Memorial Day

HANC High School Graduation Honorees

The Hebrew Academy of Nassau County is proud to announce the Class of 2023 Valedictorian and Salutatorians. Principal Rabbi Eli Slomnicki proudly remarked, “We take great pride that all three honorees have benefited from a complete K-12 HANC education! Our valedictorian, Adina Lippman, has distinguished herself in her scholarship both in General Studies and Limudei Kodesh, synthesizing passion for 21st century learning with a strong pursuit of the sciences and Torah exemplifying an ideal HANC student. Co-salutatorians Ariela Haftel and Yaron Rahmani are Torah U’madda scholars. Their commitment to Torah lishma along with the pursuit of general knowledge sets a tone of aspiration for their peers.”

Adina Lippman, Valedictorian of the Class of 2023, is a testament to hard work and dedication of the highest caliber, fueled not simply by the prospect of achievement, but rather, by a burning desire to discover new things.

In addition to taking the most rigorous courses offered in both General and Limudei Kodesh at HANC, Adina earned an internship at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in conjunction with her fulltime senior year academic program. Adina relishes any opportunity to further her passion for research, dedicating two consecutive summers in science research labs, including an internship at the Weizmann Institute in Israel. Adina has the rather unique ability to not only absorb the concepts of molecular biology, but explain it, eloquently, in practical terms to others. She participated in a presentation of research data compiled on the influences of pregnancy hormones on normal mam-

mary tissue versus tumor mammary cells. Adina has expressed that the cancer gene is something that she would like to further explore at the collegiate level.

Adina’s devotion in and out of the classroom has earned her numerous accolades. She is Co-President of the National Honor Society, an AP Scholar with Distinction, a National Merit Commended Student, and an Honor Roll student. She was the recipient of the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award for outstanding achievement in science and the recipient of the Nechama Leibowitz Passion for Education Award. She was also a National finalist two years in a row in the Chidon Hatanach Competition. Additionally, Adina is a seasoned poet, winning numerous distinctions in poetry, most notably, earning the National Silver Medal Award in Scholastic Art and Writing, as well as, the Regional Gold Key Award by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.

In addition to her academic accomplishments, Adina has held leadership positions on many clubs including serving as Co-Captain on HANC’s competitive Mathletes, Torah Bowl, and College Bowl Teams, and Co-Chairperson of the PreMed Society. She is the Editor in Chief of the Yearbook and Co-Founder of the Poetry Club. Through it all, Adina maintains a high degree of empathy and devotion to service, volunteering to tutor others in the Peer Tutoring program at HANC and volunteering at the Lawrence School District Meal Distribution during the pandemic.

Adina will begin studying Molecular & Cellular Biology this Fall at Harvard University.

Yaron Rahmani, Co-Salutatorian and recipient of the Nassau County District

Attorney SHIELD award, embodies the core qualities of the award: Service, Honesty, Integrity, Excellence, Leadership, and Duty.

Yaron is committed to the service of others as he is deeply involved in his shul, laining each week and leading the infrastructure of the minyan. Yaron is also the President of the HANC Sephardic minyan, humbly tutors his peers in academic subjects, and distinguishes himself in Israel advocacy. In recognition of going above and beyond the local community service requirement, Yaron was a yearly recipient of the Community Service Silver award.

A look at Yaron’s transcript is but one piece of evidence to demonstrate his excellence. Yaron constantly challenged himself with the most difficult course offerings in both general and Judaic studies, graduating having taken 10 AP courses and being named an AP Scholar with Distinction in addition to his Honor Roll accomplishments. Yaron also represented his classmates as a Student Senator and was inducted into the National Honor Society where he served as Historian. He is the founder of the Environmental Club and Chairperson of the Israel Action Committee. On a broader scale, Yaron was an Executive Board member for Yeshiva Israel Advocacy Coalition, demonstrating his leadership by promoting programming for hundreds of students across the country. His grace, motivation, and desire to help those in need, sets him apart and makes him a worthy role model.

The final component, duty, is one that Yaron does not shy away from. Eager to pursue a career in the medical field, he has interned at a dental office, shadowed for a cardiologist and worked as a counselor at a local camp. He feels an obligation to be an outstanding contributing member of society.

After spending next year at Yeshivat Shaarei Mevaseret Zion in Israel, Yaron plans to study Biology at the Macaulay Honors College at Queens College.

Co-Salutatorian Ariela Haftel is an exceptional student with a stellar academic

record known for her flexible, dynamic approach to the world around her. At her core is creativity, empathy, insight, and maturity bolstered by a desire to be a lifelong learner with a calm and cool approach and refreshing wit.

Ariela is a shining star in her Limudei Kodesh studies, earning nothing less than 100 in every single one of her Judaic courses since freshman year. She was a National Finalist in the Chidon HaTanach competition finishing in the top 5. Ariela was selected for HANC’s newly conceived New Opportunities Program (NOP) Tefillah Initiative for her ability to teach davening and mentor freshmen who are still acclimating. She also consistently contributes meaningful divrei Torah to Midrashei HANC. A true academic, Ariela combines her love of Torah with the most rigorous course load of Honors, Scholars, and AP level courses offered, including the Beit Midrash Program. Her hard work and dedication earned her an induction into the National Honor Society in Spring 2022 and recognition as an AP Scholar with Distinction, as well as, an Honor Roll student. Ariela is also a recipient of the Yeshiva University Torah U’Maddah Book Award.

Ariela is a demonstrated leader and active member of the community. Serving as Captain of the Girls’ Torah Bowl Team, she was an integral force behind advancing the group to the Championship round. Alongside Captain of the Debate Team and Chairperson of the Israel Action Committee, Ariela also served as the Editor in Chief of the Yearbook. She spends a great deal of time giving back to her classmates and the community serving as the Secretary of Logistics at Plainview NCSY.

In her spare time, Ariela can be found at the pool, serving as Captain of the Mid Island Y JCC Dolphins Swim Team for which she has been involved with for the past 8 years, and as a lifeguard at various camps.

After a year at Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim, Ariela will be double majoring in Jewish Education and Business in the Honors Program at Yeshiva University.

Yaron Rahmani, Co-Salutatorian

Ariela Haftel, Co-Salutatorian Adina Lippman, Valedictorian

HAFTR Middle School Hosts Captivating Country Fair

MAY’s Annual Immanuel Warshawsky, a”h, Spring Shabbaton

HAFTR Middle School came alive with vibrant colors, cultural displays, and enthusiastic students on Monday, May 15, as the Country Fair took place. The fair served as the culmination of a year-long project undertaken by the school’s sixth-grade students, who delved into the geography, government, religion, culture, and history of various countries around the world.

Months of meticulous research and exploration paved the way for an educational and entertaining event, where students proudly showcased their findings and shared their newfound knowledge with fellow students, teachers, and parents. The fair provided a platform for students to bring their countries to life through engaging presentations and eye-catching displays.

The students’ dedication and hard work were evident in the beautifully crafted brochures that accompanied each display. These informative brochures offered visitors a glimpse into the unique

aspects of each country.

One of the best aspects of the fair was the personal touch brought by the students. Many of them chose to dress up in traditional attire of their country. Some even brought cherished items passed down through their families.

For some students, the choice of country was deeply rooted in their family background, allowing them to forge a stronger connection with their heritage. Others embraced the opportunity to explore countries purely out of curiosity.

HAFTR Middle School’s Country Fair was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impression on students, teachers, and visitors alike. The event showcased the boundless potential of young minds and emphasized the importance of fostering a global perspective from an early age. Through projects like these, HAFTR Middle School continues to inspire a generation of lifelong learners, fostering curiosity, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the world we all share.

Last Shabbos was particularly noteworthy for the talmidim of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov. The Mesivta held its annual Spring Shabbaton at the beautiful campus of Camp Romimu in Monticello, NY. The Shabbaton was a resounding success, full of tremendous growth in ruchniyus, achdus, ahavas Hashem and ahavas haTorah.

From start to finish, the Shabbaton was an inspiring and exciting weekend. Following Shacharis on Friday morning it was off to the buses for a fun-filled, inspirational, action-packed Shabbos!

Before Kabbolas Shabbos, the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, set the tone for Shabbos, illustrating the ko’ach of Shabbos and imploring talmidim to open their minds and their hearts to what this special Shabbos had to offer. The lively Kabbalas Shabbos, with enthusiastic singing and dancing, was a fitting hakdamah to what would end up being an incredible Shabbaton.

The Mesivta invited Rabbi Yisroel Shteinwurtzel, RA”M at Yeshivas Sh’or Yoshuv. Rabbi Shteinwurtzel, who addressed the talmidim multiple times throughout the Shabbos, captivated them with his signature style, spreading warmth, positivity and ideas for growth and development, into his drashos.

As per MAY tradition, Shabbos kib -

budim were auctioned off for hours of voluntary learning over the course of the long weekend. This learning program is dedicated l’ilui nishmas Immanuel Warshawsky, A”H, an alumnus of the Yeshiva. All-in-all, students committed to over 250 hours of independent learning and honored their rabbeim with the kibbudim. The sheer amount learning throughout the Shabbos, both formally and informally, was a testament to the talmidim’s growh this z’man.

Motzei Shabbos included the annual varsity vs. junior varsity softball game and a beautiful Melava Malka BBQ. The achdus and comradery among the talmidim and their rabbeim was incredible!

The

Mesivta thanks Rabbi Shlomo Drebin for organizing the Shabbaton and Rabbi Shlomo Pfeiffer and Camp Romimu for hosting once again.

Rav Shloime Mannes, shlita, from Beitar speaking to Yeshivas Nishmas Hatorah about mesiras nefesh for Torah

SKA Presents Magic Mentor Projects

Now in its sixth year, the MAGIC Mentoring Program of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls has been an enormous success. Each year, SKA students in grades 9-12 have been matched with women who have been successful in professional STEM careers and serve as mentors throughout the year. These productive relationships have resulted in the students learning a tremendous amount, in different scientific disciplines. Using their new skills, knowledge and passion, the girls completed unique, authentic projects that are incredibly sophisticated for high school students.

This year, eight students participated in the program and worked with mentors, seven of whom are SKA alumna, on their projects which were presented on Monday, May 22. They are:

Gabriella Cukier (9th Grade) who worked with her mentor, SKA alumna

Sabrina Hirsch, on AllerRecipes: Where Taste Meets Your Dietary Needs;

Shani Geisler (9th Grade) who worked with her mentor, SKA alumna

Arielle Himmelstein Schwartz, on DNA Sequencing;

Nava Hurwitz (10th Grade) who worked with her mentor, SKA alumna

Rivka Axelrod, on her Magic Hearing Impaired Blog;

Talya Lippman (11th Grade) who worked with her mentor, SKA alumna

Leora Spitz Landesman, on Finding the Fluorescence;

Malky Mintz (9th Grade) who worked with her mentor, Leah Einhorn, on SalesAI;

Daphna Steinmetz (10th Grade) who worked with her mentor, SKA alum-

na Devory Leibowitz, on Startups in the Medical Imaging Sector;

Yael Szlafrok (12th Grade) who worked with her mentor, Dr. Amelia Halac, on Epigenetic Effects of Psychological Stress on the Kidney;

Avtalya Teitelbaum (10th Grade) who worked with her mentor, SKA alumna Aviva Beiler Oppenheim, on Never Gonna Let You

HAFTR Middle School Power of Story Event

Over the course of the year, HAFTR Middle School eighth grade students have been busy working on what has now been named the “Power of Story” Capstone Project. Under the leadership of Principal Mr. Joshua Gold, Associate Principal Dr. Yali Werzberger, and faculty advisors Ms. Rebecca Zweibon and Mrs.Jennifer Boccia, students embarked on a year-long endeavor that they have called “life-changing.”

Mr. Joshua Gold explained that the idea for the program came from research conducted at Emory University that identified a correlation between knowing one’s family story and grit and resilience. To that end, all students researched and

learned about their unique family history, heritage, and story. Along with eighth grade Social Studies teacher Ms. Zweibon, students learned that family stories do not exist in a vacuum, and the historical context of the times greatly shapes each person’s life and story. In addition to interviewing family members in person and over the phone to learn more about their heritage, students also visited websites, museums, and communities to learn more about the historical background that shaped their ancestor’s lives. Students then examined the values that are central to their family, and the values that they have learned at HAFTR. Lively and thought-provoking conver-

sations about the importance of values then followed, and students thought about the person they want to be and the life they want to lead, based on the values that are central and meaningful to them. With the guidance of eighth grade ELA teacher, Mrs. Boccia, students then crafted and wrote a speech, using vivid imagery and powerful prose, to tell their family story, share the values they learned at home and at HAFTR, and discuss how their heritage and values will guide them on the path to becoming the person they want to be and the best version of themselves.

Dr. Yali Werzberger then ran a public speaking seminar, teaching all eighth graders the fundamentals of effective public speaking. Students then practiced and perfected their speeches, and all students gave their speeches to their classmates, inspiring each other. Students and faculty were moved and impressed by the students’ public speaking skills, powerful delivery, family stories, and values. It was heartwarming to listen to students speak about what this project meant to them and how it will shape them in the future.

Students, their families, and the HAFTR Middle School faculty all celebrated together at the Power of Story culminating event, with Isabella Scheer welcoming families, and Max Levine introducing three students, Landon Glicksman, Pia Erber, and Mark Czeisler, who

Down Airplane.

The MAGIC students shared their excitement with the program, noting how diligently the mentors worked with them and how much they learned over the year. Our thanks go to Dr. Chana Glatt, SKA Science Department head and the MAGIC mentors for this remarkable program.

shared their speeches with the audience. Sophia Grossman then introduced the video that showed clips of each student’s speech. Everyone watched spellbound as students told stories about family members who escaped countries due to persecution and built successful businesses from scratch. The video also highlighted the many values, such as integrity, compassion, and vision that are important for students, and the goals they have for themselves now, and in the future.

Annie- Rose Lent then welcomed families to view the photo gallery, where each student submitted a photo of the family member they studied, along with text highlighting the meaningful impact this person had on the family and student’s values.

Reflecting on this project, Dr. Yali Wezberger remarked, “It was fascinating to listen to how so many family stories involved people with a certain goal and life path, and by no fault of their own, due to life circumstances, those plans had to change. Our students spoke with pride about how their ancestors did not respond to these circumstances with resignation and despair. Instead, they persevered, and with grit and resilience, built a new life and a new story.”

We thank Ms. Alyson Jacobs, Mrs. Rinat Balsam and Mrs. Devora Krakauer for their work on the video and Rabbi David Lamm, Ian Taub and Joe Walls for their technical support of the evening.

Dr. Chana Glatt, Nava Horowitz, Daphna Stern, Yael Szafrock, Avtalya Teitelbaum, Talya Lippman, Malky Mintz, Shani Geisler, and Gabriella Cukier

Camp Scholarship Fund

Recently, students from HAFTR HS joined The Camp Scholarship Fund, which is a campaign of the Matzliach Organization, for a Bowl-AThon. It was held at Woodmere Lanes and was attended by about 128 students as their end-of-year trip. The kids bowled, had some snacks and pizza, and had a blast! Thanks to the sponsors from our local stores, Crawfords, Coffee Bar and Barbacoa Artisanal Burger House, the raffle prizes were amazing. There was lots of ruach and achdus and a fan-

tastic time was had by all.

TCSF was started in our local community for our local community eight years ago by two siblings, Channa Shira (Ryback) Schik and Shmaryahu Ryback. Summer camp is an essential part of a child’s social, emotional and spiritual development, and no child should be left out. Unfortunately, not everyone in our community can afford summer camp. This organization is proud to say that it has helped hundreds of children go to camp.

BJX Brings Matan Torah to Every Jew

By Tzvi Klein

BJX is a kiruv movement that is bringing back Acheinu Bnei Yisroel. Look no further than the Yom Tov of Shavuos to see what they accomplish. BJX was packed with close to two hundred Yidden of all backgrounds. It’s true that they had a professional party planner and waiter who ensured that everything ran smoothly – that there was bountiful desserts and refreshments to keep everyone satisfied for the learning – but what is the secret sauce of BJX’s success? Was it the large Viennese table? No. It’s the Torah that they teach and how they teach it. Young professionals and college students had the sincerest and deepest thirst and desire to grow in Torah – and it was visible for all to see.

The staff arranged lodging for many students who desired to spend Kabbalos HaTorah with their rabbeim at BJX. All night long, from 12am until 4:30am, the beautiful Beis Medrash was jammed with Jews of all types ranging from mainstream Yeshiva bachurim to unaffiliated college students, to newly affiliated baalei teshuvah, to FFB Flatbush community members. “You genuinely felt the achdus. It was an enormous Kiddush Hashem that it was so packed. Everyone came to shteig,” said Rabbi Moshe Fingerer, Director of BJX.

Did you know?

Flatbush was a beehive of spiritual energy due to BJX. Even their 4:45am Shacharis had over seventy Flatbush residents and BJX students who remained until sunrise.

“These students stop at nothing to find a way to climb higher up the spiritual ladder,” shared Rav Yitzchok Fingerer. “Step by step, they are bringing a special nachas to Hakodesh Baruch Hu.”

One student, Michael, related that he finally understood the Talmud. Phil, a young professional, asked one of the rabbis if he lost the special merit of remaining awake all night because he slept for five minutes. “Growing up in a largely secular family, Shavuos was a holiday unknown to us,” said Keith. “The energy level was incredible. I enjoyed the selection of cheesecakes but honestly the Torah classes were even more enjoyable,” he said. “I heard that BJX would be having an all-star lineup of speakers throughout the night. The speakers were powerful,” said Baruch. “The walls of BJX percolated with high-voltage ruchniyus. Even at 5am, the davening was filled with beautiful singing,” said one YJP.

“What you do at BJX is the definition of loving your fellow Jew. BJX should continue to bring the light of Hashem to those who live in darkness,” said Rabbi Rosenblatt.

Butterflies have four wings, not two.

MAY Takes Gold at CIJE Engineering Fair

As part of their progressive STEM Program, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov offers two years of engineering courses using the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) curriculum. This year, MAY fielded multiple teams from the 9th and 10th grades to pitch their projects alongside over a thousand fellow high school students from 42 schools at the CIJE Innovation Day held at the American Dream Mall.

A few of the MAY projects were:

F.L.A.R.E. - Fire Locator And Rapid Evacuator, which is a new fire detection

system that removes the mystery from a fire; The Unleaker – A way to save money by stopping leaks in your faucet; TempWrist - -An innovative wearable device that utilizes technology to regulate body temperature.

The Mesivta is incredibly proud of all the students who worked tirelessly on their projects and Mr. Pinchas Fiber, CIJE Coordinator and MAY engineering teacher, who guided and instructed his students every step of the way. Of particular excitement this year was two MAY teams winning prizes for their presenta-

tions and the F.L.A.R.E. project taking home the 1st place trophy in the Assistive Technology category by 10th grade team Moshe Frisch, Akiva Mosak and Eli Zern.

“It’s been nine years since we began our pre-engineering course, complementing our STEM curriculum,” commented General Studies Principal Rabbi Sam Rudansky. “Mr. Fiber has done a spectacular job streamlining this course and guiding our students. We really have to thank CIJE and their entire staff for their continued support of this program.”

HAFTR Sending Six Students to the National Speech, Debate and Model Congress Tournament

HAFTR High School is proud to be sending juniors Maya Karasanti, Michal Mari, Kaitlin Pollack, Dasi Well, sophomore Sophia Feiler and freshman Noa Sharon to compete against over 6,000 students at the National Speech, Debate & Model Congress Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona, from June 12 to June 16, 2023. They will be accompanied by 11 other Shabbat-observant students from New York, New Jersey and Florida representing the Citron Online District.

In fall of 2022, the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) awarded a district charter to Citron Online for students who cannot compete on Fridays or Saturdays. Historically, the National Tournament has been held during the week, but in order to qualify, students were required to compete on the Sabbath. NSDA recognized this problem and agreed to create the national Citron Online District to qualify yeshiva students for the National Tournament.

HAFTR High School was the first ye -

shiva high school to join the NSDA and was proud to offer this opportunity to the other yeshiva high schools. HAFTR Coach Mr. Alex Libkind petitioned NSDA for a special, national online district to accommodate Shabbat-observant students.

“I am pleased that NSDA has recognized the need to expand the National Tournament to yeshiva students,” said Alex Libkind, coach of HAFTR Speech, Debate and Model Congress Team and Chair of Citron Online. “To compete effectively in NSDA, students have to evaluate topics from multiple perspectives and argue both for and against the proposed topic. Being able to persuasively speak for a proposition the student does not necessarily agree with makes them appreciate the other side and hopefully reduce polarization in our society.”

Students will be competing in multiple events at the National Tournament.

Kaitlin Pollack and Sophia Feiler will be competing in the Congressional Debate, where students will review and argue

for and against over 40 pieces of legislation drafted by students from all over the country. Noa Sharon will be debating the topic “Government employees have a moral obligation to leak classified information to address injustice” in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, which is a style of one-on-one values focused debate. Michal Mari will be competing in Extemporaneous Debate, where she will be given a topic 30 minutes prior to the start of the round and will have to quickly prepare either for or against the resolution.

Dasi Well and Maya Karasanti will be two of the five team members of a hybrid interschool team competing in Worlds

School Debate. They will be joined by Menachem Lotwin from Rambam in New York, Sam Passner from Idea School in New Jersey, and Ben Cohen from Katz Yeshiva in Florida. The team will be coached by Coach Libkind and will debate predefined topics around AI in the workforce, a permanent location for the Olympics, and the value of parliamentary versus presidential elections. They will also be given impromptu topics for which they will have one hour to prepare with just access to an almanac and dictionary. HAFTR would like to wish good luck to the students.

During Legislative Disabilities Awareness Day in Albany, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato met with Rachelle Deutch Sauer of Makor and Juby Shapiro of Tafkid

On Erev Shavuos, the junior high boys at Siach Yitzchok gathered for a Asifa in the Bais Medrash to hear words of chizuk from the Menahel, Reb Dovid Sitnick, shlita

Awards at Central

Yeshiva University High School for Girls is proud to announce the names of the students from the Class of 2023 who have been named this year’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian. Each of these students has devoted many long hours to their academics and has dedicated their time to contribute to the school community. The valedictorian and salutatorian are chosen based on their alignment with our school mission, academic performance, course load, middot, school involvement, contribution to our community, and citizenship.

Mazal tov to Eliana Samuels, the Valedictorian of Central’s Class of 2023. A National Merit Commendee, Eliana is an outstanding student who excels in Judaic and general studies classes. Her involvement in school extends to the outside of the classroom as well with her integral contributions to our Model Congress Team, Model UN Team, Soccer Team, Volleyball Team, and School Newspaper. Most importantly, Eliana’s achievements are accomplished with grace, a good nature, and a persistent smile. After study-

ing at Midreshet Lindenbaum next year in Israel, Eliana will be attending Columbia University. Kol HaKavod to Eliana!

Mazal tov to Maytal Chelst, the Co-Salutatorian of Central’s Class of 2023. Maytal is not only an intelligent and outstanding student but a dedicated young woman whose determination and persistence have contributed to her continued success. A National Merit Semifinalist, Maytal embraces the opportunity to challenge herself, making her an essential member of our Debate, Model UN, and Model Congress Teams and a

frequent contributor to our school newspaper. Maytal will be studying at MMY next year in Israel, and will then attend Columbia University.

Mazal tov to Rivka Sullivan, the Co-Salutatorian of Central’s Class of 2023. A dedicated and inquisitive student, Rivka is probably best known for her respectful manner and soft but determined nature. Her participation in Model UN and Model Congress teams, as well as her skill on the volleyball and tennis courts, make her an asset to the school as a whole. After studying at MMY in Israel for a year, Rivka will be attending the Yeshiva University/ Albert Einstein College of Medicine Early Assurance Program.

The Keter Shem Tov Award is voted on by the Senior class and faculty and is an award based on middot and character. Mazal tov to Anat Ebbin, the Central Class of 2023’s recipient of the Keter Shem Tov Award. Anat’s good nature, flexibility, kindness, and terrific comic timing make her a natural role model to others. Her ability to mesh strong academic achievement with an equally strong moral character is the epitome of

Central’s Core Torah Values. Anat will be studying next year at Migdal Oz in Israel and then will attend the Stern College Honors Program.

We extend a big mazal tov to the following seniors on their various awards: Gabrielle Lefkowitz upon receiving the Leah Lefkowitz Humanitarian Chesed Award, Adina Tanner upon receiving the Malka Fishhaut Memorial Award for Study in Israel Demonstrating Overall Excellence in Judaic Studies, Shira Rothbort and Leba Weissman upon receiving the Yeshiva University Book Award, Penina Feldman and Perri Sterman upon receiving the Triple C Award for Courage, Character, and Committment from the NYS Attorney General, Yael Schwartz and Rena Sturm upon receiving the NYS Comptroller’s Student Achievement Award, Chavi Conway upon receiving the Giant Leap Award, and Shira Wasserman upon receiving the Dr. Joseph Muschel Scholarship Award for Study in Israel. We look forward to celebrating with the entire Class of 2023 at Lamport Auditorium on Wednesday, June 7!

Eliana Samuels

Maytal Chelst Rivka Sullivan

Anat Ebbin

MTA Sabermetrics Club Takes in Yankees Game

YCQ Celebrates Executive Director Rabbi Yaakov Lonner

On Friday, May 19, the Yeshiva of Central Queens hosted a heartfelt breakfast to honor their esteemed Executive Director, Rabbi Yaakov Lonner. The special event on Yom Yerushalayim brought together the entire Junior High School student body, faculty, and Board of Trustees members to express their gratitude and appreciation for Rabbi Lonner’s exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication over the years.

The program began with a warm welcome from Rabbi Mark Landsman, YCQ’s principal, who highlighted Rabbi Lonner’s remarkable achievements and the indelible impact they had on the yeshiva and its community. He described how Rabbi Lonner has devoted his energy to the school for over 30 years and the mesirut nefesh he demonstrated was truly remarkable.

ner himself had the opportunity to speak and thank everyone for their support. He noted how the breakfast will be one of the most impactful memories of his years at YCQ, and how he greatly appreciated everything involved including the gift. However, he explained that the greatest memento are the students themselves.

“Boys and girls, as I watch you grow, increasingly mature, young men and women, with your beautiful davening, diligent learning, and your exquisite middot tovot, that’s what’s going to be my special legacy,” he powerfully remarked.

The MTA Sabermetrics Club (“saber” is an acronym for the Society of American Baseball Research) attended the Yankees game on Tuesday night, May 23. Aside from the fun of the game itself, in which the Yankees came back twice, finally tying the game on an Aaron Judge homer in the 9th and then winning in the 10th, the game presented the club with a unique opportunity to learn the analytical aspect of the game.

The Director of Quantitative Analysis for the Yankees, Mr. David Grabiner, sat with the students and took questions about how the Yankees use data to drive their decisions in all aspects of the game, from player evaluation for contract nego -

tiations to help players prepare for opponents.

Mr. Grabiner pointed out that while his office makes only a slight difference to the Yankees’ likelihood of winning, the Yankees consider it very worthwhile. After all, he pointed out, the difference between Aaron Judge and a hitter barely able to stay in the major leagues is only one hit every ten at-bats, and yet that difference is worth tens of millions of dollars per year.

MTA thanks David Grabiner and the Yankees for helping us appreciate the nuances of the game and the Yankees’ efforts to win.

Students from Grades 4-8 then shared anecdotes and memories, illustrating the profound influence Rabbi Lonner had on their lives. Students spoke about how they fondly remember attending Rabbi Lonner’s mishmars and other interactions they had with him over the years. One student detailed how Rabbi Lonner had helped him during his campaign for student government.

A special commemorative booklet was then given to Rabbi Lonner. Hundreds of letters and well wishes from students and staff were compiled into a book as a small token of appreciation for the years of hard work Rabbi Lonner has given to the yeshiva.

After the gift was presented, Rabbi Ophie Nat and the JHS Boys Choir led the lunchroom in two moving renditions of “Vazakeni” and “Tov LeHodot.” Rabbi Lonner’s mission was bringing the words of “Vazakeni” to life, and he was instrumental in raising students “who dazzle the world with Torah, maasim tovim, and service to the Creator.” And of course, the YCQ community is grateful towards Hashem for blessing the school with such a wonderful Executive Director.

Acharon acharon chaviv, Rabbi Lon-

Did you know?

For the last 32 years, Rabbi Lonner has been at the center of YCQ’s continued growth. His thoughtful leadership, deep Torah values, and selfless commitment have been the wings that have borne YCQ aloft during this time. An eved Hashem with true humility sprinkled with a dose of humor, Rabbi Lonner passionately steered the Yeshiva over these decades, overseeing its finances, operations, and facilities. He took special pride in ensuring a nutritious lunch would be served each and every day to the precious students and staff, and was a beloved Mishmar Rebbe for countless children.

Rabbi Lonner has run the yeshiva with the highest levels of integrity, sensitivity and professionalism. The impact that he has left on YCQ is immeasurable and we owe a debt of gratitude to him for all that he has done. He will forever remain an integral part of the yeshiva family and its neshamah.

YCQ celebrates Rabbi Lonner’s esteemed tenure and is forever grateful for all that he has done for the yeshiva in the past and present. As the Yeshiva of Central Queens looks forward to the future, they are excited to announce the appointment of Mrs. Malka Fishman as the new Executive Director, effective July 2023.

The YCQ community is forever indebted to Rabbi Lonner and his beloved wife, Simi, for everything they have done for the yeshiva, and wish them continued mazal, bracha and nachat from their family.

There are almost 20,000 butterfly species.

Rabbi Eisikovic’s seventh grade class of Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island enjoyed a trip to Kol Save, celebrating a winter-long Masmid Govoha season

Yeshiva Darchei Torah Brings 39 Melachos of Shabbos to Life

Congregation Bais Tefilah of Woodmere Dinner

Congregation Bais Tefilah of Woodmere held its 33rd Annual Dinner on Sunday evening, April 30 at Congregation Beth Sholom in Lawrence. The Guests of Honor were Judy and Howie Hahn and the Keter Shem Tov Honorees were Joelle and Stephen Nelson.

Congregants, family and friends came out to show their appreciation to Howie and Judy Hahn for all they do for the shul and the community. The Hahns can always be found helping out at kiddushim, shul and sisterhood events. Howie is a valued member of the shul’s Chevra Kadisha committee and is dedicated to

this mitzvah day and night.

Joelle and Stephen Nelson have also made an impact during their years in the shul. Rabbi Ephraim Polakoff spoke highly of the Nelsons’ involvement with the shul as Stephen has served on the Board of Directors and Joelle was involved with our youth department.

The shul is located at 409 Edward Avenue in Woodmere. We have a varied membership of older and younger families and Shabbos morning youth groups. It is a warm and inviting shul where everyone can make a difference. We invite you to join us for davening and see for yourself.

Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh HaYeshiva; Rav Shmuel Strickman, menahel; and Rav Eliyahu Saldinger presenting special halacha books to each second grader

Photos by: Yoel Hecht

246 Mesivta Chaim Shlomo bachurim celebrated their successful commitment to elevate their levels of kedusha from Purim to Shavuos with a festive mesibah

Rav Lipa Geldwerth, rav of K’hal Kol Torah in Brooklyn, guest speaker

Rav Dov Keilson, mashgiach ruchani of Mesivta Chaim Shlomo, the initiator and driving force behind the project

Photos by Gabe Solomon

HALB Lev Chana Rides for FDNow

The HALB Lev Chana 4-year-old Nursery and Kindergarten children donned their helmets as each of their classes entered the SKA Gym to ride their bikes and trikes and do a mitzvah – help children who are sick and need a refuah shleimah Shouts of laughter accompanied by the beat of simcha music could be heard across the Hewlett Bay Park Campus as our fourand five-year-olds rode laps around the festive SKA gym adorned with colorful flags and lane cones. Each biker received a medal of participation and the satisfaction of knowing that their efforts raised money for FDNow.

Yasher kochachem!

HANC HS Places First and Second at CIJE Innovation Day 2023

Mesivta Basketball Association

Crowns YFR Tigers 2023 Champions

By Noam Trager

On Tuesday, May 23, HANC High School’s 11 teams of engineering students participated in The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) Innovation Day. Students from across the country were tasked with creating Capstone Projects that help to solve a problem by using an Arduino to engineer their designs and create a final product.

“Following the engineering design process is key to completing any innovation or invention. I taught my students how to effectively track the plans for their projects and complete the requirements,” explained Professor Amrit Singh, HANC High School’s engineering, physics and math teacher.

HANC High School seniors Avi Ba-

ruch and Shmuel Woznica placed first for Best Pitch by describing a system they developed using LED lights to display the chances of rain over an 8-hour period to be used specifically for Shabbos or yom tov.

In the category of Engineering for School, HANC High School sophomores Menachem Adler, Elana Max, Zahava Speiser, and Noam Traeger placed second with “Homework-Helping-Hand,” a time-management organizational innovation to assist students in navigating their time and resources while completing homework.

A challenging and rewarding experience, the HANC High School Engineering teams are grateful for the opportunity to participate in The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE) Innovation Day 2023.

This past Sunday marked the Championship Game of the Mesivta Basketball Association’s Varsity Division. From the ten yeshivos that fielded teams in this year’s season, in the end, in front of a sold-out crowd, the number one seeded YFR Tigers took on the number two seeded YST Stars in what some have already called the greatest game in MBA history thus far, with the YFR Tigers secured their repeat championship victory, 48-46.

The game started with YFR taking an early lead. Taking advantage of the Stars’ star center Freddy Alkada being forced to sit the bench due to an injury suffered in the first few minutes of the game, the Tigers, led by point guard Pinny Lowy and small forward Simcha Klein, maintained control of the ball and the scoreboard for most of the first half. However, the Stars regrouped, and, by halftime, they had tied up the game, 20-20.

In the second half, with Alkada rejoining his Stars, the game was back and forth, two championship teams giving it their all. With just seconds left to regulation, Alkada hit a dagger 3-pointer to tie the game 44-44 sending it into overtime.

The 3-minute overtime was a defensive onslaught from both teams holding the scoring to a minimum. The final nail came from the Tigers, with Lowy and Klein setting up a screen play, Klein dishing off beautifully to Avi Neuman who hit the mid-range buzzer-beater giving YFR their victory.

The MBA congratulates Coach Ephraim Lowy and his YFR Tigers on winning the 2022-2023 Varsity Championship!

Rabbi Yossi Bennett, Administrator of the League, remarked, “The novelty of this League is the camaraderie and community spirit it engenders. Boys from other schools often come early or stay late to watch the other games being played that day. It’s really an amazing outlet for the boys in our community.”

The Mesivta Basketball Association thanks all the participating schools –players, coaches, administrators and fans – for helping make this season so successful.

For more information about Mesivta Athletics, visit their website at mesivtaathletics.com.

Five Towns Grads Named 2023 Touro Valedictorians

Daniel Sokel of Cedarhurst and Dovi Teigman of Bayswater were named 2023 Touro valedictorians. Both will serve as student speakers at the 49th annual commencement, to be held at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center on June 4. Sokel, who attended Touro’s Lander College for Men, is headed for a career as a clinical psychologist, and Teigman, who attended Touro’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences, is looking forward to entering the dental profession. Additional valedictorians include software engineer Aliza Peikes of Lander College of Arts & Sciences and future patent attorney Chana Rosenbluth of Lander College for Women who will attend Columbia Law School this fall.

Daniel Sokel’s deep-rooted curiosity about people and human nature has been a constant throughout his life, propelling his exploration into the intricacies of psychology.

“When I was young, I’d think about why some people seemed more outgoing and talkative than others, or why some things make us feel really excited or upset and other things do not,” he said. Now he hopes to parlay his interest into a career in clinical psychology. “I really just want to help people become the best possible versions of themselves.”

After returning from his gap year in Israel and enrolling in Touro’s Lander College for Men (LCM), Sokel worked tirelessly toward that goal. He graduates with a 4.0 cumulative grade point average, and made Dean’s List every semester. The future psychologist is currently working in a residential setting at Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services as a direct care professional, helping individuals with intellectual, developmental, and psychiatric disabilities. He’s also conducting research with Touro faculty on individual differences in cognitive and affective empathy.

Sokel studied and worked closely with Touro psychology professor Dr. Cheryl Miodownik, and she invited him to serve as a guest lecturer for some of her classes,

Did you know?

including teaching about Internal Family Systems (IFS), a relatively new therapeutic modality which he enjoys.

“IFS is much more than a method of providing therapy,” Daniel says, “it presents a comprehensive approach for gaining a deeper understanding of human experiences, relationship dynamics and our own inner selves.”

Beyond his obvious passion for psychology, during his 22 years Daniel has compiled a lengthy list of interests and hobbies, including cooking, baking, playing sports, and photography. But stay on his good side: He’s been training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai since he was 14.

“I’m not terrible,” joked the mild-mannered Daniel. “And I’m always up for a good challenge.”

“Daniel Sokel is a young man with presence. He is not only an outstanding student, but has the charisma and talent to make a real difference in the world,” said Dr. Moshe Sokol, dean of Lander College for Men.

Sokel attended the Yeshiva of Far Rockaway before learning in Aderes Hatorah, serving as the dorm counselor during the last of his three years in Israel.

Early Life Experience Sparks a Passion for Dentistry

Dovi Teigman, a biology major and pre-dental student has always had a strong desire to pursue dentistry as his career path, as his interest and passion for the field go back to an early childhood experience. While playing with his cousins in shul when he was eight years old, he fell and had a traumatic mouth injury. He needed to get braces early on in order to allow the teeth to grow in properly. For good measure, he also broke two front teeth a few years ago while playing basketball.

Instead of scaring him away from the dental profession, these experiences showed him the transformative power of dentistry and he would like to be able to help his future patients in the same way.

Teigman made the Dean’s List ev-

ery semester, and received a prestigious Landers Honors Scholarship straight out of high school. He also published a research paper in the Touro Science Journal and volunteered at the Margaret Tietz Nursing Home. Teigman has plans to become an EMT, join Hatzalah and work for the Chevra Kadisha as well.

“Dovi Teigman has compiled an outstanding record, earning a 3.97 Grade Point Average in pursuing a rigorous biology-predental program, and concurrently continuing his intensive Talmudic studies,” said Dr. Robert Goldschmidt, executive dean at Touro University’s Lander College of Arts & Sciences. “He will become a respected healthcare professional who will create a Kiddush Hashem.”

Teigman graduated from Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Queens and then spent three years learning in Yeshiva Toras Chaim in Miami before coming to Touro. Since then, he has continued his learning at Chofetz Chaim during the day and commuting to Touro in Brooklyn for classes at night.

In preparing for a career in dentistry, Teigman wanted to earn a quality undergraduate degree and also spend his days learning in yeshiva, so he was particularly appreciative of the opportunity provided to him by Touro in Flatbush.

“Where else can I get a degree and, at the same time, stay in yeshiva and still receive an excellent education and preparation for professional school?” he asked. “Touro makes it possible for a yeshiva guy who is learning three sedarim a day to pursue a degree leading to high level careers without having to give up too much.”

Butterflies cannot fly if their body temperature is less than 86 degrees.

Dovi Teigman Donny Sokel

Mineral Fair at YOSS Rav Uri Tieger Visits Netzach

The sixth grade science students at the Abraham and Sara Silber Middle School at Yeshiva of South Shore showcased their mineral cubes for this year’s Mineral Cube Fair. Students worked enthusiastically researching their respective minerals and then de -

signing their cubes. They demonstrated a deep understanding of the mineral’s characteristics, as well as how they are used in society today. Special thanks to Mrs. Slansky, sixth grade science teacher, for spearheading this project.

This past week, the renowned rav from Eretz Yisrael, HaRav Uri Tieger, visited Mesivta Netzach HaTorah in Woodmere. Rav Uri spoke about his own life’s challenges and how he was inspired to begin learning Torah in a devoted way. After writing letters to Rav Chaim Kanievsky asking him questions on some of his seforim, Rav Uri be -

gan a close relationship with the Gadol HaDor, ultimately becoming the editor of Rav Chaim’s seforim.

The talmidim left with inspiration and admiration for Rav Uri’s unique life story as well as the great potential that lies within every person to reach great heights in Torah.

Mesivta Football League Crowns DRS Wildcats 2023 Champions

This past Monday marked the Championship Game for the Mesivta Football League’s Junior Varsity Division. From the ten yeshivos that fielded teams in the League, the two remaining teams were fittingly the number one seeded MAY Eagles and the number two seeded DRS Wildcats. In a game that would not be decided until a triple overtime was played, the DRS Wildcats took home the Golden Pigskin for the second year in a row.

It was a clear, windy day this past Memorial Day, but things were really heating up on the gridiron. This was a meeting of champions, as the two top-seeded teams were battling for a championship trophy and hometown bragging rights. The game was a defensive feud, with each team holding their opponent’s offense to a minimum.

Going into the second half, the game was still scoreless. However, early in the second half, Wildcats QB Adir Sacknowitz found Avi Slomnicki in the endzone to put DRS on the board and take the lead. With less than a minute left in regulation, MAY was finally able to respond,

when QB Dovi Barnett found WR Daniel Gewirtz for a controversial reception that will continue to be discussed for years, putting the Eagles within inches of scoring, which they did on the next play.

With the score tied, the game went into overtime. Once again, both teams’ defense was relentless with excellent line play, flag-grabbing and focused swatting. But in the third round, Sacknowitz connected with Moshe Brazil in the endzone to give the Wildcats their sweet victory.

The MFL congratulates the Coach Eliav Sacknowitz and his DRS Wildcats on winning the 2022-2023 Junior Varsity Championship!

“Obviously, the League was created to provide a healthy outlet for our kids here in the community on Sunday afternoons,” commented League Administrator Rabbi Yossi Bennett. “But when you get an incredible Championship game like this, with two outstanding teams, fantastic camaraderie between them, on a beautiful Memorial Day afternoon, that’s just icing on the cake.”

The Mesivta Football League thanks all the participating schools – players,

coaches, administrators and fans – for helping make this season so successful.

For more information about Mesivta

Athletics, visit their website at mesivtaathletics.com.

The nursey class at Gesher learned the letter Tes this week and balanced on a ‘T’ tightrope on their tippy toes

HALB Names, Not Numbers Documentary Premier

On May 22, HALB eighth graders premiered their original Names, Not Numbers documentary. Names, Not Numbers is a unique Holocaust oral history documentary project in which the students collect oral histories of survivors and create a film based on the experience. Throughout the year, students had sessions related to Holocaust education, interviewing techniques and videography. The students were fortunate to be able to interview Mrs. Mari-

on Blumenthal Lazan, Mrs. Susan Braun, Mr. Jehuda Lindenblatt, Professor Asher Matathias, Mrs. Anne Rudoler, and Mr. Abe Rosenberg.

After all their hard and important work, students’ parents, grandparents, teachers and peers had the opportunity to watch the film. It was an incredibly moving and educational experience for everyone. Additionally, the documentary will be archived in Yad Vashem and the National Library of Israel.

Rav Uri Tieger spoke at Mesivta Chaim Shlomo this week, retelling his fascinating life journey – from a secular upbringing in Tel Aviv to becoming a chavrusa of Maran Rav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, and proofreader of his sefarim.

Rev the Engines

Adam’s wife, Ruth, fell off the back of his motorcycle. He just rode on. Ruthless.

What’s the most dangerous part of a motorcycle? The nut that connects the seat to the handlebar.

What do you call a laughing motorcycle? A Yamahahaha.

I got a new motorcycle for my husband. It was a great trade.

How do you spot Bubba in a car wash? He’s the one on a motorbike.

The hybrid bike was upset. “I can’t just be a half motorcycle,” it moped.

You Gotta Be Kidding Me!

What is the most common accessory for Harleys? A pick-up truck.

A guy riding a Honda motorcycle pulls up to a toll booth. The attendant says, “Two dollars.” The guy on the Honda says, “SOLD!”

A biker’s biggest fear is that when he dies, his wife will sell his motorcycles for what he told her they cost.

I don’t snore; I dream that I am a motorcycle.

Motorcyclist: A person willing to take a container of flammable liquid, place it on top of a hot engine, and then sit on top of it all.

One evening in India, Paddy, Divay and Akash are riding back home from a wedding, all three of them on Paddy’s motorcycle.

They get stopped by a cop who says to them, “This motorcycle is only licensed to carry two people, and there are three of you. One of you will have to get off and walk.”

“Three of us?” says Paddy. “What happened to Raj, Sahil, Ravi, Rajesh, Sanjay, Ananjamin, and Anushka?”

Motorcycle Trivia

1. In 2014, Kharat Sinh Parmar of India made the world’s longest motorcycle. How long was it?

a. 14 feet

b. 23 feet

c. 47 feet

d. 86 feet

2. What is the nickname for Harley Davidson motorcycles?

a. Angel transporters

b. Hogs

c. Chrome Rockets

d. Big Wheels

3. In 2010, speed rider Rocky Robinson (great name for a speed rider… his real name is probably something like Brian Cohen) achieved the record for highest speed on a motorcycle for a 1-kilometer distance. What was his top speed?

a. 198.2 MPH

b. 212.6 MPH

c. 376.3 MPH

d. 747.2 MPH

4. This 1908 Harley Davidson was recently sold at auction for how much?

a. $45,000

b. $250,000

c. $935,000

d. $2.2 million

5. In 2015, how many motorcyclists rolled into Sturgis, South Dakota, for its annual motorcycle rally?

a. 48,000

b. 123,000

c. 304,000

d. 739,000

6. In India, Havildar Pradeep set the world record for the longest ride backwards on a motorcycle. What distance did he ride with his back to the handlebars?

a. 4 miles

b. 127 miles

c. 706 miles

d. 1,230 miles

7. Which state has the most registered motorcycles per person?

a. South Dakota

b. Montana

c. Wisconsin

d. Texas

8. In 2017, Masaru Abe broke the world record for longest wheelie. What distance (on a track) did he ride on one wheel?

a. 4 miles

b. 17 miles

c. 48 miles

d. 310 miles

9. Where was Harley Davidson started?

a. Wisconsin

b. Arkansas

c. New York

d. Pennsylvania Answers

Wisdom key 6-9 correct: You are a complete Hog!

3-5 correct: You probably ride a Honda. 0-2 correct: You should have worn a helmet!

Parshas Naso

By Rabbi Berel Wein

The book of Bamidbar contains many puzzling portions. In this week’s parsha, the Torah records the sacrificial offerings by the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel upon the dedication and consecration of the Tabernacle. These twelve offerings were identical in every detail, yet the Torah describes each of these offerings individually, as though the offering of each leader was his decision and was unique and different from the offering of his colleague who was the leader of very different tribe.

Over the ages, many ideas and interpretations have been offered for this seeming redundancy. The overwhelming number of interpretations concentrate on the idea that even though the offerings may physically have been identical, the spirit and motivation of each differed from individual to individual and tribe to tribe.

This type of interpretation lends itself to understanding how one Jew can achieve personal prayer while reciting a set number of printed texts which everyone else

around him or her is also reciting at the very same moment. Since no two people are alike physically, they certainly are not alike mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Prayer is derived not only from the brain and lips of the person praying but, rather, it also comes from the emotions and unique perspective that each human being brings to the relationship with one’s Creator and to life. So, too, the offerings of the leaders of the tribes of Israel in the desert may have been physically identical,

commandments of the Torah becomes second nature to us.

This is especially true in the field of prayer. I once read a memoir of an Israeli soldier who fought in the battle for Jerusalem’s Ammunition Hill in 1967 during the Six Day War. The Jordanian army was entrenched on that hill, and most military experts believed it was suicidal to try and dislodge them. The hill was the central point in the battle for Jerusalem, and by controlling it, the rest of the West Bank

but the emotional perspective and spiritual elevation of each of the offerings was truly unique and distinctive for that tribal prince who brought it and gave it as a service of the public in the Mishkan.

Another lesson that is to be learned from this seeming repetition of the offerings of the leaders of the tribes of Israel is the triumph of constancy over flashes of brilliance. It is the old parable regarding the race between the tortoise and the hare. And repetition always leads to a feeling of security and hope. Much of Judaism is based upon repetitive behavior. With each recurring action, we absorb and internalize it into our very being, so that doing the right thing in fulfilling the

was open to mobile contact and conquest. The soldier wrote of the terrible battle that waged that night, and how hundreds of his comrades were killed and wounded, while the Jordanians also suffered great losses. He wrote that at one moment in the battle he was alone and nearly surrounded by Jordanian troops. He said that he felt an overwhelming urge at that moment to pray, but he then realized that since he had never prayed in his life, he did not know what to do. He resolved, therefore, that if he survived – and he did – he would learn how to pray, so that when he had to pray, he would know what he must do.

Shabbat shalom.

Since no two people are alike physically, they certainly are not alike mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.

Parshas Naso Vessels for Hashem’s Blessings

By Rav Moshe Weinberger

Adapted for publication by Binyomin

Wolf

One of the 613 mitzvos of the Torah is the kohanim’s mitzvah to bless the Jewish people (Bamidbar 6:23): “Thus shall you bless the children of Israel…” The Sefer Hamitzvos lists this mitzvah, birkas kohanim, as the 23rd of the positive mitzvos. Generally, there are three categories of blessings in Judaism. The first are the blessings Hashem gives the Jewish people like “I will make you into a great nation” (Bereishis 12:2). Second are the blessings we give Hashem, “And you will eat and be satisfied and you shall bless Hashem your G-d…” (Devarim 8:10). The third category of blessings are those that Jews give each another like the blessings Yaakov gave his sons before he died and those Moshe gave the Jewish people at the end of the Torah. This is the category under which birkas kohanim falls. But how is it possible for one Jew to bless another? Can a person of flesh and blood be a source of blessing? How does this work?

It must be that when one person blesses another, it is more akin to a prayer to the Hashem, the Source of Blessing. We

see this clearly reflected in the language of Yitzchak’s blessing to Yaakov: “May G-d give you from the dew of Heaven and the fats of the earth…” (Bereishis 27:28). When the kohanim say birkas kohanim, they do not view themselves as the source of the blessing. Rather, they recognize that they are intermediates through whom Hashem’s blessings descends down onto the nation. This is reflected in the fact that the pasuk says about birkas kohanim (Bamidbar 6:27): “And they [the kohanim] shall place my Name on the children of Israel and I will bless them.” Hashem wants the kohanim to transmit His blessings with “love,” as it says in the blessing before birkas kohanim. By doing so, they awaken the quality of love below and thereby open up the gates of love and generosity Above.

Let us examine one word from the first line of birkas kohanim: “May Hashem bless you and safeguard you.” We understand that when the kohanim ask Hashem to bless us, they mean that we should have everything good, both spiritually and phys-

ically. But what does it mean that they ask Hashem to safeguard us? Rashi explains based on the Midrash: “‘And safeguard you’ that no robbers come and take your money. One who gives a gift to his servant cannot guard him from every other person. So when robbers come to him and take it away from him, what benefit does the [the servant] have in this gift? But Hashem is the giver and the guardian.”

We see that according to Rashi, “and safeguard you” is the completion and fruition of the blessing of “May Hashem bless you.” If we lose Hashem’s blessings after receiving them, what good are they? This is the kohanim’s prayer and blessing – that Hashem should guard everything He gives us so that we should not lose His blessings.

Today, at least in civilized countries, it is unusual for some outside force to steal our money and property. Our blessings are endangered more by internal threats. This possibility is what Shlomo Hamelech was referring to when he referred to “wealth guarded for its owner to his detriment”

(Koheles 5:12). How can this happen? If a person lacks the vessels to guard and maintain his blessings, he will not only lose them, but he will be worse off than he was before.

The Sefardim have a beautiful custom. When someone receives a blessing from a talmid chacham, tzaddik, or a father or sandek at a bris, he holds his hands together like a cup while he receives the blessing. This custom is rooted in the idea that the recipient wants to make himself into a strong vessel so that he can contain and preserve the blessing he is receiving.

In penimius haTorah , we speak of “light” and “vessels.” Hashem’s blessing is the light and the safeguarding is the vessel. Without the vessel, all of the light in the world will simply slip through our fingers and will come to nothing – or worse.

We see this in the world in many ways. Many lottery winners who were not previously well-adjusted people wind up much worse off after winning the lottery than they were before. If someone was not accustomed to such blessings, he does not

have the tools to receive those blessings in a healthy way. We are also familiar with people who suddenly became wealthy sports stars. Many of these individuals have virtually nothing a short time after they retire. Because they do not have the tools to manage their sudden wealth, unscrupulous people take advantage of them or they squander their money and have nothing left in the end.

There are other character defects which are indicative of broken-vessel type people. Those who are stingy, arrogant, self-aggrandizing, or negative will see no joy in the blessings they receive. Returning to a sports analogy, imagine players on the basketball court who, after scoring a difficult basket, exult and bump chests to the point that one of the players on the other team makes a lay-up right behind them and they do not even notice. Similarly, a person who is full of himself or who consistently focuses on the negative in others and in his own life will never be happy no matter how much good he experiences.

The more a person internalizes the attributes of generosity, love, joy, and gratitude, the more he makes himself into a vessel capable of safeguarding all of the blessings Hashem showers upon him. And if such a person only has a little, or

if he is beset by problems, challenges, and failures, he will still be happier than one who is a broken vessel. A healthy, positive person will grow from his failures and difficulties because he is a strong vessel. He safeguards every drop of light that Hashem gives him. And not only will such a person

dependent on what job he has, whether he gets a certain promotion or clinches a contract with an important customer, whether he has a certain car or house, or manages to acquire the latest gadget or electronic device. The quality of a person’s “May Hashem bless you” is completely de -

you develop a heart full of love, compassion, gratitude, generosity, and positivity. You must become a whole vessel to contain the blessings you have.

The Rachmistrivka Rebbe was once walking with his chassidim out of the shul during a thunderstorm when a gust of wind blew by. All of the chassidim’s hats remained on their heads, but unfortunately, the one person to lose his hat was the Rebbe. The chassidim made a mad dash to catch the Rebbe’s hat as it rolled down the middle of the street. The Rebbe smiled the whole time his hat was traveling away. Finally, the chassidim caught the hat and brought it back to the Rebbe. The Rebbe smiled and thanked the person who brought it back to him, but commented, “It’s not such a bad thing if I lose my hat. It would be much worse if I lost my head.”

not be broken by his difficulties, he will gain more empathy for others and become even more generous and sensitive to his less fortunate brothers and sisters among our people.

This is the secret of “Who is rich? One who is happy with his portion” (Avos 4:1). One’s happiness in life has nothing to do with his external circumstances. It is not

pendent on the level of his “and safeguard you.” Without the latter, the former is meaningless.

Chazal in Avos are teaching us: Do you want to be rich? You must know that it is in your hands. It is not dependent on any external factor. It does not matter whether you win the lottery or have a high income. The only determinative factor is whether

Let us merit never to lose our heads. Instead, may Hashem help us attain all of the qualities that will make us whole vessels to contain all His blessings in both spirituality and physicality.

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.

The more a person internalizes the attributes of generosity, love, joy, and gratitude, the more he makes himself into a vessel capable of safeguarding all of the blessings Hashem showers upon him.

There was a peasant farmer in old Russia standing at the side of the road, weeping profusely. As he stood there, the Czar happened to pass by in his royal coach. The Czar saw the peasant, and when he noticed him weeping, he stopped his chariot to inquire what was wrong. The man tearfully explained that he had no land to farm, and thus he and his family were starving. The Czar, touched by this man’s misfortune, pulled out a stake from his chariot and drove it into the ground. He then gave the peasant three more stakes and instructed him: “Walk as far as you wish, and then drive this stake into the ground. Turn, walk again as far as you wish, and then place the next stake in the ground. Finally, turn again and walk as far as you’d like before placing the last stake in the ground. The land between the four stakes will be yours as a gift from me, the Czar.”

The man was overcome with joy and

Think. Feel.Grow.

Fantasy or Reality The Ultimate Challenge

By Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

eagerly began to walk. After some time, he stopped and prepared to plant the stake in the ground. He was about to drive it in when he paused and thought, “Why should I stop here? I can have so much more land!” So, he continued to walk. After some time, he stopped and once again prepared to plant the stake in the ground. He was about to drive it in when he once again paused and thought, “Why should I stop here? I can have so much more!”

So, he continued to walk. And as the story goes, he never stopped walking…

The message of this story is clear: we have so much potential in our lives, but only by transforming the limitless possibilities into something real can we ever accomplish anything. Only by giving up the limitless can we attain something meaningful.

Potential vs. Actual

As the Maharal and others explain,

there is an important relationship between the spiritual concepts of potential and actuality.

• Potential is endless, multipotent, everything, and anything. It has no boundaries, no borders, and no limitations.

• Something real and actual, on the other hand, is restricted, has borders, and is limited only to what it is.

Potential might be endless, but it’s not real. What is real might be limited, but it has taken on true existence. Our lives are filled with experiences of both potential and actualized potential. Let us explore a few manifestations of these ideas in order to better understand this root concept.

Time as Potential

The prime illustration of the concept of potential and reality lies in our relationship with time. When you wake up each morning, the day holds infinite potential. You have the time to do anything,

go anywhere, meet anyone, etc. But that’s only potential, for in reality, you haven’t done anything yet, and in reality, you can’t do everything, only something. On the other hand, every night when you go to sleep, the potential of that day is completely gone. There is no time left. The only thing that remains is that which you made real from the time you were given, what you accomplished, and who you became that day. The sadness of this moment is that the potential is gone — your day is over; the joy is everything that you have accomplished, everything you have made real.

This same paradigm applies to life itself. At the beginning of life, you have infinite potential; you can become anything, learn anything, meet anyone, etc. Your whole life is ahead of you, but it is fully potential. This is not yet real; all that exists are the possibilities for what you can choose to become. It therefore

does not yet have any lasting meaning. Only the potential that we actualize becomes eternal. At the end of our lives, we are out of time and out of potential. However, we have all the accomplishments that we spent a lifetime building. Consequently, there is a mixture of feelings at this point in time. On the one hand, we feel sadness when we think about how our potential is gone and our time is up. On the other hand, we feel tremendous joy when we think about all that we have accomplished, proud that we have taken the time we were given to build ourselves and to make our potential real.

Winter vs. Summer

In secular culture, youth is associated with spring and summer, while old age is compared to winter. This is because youth is a time of potential, of excitement, of newness and fun. Old age, on the other hand, is when that potential is nearly gone, and the physical body has withered and gone cold. It is therefore associated with the depression and darkness of winter, as potential has dwindled and death is nearing.

Fascinatingly, the Jewish approach is the exact opposite. Shlomo HaMelech (King Solomon) compares youth to winter and old age to summer. This is because winter is the time of planting seeds, the ultimate time of potential. It represents childhood, the beginning of your journey in this world. Summer, on the other hand, is like the end of life when your seeds have borne crops and when you see all that you have produced with the life you’ve been given.

Secular culture is enamored with youth and potential, paying less attention to actualizing potential and achieving greatness. The outlook of Judaism is not an infatuation with what can be; it is an appreciation of what has been made real. We don’t see potential as the ultimate goal; on the contrary, we aim for the rich satisfaction of actualized potential. This is the true joy of life; this is the ultimate summer.

The Creative Process

This pattern of potential and reality shapes the creative process as well. When you set out to create an artistic work — whether it’s a painting, sculpture, book, or anything of the sort — you have infinite potential. The creative process can lead you down any path, and there are endless possibilities of what you can make. However, in order to actually create a work of art, you must decide to make something specific. In other words, you must limit the endless potential in order to make

something real. Interestingly enough, this process mirrors Hashem’s creation of the world. The Ramchal notes that Hashem is infinite and therefore has the ability to create any type of world that He chooses. However, out of all the endless possibilities, He chose to create this world, the one you and I exist in.

The Challenge

Potential is beautiful, majestic, and infinitely precious. We all understand the value of potential. However, the weakness of potential is that it’s just that — potential. It’s not real, it’s merely theoretical. The greatness of something that has been

end up with nothing.

We like to fantasize about perfect futures, ideal living conditions, and ultimate relationships. However, sometimes we get so caught up in dreaming about a better life that we don’t end up living it. (It goes without saying that dreaming is essential. In fact, often we need to dream in order to wake up and live the life we are meant to live. But when we dream instead of living a life of growth and contribution, the dream becomes our very undoing.) This is a life trapped in potential without ever making that potential a reality. Potential is beautiful but only inasmuch as we utilize it; only in how we bring it to

potential to the fullest extent, to choose the real over fantasy, and to prepare ourselves for the ultimate summer.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is the author of the bestselling book, “The Journey to Your Ultimate Self,” which serves as an inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish thought. He is an educator and speaker who has lectured internationally on topics of Torah thought, Jewish medical ethics, psychology, and leadership. He is also the founder and CEO of Self-Mastery Academy, the transformative online self-development course based on the principles of high-performance psychology and Torah.

After obtaining his BA from Yeshiva University, he received Semicha from Yeshiva University’s RIETS, a master’s degree in education from Azrieli Graduate School, and a master’s degree in Jewish Thought from Bernard Revel Graduate School. He then spent a year studying at Harvard as an Ivy Plus Scholar. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and son where he is pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago.

actualized is that it’s tangible and real. The weakness, though, is that it’s only that and nothing more. A finished project is a form of actualized potential. It’s beautiful in that it’s real, but it’s still important to realize that it’s limited to what it is. It could have been anything else; there were endless possibilities. However, it’s now the specific and unique form that the artist chose to create.

The ultimate challenge is limiting infinite potential for the ability to create something real. Imagine if a wealthy and generous person offered you any amount of money in the world. “Just quote me a number and I’ll give it to you,” he says. Your mind races as you think about the amount of money you can request. Ten thousand dollars? A million? Let’s say you finally decide to say five million dollars, and he hands over the money; the pleasure of that decision is that you are now five million dollars richer. The pain is that you don’t get a single dollar more. You could have said six million, five hundred million, or seven trillion. The list of potential numbers is never-ending. However, much like the farmer in our introductory story, if you can’t sacrifice potential for actual, you’ll end up with nothing.

This struggle is a difficult one, and it pervades all areas of life. You’ll often hear people say, “Why marry this person; perhaps the next one who comes along will be better?” or “Why take this business offer; maybe the next one will be better?” When we fall prey to this line of thinking, we

fruition. We must be willing to start with what we have, where we are, and work our way from there. May we be inspired to actualize our

To invite Rabbi Reichman to speak in your community or to enjoy more of his deep and inspiring content, visit his website: ShmuelReichman.com.

Sometimes we get so caught up in dreaming about a better life that we don’t end up living it.

Delving into the Daf Can You Save Me a Seat?

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

The following article is based on Gittin (11b-12a) and Chashukei Chemed on Bava Metzia (10a). The article is intended to engender discussion and not to provide halachic guidance. Please see the sources for practical rulings.

Boruch was waiting at an Egged bus stop. There were throngs of people there. Worse still, he was in the back of the crowd. He thought to himself that there was no way that he was going to get a seat on the bus. All of a sudden, an idea hit him! His chavrusa was already on the bus. He had gotten on at the previous stop. Boruch called Shimon and asked him to reserve a seat for his dear chavrusa.

Shimon: Am I allowed to reserve a seat for you on the bus at the expense of others who will be forced to stand?

Boruch: Sure! Rav Nachman discussed a scenario where a debtor only has enough money to pay off a few of his creditors. Rav Nachman permitted someone to grab some of the debtor’s money on behalf of one of the creditors. This is true, even though his actions are to the detriment of the other remaining creditors. There are not enough seats for everyone who will board the bus. You may reserve a seat for me, even though it is at everyone else’s expense.

Shimon: We don’t pasken like Rav Nachman! We pasken like Rebbe Yochanon. One person may not grab some of the debtor’s money on behalf of one particular creditor, precisely because everyone else will suffer. He has no right to grab for one party over another.

Boruch: True. However, Rashi says that Rebbe Yochanon would agree that if one party specifically designated the grabber as his agent beforehand, then he may seize some assets on behalf of that party. Likewise, I am specifically appointing

you as my agent to reserve a seat. So even Rebbe Yochanon would agree that you may reserve a seat for me even at the expense of others.

Shimon: I’m sorry, but Tosfos and the vast majority of the Rishonim do not accept Rashi’s view.

Boruch: True, but the Shach rules that even Tosfos would agree that if one paid the agent, then it’s different. An employee may grab assets on behalf of his employer. So I will Quickpay you money now, thereby making you my employee. You will then be able to reserve a seat for me.

Shimon: Your understanding of the Shach is accurate, but the Tumim disagrees. He holds that even an employee may not grab assets on behalf of his employer if it comes at the expense of others. Moreover, I just realized that I certainly cannot reserve a seat for you. You are not entitled to a seat at all. You didn’t even pay for a seat. Even you, yourself, would not be allowed to reserve a seat now since you didn’t pay the fare yet.

Boruch: Good point! I will add the fare to the Quickpay. Please pay my fare so that I’m entitled to a seat. Since you didn’t like my idea of following the Shach, I could still use a Tosfos to aid me. Tosfos says that even Rebbe Yochanon would agree that one creditor may grab assets on behalf of another creditor. The logic is that since a creditor may certainly grab assets for himself, he can seize assets for his friend as well. (Up until now, we were discussing a non-creditor seizing assets on behalf of a creditor.) Since you are certainly entitled to take a seat on the bus for yourself, you may reserve a seat for me as well.

Shimon: But I’m no longer entitled to take a seat; I already took one!

Boruch: When you stand up to pay my fare, you will have relinquished your rights

to the particular seat. When you sit down again, please take two seats, one for me and one for you.

Shimon: Your logic allows me to reserve the seat that I would have taken for myself and save it for you. However, now I would be taking two seats. Suppose a creditor was owed one million dollars. Would Tosfos’s logic allow a creditor to seize two million dollars, one million for himself and a million for his fellow creditor? (Even if it is to the detriment of the remaining creditors?)

Boruch: Yes, the Beis Yosef says he can. Therefore, you may save two seats, one for me and one for you.

Shimon: But the Nesivos and Sm”a disagree with the Beis Yosef. They rule that a creditor may not grab more than he is owed. Therefore, I’m sorry, but I may only take one seat for myself.

Boruch: Shimon, you are my chavrusa. We can study together during the bus ride if we have seats next to each other. Therefore, when you save the two seats, that have both been paid for, you are really saving both seats for yourself. You yourself gain by having my seat next to yours. Rav Zilberstein compares this situation to a family member reserving seats for the entire family. The family member wants to sit together with the rest of his family. Therefore, when he reserves seats for the entire family, he is really acting for himself. One is allowed to reserve something for which he is entitled and which he himself will gain from, even to the detriment of others.

Boruch: Yes, I do want to study with

you on the bus ride! I will pay for your seat and then sit down and reserve the seat next to me.

Boruch then pays Shimon’s fare and sits down.

Stranger: Excuse me, sir, is that seat open next to you?

Boruch: No, I’m sorry, I reserved it for my chavrusa.

Stranger: How did you reserve it? Did you pick up the seat? Did you pull it? It seems to me that you just decided in your head that it is reserved. That has no halachic significance.

The stranger then sits down next to Boruch.

Boruch calls Shimon: You’re not going to believe it! Someone took the seat that I reserved for you. Maybe I’ll switch seats and put a sign on the seat next to me saying, “Broken. Do not sit here” Didn’t Rav Zilberstein suggest something similar?

Shimon: Rav Zilberstein suggested that idea when people were not saving a seat for an exceptional scholar. That is something that everyone is obligated to do. Therefore, we may trick people into believing the seat is broken. No such leniency exists in this case. No one is obligated to save a seat for me. Don’t worry. It is of no worry – while talking to you, I missed the bus.

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.

Home Feeling Very Far Away

By Gedaliah Borvick

Acouple of weeks ago, I drove my daughter to her apartment on Yoni Netanyahu Street in Givat Shmuel. Gazing at the street sign hearkened me back to July 4, 1976, when we heard the miraculous news of the daring Operation Entebbe in which over 100 hostages were rescued. Sadly, Yoni Netanyahu, who led the elite commando unit, was killed during the mission.

Netanyahu was destined for greatness, as he was named Yonatan in honor of his father’s dear friend Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Patterson, who was the commander of Great Britain’s Jewish Legion during World War I, which was the precursor to Israel’s modern day army, the IDF. Upon retirement from the armed forces, Patterson continued his support

dozen cities across the country are named in honor of this modern day hero.

Staring at the Yoni Netanyahu street sign reminded me that, as an 11-year-old, I wanted to be in Ben Gurion Airport among the throngs of Jews to welcome home the soldiers and the rescued Jews. These emotions reminded me of other times when I experienced similar reactions – and I know that many others also feel far away and yearn to return to Israel during times of crisis.

I recall sitting in the parking lot outside my father’s synagogue on Yom Kippur 1973, comforting a man who was nervously listening to the radio, trying to find out the whereabouts of his son who was serving in the IDF on the day when the war broke out.

homebuying presentations, while rockets are raining down on our precious homeland. Hearing news of Jews running for their lives, I am again experiencing pangs to return home.

How fortunate is the Jewish nation that kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh – all of Israel are responsible for each other. Following Yoni’s lead, may we all forge our own unique path of courage and her-

oism in fulfilling our sacred communal obligation towards Am Yisrael.

Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home (www.myisraelhome.com), a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel. To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@gmail.com.

of Zionism and toiled to save European Jewry during World War II.

Yoni Netanyahu was a renaissance man: a sensitive thinker, philosopher, leader, and decorated soldier. After his death, many of Yoni’s personal letters penned over a 13-year period were published in a book that reveals his penetrating thoughts and convictions, his creative and exceptionally analytical mind, and his dedication to his country and his soldiers. It’s no wonder that streets in half a

During the Second Intifada, which started in 2000, I felt distraught not being in Israel. I appreciate that my emotions were somewhat silly, as my presence in Israel would neither help stop a suicide bomber nor defend rocket fire. And yet, being separated from my brethren – exacerbated by the tragic 9/11 events – served as a visceral reminder that it was time to make aliyah.

I am writing this article in the United States, where I am busy running Israel

Yoni Netanyahu was a renaissance man: a sensitive thinker, philosopher, leader, and decorated soldier.

Fighting for His People

A Jewish Soldier’s Mission to Save His Jewish Nation from Hitler and from the Arabs

By M A lkie Sc H ul MAN

Abba’s crusade to avenge his people began when he went off as a young American Jew to fight the Nazis in World War II. Unfortunately, for him, he was assigned to the Pacific theater, so he didn’t get to realize his goal of personally taking down Nazis. However, when it came to the Israeli Independence War, he did have his dream fulfilled of directly partaking in the destroying of the Jewish enemy in Palestine – the British and the Arabs.

Even as a young child, growing up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in the ‘20s and ‘30s, my father, Eli Freundlich (or Eli Yedidya as he was known in Israel in the Independence War years), was aware of antisemitism, both personally through his own and his parents’ experiences and that of the Jewish people throughout history. Abba never accepted the situation cavalierly, which explains why he was always a Zionist. So, when the war came around, he was anxious to join. As soon as he was of age, 18, he left yeshiva Torah V’daas where he was studying and signed up for the draft.

Most mothers are not keen on having their sons join the army, and my grandmother was like most mothers. At first, Abba was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for basic training. There was no danger of being killed in a war zone down there but there was antisemitism from his fellow barrack mates to be reckoned with. My father put on tefillin every day which must’ve looked strange to the Southern hicks. He had a protector, though, that he liked to tell us about, a big, husky fellow who was a devout Christian. This fellow soldier threatened anybody who dared to touch one of the “People of the Book.”

After about six months in North Carolina, my father was called up to active duty in the South Pacific. To ease his mother’s anxiety, he wrote a year’s worth of letters and asked a soldier pal to send them to her every few weeks. This way ,she would never have to know that he’d been sent overseas. He deliberately kept the letters vague regarding times of the year so it wouldn’t look suspicious if

she was to receive a letter, for example, discussing Purim when it was already Shavuos. At the end, though, that was Abba’s undoing. Because they were so vague, Mama eventually caught on that they weren’t being posted by him.

My father was sent to fight the Japanese in the jungles of New Guinea. He’d tell us about the intense heat. It got so hot, he said, that his tefillin simply disintegrated from the humidity. As the only Orthodox Jew in his unit, there was no tefillin to borrow from anybody else. So, he figured out that the closest Jewish community to the Philippines where he was stationed was Brisbane, Australia. He wrote a letter, addressing it to the rabbi of Brisbane (he had no idea of the name of the rabbi or even if there was a rabbi in Brisbane) and explained that he was an American soldier whose tefillin had disintegrated in the jungle and could he please send him a new pair. Remarkably, he received his new pair!

One of the more humorous war stories Abba would share but always with an eye to Hashem’s miraculous salvations and clear plan for his survival was the time his heavy artillery unit was totally surrounded by the Japanese. The American army was flying overhead dropping food packages for the soldiers. Abba didn’t eat anything with meat in it, so his diet was seriously curtailed. However, he did eat Hershey bars, which were also in the food packages. As the packages were raining from the sky, Abba ran from soldier to soldier to trade his unkosher food for the chocolate. As he was doing that, the enemy was closing in on them, but Abba

was too busy trying to get his chocolate to notice. Thankfully, his captain realized Pvt. Freundlich was missing and sent someone in his unit to find him.

Another story he’d share many times about his time in the U.S. Army was the one about his obsession with getting a clean, fresh new pair of socks. He’d fantasize about what he would do if he had a pair of clean, white socks. I assume he mentioned it in a letter home because one day his dream socks arrived. He carefully and excitedly put them, luxuriating in the cottony, soft feel. That night, when they were in the trenches in the pouring rain, trying to keep the enemy at bay, the wa-

ter seeping into his newly donned socks, Abba’s fantasy of how great life would be if only he had clean white socks was laid to rest.

Though others would disagree, Abba would always be grateful that the atom bombs were dropped. If not for that, he would tell us, none of our family would be here today. He was in the infantry and would’ve been one of the first units sent in to fight on the mainland. Almost all the estimates at the time were that had the invasion not been preempted by the dropping of the atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the campaign (known as Operation Downfall) would have stood as the bloodiest chapter of World War II, adding as many as 10 million additional dead (including civilian and military) to the war’s already mind-boggling final body count of 50 million. Abba was sure that if they had invaded, he would’ve been one of the final body count.

The Journey to Palestine

After the war’s end in 1945, Abba returned to the United States, but his efforts on behalf of the Jewish people, were far from over. Since his teen years, he’d been active in various Jewish Zionist youth movements, fervently believing in the idea of a Jewish homeland. As the Jews in Palestine were fighting for their freedom against the British, Abba began to make his plans to join Etzel – Irgun Tzvai Leumi (also known as the Irgun) headed by Menachem Begin.

At that time, there were three military organizations in pre-state Israel: the Palmach, Etzel and Lechi. Each group had the same goal, to drive the occupying force out of Palestine. Each, however, had a different philosophy on how to accomplish that goal. The Lechi approach was terrorism; the Palmach believed in cooperating with the British; and the Etzel in fighting by attacking military objectives. My father felt most aligned with the Etzel. However, in order to get to Palestine to sign up, he first had to join Beitar, the revisionist organization based in New York that was closely affiliated with the Irgun. He also had to figure out how to get his mother on board with his plans. It’s funny – Abba had no fear when it came to fighting the Nazis, the Japanese, the Brits or the Arabs, yet the fear of “Mama” was something to behold. In the end, he decided not to tell his mother he was planning on joining the Irgun. He didn’t even tell her of his plans to volunteer as a crew member on a ship setting sail for Palestine. So, very early one morning in

December 1946, without telling anybody except for his sister (and she had promised not to say anything), Abba packed his bags and left for the port.

When he was at shipside ready to board, he decided it was safe to call his mother. This, as it turns out, was a mistake because, when his sister handed her mother the phone saying, “It’s for you, Ma. Eli’s on the line. He’s at the dock leaving for Palestine and he wants to say goodbye,” my grandmother, I am told, was so upset, she refused to get on the

Nevertheless, besides for many of the crewmembers including my father, suffering from violent seasickness, the boat did make it to its first rendezvous, Port de-Bouc, France, to pick up 600 war refugees anxious to leave Europe and settle in Palestine. The DPs were crammed into the boat, and despite its few rough starts, like running aground shortly after leaving the French port, no further incidents occurred until they were ten miles from the Palestine coastline. At that point, three British destroyers confronted their ship and ordered them to turn back. When

with the refugees. Quickly tossing the only proof of his American citizenship overboard, his American passport, Abba mingled with the refugees instead of with his crew. When spoken to in English, he pretended he did not understand the language and responded in Yiddish. His ruse worked, and he was sent with the DPs to Cyprus where he spent the next nine months.

A Cyprus Stopover

phone. (Thankfully, they did eventually reconcile.)

The Aliya Bet ship, the SS Ben Hecht, was not much of a ship. It was only the size of a small yacht and a quite rickety one at that. Its name originated from a famous Jewish American actor of the time, Ben Hecht, who had over the years become more and more actively Zionistic. In fact, Ben Hecht had produced several plays and movies starring famous actors like Marlon Brando to publicize the plight of the Jewish refugees in Europe trying to reach British-controlled Palestine.

the SS Ben Hecht refused to comply, the destroyers rammed the sides of the boat, allowing the English soldiers to jump aboard and overpower the smaller boat. As Abba would tell it, in those few chaotic moments, he had a split decision to make: to stay with the other captured American sailors and risk being deported back to America or pretend he was a Holocaust refugee and be sent to Cyprus detention camp. Reasoning that Cyprus, an island off Greece, was a lot closer to Palestine, his intended destination, than the U.S., he decided to throw his lot in

Growing up as I did with Abba, I had witnessed on many occasions one of his less healthy attributes – his inability to throw anything out. But at least in one instance, I appreciate this tendency to hold on to everything because I now retain dozens of stamped and postmarked envelopes from friends and relatives from as far back as 1932. The majority of the envelopes no longer contain any letters but just seeing a postmark dated 1938 from my great-grandfather from Dej, Romania, to his daughter, my grandmother (Abba’s mother), on Throop Ave in Williamsburg is thrilling for me. It gives me a sense of continuity as it validates and reinforces the stories of the forbears that I grew up with. For me, though the postmarked stamps have no monetary value, the stories they tell are priceless.

Of course, the envelopes with actual letters in them are even more precious. In my possession is one such envelope postmarked Cyprus from a Mordechai Yefune, a Russian Jewish Holocaust refugee who was a fellow detention camp inmate with Abba. The letter, written in Hebrew, begins, “Le’yedidi ha’yakar v’l’mori Eli ” – to my precious friend and my teacher,

it’s funny – Abba had no fear when it came to fighting the Nazis, the Japanese, the Brits or the Arabs, yet the fear of “Mama” was something to behold.

Eli, and is dated Rosh Chodesh Adar 5708 - 1948 . Mordechai thanks Abba for sending pictures, asks for all the latest news, tells him nothing is doing in Cyprus except the Sochnut is sending 2,000 children “l’Aretz ” from Cyprus and wonders when his family’s turn will come to be released to the land of their birthright.

He sounds frustrated, yet excited as he writes, “Ulam mah lasot? Sha’ah historit achshav v’mimena ain l’himalet” -– but what’s there to do? It’s a historic moment which we cannot escape from.

He then admonishes my father to write back quickly because it could be that by the time his letters get back to him, the hoped-for day will already have arrived.

We now know that two months later Mordechai Yefune’s longed-for day did indeed arrive. Israel became a Jewish state in Iyar of that year.

Joining Etzel

After my father was released from Cyprus, he was sent to Palestine where he was interned once again in a detention camp on the outskirts of Haifa. Six weeks later, sometime at the end of 1947, he obtained his final release and was at last able to join the Irgun.

Abba’s story of how he was inducted into Etzel is gripping. On occasion, he would share with us the spy-like story details. The first thing he did, he would tell us, after leaving Atlit was to reach out to a Betar group contact that he knew from the U.S. Through the contact, he was sent to Beit Jabotinsky in Tel Aviv where he shared a brief history of his background to the few Etzel members there. Not long

afterwards, he received instructions to appear on a certain street at a certain time and date with a book in his left hand. He was to relay a password and receive further instructions. Abba followed the directions, and at the appointed place and time, a young man appeared. After exchanging passwords, Abba was instructed to proceed to a house that appeared to be in the middle of construction down the street and wait inside. Stepping over debris, building material and holes, my father entered the dark house. After what

answer was, “No.”

A few days later, my father was ordered to report to a broken-down home in a poor section of Tel Aviv where, together with other new Etzel recruits, he was to begin an orientation course. The course covered the philosophy, goals, and methods of Etzel. The only trouble, my father would ruefully say, was that the course was in Hebrew and given at the end of a working day. This combination put him to sleep but, in the end, it didn’t matter because he knew why he was there and

As a chaver of Etzel, Abba was on call all the time, any time, day or night for a “p’oola” (an action). He only knew the name of the person above him instructing him regarding the p’oola and the person or persons he was engaging with on the action. Other than that, it was a completely secret organization.

At first, Abba stayed at home, waiting for his call but after a while, he was instructed to spend several weeks living in a pardes (orchard) for further training and to be more readily available for a p’oola. His first p’oola came shortly after that when he was called out one morning to catch a transport that was to take him and a few others to the town of Binyomina. Their job (which they carried out) was to derail a British train that was transporting ammunition.

War Miracles and More Miracles

Abba would often talk about the string of miracles Hashem wrought for him while with the Etzel. They began in June of 1948 when the British occupation was pretty much over but the Arab invasion had just begun. Abba’s unit was assigned the former Beit Kitzinim that was used as a base by the British during World War II to train Iraqis situated in the city of Ramle. Their mission was to overtake the base, and then move on with reinforcements to occupy the city.

The truth of the matter was, Etzel was a ragtag group of passionate individuals ready to sacrifice for their cause, but they were not an organized army in any sense. My father would often say that except for him and perhaps a few others, nobody had any training in the use of weapons. He had training, of course, because he’d been in the American army.

seemed to be a long time, another young man entered and led him into another darkened, uninhabited house. However, Abba did not get a chance to take in his surroundings because as soon as he arrived, a spotlight was shone directly into his face preventing him from seeing his questioner (or anything else). A voice began asking him many questions: “Why do you want to join Etzel? What is your background?” Then, the voice asked Abba if he had any questions. Abba’s only question was, “Once I’m accepted, can I resign if I’m not happy with the conditions?” The

he was ready for whatever would come.

A few weeks later, Abba graduated. The ceremony took place in the courtyard of a school late at night, lit only by the light of the moon. The building was locked so they had to climb over the fence to the yard behind. In the middle of the yard was a table covered with an Israeli flag, a Chumash, and a pistol. Each recruit stepped up to the table placing his right hand on the Chumash, his left on the pistol, and took an oath. Then they climbed back over the fence – proud chaverim of Etzel.

In this particular action, since my father was the only one who knew how to use weapons, he was assigned to the only machine gun. The trouble was, the machine gun didn’t work. It had been taken from the British along with the bullets. Unfortunately, they were the wrong bullets. This piece of information took Abba the whole night to figure out which leads us to his first reported miracle.

“My buddy and I sat in a windowless bunker,” my father would share, “about 10-feet by 10-feet, constructed of brick walls. We were sitting in such a way that the gun end lay across his legs with the front end past the side of his stomach. We were trying to fit each bullet into the gun for an accurate fit. Occasionally, when the gun was empty of bullets, I would pull the trigger. Only one time when I pulled the

Not long afterwards, he received instructions to appear on a certain street at a certain time and date with a book in his left hand. He was to relay a password and receive further instructions.

trigger, I didn’t realize that the gun wasn’t empty. The gun fired, and we could hear the bullet bounce off the walls, ricocheting several times around the room, from wall to wall until it stopped. Neither of us were hit.”

The next miracle occurred the following day when unexpectedly the Arabs invaded the area and captured the position. Abba quickly saw that they were outnumbered (it was just him and three other Etzelniks) and realized it was time to skedaddle. But in order to plan their escape route, he needed to determine the Arabs’ exact position. That meant he had to leave the relative safety of his bunker and crouch unseen along its side to get to the corner so he could look around it and see how close the Arabs were.

When he reached the corner, he saw the muzzle of a rifle sticking out and pointing upward at the fourth floor of a tall building 20 feet away.

“In that moment,” my father recounted, “I froze in my tracks as I waited for the Arab to stick his head around the corner and see me. But, baruch Hashem, he fired first at the building — which I knew was empty — and only then looked around the corner.”

At that point, Abba allowed himself to breathe. He knew the Arab had no more bullets in his rifle and would have to reload before firing again. My father, on the other hand, did still have a bullet in his rifle…. And so, though it was one Arab down, there were many more pouring in from behind. Abba scooted back to the bunker and told the others it was now or never.

Truthfully, Abba couldn’t imagine how any of them would make it without getting shot in the back since the only way to safety was through reaching a pardes 100 yards away and that included jumping over a four-foot-high pile of rubble in broad daylight to get to it. So, while rethinking his plan to make a run for it and getting, as he put it, “a bad case of cold feet, the Ribbono Shel Olam demonstrated for me that there is such a phenomenon as hashgocha pratis. He shot me in order to save my life.”

What happened then was, still deliberating, Abba stepped out of the bunker once more to size up the situation. Just then, one of his buddies ran into the room, wounded. With one foot and half his body already out the door, my father turned to see two Arabs facing him with their rifles. Simultaneously, they fired. Abba saw two chips of brick fall away from the edge of the doorpost and felt an impact in his chest. Having been shot at

point-blank range, my father expected to see his chest blown away, or at least blood gushing in torrents. In those milliseconds, he wondered when the excruciating pain would begin. But he also knew that if they didn’t run immediately, he would certainly bleed to death.

Meanwhile, the two Arabs had ducked into the next-door bunker. My father quickly dropped a hand grenade into their room, effectively incapacitating them. He ran back into his bunker and said, “Chevreh, we have to go.” (The “chevreh,” by the way, consisted of two wounded men, a 17-year-old female medic, and one scared teenager who threw away his rifle and the rifles of the wounded as they ran.)

In full view of the enemy and defenseless as they were, the four of them hurtled over the four-foot rubble heap to the orchard beyond. In fact, though they knew the Arabs were attacking from the east, how did they know there weren’t Arabs lying in wait for them in the opposite direction as well? They also had no idea where they’d find their own forces. With not much of an option, they decided to head in the direction of the setting sun. Miraculously, they did not meet even one armed Arab and eventually bumped into friendly forces.

If you have been following this story closely, you may still be wondering how Abba survived being shot at by two bullets at such close range. Through another miracle, of course. Abba didn’t realize it at the time, but both the Arabs missed their target (him) and hit the doorpost instead. The actual wound my father did sustain was from exploding shrapnel from the grenade his friend accidentally dropped shortly before he ran into the bunker at the precise moment my father stepped out

of it. Believing he was about to bleed to death, however, was what gave my father and his group the courage to overcome their fear and attempt the run to safety.

Thus ends the story of my father’s wartime exploits. He returned to the United States at the end of 1949 and came back to Israel again for a year

in 1956 to teach immigrant children. His intention was to make aliyah, but he would say the red tape was insurmountable (note – the Arab enemy wasn’t insurmountable for him but the Israeli bureaucracy was) – he’d go to one office only to be told that he needed to be in another office, only to be told that he had brought the wrong papers, only to be told he really did need to be in the first (or second or third) office but on a different day. At that point, in great frustration, in front of the clerk, he ripped up whatever papers he had brought and left. He was also by that time disenchanted with (what he believed to be) the government’s leftist policies of “let’s get along and make peace with all our enemies” whom he was convinced wanted nothing more than to drive us into the sea at the first opportunity (as indeed they did).

But Abba never lost his passion and idealism to do what he could to protect and defend the Jewish people. Years later, he encouraged my brother to join Meir Kahane’s (Hy”d) Jewish Defense League (JDL), and he was very proud, in his later years, when some of his grandchildren joined the IDF (Israeli Defense Force), continuing his legacy as proud defenders of the Jewish people.

What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

I have been dating a great guy for three months and I’m ready to end it. I know he is going to be heartbroken and not see this coming. I just don’t feel within my gut that he is right for me. He has given me lots of gifts such as jewelry, brand name sunglasses, gorgeous handbags. This is making it so much harder to end the relationship because I know how much he invested. Do I have to return all of these items? Should I offer to give them back to him? I don’t want to hurt him more than I already have. Any advice would be helpful.

The Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz, M.S.

Ithink what you are saying is that you don’t want to complicate the breakup further by bringing material things into it. It seems that you care that he not be hurt further and that this will come as a surprise to him. However, what comes across in your communication is that you are aware that his purchase of expensive gifts for you may have been an expression of his feelings. You may not have communicated your own feelings as the relationship developed. You may also have easily accepted these gifts without thinking. Perhaps acceptance communicated your feelings, too. Gifts are one of the love languages, remember that.

It could also be that he was dazzling you with expensive items in order to impress you.

It is for this reason that dating couples in the Jewish world don’t give each other expensive gifts until commitments are happening. In our world, we date for marriage and accepting gifts implies commitment and feelings. In the future, don’t accept gifts until you are ready to commit. Learn from this experience.

What to do now is your question, however. Once he understands that your relationship is over (and that may take more than one conversation), do offer to return the gifts. That is the mature, responsible thing to do.

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

Mazal tov on gaining clarity in your relationship. It sounds like the love language of the guy you are dating is gifting. You are ready to end the re -

lationship but still have lots of physical memorabilia. I can understand why that is very uncomfortable for you. It is especially hard to break up with someone when they have invested a lot of money in you. It leaves you feeling awkward and uncomfortable like you owe them something in return; you almost feel guilty breaking up the relationship. This is why the mehalech in religious dating is to refrain from gift giving until the engagement.

I do not believe he expects you to return all of the items that he gave you. In the moment, he felt it was right to spend, wine and dine you. When a couple ends a relationship, they do not have to pretend it did not happen. A couple can learn many things from past relationships, and take forward with them all of the things they learned to help them grow as people and in future relationships.

In my opinion, offering to give everything back is like a slap in the face. The

way you felt about each other in those moments were very real, and there is no purpose in trying to erase history. What you can do, however, is specifically thank him for all of the presents and ask him if there is anything that he has given to you that he specifically wants back. Make it more like you are looking out for his needs rather than you specifically wanting to give everything back.

Hatzlacha with the breakup, and with everything in the future.

Offering to give everything back is like a slap in the face.

The Single

Tzipora Grodko

I’m so happy that you have clarity of mind and feel confident about your decision. The most respectful and best decision you can make for both of you is to take honest action based on how you’re feeling. Any decision out of pressure or guilt only prolongs the inevitable and can cause more pain. Feeling bad about a breakup is natural, especially since it’s the one area in a person’s life where they confidently know that their decisions are directly causing discomfort or distress for someone else. Feel proud of your clear head – you got this, girl.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Let’s choose to not discuss why you have accepted expensive

gifts when you were not certain about the relationship. Instead, let’s focus on how to break up with your boyfriend and what to do with the gifts you’ve received.

How to breakup

I searched for good advice. First, according to www.wikihow.com/Break-Upwith-Your-Boyfriend, “Don’t put off the conversation once you’re sure it’s what you want. Dragging it out will be harder on him in the long-run.”

Second, according to Sara Schewitz, PsyD., “Meet him somewhere that’s somewhat private. Ask him to go for a walk with you or meet up with him at a park or somewhere similar. That way, once it’s done, you can go your separate ways. If you are unsure of how he’ll react, schedule the meeting in a more public place, like a coffee shop.”

Third, according to Psychology Behavioral Health at Nemours Children’s Health:

1. Tell him that you want to talk about something important.

Pulling It All Together

Thank you

for writing into the panel. First and foremost, I want to say that it is wonderful that you have chosen to end a relationship that does not serve you or grow you as a person. Most women I have had the pleasure and honor of working with during the decision-making part of a breakup tend to feel badly about it. It never feels good to hurt someone else, and we are always taught to be kind to others. We are taught to put others before ourselves. This is a beautiful sentiment, and there is a definite time and place for this rule of life. But the time and place for this rule is defi-

nitely not in the arena of re - lationships. When we date someone, we are not guarantee- ing a future, and the kindest and hardest thing to do is to break up when you know in your heart of hearts that you are not happy.

What to do with that jewelry? I did a quick Google search after reading your question… “Should I give my ex-boyfriend back the jewelry he gave to me?” And wouldn’t you know? There are so many different answers. It seems to boil down to what you are most comfortable with. If

2. Start by mentioning something you like or value about him. For example: “I really like you and I’m glad we’ve gotten to know each other.”

3. Say what’s not working (your reason for the break-up). For example: “I like you as a friend, but not as a permanent partner.”

4. Say, “So, I want to break up.”

5. Say you’re sorry if this hurts. For example: “I don’t want to hurt you. I’m sorry if this isn’t the way you wanted things to be.”

6. Say something kind or positive. For example: “I’m glad that I got to know you. I’m sure there will be another girl who is just perfect for you.”

What to do about gifts

While legally, the gifts are your property, it would be a thoughtful gesture to return them.

Without question, expensive jewelry or heirlooms should definitely be returned. And, it would be best to return these at the breakup, in order to make it clear that the breakup is final and irrevocable.

When it comes to other expensive gifts, what would you do with them? Will

you hang on to them as a happy reminder of an enjoyable relationship? Will you store them away, never to be seen again? Will they be a constant reminder of a sad misadventure? Will you give them to a relative who can use them?

On one of those ubiquitous online forums someone wrote, “By returning the gifts, it allowed me to confirm that the relationship was over, close this chapter and move on.” Another wrote, “Return certain gifts swiftly, rather than clinging onto them and making your ex ask for them.”

Best wishes for successful, future relationships.

it feels wrong to keep it, or like you are holding onto his energy that you’d like to release, then return it. There is nothing “wrong” with keeping it. It is a keepsake of the time you had together. You are not an investment. I think most women keep jewelry, and some return the pieces. And of the ones who offer to return, most are told to keep it because it was a gift. Perhaps some may disagree, but when a man comes on very strong with an army of designer and brand name, high end gifts, this makes me raise an eyebrow. Was he investing in the relationship, or did he have something to prove or gain? Does he feel confident in himself to show up without all that stuff? Nice things are nice, and most women love a nice gift. That’s in our nature. But any over-thetop behavior in a relationship (like tons of expensive gifts early on) may be telling

of something else.

I’m curious if you asked him about all the expensive gifts along the way and what he said. Also, I’m curious how you felt getting all this stuff and if you have any insight into why he may have made all these over-the-top purchases in three months. Please do not feel guilty for a moment over his choice to purchase. You didn’t twist his arm. It was his decision, knowing full well it may not work out. Sometimes, people go full blast over-the-top with an outrageous parade of presents because they don’t know how else to “keep” you interested. They think they have to buy you. It was his choice. Don’t take that on. And it is genuinely your choice what you do with it.

Best of luck making the decision!

Sincerely, Jennifer

The kindest and hardest thing to do is to break up when you know in your heart of hearts that you are not happy.

School of Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:Dear Etti, I am horrified. I believe the school crossed a line, and I want you to address it.

My husband and I were called into a meeting and told, not straight out but I am smart enough to get the gist, that our daughter is spoiled. I think there are some jealous parents who are filling the administration’s ears with vile thoughts. We are an upstanding family. Is it so terrible that we give our children nice clothes and items? We can afford to. And lest you think we are a selfish family, we give plenty of tzedakah and our children know how much we value chessed and giving to others.

You have the ear of schools, teachers, and parents alike. Share how no one can judge what goes into other people’s homes.

-Irritated at Others’ Judgement

A:Dear Feeling Judged, I can see that you are definitely irritated, but I beg you to take a step back and reassess the situation. Maybe the administration was simply trying to help you with your daughter and not trying to judge you. In fact, I commend them for having the difficult conversation! It cannot be easy for a school that needs all the financial support they can get to risk annoying you or your husband. There must be a true feeling of caring they have for your daughter to call you and your husband into a meeting for such a sensitive topic.

I have to share a secret from the teacher’s side of the desk. Not only wealthy and well-to-do families run the risk of raising a spoiled child. I have seen children from low-income houses act spoiled as well.

The good news is that, especially for a family such as yours that values chessed and giving, spoiled behavior is a learned behavior, so it can be unlearned. Your child(ren) might not appreciate it at first, and you might find it challenging, but the results are worth it. Parenting styles that are too permissive and giving actually prevent children from building the ability to handle adversity and limits their ability to build resilience, a necessary component to living a successful life.

To truly carry forth your values and family legacy, you can teach your child(ren) to wear nice clothing and have the latest things and still not be spoiled.

Even if you disagree with the premise that your child is spoiled, the school is seeing some behavior that concerns them. That should concern you. Put aside your feelings and begin fact-finding and helping your child.

Dr. Michelle Borba is an educational psychologist and the author of Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine and UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World. She shares some practical tips that help parents raise children into successful and empathetic adults.

• It is okay, and even beneficial, to say “no” to your children.

• Give praise to reinforce good values.

• Build appreciation, a gratitude attitude.

• Delay gratification

• Consider other people’s feelings

• Make giving, not getting, the important message in your family

1. It is okay, and even beneficial, to say “no” to your children.

Parents want to have happy children. But truly happy children are not children who get whatever they want whenever they want. Research shows that children who are raised with structure and boundaries are happier than children raised in very permissive homes where the word “no” is rarely heard (Child self-esteem and different parenting styles of mothers: A cross-sectional study, March 2017). Say no with a short explanation, realizing that saying yes can be detrimental in the long run. “I know you want that dress, but you have three Shabbos dresses already and another one is unnecessary.” Or “It’s time for homework and then you can play.” The word no does not have to feature in the sentence, but firmness with love does, and your child should not be able to change your mind just by wearing you down. Think of the bigger picture. Giving in now means she never has rules to follow, a worrisome idea for a growing child.

2. Give praise to reinforce good values.

Instead of asking your child about test marks, or complimenting her on how pretty she looks, praise her for doing something nice for or with another person. Ask, “What was something nice you did for someone today?” and share the ways you helped others as well. Your daughter wants to please you, so show her that caring about others and doing nice things for others makes you happy!

3. Build Appreciation, a Gratitude Attitude. You can give your daughter everything money has to

buy, and she can still be unhappy. Her classmates can have almost nothing and be happy every day. The difference is in life perception. Families I know report going around the dinner table and sharing one thing they are grateful for that happened that day. Others say they ask the question as their child gets home from school, and others tell me they share gratitude before bed. Everyone who practices an attitude of gratitude reports a higher level of happiness in their children and in their home.

Research shows that an attitude of gratitude helps children cope better with life challenges, feel happier overall, and actually increases their overall satisfaction with life.

4. Delay gratification.

Over five studies that I found in my research (and I am sure there are so many more), show that when children can wait, instead of expecting and receiving everything right away, academic and financial success is more likely. Being able to delay gratification is a sign of willpower, a great muscle to develop to succeed in life.

Put a shopping trip on the calendar instead of going when your daughter complains she needs something. Ask your child to give someone a turn first.

5. Consider other people’s feelings.

An example is to ask your child to think about the other person’s point of view. “How did the other child feel when you said that? What could you have said instead? What can you do about it now?” Empathetic people are kinder people. We want our children to care about others.

6. Make giving, not getting, the important message in your family.

How can you create opportunities for giving? Does your child have to go through his/her closet and choose items to give away before getting other items? Can she be a “mother’s helper” to a family down the block that could use a little reprieve, not for pay but just to give? Does she know how to say “thank you” for a gift she does not want, to make the giver feel good? Setting limits on how much your child should be owning is important. Excess does not equal happiness. Having so much more than others does not ensure friendships or feelings of security.

Hatzlacha.

-Etti

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

MRS. ETTY SLANSKY JUNIORS DIRECTOR

We just celebrated the giving of the Torah. I hope it was a joyous day for all TJH readers. Outsiders may question the benefit of having external rules and limitations, mistakenly thinking that halacha is oppressive. As insiders, we can appreciate the value of divine structure. For example, when others see marriage as limiting or unnecessary, we recognize the beauty of a relationship untainted by others. Rather than being restrictive, our total commitment to our spouse requires that we invest in this unique relationship.

It’s the very restrictions of Shabbos that maintain the sanctity of the holy day. Rather than stifling our enjoyment, we’re required to take a step back from our weekly stresses and focus on those around us and that which is within us.

Kids, too, require limits and restrictions to develop properly. Rules aren’t only to prevent kids from playing with knives and running in the street, they also help teach children to respect themselves and their surroundings as

Setting the Standard

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

well as learn self-control. It’s often all too obvious when you see a child who is raised without limitations – and it’s not too pleasant. Even something simple like table manners can be the difference between a child who is welcome in the home of others or the child who nobody wants to invite. Rather than be hefker, children require our loving guidance, support and encouragement. Developing boundaries is one part of that.

Too many rules can be stifling, and we want to maintain a happy balance. That balance will differ per child as well as by each stage of development. The main constant is that our children need to recognize our rules stem from love and our desire to see them grow into the mature individuals they are meant to become.

Rhyme and Reason

There are many different types of rules and expectations we have throughout life. Some are universal, while others are more cultural or family specific.

Part of growing up is understanding

what’s expected of us at different times and learning to match our behavior with what’s appropriate.

Some rules are basic safety precautions. This is the “don’t run with knives” category. For their own safety, children need to learn to cross the street carefully or to wait for an adult to help them. They learn to not go near strangers and to avoid eating random things from the dirt. These rules are mostly universal.

Some rules are common courtesy and manners. These are important but for different reasons. This category includes saying “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” or not drinking from someone else’s water bottle. It also means we hold the door for others and not sneeze into our hand before offering to shake. These rules not only show respect to others but also make us more pleasant to be around.

Our unique cultural needs will naturally give us our own set of rules. “Fitting in” to the local community includes understanding these community specific standards. Many gentiles who

interact with our community often will make the effort to learn these differences. It’s thoughtful and a sign of respect when they know to not shake hands with the opposite gender or they try to find a kosher establishment for business meetings.

There are also personal sensitivities that individuals or communities have. This may be the person who prefers to not eat standing up or the community that doesn’t use first names for the opposite gender.

To function within society it’s crucial that our children learn how to interact with others and what is and isn’t appropriate. Even just knowing that we don’t knock on a neighbor’s door too early or too late is important for children to know.

The Basics

It’s our job as their loving adults to ensure they understand all these fancy standards that exist. Whenever we set limits or make a rule, we want to be clear, consistent and fair.

Our standards need to be clear, and it’s unfair to our children when we leave them confused about our expectations. For example, if we say “don’t go too far,” we need to define “too far” since our understanding of “too far” will certainly differ from that of our child. “Stop at the white fence” is objective. The clearer we can be, the more likely they will respond appropriately. Children can be very literal and concrete thinkers. “Don’t call too late” is vague, even for an older child. “No calls after 10:00” is specific. We should be consistent, and if we make a rule, then we need to enforce it. It’s better to avoid too many regulations because it can be tiring playing a police officer all day. Inconsistency also teaches children to ignore their adults and may erode parental authority. We have to use seichel, and we can make it clear when there is an exception. “Usually, you can’t drink in this room, but I’m making an exception for your water bottle while you’re sick.”

Rules can’t be haphazard. While children don’t always need to understand the reason behind the limits we place on them, there should be a purpose behind them. It’s our job to guide

them and educate them, but we don’t need to be needlessly bossy.

It’s not necessary for children to understand everything we say nor do we owe them an explanation. It’s best when we can give a reason and helpful for them to see the cause and effect, but, ultimately, they need to follow our rules

joy doing gymnastics on their friends’ couch (which their family permitted). Different places have different expectations, and children need to learn how to behave in each environment. For example, the decorum at a kiddush is different from that of a wedding, and their behavior needs to change accordingly.

As parents, we teach by example. We should behave the way we want our children to follow. For example, parents that refrain from speaking lashon hara at the table will have very different conversations than families that consider local gossip their main pastime. We certainly can’t engage in such hateful speech yet demand our children show restraint. If we want our child to use cutlery when eating, then we need to avoid using our fingers during meals. Similarly, parents that behave in a dignified manner can hope their children will follow.

because we care for them and (hopefully) know better.

Years ago, we often hosted the children of family friends who were more relaxed than we were. Their mother had patiently explained to them where our rules differed, and the children quickly acclimated. They were careful to remember to respect our family’s house rules and our kids learned to en-

Similarly, each family has their own rules and children need to respect those regulations wherever they are.

Children, especially teens, can be far more self-conscious than we appreciate, and we want to avoid embarrassing them. We can be mindful that our rules should not needlessly embarrass them, nor should we correct or criticize them in front of others.

Educating our children to be respectful and appropriate in all situations they encounter is giving them a gift. Interpersonal relationships can be complicated, but when trained from a young age to respect others and themselves, our children will be one step closer to learning to create the bonds that are so necessary with others.

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.

To function within society it’s crucial that our children learn how to interact with others and what is and isn’t appropriate.

Improving Your Gut Health

By Aliza Beer MS, RD, CDN

Gut health plays an essential role in maintaining one’s overall well-being due to its interactions with the immune system, metabolism, and even mental health. The gastrointestinal tract is home to trillions of microorganisms collectively known as the gut microbiota. This intricate ecosystem influences vari-

ous aspects of human health. It facilitates the breakdown and absorption of nutrients, produces vitamins, and contributes to the maturation of the immune system. A healthy gut microbiota helps regulate inflammation, strengthens the gut barrier, and aids in the synthesis of bioactive compounds that impact physiological

processes in the body. Disturbances in gut health, such as dysbiosis, compromised gut barrier function, or chronic inflammation, can have extreme consequences. Dysbiosis is an imbalance in the natural microorganisms that live in the digestive system, which, if untreated, can eventually lead to a weak immune system. These gut health disturbances have been implicated in the development of various gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastrointestinal cancers. Furthermore, new studies suggest that imbalances in the gut microbiota may be associated with conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even neurological disorders like anxiety and depression. Therefore, promoting and maintaining a healthy gut through targeted dietary interventions and lifestyle modifications is crucial for preventing and managing these conditions, optimizing nutrient absorption, and supporting immune function.

Here are some foods that can help improve your gut health:

• Probiotic yogurt . Probiotics are live, beneficial bacteria that can colonize the gut and restore a healthy balance of microorganisms. This healthy balance promotes digestion, nutrient absorption, and supports a strong immune system by building up resistance to certain pathogens.

• Turmeric . It contains an active compound called curcumin, which can help improve gut health in several ways. Curcumin has been studied for its anti-inflammatory properties, and research

even suggests that it can alleviate symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Additionally, curcumin has been shown to support the maintenance of a healthy gut barrier, which prevents the leakage of toxins and harmful substances into the bloodstream. You can incorporate turmeric into your diet by adding it to chicken seasoning, soup, tea, and more.

A popular tea made of turmeric is called Golden Tea. Below is the recipe for turmeric tea.

• Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based like almond, coconut, or oat milk)

• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

• Instructions:

• In a small saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat to just before it begins to boil.

• Add the ground turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and black pepper to the saucepan. Whisk well to combine all the ingredients.

• Continue heating the mixture for about 3-5 minutes.

• Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the tea cool slightly.

• Use a mesh strainer to catch any sediment and enjoy!

• Magnesium. It has a slew of different GI benefits, the first being that it regulates muscle contractions. It is a key component of smooth muscle function, helping to promote regular bowel movements and prevent issues like constipa-

tion. Next, it supports enzyme function. Many digestive enzymes require magnesium as a cofactor for their proper function. This just means that enzymes are responsible for breaking down food components and facilitating nutrient absorption in the gut. Also, magnesium promotes bowel regularity. Magnesium has a mild laxative effect, which can help promote regular bowel movements by drawing water into the intestines, making it easier to pass. Lastly, it reduces inflammation, which promotes a healthy gut environment, leading to stronger immunity from disease. Examples of foods that are particularly high in magnesium are avocados, bananas, and dark leafy greens.

• Bone broth. Beef bone broth is a type of broth made by simmering beef bones, along with other spices, in water over a long period of time. The first benefit of bone broth is that it provides nutrients for gut lining. It is rich in nutrients like collagen, gelatin, and amino acids, which can help support the integrity and repair of the gut lining and are essential for maintaining a healthy gut barrier. Next, it supports gut microbiota. Bone broth contains glycosaminoglycans, which can act as prebiotic in the body, providing nourishment for beneficial

gut bacteria. By promoting the growth of this beneficial bacteria, bone broth may help support a balanced and diverse gut microbiota. It also soothes inflammation because it contains anti-inflammatory compounds, such as chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases or other gut-related inflammatory conditions. Lastly, bone broth assists in digestion. The gelatin in bone broth can help improve digestion by promoting the production of digestive enzymes and supporting the breakdown of food. Drink bone broth in the morning on an empty stomach for the best results; below is a recipe for beef bone broth soup.

• Ingredients:

• 4 cups beef bone broth

• 1 cup cooked shredded beef (from the bone broth or leftover cooked beef)

• 1 carrot, sliced

• 1 celery stalk, sliced

• 1 small onion, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Instructions:

• In a pot, heat the beef bone broth over medium heat until it begins to simmer.

You can customize this recipe by adding other vegetables or herbs based on preference.

• Add the shredded beef, carrot, celery, onion, and minced garlic to the pot.

• Stir the ingredients and let the soup simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

• Season with salt and pepper to taste.

• Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro if desired.

• Serve the beef bone broth soup hot and enjoy it’s comforting flavors.

In conclusion, maintaining a healthy gut is of paramount importance for overall well-being. The intricate balance of gut microbiota, the integrity of the gut barrier, and efficient digestion all play crucial roles in supporting optimal gut health. Furthermore, gut health plays a vital role in immunity. Our gut produces immunoglobulins, which are proteins that help locate and neutralize harmful bacteria and viruses. The healthier the gut is, the more able it is to fight pathogens and disease-causing agents. By implementing these dietary strategies and prioritizing your gut health, you can unlock the key to overall wellness and pave the way for a healthier and happier life.

Aliza Beer is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She has a private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Patients’ success has been featured on the Dr. Oz show. Aliza can be reached at alizabeer@gmail.com, and you can follow her on Instagram at @alizabeer

Gut health plays a vital role in immunity.

Masked-Up, Zipped-Up, and Tight-Lipped

By Miriam Hendeles

“You know, you better be careful. That’s the second time you lowered your mask, and I’m going to report you…. You’ll be kicked off the plane!”

A woman to my right on the plane about to take off was clearly very angry.

In my seat on a flight with my husband sleeping across the aisle, I was jarred by this woman’s comment. I had been scribbling notes on my to-do list and wasn’t prepared for this sudden outburst. This was supposed to be a calm flight back to LA after visiting our children who live in the Midwest.

I looked to my right at the woman with a large, flowered mask covering her mouth and nose, and I could feel the daggers shooting from her barely visible eyes. I wanted to respond, explain, defend. Perhaps out of fear, I was frozen. A part of me felt an out-of-body experience, that I was watching an unusual drama take place on an video.

I felt my mask with my hands – yes, it was over my nose. I said nothing.

“You will be kicked off the plane,” she repeated. “Be careful!”

I guess these things happened in real life, not just to those you read about in the news. The outbursts over masks, the wars between mask enforcers and others. I visualized myself in the news the next day – “woman gets thrown off the plane for allegedly lowering her mask two times.”

A flight attendant appeared in the aisle right next to me. “What’s going on here?” she asked, looking from the woman to me and back to the woman.

“What’s going on here is that this lady keeps removing her mask and so is the guy with her,” the woman said, pointing to my husband who was sleeping in another row. (How did she know we were together? Hmmm…)

I leaned across the aisle where he sat and pulled his mask even higher than it was over his nose to touch his sleeping eyes.

The flight attendant looked at me and back at the woman.

“Well, she’s clearly wearing her mask now,” she said to the woman. And then to me: “Please keep your mask covering your nose and mouth, okay?”

I wondered if the woman would calm down. No such luck.

“You know, I really don’t know what you people are doing,” she continued on addressing the flight attendant. “You’re supposed to be enforcing the law, and you’re not. I noticed a whole lot of people not wearing masks, and you don’t even say anything.”

The flight attendant responded: “This woman is complying so we’re good…. okay?”

“I don’t know, you aren’t even enforcing the mask situation. I see lots of people not covering their faces and you don’t even say anything; I’m going to complain to the airline!” she scolded, while looking over her shoulder around the plane.

“Well,” said the flight attendant smiling slightly, “I do remind people to wear their masks properly.” And then she offered the woman: “Would you like to switch seats?”

I wasn’t sure how that would help the woman, if everyone wasn’t complying in her mind. But I welcomed the possible re -

spite for myself from the angry seat mate.

“Yes, I would like that, please,” the woman responded. “Please find me a better seat, and I’ll gladly move.”

She continued on for a few more minutes, ranting and raving to herself. Every so often for another five minutes, she mumbled something under her breath. And just like that, the whole thing was over.

I breathed a sigh of relief and closed my eyes for the duration of the flight. In the end, the woman left me alone for the most part, aside from some looks at me, checking to see if I was complying with the law.

Later, I thought of the event and realized that I hadn’t said a word the entire time. I just watched and kept tight-lipped while the woman carried on with her tirade until she was done. The flight attendant did her job of diffusing it, and I stayed calm.

This is a great tool for life, to be used on many occasions. When I’m aware that there’s nothing I can say that will change the other person’s mind, I can accept that and remain silent. I don’t have to over-explain or argue. I don’t have to calm the other person down. I don’t have to try

to fix things. I can remain tight-lipped and let things run their course. I can ride the waves of someone else’s upsetness. I can let Hashem take over.

I could have been triggered by the angry lady and responded. Instead, I got to practice the technique of letting go and letting G-d take over, a useful method in many life encounters. By keeping my mouth zipped (and covered!) and letting G-d take over in the form of a trained flight attendant, I was free from useless debates with people whose minds will not be changed by any over-explaining.

In these days and times, the emotional temperature of those with definite opinions is higher than usual. The norm is to argue, debate, and be right all the time. The stakes are high, and we want to avoid escalation into serious conflict. It’s never pleasant to be critiqued. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of pulling up the mask over our nose, correcting what’s wrong on our end, and moving forward. That diffuses the situation.

But other times, people continue to attack. It’s their prejudice or whatever that is behind their impulse to find fault. Are we going to change their minds? Do we have to? Does that stranger on the bus or plane or on a social media thread really need to learn a lesson from us? No, they don’t.

As for me, I certainly don’t need to change the minds of others when my goal is just to ride safely as a passenger on the sometimes bumpy flight called life. I think I’ll choose to remain quiet and let the experts run the flight – as I did on that flight to Los Angeles. I’m glad I wasn’t part of the sensational news and even happier I averted being an item in the next day’s daily news. Thank you, but no thank you. Safely home. Whew.

Fd for Thought Dolcetto

By Nati Burnside

Not many people outside of the area would know where to find Chestnut Ridge. The Monsey suburb sits in the hills of Rockland County, just north of the New Jersey border. It’s quiet, it’s beautiful, and it’s home to Dolcetto.

While some rave about the food, others have barely ever heard of Dolcetto’s existence. Having opened last year, Dolcetto isn’t the biggest restaurant. In fact, they are expanding to include more seats both inside and outside to accommodate the patrons who come with their recent popularity. With a location and ambiance as intimate as can be expected anywhere in the tri-state area, that popularity seems warranted before you even open the menu.

When I was invited to experience Dolcetto, the first thing that I noticed was the elegant, yet rustic look of the building. The outside gives off the vibe of a farmhouse, but with the type of distinct classiness that you might find in a manor-turned-deluxe private wedding hall. Stepping inside adds to that same feeling as you’re greeted by an ornate bar that sits in a dining room featuring subtle, well-placed equestrian accents adorning the walls.

With many interesting choices on the appetizer menu, you might decide to go for something a little more classic. In that case, I suggest you try the BBQ Ribs. Made with a traditional barbeque rub and Texas barbeque sauce, these are smoked for six hours and are exactly as good as they sound. With two pairs of ribs on the plate, this is a great option for two meat-lovers to split. The ribs are topped with a mound of crispy onions that give a sizeable crunch to the dish, a remarkable contrast to the softness of the meat.

Speaking of those interesting choices, my top appetizer recommendation is the Tongue Buns. The house-made bao buns are properly dense and spongy, and the tongue is tender and flavorful. The salty profile of the char siu (Cantonese barbeque) style flavoring works well with the bao bun to offset it, some pickled red onions

provide an acidic punch, and the garlic aioli brings a creaminess to the table. All the components join together to make this a truly great starter for any meal.

A rising opinion in the kosher food world is that high-end restaurants are much better at creating amazing appetizers than they are at serving entrees of the same quality. At Dolcetto, I found the main courses to be up to the challenge. Even something as seemingly standard as the Whole Branzino is certainly worth your time. The perfectly fileted whole fish is grilled over an open flame and is seasoned just enough to enhance its inherent flavor. The result is a wonderful piece of fish draped over a bed of haricot verts that make for a delightfully light option for the more health-conscious person.

But if it’s comfort food you’re looking for, take a trip down South and order the NOLA CHX Sandwich. Served on a massive brioche bun, this fried chicken sandwich is topped with a house slaw and pickles and comes with a huge heap of fried tater tots. The taste and texture of the chicken will impress you, and this sandwich might be love at first bite.

The chicken itself is juicy on the inside (accomplished with it being brined prior to coating), but the outer layer is a truly impressive accomplishment as the coconut-based pareve buttermilk works perfectly with the batter in which it gets fried. The brioche bun, slaw, and pickles add to the sandwich’s texture and are great choices by the restaurant. The same can be said about the side of fried tater tots; you’ll eat one and never want to stop. And while it seems crazy to go to a high-end restaurant and order a fried chicken sandwich, you’ll be telling your friends about this one for weeks to come.

With so many types of steak on the menu, you might find it hard to choose. The signature steak is the eponymous Steak Dolcetto, but you should know that this isn’t the same as ordering just any steak.

Yes, you’re getting a delicious cut of prime

rib that is buttery soft. It’s topped with an assortment of wild mushrooms, roasted garlic, and grape tomatoes – all of which are noteworthy in their own right. But the plate is completed with two potatoes gratin. A recent trend in the restaurant world, this potato preparation involves cutting a potato into a bar before putting it through a sheeter to be turned into thin layers. Those layers are then spiced before they are put back together and fried on all sides to create what looks like a brick, but what is actually a stack of rectangular potato crisps. Dolcetto might be the only kosher restaurant doing it, and the effort shows in the scrumptious final product.

But there are many who might want meat and potatoes of a more standard variety. If that sounds more like your style, order the 20 oz. Dry Aged Bone In. This was the best steak I’d had in quite some time. The char on the outside was absolutely on point, while the inside was the desired (for me) medium-rare. This is the type of steak that you take a bite of and immediately admit to yourself that you really can’t duplicate this type of quality at home

in your kitchen – and not just because you don’t usually dry age your meat for 45 days.

When they ask you which side dish you want with your steak, go with the Pomme Frites. Not only is it a classic pairing, but these French fries are house-made, skinon, and come with fresh minced garlic on top. They are simple but spectacular. Dolcetto will allow you to choose your path. Maybe you want something more traditional like the ribs and the branzino or steak frites. Maybe you want something more inventive like the bao buns and the chicken sandwich or the steak with potatoes gratin. Either way, Dolcetto has a path for everyone.

And that path is a beautiful one.

In The K tchen

Strawberry Soup

Pareve / Yields 10 servings

By Naomi Nachman

One of my best friends, Alison Gross, makes this soup every year when we spend Shavuot together; at this point, it’s been more than 15 years. She knows my family always loves her strawberry soup and makes it for us. I asked her if I could have the recipe to share in my book, and she told me it’s originally from her Aunt Marsha in Los Angeles. Last week, when we were at her house for Shavuot, she made sure to serve it to us because she knows how much we love it.

Ingredients

◦ 6 cups water

◦ 5 tablespoons tapioca pearls (I get mine from Stop and Shop or Amazon)

◦ ½ cup sugar

◦ 32 ounces frozen strawberries

◦ 2 (11-ounce) cans mandarin oranges

◦ Juice of ½ lemon

Preparation

1. In a large pot, bring water, sugar, and tapioca to a boil over high heat. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring a couple of times to break up tapioca lumps. Set aside to cool.

2. Blend strawberries in a food processor fitted with the “S” blade or with an immersion blender until smooth. Add to tapioca mixture. Add lemon juice and mandarin segments.

3. Serve chilled.

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.

Mind Y ur Business

Keita Demming: Thinking Long Term

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 Keita Demming (KD), Director of Development of Innovation at The Covenant Group.

* * *

YS: Where do you think most people get stuck in realizing their vision?

KD: Number one, they’re not being strategic. Most people lead with tactics. And the reason they’re leading with tactics is because they’re thinking too close in. They’re thinking on too short of a timeline.

There’s a great story about Jeff Bezos when he was starting Amazon. He titled the first letter to his board, “It’s All About

the Long Term.” And the thing that was really powerful about that was that if you compete on a 3-year timeline, you’re competing against a lot of people. But if you raise the level of years and start to compete on a 7-10-year timeline, you’re competing against a lot less people, because very few people are thinking and acting on that longer timeline. If you begin to think on that long timeline, you say, “This is my strategy, this is where I want to be 5-10 years from now,” you now need to figure out, “How do I align the things that I do on a daily basis with my strategy?” You want to make sure that everything you do today is in service of your desired future. Everything you do in the short term is serving where you want to be 5-10 years from now. So, you have three options. Anything you do today

can either sabotage the future you want, support the future you want, or serve the future you want. Most of us don’t even realize the things we’re doing that are sabotaging our future. For example, I’m trying to get back in shape. But when I came in for this interview, you offered me cookies. But eating those cookies would be sabotaging the future I want, so I asked you, “Hey, can you give me some crackers?” And I made that healthy choice in the short term. And most people don’t recognize that our brains are very motivated by those things that are personal, immediate, and certain. We’re not as motivated to do those things that are organizational, deferred, or a gamble. And those are the things that that will redefine your performance and help you realize a desired future. So, I think it’s about align-

ing the things you want to achieve in the long term with the things you’re actually doing in the short term. That’s where most people fall short. It sounds simple, but it’s not easy.

What does a businessperson need to put into place to actually execute a vision and a strategy?

Your mantra, every day, should be: narrow your focus. And generally, you narrow your focus in three ways: the people you serve, the things you do, and the next best action for the future you want to achieve. The narrower the focus, the bigger the opportunity.

Most people think in terms of what niche they’re in. And I absolutely believe that when you narrow in on a particular target market or niche, you definitely in-

crease the opportunities. But in terms of thinking about the implementation side, you’ve got to think through who you serve as a niche, what you do on a daily basis, and then what’s the next step. Make that narrow focus on one thing. Don’t try and focus on 10-30 things. When we teach people about marketing, we tell them, “You’ve got to be promoting yourself in six to eight different ways.” The mistake a lot of people make is, they try to implement six at once. So, that last piece of narrowing the next best action is saying, “Right now, I’m focusing on launching a podcast. Then, I’ll focus on building my Instagram presence.” You nail that one thing for 3-4 months, and then you figure out, “OK, what’s the next best thing I need to do?”

Here’s the problem with transformation. As an example, I decided I want to lose weight. Let’s say my weight was 240 lb. when I started working out. So, every day, I measured my weight. And it’s connected to an app that tells me what my trajectory is. My weight kept fluctuating between 240 and 230. I did that for seven months. I thought, “This is not working. I’m working out so much. I changed my diet and did everything.” But when I looked at the other numbers, my muscle mass had almost doubled. My fat percentage had dropped considerably. The rate at which my body was burning calories while resting had doubled. My weight fluctuated between 230 and 240, but if I looked at the other numbers, I was actually making a lot of progress. The challenge is that, when you’re doing all the right things, you don’t see results for a while. So, people give up. That happened to me at the eight-month mark of working out. If I hadn’t looked at those numbers, I might have given up. But I raised the level of my gaze and said, “I’m going to a threeyear plan. And these are the things I’m going to do every week. If I miss a week, I’ll start over next week.”

The challenge is, because you’re doing things that are serving a long-term desired future, the short-term results are small. And most people don’t have the patience to wait for that exponential growth. Now, let’s say, I’m investing $1,000 in stock and Warren Buffet is investing $1 million in the same stock. If I get lucky, the return on investment is $1,000. If Warren Buffet gets lucky, the return on investment is $1 million. It’s transformative. At higher and higher levels, when you get lucky, the win is much bigger. So, this goes right back to the idea that you have to play that long game. You’ve got to raise the level.

So, you need to keep your eye on the prize and work backwards from there?

Exactly. And you also want to keep your eye on both the long term and the short term. I’m currently coaching an entrepreneur in financial services. And she got into financial services because she was really broke and struggling with money, but she figured out how to do budgeting really well and got out of debt situation. And she became very passionate about helping people get out of debt. She realized that she was working herself ragged, and not making money, because her whole clientele didn’t have money. But that was her passion and purpose. So, I told her, “If you’re running a business, you have to ask yourself what problem you’re solving, who you’re solving it for,

them. I tell people, “Each of us has two lines that we’re managing in life. One is a strategic line, and one is a tactical line. The challenge is, mostly the lines are either crashing into each other, moving apart, or the tactics were never even close to supporting strategy. So, what I do is I help you make sure your strategy line and tactical line are supporting each other.” That’s my value proposition.

How does one get from being an average producer to a high performer?

The single biggest differentiator between average producers and high performers is the timeframe and timespan average in which they think and plan. So, the first thing you have to do is think on a much longer timeframe.

a supportive community. That’s a million-dollar difference.

What should one keep in mind, when developing these long-term strategies, to ensure that they stick?

It’s all about intention, process measurement. As you set that intention of what you want to do, what’s the process you’re going to put in place to realize that? And how are you measuring your success?

and who’s willing to pay for that. You have the problem and who you’re solving it for, but nobody’s willing to pay for it. So, you’ve got to switch that up.” She realized that the market she wanted to go after were people like her, who are making $200,000-$250,000 a year as a family unit. And she helps those people with their budgeting. Unfortunately, you have to answer the question of who’s going to pay you. Your value proposition drives everything you do. If you don’t get that value proposition right, and you don’t get that exchange of value right, you’re going to waste so much time.

Can you elaborate on the importance of a driving value proposition?

Why will people take time out of their day to spend time with you? What difference are you making in people’s lives?

Can you say that in a simple and compelling manner? Are you very clear on, “This is how I help make you a better person. This is how I make your life easier.” If you can’t do that, you’re going to have a problem in sales.

We have a client, Dean Harder, who wrote a book on conversational selling. His value proposition is that he helps people spend, enjoy, and share their wealth. That’s what he tells people when he meets

A second thing is that discipline is also absolutely important. But, the piece that really brings it all together is systems and processes. If you listen to motivational speeches, they say, “It’s all about discipline, etc.” But discipline only goes so far. Systems and processes are absolute game changers. Because whether you’re disciplined or not, or whether you’re motivated or not, if you have the systems and processes in place, your tasks that day get done. You focus more on systems and processes rather than willpower or discipline. We often say that you have to do it yourself, and you can’t do it alone.

I’ll explain with a metaphor. Let’s say you’re training for a 10k. You find a training program online, and with it, you successfully run the 10k. Now, suppose instead, you’d gotten a coach. You would probably be a little bit more successful in finishing that 10k. Now, let’s suppose you have a coach and a running group. In this scenario, you’re probably going to run your best time of those three options. Here’s the trick. In all three scenarios, you’re successful. But in the last two, you finish much faster and feel much better. So, success is a matter of degree. Let’s say the difference in our degrees is that I make $100,000 more each year over a 10-year period, because I got a coach and

Here’s the really tricky part about setting the intention. You have to base your planning on past success. One of the measures of your potential successes is the historical trajectory. So, if the most you’ve ever grown your business in one year is 10%, to project 50% growth is just not realistic. You’re going to have to do something really different. Your vision has to be at least attainable and achievable. Now, let’s assume that it is realistic. Again, don’t double down on willpower and discipline, double down on systems and processes because businesses are built on replicable processes. And at The Covenant Group, we talk about the four cornerstones of every business: strategy, structure, systems and processes, and financial management. Most of the work you’re doing is on systems and processes. Because what you’re doing is really focusing on what I call Q.C.I. (Quality and Continuous Improvement). And if you slowly continue improving things, those small gains become exponential as you go along. Focus on doing common things uncommonly well, and you will close that gap between strategy and tactics. And if the things you’re doing uncommonly well are in service of your strategies, you close that gap faster than you think.

The single biggest differentiator between average producers and high performers is the timeframe and timespan average in which they think and plan.

Notable Quotes

“Say What?!”

May we rejoice in the corners of our New York City bedroom apartments and dining tables, may it be fuel for the fight against capitalism, racism, imperialism, and Zionism around the world.

- Fatima Mohammed in a commencement speech at University of New York (CUNY) Law School

This hate-filled and dangerous speech has been brought to you by @CUNY and paid for by New York taxpayers. Keep this in mind next time our elected leaders highlight their commitment to fighting antisemitism.

- Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein

Imagine being so crazed by hatred for Israel as a Jewish State that you make it the subject of your commencement speech at a law school graduation. Anti-Israel derangement syndrome at work

- Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY)

The first question the professors and classmates usually ask is how old I am. They are surprised at what I am doing here and always curious about the points of my quizzes and exams. However, after a while, I have shown a serious attitude toward my study; they all believe in my ability and determination to get good grades.

- 12-year-old Clovis Hung, who graduated last week from Fullerton College in California with Associate degrees in History, Social Sciences, Social Behavior and Self-Development Arts and Human Expression, and Science and Mathematics

She’s very excited. She’s excited, happy and proud.

- Sam Kaplan, age 72, upon obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Cinema and Media Arts from Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Georgia, talking about his 99-year old mother who attended the graduation ceremony

Republicans got outsmarted by a president who can’t find his pants.

- South Carolina GOP Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) on Fox News, talking about the debt limit deal

[Sen. Tim Scott] is one of these guys who, you know, he’s like Clarence Thomas, Black Republican, who believes in pulling himself by your bootstraps. Rather than, to me, understanding the systemic racism that African Americans face in this country and other minorities.

- The View’s Joy Behar, who is white, talking about Sen. Scott, a black Republican who is running for president

He doesn’t get it. Neither does, Clarence — and that’s why they’re Republicans.

- Ibid.

The Russians are dying. Best money we’ve ever spent.

- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) at a meeting in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Zelensky

If Lady Graham really said that the money for the killing of Russians is the best money the U.S. ever spent, I hope that in our country, the sons or grandchildren of Sudoplatov are alive, his pupils, or the descendants of his pupils. It’s not even hard. We have his address.

- Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the Russian state media outlet Russia Today, invoking Pavel Sudoplatev, a Soviet general who helped plan the assassination of Leon Trotsky, while talking about Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Here’s an offer to my Russian “friends” who want to arrest and try me for calling out the Putin regime as being war criminals: I will submit to jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if you do. Come and make your best case. See you in The Hague!

- Sen. Lindsey Graham, responding to Russia calling for his arrest

How about the fact that he had the third most deaths of any state having to do with the China virus or Covid? Even Cuomo did better. He was number four.

- Former President Donald Trump criticizing Gov. Ron DeSantis’s Covid record

“Even Cuomo did better” is one of the dumbest things ever uttered. Also, he’s using absolute numbers of deaths rather than adjusted for the population of the states. Which is ridiculous, of course.

– Tweet by Ben Shapiro in response

I think he did great for three years, but when he turned the country over to Fauci in March of 2020, that destroyed millions of people’s lives.

– Gov. Ron DeSantis, in an interview with Glenn Beck, responding to Trump’s criticism

I’ve visited red states and blue states, and I’ve found that the common values that unite us are deeper than our divisions.

– Frist Lady Jill Biden at a conference in Washington

And, um, I thought you might clap for that.

- Ibid., after a few seconds of silence

Everyone knows that I’m a person that believes in health, so when you talk about not discriminating against someone because of their body type, it’s not fighting against obesity; it’s just being fair. And science has shown that body type is not a connection to if you are healthy or unhealthy. I think that’s a misnomer.

- New York City Mayor Eric Adams upon signing a bill banning height and weight discrimination in New York City

This MAGA Supreme Court is continuing to erode our country’s environmental laws. Make no mistake—this ruling will mean more polluted water and more destruction of wetlands. We’ll keep fighting to protect our waters.

- Sen Majority Leader Chuck Schumer after the Supreme Court released a unanimous 9-0 decision (thus including liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan) against the Environmental Protection Agency, referring to the whole court, including liberal justices

Crime is soaring. Retailers in San Francisco, the city Newsom once ran, have been fleeing from once-coveted Union Square. Radical Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón, who won in 2020 with Newsom’s endorsement and with the help of millions of dollars in spending by George Soros, is said to have a 10,000-case backlog, and is boasting about how much prison time he has helped convicts avoid. But don’t worry. California has Skittles under control.

–

I consider the heroes the ones that gave their lives, that never came home to their families. They’re the real heroes.

I’m really sorry to kids. I wanted to get off the plane soon.

- A 33-year-old South Korean man who opened the plane’s door midflight, apologizing outside of court

Joel Pollak, Breitbart, writing about the proposed ban on food dye in California

- Navy veteran Lou Conter, 101, the final known survivor of the USS Arizona, which was bombed in Pearl Harbor, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal

DeSantis Plays New Coke to Trump Classic. That’s Puzzling.

By George F. Will

Wednesday evening’s overthought and underprepared glitch festival on Twitter Spaces was at least a fitting coda to the preceding months. If Ron DeSantis does not win his party’s presidential nomination, his pre-announcement campaign will be remembered for making a sow’s ear out of a silk purse. Beginning with many advantages, the Florida governor spent months diminishing himself by positioning himself as the New Coke of Republican politics. This has been, to say no more, a puzzling strategy.

For those unfamiliar with the most remarkable pratfall in the history of American marketing (DeSantis was 6 years old when it occurred): In April 1985, some Coca-Cola executives who had too much time on their hands decided to fix the world’s most popular soft drink. The company changed the beverage’s famously secret formula. Customers, unamused, wondered why, vociferously. After just 79 days, the original was restored to its throne, rebranded as Coca-Cola Classic. New Coke lingered until euthanized in 2002.

Speaking not for attribution, a Republican who might join the nomination scramble has compared DeSantis to New Coke, with Donald Trump as the original. In 1985, people who liked Coke as it was had no interest in a substitute, and people who did not like the original did not crave a tweaked imitation.

DeSantis has been marketing himself as Trump with the jagged edges filed off. But Trumpkins love their hero because of his jaggedness. And people repelled by Trump are uninterested in a smoother version of him. Besides, DeSantis is sometimes only slightly smoother.

DeSantis does not merely boast, as he is entitled to, that he has triumphed over Florida’s Democratic Party. Rather,

he gloats crudely that the party is “basically a dead, rotten carcass on the side of the road.”

Now, many Americans apparently want a swaggering president who talks like that. But those Americans are, it is safe to say, not nearly a majority. They probably purr with contentment about

DeSantis is unfairly faulted for not seeming to relish an essential aspect of his chosen vocation. Politics involves making huge quantities of small talk with strangers. There is something admirable about a loner in a business dominated by the professionally gregarious. Unless the loner is that way because he thinks he

ly right while everyone else was wrong.”

DeSantis supporters argue, plausibly, that Trump is unelectable. But Trumpkins, whom DeSantis hopes to peel away from their idol, can say four things: “Unelectable” is what was said in 2016. It was said again in 2020, when he again won but the results were rigged. And have you recently seen and heard Joe Biden? Besides, it is better to fight shoulder to shoulder with the real deal – with the classic, rather than with a new version.

The DeSantis campaign’s financial resources at the onset of the nomination contest might be the most impressive cash stash since the one accumulated in 2015 by Jeb Bush, who left the race on Feb. 20, 2016. Which means that DeSantis’s donors probably will not be decisive: In politics, too, the product matters most. Never mind New Coke. In 1957, the Ford Motor Co. put its formidable marketing might behind a new product. The Edsel expired in 1960.

DeSantis is admirably results-oriented. With blunt directness, he points to his remarkable record of enacting his agenda and says: This is why I should be president.

It should be said on his behalf that governorships are the best incubators of presidents because executives must demonstrate leadership and management skills in the service of convictions. Ronald Reagan, the most formidable president since Franklin D. Roosevelt, was, like FDR, a former governor of the nation’s most populous state.

the name of DeSantis’s super PAC, Never Back Down, which burnishes his jutjawed, spoiling-for-a-fight persona. But, again, people who like this can vote, some of them for a third time, for the prototype.

Is DeSantis content to forfeit the votes of the millions of Americans who are experiencing pugnacity fatigue?

has nothing to learn from others. In an illuminating new book, “Unlikely Heroes: Franklin Roosevelt, His Four Lieutenants, and the World They Made,” Derek Leebaert says about one of the four, the combative and dyspeptic Interior Secretary Harold Ickes: “Loneliness was the isolating discovery of himself being sole -

DeSantis’s modest rhetorical talent is reassuring: He has not risen, as so many in today’s politics have, on updrafts of his own hot air. If his jutted jaw is not glass, he will receive the protracted scrutiny he has earned.

Is DeSantis content to forfeit the votes of the millions of Americans who are experiencing pugnacity fatigue?

For Republicans, Ron DeSantis Offers the Best of Two Worlds

By Marc A. Thiessen

The conventional wisdom about Republicans after the disastrous 2022 midterms is that they need to choose between two different types of candidates: forward-looking, reform-minded governors who won overwhelmingly by appealing to swing voters, and populist rabble-rousers who made the conservative base swoon but could not win over independents.

Or maybe they don’t: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is both.

DeSantis is a conservative populist who takes on Disney, sends migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, and fights the left’s woke agenda. “The woke mind virus is basically a form of cultural Marxism,” DeSantis said Wednesday in announcing his presidential campaign. “And because it’s a war on truth, I think we have no choice but to wage a war on woke.”

But DeSantis is also a conservative reformer who delivers concrete results. During the pandemic, he kept Florida open and running, banning vaccine passports, suspending local emergency orders that forced businesses to shut down and opening schools. When storms hit, he was the model of a chief executive in action, getting the bridge to Pine Island rebuilt in less than three days, reopening the Sanibel Causeway in 15 days and cleaning up thousands of miles of debris. And he has pushed a raft of conservative reforms through the Florida legislature: He signed one of the most comprehensive school choice laws in the country while also raising teacher salaries in traditional public schools. He cracked down on predatory lawsuits that steal the livelihoods of honest business owners. He passed “constitutional-carry” legislation, made child rape eligible for the death penalty and cracked down on left-wing “bail reform.” And he barred “environmental, social and governance”

investing of state assets, saying he wants to make sure investment decisions are made only on the basis of what will deliver the best return for Floridians.

In other words, DeSantis offers the best of both worlds: He delivers hard punches to the left and results for the right. That mix seems to have appeal. More than 3 million people have listened to or viewed his Twitter Spaces campaign announcement, Twitter shows. So many tuned in at 6 p.m. Wednesday that the system temporarily crashed.

It also seems to work at the polls. DeSantis won reelection by nearly 20 percentage points, with the support of the majority of independents, Hispanics and women – and carrying several Democratic-leaning counties that went for Joe Biden in 2020. “We’ve shown in Florida that we’re able to win voters who don’t always vote Republican,” DeSantis said in a conference call with conservative writers Wednesday night. In 2024, he said, “we need to win those

independent voters that we were able to win overwhelmingly in Florida . . . who want to move on from Biden [and] . . . just want to have a vehicle that they’re comfortable with.”

That should be an appealing message to Republicans, because it means they can take on the left’s assault on our culture and values without sacrificing the votes of independent swing voters who abandoned the GOP in 2020. By passing pragmatic measures aimed at improving the lives of Florida residents, DeSantis appeals to nonideological voters. By delivering win after win on issues conservatives care about, he energizes the right while dispiriting the left. “In Florida, we demoralized the Democrats,” he said. “They did not have a good turnout running against me as governor, and I think it would be more similar to that nationally if I was running against Biden.”

But to take on Biden, DeSantis first has to beat Donald Trump. And right now, Trump is leading him by a 3-to-1

margin, according to an Emerson College poll released Thursday. But the race is not nearly as locked in as some suspect. A recent CBS News poll found that just 24 percent of Republicans said they will consider only Trump, 27 percent said they won’t vote for Trump at all, and 49 percent said they were deciding between Trump and other candidates. That means 76 percent of the GOP electorate appears either ready or open to supporting someone other than the former president.

Trump is ahead, but he is vulnerable –and he knows it. That is why he has spent $15.3 million on ads attacking DeSantis as insufficiently MAGA – more than he spent supporting all the candidates he endorsed in last year’s midterms combined. Meanwhile, former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has released an ad attacking DeSantis as a Trump clone and declaring that Americans want “a choice, not an echo.” This isn’t a very effective line of attack. Trump has a 77 percent approval rating among Republicans. Many GOP voters would love a candidate who echoes the best of Trump while shedding his worst instincts. “Trump without the baggage” isn’t an attack – it’s an endorsement.

The fact that DeSantis is getting hit from both sides shows how appealing his message is. He poses a threat to Trump and his non-Trump rivals because he is, for now, the only declared candidate who delivers the best of both sides. He is a disrupter who isn’t self-destructive, a populist policy wonk who loves the minutiae of legislating as much as he loves taking on the woke left.

We’ll soon see whether that is a combination that sells in Republican primaries.

Political Crossfire Israeli Power is the Foundation for Regional Peace

By Caroline Glick

Over the past week, the media have been aflutter with reports and rumors that the Biden administration has decided to mediate a peace accord between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The case for peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia is easy to make. Owing to their shared interest in containing Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia have developed cooperative intelligence ties and strategic relations for a decade. Even without formal diplomatic relations, trade ties between the two countries are significant and quickly expanding.

A formal Saudi-Israeli accord would form a strategic ballast against Iran’s rise as a regional hegemon. It would destabilize the Iranian regime and its satrapies in the Levant.

For Saudi Arabia, the drawback of open relations with Israel is that it would have to accept the hypocrisy of its official hostility towards the Jewish state and its actual friendship and reliance on it. Islamist media outlets like Qatar’s Al Jazeera will pillory it. But then again, they already do.

All the same, unless the U.S. provides them with some payoff, the Saudis say they prefer to maintain their relations with Israel under the radar for now.

Israel has made no effort to hide its eagerness to forge a peace with Saudi Arabia. But like Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no reason to pay a significant price to formalize relations that already exist.

This brings us to the United States. Arguably, the party with the most to gain from a U.S.-mediated agreement is the United States itself. Such an accord would reassert America’s superpower primacy in the region over both China and Russia at a very low cost.

Such an accord would empower America’s closest regional allies at the expense of Iran—Washington’s most powerful regional enemy. A Saudi-Israel accord would facilitate the bipartisan goal of diminishing U.S. involvement in the region. It would stabilize other U.S. allies, including Egypt and Jordan, and destabilize both the Iranian regime and its proxy regimes in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.

At the same time, a Saudi-Israeli peace would effectively end the Arab-Israeli conflict, thus delivering the longsought dream of American statesmen since President Harry Truman.

To offset what it views as a political price for normalizing ties with the Jewish state, Saudi Arabia has asked the United States to designate it a major non-NATO ally. The Biden administration designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally in 2021, despite Qatar’s close ties to Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah and other terror groups.

Riyadh also asked the administration for a guaranteed supply of advanced weapons and for U.S. cooperation in peaceful nuclear activities.

If President Joe Biden responds favorably to its requests, the Saudis have told numerous interlocutors, the Kingdom will agree to a U.S.-mediated peace with Israel.

An America with Neither Allies Nor Enemies

Israel has not asked the United States for anything specific in exchange for peace with Saudi Arabia.

When looking at a similar deal between Israel and the UAE in 2020, then-President Donald Trump did not hesitate. To offset what the United Arab Emirates viewed as the price of making peace with the state it had long joined its Arab League partners in condemning, Abu Dhabi asked the United States for F-35s, and it asked Netanyahu to put his plan to apply Israeli law to parts of Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley on ice.

Trump had no difficulty agreeing to the deal. As for Netanyahu, by the time UAE leader Mohamed Bin Zayed made his offer, Trump had abandoned his previous support for the sovereignty plan. Netanyahu’s then-defense minis -

ter, Benny Gantz, had vetoed the plan, and the national religious parties had rejected it. So agreeing to temporarily postpone its implementation was an easy move for Netanyahu.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration sees things differently.

Rather than view Israeli-Saudi peace as a net gain for the United States, Biden and his advisors apparently view it as a means to achieve different regional ends. Like former President Barack Obama, Biden’s Middle East policy doesn’t involve strengthening U.S. allies and undermining U.S. foes. It involves compelling Israel and Saudi Arabia to accept Iran as a rival power. As Lee Smith put it recently at Tablet magazine, Obama’s vision for the Middle East, which Biden and his team are working to implement, is one of “an America with neither allies nor enemies in the region.”

To achieve this end, the Biden administration has been indefatigable in its efforts to reach an accord with Iran through nuclear appeasement. On Wednesday, the Iranian media reported that the Sultan of Oman is set to travel to Tehran to mediate nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

The administration has driven a stake through its relations with Saudi Arabia by openly calling for MBS to be ousted and treated as a pariah.

Likewise, the administration has been openly hostile to Israel’s core strategic interests vis à vis Iran’s nuclear-weapons program, Iran’s Lebanese proxy Hezbollah and the Palestinians.

On the eve of last year’s elections, the administration forced Israel’s transition government to accept a gas deal with Lebanon that surrendered its territorial and economic waters and a natural-gas deposit to Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon. The administration’s posture towards Israel is openly hostile in re -

lation to the Palestinians. The United States seeks to undercut and delegitimize Israel’s sovereignty in Jerusalem and its military operations in Judea and Samaria.

Moreover, the Biden administration has interfered in domestic Israeli politics in a manner unprecedented in the history of U.S.-Israel ties. Since Netanyahu formed his government in December, in a departure from normal diplomatic protocol, the administration has openly criticized and even condemned its domestic policies. Most notably, Biden and his advisers have rejected the Netanyahu government’s effort to restore the balance of powers and strengthen Israeli democracy by placing minimal limits on the currently unchecked powers of Israel’s Supreme Court and Attorney General.

Rather than embrace the Abraham Accords—and work to expand them to Saudi Arabia and other likeminded Arab states—since entering office, Biden and his team have sought to gut them and transform the accords into a vehicle to restore the PLO’s veto power over peace between Israel and the Arab world. At the Negev Forum last year, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made the Palestinians the main subject of discussion. The administration portrayed the gas deal with Lebanon, which gave an economic lifeline to Hezbollah, as a means to “integrate” Israel into the region, when it was actually a way of rewarding Iran’s Lebanese proxy.

Given this state of affairs, it wasn’t a surprise this week when Biden’s list of demands to mediate Saudi-Israeli peace began leaking. Both the Americans and the Saudis are insisting that Israel make significant concessions to the terror-sponsoring Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria in exchange for peace. It isn’t clear whether MBS is making the demands at Washington’s behest or because he simply understands that this is part of the game of working with the Biden administration. For their part, Saudi interlocutors have repeatedly expressed indifference to the Palestinian conflict with Israel in offthe-record conversations with Israelis and American Jews.

Beyond the Palestinians, last Tuesday the Israeli media reported that Biden is demanding that Netanyahu agree to bury his government’s plan to reform the legal system. If he refuses, the reports claim that Biden will not agree to mediate Israeli-Saudi peace.

ported U.S. position, Netanyahu and his advisers would do well to consider why Arab states have made peace with Israel in the past.

In all cases, the Arab states that have made formal peace deals with Israel in the past did so because Israel had some -

the Jewish state and began supporting its efforts to defeat Iran’s Palestinian proxies and sabotage its nuclear program and nuclear diplomacy.

The way to transform these sub rosa ties into an above-the-table alliance is for Israel to undermine Iran’s

Given the brazen hostility of the re -

thing to give them. With both the Abraham Accords and Israel’s peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt, by making peace with Israel, the Arab states received better ties with the United States.

Today, the Biden administration is moved far more by its domestic constituents who are hostile to Israel than by U.S. strategic interests as those were understood by the United States until the Obama administration. As a result, the Biden administration is adopting policies that are hostile to both Israel and Saudi Arabia and to peace between them. Biden’s refusal to date to host Netanyahu at the White House is a graphic demonstration of his administration’s hostile bent.

Netanyahu cannot deliver the concessions Washington is demanding. If he accepts the U.S./Saudi demand to give the Palestinians security powers in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem that Israel holds, Israel will undermine its national security and endanger its national interests. If Netanyahu agrees to cancel his efforts to reform the legal system, he will destabilize his government.

Moreover, given the current anti-Saudi bent among Democrats, Netanyahu will be hard-pressed to persuade Biden to agree to MBS’s demands.

To foster peace with Saudi Arabia, Israel has to do what it has been doing all along: serve as a block on Iran’s rise. Israel’s ties with Saudi Arabia were forged in 2013 as a result of Obama’s realignment towards Iran and away from Saudi Arabia and Israel. The Saudis saw that Israel was steady in its opposition to Iran’s empowerment and that it was militarily and technologically competent to prevent Iran from becoming the regional hegemon. To protect themselves, the Saudis set aside their longtime hatred of

power. Israel doesn’t need to take military action to accomplish this goal. The best way to avoid a devastating regional war with Iran’s proxies in Lebanon, Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and Syria is for Israel to help the Iranian people to overthrow the regime.

A “highly confidential” IRGC document leaked this week to Radio Free Europe documents concern among senior regime officials that the country is on the verge of an “explosion,” with civil unrest

reaching a crescendo. Nearly every day, more industrial plants blow up. Workers strike. And even as the regime ratchets up its execution of protesters, the protests continue. An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps base was bombed earlier this month. IRGC forces are under attack on the roads and in their bases.

Israeli support for striking Iranian workers and sabotage of Iranian military installations will go a long way towards destabilizing the regime and empowering the people rising up against it.

Such action, in turn, will demonstrate both Israel’s power and its importance as a regional power, drawing its neighbors, first and foremost Saudi Arabia, closer to Jerusalem.

This may cause MBS to conclude that he wants to directly negotiate a peace with Israel without preconditions. It may cause Biden to drop his demands for mediation. It may convince another party to step into the breach and mediate an accord. Whatever the case, destabilizing the Iranian regime and empowering the Iranian people will strengthen Israel, diminish the chances of regional war and so stabilize the region far more than paying an unwarranted price for a paper peace. (JNS)

Arguably, the party with the most to gain from a U.S.-mediated agreement is the United States itself.

Approximately 16 million men and women joined the war effort during World War II, and many became heroes both on and off the battlefield. Here are two stories of Jewish servicemen from World War II who were decorated for courageousness and bravery while spending time behind enemy lines.

Major Arthur Post was an airman from Milwaukee and served with the 6th Reconnaissance Group, Fifth Air Force in the South Pacific. In June 1943, he became the commanding officer of the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, which flew F-4 and F-5 aircraft. The planes were P-38 Lightings that were designed as reconnaissance aircraft and had cameras installed on the nose of the plane where armament usually was placed. On June 20, Post was on a mission to photograph an enemy airfield and base at Rabaul. Although he was being attacked by enemy planes, he completed the photo run and managed to photograph an enemy convoy that he had sighted. His plane was unescorted when he was shot down by a Japanese Zero.

Post jumped out of the plane and pulled the ripcord at only 500 feet from the ground. He landed in New Britain and had severe burns, bruises and cuts. The airman then spent months avoiding enemy patrols while making notes for intelligence purposes. He managed to link up with friendly natives and soon was in

Two Jewish Heroes

By Avi Heiligman

contact with Australian Coastwatcher. Post was then given a ride to Australia by the submarine USS Grouper. After disembarking in Australia, he was given the Distinguished Service Cross for the valuable intelligence he gathered while on the run for a hundred days in the jungle. In August 1944, Major Post was killed during a test flight.

People from all backgrounds joined the military during the war, and athletes were no exception. The most famous Jewish athletes in uniform were Hank Greenberg and champion boxer Barney Ross. This list also includes Chicago native and former NFL quarterback Robert “Buck” Halperin. In college, he played for Coach Knute Rockne at Notre Dame before finishing his college career at Wisconsin. He then played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the NFL (they were a football team from 1930-1945) before coaching high school football.

Not all World War II volunteers were in their late teens and twenties, and Halperin joined the navy in 1942 at the age of 34. First training under boxing champ

Gene Tunney, Halperin was soon joined by two other NFL stars, Phil Bucklew and John Tripson, in a secret program at Little Creek, Virginia. This group became the Navy Scouts and Raiders and were tasked to locate suitable landing beaches for amphibious landings, then they were to note any obstacles and guide troops in during

the landings. They were present for major landings during the war; eight Scouts and Raiders were awarded the Navy Cross including Halperin.

Halperin first saw action in the North African Theater of Operations. On November 8, 1942, he successfully took his boat seven miles to the French Moroccan coast to mark the landing beaches. He then teamed up with an army scout team to guide in the landing force despite being under attack from strafing enemy planes. After the troops had landed, the sailor then scouted the area for roads and areas to lead the troops inland and personally captured two enemy soldiers. For his actions, Halperin was awarded the Navy Cross.

After the North African landings, Halperin then saw action in Sicily and Italy. He then was sent to England to prepare for the D-Day landings. Together with Bucklew, he planned for the landings that were to go in with the first two waves. Halperin commanded the Scouts and Raiders that went in on these waves despite the heavy enemy fire raining down on the invasion beaches. He found spots that weren’t being bombed and guided his boats safely to the beach. Some records have Halperin and his Scouts and Raiders as the first Americans to set foot on the beaches. While marking the beaches, he also assisted the swamped boats and saved two Americans from drowning.

After the Normandy landings, Halperin became the commanding officer of Naval Unit Six and was sent to China to train thousands of guerillas to fight against the Japanese. These forces were a thorn in the side of the enemy as they killed 1,300 Japanese troops and destroyed ships including a 1,000-ton freighter. Additionally, Halperin assisted in the rescue of sixteen downed American airmen. For his service in China, he was awarded the Silver Star and later awarded a Gold Medal for “meritorious conduct.” The Chinese Nationalist government awarded him the Yun Hui “Order of the Cloud and Banner” for his part in defeating the Japanese. After the war, he helped start the company Land’s End and in 1960 won a bronze medal at the Olympics in Rome in sailing.

Both Halperin and Post were decorated for their service during some of the most trying environments in battle. Many servicemen during World War II were noted for exceptional service, and even though their stories didn’t always make headline news, it is heroism that deserves to be remembered.

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.

Major Arthur Post Robert Halperin

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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

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

HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER, Far Rockaway • Open House   Open House June 4, 12:00-3:00

229 Beach 3rd Street

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.

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

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

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. OPEN HOUSE Sunday June 4 12:00-2:00PM 331 PENINSULA BLVD. 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 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!

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

Beautiful, brick, colonial boasting 5 bdr 3.5 Bth in pristine condition. Excellent location, near all! Move right in! RCUSA 516-512-9626

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

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

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

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HOUSES FOR SALE

WEST HEMPSTEAD

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

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CEDARHURST HOUSE FOR SALE BY OWNER

In the heart of Cedarhurst (Close to Woodmere , Lirr & Cedarhurst Park)

EIK Kosher Kitchen/ Dr/Lr/Family Room/ Playroom/ 4 Bedrooms, 3 Full Baths/ Basement: 2 Bedrooms, 1 Full Bath, Kitchenette, Separate Entrance

Asking $1.3m

Whatsapp Text Only: 845-213-0002

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NORTH WOODMERE

For sale by owner 4 bedroom 3 bath split level house Steps to Houses of worship.

N Woodmere Park 516 384-5940

FOR RENT IN ISRAEL HOUSES FOR SALE APT./COOP/CONDO SALE

WOODMERE

New to the market. 4 bedroom, center hall, colonial in SD#15, plus a full finished basement, 2 car garage. Gas, heat, central a/c, kitchen with stainless stell appliances. Granite countertops, formal living room and dining room, main floor den with fireplace, hardwood floors and so much more.

OPEN HOUSE JUNE 4 12:00--2:00PM

749 ADDISON STREET Mark Lipner

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Laffey International 516-298-8457

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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 www.StayInJerusalem.com

PLEASE no agents!!!!!

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

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

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MISC. 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

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Looking for someone that knows Indesign & has experience working on a MAC to layout a weekly newspaper. The job is for 7 hours on Tuesdays & Summer times Mondays as well. The job can be done remotely. Please email your resume to: thevues@gmail.com

MDS REGIONAL NURSE

5 Towns area Nursing Home management office seeking a Regional/Corporate level MDS Nurse to work in our office. Must be an RN. Regional experience preferred. 2-3 years MDS experience with good computer skills required. Position is Full Time but Part Time can be considered. Great Shomer Shabbos environment with some remote options as well. Email: officejob2019@gmail.com

BOOKKEEPER

Excellent growth potential, Frum environment, Excellent salary & benefits. Email resume to: resumetfs1@gmail.com

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.

HELP WANTED

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.

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

IMMEDIATE OPENING

ELA teaching position for Gr. 5. Mon.-Thurs., afternoon hours. Far Rockaway/5T area. Competitive salary, warm supportive environment. Teachersearch11@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.

SHEVACH HIGH SCHOOL

in Queens is seeking dynamic teachers for the 2023-2024 school year in the General Studies department in English, Maths, and Sciences, some positions will require Masters’ degrees (positions are all in the afternoon). There are a limited number of openings in the Limudei Kodesh department. Salary commensurate with experience. Resumes welcome. Please send resumes to rwittenstein@shevachhs.org

GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL IN QUEENS seeks a full time, experienced clinician (school psychologist, LCSW, LMHC, etc.) to work in conjunction with current school psychologist. Salary commensurate with experience. Please send resumes to rwittenstein@shevachhs.org

5 TOWNS BOYS YESHIVA

Seeking Elem Gen Ed Teachers

Excellent working environment and pay. Only lic/exp need apply.

Email resume to yeshivalooking@gmail.com

SHMIRAS HALASHON

Text 516-303-3868 with a time slot of your choice to be careful on lashon hara. Be a part of the 1,000 people for klal yisroel!

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Flying Friendlier Skies

By Allan Rolnick, CPA

In 1748, Benjamin Franklin published an essay called “Advice to a Young Tradesman,” where he wrote, “Remember that time is money.” Back then, a trip from Philadelphia to New York could mean four or five days bouncing up and down over muddy dirt roads and three or four nights sharing straw beds with strangers. (Deodorant wasn’t invented until 1888.) Ocean crossings took weeks. That’s a lot of shillings lost to travel time!

Today, of course, you can take the Acela from Philadelphia to New York in little more than an hour and fly from New York to London in seven. But that still isn’t fast enough for some people, who don’t want to waste time queuing up to go through security with the masses and waiting out rain delays at LaGuardia.

So, what does a hedge fund master of the universe dream of after he’s scored the Tribeca loft and Hamptons beach house of his dreams? The answer: his own jet. The average private jet owner is male, over age 50, working in banking, finance, or real estate, with a median net worth of $190 million. Private jet prices begin at around $4.8 million for a starter Cessna and range up to $75 million for a top-of-the-line Gulfstream. Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal has a $500 million custom Airbus 380 with a concert hall, Turkish bath, garage, space for horses and camels, and a throne

and prayer room that rotates to face Mecca from any location on the planet.

Earlier this month, The Institute for Policy Studies released a report revealing that private jets make up one out of every six flights handled by the Federal Aviation Administration. That’s up 20% since the start of the pandemic. Yet those frequent flyers pay just 2% of the taxes that finance

headlines. Elon Musk took 171 flights, burned 837,934 liters of jet fuel, and put 2,112 tons of carbon into the environment in 2022 alone. And socialite/ entrepreneur/influencer/whatever Kylie Jenner drew fire as a climate criminal for a 17-minute flight from Van Nuys to Camarillo. Jenner’s trip would have taken 40 minutes by car, although anyone who

“short hop” surcharge. They estimate that those changes would have cost Musk an extra $3.94 million in tax last year—real money for you and me, but merely a drop in his particular bucket.

It’s clear that private flyers aren’t paying their proportional share of FAA resources they consume. However, the frequent flyers at the IRS should still be fans of their activity. Jet owners pay millions of dollars to fly private because they believe their time is worth even more—and if they can work during the time the rest of us are listening to the screaming baby in 29B, presumably, they’ll earn more. That, in turn, means Uncle Sam gets a cut of those extra earnings. And 37% of that income adds up to lots more than 22 cents for a gallon of fuel.

Buying a business jet is a big commitment that involves lots of tax and accounting questions. You may not be able to afford one now. But someday, right? When you’re ready, don’t do it without calling us first!

the FAA trust fund. That’s because commercial flyers pay a 7.5% excise tax on airline tickets, plus a separate passenger facility charge of up to $4.50. Meanwhile, private jets contribute just 22 cents per gallon of fuel.

Private jet flyers frequently make

battles Los Angeles traffic has to feel at least an ounce of sympathy for her choice.

The IPS report recommends implementing a 10% global transfer tax on pre-owned jets and a 5% tax on new models. They also recommend doubling the federal jet-fuel tax and imposing a

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.

Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal has a $500 million custom Airbus 380 with a concert hall, Turkish bath, garage, space for horses and camels, and a throne and prayer room that rotates to face Mecca from any location on the planet.

Rain In Its Time

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., LMFT, CLC, SDS

The one way to hold the rain up in the sky seems to be to be prepared for it.

I had my sister buy like 15 rain ponchos. And I don’t mean the flimsy ones. She could have catered Shavuos with what she spent on them.

But I wanted her to be able to enjoy my neighborhood, even if the weather was predicted as rainy and rotten, while she and her family visited for the holiday.

I don’t think a drop fell. It was awesome. Almost seemed like a trick.

And here’s the best part: she left all 15 for me, probably by mistake, when she left. So it will probably never rain here again!

Rain is one of those complex things. We like it better than snow because

views or paintings. Who creates pictures of rain? You can’t even see it!

I’m not saying rain doesn’t have its great uses. It’s vital for production of fruits, vegetables, wheat, and healthy grass to feed the animals, which in many cases feed us. Rain fills the lakes and reservoirs and sustains us. It cools us in hot climates.

Rain seems awesome, except when it falls.

I guess what I’m recommending is night rain, when it gets in no one’s way and interferes with no activity.

But controlling when it shows up has never been a thing.

So, I’m just sharing the formula I’ve discovered this past holiday after an almost 90% prediction of rain. Buy expen-

Milk chocolate is no good when you’ve just eaten meat.

at least we don’t have to freeze when it comes. Still, with snow, we can have fun, build stuff, sled, and so on.

Who enjoys rain?

Maybe one kid who likes to play in the mud.

Snow provides skiing opportunities. Snowshoeing and cross-country walks. Even backdrops for beautiful mountain

sive ponchos! Or just ignore the news, because their guess seems to be as good as ours and just causes stress and spending.

Truthfully, we need almost everything, rain included, although we need it in its right time. Now, where did I hear that before?

Oh yes, in the parsha at the end of Vayikra. G-d says as a blessing “He will

bless us with rain in its time.” We don’t just want things; we want them at the right time. A husband is no good at three years old. Milk chocolate is no good when

you’ve just eaten meat. A car is no good if you have no license. May we all get what we need when we need it!

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.